Thankful for Small and Big Things

What a great start to my week!  In my last post I was talking about how phone calls can really lift my spirits.  Sunday I had calls from DD, her gorgeous (and gifted - Grandma's get to brag) daughter and #2 son, who lives in Seattle.   #1 son, his lovely wife and beautiful (and obviously gifted, also - Grandma calls it as she sees it!) 3 year old daughter who has better phone skills than many teens, called me Monday just to check in.   The week was starting to look pretty lousy before everyone called.  After talking to all, I felt like it was a new day!

 I'd like to know if other pftd (ftd speak for patients with...) were badly effected by daylight savings time.

Our Sunday started out lousy - trying to get DH ready for church - we were 5 minutes late for the service.  Although he was mystified by the thought that we were late.  After all, not all the clocks were set forward and Daylight Savings Time is not a concept he understands now.  (Note to myself - next year make sure all clocks and watches are synchronized the night before.)  Another bad decision, we went to a restaurant for breakfast afterward that we hadn't been to in a while and it was packed.  So too many distractions to eat.  He wasn't able to take my sister's walker away from the table to clear the aisle  - even though that is usually his job.  Nor was he able to retrieve it after breakfast.  He was just kind of off balance and seemed confused all day.  And not in a good mood.  Bedtime was a struggle, as it is sometimes and we finally got to bed around 1:30a.  Monday was tough, too.  He stayed in bed until 1:30p;  then his energy level and mine conflicted.  I was beat by dinner time, he was ready to rock and roll.

This week just keeps getting better and better!  I picked K up from the church where he had been helping the men pick up pizza for the homeless feeding program and took him to lunch.  This is one of his favorite activities.  When we got home, we had a DVD from Brian and Meg of Meredith's basketball team playing.  Wow, Mere is fast!  and accurate!  I lost count of how many baskets Mere made.  And when she took the ball down the court, no one could catch her.  Thanks for sharing it with us, Brian and Meg.  It was awesome.  Great job, Mere!  Grandpa and I loved watching it.

The news here is not great.  I've been trying not to see that K is getting worse so quickly.  Tonight it was hard to ignore.  His memory is getting weaker.  I mentioned going to Bed, Bath and Beyond and he didn't know where or what that was.  I hadn't prepared dinner so I thought he would want to go to one of his favorite restaurants, but he didn't - just wanted a Weight Watchers frozen dinner.  Then at dinner, Fox News was on and they were talking about a political action committee that has been the absolute bane of his existence for the last few years.  I mean seriously, hearing the name would send him into a rampage just last year.  But tonight he turned to me and asked me what it was.  He really didn't know.  I seem to lose him a piece at a time.  It is hard to be "up" for him all the time, but I try.  The true blessing in this is that he doesn't know how he is changing - at least not all the time.  At times, I think he catches glimpses of what is happening, and is frightened and sad.  I thank God that those don't come often.

And I thank God for each of you.  Love and Peace to you all.  Mary