Today is my mother's birthday. She is 84 years old. Her health is great. Her Alzheimer's unfortunately is getting the better of her.
I honestly don't think she remembers my name anymore. She's very sly about it though. I noticed when I first entered her room after my absence when I had surgery and couldn't get up to see her for a couple weeks that there was a look in her eye. The look that says I should know you. She knows I'm her daughter. Just which name goes with me is the mystery. I also note that now when she introduces me she to others at the home she will just say "This is my daughter". Years ago my mom confessed to me that when she didn't remember some one's name she would often just avoid having to say a name. Instead of saying "Hi Sally, how are you doing?" . . . she would just say "Hi, how have you been?". Simple trick. Used it often myself.
It's sad.
She is happy where she is living. She is well liked there. She is active. She plays lots and lots of cards. I'm happy she's there. The stress level of her living at home alone was too much to bare. Now I'm even off the anti-depressant I started before she moved into the nursing home.
She's taken to wearing her coat all the time. But so what. If she's happy in her coat, then I'm happy with her in her coat. I just would like to get a couple spare coats so we can swap them around so she is in clean coats. She also hides her dirty laundry in the suitcase that is in her closet. I have to say that my mother would be embarrassed to know that she did this. This lady in the coat resembles my mom, but isn't really the same person.
But today is her birthday. I will be going up later to see her. Her friend is taking up a cake this afternoon. Very nice lady who has been the biggest help to our family. Her friend knows all to well the effects of Alzheimer's, as her husband suffered with it for many years. Bless her heart for everything she does for my mother.
Hope the ladies all wore hats, blew noise makers, and ate cake until their bellies burst!
Happy Birthday Hugz
Ja*who*dee
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Monday, February 16, 2009
Let's Go Blue!
Haze's fifth grade basketball season began at the same time I had the H. So I missed all of her games, except the ones yesterday, which also happened to be their last. Awesome it was to watch. I played basketball in high school. We had a great team. My sister Mary was an all conference player. I was more the bench warmer :*) My Freshman and Junior years we were undefeated in our division. We played during a time when doing full court presses and such were a new begining in the girls basketball world. Now days they start out learning about these things from day one! Sweet! When my eldest sis played they actually only played half court . . .
I was very impressed with the officials for the game. These guys actually took the time to explain to the players why the made the calls that they made. Wow. These gals are well on their way to being a great hoops team.
Go Blue!!!
I was very impressed with the officials for the game. These guys actually took the time to explain to the players why the made the calls that they made. Wow. These gals are well on their way to being a great hoops team.
Go Blue!!!
Monday, November 17, 2008
Jewelry Sale
Bet you all wish I would get my camera working hey? Someday soon, I hope. Time just slips away, as I'm sure you all experience too, especially this time of year.
I was able to make some necklaces and earrings for the employee craft sale that was last Friday (Again, a picture would be nice) and I would like to thank everyone that purchased a piece from me. My La Paix d'Art . . . Peace of Art . . . I love each and every piece that you purchased, and my customers helped to show me that I am down the right creative path with the wire. There are lots of avenues for me to explore with the jewelry making, so next year I will have something perhaps a little the same, and hopefully new and unique for your holiday shopping!
Now I must concentrate on finishing up some collage projects that are long over due. I think I have the perfect visions for them floating in my head now that I have been able to get the last minute thought of selling this jewelry done! It was such a pleasure to create and sell, but it did rather push aside some things!
Just take a look at my house . . . smiles . . . ah well I would rather be remembered for making art than having a clean house anyway!
Love ya, Love your art!
ja-who-dee
I was able to make some necklaces and earrings for the employee craft sale that was last Friday (Again, a picture would be nice) and I would like to thank everyone that purchased a piece from me. My La Paix d'Art . . . Peace of Art . . . I love each and every piece that you purchased, and my customers helped to show me that I am down the right creative path with the wire. There are lots of avenues for me to explore with the jewelry making, so next year I will have something perhaps a little the same, and hopefully new and unique for your holiday shopping!
Now I must concentrate on finishing up some collage projects that are long over due. I think I have the perfect visions for them floating in my head now that I have been able to get the last minute thought of selling this jewelry done! It was such a pleasure to create and sell, but it did rather push aside some things!
Just take a look at my house . . . smiles . . . ah well I would rather be remembered for making art than having a clean house anyway!
Love ya, Love your art!
ja-who-dee
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Mother of the year award?
I think not. At least it won't be this year!
My daughter has turned 11. It rather snuck up on me. The girl got lots of presents, but none were wrapped in pretty paper with a fluffy bow. I made her a necklace and braclet which I handed off as soon as they were finished. I had gotten her a little CD player, which she found before I had a chance to wrap it. Then I took her shopping and thus she picked out her presents at the store. Heck, even the book that was for her from a RR of talented artist, Mermania, got presented to her unwrapped . . . ah, such the mom I am.
Do I dare tell you that the cake was a chocolate "Little Debbies"?
Ah, come on, Little Debbies are yummy!
Love ya, love your art . . .
ja-who-dee
My daughter has turned 11. It rather snuck up on me. The girl got lots of presents, but none were wrapped in pretty paper with a fluffy bow. I made her a necklace and braclet which I handed off as soon as they were finished. I had gotten her a little CD player, which she found before I had a chance to wrap it. Then I took her shopping and thus she picked out her presents at the store. Heck, even the book that was for her from a RR of talented artist, Mermania, got presented to her unwrapped . . . ah, such the mom I am.
Do I dare tell you that the cake was a chocolate "Little Debbies"?
Ah, come on, Little Debbies are yummy!
Love ya, love your art . . .
ja-who-dee
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
My Fairy name . . .
Your fairy is called Tangle Saturnwand
She is a trouble maker.
She lives at the bottom of tangled gardens and in hedgerows.
She is only seen when the seer holds a four-leafed clover.
She wears tangled dresses of multicoloured petals. She has delicate pale pink wings like a cicada.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
I Do Believe . . .
in Divine Intervention. I have to. I've seen it's results!
As I have mentioned before, my mother has Alzheimer's. She is still in the middle stages. She's lucid. She doesn't really live in the past, although if you asked her the month and year she'd get it wrong. And as for the day . . . well that's questionable too. Usually the answer has been June 2006. But I'm sure as the weather changes she will pick a fall month.
My mother will carry on a conversation with you. As long as you keep the flow going. She won't initiate the conversation. She is very quiet in a large group, as I don't think she can keep up with the conversation. She is a very bright woman and has been able to keep her condition somewhat hidden from those not too close to her. Never for long though. Any conversation over 10 minutes and you'd have picked up that something wasn't just right.
She was at a risk to herself to have her live in her home alone. We had hired aides to come in the morning and then later in the afternoon for a while. It was "okay" for a while, but something that never made me quite comfortable as she was also so alone for most of the day.
Then we had to start locking up medications as she was sometimes double dipping into the next weeks pills.
There was much debate amongst my siblings and I about should we unplug the stove or pull the fuse . . . should we build a door so the upstairs could be locked up . . . should we put a lock on the basement door. My feeling was that if we were unplugging some one's stove it was time to either have 24 hour care at the house or have mom move into the new nursing home.
My sister was always a big advocate for staying at home. I was rather iffy on that. It just didn't feel right. Mom is a social person, and we have effectively made her a recluse. She got out some with friends and us periodically, but she spent a lot of time alone. She had told me she was lonely. I could just picture mom in one room, the aide in the other. I couldn't see the aide doing any of the occupational therapy that the facility would have to offer. The outings, the daily activities, and most of all, lots of people around. Needless to say, we weren't all on the same page as to how to move forward, but knew we needed to make a big change. My prayers to God were always for wisdom to help us make the right decision as to how to take care of mom.
So we had an intervention with my mother. Oh boy. That was a rough meeting. Did we think she was stupid? How did the doctor say she had Alzheimer's? She takes her pills (yes, but not unless someone is there to remind her to take her pills), why would she pay someone to watch her sleep? Oh I'm sure you can imagine. She wasn't ready to go to any nursing home. Then she would repeat the same things she told us over and over. She can't remember that she already made the statements she made.
Now I understand my mother's reluctance to go to a nursing home. When she graduated from nursing school in the later 40's, the day of graduation, right after the ceremony she was taken to be a patient at a TB Sanatorium. Could you imagine . . . the big ward room, the iron beds . . . they had to stay in bed 24/7 . . . and then her only other big experience with a "facility" was when she did nurses training in the later 40's at a mental institution . . . you've all seen "One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest" I presume?
But the new facility in town is like a 5 star resort. It's beautiful. It's a different world than the older nursing homes around the area. Lots of activities for the residence, and also lots of occupational treatment for those specifically with dementia and Alzheimer's.
But she wasn't having any of it.
Then the Divine Intervention came along. Her hip went out of place, and she had no choice but to go to rehab in that very facility she wanted nothing to do with. She loves it! She said she didn't think she needed to go home. She might just as well stay where she is. She glows again. I am seeing a spark in mother that has long been missing. She is rarely in her room as she is out and about either just visiting others or partaking in whatever daily activity is scheduled.
My Aunt Ethel had said that it was like the place was made for mom. I believe she was right!
And thank you God for always being there to help us.
As I have mentioned before, my mother has Alzheimer's. She is still in the middle stages. She's lucid. She doesn't really live in the past, although if you asked her the month and year she'd get it wrong. And as for the day . . . well that's questionable too. Usually the answer has been June 2006. But I'm sure as the weather changes she will pick a fall month.
My mother will carry on a conversation with you. As long as you keep the flow going. She won't initiate the conversation. She is very quiet in a large group, as I don't think she can keep up with the conversation. She is a very bright woman and has been able to keep her condition somewhat hidden from those not too close to her. Never for long though. Any conversation over 10 minutes and you'd have picked up that something wasn't just right.
She was at a risk to herself to have her live in her home alone. We had hired aides to come in the morning and then later in the afternoon for a while. It was "okay" for a while, but something that never made me quite comfortable as she was also so alone for most of the day.
Then we had to start locking up medications as she was sometimes double dipping into the next weeks pills.
There was much debate amongst my siblings and I about should we unplug the stove or pull the fuse . . . should we build a door so the upstairs could be locked up . . . should we put a lock on the basement door. My feeling was that if we were unplugging some one's stove it was time to either have 24 hour care at the house or have mom move into the new nursing home.
My sister was always a big advocate for staying at home. I was rather iffy on that. It just didn't feel right. Mom is a social person, and we have effectively made her a recluse. She got out some with friends and us periodically, but she spent a lot of time alone. She had told me she was lonely. I could just picture mom in one room, the aide in the other. I couldn't see the aide doing any of the occupational therapy that the facility would have to offer. The outings, the daily activities, and most of all, lots of people around. Needless to say, we weren't all on the same page as to how to move forward, but knew we needed to make a big change. My prayers to God were always for wisdom to help us make the right decision as to how to take care of mom.
So we had an intervention with my mother. Oh boy. That was a rough meeting. Did we think she was stupid? How did the doctor say she had Alzheimer's? She takes her pills (yes, but not unless someone is there to remind her to take her pills), why would she pay someone to watch her sleep? Oh I'm sure you can imagine. She wasn't ready to go to any nursing home. Then she would repeat the same things she told us over and over. She can't remember that she already made the statements she made.
Now I understand my mother's reluctance to go to a nursing home. When she graduated from nursing school in the later 40's, the day of graduation, right after the ceremony she was taken to be a patient at a TB Sanatorium. Could you imagine . . . the big ward room, the iron beds . . . they had to stay in bed 24/7 . . . and then her only other big experience with a "facility" was when she did nurses training in the later 40's at a mental institution . . . you've all seen "One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest" I presume?
But the new facility in town is like a 5 star resort. It's beautiful. It's a different world than the older nursing homes around the area. Lots of activities for the residence, and also lots of occupational treatment for those specifically with dementia and Alzheimer's.
But she wasn't having any of it.
Then the Divine Intervention came along. Her hip went out of place, and she had no choice but to go to rehab in that very facility she wanted nothing to do with. She loves it! She said she didn't think she needed to go home. She might just as well stay where she is. She glows again. I am seeing a spark in mother that has long been missing. She is rarely in her room as she is out and about either just visiting others or partaking in whatever daily activity is scheduled.
My Aunt Ethel had said that it was like the place was made for mom. I believe she was right!
And thank you God for always being there to help us.
Monday, October 13, 2008
More and more supplies . . .
I should learn how to use my camera. You know, the picture is worth a thousand words . . . it's a trueism.
I went on a day long supply trip with my friends Karen and Sarah. Oh my the first bead sto re went to . . . oooohhh tables and tables and wall displays and turnstyle displays and display cases of beads . . . tons and tons of glorious beads! They had a 20% off the entire store sale, which evidently they have twice a year. Then that 20% was off of anything they already had on sale. So one table was actually 70% off! yowsers! It was an adrenaline rush that's for sure! After I rang up and realize I didn't really spend as much as I thought I wanted to go back for more . . . oh my gosh, it is truely an addiction I have going here!
Then we went to the regular Joanne Fabrics, Michaels, Hobby Lobby stores. oh I found something in all of them. I found a Pasta Machine on sale at one of them for 10 BUCKS. I'm not even ready to start that hobby yet, but I bought one because it was such a good deal . . . just means more supplies to buy to go with it . . . yikes! Maybe I'll get Haze the supplies for Christmas . . . and then just use those . . . lol . . . she hasn't even ever expressed a desire for the clay . . but she would love it . . . oh yes, now here is an idea to feed my addiction . . . oh dear, this is bad . . . . yikes.
Then we did a couple Salvation Army stores. I also did make a purchas in each of those too. I got a winter coat for 15 bucks . . . a couple shirts for $5.00. It was werid how they sorted the clothes by color and not size . . . but it was fun to dig through it all . . . .
Now I can't wait for the next trip :*) :*)
See ya next sale!
Ja-who-dee
Don't forget, blog give away comment . . .just a few posts down!
I went on a day long supply trip with my friends Karen and Sarah. Oh my the first bead sto re went to . . . oooohhh tables and tables and wall displays and turnstyle displays and display cases of beads . . . tons and tons of glorious beads! They had a 20% off the entire store sale, which evidently they have twice a year. Then that 20% was off of anything they already had on sale. So one table was actually 70% off! yowsers! It was an adrenaline rush that's for sure! After I rang up and realize I didn't really spend as much as I thought I wanted to go back for more . . . oh my gosh, it is truely an addiction I have going here!
Then we went to the regular Joanne Fabrics, Michaels, Hobby Lobby stores. oh I found something in all of them. I found a Pasta Machine on sale at one of them for 10 BUCKS. I'm not even ready to start that hobby yet, but I bought one because it was such a good deal . . . just means more supplies to buy to go with it . . . yikes! Maybe I'll get Haze the supplies for Christmas . . . and then just use those . . . lol . . . she hasn't even ever expressed a desire for the clay . . but she would love it . . . oh yes, now here is an idea to feed my addiction . . . oh dear, this is bad . . . . yikes.
Then we did a couple Salvation Army stores. I also did make a purchas in each of those too. I got a winter coat for 15 bucks . . . a couple shirts for $5.00. It was werid how they sorted the clothes by color and not size . . . but it was fun to dig through it all . . . .
Now I can't wait for the next trip :*) :*)
See ya next sale!
Ja-who-dee
Don't forget, blog give away comment . . .just a few posts down!
Friday, October 10, 2008
Belle Amore . . .
I was looking around and googling here and there to find out more about my new passion . . . which I refer to as Twisted Sister . . . Wire Wrapping. As you know, I'm completely self taught, and google is my friend.
But I also draw tons of inspiration for the Queen of Twisted Steel . . . Deryn Mentock http://somethingsublime.typepad.com (wish I knew how to code HML so I could do the fancy click on the name take you there thing)
gosh, rambling again sorry . . .
my point is . . . I actually have some jewelry published in the above magazine . . . and guess who I JUST discovered is right by me in there . . . Oh the Queen of Twisted Steel . . . Deryn! WoooHOoooo . . .
Ah, the little things in life just tickle me the most hey?
love ya, love your art
ja-who-dee
Don't forget to leave a comment on the post in here for my Blog give away . . . a stash of mixed media art supplies from my big destash . . .
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