What a week

Started out with my love and joy, Jessie, my 10 month old great grandchildren. I kept her til Tues. because her mother was admitted to hospital with the lost of the child she was carrying. Then Thurs. we headed for Alexandria for a Dementia Conference, put on by Alzheimer's Association. I was on a panel to discuss my story. That was fun and I love to let people know when they see me they are looking in the face of Alzheimer's. I am not this mean, agitated, violent person. I try to speak softly, think about my words before I speak. Do they always come out correct, no. Joyce Simand was our speaker and she was wonderful, this is her. Jesse and I went to supper afterwards getting us back home around 11pm. Then I got up took my bath and headed for Alexandria again Friday morning. The conference in itself was wonderful. I was interviewed by two television stations, KALB and KALX, that is me on the right. It's funny they ask all this information and from what I heard there was hardly any part of the interview on the news. Things like the bill we are trying to get passed. I started thinking this morning I bet they thought that is all the Association wanted interview for, it wasn't. I said so much more. Yes I did push the bill. I want to know when the time comes and I end up in the nursing home, I want to know they have been trained to take proper care of me. Well, anyway on the way home I had car trouble. Made me a little stressed, but I finally got home after several phone calls to Jesse. I was so tired but I forced myself to stay up because I knew if I went to bed I would not sleep all night. Jesse woke me with a cup of coffee at 7am. He left and back to bed I went and slept until he came back at 11:30am. That is what happens when I have to really think on my feet alot. I can handle it while its going on but crash when it is finished. My poor old brain says "please stop I need to be reintergized. Tomorrow I will be fine. All in all it was a great week. Have a good night. Hug someone and let them know you care. Sue

*******Can you get the idea I am going to have to work on this picture thing. First time I have attempted. Sure I will get better.LOL

wandering mind

I was reading Leah at ouralzheimers.com and she was talking about her my wandering while she was doing something and she would sorta bounce here and there. That is me. As long as I can concentrate on what I am doing I can finish that project BUT if I get up to do something else then what I was doing is probably shot. A simple thing as getting up going to the bathroom can change the course of what I was doing and what I will be doing after the bathroom visit. I have sooooooooooooooo many projects I have started. I keep thinking I am going to get back to them and finish them. Some I do some are still there. Even with knitting and crocheting it takes me so long to finish a project because if I start thinking about something else while I am knitting or crocheting I have to go back count, read pattern, count again maybe several times before I can get back on track. Never really thought about it until I read her blog. Well this is my insight for today. Have a nice night. Hug someone and let them know you care.
Sue

Lazy week

Went to our support group Thursday. It was great. Had a new guy there and we had a good time talking. When Fannie gets back from vacation we are suppose to make a few changes, hopefully for the better to draw more people with early onset/early stage into the group. There were 3 of us Thursday which is kinda good when we have someone new that needs to talk. I have stayed close to the house this week and crocheted and knitted. I have tried to finish some projects and start new ones. I want to sew me a new purple jacket and black dress before I go to Alexandria to talk on the 5th of June. Jesse and replanted my mosquito plants today. We hope to try them out to see if they do indeed keep the mosquitoes away. Guess I will talk later. Hug someone and let them know you care.
Sue

I am back

Well, Washington was great. Met alot of folks I had either talked to or read their blog and met new folks that I hope to keep in contact with. It was nice to be among friends and not be judged. To be ourselves. When I am among people that I feel I have to be my best, I get really tired trying. It tires me physically and mentally. It was nice just to be me. Hopefully we accomplished alot on the hill. I tried to express the need not just for me but future generations. The town hall meeting was great. I wish we had something like that around here. Hopefully when Fannie gets back from vacation we will get the word out and grow in our area. People will come out. Well, guess I will close. Be sure to hug someone and let them know you love them. Sue

History in the making

I am so glad that I could be a part of history in the making here in Louisiana. I testified before the Senate Health and Welfare board Wed. to attempt to get a bill passed to trained people working the dementia patients. It was not opposed so it is headed for the full Senate. Ruth said I may have to go back and go before the House and testify next according if we meet opposition. This is a big step for Louisiana. My stop Washington DC. I leave Sunday around lunch. Tomorrow is the crawfish boil. What a busy week, I will probably crash when I get back next week. I have tried to rest yesterday and today to prepare myself for the next week. Bye for now. Hug someone and let them know you care.
Sue

Hot date

Jesse and I went on a romantic date Friday night. It was great. We went to supper then took in a really funny movie. I am getting ready for my adventure in Baton Rouge next week then on to Washington DC next week end. This is going ot be a very crazy week. Crawfish boil next week end at Bill's. I have been crocheting, knitting and trying to sew some coffee cup cozies. My sewing machine has to go to the shop. Well Jesse wants to sit on the front porch so I will talk later. Hug someone and let them know you care.
Sue

Life little exciting surprises

I said when I started this journey I wanted to help educate people. I hope along the way I have touched lives. But as life goes on it seems I am being put in more positions to help more people understand what it is like to have EOAD. I was asked yesterday about going to Baton Rouge next week and testify before the legislation on the need for dementia training in nursing homes, home health and other health care, cannot think of the word. People who give hands on care of Dementia patients. Being from a geriactic background I do know the need. It is sad. I only wish I knew then what I know now. I probably wouldn't had a job long though because I would have been going against some of the things we are taught. Get them out of bed, put them with other residents, correct them when they are wrong, make them put on the clothes you think they should wear, the list could go on. No one bother to wonder if maybe they got tired easier than other residents. Maybe the other residents were making more noise that the dementia resident could handle. Maybe what they were thinking and saying they really felt was right in their minds. Maybe they did not like the clothes put out for them they wanted to wear some other clothes that didn't even match. Some decisions and agitation that occured now I look back and wonder would the world have come to an end with the resident being able to make more decisions. I don't think we were bad and mean to residents but we wanted to make sure they looked good as defined by the family when they came to visit. "Moma looks so good, she would just put on anything when she was at home." Did it hurt anyone is my question? Okay enough on my soap box. Have a good night and hug someone and let them know you care.
Sue