Winner

I joined this support group, DailyStrength.org, hoping to find others with early onset alzheimer's. Seems I am always looking for someone to be my "online pen pal" if you may. Anyway, the owners put together a contest. You had to write in your journal and then they would read and judge the journals and determine 2 people with chosen charities for a $1,000 donation. Well it turns out they had so many that they ended up giving 4 $500.00 donations and I was one of the four for the Alzheimer's Association donation. Yea, I am so excited. This is my entry........

Friday, October 26, 2007
Hi, my name is Sue. I am 56 years old and I have vascular dementia and early onset alzheimer's. I was diagnosis in 2004. I don't go by stages but by what I can still do and accomplish. I have 5 children with my youngest one going to boot camp next Monday. I have so many grandchildren that I quit counting and 2 great grandchildren. The youngest great grandchild is the apple of my eye. I would like to see Doug donate to the Alzheimer's Association Research to find a cure or at least to stop or slow down Alzheimer's. Mainly not for me but for my kids and their kids. I have a very loving a devoted husband that thinks for me sometimes, finishes what I say or start when I can't or get sidetracked. He is so supportive, I could not be doing as good as I am without him. It makes me sad sometimes to know that he is going through his own nightmare with all this. I have always been the strong one in this marriage now he is having to take over that and many other roles. I have helped start a support group for people with early stage dementia in my area. People still don't want to come out and say they have Alzheimer's and dementia because of society's take on it. We are not losing our mind just our brain. Meaning we are not crazy you do not have to be afraid of us. Yes sometimes there is violence. See I was a nurse for 30+ years in nursing homes. I have worked with people and families who have had to deal with this. I have tried to make all the transitions easier for my family than some people I tended to. That's not to say they are going to have it any easier dealing with me forgetting who they are or what life has meant to us as a family. I try to live every day like it could be my last because no one knows for sure when that day will come. I say I try, yes I get discouraged and depressed at times. I really try hard not too though. It is called life, you have to take the good with the bad. I would love to communicate with anyone that has early dementia or alzheimer's. That is what brought me to this site to begin with. In search of people going through what I am going through, to encourage each other.

Hope you enjoyed it. May they find a cure or at least a way to stop Alzheimer's in its tracks.

Time

It seems like just a couple days ago I wrote in my blog then I look and see it has been 10 days since I wrote in my blog. We had our memory walk last week and everyone said it was bigger and better than last year. We raised over $5,000.00. I found another web site www.ouralzheimers.com where I meet Leah. She has vascular dementia. In her journal she could have been speaking for me. It hit the nail on the head of where I am at right now with my life. My memory has not gotten better buy worse. It took me hours last night to remember my youngest daughters sons names and then I could not remember how to spend them. It was a little scary and a little sad both. Well, I will close for now. Hug someone and let them know you care. Sue

Depression

Well, this last week has been the worse in a long time for me to have such depression. I cried most of Saturday night. My confusion and thinking process was the pits. My memory is getting is worse but when I am depressed or upset it bites bad. Jesse and I went to lunch after church Sunday and then to Wally World. It helped getting out of the house some. It seems I am staying to myself alot lately. The memory walk is this week-end, I am excited. Wish we could make up some brochures or something for people with early onset Alzheimer's or dementia to know there is a place to come and talk and be together. So much for today. Hug someone and let them know you care.
Sue

How time flies

I did not realize it has been so long since I have been here. The baby is getting bigger, longer I should say. She gives me purpose in life. I sew and play with every chance I get. My house runneth over right now with my kids and grandkids. I have been staying to myself alot lately. I guess they think I am unsociable but I just can handle it all it I keep my distance. This morning was super bad with the confusion and losing money and keys at garage sales. But after a long nap I am good as ever. Made my granddaughter a pair of shoes. My son gets a little jealous when I make my great granddaughter things and not his daughter. She is eight months old and has not been around me alot in her life and she cries when I try to hold her which in turn upsets and confuses me when I am trying to get her not to cry. Hunting season is coming up and Jesse and I have decided that we will take the camper and park at a state park not far from where he hunts so I can do my thing during the day and he can come there at night. It is going to be fun I am sure. We have started a support group for people with dementia. The group is small right now but I hope to see it grow. We are doing weekly meeting right now to get some subjects taught then we will see where we go from there. Our memory walk in Oct 20, 2007. We have our team ready to walk. Well I hope to get back here more often. Thanks for the comment I received. I am glad it helped. So far now hug someone and let them know you care.
Sue

Its been awhile

Well, I did not realize how long it had been since I last got on here. Lets see I am sure I cannot reamember everything that has happened but the most important change in my life is my new great granddaughter, Jessalin Bailey, Jessie for short. She is the apple of grandma's eye. They say she is a little spoiled. But I don't believe them. She just loves her grandma. My anniversary is coming up next month. No big plans it seems. I go to the doctor Tues. we''ll see where that leads. I have spent the last 2 days at the Alzheimer's office rearraging and setting up there library to be more friendly free. I am proud of it if I do say so myself. Fannie our state social whatever is suppose to put an ad in the paper for a Alzheimers support meeting starting in Sept for PWD. My daughter has agreed to help with it. I am excited. Guess that is all I can remember. Take care hug someone and let them know you care.

Week-end

We had a great time this week-end with our daughter, her kids and one of my other grand daughter and her daughter. We went to Caney Lake and camped. Sat we swam and cooked at the beach. Sat afternoon we fished, no luck as usual. Sun we went home and chilled after going to buy the material for Jesse to make a chicken/duck cage. All in all it was great. I am a little tired today but I will have to make it. Kayla has another doctor appointment tomorrow. She is hoping the doctor will put her in the hospital and deliver the baby. Her 2 year old went to spend a couple weeks with her daddy. Only thing about really getting tired is it brings on confusion. I am to host chat tonight. I hope I don't forget. Have a good day and hug someone and tell them you care.

Terrible Twos

What they say about terrible twos can be true some days. The last few days has been some of them. So many questions, hollering, yelling, crying and especially WHINING. Man do I hate whining. Kids or growups. Hateeeeeeeeeeeeeee it. I love her dearly BUT I think I am at my limit. I would never hurt Kayla's feelings and I try to be strong but I can't take it like I once could. She is suppose to go spend a few days with her grandma, that will give me and her pregnant mother a break that we both can use. Till next time. Hug someone and let them know you care.