How did everyone's Christmas go?
I hope it was an enjoyable day for everyone or at least a peaceful one.

We had a good Christmas, Lori. How about you?

The two youngest girls and their families came over Christmas Eve and we had out big dinner then. After they went to Mass, we ate dinner and opened presents.
Bill handled the whole thing with no problem. He opened his presents first and then I put him to bed before everyone else opened because it was past his bedtime and he was falling asleep in his chair.
The daughter with kids went home and the other one and her husband stayed until yesterday. We did get an ice storm yesterday, but today is supposed to be 61. I'll believe that when I see it.

Now I have to take the tree down, but I'm not in a big hurry to do that.

Youngest daughter and I checked out another nursing home just 2 miles from us. It's been there since before we moved into this house 36 years ago. Only 64 beds which is good. I think I will try it out for respite in Jan.

I must have been good because I got what I wanted. Well I should say I got the material things I wanted.

I hope everyone had a good time.

How was your's Lori? I hope it was good:)

Mine was good too and it is getting harder every time my daughter comes home and then has to go back to Madison. She left today and so I have "the blues:( "

I ate a bit too much and indulged in the sweets a bit but I think I will be okay. My work pants still fit so I'm good to go.

I really felt like I was able to enjoy the little things this year and take part in the holidays instead of just skimming by like I usually do. I baked, went to some of the Christmas walks in the nearby towns and just took it easy. I really loved the way Christmas went this year even though I did have a few sentimental moments remembering my parents. They will always be a part of my daily life, especially around the holidays, as they should.

I hope everyone else was able to find joy in the season somehow.

Mine went so so. My sister mostly took care of my mom, so that was good. She had a small episode, but sister also took care of that. Everyone really pitched in to help me with getting dinner on, and then getting everything cleaned up. Was having a really bad day with my knee so everyone just kinda help take over, which I don't like in my kitchen, but sometimes you just have to bite the bullet.

Cheated a bit this year and used large plastic plates and plastic glasses. No one seemed to mind though as after dinner clean up was alot easier. But I did get red and green to make it festive!

But I have to say, I am glad its over. It is now getting closer to me having my knee surgery. It will be on the 26th of Jan., so I'm counting down the days. After the 26th, no one can come near me ever with a magnet or they'll be stuck with me for life!!!

A Happy and Peaceful New Year to you all,

Jackie

O.K. This could sound kind of depressing, but it wasn't. I didn't get around to cooking my 'fancy' Christmas Dinner, for one, until yesterday. I just veggied on Christmas day, but got to play dress-up, and attend Church, the night before, so that was cool. Dealing with the snow, is a hassle, and I put my back-out, from shoveling a foot of snow, off of my tiny little porch. So today, have been down on ice, and hobbling around my house, mostly....BUT....still counting my blessings! I am glad I have a roof, and a car, and my Mom is still with us, and she still remembers me, etc.

I sent Mom & Tom a "Deluxe-Tower-Of-Treats" from Harry & David, kind of a sneaky way of getting some food into that house, and I got to listen to them opening all 12 boxes, so that was fun.

I have a dear friend, that has had the exact opposite life as I have, for many, many years. She is rich, I am poor. She has the "Norman Rockwell Family Holidays" I do not...BUT...Just a few Christmas' ago, she said she was feeling really depressed, and wished she could just climb into bed, in her jammies, too many expectations, etc. So I said "Well, you will be very jealous of me, because that is exactly what I intend to do!" HA. Lesson, don't judge a book by it's cover, EVER!

The truth is, when you have nothing-you-have-to-do, there are no expectations of what you should do, or be, or wear, and it may sound weird, but I kind of like it?

I hope your Holidays were free from Drama, Heart-Ache, or Tragedy, and if so, we were a very lucky group of peeps.

This Christmas had sad moments and happy moments. Happy moments because my daughters were able to make it by train from Seattle to our home in Olympia, even though the train was five hours late. Couldn't drive because of all the ice and snow mother nature has thrown at us for the past two weeks! (Not normal in our area----we had 15 inches, and the cities have no way to handle the snow and ice on our many hills).

So sad because this is the first Christmas my mom has not been at our house. My DH drove my oldest daughter and me to her care home, through our heavy snow and ice (thank goodness we have a 4-wheel drive). We brought gifts, and I sat next to mom on the sofa, and she looked straight ahead for the first fifteen minutes. She didn't even look at me while I was talking to her, or giving her gifts. She asked me to open her gifts for her, but showed no joy. It is just so very, very sad. And such a contrast to two years ago, when we went to our favorite restaurant for dinner on Christmas Eve, followed by candlelight service at church. SHe stayed overnight at our house then (she was still living independently then). That Christmas morning she was so excited to open her Christmas stocking, and gifts, and we had a wonderful day, and she exclaimed "this is the most fun Christmas ever!"

This year......nothing.

I want my mama back!!!

Mom went to my brother's house and apparently had a good time, collected her presents and immediately wanted to go home. One of the things they gave her was a digital photo frame. He loaded tons of pictures into it, mostly of my nephew, but also some old pictures of us kids. She enjoys those the most - I'm going to have him load some more old pictures. She sits there and watches the pictures change.

I of course had to work (I had Chinese food).

It's hard to tell when this was coming on, but she apparently is depressed to some extent (she's already on Effexor). Last night when I was putting her to bed she told me at night she feels like "committing suicide." We went through this shortly after she was diagnosed almost 2 years ago, I'm calling the psychiatrist in the morning. In the meantime, there's not even an aspirin she can get her hands on in this house, as I have everything in my room under the bed.

Oh Lynne. I am so sorry. My Mom was like a beligerent teenager, about three years ago. Now she is like a six year-old, still get's excited, over little things, is responsive, even sassy, etc. I can't even imagine when she gets worse, so I try to stay in the moment.

And Judy! What a horrifying thing to hear your Mother say? That would freak me right out. It would be hard t know if she really meant it or not, but really doesn't matter, I am glad you called her Doc.

We went through this when she was first diagnosed. I'm not really afraid she's going to do something, because she really isn't able to formulate any kind of plan. Obviously she's depressed. The reason she gives is "because of Alzheimer's" but she's unable to get beyond that for me to understand how she's feeling.

I was up half the night talking to her and trying to figure out what's going on with her (prior to last night she was absolutely content) and I'm at a loss. I'm watching her closely.

Christmas was good. DH and I picked up a friend and we had my traditional breakfast of Buttons and Bow knots (made from Bisquick) and then we headed over to another friends house for Dinner and games. We had an excellent time, for which I was thankful.

We celebrated Mom's Birthday on Saturday, and had some of her friends from church attend. Mom is slowly getting worse... we learned that they are not monitoring her blood sugars before giving her insulin and we had an episode of her going around the NH into other people's rooms looking for my brother, Frank. This is absolutely not like her! She prefers to stay in her room and read romance novels, so we were certain something was wrong. First thing that came to my mind was that she had another small stroke!

Needless to say, my brother talked sternly to the Manager of the NH about the situation, and threatened a law suit if Mom died from an overdose of insulin. So now my SIL is checking in every other day and going over Mom's records to see if they are checking her sugars before giving her insulin shots. There will be more than one law suit filed if necessary! I just wish her nursing home was closer to me so that I could visit her more than once a month!

We are having a few friends over on Wednesday evening for a party and card games. Since losing both Old Navy and my dog, I'm not in any mood to do much partying.

Hi Deb. That is so scary! And of course hits home, because my sweet Mamma, gets an insulin injection, every day, AND takes pills, to control her Diabetes too, although not in a nursing home yet, I wonder how careful they will be?

I posted a new site for Nursing Home Referrals, check it out, maybe you can find one closer & more dependable. I am so sorry for so many losses, at one time. I think you are doing GREAT considering everything.

http://www.medicare.gov/NHCompare/Inclu ... Search.asp


The Quilt project is really taking off. I am getting the squares TODAY, well soon, so let me know if you had one of ON?

A Happier New Year to You & Your's Deb.

Sky,

I did have the stuff to make a square for ON, but I have to dig it out. I can't even recall which box/drawer/closet it may have gotten stuffed! At this point, I'm not sure I'll find it in time, as I never know when I will be called into work.

That's O.K. Deb. It will never be too late. If you decide someday to jump in. I will always stay in touch with this woman, who seems like her life ambition, is this quilt project, that seems to take place, every other year, or so.