Wednesday May 17

Weight 117, calories 867.

We went to our first Alzheimer's support group last night. There was a group for men with early onset Alzheimer's, and the caretakers/wives meet separately. It seems like most of the men are at similar points (can still be left alone at times - either still driving but getting close to when they should stop or just stopped like DH). I think I am the only wife still working, but I believe I might be a bit younger than the others. It seemed like a good group and it was good to talk about similar frustrations and sadness. It was interesting (sort of), how differently the disease manifests itself. DH is the only one with major problems speaking (word retrieval). One of the other men has become angry and controlling (so wife is worried about what is going on with finances). Some husbands tell friends about their disease, while others are very reticent about it. DH didn't say much afterwards except he felt one of the men talked too much about the differences between Alzheimer's and other dementias (up until about a month ago DH was doing that too - saying he knew he had dementia but wasn't sure it was Alzheimer's). I wonder if that "label" is worse for them than dementia? DH and I talked about the angry, controlling husband and he said he is probably reacting to fear. DH says he feels okay now, but has had times of fear previously. I do think the Lexapro has helped a lot with his general attitude.

WFH this morning, then off to Boston for DH to have a PET scan (last qualifying test for the clinical trial). Speaking of which, his biggest concern seems to be that he has to be more careful about the sun (always wear sunblock and sit under an umbrella at the beach). Strange because he always did that anyway until the last year or so. I don't know why, but he has stayed out in the sun more and people comment on his tan (which he rarely had in the past). Odd...

Have a happy hump day!

Got flowers and first group of vegetables in yesterday. Took Sadie for a long walk to work out the kinks, and was rewarded with the lower end of my range today. I hang out with my grand nephew this AM while she gets her house ready for her mother-in-law's visit, then I'll spend a couple of hours at school, working with my replacements. Tomorrow, I work most of the day, and then I'm pretty much "on call" for off site support.

Looking forward to my first delivery of Peach Dish, a mother's day gift from my girls. I'm hoping to get some new ideas for combining fresh, healthy ingredients. Today is predicted to be the second day of sun in a row ! Bring on that vitamin D !!

May we all embrace the positive things this day will bring, and grow from the challenges !

Diane

i looked at Peach Dish.....fabulous gift!

"May we all embrace the positive things this day will bring, and grow from the challenges !" love this!!!

Weight: 134.8 OTD

Macros: Cals - 1,738, Carbs - 171, Fat - 56, Protein - 126, Sugar - 80, Fiber - 27

Veggies/fruits: 4 (goal is 7)

Sleep: 5 hours

Exercise: Yoga class

* * *

Another quick drive-by.

Finishing a consulting deliverable this morning to meet a deadline. Deadlines are the downside of working post-retirement.

Sleep last night was compromised due to my obsession with breaking US political news. Jeez, Louise!

I hope you all have a good day. It's the only one we get today.

I cannot hardly watch the news anymore. It's almost stranger than fiction. Regardless of political affiliation, I cannot see any way in which this is going to be good for our country. I have a lot of friends in politics and they have all become jaded. I'm pretty cynical about it now :(

Good morning

you are all dealing with so much and so please take a bouquet of these spring flowers?????ð?'ð?'ð?'

the sweet sound of flushing toilets was quite wonderful at the end of the day. Our work building is old and the plumber did not hold out much hope that this would not happen again. Fear of flushing, another phobia being born.

A good food day but really not much walking.

Have a great Wed.

Good morning all. I'm at 116 this morning, which I'm grateful for under the cir****tances of the last few months. The pull to have wine is still high, which usually gets me in trouble with food. Strange to be going through this so late in my post op process and at this age. But I am. Very much in the 'observer' mode, which works well for me to move through the process of changing something that needs to be changed.

Life feels very uncertain these days in terms of making any sort of plan for retirement and/or slowing down. I can only trust that something new will break soon to change our path. I feel quite isolated, which is not a healthy state but at the same time I can't seem to change it.

Not sure any of this makes sense but I feel compelled to check in and also to see how you're all doing.

(((Hugs))) Linda. Do you feel the stress is related to your DD living with you now and thwarting your retirement plans?

Glad to have you checking in. I miss you when you are gone!

It's a confusing time Paula, on many fronts, but the biggest issue is how to create a next chapter with and for our daughter as a dependent. It's not hard to have her with us per se (even accepting that we provide everything) but It creates some financial realities we did not anticipate when we dreamed of traveling for the next few years. Very worrisome beyond our own lifespan too. She is doing much better emotionally because we provide her care and a soft place to land but we really can't see any hope of her ever being able to care for herself or be alright without us. Not to suggest this is a scenario we have to face any time soon, but you never know.