I sent Mom's Photo Album off on Saturday, so was really, really, excited, for her to get it. I had combed through 300 slides, converted them to digital images, and then back into prints, for her. I found the perfect little Peek-A-Boo Album for them, and found little sparly stikers to g on the front, saying "Dream" & "Love" & Flowers, not too big (they dont have much room) and only put the very best photos of all of us, when we were really little kids, and also, growing up.

I didn't get a call yesterday, or today, so I called them. "Did you get your Easter Package, Mom? "I don't know, maybe?" "Well, it woud have come in a white Fed-X Box?" Mom:"Tom, did we get anything in a Fed-X box?" "Yes" Me: "When?" Mom: "Yesterday" Me: "Well, did you like it?" Mom: "I don't know" Me: "What was in the box?" "I forget" OUCH!!!!!

I know I was probably more excited to find all those old slides, but thought they would spark some old memories for her, and I am afraid it was a swing & a miss. I am crushed, but am still glad, I have them. I sent the on-line version to my Uncle (my Dad's brother) and m Sister #1, and one cousin, I am sure they will enjoy them too. I am not sure why my Mom, isn't.

I HATE THIS DISEASE! I want my MOM BACK!!!

Please don't be heartbroken. Your mom may have loved looking at the pictures when she received the album but only minutes later forgotten. She will probably pick it up again and it will be a "new" pleasure for her each time. I think that is the nicest gift you can give someone with AD.
northernlights

God works in mysterious ways! I was doing some dishes, and the thought popped into my mind "I wonder if Mom might have a UTI?" Because it seemed, on this board (yes, I do learn from all of you!) that was always the culprit, with a sudden, unexplainable, decline? So I wrote Mom's Nurse, & my Sister #1, and asked? I found out the my Sister is planning on going again, in three weeks. I had asked Mom, when she was coming again, and got her favorite answer "I Dunno?" And she plans on taking Mom to several Dotors Apps. one being a GYN, her Primary, and asked me if: I-HAD-ANY-OTHER-SUGGESTIONS?

Well, that is a miracle, in and of it self, and the reason we are 'speaking' again, for the mean time, is because I sent her those darling pictures, some prints, and then the entire CD! She really appreciated it, and even added, how much work she knew went into it. So, Mom impressed? Not so much. My Sister, YES!!!! My other Sister, is in Africa for a Month!

Oh well, I guess I am talking to myself again, but it is still a good place to vent! Eva wrote me back today too, and this is what she said:

Nancy,

Since I have been involved in your Mom's care, I have not observed any signs and symptoms of UTI, and I always look, and smell her urine everytime I come, because I know she is high risk due to : diabetes, poor hygiene, because she forgets, and also poor fluid intake, which I make sure she drinks enough too. I will keep eye on it, and by the way, I saw the lovely pictures of you all on the computer. When I came in the morning, before I will even asked her about the album (I had asked her to!) she already had the album ready to show it to me, and we spent 20 minutes looking at it, and I enjoyed so much.

By the way you were all cute!

God; I Love Eva! I would pay her (and you know I am broke!) for that 1/2 hour (she charges $90.00 per hour!) just sitting with my Mom, and looking at those photos!

My heart is full today.

Isn't that wonderful? I'm so glad that your mother is enjoying her album, you put so much work into it!

I wept...so relieved.........

Going through 300 slides, and then digitalizing them and then printing them, I cannot imagine how many hours it must have taken you! A true labor of love. I'm so glad for you.

I found that MIL is forgetting outings and occasions very quickly lately especially as she is not aware of the seasons or time concepts anymore. 'Did we see each other at New Years?' (when she spent 5 days at home) 'I wasn't at your house for Christmas this year' 'When does Taku graduate?' (our son) so I started to take pictures of each thing we do, however small, and print out an 8x10 and place it in a book for her. She looks at it frequently and for those few minutes at least she remembers that we did things together at Christmas and New Years, she saw the cherry blossoms this year, our son graduated etc.

Awww Sky,
I'm so glad things turned around for you. I know you well enough, that I know you put your heart and soul into getting that album together. I'm thrilled it is so appreciated!

Sky,

Sounds like your mother is enjoying your wonderful gift as per Eva! So, try not to take it to heart when she says: "I don't know or remember". As someone else said, she probably has enjoyed it over and over again and just didn't remember it the moment you asked!

I had made my mother a 48 framed photo collage and put it on the wall opposite her bed in the NH so she would see it every day. She would forget it was there and then would ask me who certain people were and then looked with deep love at my father's picture saying: "I know who HE is!" . . .with a HUGE smile on her face! I had put the names of each person under each picture. . so she would know who they were. So each time she looked at the photos, it was as if seeing it for the first time and it made her SOOO happy! She would ask me if she could have a copy of the pictures for herself and when I told her that I had made that for HER. . she was SOOO happy saying: "REALLY?? FOR ME?? HOW WONDERFUL OF YOU!"

Pictures are a great gift for people with AD. Especially the older ones (pictures that is!)! You did a good thing!

Connie

Thanks You Guys, & Dolls! And Maebee, you are right, I did pour my heart & soul into this project, and it did take every day of three weeks, but I did it for her? And when it seemed she didn't 'get' the signifigance, well, it did just break-my-heart, because as much as I try to stay-in-the=moment, I know what lies ahead, and I can't even conceive of it? Mom does look at photo albums..a lot. And when I am there, that is what we do, is sit side by side, on the couch, and chat & giggle, and I try to tell her who people are, without embarrassing her, and tell her I don't have a very good memory either, you know, try to live in her world.

Her life seems to get smaller & smaller, no surprise, but she used to have "SO" many interests, and they have just been taken away, one by one. First Tennis, then Bridge (she got fired..poor thing) and even reading, is questionable. There are always about 15-20 books, stacked on the end of the couch, with book marks, about two pages in, on all of them. I suspect, by the time she gets to the next page, she has already forgotten the last one, or even the last chapter.

I had asked Eva, to ask her about the new album, the following morning, to see if she was happy about it, or even knew what she was referring to? To hear that Mom had it out already, likea kid, on Christmas morning, and wanted to 'share' it with Eva, beought me so much Joy, like I said...Tears of Joy.

I'm so glad your mom was finally able to enjoy the photos. I'm sure you breathed a big sigh of relief.

I did Lori. I did.