Wise beyond your years

  Peggy seems to be doing okay....She is getting used to the place, and they are getting used to her.  I didn't see her for a whole week....and that was okay.  I know my Mom wouldn't want me to worry so much.  I wouldn't want my girls to have to worry about me in that way.  She would want me to be at their recital, and school play and be with Allen and read, and paint and work.  All the things she taught me and encouraged me to do as my Mother.  She always said to me "You are wise beyond your years."  Sometimes she meant that in a good way, and sometimes not.  I'm afraid the years have now surpassed the wise part of that statement.  She also used to tell me "My eyes were bigger than my stomach"  Unfortunately that is no longer true either.

That's Sunny on the far left.

G at Ballet class

Anyway, I do think that it was wise having Peggy Lu visit.  She relieved a lot of pressure on me, and I can go back to including Peggy into my routine, instead of making my routine specifically around her. 

"I'll love you forever."

We had a great visit with Peggy Lu.  It makes it easier to go over to the house with someone, because when we sit and chat together, Peggy gets into the conversation, she mumbles, and stutters, and shouts, and smiles, and drinks her tea and participates, in her own way.  Instead of me just staring at her asking questions, wanting answers.  So, I guess my advice for today is to include your alzhiemer's patient in as much as you can.  Don't expect a lot, but you might get a surprise like a bite, or maybe even a coherent whisper like  "I'll love you forever."  That's what Peggy said, when Peggy Lu said goodbye to her last night.

My art show's special guest

I had an art show of my most recent work up at M Street Coffee, just down the street from Sunrise.   I knew it would be hard to bring my Mom myself. So I had decided not to, because I knew I would have many other things to worry about or take care of, and I usually do stuff at the last minute....like my hair, and label everything.   It is hard to exclude her from important things we do that I want to share with her.  But, sometimes I have to think about myself and the girls first.  So, anyway the reception coincidentally fell on the same week everyone was here, last night... and Peggy Lu brought a special guest.

A St. Patrick's Day to remember

Today was a really fun day! Here are the Peggy's dancing to Bing Crosby singing Peg O' My Heart.  

And Sunny jumped in with an Irish jig all her own.



And for even more green fun click here....
A St. Patrick's Day to remember

Peggy and Peggy

Peggy Lu came for Thanksgiving!  She got in late on Monday night and so she called me early Tuesday morning and said she was going to walk up to Nana's.  (They stayed at Sportsmen's Lodge)

It was early.... I knew she would be sad if she saw Nana still in bed, or in a wet bed, or on the couch, or maybe even pleasantly asleep in her pajamas.... because it's really hard to wake her up and get her going.  So, she came to my house first and we drank coffee and ate delicous zucchini or pumpkin bread that Allen is always up late baking.  It was so nice to see her... Peggy Lu came to Chicago to help with the big move to California, and this was the first time seeing her in 3 months and in her new environment.  Then we went over there, together, and she met Sir Henry and some of the staff, and they all could tell who she was because of her resemblance to my Mom.  We got to her room.... and there was Peggy, taking a nice shower, being helped by Lisa.  I showed her around a little, and she really liked the room and we were standing there and my Mom came out all dressed and fresh and said "Hi Peggy Lu."  We cried and were so happy and my Mom acted as if nothing was unusual or different and that Peggy Lu is always there in her life.... which she always has been and which she still is.