Memory Test

For my husband we have things as orderly as possible. I don't change his things. His routine works for him--very well to this point.

But, I've been leaving things lately or can't remember where I put something. We have construction and painting here and hopefully when it is done, before Easter, the house can be put back to order. Then, where did I put things? Starting to get concerned, I took the informal test below and passed. By the way. It is not the test the doctor gave my husband when he was diagnosed with dementia.

http://www.everydayhealth.com/longevity/memory/questions.aspx?xid=nl_EverydayHealthHealthyAging_20090330

I'm Still Here

I am convinced that caregivers need care. When my husband gets frustrated or angry in ways that he previously didn't, it is a huge adjustment on my part. Plus I miss sharing my feelings with him. I am prone to depression and I did attempt to share my feelings with him--he may not remember, but he is very loving to me and it did help to dare to talk with him.

I read from Psalm 69 today: Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck. . . .I have become a stranger to my brethren [husband]. . . .But as for me, my prayer is to thee, O LORD. At an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of thy steadfast love answer me. With thy faithful help rescue me from sinking in the mire.

Two answers to prayer today were family pledging to pray for my husband and myself. This knowledge lifted my spirits. Also, in other blogs I found the pictured book and ordered it. Will write about it when it comes and it promises to give clues for my dealing with my husband.

How Much Is That Doggy in the Window?

"Why isn't Ziggy at the window?" my husband asked as we came home tonight from having dinner at Buddy Freddy's Restaurant.

"Think about it," I said gently.

"Don't play games with me," he retorted.

Yes, Ziggy is usually at the window when we come home. He gets up on the table after jumping up on a chair, waiting for his masters to come home.

"Because Ziggy is in a cage," I answered not demanding he figure out the riddle with his short-term memory.

Earlier Ziggy had been a bad dog. My husband said he would be locked up for three days to teach this puppy a lesson. Simply he hadn't remembered the punishment and that he had given Ziggy.
How had Ziggy been bad? When I came home today from teaching a class for DUI offenders, I brought groceries. Currently I am not parking in the garage because the painter has supplies in the garage. I opened the garage door with my garage door opener and my husband thoughtfully helped me bring in groceries. Well, this was too much for puppy. He runs out the door my husband had opened and out the garage. I nearly slip trying to catch Ziggy who darts across the street to see the girl puppies next door to the horses. My husband runs across the street to get the wayward child and is furious that Ziggy would do such a thing.

"To teach Ziggy a lesson the dog will have to be locked up for three days," he proclaims. He will put him in the craft/guest bedroom.

"Sweetheart, there is too much in there for a year and a half puppy to get into. How about the guest bathroom?"

The bathroom it is until Ziggy starts scratching on the door.

"How about his cage?" Ziggy was put in the cage while we went to dinner.

And so hubby didn't remember why doggy wasn't at the window two hours later.

No, Ziggy didn't stay locked up for three days, but my husband felt like having him locked up three days and I certainly want to reinforce "come" when we say "come, Ziggy."

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Dog Ziggy was in a canine St. Patrick's Day contest last Saturday. I made his costume with a machine embroidery rainbow spilling into an appliqued brown pot. Then I superglued pennies for the gold at the end of the rainbow. He didn't win, but thoroughly enjoyed all the attention and other dogs. He got out of his hat at the last minute when it was his time to parade across the stage and the hat hung around his neck. Next year he may have the luck of the Irish with more practice for him and for me working on a better hat.

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Meanwhile, it is I who needs the training in working with the hubby and the dog.

Project Lifesaver

So far my husband gets to work and back, to church, to the doctor, and other places he is used to without problems. However, I do recall touble he has trouble with new directions. If it were not for my cell phone and my helping him, he would have gotten lost, mind you, in an area he has lived for most of his life. One time he lost his car at work, I told him to calm down, and I came to his work helped him find it.

This morning on the news I heard of a woman with the early stages of Alzheimer's who came up missing and unfortunately dead. The newscast mentioned a device from Project Lifesaver that can help. If the person wears this bracelet, he or she can be traced.

http://www.projectlifesaver.org/

Springing Surprises / Not Remembering

Strawberry Festival. I asked my husband could we go and then I mentioned often about our tickets for this local event and that we were going to see a concert--Christian commedian/singer Mark Lowry at that festival. The day arrived and my husband came home from work at 2:30. He didn't remember about the festival, and wanted to stay home. When I mentioned I had already bought the tickets, he agreed to leave the safe haven of the couch and TV, and we went and had a delightful time. He didn't walk around the festival as much as in past years, but let me go off to see the booths and then check back in with him.

House Painting. Our house needs painting. My husband had always said he would paint the house, but he doesn't have the energy now and quite frankly it would be confusing to him and stressful for me to have him on any big project. But we do have a great painter/carpenter we have worked with before. Several days ago I chose new house paint colors and asked my husband about them. When we went to Home Depot, he hadn't remembered about the new colors--isn't the house going to be the same black and white? I needed again to sell him on these colors. We ordered several small items needed in the project. On the way home we drove by two houses with those colors. He liked them. Visualizing is so important. I will return to buy those colors within the week when the painter is ready.

(One day one of us may have to sell this home and it needs to be in good condition in this financial market so it can be sold. I have been a widow once, and always think of the future now.)

Memory. The other morning my husband mentioned that he didn't think he had a memory problem. I guess I am glad he is happy and doesn't think so. However, I am constantly thinking about his memory now, how I can run things by him, how he can have a say, and I won't spring things on him. So far he is trusting my judgment on most things. Lots of new thoughts for me now. How can I apply biblical respect for my husband in our situation? How can I maintain his trust?

From Proverbs 31. "The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life." Lord, help me to do him good all my days, help him trust me, and guide me in this new phase of our life together. Amen.

Scenes from the Country

At one time our home used to be a farm house for a larger tract of land. A rodeo was once operated

in back of our current property by a previous

owner of our home. We just have one Maltese dog, Ziggy, who is entertained by all the other critters nearby.