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| Grandma telling Shelby to become a nurse. |
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| Visiting with Aunt Audrey and talking about Grandpa. Love Her! |
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| Grandma and Shelby |
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| Grandma and Kiley |
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| Grandma getting her picture made with Grandpa's brother and sister. |
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Family Reunion 2011
Sunday, September 4, 2011
WWGD? What Would Grandma Do?
Carla did a great job visiting with her. I heard them talking about her boys and her husband. Grandma always wants to know if you have kids, what your husband does, and where you live.
I went everywhere looking for her teeth. I looked under beds, in drawers, in the bathroom, and in every closet that she normally hides them. I asked "What would Grandma do?" Then it hit me. She hid them before Daddy got there. She had to have hid them in his room. I went to the closet, moved a suitcase, pulled out a pillow and a bedspread....and there they were, still in the cup of water she hid them in the night before.
Grandma is maybe the Best 'Hiding Teeth' Champion, but I'm the Best 'Finding Grandma's Teeth' Champion. I also found her gold bowl and gold pitcher she has been looking for in her house. Supposedly, a man ran into her house, grabbed the pitcher, and then ran out. A little bit later, he ran back in and grabbed the bowl. She called the cops on the imaginary man last week. The cops called Daddy, and he told them it wasn't true. So, when I found them in her house, the story changed. The man apparently returned them and hid them because she called the cops. If this imaginary man has your other pair of teeth, Grandma, tell him to give them back.
There is a new thing that Grandma is starting to do. I may have mentioned this in another post. Dementia causes frustration when Grandma can't remember who people are in pictures around her house. So the pictures, in her house that frustrate her the most, have ended up in drawers or in the closet. My sister has said she doesn't want to end up in the closet. I don't either. So, grandma better get comfortable with seeing me once a week. And if I find my picture in the closet then I am coming out.....my picture that is. Lol
Finally, here we are a month later....1 new pair of teeth in mouth, 1 pair missing, 1 backup pair in my car, and then 1 pair of Grandpa's teeth going to the Art program.
Visiting Grandpa
After leaving the reunion, we had a change of plans. Grandma rode with Daddy to take my husband and brother-in-law to the local airport. My sister and I took four of the seven kids in my van to Mom's house.
Not to far out of town, we realized we were going to pass the cemetery where Grandpa was buried. We decided to stop and see his grave. Kiley, my eldest daughter, had the camera and was going to get some pictures. It was the first time we had been since he died in December.
While we were standing out there, Daddy and Grandma pulled up to see the grave. They were surprised to see us there. You could tell it meant a lot to Daddy. Grandma was just as surprised.
Grandma talked about how Grandpa loved all the kids, which made my girls smile. She talked about what a wonderful husband Grandpa was. We had a brief moment with our real grandma.
As quickly as the real grandma was there, within seconds she was gone. As we were leaving she started in on how those teeth didn't fit her, they weren't hers and how someone had hers. I told her they were a backup pair and not her normal pair. I had to reassure her that I was coming to her house to find her real ones and I would take the backup pair back home with me. You never know when someone might need a pair of teeth. :)
Not to far out of town, we realized we were going to pass the cemetery where Grandpa was buried. We decided to stop and see his grave. Kiley, my eldest daughter, had the camera and was going to get some pictures. It was the first time we had been since he died in December.While we were standing out there, Daddy and Grandma pulled up to see the grave. They were surprised to see us there. You could tell it meant a lot to Daddy. Grandma was just as surprised.
Grandma talked about how Grandpa loved all the kids, which made my girls smile. She talked about what a wonderful husband Grandpa was. We had a brief moment with our real grandma.
As quickly as the real grandma was there, within seconds she was gone. As we were leaving she started in on how those teeth didn't fit her, they weren't hers and how someone had hers. I told her they were a backup pair and not her normal pair. I had to reassure her that I was coming to her house to find her real ones and I would take the backup pair back home with me. You never know when someone might need a pair of teeth. :)
Do You Have A Spare Pair of Teeth in Your Car?
Today is the day that my family has always come together on. My grandfather's family has forever met on the Saturday before Labor Day to celebrate our heritage. Not just my immediate family, but cousins, aunts, and uncles on my grandfather's side. It is a tradition that we have continued since I can remember. In fact, my mom has group pictures from when I was three years old at the reunion.
All week, Grandma has been keeping up with her teeth for the reunion. She has been giving them to Daddy to keep each night. Last night, Daddy was late getting to Grandma's. She was already in bed and had already hid her teeth. This morning, Daddy spent some time looking for them. He finally just had to give up on finding them. Mom even came over and looked in places Daddy couldn't see.
I knew last night, when I told Daddy that I wasn't going to be able to come, that something was going to happen. When I called mom to find out, I wasn't at all surprised that Grandma didn't have her teeth. So, it was a good thing that I realized the teeth I had were different and were actually Grandma's teeth. I had the spare teeth to save the day!
When I arrived, grandma was visiting with my cousin Bonnie. You could tell she was embarrassed and nervous. When I sat down beside her, I didn't even have to say anything about the teeth, she saw them in my hands and started thanking me for bringing them. Just realize that three weeks ago, these were not her teeth according to her.
She slipped them in her mouth and they were loose. We got some Polident and she was happy. Her entire mood changed.
She visited, ate, and asked one question after another. Carla, my sister, tried to answer her questions and she struggled to remember names. I started explaining to grandma who different ones were. Once I told her who their parents or grandparents were, she started realizing who they were. The funny thing about telling Grandma who was who is that I struggle to remember everyone's name too. I know Grandpa's siblings and their kids. It is the grandkids and great grandkids that I don't know. I was as bad as grandma on naming a few.
I fixed her a plate full of food. She ate every last bit of it except the chicken leg. She started wrapping the chicken leg up in a napkin. I told her that she didn't need to do that. She said she wanted to save it for later. I told her we could get more chicken later. She finally gave in and handed over the chicken leg. She made three trips to the desserts. She sampled each one. I laughed every time I saw her heading over there and tried to help her. She really loved the vanilla cake with white icing. She had two pieces of it. I guess this is an upside to Grandma's dementia. She is extremely healthy for a woman her age. She only takes one pill for blood pressure. She doesn't struggle with her sugar or any other ailments. So, we let Grandma eat whatever she wants. We do have to restrict the amount of cokes she drinks. Sometimes, we find 2 liter cokes hidden all over the house. Last week, she had four 2 liter bottles hid. When I asked her why, she said, "well, lord, are you playing jokes on me?" I told her that she hid them. She just laughed at me. Thanks grandma! I'm not the hide n' seek champion. Grandma wins that prize!
My cousin Kay wanted to know, who carries a spare pair of teeth around? My grandma has enough teeth to fill a nursing home, and I can't convince her that they are hers until she's desperate. I ride around with two pairs of teeth in a dora explorer bowl and in the console of my car. So when grandma loses them again, I can say I have a spare pair!
Pictures coming later.
All week, Grandma has been keeping up with her teeth for the reunion. She has been giving them to Daddy to keep each night. Last night, Daddy was late getting to Grandma's. She was already in bed and had already hid her teeth. This morning, Daddy spent some time looking for them. He finally just had to give up on finding them. Mom even came over and looked in places Daddy couldn't see.
I knew last night, when I told Daddy that I wasn't going to be able to come, that something was going to happen. When I called mom to find out, I wasn't at all surprised that Grandma didn't have her teeth. So, it was a good thing that I realized the teeth I had were different and were actually Grandma's teeth. I had the spare teeth to save the day!
When I arrived, grandma was visiting with my cousin Bonnie. You could tell she was embarrassed and nervous. When I sat down beside her, I didn't even have to say anything about the teeth, she saw them in my hands and started thanking me for bringing them. Just realize that three weeks ago, these were not her teeth according to her.
She slipped them in her mouth and they were loose. We got some Polident and she was happy. Her entire mood changed.
She visited, ate, and asked one question after another. Carla, my sister, tried to answer her questions and she struggled to remember names. I started explaining to grandma who different ones were. Once I told her who their parents or grandparents were, she started realizing who they were. The funny thing about telling Grandma who was who is that I struggle to remember everyone's name too. I know Grandpa's siblings and their kids. It is the grandkids and great grandkids that I don't know. I was as bad as grandma on naming a few. 
I fixed her a plate full of food. She ate every last bit of it except the chicken leg. She started wrapping the chicken leg up in a napkin. I told her that she didn't need to do that. She said she wanted to save it for later. I told her we could get more chicken later. She finally gave in and handed over the chicken leg. She made three trips to the desserts. She sampled each one. I laughed every time I saw her heading over there and tried to help her. She really loved the vanilla cake with white icing. She had two pieces of it. I guess this is an upside to Grandma's dementia. She is extremely healthy for a woman her age. She only takes one pill for blood pressure. She doesn't struggle with her sugar or any other ailments. So, we let Grandma eat whatever she wants. We do have to restrict the amount of cokes she drinks. Sometimes, we find 2 liter cokes hidden all over the house. Last week, she had four 2 liter bottles hid. When I asked her why, she said, "well, lord, are you playing jokes on me?" I told her that she hid them. She just laughed at me. Thanks grandma! I'm not the hide n' seek champion. Grandma wins that prize! 
My cousin Kay wanted to know, who carries a spare pair of teeth around? My grandma has enough teeth to fill a nursing home, and I can't convince her that they are hers until she's desperate. I ride around with two pairs of teeth in a dora explorer bowl and in the console of my car. So when grandma loses them again, I can say I have a spare pair!
Pictures coming later.
Friday, September 2, 2011
Who Do You Belong To?
I have never thought about anyone needing more than one pair of teeth. Simply for the fact that I don't wear false teeth. Evidently, you need more than one pair. Grandpa had two pair and possibly, grandma had two pair. Not until grandma started losing them, did I realize that two pair are a good idea.
Grandma and I have gone round and round for the last month over her teeth. I have finally convinced her to give them to me or Daddy to keep each night. So far, she has cooperated and we have kept up with her teeth all week. If we make it through tonight, then she will have them for the family reunion.
In the mean time, I still have the extra pair of teeth, and I got the extra pair from Daddy. Both pairs are in the Dora Explorer Bowl. I talked to the art teacher and she thinks they would be interesting to draw in class for her AP Art kids. So, the teeth have a new home, but before I was going to take them to her, I realized that the pairs of teeth that I have are not the same. One pair is definitely bigger than the other one.
So, now I have to figure out if the smaller pair is actually grandma's?
I'm going to go ahead and give the larger pair to the art program. This is probably something Grandpa would have liked. He use to work in the school system back in the day. He was mechanic. He always loved showing us his picture working on a bus in the yearbook.
So, keeping one pair and getting rid of one. Just wondering if they don't belong to grandma, then who do they belong too?
Grandma and I have gone round and round for the last month over her teeth. I have finally convinced her to give them to me or Daddy to keep each night. So far, she has cooperated and we have kept up with her teeth all week. If we make it through tonight, then she will have them for the family reunion.
In the mean time, I still have the extra pair of teeth, and I got the extra pair from Daddy. Both pairs are in the Dora Explorer Bowl. I talked to the art teacher and she thinks they would be interesting to draw in class for her AP Art kids. So, the teeth have a new home, but before I was going to take them to her, I realized that the pairs of teeth that I have are not the same. One pair is definitely bigger than the other one.
So, now I have to figure out if the smaller pair is actually grandma's?
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| Grandpa's on the left. Grandma's on the right? |
So, keeping one pair and getting rid of one. Just wondering if they don't belong to grandma, then who do they belong too?
Monday, August 29, 2011
Moments of Sanity
As I drove to Grandma's tonight, I thought to myself 'Grandma will never be the same'. She will always have this sense of paranoia. BUT after thinking I was coming to see Dementia Grandma, I was pleasantly surprised to find Normal Grandma.
Daddy had already warned me that she had lost her teeth. I knew coming in that I was going to have to go on another scavenger hunt. When, I got here, Grandma was no where to be found. The doors were unlocked. Her chair was on the front porch and her laundry room door was open. I went into the house looking and calling her name. I was a little worried when I couldn't find her. Then I went back outside and found her putting up her chair. Once again, Ninja Grandma sneaked up on me. I asked her where she had been. She said she had sat out there for awhile and saw the neighbor had left their light on in their car. She marched herself right over there and was going to tell them to turn it off before they ran their battery down. Lord, Grandma you can't be doing that in this day or time.
When she returned and saw that I was there, naturally she ordered me to go over there and tell them. "Go on, Carole Anne. I will watch you and make sure you don't get taken." Of course, my heart melted. My old Grandma standing there watching me cross the street once again like when I was a little girl.
I went and knocked on the door and no one answered. I turned and she was still standing there watching. I yelled "No one is home, Grandma." Her reply was, "Well, come on back and watch for cars. I don't want to explain to your daddy that I let you get ran over.". Once again, my heart literally melted right there in the driveway. These were things she said to me when I was running around her house and in her yard growing up. So, the little girl in me picked up her heart and marched back to Grandma's house.
Then the hunt begin. Grandma begin to tell me how sorry she was for losing her teeth. I said it was ok. (I really am beginning to believe that she loses them so I will come over.) I checked all the old hiding spaces. I started pulling cans out of the pantry. It didn't take me long to find something that she normally puts her teeth in every night. I found the new set of teeth that she lost several weeks ago. I have no clue where she hid the old set of teeth. Oh well, we will just keep going back and forth. The way Grandma moves things around her house, she will eventually find them and hide them somewhere so I can find them. I would really like to have both sets at once sometime in the future.
Before she started getting ready for bed, I asked her to let me see where she was going to hide them so that just the two of us would know where they are. She agreed. I got the courage up to ask her if she would let me hide them. She turned and handed them to me and said "Now that is a good plan, because that man looks in my room for them." So, guess who is sleeping with Grandma's teeth. She has already been in here three times making sure I still have them right beside me.
She had a moment in the kitchen earlier tonight. She picked up the phone to call my Grandpa and realized for the first time on her own that he was gone and not coming back. I'm not saying she is getting better, but today was a good day. We had a moment of sanity! :)
Daddy had already warned me that she had lost her teeth. I knew coming in that I was going to have to go on another scavenger hunt. When, I got here, Grandma was no where to be found. The doors were unlocked. Her chair was on the front porch and her laundry room door was open. I went into the house looking and calling her name. I was a little worried when I couldn't find her. Then I went back outside and found her putting up her chair. Once again, Ninja Grandma sneaked up on me. I asked her where she had been. She said she had sat out there for awhile and saw the neighbor had left their light on in their car. She marched herself right over there and was going to tell them to turn it off before they ran their battery down. Lord, Grandma you can't be doing that in this day or time.
When she returned and saw that I was there, naturally she ordered me to go over there and tell them. "Go on, Carole Anne. I will watch you and make sure you don't get taken." Of course, my heart melted. My old Grandma standing there watching me cross the street once again like when I was a little girl.
I went and knocked on the door and no one answered. I turned and she was still standing there watching. I yelled "No one is home, Grandma." Her reply was, "Well, come on back and watch for cars. I don't want to explain to your daddy that I let you get ran over.". Once again, my heart literally melted right there in the driveway. These were things she said to me when I was running around her house and in her yard growing up. So, the little girl in me picked up her heart and marched back to Grandma's house.
Then the hunt begin. Grandma begin to tell me how sorry she was for losing her teeth. I said it was ok. (I really am beginning to believe that she loses them so I will come over.) I checked all the old hiding spaces. I started pulling cans out of the pantry. It didn't take me long to find something that she normally puts her teeth in every night. I found the new set of teeth that she lost several weeks ago. I have no clue where she hid the old set of teeth. Oh well, we will just keep going back and forth. The way Grandma moves things around her house, she will eventually find them and hide them somewhere so I can find them. I would really like to have both sets at once sometime in the future.
Before she started getting ready for bed, I asked her to let me see where she was going to hide them so that just the two of us would know where they are. She agreed. I got the courage up to ask her if she would let me hide them. She turned and handed them to me and said "Now that is a good plan, because that man looks in my room for them." So, guess who is sleeping with Grandma's teeth. She has already been in here three times making sure I still have them right beside me.
She had a moment in the kitchen earlier tonight. She picked up the phone to call my Grandpa and realized for the first time on her own that he was gone and not coming back. I'm not saying she is getting better, but today was a good day. We had a moment of sanity! :)
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Possible Art Projects for Extra Teeth.
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| This is just funny! |
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| I don't think I could wear Grandpa's teeth as a necklace. |
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| Bizarre but yet creative. |
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| A magnet? Possible |
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| Cufflinks...NOPE! |
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| Definitely not! |
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| Wouldn't you love to have pearly whites around your neck? LOL |
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| Personally my favorite |
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| Little scary |
The Prizes of the Easter Egg hunt!!!
First, prize of the night....Found Grandma's teeth below the sink in the bathroom. Thank the Lord, she can eat breakfast tomorrow!!! Definitely going to wash them first! She went to great lengths to hide them this time. Unbelievable!!!Second prize of the night, I managed to get my great Uncle Holland's letter to my Aunt Ruby, grandma's sister.
The letter states:
May 13, 1944
Hello Darling,
Hope this finds you well and doing fine. This leaves me still doing ok and well. Had two sweet letters from you today and darling you didn't know how glad I was to hear from you and to know you was well. When hear from you darling, I don't worry. But you know we get Blue and think of home and what we usto do.
Sometimes I wonder if I will every see you and the other people again, darling. I hope and pray you will still be waiting when I come back, darling. I now it's a long time to wait. But darling, you know that I can't help it. I want you to go and enjoy yourself but don't forget that you are still my darling wife and I love you with all my heart and wouldn't do you wrong at all and I pray that you will do the same by me.
I sure hope your mother will soon get better and able to do her work. Yes, darling I was well when I received your letters and my hand is about well now, so guess I am doing the best I can.
We have worked most every Sunday since we landed over here and tomorrow tomorrow is Sunday. Don't know yet if we will work or not. I I had my Plymouth car over here I would ride around and see some of this part of the world. Well darling will go now and write mail next time. Be real sweet and please don't worry about me. All my love to you darling now and forever.
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| Letter from Uncle Holland...So Sweet! |
Good nite good luck and may god bless you is my prayer.
Sweet dreams darling
your true love
Holland
Thank you!!!
I really want to thank all my readers for keeping up with my blog. I am humbled by the support I have received from all my readers. Anyone that is dealing with a loved one with dementia understands what I am going through with Grandma. It makes a world of difference to know that I have so many friends out there reading my thoughts about dealing with this disease.
My dad's mood has also improved with me spending more time with Grandma. He has had more time to relax and is starting to return to the stress free dad that I love! He loves the blog and loves the response that I have received from so many!
My cousin is doing great with Grandma on the weekend. She is picking up on how Grandma operates very quickly. Grandma knew her grandmother many years ago and still remembers her. So, that has made a connection for Grandma.
I know my blogs have slowed down, but a girl has to work. So, I'm probably going to a once a week post for awhile. Next week, Grandma is going to the family reunion! This should be fun!!! Hope we find her teeth before we leave on Saturday! LOL
Again, thank you, thank you, thank you!
My dad's mood has also improved with me spending more time with Grandma. He has had more time to relax and is starting to return to the stress free dad that I love! He loves the blog and loves the response that I have received from so many!
My cousin is doing great with Grandma on the weekend. She is picking up on how Grandma operates very quickly. Grandma knew her grandmother many years ago and still remembers her. So, that has made a connection for Grandma.
I know my blogs have slowed down, but a girl has to work. So, I'm probably going to a once a week post for awhile. Next week, Grandma is going to the family reunion! This should be fun!!! Hope we find her teeth before we leave on Saturday! LOL
Again, thank you, thank you, thank you!
Another Night..Another Pair of Teeth!!!!
So, I'm at Grandma's house helping her find her teeth. I wish I could get a GPS chip in those teeth!!!!
Dad tried to find her teeth last night. He found another pair of Grandpa's teeth. OMG!!! How many pairs of teeth do people keep when they have false teeth? Now, Dad has a pair of Grandpa's teeth in his truck, and I have a pair in my car in a Dora the Explorer bowl.
I have turned this house upside down!!!! NO TEETH! We are now missing two pairs of teeth and Grandma has informed me that she will pick the dentist if she decides to get another pair. She wants to wait awhile before we get another pair to see if the other ones appear. I totally agree Grandma, because $500 is a lot to pay for you to lose another pair.
One cool thing happened tonight while we were looking for her teeth. Grandma found a letter from Holland to my Aunt Ruby while he was in the war. She read the entire letter. I tried to get it to read and share, but she heard me open the drawer where it is. I will try in the morning and see if I can find it.
In the meantime, we have two pairs of teeth. Dad wanted to know if Goodwill would take them. I decided to do a little research on what people do with their old teeth. Old teeth can actually be useful for many things. There is a dental place in Japan that takes false teeth. I can donate them to a local dental school. I can give them to an art teacher. The art teacher, that works with me, just might find a way to use them in class. Someone suggested online to put them in a fish bowl and let a nice fish have a house. Hmmm, we do have a beta fish that would love to have a place to hide. I wonder what a hamster would do with a pair of teeth. Another person suggested that you create a night light with them or a cover for a bottle opener. Not sure if I would want someones old teeth as a bottle opener. And how often do I need a bottle opener? Never.
Well, so many ideas to sleep on tonight and decide what to do. Oh, and my cousin is working on the weekends and Grandma seems to be OK with her staying. Grandma does constantly tell me that she wish the menfolk would hurry up and come back. It bothers her that a girl is here and not a man. I showed her my weapons and the bat I have to protect us. She seemed to handle that response!
She has come in twice looking for the other people that are going to spend the night. Not sure who she is waiting on to come over but I told her that I am it for the night. Sleep tight everyone!
Dad tried to find her teeth last night. He found another pair of Grandpa's teeth. OMG!!! How many pairs of teeth do people keep when they have false teeth? Now, Dad has a pair of Grandpa's teeth in his truck, and I have a pair in my car in a Dora the Explorer bowl.
I have turned this house upside down!!!! NO TEETH! We are now missing two pairs of teeth and Grandma has informed me that she will pick the dentist if she decides to get another pair. She wants to wait awhile before we get another pair to see if the other ones appear. I totally agree Grandma, because $500 is a lot to pay for you to lose another pair.
One cool thing happened tonight while we were looking for her teeth. Grandma found a letter from Holland to my Aunt Ruby while he was in the war. She read the entire letter. I tried to get it to read and share, but she heard me open the drawer where it is. I will try in the morning and see if I can find it.
In the meantime, we have two pairs of teeth. Dad wanted to know if Goodwill would take them. I decided to do a little research on what people do with their old teeth. Old teeth can actually be useful for many things. There is a dental place in Japan that takes false teeth. I can donate them to a local dental school. I can give them to an art teacher. The art teacher, that works with me, just might find a way to use them in class. Someone suggested online to put them in a fish bowl and let a nice fish have a house. Hmmm, we do have a beta fish that would love to have a place to hide. I wonder what a hamster would do with a pair of teeth. Another person suggested that you create a night light with them or a cover for a bottle opener. Not sure if I would want someones old teeth as a bottle opener. And how often do I need a bottle opener? Never.
Well, so many ideas to sleep on tonight and decide what to do. Oh, and my cousin is working on the weekends and Grandma seems to be OK with her staying. Grandma does constantly tell me that she wish the menfolk would hurry up and come back. It bothers her that a girl is here and not a man. I showed her my weapons and the bat I have to protect us. She seemed to handle that response!
She has come in twice looking for the other people that are going to spend the night. Not sure who she is waiting on to come over but I told her that I am it for the night. Sleep tight everyone!
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