Friday, May 12, 2023

I am beginning to wonder if my dad had a stroke which caused him to lose his balance when he fell. His dementia really seems to have ratcheted up a few levels. Yesterday he referred to me as his eldest son. I am the youngest. He was having trouble remembering that he was in skilled nursing and had to stay there for a while to recover. He wasn't able to follow his own train of thought at one point and just said, "Well, I think of it later." His affect also seems very childlike. His facial expressions, easy laughter, quick swing of mood all seem much more like the children with whom I work than that of an adult. I left the nursing facility feeling a little sad and defeated. There is nothing I can do accept be supportive and patient.

I have not been over eating, but I certainly have been "stress eating" - making food choices that are emotionally driven rather than logically chosen for nutrition. Oh, well.... My weight is just below my personal "red line". No wiggle room.

Dad's girlfriend will be coming to town today and will spend the weekend here. That will give me peace of mind and also allow me to go off to this weekend's dog show. I am looking forward to getting away for the weekend. I need a fun distraction.

Wishing everyone a fast tracked Friday into a wonderful weekend!!!!!

My heart hurts for you and your dad. Maybe it's a blessing he is childlike and not understanding what is going on? Harder for you, but hopefully easier on his mind?My dad was devastated when his sister in her dementia thought their parents were still alive and on vacation. I thought isn't that a happier world for her to be in right now? Not sure if it's the same for your dad, but regardless, difficult all around.

A little downward movement on the scale, 0.4. My fingers are finally starting to show the effects of low carb eating. So much less pain.

No one is working on my house today! Yay! I think I will take a walk in a minute. PT was good yesterday. My favorite part is the traction stuff she does. Holding the weight of my head and pulling up. Heaven.

Here's a funny Sedona story for you. Only here will you be standing next to a guy at the Whole Foods meat counter and notice he is using a pendulum to help select his meat. Ribeye? No, back and forth movement of the pendulum. Pork chops? Ah, it's circling! He walked down the whole case, holding his pendulum in front of each meat. What do you suppose he was "dowsing" for? To find out which critter had the easiest life and therefore was carrying the least trauma? Who was the freshest? Which his spirit guides were most hankering for? The funniest part was, I could totally see his hand moving the pendulum the way he wanted it to go. Why not just ask himself what he was in the mood for?

Take care everyone. And Peps, wishing you much winning mojo at your dog show!

Pendulum choices? Interesting!

Peps, I'm afraid what your Dad is experiencing mentally is normal for people with dementia when they have a trauma and especially when removed from familiar surroundings. I saw it firsthand when my then 97 year old grandmother broke her hip. She didn't know who I was at all and sometimes not my Mother. The nursing home she was sent to from the hospital wanted to keep her long-term but my mother insisted on bringing her home to see if her mental state would improve. It did but took a week or 2. For some people it doesn't improve.

My nephew's wife had a second surgery on Wednesday for breast cancer as they didn't get it all the first time. If they still don't have it all the next step is a mastectomy. She is very uncomfortable and scared of course. And her little 2 1/2 year old probably doesn't have any idea why he can't jump on his Mommy. I sent a note to her but also to her Mom as I remember what it was like to have this happening to your daughter. We would take it into ourselves if we could to spare our child.

We are in Lahaina in Maui the next 3 nights until we fly home. I love this area! We originally were going back to Waikiki for the last night but changed our arrangements to stay in Maui. We will just have to change our bags at the airport now.

Have a fine Friday!

Greetings all

It's overcast but calm here. Fine by me.

Peps it may well be that your Dad had a stroke. And yes it is sad to see a regression in a parent. Are they recommending any further medical treatment or just waiting to see how the hip goes? It's hard when all you can do is watch. Bring lots of pictures from your dog shows to show your dad. And yeah a little stress eating is to be expected.

CC so interesting to read about your blood sugar. Some ads say that almonds help regulate blood sugar or something like that. A good reason to eat some.

Slow day here in la la land. I went to the studio and glazed a few things. I also took a big bag of old sheet and towels to the pet rescue place. From time to time they ask for donations of old towels for their rescue animals. I have taken old cotton sweat shirts to them in the past. Today it was some old king sized sheets that are taking up space. Must clean more out of that closet.

DH got chinese food for lunch so we have leftovers. Yay no cook. But I must get something to try out my new fancy skillet. We shall see.

Lahaina Liz! great place. Whale watching time? I remember a place on Maui way south I think that was a super snorkel spot.

Time for a bite of cheese. Cheers all. Diane s

P. S CC that pendulum guy is very woo woo and sounds like something that would happen where I live. Like the hippie grocery that advertised free range crab. Like crab is grown in a barn. Tee hee. DS