Loving and Living Alzheimer’s

Our new mantra Everything is fine and stay calm. After our last episode, we are paying careful attention to the warning signs of the impending explosion.  His body language changes.  His face literally becomes a mask of white.  We are learning to identify it before it’s too late. Stay calm.. I had the opportunity to enjoy a weekend to myself last weekend as Randy went out of town with the boys.  He enjoyed the Dodgers game on Friday and the Pre-Season Rams vs Raiders game on Saturday. Got a frantic call from his buddy when they were only 8 hours into the trip.  “Is there a safe word because I don’t have the magic boobies!!!”  After my laughter subsided, I simply told him, “stay calm”. Alzheimer’s patients, much like children, feed off of your energy.  I’ve raised 2 children yet, this was a tough realization to come to with my husband.  Stay calm.   The rest of his weekend went smoothly and he was so excited to share all his experiences with me when he got home.  It was much needed.  I

 Today honestly made me question how I am going to do this. I don’t know what to do with his anger.  His ugly words and threatening body language.  Who is this man?  Where is my guy?   Smiles all morning and into the afternoon.  Then, he noticed that damn Oleander!  (If you’ve read my prior blogs, you know this is a HUGE issue for him).  The seemingly innocent hedge in our neighbors yard.  “It’s too tall”, “it grows over our fence”, “they grow it that way on purpose”.  Screaming profanities and pounding on the fence. Caregiver response?  Redirection.  Apparently not today.  That fueled the fire.  Like throwing a full gas can on that fire!  Poor Nette had to endure a verbally abusive lashing. Then?  The great escape… Nette hops in the car to collect our fugitive, who greets her by throwing a full water bottle and a handful of rocks at the car.  Fearful that her presence will escalate the situation and possibly attract unwanted police attention, she returns home as he walks it off. This

 Spent the majority of the last week at home.  I try to keep his schedule busy with activities and our weekends are usually packed.  Last weekend, however, was a much needed relaxing couple of days, at home. He was happy-manic during this period.  It’s great and exhausting!  Still sleeping a lot but, man o man, when he’s awake… BUCKLE UP! On work days, he sleeps till noon and then he’s ready.  Ready to swim, ready to fold an entire load of laundry  (leaving a few items in EVERY SINGLE ROOM of the house).  Ready to start 10 projects and not finish one.  Ready to talk to random FB profile pics, for hours on end, convinced those people are in our home. Etc, etc… By the time I arrive home, he is ready to enthrall me with the happenings of his day.  His excitement is barely controlled. This is where things have the potential to turn grave.  He is more confused than ever and every sentence is 80% cryptic.  We spend most of our time trying to decipher what he is trying to tell us.  If we can’