tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9925557748098911212024-03-13T16:23:55.756-05:00Life is Hard..... If You Don't Know or Remember the DirectionsThe ups and downs of helping my dad care for my grandmother who suffers from Dementia.Carole Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13978441748050250052noreply@blogger.comBlogger65125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-992555774809891121.post-65717707767708115152021-05-29T22:10:00.000-05:002021-05-29T22:10:10.008-05:00My Grandmother Passed Away<p> My sweet grandmother passed away last October. We always felt Grandma would out live us all. In the end, Covid caused her dementia to progress. I know it was 7 months ago. I am just now finding the time to write this post and to be honest, I haven't wanted to write about losing her.</p><p>Grandma was in a nursing home. We weren't able to visit her due to restrictions. We found out she was sick in August. They had placed her in the hospital. Again, due to restrictions, we weren't allowed to go see her. My uncle worked for the hospital, so he managed to go see her. They moved her back to the nursing home on hospice. The administrator of the hospital did help us face time. her on several occasions. We had one phone call with her and we saw her trying to respond to us. It gave us hope that she might pull through. Sadly, she passed away 3 days later. The nurses said she was peaceful in her bed. </p><p>To answer the one question I know everyone is wanting to know....No, she did not have her teeth. She still had the bad habit of wrapping her teeth up in napkins or wash clothes. The nurse thinks they may have been thrown in with the laundry. </p><p>She had her funeral all planned. Her and Grandpa had paid for everything. She had a casket picked out. The one thing she did not plan on was what she would wear. My mother and I found a nice pleated skirt and hot pink top. </p><p>When you lose a loved one, the funeral home will ask you if you want to do their makeup or fix their hair. You can hire someone to do this for you. Do not get me wrong, this is not an easy task for anyone. My mother had done this for her mother and her best friend. So, she felt like she could do it. I wanted to go with her for support. My sister felt the need to go as well. </p><p>Here is how that played out.....My mother, my sister and I are in a room off the chapel at the funeral home. They bring Grandma in on a long metal gurney. This was the first time we had seen her in 8 months. My emotions were telling me to cry, but my mind was telling me Grandma would have been having a crazy time with the current situation. My mother started fixing her hair. Grandma had lost a lot of it. It wasn't as easy to fix as we thought it would be, but my mother had fixed her hair many times before. She continued on doing what she knew to do. My sister started getting anxious and then started telling my mom what to do. She eventually took the brush from my mom. Let me tell you, in that moment, my mother gave my sister a look and I was seven years old all over again. I could see my mom about to lose it. </p><p>At that moment, I started inspecting Grandma's clothes when I saw red finger nail polish on the nails of her fingers. Oh my goodness, Grandma would have been trying to get all of that off. She was always proud of her pretty fingernails and often gave us manicures when we spent the day with her. So, while my mom and sister are going around and around on getting grandma's hair just right, I begin scratching off the red finger nail polish. It was not an easy task. It did get us all too laughing and giggling. I am sure the funeral home director probably heard us and thought we were losing our minds. My daughter heard us and had to come in and find out what we were doing. I am not sure what she thought, but we were a sight! </p><p>Grandma is now buried next to Grandpa. It rained the day of her funeral. We had a nice gravesite service. All her children, their spouses and grandchildren came. </p><p>Even though I wasn't able to go visit her before she left to be with Grandpa, I miss her every day. All her stories have been showing up in my Facebook memories. She was a handful, but she was our handful.</p>Carole Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13978441748050250052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-992555774809891121.post-45222154786026532372018-09-08T21:23:00.000-05:002018-09-08T21:29:48.285-05:00Two Years Later...Grandma Is Still Alive and Kickin It In the Nursing HomeI realized today after looking at my blog, it has been two years since I gave an update on Grandma. Nothing has really changed. She is living it up in the nursing home. Her family has come to visit her off and on throughout the year. She doesn't recognize us as much as she did before. You can tell she is starting to go in the last stages of Alzheimer's. She has this blank look on her face and is often caught staring into space as if she isn't thinking of one thing. I often drift off into this blank space, but I am usually thinking of something I have to do. Every time I see her, I wonder what she is thinking.<br />
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They still let her sit behind the nurse's station and pretend she is working. She still goes into random rooms looking for her man. One thing she did that we found very interesting. Her roommate passed away. She called her mama. Ms. Mary would get on to her if she started fussing. She would tell her to go to bed. She kept an eye on Grandma. When she passed away, Grandma refused to stay in that room without mama. She moved herself to another room. She stays in a wheelchair now for preventive measures. Using her wheelchair, she moved a few things into her new room and made herself at home. The nurses realized what she was doing and finished moving the rest of her stuff for her.<br />
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They eventually got her a new roommate. Her new friend doesn't speak and has a trouble hearing which makes her the perfect roommate for Grandma, because she still goes on her yelling sprees and lets the entire place know she is going to break out. She still finds a man to crawl in bed with every once in a while. She gets caught and the nurses make her return to her room. Can I just say, I find this to be the funniest thing with my grandmother. She was very loyal to my grandpa. If you knew her, then you know she would be mortified if she was in her right mind. I like to think that she thinks everyone is "Ellis" and she is constantly looking for the right "Ellis".<br />
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So, that is the update. Not really much has changed. I don't get to see her as often as I would like because my life has gotten busier. It is also so hard to go see her in the state of mind that she is in. I know Cancer and other life-threatening diseases are hard but sometimes you have hope they will recover. You usually have some kind of time span of how long you have with your loved one. They are usually able to take care of themselves to some degree as well. With Alzheimer's, you have no idea how long you have. They look healthy. They can still do things, but the downside of them becoming combative, scared and not knowing is the hardest to go through with them. There is no reasoning with them. You have to become a part of their world instead of being in reality.<br />
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My dad who took care of her 24/7 is retiring this week. He is almost 71 years of age and finally decided now would be a good time to take a break. Before she went to the nursing home, I think he was scared that he would be stuck at her house all day, and that is why he took so long to leave. Now that he knows she is in good hands, he felt good about the change. He went to work for the company when I was a year old. 44 years later, he is going to finally get a good vacation. Prayers for my mom as she has to retrain him and keep him from driving her crazy. :)<br />
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One last thing, Grandma still loses her teeth often in the nursing home even with her name on them. They lost one set and had to get a replacement. Thank goodness I took her to Bryant that day and they have her records on file. Think about this, you have 100 people in the nursing home. Many do not have the mindset to think clearly. Most have false teeth. I guarantee Grandma is not the only one who loses her teeth. I am so grateful that it is no longer my job to go find them. No telling whose teeth I would find!!! Honestly, I miss those nights with her and all the craziness that came with it.Carole Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13978441748050250052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-992555774809891121.post-60876153234050594732016-10-09T18:26:00.003-05:002016-10-09T23:03:39.191-05:00Nursing Home and New Rules<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WLx7yo8Oj48/V_rRzErnl-I/AAAAAAAAEro/vK1xd6-i_uAyHmg37fVF8BUrUKO9DeplACK4B/s1600/1660_10153304042835036_8235644163427120575_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WLx7yo8Oj48/V_rRzErnl-I/AAAAAAAAEro/vK1xd6-i_uAyHmg37fVF8BUrUKO9DeplACK4B/s400/1660_10153304042835036_8235644163427120575_n.jpg" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0w8j62ksDyY/V_rQg1goiyI/AAAAAAAAErc/epA9fQRKz9Au5hUeqNghVCoKdXbe4U0RACK4B/s1600/10689515_10153759759082177_4017800995466580640_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0w8j62ksDyY/V_rQg1goiyI/AAAAAAAAErc/epA9fQRKz9Au5hUeqNghVCoKdXbe4U0RACK4B/s320/10689515_10153759759082177_4017800995466580640_n.jpg" width="240" /></a>Well, after finding Grandma laying in the road from a fall, we decided it was time to find a good nursing home. No matter how many cameras we had on her or how often we checked on her, we couldn't keep her from stealing the neighbor's mail or digging thru everyone's garbage. This fact caused her to miss her step on the curb and fall. So, after a week or two in the hospital, my dad placed her in a local nursing home. <br />
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It has now been 10 months. Grandma is doing great. We found her a good roommate. She spends many nights rummaging through other patient's rooms and yelling at her roommate to turn the lights off because she can't pay the bill. In the last couple of months, the nurses and my mother have caught her several times pushing her wheel chair to the door and trying to escape. She has made friends. They have dementia as well. They all spend their days plotting their escape from the nurses.</div>
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Some days, the nurses allow her to sit at the nurses station. Back in the day, she was a nurse and now she simply thinks she is back at work. She reads the phone book and yells at anyone that bothers her.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Yg5Xb60Wwjc/V_rR3X78e-I/AAAAAAAAErw/SS_yHEeOIhEIX4ufNROfP_Ma_L7aEJPrQCK4B/s1600/13872651_10153776747635036_2370425793151692173_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Yg5Xb60Wwjc/V_rR3X78e-I/AAAAAAAAErw/SS_yHEeOIhEIX4ufNROfP_Ma_L7aEJPrQCK4B/s400/13872651_10153776747635036_2370425793151692173_n.jpg" /></a>One day, while she slept in the hallway in her wheel chair, someone painted her fingernails red. She woke up and found them. In a complete panic, she spent the next 30 minutes scratching all of it off. She was mad that someone put that red stuff on her. A friend of my mother's realized what had happened and helped her remove the rest.<br />
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She doesn't understand that she is the nursing home. Her roommate tells her that Ellis (Grandpa) is down the hall. Her roommate also has a hard time dealing with her. When Grandma goes to bed, she expects everyone to go to be with her. Her roommate likes to play games on her computer and is constantly having to tell Grandma to get over it. For some reason, grandma deals with her and moves on.<br />
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Recently, we had a scare. Grandma developed a UTI. UTIs are horrible for people with dementia. We thought she was on her death bed. It took a day or two before they figured it out. They got some meds in her and she is back to her old self. </div>
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Keep our family in your prayers. My mother has become the main caregiver and visits the nursing home daily. </div>
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Carole Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13978441748050250052noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-992555774809891121.post-59550677306715605512015-02-06T23:59:00.001-06:002015-02-06T23:59:30.057-06:00SelfishLots of things are going on with Grandma. She is harder to handle these days. It pretty much takes 3 people to keep up with her every day. Mom watches her during the day. Dad takes care of her at night. I keep an eye on the cameras when I am not doing a million other things. We also get text from the many cameras in her house. The messages come to our phone when she has passed them on the carport. We have resorted to signs in her house. The signs tell her where she is, who she is, and what to do and not do. We have one on the door that states: "DO NOT LEAVE. GARY IS ON HIS WAY!" Does this work? Sometimes.<br />
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She just turned 90 this past week. My mom told her how old she was. Grandma just laughed. I told her tonight that she was 90 and cranky. In return, she told me that I was a selfish little lady who had no business at her house. She had a few other words but I am trying to keep this G rated. <br />
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She has been talking in her sleep tonight. Hollering and carrying on about how someone is outside and I need to get up and go find out why they are in the yard. I told her to go to bed and forget it. I say this with a small amount of curiosity. The last time she told me to go tell the neighbors to shut up, they were robbed in the middle of the night. I am still not sure if it was during the time she was fussing about them, but to say the least, she knows when things are going on in the neighborhood.<br />
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We still play 20 questions every two minutes with her. She will ask for my name, kid's name and age, my husband, where do I live, and why am I here? I answer every question every time. Then, she wants to know where I got my rings. She still believes they are hers and "that girl" stole them from her. I have to remind her these rings are mine and my husband gave them to me.<br />
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A couple of funny incidents have happened since my last post. I clean her house and help with washing her clothes. She will go weeks in the same outfit and no one can get her to change. Well, one weekend, I was cleaning and I told her to change clothes. She was reluctant. So, I washed some clothes and had a nice warm robe ready for her. I told her to change into the nice robe. Standing in the dining room, she removed her dress and changed into the robe. There I was with a naked grandma in the dining room. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING I WILL EVER FORGET! I AM SCARRED FOR LIFE!<br />
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I told her one night, I was coming to stay with her. She was excited. I got to her house and put up her teeth. When I came out of the bathroom, she started taking off her clothes. She planned on sleeping in the bedroom with me.....TOTALLY NAKED! I was like "NO WAY, JOSEA!" I told her to put her robe right back on and march herself into her room. She mumbled all the way back to her room.<br />
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So, here I am tonight with her once again in a bad mood. She wanted to know why my dad couldn't stay with her. I told her that she was stuck with me. She then starts making the bed and getting pillows. I thought she was making the bed for me until I realized, she was planning on sleeping with me. I told her to go to bed. She started mumbling "stupid, selfish (insert bad word here)." It is all I can do to not laugh really loud and upset her. So, I bite my tongue and tell her to go to bed. She wanted to know why do I get to sleep with the men and she can't? I wanted to tell her because "I am stupid and selfish!" <br />
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Four hours later, she is upset about her rings. She is convinced a girl stole them. I am that girl. Grandma came in and said "Carole Anne, are you staying with me tonight?"<br />
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"Yes"<br />
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"If you see that girl with my rings, GET HER!"<br />
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Okay<br />
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She came back a few minutes later. "You seen the girl with my rings?"<br />
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"I don't have your rings."<br />
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"Did I say you did? I said the girl has my rings."<br />
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"No one has your rings. Go to bed."<br />
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Grandma "You selfish, silly girl. You think everything is about you! Well, it ain't!"<br />
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Good to know! <br />
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<br />Carole Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13978441748050250052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-992555774809891121.post-12022040812984195632014-06-10T17:09:00.003-05:002014-06-10T17:20:50.047-05:00Bipolar and LostWriting in my blog has been a little hard in the last year. Not due to lack of stuff to write. Simply, because not much has changed with Grandma. I didn't really want my blog to be as repetitious as she is. I guess you could say, I also had a bit of writer's block. <br />
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Everyone deals with dementia differently. I have found some offended by some of my comments. Some have offered encouragement to keep on writing and sharing my stories. And some have laughed with me until we cried.<br />
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Last night, I decided to stay with Grandma and give dad a night off. I found her dialing phone numbers in the kitchen. She dialed the number, listened to the phone, sighed and then slammed the phone down. She did this about 10 times until I finally asked what she was doing. She was calling Grandpa. For those that don't know, Grandpa died almost three and a half years ago. She found his phone number in an old phone book. She called it and called the numbers out loud to make sure she was dialing it correctly. She then listened to the busy signal. She dialed her number one more time and then went into a long rant. She was hollering about how she knows he is probably on the phone or has it off the hook. She talked about how he was making her so mad because he was behaving like a "little bitty baby."<br />
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A new thing has occurred with her in the last few months. She has started cussing and saying the most horrible things. She really starts in when she gets frustrated and upset. I can't recall one time growing up where I heard her say a curse word, not even the word "hell." <br />
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I told her to not be saying bad words. She told me to "Shut the H.... up." I know Grandpa caused this frustration. I am sure he is laughing in heaven at the fit she is having. I can see him sitting with his legs crossed, holding his wrinkled, old hands together, with a twinkle in his eye, grinning from ear to ear and snickering. <br />
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After the phone incident, Grandma started to settle down a bit. I got her teeth and hid them in the back room. I convinced her to take off her sweater, because it was summer time. I had to make her go to bed.<br />
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I got ready to go to bed and realized I left my medicine in the van. So, I went and moved the twenty something chairs in front of the door. I got my medicine and walked back into the house. She was up and standing in the hallway when I came back. <br />
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She looked at me "Carole Anne, is that you?" <br />
"Yes, grandma. It is me."<br />
"Awe, I love it when you come and spend the night."<br />
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(Remember, this is the same lady who cussed at me 15 minutes before I went outside.)<br />
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I got her back in bed and went to bed myself. She came in several times and had to tell me the rules to stay at her house.<br />
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Rule #1: When, not if, the robbers break in the house, don't talk and tell my silly stories. They will leave faster if I just shut up.<br />
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Rule #2: Turn the flash light off your face (my phone). If they see your face then they will know you are listening. (I can't tell my stories. So, what else would I be doing?)<br />
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Rule #3: If the robber touches you, don't move. If you move, then he will think you will want you know what!<br />
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I agreed to not tell stories, turn my phone off and not move, because I am scared of whatever she thinks is you know what!<br />
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Later on in the night, I heard her rumbling around in the house. I heard the door squeak. She walked across the hall and hit the bathroom door with her body. She was heading into the bathroom. She then hit my door. I had turned my phone off and laid real quite in the bed. THEN.....I heard her peeing. I wasn't quite sure at first if she was in the bathroom. Slowly, I realized she was right outside my door. <br />
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I heard her return to bed. I decided to go investigate and verify the worse possible scenario. I opened my door and my bare foot, in one step, verified the evidence in front of my doorway. Evidently, all the doors mixed her up, and she got lost on the way to the bathroom.<br />
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Lost, cussing, and bipolar is where we are with dementia. We are hanging in there and taking care of her day and night. My daughter is covering the daytime. Dad and I are covering the nights. 24 hours a day trying to keep up with Grandma. This is, by far, harder than babysitting a 2 year old. Carole Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13978441748050250052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-992555774809891121.post-46919279272805690392013-11-04T17:30:00.000-06:002013-11-04T17:31:13.256-06:00Carole Anne is ComingI am so sorry about taking so long to blog about Grandma. With school starting back, I have been swamped with one thing after another. My oldest started college. When you oldest leaves home, it is a challenge to just adjust to daily life without her. BUT, You didn't come to my blog to read about my struggles. You came to read about Grandma!<br />
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Grandma is doing great. We have found someone to sit with her during the day. This has been a blessing for my dad. He no longer worries all day about Grandma wondering thru the neighborhood. She has a tendency to drag stuff from people's yards. She did rake her neighbors yard and sacked five bags of leaves. She has so much energy for an almost 89 year old woman! This new lady comes in the morning until dad gets off work and just keeps an eye on Grandma. The first day, Grandma felt that she needed to stay with her. So, she didn't do anything but sit on the couch. This really irritated her. She called Daddy that afternoon and told him that lady had to go! Needless to say, she has adjusted. Now, she feels like she has a house full of company. <br />
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She is about the same in her state of mind. Although, some days, we feel she is getting worse. Last night was one of those nights. Daylight Savings Time occurred yesterday. She was out of sync all day. She called daddy constantly with questions from "Is this my house?" to "Are those my trees?"<br />
I know those questions sound frivolous and crazy, but to a woman with dementia, these are the questions that have to be answered every 10 minutes. Remember 10 second Tom from the movie "50 First Dates". Well, we have 10 minute Grandma.<br />
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I arrived around 7:00 p.m. She had already locked the doors and put out her chairs. She came to the door and asked who was out there. I said my name and replied that I was her granddaughter. She argued with me about being her granddaughter. I tried to get her to open the door, and she simply refused. I called her on the phone. She answered.<br />
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Me: "Grandma, open the door."<br />
Grandma: "Are you out there?"<br />
Me: "Yes"<br />
Grandma: "Carole Anne is coming tonight."<br />
Me: "Yes, she is coming."<br />
Grandma: "Is she at the door?"<br />
Me: "Yes! She tried to get you to open the door."<br />
Grandma: "Well, you need to tell her to know her name when someone ask for it."<br />
Me: (Shaking my head) "Ok....open the door for me."<br />
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Now, I know....I referred to myself in third person...and I know by talking that way to her, it confused me as well. So, when you read the next part of the conversation, then you can understand how confused she was.<br />
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Grandma opened the door. She looked straight at me.<br />
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Me: "Hey, Grandma! It's me."<br />
Grandma: "I thought you said Carole Anne was coming over."<br />
Me: "I am Carole Anne."<br />
Grandma: "You are the girl on the phone."<br />
Me: "Yes, but I am Carole Anne too."<br />
Grandma: "Carole Anne is coming later to spend the night."<br />
Me: "Yes, I am Carole Anne. I am here to spend the night."<br />
Grandma: "Well, you can't stay in the back bedroom. That is where Carole Anne is going to sleep."<br />
Me: "I am Carole Anne."<br />
Grandma: "Say what you want, but if she comes in here, then you better move."<br />
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I stood there trying to just comprehend the entire conversation, as well as, memorize every word to share on my blog. She went into a long spill about how someone had hid her shoes all over her house. She has lost every pair of shoes she owns. She has to wear two different shoes because she hides them so well that she just wears whatever she can find.<br />
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She came in the room and spent about an hour hiding clothes, the tape recorder, the duck, and a phone of some sort. She kept telling me to whisper. Evidently, people are sitting outside her windows listening to our every word. I told her that those people were home. She gave me her "humph" and walked out. <br />
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She finally settled down around 9:30 p.m. I finished my show on television and started to drift off to sleep. "Carole Anne" never showed up, so I was able to sleep in the back bedroom.<br />
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At 11:30, She came back in my room. She was dressed from head to toe. She had a knit hat on her head, a trench coat, a suitcase and one shoe on her right foot. She was a sight! She was also scary because when Grandma wakes you up out of a sound sleep, it can really shake you up. <br />
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I looked at her and tried to comprehend what she was doing. She said we had to go and get out of this hospital. I looked at her and told her we were at her house. She argued with me. I obviously did not know what I was talking about. After all, I'm not Carole Anne. I'm just that girl on the phone! <br />
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I got her back to her room and took off her coat. I coaxed her back to bed and put away the suitcase, which, by the way, was full of dishes and records. I told her to lay down. She was really disoriented and confused. Her comprehension was gone. She wanted to know where Grandpa was. I told her that he passed away three years ago. She didn't like my answer and told me to hush my mouth. <br />
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I finally got her to lay down when I told her that I would lay down with her. We laid there in the pitch black. She asked the normal questions..."How many kids do you have?", "Where is Gary?", and "Where do you live?" If she didn't like my answer, she told me to hush and go to bed. Two minutes later, she would start in again with questions.<br />
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She did finally calm down and asked one interesting question. She wanted to know has she always been this way. I said no. Then, she wanted to know why did I take care of her. Why? That really hit me hard. Why am I doing this? Why do I spend my weekends arguing with who she is and answering 100 questions? Why do I help her hide her stuff and then turn right around and find it for her? Why do I spend hours looking for her teeth? <br />
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I simply told her because I am her granddaughter and that is what families are suppose to do. I hope she knows it is more than just an obligation. It is an honor to be able to spend precious moments with her. Cherished memories of trying to find her teeth. Memories of gathering all the pecans in her house. Memories of the figs in the washing machine. And how many of you can say that you know how to stack 7 chairs in front of a door to protect against the imaginary guy? I can!Carole Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13978441748050250052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-992555774809891121.post-33094619533051131992013-07-26T22:36:00.001-05:002013-07-26T22:41:36.133-05:00If I had a hammer...Cleaned the back bedroom and found all my "weapons" to fight critters and the guy trying to steal Grandma's false teeth.<br />
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Bring it! I'm all tooled up and can knock anything out! In addition, I have one crazy Grandma who doesn't have time for silliness! You just got to love her! Cause, I sure do! </div>
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I did have a special moment with her this morning. After she kept me up until 3:30, she came in around 8:00 am looking for her teeth. We have been fighting every night about how she is perfectly capable of taking care of her teeth. She wouldn't let me hide them but I watched her last night hide them in the kitchen. She thanked me when I retrieved them for her. Then she called me by name without any prompting. Last but not least, she thanked me for taking such good care of her. She knows her mind is all mixed up but she truly loves me and appreciates all I do for her. That was one of those rare moments that I cherish! They are starting to get few and far between, but it is enough to remind me of why I help my dad. She is family and family take care of each other! No matter how hard or trying. Oh! And she hugged me at least 3 times like old times! I knew it was a real Grandma hug and not the Dementia.</div>
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Carole Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13978441748050250052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-992555774809891121.post-54611654196131078812013-07-26T08:51:00.000-05:002013-07-26T22:40:20.215-05:00Critters!It is 12:30 AM. I'm laying in bed about to drift off into that wonderful land of dreams. I'm still on somewhat of an alert because I can hear Grandma getting up and down. I hear her go to the bathroom. I hear her rummage through drawers. I realize how many times she is flipping the lights on and off. I have a fan going to drown out the noises, but tonight it just isn't working. I can hear all the sounds of the house. I'm laying there still and trying to drift into a good sleep when I hear it.<br>
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The window had just enough light from the street light outside to where I can see the curtain move. I hear what sounds like a scratching noise on the window. I'm thinking quietly to myself and make a mental note of what "weapons" are in the room. The normal three hammers, two flashlights, a baseball bat, a couple of sticks, a hand grabber of some sort, and Grandpa's shoes. I'm not going to lie! I was scared. I hear it again. This time it is running along the wall. In the corner, there is a box of pecans. I hear it go thru the pecans. I turn the light on and grab a huge foam board that Grandma had from a family reunion. I still hear it in the pecans. So, I hold the box closed with the foam board. Grandma conveniently hid a red shoe under the bed. I grab it and place it on top of the box. I wasn't about to open the box. I knew in my heart it was probably a mouse and then it would be crazy all up in that bedroom. So, I secured the box to where the mouse couldn't get out.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-4g0ZGF_bJzE/UfNBIfxkS2I/AAAAAAAAAw4/XfpWFEBUiWA/s640/blogger-image--1686830774.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-4g0ZGF_bJzE/UfNBIfxkS2I/AAAAAAAAAw4/XfpWFEBUiWA/s640/blogger-image--1686830774.jpg"></a></div><br>
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I lay back down in the bed and then I hear it run along the wall behind the headboard. I hear it go around the electrical wires for the television. I turn the light back on and there it is staring at me from the diet coke can I had been drinking earlier in the night. He ran when that light came on. He was probably the biggest roach/water bug I had ever seen! He ran back under the bed. I grabbed the hammer and went after it on the other side. I cornered him at the foot of the bed. It was one of those western moments. The showdown....the enormous bug or me! It was definitely going to be him. I tried hitting it with the hammer but he moved towards the wall. I followed him up the wall with the hammer. I finally hit him really good and he fell 2 feet to his death below the window.<br>
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Now, that I had taking care of the critter, I laid back down to go to sleep. Turned the light back off and put my weapon back under the bed. I laid there for four or five minutes listening to the fan go round and round to circulate the air in the room. I hear the same noise again. AGAIN!!! This time in the bathroom. This time it really did sound more like a mouse. It was a scratching noise. Sounded like he was scratching plastic. Then I hear it in the other bedroom. I really didn't want to get back up and chase what I thought was a mouse but I knew I wasn't going to be able to go back to sleep with all the critters running around.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2Og0iM1iaMg/UfKzFyNJ9bI/AAAAAAAAAwc/OwyzOmpfYR8/s640/blogger-image--242862343.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2Og0iM1iaMg/UfKzFyNJ9bI/AAAAAAAAAwc/OwyzOmpfYR8/s640/blogger-image--242862343.jpg"></a></div><br>
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I went to the bathroom first with hammer in one hand and flashlight in the other. I shined it around the room and saw one roach in the middle of the floor. Bam! Then I heard the plastic scratching noise. A mop bucket was in the corner. One had fallen into the bucket and was trying to get out. Bam! So, after taking care of the critters of the bathroom. I decided to venture into the other room. I thought if it is was just another water bug or roach then I had this under control. I opened up the bedroom door. All lights were off. The other bedroom doors were closed. I listened intently to hear where the critter was running. I heard it in the other bathroom. I got ready to turn the light on to catch him running around. Hammer was ready in my other hand. When I flipped the light on, there was the biggest critter I had ever seen going into the cabinet under the sink. This critter was GRANDMA! Evidently, the cleaning supplies were not in order under the sink. So, she decided to slowly slide them back in place in the dark!<br>
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I told her what had happened in the bedroom with the water bugs. She wanted to know if I got them with the hammer. I said yes to all her questions. I finally turned back to go to bed. When I hear her say "I told you we needed a man for protection!" I replied, "All they want to do is make babies! We don't need no man or babies!" :)<div><br></div><div>P.S. Daddy will be spraying tonight, and I will be throwing out all pecans! Grandma's squirreling habits are causing the problem.</div>Carole Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13978441748050250052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-992555774809891121.post-29328626466763115782013-07-15T22:31:00.001-05:002013-07-15T22:31:52.816-05:00Making Babies!I'm going to try to keep this G rated. As the Dementia gets worse, Grandma starts to regress in years. She may look every bit of 87 years of age, but in her mind, I think she believes she is in her 20's. When you are young and full of spirit, many have their mind set on relations with the opposite sex. My husband constantly informs my girls that all boys think about is being with girls. He thinks he is an expert on how boys think. Grandma evidently is convinced that this is true of anyone that stays at her house.<div><br></div><div>Tonight, Grandma informed me about some girls that have been staying in her house. They like to sneak out at night and get with those boys. They are forbidden to be with those boys. All they want to do is have babies! I guess I didn't learn my lesson from last night. My curiosity really got the best of me and I had to know what she was thinking.</div><div><br></div><div>She said "My sisters and their friends just use me as a cover! They come over here and tell their momma that they are spending the night and then they get with those boys!"</div><div><br></div><div>Me: "What do they do with those boys?"</div><div><br></div><div>Grandma: "You know....make babies! Just makes me sick thinking about all the babies!"</div><div><br></div><div>By this time....I am about to bust a gut.</div><div><br></div><div>Me: "What do you mean, grandma?"</div><div><br></div><div>Grandma: "I don't have no time to be taking care of no babies! They need to go on and take their business else where!"</div><div><br></div><div>Me: "Well, who do you think is making these babies?"</div><div><br></div><div>Grandma: "Everybody that comes over here thinks they need to go make babies! This is just silliness!"</div><div><br></div><div>Me: "Grandma, I promise I am not making any babies!"</div><div><br></div><div>Grandma: "Well, I hope not. You would just need a good spanking for that!"</div><div><br></div><div>And with that statement...she went to bed. </div><div><br></div><div>So, if you stay at Grandma's house, try not to make babies. She don't need no babies and would prefer you take your business elsewhere! Priceless!</div>Carole Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13978441748050250052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-992555774809891121.post-83755841505011792752013-07-15T22:17:00.001-05:002013-07-15T22:36:38.553-05:00Moving and Playing the Game!<div>
You can usually talk to someone and know when something isn't right. At that point, you follow your gut feeling and go with the flow. That is exactly what happened to me tonight. This gut feeling told me that Grandma was going to be upset. So, instead of upsetting her even more, I played along with the delusion she was having. I think my husband told me once to just go with the stories instead of confusing her even more.</div>
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I arrived at Grandma's to find her pulling dishes from every cabinet in the kitchen. She had every fork, spoon, knife, cup, saucer, bowl, and pan stacked in the kitchen. She looked at me like a deer in headlights when I walked in the door. I guess I startled her when I walked in her door. She informed me that we needed to hurry and load this stuff up because "the lady" was using them to serve dinner. I asked who was the lady. She replied with a lady from the church. She wanted to know if I had a car. I nodded yes. Grandma jumped into action. The next thing I know...we are loading all the dishes in my van. She started pulling clothes, vinyl records, photo albums, suitcases full of junk, and every dish she owned out of every corner of her house and loading it in my van. After the first three loads, it was far too late for me to stop her. I had to just go with the delusion. Toilet paper, magazines, photos from the walls, decorations, and shoes came pouring out of Grandma's house. She packed my van with so much stuff! I tried three or four times to tell her enough was enough. I tried to reason with her by saying we would take this load and come back for the rest. She just kept bringing more and more stuff. We loaded a telephone, scrapbooks, a painting, another tape player and almost all her china.<br />
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I finally convinced her to get in the van to go. She agreed. I pretended to lock the door as she got in the van. She saw her lawn chair and wanted me to grab it. I ignored the request. We pulled out of the driveway. She said she was tired and didn't understand why we couldn't just spend the night. I said we could but we would have to unload everything eventually. She told me to just drive. At this point, I noticed the neighbors across the street watching and trying to figure out what in the world we were doing when we left.<br />
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I rounded the first corner. AS SOON AS WE TURNED RIGHT....She realized we were at her house, but it was too late for me to fix what was about to happen next. Grandma let me know real quick that I wasn't pulling anything over on her. She knew I was just trying to get her out of her house. I tried to argue, but it was pointless. We drove to my parent's home. I saw my dad in the doorway. I motioned for him to come out and talk to her. He was reluctant, because I think he sensed that I was in big trouble with her.</div>
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She let him know that I was being silly and trying to move her out of her house. We both informed her over and over and over and over and over...you get the point...we were not trying to do any such thing. I finally told her that I was going to take her home. She calmed down and gave in a little.</div>
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As we pulled out of Dad's driveway, she informed me on how to get to her house from his. We went back home. The neighbors at this point had lined up lawn chairs in their yard across the street. I don't know if they knew we would be back soon or just wanted to watch to see if there was anything worth stealing, but there they sat watching and laughing. </div>
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We pulled in the driveway. After being chewed out for over 25 minutes, I was ready for more. She turned and looked at me with the sweetest face and lovingly stated: "Thank you honey for bringing me back home. I didn't want to stay in that other town tonight."</div>
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You just want to scream at her and try to figure out WHAT IN THE WORLD? But it is pointless. We unloaded the van. I piled everything back up in the kitchen and dining room. I'm sure the neighbors had a big laugh.<br />
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I went straight to my bedroom and threw myself across the bed. She came in and gave me her teeth and said she was going to bed as well. I replied "that is probably a good idea!"</div>
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Of course, the thought of all that stuff being piled up in the dining room got the best of her and within an hour, she was up and putting it all back where it belonged.</div>
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Moral of the story, don't play along with the delusion...unless you are willing to play the entire game. I had to play the entire game and this quarterback was wiped out! Wait, I guess I was a receiver or tailback. Quarterbacks control the game, and Grandma was in complete control of moving her stuff! I just ran the play that she called. </div>
Carole Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13978441748050250052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-992555774809891121.post-9806429286000299552013-07-08T23:18:00.001-05:002013-07-08T23:19:57.320-05:00Finalist for Best Personal Blog!I was a finalist for Best Personal Blog! Very cool! What an honor! Check out the other blogs.<div><br><div><span style="font-family: '.HelveticaNeueUI'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; white-space: nowrap; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">http://blogs.riverfronttimes.com/dailyrft/2013/01/2013_rft_web_awards_finalists.php</span></div><div><font face=".HelveticaNeueUI"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; white-space: nowrap; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><br></span></font><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-lthv1Xdq9EU/UduPJfqA-bI/AAAAAAAAAmE/lTMFjQFuYBo/s640/blogger-image-117601495.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-lthv1Xdq9EU/UduPJfqA-bI/AAAAAAAAAmE/lTMFjQFuYBo/s640/blogger-image-117601495.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-e4P48naXKDY/UduPKfw3bNI/AAAAAAAAAmM/bVSZkOPNw9Q/s640/blogger-image--1276393870.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-e4P48naXKDY/UduPKfw3bNI/AAAAAAAAAmM/bVSZkOPNw9Q/s640/blogger-image--1276393870.jpg"></a></div></div></div>Carole Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13978441748050250052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-992555774809891121.post-47875655957602986772013-07-08T19:44:00.001-05:002013-07-08T19:44:20.148-05:00Thank you, Dementia!<br />
Thank you, Dementia!<br />
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Thank you? Yes, you read it right. Dementia is all about the mind and what is lost from our loved ones. But sometimes, when our loved ones lose someone then the grieving process is really easy.<br />
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It has been almost three years since my grandfather passed away. He was 92. He hurt his hip and went down fast from that point. While we were losing Grandpa, Grandma was oblivious to the situation.<br />
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Tonight, when I came in the door, she was doing her usual packing and moving from one room to another. I asked her what she was doing. She told me about Grandpa going to Hot Springs and wanting to get a house over there. I just went along with the story. She said she was having to pack everything and get ready for the move. I asked her about the clothes and items on the table. She said she didn't know how they got there. She reiterated how upset she was with Grandpa. She said that she wished he would just get settled and stay in one spot. <br />
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We tell her all the time that Grandpa is dead and he isn't coming back. Do you know how hard that is to say every single day? And why do we say it? Grandma isn't going to remember it. She isn't going to cry about losing him. We only say it for our benefit. She will ask when Grandpa is going to get there. I tell her that he is dead. She gets sad all of 30 seconds, and then she wants to know if she can put the suitcase under my bed or the vinyl records behind the headboard.<br />
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How many times have you heard about married couples dying within a few months of each other because their hearts are broken from their loss? June and Johnny Cash died within 4 months of each other after 35 years of marriage. I have no idea if Grandma and Grandpa shared that kind of love for each other. I do know,however, whenever you saw one, the other one wasn't to far behind. They were married for over 60 years. Even if they didn't love each other like Johnny and June, I'm sure one would be lonely without the other. <br />
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This is why I am thanking dementia. Grandma hasn't grieved for Grandpa. She goes about her daily task waiting for him to get home. We can tell her about his death and where he is buried, but she forgets and starts over. I truly believe if the dementia was gone, Grandma wouldn't be with us today. She would have died within a few months of Grandpa. Not from old age or an illness, but from loneliness and a broken heart. <br />
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I know this blog is not like my other post. It is just something that hit my dad and I. We were discussing it with my other grandmother earlier tonight. <br />
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There are some funny conversations with her about Grandpa.<br />
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Grandma: You can't sleep in this bedroom. This is Ellis's bedroom. He will be back soon.<br />
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Me: Ellis died.<br />
Grandma: YEA! (A very sarcastic tone) Sure, you better stop that lying! You don't know one thing you are talking about.<br />
Me: (Thinking to myself, Grandma doesn't even know what I am talking about.) He died 3 years ago.<br />
At this point, grandma usually gets a little flustered, then she comes back with how she is going to tell my daddy.<br />
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I give her 5 minutes then she comes in to my room and forgets we had the conversation. From this point, I am not going to tell her. I'm just going to play along. Let the fun begin! <br />
Carole Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13978441748050250052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-992555774809891121.post-7110916692256928052013-07-07T19:49:00.000-05:002013-07-07T19:49:52.406-05:00Dinner and a GrandmaMany times, Dad has had to miss birthday dinners and family get togethers in order to cater to Grandma at night. Saturday night, he decided to bring Grandma to Famous Dave's for my sister's birthday dinner. Grandma was uneasy about the trip but she got ready. She spent Wednesday night hiding her shoes. So, on Saturday when it was time to go, the only shoes Dad could find was the red shoes missing soles. She put the shoes on and got in the car. Her gray stringy hair hanging down her back.<br />
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I was warned by text Grandma was on her way. I knew in my mind this was going to be a treat for not only her but for Dad too. We arrived around 6:00 PM at the restaurant. Mom, Dad, Grandma, and 10 other relatives were waiting on us. I naturally took my seat beside Grandma. She didn't know my name, but she recognized me to some extent. She was glad to see us but I could tell she was overwhelmed by all the faces.<br />
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She nibbled constantly on chips and appetizers while we waited on our food. I videotaped her with my phone. She would be talking and when she saw the camera, she would shut up! I was really wanting to catch her make some comments. My sister's ring caught her eye. She told me she had lost her rings. I told her that she had hid them in her house. I started filming her again and she saw herself on the phone. She smiled and said "Hello". As soon as the camera went off, she said she looked like an old hag. <br />
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We ate and carried on with our dinner. She saw my sister and mom talking. She thought they were talking about her. I told her that they were talking about me. She said they kept looking at her and making comments. I told her again that they were talking about me not her.<br />
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She ate everything on her plate. She really enjoyed the meal and enjoyed visiting but you could tell the night was taking its toll on her. She finished up her meal and said she had a little headache. <br />
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Around 7:00 PM, the fun started! The waitress arrived with the check and gave it to Daddy. OMG!! She looked at me and wanted to know if he was going to pay for the meal. I said yes and told her daddy always pays for the meals. Sara told her the same thing. She was upset about this situation.<br />
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Grandma: He can't afford to pay for YOUR meals. He is my husband, and I am a nurse. I work at the hospital and we can't afford this.<br />
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Me: It is ok, Grandma. He does this all the time. (WRONG COMMENT)<br />
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Grandma: You need to pass a basket around the table so everyone can chip in and pay for all this food.<br />
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Me: It is ok. We are fine.<br />
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Grandma: Yeah..You want him to pay. I know how you all operate. You take us out to eat and make him pay. You stick us with the bill, and you get off scott free!<br />
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By this time, I was laughing.<br />
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She started getting agitated. She mumbled something to daddy.<br />
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My mother, looked at Daddy and said: Sweetheart, do you need something?<br />
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Grandma asked who she was. I told her mom was Daddy's wife Brenda.<br />
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She gave mom a look and nodded at her. She had made several looks towards mom. Mom said the seating arrangement would be different the next time. LOL<br />
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Grandma decided she had enough of all this commotion. She pushed her seat back and said she was going home.<br />
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Everyone was looking at her and asked her where she was going. She walked towards the other table and grabbed a paper towel to blow her nose. I went to her and told her that we would be leaving soon. She was ready to go right now! I asked her if she needed to go to the bathroom. She said she could wait until she got home. A 45 minute drive, I didn't think she could hold it. I offered to take her to the bathroom. <br />
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We get in the bathroom. It didn't dawn on me until she was trying to operate the electric paper towel dispenser that she didn't understand what to do. Kiley and I were laughing when she pushed the motion sensor to get towels out. <br />
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We got out of there quickly and she told me I wasn't moving quick enough. I led her out to the van. Daddy opened up the door for anyone riding with him to get in. Grandma made a line to the van. She got in and held her head. She had all she could take. Carole Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13978441748050250052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-992555774809891121.post-88708826696760096462013-07-07T19:43:00.000-05:002013-07-07T19:43:48.849-05:00Grandma Fears<br />
Dementia has almost put Grandma in the state of fear all the time. She is scared of someone coming in the door at night and losing her teeth. I stayed a couple of nights and witnessed the fear of "the man" and losing her teeth.<br />
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I arrived at her house early. We watched a little tv together. She likes Wheel of Fortune. She doesn't really get into the game but likes Vanna's dresses. We had a good visit. Then I decided to head to the back bedroom to go to bed. <br />
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Grandma asked if I wanted to sleep with her. I told her I was fine in the back bedroom. She sarcastically asked me if I wanted the bed all to myself. I tried to respond but all I got out was a simple "Yes". <br />
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Grandma: Yeah! Selfish aren't you! I hope that guy gets you tonight and then you will scream for me to come in here! I won't come because you don't want me in here.<br />
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As quick as she told me how selfish I was, she then turned and told me that she didn't want me to slip out of the bed and out the front door. She knows my daddy and he won't allow that foolishness!<br />
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Another night, I stayed with her. We did the routine of getting ready for bed. I put her teeth in the cabinet. I listened to the story about how the woman comes in her house everyday and takes the mates to all her shoes. This woman evidently only needs one shoe and likes to surprise people. She also likes to come to Grandma's house and move her stuff around. This action just infuriates Grandma. She does not like people to touch her stuff. We spent an hour hiding stuff under my bed and in the closet in my room.<br />
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Around 8:15, she came in and asked me: You got my teeth? There is a man that comes every night and gets my teeth. (my dad) He puts them in the cabinet in the bathroom. I don't want him to get them tonight. I will hide them in the window.<br />
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I responded with a nod and told her to go ahead. She hid the teeth and left the room.<br />
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About 20 minutes later, she came back in the room: You got my teeth? There is a man that comes every night and gets my teeth. He puts them in the cabinet in the bathroom. I don't want him to get them tonight. I am going to hide them in the closet.<br />
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I nodded and told her where she had hid them in the window. She moved them to the closet and went back to bed.<br />
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This occurred about 8 more times. She hid them in the dresser, under the bed, in the cabinet, on the shelf, in a box, and in the kleenex. Same question and same story about "the man" coming in every night and getting them.<br />
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The last time she came in the room was around midnight. She peeked in the room and wanted to know if I had her teeth.<br />
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Me: Yes, I have your teeth. There is a man that comes in every night and gets your teeth. He puts them in the cabinet in the bathroom. Tonight, we decided to hide them in the window, in the closet, in the dresser, under the bed, in the cabinet, on the shelf, in a box, and finally in the kleenex. He isn't going to get them tonight.<br />
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Grandma: Well! You think you know everything......DON'T YOU?<br />
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She slammed the door as she left the room. Do you have any idea how hard it is to not laugh out loud at her when she says these things?<br />
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Carole Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13978441748050250052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-992555774809891121.post-69644528065922252322013-02-24T13:12:00.000-06:002013-03-14T14:09:12.409-05:00Operation Clean Sheets<br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">First of all, before you read this entire blog, I need to set the scene for you.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Play the Mission Impossible theme song in your head. I’m in my van outside of Grandma’s house with my lights off. I have my phone on the speaker phone with Shelby on the line. She is inside the house with Grandma. I was there earlier and had changed the sheets on Grandma’s bed. The sheets were going to my mother’s house to be washed. So, here is how Operation Clean Sheets went down. Stop the theme song in your head; I will tell you when to return to the music.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">24 hours earlier, Dad and Mom had to leave unexpectedly for a funeral, so I had to take care of Grandma. Grandma was in a good mood this weekend. She didn’t call Daddy a million times a day. We forwarded his phone to my phone. We did this in order for me to handle all her ordeals and questions. Kiley stayed Friday night and tried to stir drama up with Grandma by telling her various things that were going on in today’s culture. She also kept telling Grandma that she needed to take off the green dress she was wearing. This particular green dress is her favorite. She has worn it for the last two weeks. Kiley has been trying to get her to take it off and wash it. BUT that is an entirely new post. I will get to that later.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Anyway, back to the story..... Shelby was staying with Grandma. We joined them with KFC chicken. We all sat and visited as we ate our dinner. Grandma loves company. I gave Kiley the cue to keep conversation going with Grandma, and I went to her bedroom and stripped the sheets. I rolled the bedspread very carefully so I could set it back up easily. I asked Grandma where she kept her sheets. She answered without thinking twice. They were in a drawer in the back bedroom. I looked. I found the gold pitcher. I found the gold bowl. I found pecans and more pecans. However, I did not find sheets.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Frustrated, I looked in the middle bedroom. To my dismay, I did not find any sheets in there either. Finally, I looked in the bathroom and there under the sink was one pillow case and one sheet. JACKPOT!</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I put them on her bed, careful to put the covers back on the bed exactly as she left them. I only had one pillow case. So, I chose the ugliest pillow, and left the other two on the other side of the bed. I reset the internet, because she had unplugged it due to the fact that is uses her electricity. I also set out a night gown. I thought if she saw something nice to wear then she would change clothes.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I headed back to the dining room and gave the girls the sign that the sheet change had been completed, so Kiley and I left and explained to her that Ellis is dead, Gary is in Oklahoma, Shelby was staying with her, and I would be back in the morning with her breakfast. Kiley had aggravated her again. She was glad to see her go.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">We got to the corner and I realized I had forgotten the sheets to wash at mom’s house. AAAHHHHH! Grandma probably had her security system in place. Shelby would have to remove all 30 million chairs to get to the door. She would also have to sneak out with them.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">(Start Mission Impossible Theme song in your head once again here.)</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I called Shelby and explained the operation. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Her mission if she was to accept it: Grab the sheets that were wrapped in a red blanket in the back bedroom. I would be in the driveway with my lights off. She was to keep all communications on for surveillance in the van outside.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I heard Shelby walk through the house. AND THEN NINJA GRANDMA CAME OUT OF NOWHERE! AND she was in sundowners mode.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Ninja Grandma: Where are you going with those? Those are mine.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Shelby: I am going to give them to Carole Anne to wash.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">At this point, I knew that Agent Shelby had been compromised, and I had to move in fast and quick in order for the operation to go smoothly. Ninja Grandma can be quick at grabbing the possession and hiding it.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I ran in the house! I grabbed the blanket and sheets from Agent Shelby, and started to turn and run out!</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Ninja Grandma: “Hey, you can’t take my sheets. You need to get your own. Bring those back!!”</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Me: “I’m going to wash them out here and bring them back.” (Her laundry room is in the garage.)</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Ninja Grandma “No, you are not! You give those back.”</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Me: “I’m going to wash them.”</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Ninja Grandma: “Who are you? Well, wash them in cold water.”</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I laughed as I left. It was quick and fast. The entire time Operation Clean Sheets was in play, and Agent Shelby stood there between us with her mouth open having no idea what to say or do. I think she may be a double agent. I will have to investigate her further and provide more training.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I left Agent Shelby there with Ninja Grandma. I figured she could fend for herself. The look on her face told me she was not happy, but she had to deal with Ninja Grandma on her own... because I was out of there!</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The next morning I returned the clean sheets to her bedroom. I told her that she needed to change the sheets on her bed, and she said she would. Ninja Grandma with sundowners had left, and Grandma was back. She thanked me for getting her clean sheets out for her. We ate breakfast. I hugged her as I left and thanked her for all the special memories. She laughed. “OOOHHHH Girl, I have no idea what you are talking about.”</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">That is ok...because I do...well, for now I do. :)</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Oh. Oops. You can stop playing the Mission Impossible theme song in your head now.</span></div>
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Carole Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13978441748050250052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-992555774809891121.post-70010200166230175252013-02-17T18:13:00.001-06:002013-02-17T18:13:23.673-06:00Going Crazy with SundownersWell, here it is February. Grandma is still going strong. For around three months, we have been missing the second pair of teeth. Shelby, my 15 year old, was cleaning her room last week and opened an old suitcase. As she emptied the contents, she noticed something in the bottom. It was a plastic bowl with a lid, and there was Grandma's second pair of teeth. She freaked. Her friend freaked. They had to call me and I freaked. I mean really, how often do you find a pair of teeth in your room.<br />
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We had a long weekend. I ended up staying with Grandma. As luck would have it, her sundowners was in rare form last night. We went over around 5:30 to put her teeth up. Shelby insisted on going in and getting them. Shelby ran in and Grandma ran out. She was fully dressed in her Sunday best. She was carrying to pans and three lids. She got to the van and started handing them to me. I asked what are you doing. She said she needed to get home and get out of there. I looked at her and said you are home. She looked around and said it again. I said no and told her where she was once again. It started sinking in and she started realizing that she was really home. Shelby and I walked her back in the house. Of course, she had every dish, pot, pan, lid, cup, and bowl out of her cabinets. All her china was out on the hutch. She was moving and I was going to take her home in her mind. <br />
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She was adamant about me getting back in the house. So, I looked at her and told her we needed to hide her teeth and then I would come back to spend the night with her. She didn't want to hide them. She just wanted to go home. I asked her if she recognized me. She said "Yes, you are Carole Anne. I'm not crazy." Well, maybe not in her world, but in mine...Grandma you are off the charts right now.<br />
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We finally go the teeth and hid them safely in the back bathroom in a coffee cup. <br />
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To be continued.......<br />
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I apologize for not writing in January, but the girls have been taking turns spending the night with Grandma and I haven't had a chance. Carole Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13978441748050250052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-992555774809891121.post-72887418867239307772012-12-29T17:09:00.002-06:002012-12-29T17:11:15.111-06:00Junior MomentIf you are going to stay at Grandma's house, the rule is to be there around 6:00 PM. Sundowners starts to set in and Grandma starts to get paranoid. She begins calling Daddy every 15 minutes wanting him to come over. She stays confused about where she lives. She says that she has these feelings in her belly. That statement was a new one for me. She can feel that something is wrong in her belly.<br />
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Grandma's mind basically shuts down at night. I think it is from being tired, but mostly her mind is not making connections as well as it does during the day.<br />
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It was my turn to stay at Grandma's house. I decided to see how long I could stay at my mother's house before she started calling. I went to her house to put her teeth in the cabinet. She was in the bed getting ready to go to sleep. She had already put her teeth away. JUST GREAT! Another teeth hunt was about to happen. I went into the long spill of how my husband and I were going to spend the night with her. I told her that we would be back later because we had not had dinner yet. She said it was ok and told me to go on.<br />
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I started the hunt in the kitchen. Hunting for teeth has taken on a new twist. She hides her teeth in any kind of container. She hid her teeth in a huge crystal bowl, and she had just placed a small cup in the bottom of the bowl. So when hunting for her teeth, I had to check every bowl, pot, and cup. I got on top of the cabinet because I am vertically challenged, and started opening cabinet doors one by one. She heard me in the kitchen.<br />
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She hollared, "Carole Anne, what in the world are you doing?"<br />
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As always, I told her that I was looking for her teeth because she hid them from me.<br />
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She yelled back at me and said, "Well, they are in the corner cabinet in a cup."<br />
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My grandmother has DEMENTIA!!! She cannot remember my name for more than 10 seconds, but yet she had hid her teeth and remembered where she put them. At first, I didn't believe her. Then, I slowly got down and looked in the corner cabinet. Right there on the side in a coffee cup, were Grandma's teeth. I was shaking my head and laughing at the same time.<br />
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We all have those senior moments where we forget something. For instance, I forget where I put my keys all the time. Tonight, instead of forgetting where she put her teeth, Grandma had a junior moment and remembered something important for the first time in several years.<br />
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It was, by far, a very funny moment. Yet despite the laughter, it was a sweet moment as well. These are the times I cherish with my grandma. Carole Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13978441748050250052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-992555774809891121.post-49312920574737404732012-12-03T06:55:00.002-06:002012-12-03T14:53:56.938-06:00Rinse and Repeat<span style="color: #323232; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Bitstream Vera Sans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">I had a chance to observe Grandma's daily activities. If you were to see her, you wouldn't think anything is wrong. She is just an elderly woman living a normal life. According to demntiacarecentral.com, </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #323232; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">24% of those age 80-89. The other 76%, I am guessing, suffer from old age. Grandma does typical things around her home and just seems normal. </span><br />
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After reading further on dementia care central, I found that you can slow dementia down with exercise and mental activities, and that is exactly what keeps my grandmother going. She has Moderately Severe Cognitive Dementia which usually lasts around one and a half years. Well, we are going on probably around three years with grandma. Here is her schedule after I did some surveillance.<br />
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7:00 AM-She wakes up. Locates her shoes that she hid the night before. Doesn't even give a thought to her teeth.<br />
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7:30 AM-Daddy shows up with her breakfast. (Biscuits and Gravy) He fixes her a cup of coffee from which she will drink less than half. He usually gets her teeth for her at this time, if she hasn't hidden them in one of her top secret hiding places such as under the bed, under the sink, in the pots and pans, or in a even crazier place like the dishwasher.<br />
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8:00 AM-After Daddy leaves for work. She decides to lay down for a bit.<br />
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8:10 AM-She gets up and starts her busy day. She may start packing in her room. She goes where the suitcases are. If the suitcases are in the back bedroom, she moves them to the front bedroom and starts unpacking. She goes through each item as if she has never seen it before. She packs pictures, notes, books, and anything in her dresser that she feels is important. If she finds something that looks as if it my be worth something because it has a little gold painted on it, she hides it. Apparently, gold is worth more than anything else -- and that is what the imaginary people want. Yes! They want the perfume bottle with a gold cap, because no one wants a thief to smell bad. She will literally pack up everything in a bedroom and move it to another bedroom and unpack it. She will spend time rereading everything again and hiding items in that new room.<br />
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8:45 AM-She heads outside. She pulls her lawn chair out of the laundry room and sits on her carport for a few minutes watching and observing what needs to be done in the yard.<br />
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9:00 AM-She locates the tools she will need to take care of the yard: rake, broom, and pecan picker!<br />
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9:05 AM-Time for another little nap.<br />
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9:15 AM-She gets up and heads outside. She will rake and sweep and pick up pecans for two or three hours. She bags them up and sits them on the curb. During this time, she will have a bowl to pick up any pecans she may find.<br />
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11:45 AM-She heads in for a small nap.<br />
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12:00 PM-Daddy shows up with lunch and her medicine. She visits with him and wants to know if he is working.<br />
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12:30 PM She lays down for a small nap again.<br />
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12: 50 PM We start all over..... and repeat this entire cycle. Only, she may go in the back yard and rake leaves.<br />
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If there are no leaves to rake, then she sweeps every corner of the garage, the driveway, and the sidewalks. <br />
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She has the best looking yard in the neighborhood!<br />
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I have found that she hides particular things. For instance, the gold bowl with pitcher. She says these things are high valued items. Evidently, the lady or man that sneaks in every night wants the gold pitcher. It has to be hidden in the best hiding places in the house. For example, the gold pitcher has been found behind the toilet many times and has been hidden in the closet under the towels.<br />
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She hides the pecans. The woman probably has every last pecan from those crazy trees hidden in every corner of her house. She doesn't have a single bowl in her kitchen because those are being used to best conceal the pecans in the closets, drawers, dishwasher, or under the sink or couch. We still can't get the bag of pecans out of her grandfather clock in the dining room. She reminds me of a pirate; she finds her treasure in the front yard and then hides it. She hides it in her top secret places so no one will steal her prize.<br />
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She hides her shoes. Why? we can't figure out. But she makes my middle daughter hide them all over the house, and she can't hide them together, either. She must hide one shoe in the living room and one shoe in the dining room. If the thief is going to steal her shoes, he is going to have to work for each and every pair.<br />
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Around 5:30, the sun starts going down and Grandma starts getting agitated and starts calling Daddy. She wants to know when he is going to come home and stay with her. She is over there by herself and needs someone to stay with her. He usually heads out the door between 5:45 and 7:00.<br />
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Lights are out around 7:30, unless she really gets upset and frustrated, as she did with me last week. "OMG!" was all I could say. I got a new purse and decided to clean it out. She came in around 8:00 PM and said "it's time to go to bed, and you're charging the electricity up and I don't have the money to pay for you to come over and just sit in the bed with your pajamas on and not even look like your sick and all." How dare I wear pants to bed?! I have no pride in myself, and I'm not even a decent girl! I laughed. She said it wasn't funny. I tried to pull myself together, but when your grandmother is yelling at you to go to bed and telling you aren't decent because you have on pajama pants, then you have to laugh. I was also laughing about how I would never forget this night because I was secretly filming her with my phone. Then, she got fired up about telling Gary (my dad) how I come over there and use her stuff and all the electricity. I told her to go call Gary. She told <i>me</i> to call him. I said I didn't have her phone. She said it was a good thing because I would probably run <i>that</i> bill up, too!!!<br />
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I called my parents. My mother told me to get tough and put her to bed, so I took that approach. I told grandma she was tired and needed to go to bed. She said she would go to bed when I go to bed. She went and called Daddy. She told him that I was over there using up the electricity. He told her that I was his granddaughter and that I loved her. She said I didn't know what love is. She wanted me to go on and get out. During the phone conversation, she asked me if my mother knew that I acted this way. I said "yes." (MOM WAS THE REASON FOR ALL OF THIS! She told me to get tough.) Daddy told her to go to bed. She hung up the phone, but you could tell she was still upset. I told her to go to bed. She said she will go when I leave. I asked her who was going to take care of her if I leave. She wanted to know who was going to take care of <i>me</i>. I told her that I had muscles and plenty of sticks in the back room to defend myself. She held up her arms and flapped her muscles and said, "Sure, you got muscles." in the most sarcastic tone she could manage.<br />
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I told her once more to go to bed. That is when she turned and said, "I'm going to slap you to bed." I literally laughed out loud, but I had to stop myself. She said a few more things and slammed the door.<br />
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So, here's a summary of what I learned from observing Grandma:<br />
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1. If you have a loved one with dementia, they have to follow a routine. They will continue with something that they have done all their life. My grandmother has worked hard in the past. She has always worked in the yard. Now she spends her days raking leaves and picking up pecans. When I get in my 80's and have dementia -- my chances are higher because of genetics -- I will probably spend my days scrolling through Pinterest and stalking Facebook.<br />
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2. Do NOT tell them what to do. They will get pretty upset and call your Daddy.<br />
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3. Don't laugh because if you laugh then they will tell you that you need to grow up. They will ask you how old you are. When you say that you are in your 30's, they will reply with "Oh, Lord." or "Lord, have mercy!" Then they will accuse you of lying.<br />
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4. The best way to steal her pecans is to put them in a sack and tell her you need to take them to sell or have someone get them ready to eat for her. She will let you walk right out the front door with them. Hmmm.. I guess I should give her money for the electricity and tell her it is from the pecans.<br />
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5. Finally, remember: no matter how hard it is to deal with all of this, she will forget it by 7:00 AM and start all over. <br />
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Rinse and repeat!Carole Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13978441748050250052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-992555774809891121.post-46930154452703725412012-11-30T15:26:00.001-06:002012-12-01T18:59:00.796-06:00I'm Gonna Slap You In To BedI stayed with Grandma last week. There are simply no words to describe the mood she was in that night. I filmed the experience because I didn't want to forget one word she said to me either. I have tried and tried to write about it but just couldn't write about it without laughing. So, I took the audio from the video and made a rap from her remarks.<br />
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She was more agitated that night because #1 she was expecting my nephew Samuel to stay the night and #2 she didn't want me to have the light on after 8:00 pm. It was time to go to bed after 8:00 pm. And let's just say, she got really upset with me because I wouldn't do what she said. She even called daddy and told on me. LOL So, here is the audio of that night. ENJOY!<br />
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Carole Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13978441748050250052noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-992555774809891121.post-83990821158585284682012-11-24T15:20:00.003-06:002012-11-24T15:59:08.302-06:00Which One Are You?<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vg1rlNLoN7Y/ULEv-5b8-BI/AAAAAAAAAao/EupNyjMRr30/s1600/grandma+morning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vg1rlNLoN7Y/ULEv-5b8-BI/AAAAAAAAAao/EupNyjMRr30/s320/grandma+morning.jpg" width="239" /></a>So, I spent the night before Thanksgiving with Grandma. She had found her teeth earlier in one of her housecoats. She woke me up about 3:00 AM wanting me to go see who was knocking at the front door. I went and checked. I told her no one was out there. She made me go out on the porch. <br />
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Really? I was thinking "Thanks a lot grandma...if I get shot, it is all on you!"<br />
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I came back in, and she turned and went to bed. She woke me up a few minutes later and wanted to know if I heard a dog barking. I said no and told her to go to bed.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hsGZB5psleU/ULEwZEjd94I/AAAAAAAAAaw/jvaF_uDeJ8g/s1600/grandma+and+kiley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hsGZB5psleU/ULEwZEjd94I/AAAAAAAAAaw/jvaF_uDeJ8g/s200/grandma+and+kiley.jpg" width="200" /></a>We woke up around 8:00. Daddy brought her breakfast. He sat and talked with her for awhile. He tried to prepare her for the day. We wanted her to come and eat dinner with us at my mother's house. She wasn't sure about leaving the house. So, I fixed her hair and told her that she needed to get ready for us to pick her up around noon. She insisted that she needed a nap.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rvn2_rRCEwk/ULEweh8PRlI/AAAAAAAAAbQ/SmQsHrHoQ90/s1600/grandma+thanks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rvn2_rRCEwk/ULEweh8PRlI/AAAAAAAAAbQ/SmQsHrHoQ90/s200/grandma+thanks.jpg" width="200" /></a>Daddy went and picked her up around 11:30 AM. She spent time asking who was who. So, many people for her to figure out.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_d9ffJpp71U/ULEwdc4rmcI/AAAAAAAAAbI/qHmFM9NnWfw/s1600/grandma+eating.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_d9ffJpp71U/ULEwdc4rmcI/AAAAAAAAAbI/qHmFM9NnWfw/s200/grandma+eating.jpg" width="200" /></a>We had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Everyone came to my mom's house. Many, many, many memories were made. When all of us are together there is 19! We had so much fun getting each family together and taking pictures. Sara, my sister, and I got a crazy idea to take the couch in mom's living room and put it in the yard to take the entire family's picture. So, we moved everything around and had the boys pick up the couch. We went right out the front door and put it where we wanted it in the yard. It was really amusing directing everyone to help get the couch out the door.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The family</td></tr>
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In the mean time, mom was able to move all the tables into her living room for everyone to sit together. While mom, Sara, and Carla finished up cooking, Grandma sat and took it all in. She tried real hard to put names with faces but she struggled with everyone. She asked the same questions over and over.<br />
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Grandma enjoyed her meal and loved the banana pudding. She curled up in a chair in a snuggie and tried to stay warm. After about an hour, you could tell she was getting tired. I told her I would take her home.<br />
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We took a few pictures with her in the yard on the couch then loaded up and went home. We got in the van and she looked over at me. I could tell she was tired and ready to go.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grandma, Pidgeon, my sisters, Mom and me</td></tr>
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She said "Honey, thank you so much for bringing me over here. I had a wonderful time. The food was good and it was so good to see everyone."<br />
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I smiled because for just a moment, I had my grandma back.<br />
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We pulled in her driveway. I said, "Well, here we are!"<br />
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She looked at me and said, "Now, which one are you?"<br />
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I'm Carole Anne, and you are my "10 second Grandma". Carole Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13978441748050250052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-992555774809891121.post-22992619367316275722012-11-24T13:51:00.001-06:002012-11-24T13:51:07.118-06:00Squirrel MentalityHave you ever caught yourself sitting in your driveway and watching squirrels play in your yard? Maybe running across your roof? Maybe you have seen them sitting in your yard eating an acorn or nut they have found. Squirrels are intriguing animals. They hunt for nuts in the summer and fall and bury them in places that their tiny brains will remember. Then they live off their buried treasure during the winter months. Spring is hard on squirrels. According to Wikipedia, the nuts that they have buried begin to sprout and they can no longer eat them. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Security System in place.</td></tr>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KB9RMSkLE4o/ULEjbOOq7lI/AAAAAAAAAaM/rkcnhB2bQ-A/s1600/ready+to+hunt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KB9RMSkLE4o/ULEjbOOq7lI/AAAAAAAAAaM/rkcnhB2bQ-A/s200/ready+to+hunt.jpg" width="150" /></a>I stayed with Grandma last night. She has lost her teeth, not one set but both sets of teeth. I was to spend my night with her looking for her teeth. I geared up with a flashlight. I searched from one room to the next. Grandma knew what I was doing. She has gotten so use to me looking that she just goes to bed and doesn't care anymore when I am looking for her teeth. I opened every drawer in the bedrooms. I hunted under every piece of furniture. I pulled everything out of cabinets in the bathrooms. I did not find any teeth. To say I was disappointed was an understatement. I was hoping to find her teeth. I was hoping she would have them for Thanksgiving. She really needs them in order to enjoy the meal on Thursday.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FWiu0STcGiE/ULEjZw5X67I/AAAAAAAAAaE/AGJ870QKujI/s1600/pecans+trash+can.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FWiu0STcGiE/ULEjZw5X67I/AAAAAAAAAaE/AGJ870QKujI/s200/pecans+trash+can.jpg" width="149" /></a></div>
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uLbcSyQRIRM/ULEjYO3hjBI/AAAAAAAAAZ8/6exYPNPJcIQ/s1600/pecans+in+closet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uLbcSyQRIRM/ULEjYO3hjBI/AAAAAAAAAZ8/6exYPNPJcIQ/s200/pecans+in+closet.jpg" width="149" /></a>What I did find was pecans, pecans, pecans, and more pecans. For you see, dementia has turned my dear grandmother into a squirrel. She gets up in the morning and stays all day in the yard looking and picking up pecans. Then she finds bowls, trash cans, buckets, or bags to keep them. After she works for hours on end picking up pecans, she then spends time in hiding them and burying her treasure in her home. She hides them in closets, under beds, in the towels in the bathroom, and in the old record player in her room. I found a pan of them in the microwave, dishwasher, and stove.<br />
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I have yet to figure out why Grandma has to hide everything especially the pecans. I asked her what she was going to do with them. I was expecting her to say that she was going to eat them but she said give them away or sell them. hmmm...So, that is exactly what I did. I gave them away. <br />
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Carole Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13978441748050250052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-992555774809891121.post-74498548938571090452012-11-19T20:32:00.000-06:002012-11-19T20:32:45.421-06:00Grandma's Make Over<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Took Grandma to get her hair fixed today at the beauty salon. Well, let's just say, she wasn't at all happy about it, but the results were beautiful. She was happy in the end. </div>
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<span id="goog_1357403566"></span><span id="goog_1357403567"></span><br />Carole Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13978441748050250052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-992555774809891121.post-85538690932238765562012-10-28T21:31:00.000-05:002012-10-28T21:31:45.187-05:00Cherished Moments<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This is not going to be a typical post from me. I know you are probably wanting a good story about Grandma. I could tell you about my grandmother looking like a gnome and picking up pecans everywhere in the neighborhood. Simply, because she has this "squirrel" mentality to collect all the pecans she can and store them for the winter. She has even went out in the street because a few fell in the middle of the road. <br />
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This blog is more about what moments like this is all about. We are born and raised and our parents take care of us day after day. Then one day, we leave home and our parents have to take care of their parents. I know you know all this. But here is my point....I know how lucky I am to have both of my grandmothers even if one is crazy and the other one...well, I will just say..you are lucky to get a word in with her. And she may be small in stature but her faith is huge! <br />
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Back to my point, cherish the moments you have with your grandparents, parents, or any family member. Cherish those memories when you have to go and find their teeth, because they have no idea what cup they have put them in or what cabinet. Love the minutes that you sit with them and answer the same question over and over. <br />
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I got upset with myself this past week. I didn't cherish moments with my grandfather. I spent time with him. I would go and talk to him and listen to him go on about World War II, but I took him for granted. I guess I thought he would live forever. He was 92 when he passed and what a blessing to have him for so many years in my life. I never spent the nights with him like I am now with Grandma. I didn't take him dinners or get on to him for wearing Grandma's teeth to make her mad. And now, I wish I had spent those moments with him. So, treasure these moments and memories.<br />
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I lost a friend this past week. She was young at 48. She should have had many, many years to spend with her family, but cancer took her life. She cherished every last moment with her family. She made every one of them count. She didn't let cancer defeat her in any way. She was in so much pain, but went to a football game to watch her daughter march. When the doctor's told her that she didn't have much longer, the family loaded up and went to Branson. Her family cherished every moment.<br />
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So, if you are lucky to have a grandparent still living as I am, then go spend time with them and treasure every last minute you have with them. Believe me, she has been a handful. And over the years, has said a few things that she probably shouldn't have said to family. But she is still family.....My family.Carole Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13978441748050250052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-992555774809891121.post-3608978488824798862012-10-07T20:55:00.000-05:002012-10-07T20:56:21.522-05:00Funeral InterruptionsDementia can remind you of things we take for granted. For instance, when you go to a funeral, you show respect. You know that the family is grieving, and you honor them by being silent and show your support by being there. Grandma attended a funeral and her dementia took over.<br />
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Daddy arrived with her. I didn't realize he was bringing her to the funeral. The funeral was for one of our family members, but I just didn't think he would bring Grandma.<br />
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It was a nice warm day with a slight breeze. The cemetery was quite and very peaceful. The funeral was a simple graveside service. Grandma wore her best Sunday clothes. She knew exactly where she was when she arrived. Not far from the cemetery was the house that she first lived in with my grandpa. She made comments about going home and pointing to her old home when she arrived. She even told Daddy that he took the wrong street. She was directing him to her old house and didn't realize that she was attending a funeral. I guess she thought we had finally giving in and taken her home.<br />
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She arrived and immediately recognized Molly and I. She got out and wanted to know why we were at the cemetery. I told her who had died and that she could sit under the tent. The immediate family had not arrived at this point. She sat on the front row. She started asking again..."Who's funeral?" "Was she married?" "Did she have kids?" I patiently answered her questions and tried to get her to talk softly. <br />
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The family started arriving. Daddy was getting ready to perform the ceremony. I made Grandma move to the second row under the tent. At first, she refused because the second row was in the sun, but she finally gave in and moved to the back row. When the row didn't fill up the funeral director motioned for me to fill in the seat beside Grandma. He must have known that she was going to be a handful.<br />
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Daddy started reading the obituary. He basically spoke two sentences when Grandma started.<br />
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"Speak up, Honey! No one can hear you."<br />
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Daddy kept on talking. He was less than 10 feet away from us under the same tent at the graveside.<br />
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I hushed Grandma.<br />
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She got it out one more time....."Honey, you need to speak up. No one can hear you."<br />
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Daddy giggled and said ok.<br />
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He started back and she interrupted for a third time.<br />
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"Speak up! Honey we can't hear you."<br />
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At this point, Daddy chuckled and let everyone know that was his momma. Leave it to my grandma to speak up and interrupt daddy while he is preaching a funeral.<br />
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She continued to moan and mumble. I told her to hush, and patted her on the back to distract her. I think I told her to shut up at one point. I was embarrassed but I knew the family realized that I was handling her. She finally settled down towards the last 10 minutes. Unfortunately, the funeral was about 30 minutes long.<br />
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My Uncle R.H. was there. Uncle R.H. looks very similar to my Grandpa. She had made many comments to Ellis being at the funeral and standing over by the casket. I reminded her several times he wasn't Ellis. He came over to hug her neck and I said "This is Uncle RH." She looked at me and had a frown "I know RH. You don't have to tell me." Uncle RH and I giggled.<br />
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After he left, I directed her towards the truck. She looked at me and wanted to know when they were going to serve the food at this reunion. I just shook my head and told her soon. <br />
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She went and got in the truck. Daddy took her to eat with the family. He said she ate like a horse at the family's house. She ate everything on her plate and asked for dessert. They had a good visit for about an hour. They got in the truck to head home. She looked over at him and wanted to know "How much did you have to pay for all that food?"<br />
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<br />Carole Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13978441748050250052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-992555774809891121.post-85576459020442813882012-10-03T18:18:00.001-05:002012-10-03T18:34:49.075-05:00False Teeth Hunting Season Open After my conference, I had planned on staying with Grandma, but I was wiped out. So, I called Daddy to tell him that I wasn't going to make it. <br />
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Dad asked, "C, where are you? I mean which way are you going home? Oh well, never mind."<br />
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Don't you love it when someone starts to ask you a question, then they expect the worse, and answer their own question?<br />
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I replied "I'm still close by if you need me to do something."<br />
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"Well, she has lost her teeth again. I stayed last night and put them up when she went to bed. I left out early, and she got back up and came in and got them."<br />
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"Ok. I will go teeth hunting."<br />
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I showed up at Grandma's house 30 minutes later to find her sitting in the kitchen reading the phonebook again. I don't really understand the phonebook reading scenario. Probably, something I need investigate. :)<br />
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I told her I was there to find her teeth. She said she didn't realize they were lost. Then she touched her mouth and realized she didn't have them in her mouth. <br />
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So, I started hunting. When Grandma hides her teeth, you have no time to spare. You have to get over their within the next day to find them. It is like knowing that big buck is close and you have to get to your deer stand as quick as possible because he is close by and you are going to miss him. Well, hunting Grandma's teeth is similar. You know she has hid them somewhere close because she came in the middle of the night and got them. She didn't leave the house, so, they have to be in the bedrooms or bathroom. Those teeth are hid close by and you have to get to your hunting station quick or you are going to miss them. Because if you wait two or three days, Grandma will come in and find her teeth and hide them somewhere else and you will have to hunt harder for that big set of teeth that you are needing to find!<br />
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I hunted all over the bedroom. I found sacks of books and magazines stuffed under the bed along with several kitchen items. She had also hid the cassette tapes in various spots in the bedroom. Heaven forbid, someone steal Conway Twitty singing<i> I'll Fly Away</i>. I searched both bedrooms and then the bathroom. She came in several times to tell me to leave her stuff alone. <br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cNbiCQsEnDs/UGzJ73M2ROI/AAAAAAAAAWk/s3djTDZ640U/s1600/IMG_5348.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cNbiCQsEnDs/UGzJ73M2ROI/AAAAAAAAAWk/s3djTDZ640U/s200/IMG_5348.jpg" width="149" /></a>I finally found them in a cup in the bathroom cabinet. I had to reach in the back of the cabinet to get them out. I scraped my arm on a wire or something. So, I had went into the thicket and got the prize and came out with just a small scratch.<br />
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She came in and wanted to know if I knew where Gary was. I told her that he was at work. She said she needed to call him. I gave her teeth to her. She was glad I found them. <br />
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We went in the kitchen to call Daddy. She picked up the phone and wanted to know where he was. He assured her that he was coming in as soon as he got off work. She was a little lost when she talked to him. She thought she was in Dermott. Dermott is where she grew up. Daddy reassured her that she was at home. I told her to tell him that we found her teeth. She looked at me confused. She said "Carole Anne has something to tell you."<br />
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Here is how that conversation went:<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aXhzUq5mnsE/UGzKQMzdHLI/AAAAAAAAAW8/EgGqvRLz8m8/s1600/IMG_5354.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aXhzUq5mnsE/UGzKQMzdHLI/AAAAAAAAAW8/EgGqvRLz8m8/s320/IMG_5354.jpg" width="239" /></a>"I found her teeth."<br />
Daddy: "Great"<br />
Grandma (not on the phone..listening to me talk): "You found my teeth. Well, where are they?"<br />
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Daddy laughing.<br />
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"In your mouth, Grandma."<br />
"Oh my goodness. They sure are."<br />
Daddy was still laughing.<br />
<span style="text-align: center;">I was shaking my head.</span><br />
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<span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span>Carole Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13978441748050250052noreply@blogger.com0