Happy Thanksgiving Everyday!

February 12, 2016


November 2015


Thanksgiving is a great time to be thankful, but ALL year long, we should continue to be thankful.

We are thankful for so many things, but we are especially thankful for YOU!

Tell someone you are thankful for them today & every day!

 I have learned that it is a gift to be able to do so.

Thank you to everyone who makes a difference in our life! If you are reading this, we appreciate you & LOVE YOU!

Time Has Passed By - Happy New Year!

January 20, 2016



Hello! I have just noticed that time has passed by on here. I will write a quick update on Cindy/Mom.

Cindy is doing well. She is happy & content. Paul and I took her to a follow up 6 month doctor appointment this month. She received 2 shots and got her blood drawn. She is still not happy when going to the doctor's appointments, but she lightens up when the appointment is all over with. She always tells the doctor that she is "fine" after he asks how she is doing. A bone density test was ordered for her to do at this first visit. We haven't done that yet though. The doctor wants to see how she is doing compared to her last one done 2 years ago.

The blood test did come back and we went into the doctor's office for a 2nd visit this month. Her thyroid pill was adjusted in dosage and she started a new pill to help her triglyceride because her level is high. We were told that her triglyceride level could cause a stroke or heart attack. This was already a problem before, and this time we decided to start her up on the pill. The doctor also told us to start giving her fish oil. She will have more blood tests in 3 months to see where she is at with everything.

Everything else is going well for her health wise. 

The biggest problem we see right now is her communication & finding words. We see a decline every day, with her vocabulary, where she can't say what she wants to right away, because the words don't come to her easily. One new word that I noticed, that she couldn't remember the name of is pizza. She called it a round thing. It's kind of shocking when words she knew a week ago or so, become hard for her to remember. She has a hard time telling stories and finding the words to say. She will describe words when she can't think of the word. Like for example: when thinking of stove, but she can't think of the word stove, she will say "the thing you cook on", instead of stove. I will also say words and she has no clue what the words are that I'm saying. This seems like a new thing to me and I just see her mind slowly drifting away more and more. She didn't know what a lint roller was. I was trying to find one at her house because I knew she had one there. I showed her what it was after I found it & she seemed interested to learn that's what that was. She also didn't know what rice krispie was. She has a rice krispie treat for her lunch every other day or so. I asked her if she had one for lunch and she said "rice krispie" like questioning and wondering what that was.



She had a great Christmas. Thank you for everyone remembering her and blessing her with a gift & love. She enjoyed each and every one of her gifts that she received. She enjoyed opening Linda's box of fun. Jean's banana bread, which she enjoyed in her lunches. Gifts from Paul's family, Jon and Nate's family. She enjoyed receiving a few Christmas cards, as well. Thank you everyone! She enjoys the simplest things. Each one of you brought a SMILE to her face! She can't express her appreciation, but I know she appreciated it. THANK YOU!

Here's to another year of being with my mom and having her make me smile everyday! Her birthday will be here before we know it in March! She keeps telling everyone she is turning 60 this year. She is in a rush to make it to 60. She really will only be 59 this year!

 Thank you everyone for everything you do to help us with my mom. Anything small or big, we appreciate it so much!
Happy New Year!!

June is Alzheimer's Disease & Brain Awareness Month

June 02, 2015








DID YOU KNOW??????

By learning the facts, you can help change the numbers.
Each time you talk about Alzheimer's disease, you help raise awareness and inspire action.

47 million worldwide

Worldwide, 47 million people are living with dementia.

604 billion USD per year

The annual global cost of dementia is $604 billion in U.S. dollars.

2030: 76 million people

The number of people living with dementia worldwide is set to skyrocket to 76 million by 2030.

In the United States, Alzheimer's disease is a triple threat.

• Every 67 seconds someone
in the United States
develops Alzheimer's.


• Alzheimer's disease is the
sixth leading cause of death
in the United States.
                  
•Alzheimer’s is the only cause
of death in the top 10 that
can’t be prevented, cured or slowed.


10 Ways To Love Your Brain
Show your brain some love! Your brain is the command center of your body — and just like your heart, lungs and other critical organs, it deserves to be a priority when it comes to your health. Use these 10 tips to help reduce your risk of cognitive decline.

Break a sweat.

Engage in regular cardiovascular exercise that elevates your heart rate and increases blood flow to the brain and body. Several studies have found an association between physical activity and reduced risk of cognitive decline.

Hit the books.

Formal education in any stage of life will help reduce your risk of cognitive decline and dementia. For example, take a class at a local college, community center or online.

Butt out.

Evidence shows that smoking increases risk of cognitive decline. Quitting smoking can reduce that risk to levels comparable to those who have not smoked.

Follow your heart.

Evidence shows that risk factors for cardiovascular disease and stroke – obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes – negatively impact your cognitive health. Take care of your heart, and your brain just might follow.

Heads up!

Brain injury can raise your risk of cognitive decline and dementia. Wear a seat belt, use a helmet when playing contact sports or riding a bike, and take steps to prevent falls.

Fuel up right.

Eat a healthy and balanced diet that is lower in fat and higher in vegetables and fruit to help reduce the risk of cognitive decline. Although research on diet and cognitive function is limited, certain diets, including Mediterranean and Mediterranean-DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension), may contribute to risk reduction.

Catch some Zzz’s.

Not getting enough sleep due to conditions like insomnia or sleep apnea may result in problems with memory and thinking.

Take care of your mental health.

Some studies link a history of depression with increased risk of cognitive decline, so seek medical treatment if you have symptoms of depression, anxiety or other mental health concerns. Also, try to manage stress.

Buddy up.

Staying socially engaged may support brain health. Pursue social activities that are meaningful to you. Find ways to be part of your local community – if you love animals, consider volunteering at a local shelter. If you enjoy singing, join a local choir or help at an afterschool program. Or, just share activities with friends and family.

Stump yourself.

Challenge and activate your mind. Build a piece of furniture. Complete a jigsaw puzzle. Do something artistic. Play games, such as bridge, that make you think strategically. Challenging your mind may have short and long-term benefits for your brain.


Please help spread the word about Alzheimer's, Dementia, and Brain Diseases!


Marigold Seeds

May 24, 2015



As we were dropping off my mom one night at her home recently, I did my usual routine ... where I walk with her inside, unlock her door for her, help her turn off her radio (that she loves to leave playing for Tiger when she leaves), help her shut the blinds, put her food in place for the next day, put her rootbeer in the fridge, and go through her mail.

I happened to look up at her fridge and see a bowl, that I hadn't noticed before, on the very top of her fridge. I got the bowl down and it was filled with Marigold seeds. A few years ago, when she moved into her home she was obsessed with these seeds. The reason being, why she has Marigold seeds saved in all sorts of places.

My mom saw the bowl of seeds and scrunched up her face with a disgusted look and said "yucky yuck"and repeated that over and over again. She thought it looked so gross and I could tell she wanted me to get rid of the bowl of seeds. I finally told her I thought they were Marigold seeds. That triggered her memory. She then showed me a huge container on the floor of some more that she has collected along the way.

My eyes were just opened up this night, that her beloved Marigold seeds, were now considered to her as something yucky. I took the bowl of Marigold seeds home with me that night, to get rid of them for her, and so I could document this moment.

Just another change and something of her interest, slipping away, out of her grasp and control .....

Birthdays

Cindy's 58th Pizza Birthday Party

March 30, 2015



This girl turned 58 years young this year!

In honor of her birthday, we got the whole gang of family together and went out for a pizza party at "The Pie" on her birthday.


The kids had fun playing together. We had fun putting pizza in our tummies, and most of all we had fun putting a smile on our mom's face.



Here's to many more happy and healthy years!

We Love You, Mom!   ♡♡♡♡

Birthday FUN at Lily & Macy's House

March 29, 2015



↑  This sweet party animal turned 58 this year!  ↑

We started off the partying with celebrating Macy & Lily's birthdays with a Saturday "Frozen" birthday party on March 21! Macy and Lily are turning 1 and 4 in April. They are already growing up WAY to fast! We had a lot of fun spending time with family at the party. The girls loved seeing Princess Elsa and Anna.


     We had a nice lunch, the girls got their face done-up with make-up by Anna and Elsa. How special and awesome is that? Paxton, being the only boy in the family, was a good sport about the princess party. He colored with Elsa & Anna. He also got his picture taken with Elsa & Anna, as did all the kids. There was cupcake and cookie eating, present opening time, play time, family bonding time, and so much more.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LILY MAY & MACY JANE!

❤ We love you so much!  ❤

Haircut Time - Take Two

February 16, 2015



This weekend, Paul and I took the time to help take care of my mom's hair. My mom will time and time again tell me that her hair is just fine. She tried to tell me this again, that her hair was just fine the way it was. With Paul's help we talked her into letting us comb through her matted hair, let us wash her hair in the sink, and she let Paul cut her hair. She is not a fan of any of this. She did really well though, considering everything.

Paul started combing one side of her hair, while I started on the other side. This helped the combing go by so much faster then when I do it by myself. It usually takes me a hour to comb out her hair by myself.


Her hair has grown so fast and because my mom can't take care of her hair by herself, I told Paul to cut off A LOT of her hair. Paul cut off 7 inches of her hair.


My mom was all smiles after the haircut with Paul. She felt her hair in the back after it was all done & in a ponytail, and laughed out loud. She kept laughing and saying that "it's short".

This is one of the biggest struggles we have, but we keep doing the best we can. I'm sure this haircut will be a big help. 

Thank you, Paul, for all of your help! I couldn't do this without you & your support!






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