Calm Day

I guess I'm getting a little "sin-ile" myself, because I just spent a good half hour writing up a post and didn't save it before publishing and lost the whole thing! Hate it when that happens.. anyway, here's take two.

Just back from spending four hours next door (noon to four), and I must say, Mom was in a much calmer state today. Dad happily shared that Mom ate a good breakfast and lunch today, plus a snack. She didn't complain about her back pain at all today, though she did remark once or twice how good it feels to have the heating pad at her back and throw over her legs. When Dad left to run his errands (which included picking up her new script of Namenda, which she will start tomorrow morning), she didn't once ask where he was, or if he was back yet, or wistfully sigh, "I just wish he was home now."

After he left, I put a load of towels in the washer. Mom wanted to help, so I suggested she add the laundry detergent, which she did. I suggested we do some more exercise (they both said she had walked around the dining room table five times earlier.) She agreed to that, so we bundled her up with coat, scarf, hat and gloves, and we marched right outside to the end of the driveway. She wanted to walk down into her side garden, and she was able to name a couple of her shrubs. I had to convince her to walk one more round up the driveway and back, and I tried to stall as much as possible, because the sunshine and fresh air surely can't hurt!

Back inside, we settled into her chair and started watching a program on HGTV. I asked her if she would like some tea. At first she said no, but when I told her I was going to heat up some water anyway for myself, she changed her mind and said, okay, if you're having some, I will, too. I brought out the tea and two scones, but she declined the scone, claiming she is "sick of them," but not in a grumpy way. It was sweet, because she remarked something like, "Once Daddy finds something he likes, that's it!" She drank all of her tea, and even accepted a second half-cup.

Then the wash was done, and though she offered to help, I said, that's okay, you chill, I'll pop them in the dryer and you can help me fold them when they're done. We settled back in quietly and watched more HGTV. Occasionally, she closes her eyes for a moment, but for the most part, she was watching and seemed to be following.

When the towels were done, again, I told her to wait, and brought them up in the basket. She helped me fold the smaller ones from her chair, and when they were all folded, she wanted to put them all away right away. I said, let's wait so we can see the end of this program. This seemed to be torture for her, but she appeased me, though that basked of folded towels sitting at our feet was really nagging her!

Once the show was done, she said, "Okay, I want to put them away," and she got right up. I brought the basket into her bedroom and sorted the towels on the bed. She admitted there that this was really hard for her, but eventually, we got all of the towels put away in their "proper" places. :)

Dad came home with the new meds, new new light bulbs, and a brand new dish rack! Hooray! He read the pamphlet that comes with the Namenda, and then handed it to me to read. When I told her about the possible side effects of the drug, she didn't seem too concerned. The side effects include dizziness, confusion (ha!) and gastrointestinal problems, but this is in a small percentage of users. We talked again about her condition, and I think, I hope, she appreciates the candor we must have with her about the disease. I learned from that pamphlet that over 5.2 million people in America suffer from AD! Of course, that's the drug company's stats, but, then again, I'm not one that follows stats so much!

I was able to squeeze in another load of wash, a little light closet organizing (Mom's clothes), and some cleaning and dusting while Mom and Dad did some reading. Things always seem to get a little more harried over there as it gets to four o'clock, so I started to get ready to leave. Dad plans on using the Trader Joe's frozen shrimp stir fry that Nat brought up last weekend for dinner, so hopefully this will be easy for him and satisfying for both! Thanks Nat!

As I left today, I felt less stress. I know this post is a wee droll, but this is just another typical day. I wish I could remember some of the humorous things that sometimes happen or get said over the time. Tomorrow, I'll be leaving mid-afternoon for a show in Damariscotta, then Sunday morning, I hope to get over there as early as possible so Dad can go to church. We haven't really discussed the details yet (it's really hard for Dad and me to talk too much without Mom wanting to know what we are discussing, but then again, we try not to hide anything from her.. it's tricky.)

Anyway, all in all, a calm day, for which I am grateful. I make sure to tell Mom everyday that I love her. And Nat, she remembered that you called last night. The one thing she did complain about is that she has "nothing to read" and that the print is so small in the magazines. Let's get her some big print books gang!