Where does the time go?

Hi everyone! Hope this finds you all well. I've heard from several of you (Dory and Nora, sorry!) that you were worried because there's been no blog. Well, don't worry, everything is status quo! It's been a very busy and interesting couple of weeks in our house. The big news is that Matt has decided that he needs more support than he's getting living on his own, and he thinks I need more support than I'm getting living with an Alz hubby. The solution? He's moved back in with us for awhile. God knows I can use the help! He can use some moral support, too, so it's going to work out for all of us. (plus he's a better cook than me!)
Dave has a new trick! He's been falling out of bed alot in the past 2 weeks. He usually doesn't remember in the morning. I've had to move his night stand further away from the bed so he doesn't hit his head. And poor Ozzy! He sleeps in his bed on the floor next to Dave, so he's being flattened on a regular basis. He doesn't seem to mind, though. Dave also started on his Namenda this week. He still thinks it's the miracle cure, and I'm not going to be the one to burst his bubble! For those of you who don't know, and why would you, Namenda is a cousin to Aricept, and it's used to slow the progression of AD. We'll see :(
Monday we are going to West LA to see the cardiologist. Dave has to have an echocardiagram on July 26th, so I guess this is just a pre-visit. He's been having some shortness of breath, which I mentioned in the last blog. Hopefully everything is good.
The grandkids are all on summer vacation, and thoroughly enjoying. Well, all except Dominick, who is taking math and english in summer school at St. Bonny's. This was a requirement for fall admission, so he is doing it, although reluctantly. He was all for it at first, but then summer rolled around, and he's the only one going to school. Oh well, I guess it's for the greater good. He'll live. Rhiannon is coming over Friday (I have a 4 day weekend!) and we are going to be doing some baking and some jam making. She's been wanting me to show her how to make apricot jam for a year, so this Friday's the day. I'm looking forward to it. She's an excellent pupil, and I LOVE spending time with her. Joe shaved his eyebrows off. I guess that's all I can say about that. Chris and Dylan are thrilled that Daddy is living at our house, because we can spend more time with them! I can't believe Dylan is starting the big "K" in September. Where does the time go?
I guess that might be the moral of this blog....where does the time go? I am fully committed to spending every single day with Dave, and enjoying everything he has to offer. I know that time is precious for us, so I MUST enjoy the time we have. He is in good spirits, knows what's happeneing to him :( but continues to possess a possitive attitude. Even though he gets grouchy, and tires easily, and is prone to outbursts, ( oh hell, all that?) I still love him with all my heart.
Well, that's my story and I'm sticking to it! See ya all next time in the blogosphere! I love you all! :) Take care

Sorry for the delay....

Okay, so I've had a crappy week, compounded by a double ear infection. My ears have been plugged for over a week, and I can't hear a damn thing. If any of you called this week, I couldn't hear to talk on the phone, so I just didn't answer my phone. Thank God I have great co-workers who not only put up with my whining all week, they also took over my phone answering duties! (Thanks Ida & Ronda!)
Any who, on to other things....Dave had his first session with Dr. Mendez this past Monday. It was pretty grueling for him. He met with a research assistant for 3 hours, doing all kinds of tests. He did some things on the computer, had to write some stuff (Oh God!!) and answer a trillion (according to him) questions. I'm greatful I took a book. Then when he was done, I had to go in for almost an hour and answer more questions. I don't know exactly what they asked Dave because, guess what, he couldn't remember. Bummer. They asked me the usual, when did I notice his memory was degrading, can he dress himself (ha!), things like that. She asked me to describe two events in the last month that would be memorable to Dave, so I chose Memorial Day bbq w/Matt and Heather, and Dom's graduation. He remembered the graduation, but couldn't remember where we ate or who was with us :(, and he couldn't remember the bbq at all.
I'm feeling a wee bit overwhelmed by all of this. Talking about all the specifics with the research assistant has made me realize that Dave
is further along in his journey than I realized. We were both exhausted when we left UCLA, but we did manage to stop at our favorite Mexican dump in Santa Monica (Campos) and have a burrito before heading home. We haven't eaten there in years, and you'll be happy to know it hasn't changed a bit!
Friday afternoon found us back at the VA in the Valley for an ultra sound. Dave has to have the 6 month check up of his Thorasic Aortic Aneurysm, so he has to have a couple of things done before meeting with the Cardiologist. On that note, I'm a little concerned as he has been experiencing a little shortness of breath and indigestion recently. No worries 'til we see the Cardiologist. (I could manufacture some worries, but I won't).
Well, that's the long and the short of it. Hope you are all well and happy and loved! Thanks for reading, and see ya next time in the blogosphere! I love you all!

Dom's Big Day...With No Pictures

Hi everyone. We spent Friday evening with family and friends watching our beloved Dominick graduate with honors from St. Anthony's Middle School. What a night! The church was packed with parents, grandparents, and friends. Rhiannon was an alter server, which made the event more special. Keep in mind that we've known most of the graduating class since they were in second grade, so we had a blast!
I have to say, I started the evening with high hopes and great expectations. When I got home from work, not only was Dave dressed in matching clothes that I didn't pick out for him , but he had the digital camera charged up and ready to go with no prompting from me! Oh boy, I thought, this is going to be great! And it would have been....if only Dave could remember how to use the camera. We didn't get 1 single picture of the graduation, or the reception that followed. The more he tried, the more frustrated he got. Matt asked him if he could try and take some pictures and Dave damn near bit his head off. All part of the disease, I know, but maddening none the less. Next time I'll know to spirit the camera away before Dave gets ahold of it. Of course there's always the possibility that next time Dave won't remember the camera. Oh well, such is life with an Alz hubby! :)
So now Dom is off to start his high school career at St. Bonny's! He's the only one in his grad class that's going there. Most are off to Santa Clara, and a few to the dreaded 'public school' Oxnard High . After the reception, we all went out for Chinese food, except Dom, who went to a party with all his classmates. There was a slight change in the plan there. We were going to go to Joe's Crab Shack, but one of Dom's classmates decided to have a party, so of course all the kids wanted to go. Any who, I've become an expert at rolling with the flow lately. The evening was a huge success and lots of fun, (except for the camera part).
Off topic, we're going down to UCLA again on Monday for some psych testing that's part of the research project Dave is participating in for Dr. Mendez. We should be gone most of the day as the testing will take approximately 4 hours. I better take a book. I'll let you all know how it went sometime next week.
Well, that's all for now. Thanks for reading, see you next time in the blogosphere! Love you all! :)

Big News

I have a couple of things to blog about, but don't have time tonight....so I'll just tell you our big news. Debbie and Steve had their ultra sound today, and we are having a grand daughter in mid-November! We couldn't be more thrilled! Grandma's scorecard - boys 4 girls 2! Dom's graduating tomorrow, so I have a lot on my plate, but I do have some Alz stuff I want to tell you about. Hopefully Saturday night I'll have some time. Until then...love you all! :)

Post Monday Doc Appointment

Hi everyone! Hope this finds you all well. We had a hectic weekend, birthday parties (happy b'day Jordon!), dinner with Matt & Heather (Matt cooked at our house, it's easier for Dave) and the much dreaded doctor appointment Monday. We were going to meet Dave's new PCP, as his wonderful Dr. Paulis decided not to take VA patients anymore. This had Dave a bit uneasy, he doesn't do change all that well anymore. He fretted all the way there, thank God the appt was 9:00 in the morning. The VA here has moved into a beautiful new building in Oxnard. Long-short, we were sitting in the room waiting for the new doc, and the door flew open and in walked Dr. Paulis! He had a change of heart, and Dave couldn't have been more thrilled. (me, too. He's GREAT) He's decided to only take VA patients, and has signed a 5 year contract with the VA. The appointment went well. It's been 6 months since they found Dave's Thoracic Aneurysm, so he needs to go back to the Cardiac Surgery Clinic so they can see if surgery is indicated. He'll have an MRI in 2 weeks, then the clinic after that. I'll keep you posted on that situation.
On to fun stuff...Dominick is graduating Jr. High on Friday, and as Student Body Pres, he's giving the speech. He's very nervous, but he keeps everything in prospective. He told me earlier on the phone: "Grandma, it's junior high. Nobody will remember what I said by Saturday afternoon!" Boy, he sure has that right. We are all going at 5:15, Matt, Heather and Chris and Dylan, Us, Debbie's Folks, her sisters and their kids. After the graduation, we're off to Joe's Crab Shack for a celebration. Some of Dom's friends and their families will join us there. We're looking forward to it. I hope I can keep Dave in a good spot. Probably not, he does horrible in crowds, but at least I'll have help in the form of Matt and Heather. They've been terrific, and I love them for it.
Well, I guess that's it for this edition of Diane's Daily Life. Thanks for reading, feel free to post a comment if you like, and I'll see ya in the blogosphere! Love you all! :)