wandacleo

I would do him for a fee. While you sluts would do him free! I would charge him by the inch So getting rich would be a cinch.

Brilliant! On the tour, on the bus I would do him without fuss. I would do him on the lamb I would do him. Slut, I am.

Jazzgirl I can tell you have been through what the rest of us are tackling and have found some good solutions. I LOVE the bibs. I have both the terry ones and the disposable ones, but I prefer the terry. I used to go crazy washing Mom's clothes because she always had food down the front. This is so much better. When I used to take her out to eat, I just put a kitchen towel in my bag and tucked it the neck of her clothes.

Desertrose I can certainly relate to all you have been through, and I'm so glad that you were able to find a placement that is working out well. Your poor father must have gone through hell. It's just so difficult with Alzheimer's. I go to a support group, and we're all able to laugh at each other's horror stories, and that does hellp--at least we know we're not alone. I think until people live with this problem, they really have no idea what it's like and how unpredictable things can be. It sounds as though you have had way more than your share of heartache in your life. Sponge baths, by the way, work just fine. It's a rare patient with advanced Alzheimer's who will get into a shower or bath! Just one little note (since I'm a nurse and can't resist), I hope those of you with a parent with dementia have talked to the doctors about medications. There are a number of different medications for Alzheimers. Sometimes it can be a trial to find the right one, but they can slow the progression of the disease, and in some cases, make improvements. Mom tried Aricept and Exelon, but they both may her very paranoid and delusional. Scary. However, I waited a while and tried Namenda, and it really made a big difference. She improved back to the point she had been about 1 year earlier and has never gotten as bad as she was before we started the medication, and that was 3 years ago. It's so important to have someone who is familiar with Alzheimer's treatment evaluate people with dementia because sometimes doctors just write it off as "old age," but old age doesn't cause dementia--disease does. Jmh You will be surprised at what you're able to do when the need arises. You do what you need to do. You've already really done a lot to make things better and safer for your mother. It's almost impossible to solve all problems at one time. Sometimes the best you can do is tackle one at a time. And BELIEVE me, it's not at all unusual for one or two siblings to bear the brunt of it while others are in denial. Not seeing is way easier than dealing.

Are you trying to say you're having a bad day????? :F_05BL17blowkiss:

Aikim

CarolinaClay So happy the stork landed safely with it's precious bundle. Ldyjocelyn

ACK!!! You lost 15 pounds and INCHES in two weeks!!!!??? Just kill me now. Crap I wish! No I've lost 15 lbs over the last several months but just started working on weights and the inches are going away around my midsection. Sorry, didn't word that very clear... What kind of weight exercises are you doing that is getting rid of the inches around the middle. I DEFINITELY need those. I have some 2 and 5 pound weights. Are they enough?

Well, we've just about exhausted the food topic and we've looked at Clay's crotch for days. We'd better get some Clack soon!!!! Is anyone going to Neil Sedaka tribute with a video camera?

ACK!!! You lost 15 pounds and INCHES in two weeks!!!!??? Just kill me now.

Luckiest It is really hard to move people out of their normal environment. Often, they can function pretty well in familiar surroundings but become completely confused in other places. Unfortunately, with dementia, often people have to move because facilities can't always accomodate the needs of the person, especially if they begin to wander and it's not a locked facility. Thank God Mom isn't strong enough to wander away anymore because that was a nightmarish time!!! If a parent is confused at all and living alone, it's a really good idea to register them with the Wanderer's program--I think it's everywhere (the local police should know). I got the forms from the Alzheimer's Association. I fill out information and send a picture and it's distributed to the local police departments so that if they find someone wandering they can check the files--or you can report the person missing and they have the info they need. JMH I had a good laugh over the idea of people becoming "more malleable" with increasing dementia. While that may happen with some people, the opposite seems to be a more likely scenario. I've learned to remove the cane and all potential weapons when I'm going to bathe Mom or do any of the things she resists. She beat the crap out of me with her cane one day and damned near choked me another (and she's 98!!!!) It's great that you are getting a care giver. I hired a wonderful woman who comes once a week and extra when I need her--and will even stay for a few days. She's a godsend. I have learned a few tricks. I cut Mom's hair really short so that I can wash it with a washcloth since she wouldn't put her head under water. She still screams (LOL), but the hair gets clean. I also bought some of those disposable bath thingies (how's that for a technical term) that they use in the hospital. I just stick them in the microwave. I can wipe Mom down really fast and don't have to rinse off soap. If she's really enraged I just step back and let her wave her arms around and air dry. There's no way I can get her into a shower. Unfortunately, my family live in another state. For a few years, my sisters would come and stay while I went away (when things were better), and they DID come to help last year because I was sick a lot, but I had to hire others to do the care. They won't come and stay if I'm gone anymore. I think they're really afraid and don't know what to do.

Well, I have over an hour to wait for this show to start on the west coast, but it doesn't sound like the high point of the week. I have to say, I'm starting to find RS's shiteating grin very tiresome on AI. Is it just me?

Carolina Clay There is nothing so wonderful as a grandchild--all that love and no responsiblity!! I'm sending positive thoughts your way.

I just had to report back that I walked for 1 mile--20 minutes!! I'm so proud. The last time I saw my endocrinologist, she asked me how much I was exercising and I said about 10 minutes a day and she burst out laughing and said, "Most people would be ashamed and would lie!" Can you imagine? Actually, I WAS lying. I was only exercising 5 minutes a day. Tomorrow, 2 miles.

Clayzorback said: There are no ends to the volunteers willing to scrunch those toes for him.

Good morning (afternoon) all, Thanks so much for the Waldo show. I've sent it on to every dirty-minded person I know.

Lucky Congratulations! I weighed myself this morning and by some miracle I've lost 2 pounds in the past week. I have been TRYING to be good, so that is a good beginning. I'm keeping a food journal and one of my friends and I are sending our journals to each other every evening. Basically, I'm going to try to eat mostly vegetables and a little meat. No flour and no sugar but I have to have a few potatoes, but I bought the little ones so I'm eating mostly skin. I actually do best on Atkins, but I get so sick of meat and then I go berserk and eat everything in sight and gain the weight back, so I'm trying a different approach. I went to the farmer's market and bought a bunch of vegetables and came home and cooked them all and have them ready in the refrigerator. I usually just eat them cold with oil and vinegar, topped with some sliced meat. So far so good. I frigging hate to diet, but the doctor says I HAVE to lose weight, and I must show some headway by the time I see her again in November. I was sick most of last year and couldn't exercise and had to take cortisone for a long time after surgery. PLUS, I ate because I was feeling sorry for myself (I must admit.) Pathetic. I gained a MOUNTAIN of weight.

Jmh Honestly, I think your situation is worse than mine--and it sounds very much like your mother has some dementia. Mom would "come and go" when it first started--sometimes making perfect sense and then doing just crazy things. One of the cardinal signs is a change in hygiene--refusing to bathe or wear clean clothes. Have you discussed these things with her doctor and gotten a diagnosis? I can tell you after YEARS of taking care of Mom, I bathe her 2-3 times a week and change her clothes everyday and she yells and screams EVERY SINGLE TIME, but the blessing of a short memory is that she forgets. (God knows what the neighbors think I'm doing to her.) Fortunately, I have a little more control because she lives in my home. It took me about 4 months to get her to keep the diapers on, but I threw out all of her panties and it was either Depends or bare-assed. Sometimes, you just have to do what is right because when people have dementia, they really can't make rational judgements. It sounds as though your mother shouldn't be alone, and that's a very difficult situation. Most facilities here won't take patients with Alzheimer's, and the ones that do run about $7000 a month. Mom has no money, and that's more than I can afford. Sometimes I feel as though I'm in prison. I'm sure you and others in this situation can relate. I hope you have a good support system. I have WONDERFUL friends who come by to see me because they know I'm stuck at home. I also found a daycare program for Alzheimer's so I can take Mom there for a few hours a day 3 days a week. I tell Mom she's going to school, and she's very happy there. Families can be a big pain. For the first couple of years, one of my sisters used to say things like, "I guess it's easier to let Mom go crazy than to spend the time helping her with her memory," and "She should have a bath everyday." RIGHT. Then, both of my sisters came to take care of Mom while I was away for 9 days, and that was the last time they ever said a word. The first thing they said when I returned was, "She hasn't had a bath for 9 days. We couldn't do it." Of course, after that, they said they couldn't take care of her anymore. It was too hard for them. Jesus.

OMG, you guys are still talking food and I'm trying to diet. However, it did remind me of my first trip to Texas. It was hot as....well, Texas...and I kept seeing signs for "frozen custard" and I wondered, "What is THAT?" I envisioned some sort of frozen elegant creme brulee (I know, I know, I forgot where I was) and so I could hardly wait to get some. Oh, what a shock!!!! It was just plain old soft ice cream, right out of the machine. One of the major disappointments of my life.

I signed up (assuming it's the same party). I think they have about 250 people coming to the party from different boards, so it should be a lot of fun (although this summer I looked in vain for Texwriter at the huge San Diego party so maybe we will need some way to recognize each other!)

Oh (down evil jealousy!!) I'm wishing I could go to a Christmas concert. I guess I have no right to complain since I AM going to Las Vegas. Will I see some of you there?

Well, shit, JumpingJacks, I thought we were friends by osmosis. You mean we're supposed to actually MEET????

cle (with an accent) means "key" in French. Hmmm.. Unusual name.

As a fellow newbie, I have to say that I felt similarly. As a matter of fact, last night I thought maybe I'd made a giant mistake and that FCA was really no different, and I DID get the impression that we should just not address CGs remarks because she was part of the "in" group. Well, I've ruminated (don't you just love this word) about this considerably, and this is what I think. I, and some others, are sort of wandering refugees from a board with a resident basher who has free rein to bash away and we are allowed to say nothing because she's "really loves Clay," despite the fact that Clay looked less than impressed with her love in Orlando. And, she's back in full form. So, for a little while, I felt like the resident basher just had a different name here, but the same rules applied. That was really disheartening to me because I thought that calling Clay a jerk about his SISTER was really mean-spirited (especially since HE told us about not returning the call and how much he suffered because of it--and who in the world hasn't neglected to return a call to a sibling???) It seemed like hitting below the belt. I was afraid to even mention that last night because the message seemed to clearly be to shut up. And, that was probably the best thing. I mean, CG had already posted and said she was leaving the board. I'm still trying to understand the board and find my way--as are others--and I don't know a lot of you so I have no history (well, except with many of the newbies). Last night, I didn't say much, but I'm sorry I said anything. I am glad, though, that lovethatguy asked the question because maybe it will help to clarify the newbies relationship to the board.