Jumping!! That's so cool!!

My good thing today (the 21st) was having some neighbor-friends for dinner. That's nice in itself, but what was so good about this is I didn't do my usual control-freak Martha Stewart make-everything-from-scratch thing. I asked people to bring a dish, and we had a really wonderful potluck. Much less stress.

Joan over on the Alzheimer Spouse board recommended a video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sknEaZHHbhc

It is indeed the cutest thing ... a "dance" by a dog and it's owner that is quite amazing. It made me smile ...

Today I deliberately stretched out on the couch, covered myself with a blanket and a couple of big cushions, and had an afternoon snooze. What luxury!!

Today I took some photos of the first goldfinches at our feeder. What a happy, bright yellow treat!

Well, I am a few days late with this, but Easter Sunday my DF with AD was able to stay at my house for 3 hours! And he ate the whole meal and had conversations with everybody. Told jokes and really enjoyed himself. Not sure he recognized most of his family members, but it was wonderful nonetheless. Like a gift from God. I will remember this day for a long time.

I got my Moms house rented today.

Tho I posted earlier, I have a positive thought today. After making my to do list for a weeks worth of things to do!

I have been able to sit here this morning, drink my coffee, relax. I'm with family who knows what its like to lose a LO to this disease.

This place is a true miracle worker for those of us going thru all the skirtails of this disease. Thankyou to all of you for being here.

I was barefoot and stepped on a wasp but didn't get stung.

Mom is quietly sitting in the sun,while I'm making dinner.

The Tarheels are in town for the game,tomorrow...can't wait!!!!!!
I was thinking about taking Mom to their practice,today at 2:00,but changed my mind......

Go Heels and Davidson Wildcats!
Shirlee

We wake up in the morning and I say, "going to the club"? she responds NO> I wait and do the computer and get ready and most often she is ready to go. We went this morning and she walked a half hour and then talked to anyone who would listen. I notice this afternoon that she is better. I do think the exercise helps. She is always cold and shivery when I'm fine. That's vascular. I think the exercise is pumping the blood even to her head. Maybe I've got a helper in the exercise at the club. Beats meds and meds. When she's happy I'm happy. Ask any husband and he'll tell you the same. Love gil

shirlee, it's amazing you didn't get stung!!

Yesterday's "good thing" was a full-on HAILSTORM! Very exciting! Thunder and lightning as well!

Today's "good thing" is that I woke up feeling refreshed! We had our end-of-course fiesta at my Spanish class last night and I forgot all about AD for a little while (mostly because I was using all my brainpower to chat in Spanish). I woke up feeling great today. Of course that could change in an instant, so I'm just enjoying the feeling.

I am so thankful for the forum. Thank you Johanna for explaining to me about the Hospice process and not to just talk to the intake person when calling. I did call our Hospice, we only have one in our town, the intake person was the one I had to speak with in the beginning, she told me we would not qualify until my husband could not hold his head up or his body and could no longer smile, I remembered what you said Johanna, I spoke with the Hospice Director the next day and was told that we in fact most likely do qualify now or if not are very near, she told me that they like to have an Alzheimer patient early in stage 7 in order to get to know the person and have the person know them, that the criteria the itake person had given me was incorrect and that she would see that it did not happen to another person.
I have chosen not to have the evaluation at this time, will wait just a little longer but just knowing that I will be able to get Hospice sooner rather than later has made my day and made it more likely that I will be able to keep my DH home. Again thank you Johanna.

I woke up today and was still breathing....
I don't always look at the "good" side of things, but thanks to this thread, it can be my daily reminder!!
Thanks to all of you for always being there-no matter what...

Yes,Ruthie,it was amazing that the wasp didn't sting....Guardian Angel.

I met a woman from Atlanta,today,who had come to visit her parents.She was shocked by how they are living,as we all are,at the discovery of AD.I felt so sorry for her and remembered when I was in her shoes.
I was happy to tell her about this forum which truly brightened her day!

The TARHEELS are in town and playing tonight.Can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!

Shirlee

this mrng i planted some lilacs with my dd & dh

I taught my two little children Rowan 5 yrs and Fletcher 4 yrs old how to ride a bike with out trainning wheels. They are flying down our dirt road as we speak.
Peace,
Dani

I made time for myself this afternoon and had lunch with friends.

Kasey

It is SNOWING like crazy here!!! Great big Charley Brown flakes!!! The daffodils and cherry blossoms are looking very alarmed indeed!!

Y'all might think that it snows all the time in Canada, but I assure you, I live in the warm part, where it seldom snows (but rains a lot).

Ruthie - you must be in Vancouver, BC - Its snowing here too in Bremerton, WA! It's the wackyist weather ever!

It's 80 degrees and the cherry blossoms rival those in D.C.

Shirlee

I took my Mom out to lunch at our usual place and then stopped at Target just to walk around. Before Alzhiemers took her away from me we always went shopping together and to lunch. Most of her conversations make little sense anymore. When I took her back to her assisted living facility she looked at me and said "we have not done that for a long time, I did not think life would ever feel normal to me again, I really had fun". It really made my day!! For the moment my Mom was back and I will always remember it.

One good thing for me today is taht my Mom is home from the Hospital.

Today I put Mamaw in a wheelchair and took her for a 1 hour walk outside. I figured I had to work out anyway, might as well kill two birds with one stone. She loved it and so did I. As long as the weather holds I am going to take her for walks alot more often. Absolutely beautiful, every huge azalea we passed she would say OH!!!!! About all she can say nowadays, but I knew what she meant.
Peace,
Dani

Oh some of these "good things" bring a tear to my eye!!!!

My good thing today is that my step-son and his new girlfriend just got home from college (Bard in NY) for a week, and it's so wonderful to have young people around!!

My "good thing" today is that I found (in one of mom's dresser drawers) a record that she recorded in 1949. She sang like an angel in her day, and to have a recording of it is incredibly special!!!

We played it, and the first track was "I'll See You Again," which I probably heard my mother sing a gazillion times as I was growing up. What a joy to hear that same voice -- bright and strong -- her voice from 60 years ago!

It's really scratchy, but DH is going to see what he can do in terms of noise reduction.

Can you believe it? And what a fitting song.

I'LL SEE YOU AGAIN
words & music: Noel Coward
introduced: 1929 London operetta "Bitter Sweet"

I'll see you again,
Whenever spring breaks through again.
Time may lie heavy between,
But what has been
Is past forgetting.
This sweet memory
Across the years will come to me;
Tho' my world may go awry,
In my heart will ever lie
Just the echo of a sigh,
Goodbye.

Uh oh! Looks like no one else had a "one good thing" yesterday!

My thing for today was that a distant cousin faxed me some ukulele music from her Hawaiian friend's songbook. Yay!

Well, actually, I did have one good thing yesterday ... Ruthie-Ray keeps pointing out the bright side of life. And that helps.

Ruthie-Ray,
good for you!! I'm jealous!! My one good thing today is during my
visit to Dad's NH last night, he did NOT ask to go home!! I'm not
sure he knew who I was, but BOY was I thankful that he didn't ask
"the dreaded question!!"

Whoops!! I have to make a clarification; when I referred to being
"Jealous" of Ruthie-Ray I was reading her post from 3/20/08, the
one where her housekeeper came in and was cleaning everything in
sight!! I need a housekeeper!!

Ha ha Matnet! Yup, my housekeeper is a godsend -- he comes every two weeks, spends 4 hours, and costs me $120/month. He actually gets down on his hands and knees to do the floors!

I'm so glad your dad didn't as The Question. I know exactly what that fear-of-the-dreaded-question feels like.

And JAB, thanks for letting this thread be your yesterday's one good thing! Hope you find a flower or a bird or a puffy cloud today that makes your heart sing for a moment.

Ruthie,
man, your Paul sounds fantastic!! I wish I could afford to "fly him in" from
Vancouver! Its such a great idea to get someone like Paul. I think I'm
going to start looking. Why not?? I work from home, but so many times I'll
start a household chore, only to have the business phone ring; then, of
course I get side-tracked and don't finish the chore......Paul, oh, Paul,
where are you???

Exactly! I referred him to one of my neighbors recently, and she sent me a gleeful e-mail saying "On Tuesday afternoons, Paul shall be MINE!"

I work from home too, and it's just wonderful to sit in my office manipulating words while Paul is manipulating my floors and toilets. HAW!

If I win the lottery, I'll fly him out to Jersey for you.

My 16 year old daughter passed her driving test with an 89 after getting a 68 last week. Made her feel really good.
Of course scares mom to death, and now we have to get a car....

Thanks Ruthie,
I'll take you up on that!! I did play the "Mega millions" game today; I usually
don't like to gamble, but my thought is with the $135 million I could get a
larger house, with full-time nursing staff for my Dad, and a housekeeper like
Paul.

I got my income tax returns done ... and I'm getting money back. YAY!

I took the plunge and signed up for a card-making class, just a one-timer. I haven't been able to do anything like this in a long time, so I'm seizing the moment. I'm looking forward to getting lost in some creativity.

I signed up for ballroom dance lessons. Scared to death!

~Carol D. O'Dell

I got new gym shorts. They are black, have pockets and were 50% off. The best part is they make by a** look awesome. Hey, it's the little things in life right.
Peace,
Dani

I called my Mom today and for the first time in two weeks when I asked her how her day was she said it was good. It made me so happy I wanted to cry.

Last night I visited my Dad at the NH. It was the 2nd visit this week where
he didn't ask "the dreaded question." (when am I going home? )
Not only didn't he ask, twice he took my hand, and said he loved me,
and gave me kisses.....

What wonderful "good things" everyone has! (we want pictures, dani!)

My good thing for yesterday was that finally...FINALLY...I got my mom to make me joint on her bank account. We're joint on the main one, but she has really resisted it on this small-ish one. One of the bank guys wrote on a card that she should talk to me about making it joint, and I seized the opportunity to say that the bank suggests she do it!!! It was touch and go for a bit, but she did it, and not a moment too soon...I had to spell her name to her while she tried to sign the papers!!!

My good thing for today is that Paul is here. Right now, as I type, he is nextdoor to my office, scrubbing the toilet. Wheeeeee!!!!!!!!!!

Coffee...yet another study, it's okay to still drink it. Thank goodness, don't know what I'd do without it.

Ruthie,
Paul sounds like the best house keeper I ever saw.This guy used razor blades to clean tile. He was so hyper......10 cups of coffee on
speed. No woman could clean as well! I have several bathrooms that could use his magic touch,right now.LOL

JRB,
What would caregivers do without coffee? When I saw the article that prompted my post,I cringed in panic.

My one good thing is that I paid my taxes......or is that a good thing?

Shirlee

What does Paul wear while cleaning...oops, sorry I just had a vision. He sounds wonderful, ah, a man who cleans.

Today I read the wonderful reply from Matnet4 ..his words were so comforting....and he inspired me to stop crying and pull myself together...and try to visit my Mom tomorrow...I am making plans to do that...I framed some photos to bring her...(including one of our dog Benjy..who she loves)...It was difficult however I managed to go into her closet and put a few of her favorite outfits together..they're folded and ready to be packed..a beautiful country quilt and pillow...cards..and flowers...(the Lilac tree is ready to bloom and she would always sit on the porch while I cut some flowers for her)...I can bring her tulips..daffodils..even the primrose are blooming..she also loves pansies...I had a long talk with my Fiance'..I haven't talked to him in 5days..we just pass each other ...or I'm in bed crying and he leaves me alone. He said he would go with me to see my Mom ....so that's a good thing...I hope I can do this...after reading all of the posts here and realizing that we all are going thru the same journey with our elderly Parents and spouses ..it has helped me so much and made me stronger...
Again...thank you MatNet...for your kind words...they are positive and uplifting and made me realize that being so depressed..putting too much energy into thinking negative thoughts is only making things worse...I hope it all goes well tomorrow....Pray for me....thanks

Benbas, Hey!! I replied to your post in the other forum, "Caregivers
Consultant." And, (you're going to laugh)I'm a woman!! My name is
Nancy. I know, the Matnet sounds MANLY! Its just a combination
of my hubbie's initials and my own. I'm so glad to read you're
considering visiting your Mother. I truly believe this will help
you. You love your Mother, and being separated from her is only
adding to your sadness. I think you and she BOTH will benefit
from you going to see her. Please let us know how it goes!!

I have two good things- first I was able to clean a closet that has been a mess for the pst two years,

Secondly, out of the blue mom said she loved me and wanted to go dancing with me. Ot made me LOL because mom can't walk without assistance.

My Good Thing yesterday was scheduling a massage for myself! My neck and shoulders have been giving me a lot of trouble. I joined Massage Envy this fall, but I haven't gone in for a massage for 3 months because I was "too busy" to take care of myself. So I treated myself yesterday, and it felt so good that I'm going back next week!

Caregivers (even those of us who don't actually reside with our LO's) need to remember our own needs. We have to take care of ourselves!

Bev

My parked car was hit and run early Thursday morning. The police were able to identify the car involved, haven't found the driver yet, but finding the car means I don't have to pay a $500 deductible. Thanks goodness, because I don't have $500 to spend for something someone did to my car while I was sleeping.

JRB should I tell you that Paul goes shirtless on hot summer days? Oh yes he does!

My OGT today was that one of my clients, who is all-business and never effusive with her praise, called me a "godsend!"

My 12 year old son noticed how tired I was today so has been using his very best manners so I wouldn't feel so stressed out(His words). Might not seem like much, but it made me feel special that he was trying to make me feel better. He is the joy in my life!