Morning all,
Glad you had a lovely weekend away, Slugsta - thank goodness for Tesco club points and bargains, lol - same for us, we couldn't usually have afforded the hotel we stayed in, we had just been lucky enough to stumble across a bargain on the hotel's website.
I was steaming with youngest. We arrived home at about 9pm, to the mess, and couldn't even have a cuppa or a sandwich as she hadn't bought bread, butter or milk for us to come home to - the remains of the bread and milk that I had left for her were still in the bread bin and fridge, obviously well past their best. I had 2 more days hols left before going back to work - needed them to sort the house out and catch up with the laundry. I just don't get it with her - we don't live in a palace, by any means, but I like the house clean and comfy, she has grown up with that, so you would think she had some idea of what is acceptable or not? I don't understand how she can just ignore the sort of chaos she seems happy to live in - not just untidy, but things like dirty worktops and not even cleaning the bath!
We left pressies and cards for Mil, for Mothers day, JM - but I have no idea if she had any idea about what they were for - I would think it doubtful. I had a call from the home yesterday, saying her 1-1 has now been reduced to just 4 hours a day - though they have it in writing that it can be increased back up to 12 hours immediately, if needed. Mil is still aggressive - but doesn't want to spend time in lounge/dining room, so is in her room most of the time - and despite the fact that she will still hit out, she is what they describe as 'very settled'. The TD seems to have reduced to just tremors, no longer any danger of her falling from chair to bed. They put on music, or a film and she sits chuckling away at it, cuddling her 'baby' or - when they havent lost it - her doggy. 1-1 staff are often told to leave (and not politely, either), and they say she seems happier in her own company, for the majority of the time. And all I can say is 'Thank God' - some sort of relief from the constant agitation has been such a long, long time coming for her - to know that she has calmed enough and is content enough to not need that level of support, at long last, is just - well - fantastic. I am so, so grateful that she at last has some semblance of peace.
OH went to see her yesterday and came home saying she was incredibly switched on - she knew his name, asked after the kids - by name - and even knew that I was his wife! He was stunned. She has pretty much consistently identified him as her brother, Paddy, for months and months now - and when shown photos of the kids, hasn't been able to say who they were, either. She was chatty and amazingly clear. Some confusion, of course - she identified her late husband as one of her brothers - but she even chatted about her old friend Shirley - and she hasn't even mentioned her for over 2 years now. When OH was leaving, telling her he had to go shopping, she called him back to give him a list of the things she wanted from the shops. He said they had an incredibly lucid conversation about which ham she prefers, of all things. OH was on a real high, seeing her so settled and relaxed. Both of us are just hoping that this lasts now, that there are no returns to the old agitation, or to any of the more horrible aspects of the dementia, that would cause her distress.
Easter holidays here means I am 'catching up' work wise - the usual paperwork and admin. I've put in a couple of hours on the mundane job of shredding and sorting already today, and before I tackle the rest of the admin and emails, I intend to spend a few hours geting my office sorted - housekeeping, I guess you'd call it - very much needed at the moment, but usually at the bottom of the list of 'to do' things.
Its a short week this week - I finish on Wednesday afternoon (Thursday being my rest day), then Good Friday followed by Easter Monday, meaning a 5 day break And I have the whole family comming home, complete with the oldest two's partners, and - of course - my Granddogs No plans made, as yet - it will be fab to have them all home though
Sending lots of love to you all, as always xxxxxx
Glad you had a lovely weekend away, Slugsta - thank goodness for Tesco club points and bargains, lol - same for us, we couldn't usually have afforded the hotel we stayed in, we had just been lucky enough to stumble across a bargain on the hotel's website.
I was steaming with youngest. We arrived home at about 9pm, to the mess, and couldn't even have a cuppa or a sandwich as she hadn't bought bread, butter or milk for us to come home to - the remains of the bread and milk that I had left for her were still in the bread bin and fridge, obviously well past their best. I had 2 more days hols left before going back to work - needed them to sort the house out and catch up with the laundry. I just don't get it with her - we don't live in a palace, by any means, but I like the house clean and comfy, she has grown up with that, so you would think she had some idea of what is acceptable or not? I don't understand how she can just ignore the sort of chaos she seems happy to live in - not just untidy, but things like dirty worktops and not even cleaning the bath!
We left pressies and cards for Mil, for Mothers day, JM - but I have no idea if she had any idea about what they were for - I would think it doubtful. I had a call from the home yesterday, saying her 1-1 has now been reduced to just 4 hours a day - though they have it in writing that it can be increased back up to 12 hours immediately, if needed. Mil is still aggressive - but doesn't want to spend time in lounge/dining room, so is in her room most of the time - and despite the fact that she will still hit out, she is what they describe as 'very settled'. The TD seems to have reduced to just tremors, no longer any danger of her falling from chair to bed. They put on music, or a film and she sits chuckling away at it, cuddling her 'baby' or - when they havent lost it - her doggy. 1-1 staff are often told to leave (and not politely, either), and they say she seems happier in her own company, for the majority of the time. And all I can say is 'Thank God' - some sort of relief from the constant agitation has been such a long, long time coming for her - to know that she has calmed enough and is content enough to not need that level of support, at long last, is just - well - fantastic. I am so, so grateful that she at last has some semblance of peace.
OH went to see her yesterday and came home saying she was incredibly switched on - she knew his name, asked after the kids - by name - and even knew that I was his wife! He was stunned. She has pretty much consistently identified him as her brother, Paddy, for months and months now - and when shown photos of the kids, hasn't been able to say who they were, either. She was chatty and amazingly clear. Some confusion, of course - she identified her late husband as one of her brothers - but she even chatted about her old friend Shirley - and she hasn't even mentioned her for over 2 years now. When OH was leaving, telling her he had to go shopping, she called him back to give him a list of the things she wanted from the shops. He said they had an incredibly lucid conversation about which ham she prefers, of all things. OH was on a real high, seeing her so settled and relaxed. Both of us are just hoping that this lasts now, that there are no returns to the old agitation, or to any of the more horrible aspects of the dementia, that would cause her distress.
Easter holidays here means I am 'catching up' work wise - the usual paperwork and admin. I've put in a couple of hours on the mundane job of shredding and sorting already today, and before I tackle the rest of the admin and emails, I intend to spend a few hours geting my office sorted - housekeeping, I guess you'd call it - very much needed at the moment, but usually at the bottom of the list of 'to do' things.
Its a short week this week - I finish on Wednesday afternoon (Thursday being my rest day), then Good Friday followed by Easter Monday, meaning a 5 day break And I have the whole family comming home, complete with the oldest two's partners, and - of course - my Granddogs No plans made, as yet - it will be fab to have them all home though
Sending lots of love to you all, as always xxxxxx