Thursday, March 14, 2013 This game is over......

That's what he tells the women who come to help, But it really isn't over, the game of someone - i.e . support people helping mac get dressed and undressed...and some days it is a fairly good game and some days it's the pits...

Actually mac and i had such a busy day yesterday that he and i were both asleep when the woman came today...she came back but even when he was semi awake he wouldn't move ...so later she came again, and she managed, but it wasn't too easy - much cajoling and saying look just let me do put your shirt on for you ...he was too tired to do it himself for sure.  i was begining to think, oh just leave him in p.j.s but once he was dressed, he was ready for the day...even up to going out, and it was fairly cold.  So can never predict how it's going to be.  Mac's like the weather.

Mac's great barber came to give him a hair cut yesterday, and what a wonderful job he does, and as we were going down for the the gazette after his haircut, i said "hey  you look 15 years younger, he said 'feels like 15 lbs lighter ....'"  Then it was out for a walk to the lake, what a wonderful day it was, we were watching those super athletes windsurfing with huge kites, on the lake, wow, they must have really warm wet suits or whatever....and the weather was so lovely too. 

Today we just went a short distance with Mac cursing every car and bus that passed us stirring up a freezing cold wind.    As i said he is like the weather, blows hot and cold depending.

Dinner last night with our grandaughter Rosemary was fun, and with all the company yesterday, it was important to have a down restful time today...and that's what we did, short walk, and an indoor day with mischa the cat providing the entertainment...by running around after his toys with me in the lead...mac loves to watch him jump over furniture and do his circque de soleil tricks... but he is a serious cat now, he wants his special snack, so g'nite....

Tuesday, March 12, 2013 There she is I hate her......

That's what mac says as he passes the woman who helps him dress and undress.  There she is i hate her,she better not come tonight or i'll leave....This is actually only one of three women who are trying to make my life easier, but instead it has become a big problem, and so to solve it I've decided to see just how much he can do by himself.  Amazing all the stuff he couldn't do - or wouldn't do, he is actually doing, his only problem is lifting his feet high enough so i can put the pants on each leg, then he pulls them up.....oh yes and his socks,he can lift his feet up and i place them he pulls them up; i don't want to have to bend and do everything, but a little is o.k.  I have to get my knee in shape so we can continue to walk.

Also, another surprise, we went to activity afternoon, something he hates activities with seniors, but no problem today, as we went to a syrup d'erable tasting on snow, and a little French  lecture on maple syrup..interspersed with music he usually hates French Western, where everyone jiggs  up and down, in fact he was clapping along.  Could be that he felt like a youngster, "look at all these oldies..says mac.(many in wheel chairs)  the last surprise was the friend we made - a wonderful woman with all her marbles, slim and fun, Age 101...So a perfectly good day after a nightmare one yesterday...so as i'm being bugged by the brat cat  Mischa for his snack, i'll say - g'nite

Sunday, March 10, 2013 This is a crazy game......

Well it wasn't a crazy game, but to Mac this is what he said when the woman who came to get him ready for bed....she said....Hi mr. mac, i'm here to get you washed and ready for bed...his reply..."go on, this is a crazy game...."  After much persuasion and my going with him to the washroom, and my stripping and getting ready with him we finally suceeded...  i've decided that I'll tell these ladies, that he will wash himself and they can keep helping,where they can'  he has proved several things - he can take some of his own clothes off, - not his socks...or anything that has to come over his head...can undo buttons...but not all the time.

It has always been a pleasure for me to help him, and it became something he managed to just adjust and let me do more and more...but it's become impossible i'm exhausted and my knee has to be looked at again - it's telling me hey look how nice and swollen i am....so it's important to keep these ladies in action with Mac...

one thing to prove to me he is o.k. and doesn't need help - today when we were getting ready to go to the
Baroque Symphony, he managed to put his boots on, they are a real pain...and he did it.!!! yea!
His mood swings are such that i never know for sure if he will go places or do things, for example he refused to brush his teeth...no way jose he said ...symphony...no way...but later i said, how about a walk, sure we'll go,he said,  and while we walked a bit in the parking lot...surprise, for him...our friend Wanda came to pick us up for the symphony...no prob...into the car he went...and the symphony was super and again a lovely day....of course ending in a kind of funk as he had to have help from those damn ladies....oh well things could be worse ....just finished watching jack layton story...they sure could be...so g'nite.

Friday, March 8, 2013 Hello, i'm fine...how are you?

Wow, those are the words that Mac answered to sweet Stephanie when she arrived here just 30 minutes ago.   She looked at me with raised eyebrows, but said nothing.   I said, Mac will wash himself, but needs help of course with his clothes...she agreed, and said "of course.  Then as I made a production of putting my medicine - voltaren on my knee, which is still swollen, Mac went happily off to get ready for bed.  he is now watching t.v. with his eyes closed. 

This morning as every morning since we've been here - which is only 4 mornings. his wake up - wash and getting dressed has been a cinch- the women are more mature, actually large black ladies, and they smile and just don't say - how are you and seem to be sweet, they just say...hello mr. mac, time to get washed and dressesd and off he goes.  Today's lady even gave him a shower...so as long as i don't refer to it before hand - but just take it all for granted...no sweat.  yesterday the woman asked me  if he would prefer a man, but actually there doesn't seem to be a man - although Mac kind of laughed today, when i said - oh there's the head nurse, (a man).  This place is amazing with the help and so far the kindness and caring attitude of the staff.   In fact during the night last night a male nurse, came in to make sure we were alright, he had heard that Mac had acted aggressively.  But by then we were both fine. 

Alzheimer's is the pits, but really most of the time, Mac is pleasant...and most of the time we enjoy life.  I could wish for the take charge Mac, the super math person, who handled all our finances, was up to date on what's happening in the world, loved to plan trips with me etc...but that would be ridiculous and spoil my days, i accept how he is and enjoy just having him...as jeff Healy, sings in one of his songs...just to hear you say I love you every little while,  so that's where we're at...tonight...so i'm enjoying the moment for sure - and the moment in this lovely apartment is great....g'nite.

Thursday, March 7, 2013 i'm leaving, i'm going home....

The Big MOVE, was so successful, and I've been on such a high, that it is only right that i'd have to come down with a thud.  This place is lovely the move, and apartment plus mac's acceptance  was spectacular, and it's been a joy to be here look out at mount Royal and the oratory...through one windown, look at the river and mercier bridge, through another and then see the lake and river through another. plus the lights at night, the movement and action of life in lachine, etc.  all terrific, BUT

The ups and downs of the big A. have hit a real DOWN tonight....made the mistake of saying his helper, or girl that would get him ready for bed would be coming-said this around 6;15 pm  thought i should prepare him...big big error, as he wouldn't eat dinner..ranted and raved till 9:00, when poor girl, Stephane came, she tried to make him understand,when she came at 9:00,  but he just doesn't get it.....he can't understand that i need  help, he  of couse thinks it's because i don't want to help, i can say  my knee is bad - I'm old, etc,  but he keeps saying  " So he says that's it, i'm going home.   i reply that even if we were to go back to our house i'd still need help, and there i would need even more help...the stairs are too dangerous for him, we could both fall, etc etc,  

Anyway....he is now in bed, i did everything...and can't say I did it with a smile, but i am trying to put myself in his place, and it's sad...he is so mixed up, and with all the company we've had, perhaps it's mixed him up even more, who knows..but for sure he knew he did not want any young girl washing him or putting on his p.j.s...and with his stiff body, this is a big job, even though it doesn't seem so big.  he cannot hardly raise his arms, has problems with each bit of clothing, and anyway, it's difficult for him to fathom why it's a problem....                                   

So here's hoping tomorrow will be better, and that when the big black lady comes to get him ready for the day, he will just accept it like he did the past two a.m.s////then we'll see what to do about night time, for sure I will not prepare him

As for the apartment and the move,,,that part is great!!!!  I have to tell everyone, i have the best and most supportive 5 kids in the whole world, ...so for you youngsters..have kids they are great in your old age - espcially if you have 5 like mine...

Monday, March 4, 2013 hurrah it's great....

No not our new apartment, but we're looking forward to that...what was so great was having a shower.   This is always a problem as before a shower it's always, "well don't really think i need one, I'm fine, don't feel like it etc etc...

So as we are moving tomorrow, it could not be put off another day..today was the shower day and that was that.  So finally at last when he felt that lovely hot water he was so delighted, "hurrah it's great...love it...thanks so much for letting me have a shower" (hello - letting you?)   Well after a couple of  hallelujahs; and loving every minute of a good hot shower...we were in such a good mood;  and so went the rest of the day.

We've had a lovely pizza dinner with our sweet Gaye, and her husband Bill, helping us with last minute packing....and now i'm feeling a lil bit overwhelmed with all the stuff that has to be done and stuff, but it's got to be...and so must end this blog  We'll be on our way to Lachine, in the morning with that brat cat miscsha, and all the odds and ends it takes to make our day...and make our house a home...g'nite

Friday, March 1, 2013 I remember when they ......

Well  i had written another blog but couldn't finish as Mac needed some attention, so put it to draft, that was a mistake, as where the heck is the draft, who knows, certainly not this blogger, so here we go with a new day and new thoughts or memories, it's noon time  a first, but I didn't want to forget as I found it so appropriate when Mac said, "I remember when they cut down that tree out there", well he was speaking about the big fat maple right outside our kitcen window.  Why this was so appropriate is that about 52  years ago at this time we had just moved into this house and in the months of Feb and March, we had to decide which of he eleven trees that were on our property had to be cut down.  We were especially sad about the one that was outside our kitchen window, we tried, or Vincelli nursery tried and tried to save it, they dug a well around it and bricked it in, so that the roots would get the water, as the roots had been covered by a high fill when they built the house.  Sad to say, that didn't work    So they cut down the lovely maple, but in it's place we planted another... which is now huge - much higher than our house and covers the whole place with tons of leaves in the fall, shades us and gave us so much pleasure over the past 52 years as it sheltered the squirrels, chipmunks, birds, wasps, racoons, and even skunks....

So it was appropriate to remember at this time, and also because soon we won't be seeing that tree from the kitchen window...we're busy preparing for our move...From the window where we will be we'll see more trees, but also shopping center, streets, houses, and best of all, the river and the lake...as where we are in lachine we'll be on the sixth floor...with many many windows....we of course will miss everythng, but we know that it's time to move on, and experience new views, new viewpoints and new and old friends.

Chateaugay and our neighbours have given us a wonderful life, not just for us but for our five children, and for our super walks along the river, both sides, for the fantastic Ile St. Bernard, for the skiing in the woods outside our door, in the early years and then at Fernand Seguin park later, on wonderful trails...it's been such a blessing.  Recently the walk paths that have given both mac and i pleasusre, so that we didn't have to worry about the traffic when we walked.  For the stores and the markets nearby, the jaunts by car to the country side not too far, where the kids used to pick apples, in Franklin Center...the swimming pool of Seigniiory park now long gone, but was a memory that we'll never forget, twas living every summer in the best country club in the world, with all the neightbourhood there, a swimming pool tht was olympic size where even top notch swimmers practiced, water polo teams played, and much much more took place.  Dances, movies and yoga...a baby pool for our littlest toddlers,  and extraordinary activities for special days....So now much has changed and much has been added, but it's our time to go and so we will,

I'll continue this memory of Mac's from lachine, where a different perspective will be there in our lives...we're looking forward to it so good bye for now....