Hush, I’m Reading the Paper – Alzheimer’s in the Family

The last several days have been amazing. Mom has been feeling better and more alert. Her memory is shot but for the first time in weeks she seems more cognizant of her surroundings.

Mom went to church Sunday for the first time since early July. Everyone was so glad to see her and she did well. Yesterday she went out to lunch with me and went with me to pick up her meds. We haven’t done that in some time. We had fun although she forbade me from saying Alzheimer’s. She now says it’s a dirty word and that IS NOT what is wrong with her. We had a lot of laughs about “her predicament” and she said, “We might as well laugh about it!” I’m so glad that she still has her sense of humor. Her doctors have even commented on that.

She has helped me fold laundry and put clothes away. This is a big change from not being able to get her out of her pajamas and sleeping for the better part of the day. I haven’t been able to get her out of the house except for doctor appointments in a long time.

Yesterday I was doing things around the house. I wasn’t making noise or talking. I must be getting on mom’s nerves because she angrily said,”Stop talking, I’m reading the newspaper.” I continued to be quiet, although mom had read that paper 12 times that day. Couldn’t remember that she read it so she read it again and again, sometimes aloud, to share the article with me. I feel so newsy!

We have a neurologist appointment this Thursday so it will be interesting to find out what they say. Mom still isn’t eating much. Other professionals tell me that this uptick in activity is normal and that she will crash and it will be worse than before. I’ll take these days and I’m grateful for them.

This journey is long, sad, and hard. That said, there are several moments in each day that will be thought of sweetly in the coming months. I’m so fortunate to be with my mom for her transition. What an honor.

More later.