This is my first day at this online journal stuff

I am setting up this site to help my kids and hopefully we can help others. I hope that eventually my kids will join in on their thoughts so others can see the whole picture of the patient with the family. I have some wonderful kids that are finding their own way to deal with their mother having Alzheimers in her 50's. There are more of us out there than we even realize. I am a RN that no longer works. I was dx. in the fall of 2003. I thought it was an after effect of bypass surgery and went to see my doctor. I was forgetting so much more. After several test I was told I had Early Onset Alzheimers. On good days I really thought he was wrong, on bad days I knew he wasn't. It took me three years to go and get another opinion from a well known specialist in our area. He confirmed that I had Vascular dementia and Alzheimers. Double whammy uh? Anyway he put me on a new regimen of medication that has helped alot. I have spent the last 30 plus years working with geriatric patients. I either worked nursing homes or home health. I love those little old folks. I felt they still had so much to offer life. I raised my girls in the nursing home enviroment where they also learned to appreciated the elderly. I used to pray that I would never get Alzheimers and end up as so many of my patients had. But we don't always understand why things happen, and here I am with Alzheimers. I've tried to prepare my family for what I know lies ahead. Tried to get all my legal matters in line. I try to go to Alzheimers support meetings in my area. They are geared toward the caregiver, but my input at times has enlighted some family members which makes me feel useful. I have always been a teacher at heart and in my field so being able to educate people about Alzheimers makes me feel good. I knit and crochet alot. Of course I rip out stitches alot too. I have to have it really quite and a really simple pattern, then I make mistakes. But that is okay I still go at it to keep my mind busy. I have tried to make all my children and grandchildren things to have once I no longer can let them know I love them. Things to cherish. I try to cherish all the little things in life. I don't quite look at life the way I use to. I try to be a little more understanding and not so quick to judge or give my opinion. I will leave that to God. I feel I have enough on my plate that other people can handle their problems without me trying to take them on. I stay to myself alot which up until recently drove me crazy. I hated being at home by myself all the time. Now I am getting where I sorta look forward to it. The quite times. I still drive but not as much. I grocery shop with the help of my husband. Money is a real challenge for me. Boy have I messed my checking account up. ALOT. My son and I had a deal. If he would graduate this year from high school I would try my best to keep my going as strong as ever. He has three weeks left. It has not been easy for either of us, but we are getting there. Hope you have a great day in the Lord.