Hi Talking Point...
Been awhile since I have posted a new thread.
We just keep on keeping on here.
Today we have our quarterly meeting with the Professor. I really like him so much, lovely man, tracking and following us in the disease process. Being supportive and helpful. I am grateful to have his support.
I have much to report to him.
1. That hubby is now going to daycare one day a week. If not happily going, he stays and is given comfort, exercise and food for day without me. Yippeee.
2. Thanksgiving dinner with friends and family was an awakening to many of our friends. They could no longer stay in denial about his disease….which many of them have minimized over the many years. They would always say like well he seems pretty good to me or he looks great (of course, he looks great I take great care in his appearance-because people relate better to him if he is clean, shaved and dressed well.Like he always was!!), and I guess in some ways he was pretty high functioning for a long time.... It is now clear to everyone just how lost in Alzheimer's he is and he cannot manage to fed himself without help and as he roamed around the house looking for me and I was just a few seats down at the table. I asked the hostess if I could re arrange the seating and sit next to him so he would quit searching for me.
3. Joyful news , our daughter named her son after my husband. It seemed to have a momentary pleasure to him….but it is really nice for me.
4.We are enjoying the season already, having put up our tree on Saturday. For me, lots of music and performances of my choir. 3 for Christmas, last one tomorrow.
5.Two beautiful invitations to fancy restaurants , I just ask that all the extra silver be removed from the table where he is seated and all the glasses...to keep it simple for him, And I ask that his food be cut into small pieces. Then I look the other way as he manages to get the food in himself (sweet man) and enjoy myself in beautiful surroundings and excellent food and service and good friends.
6. I will take OH to visit his family in England in January. His mother seems to be having a series of mini strokes , although she is extremely well for 92 and just this Sept moved from her house into a 2 bedroom flat with services. I will travel with him to England, I do not like to travel with him as it puts too much pressure on me and stress. But I will take him to see his mother and family. Most probably the last time.
7. I am incredibly blessed to be living here in Switzerland where the community services (which of course one must pay for) are available and the follow up by health professionals and social system is active and quite helpful. I manage to keep Nick here at home with me.
8. Grateful, that my two of kids are actively supportive of my home life with Nick and have been for years. Our son still coming every Sunday , taking his dad for a walk and making his evening meal.
9. Grateful my life has gone on in many ways. (I do get on the pity pot from time to time...especially now that all our friends are retiring and enjoying travel and the life of pensioners, which we never had. ) But overall, we are managing to have lives, maybe not what I expected, but a good life.
10. Wish I possessed more kindness and gentleness at times when I am impatient...but I am only human and this long goodbye we have been having must be one of the longest on record!!!
11. Really grateful to report my leukemia is back in remission after a brief flare up May to Sept. Medication working (with a few side effects) and feeling well again.
12. Grateful my German classes are over and all the exams and interviews for my Swiss citizenship. I became Swiss on Dec. 5th.
For now, doing well....I think it is important to share the good reflections as well as the bad times. Thanks TP friends for another year...the good and the bad and all the advice and support I receive from you all.
Been awhile since I have posted a new thread.
We just keep on keeping on here.
Today we have our quarterly meeting with the Professor. I really like him so much, lovely man, tracking and following us in the disease process. Being supportive and helpful. I am grateful to have his support.
I have much to report to him.
1. That hubby is now going to daycare one day a week. If not happily going, he stays and is given comfort, exercise and food for day without me. Yippeee.
2. Thanksgiving dinner with friends and family was an awakening to many of our friends. They could no longer stay in denial about his disease….which many of them have minimized over the many years. They would always say like well he seems pretty good to me or he looks great (of course, he looks great I take great care in his appearance-because people relate better to him if he is clean, shaved and dressed well.Like he always was!!), and I guess in some ways he was pretty high functioning for a long time.... It is now clear to everyone just how lost in Alzheimer's he is and he cannot manage to fed himself without help and as he roamed around the house looking for me and I was just a few seats down at the table. I asked the hostess if I could re arrange the seating and sit next to him so he would quit searching for me.
3. Joyful news , our daughter named her son after my husband. It seemed to have a momentary pleasure to him….but it is really nice for me.
4.We are enjoying the season already, having put up our tree on Saturday. For me, lots of music and performances of my choir. 3 for Christmas, last one tomorrow.
5.Two beautiful invitations to fancy restaurants , I just ask that all the extra silver be removed from the table where he is seated and all the glasses...to keep it simple for him, And I ask that his food be cut into small pieces. Then I look the other way as he manages to get the food in himself (sweet man) and enjoy myself in beautiful surroundings and excellent food and service and good friends.
6. I will take OH to visit his family in England in January. His mother seems to be having a series of mini strokes , although she is extremely well for 92 and just this Sept moved from her house into a 2 bedroom flat with services. I will travel with him to England, I do not like to travel with him as it puts too much pressure on me and stress. But I will take him to see his mother and family. Most probably the last time.
7. I am incredibly blessed to be living here in Switzerland where the community services (which of course one must pay for) are available and the follow up by health professionals and social system is active and quite helpful. I manage to keep Nick here at home with me.
8. Grateful, that my two of kids are actively supportive of my home life with Nick and have been for years. Our son still coming every Sunday , taking his dad for a walk and making his evening meal.
9. Grateful my life has gone on in many ways. (I do get on the pity pot from time to time...especially now that all our friends are retiring and enjoying travel and the life of pensioners, which we never had. ) But overall, we are managing to have lives, maybe not what I expected, but a good life.
10. Wish I possessed more kindness and gentleness at times when I am impatient...but I am only human and this long goodbye we have been having must be one of the longest on record!!!
11. Really grateful to report my leukemia is back in remission after a brief flare up May to Sept. Medication working (with a few side effects) and feeling well again.
12. Grateful my German classes are over and all the exams and interviews for my Swiss citizenship. I became Swiss on Dec. 5th.
For now, doing well....I think it is important to share the good reflections as well as the bad times. Thanks TP friends for another year...the good and the bad and all the advice and support I receive from you all.
