It was a Great Day

I was lonely to be honest and I didn't want to spend my time with Jan at her residence so I went and got her and it was just the two of us for about 7 hours. It was a good time for both of us. She had a shower and I washed her hair and blew it dry. This sounds easy and it really was but the hard part was persuading her to let me put her in the shower to bath her. Very unsure of everything, but it worked out.
After the shower I laid her on her bed and she went right to sleep and I don't think she moved for 2.5 hours. All the noise was gone and she was in her bed and knew it. We had both dogs at the groomer and we went to pick them up and took them home, we got something to eat and took her back at 7:00 pm.
It was my opportunity to just cover her with care and warm feelings. Her health problems will not cure themselves so this time was special to me. We may not have this time again and I know that. Every time I am with her I can't help but think about that one thought. Every second with her is very special. Just special.

Runny Nose

Today I took Jan to get her hair cut. Christi has been doing her hair for years. She is great with Jan and makes her feel very special. God loves her and we do too. I was somewhat concerned about Jan today because she had this very dry cough and a runny nose. Now how can you have a runny nose and have steroids running through your system? Still very chatty and speaks clearly about some things and while we were driving she would make comments about car colors and about slow drivers. It was a scream. I ask her if she just wanted to get over here and drive and she said, no, no. Still has that sense of humor.
Her mother called yesterday while I was with her and she said hello to her mom and told her that she loved her. I think it made her day.
Thank god for good days, give us more. Bless us as you have for 44 years with good health, good spirits and abundant friends. Thank you Lord for bringing this woman into my life long ago as a friend and then as a mate. What a wonderful wife, mother and grandmother she has become.

Good Results

We are very thankful and happy about how the new treatment is working. Jan has been more than chatty. She is attempting to call people by name and achieves it on occasion. She will approach everyone with a smile and gibberish. The new residents at Autumn Leaves really don't know how to respond to Jan as she smiles and laughs.
This past week was full of friends and guests and she responded well to all of them. All the caregivers are glad to have Jan back like she was earlier.
On Saturday it was a beautiful day so I brought her home to see the dogs and it is hard to describe how excited they were to see her. Max, her dog, was running right past me to get to her. She sat down and he was right into her chair by her side. She took a short nap and he was at his normal place which is behind her at the bend of her knees and touching her with his entire back.
The first picture is Jan's Aunt Betty and cousin Diane from OKC. the next is Jan and I taking our picture in the mirror.

How long will it last?

Well the treatment does seem to be working. It's a process of giving her 3 pills for two days, then two for two days, then one for two day,and then we stop. It seems to be working, but what next and how long will this treatment help her before we have to do it again.
Yesterday while I was up with her she was really trying to talk, she even said that she loved me and she has not said that in a long time and this was without prompting her to do it.
As with any place there are bound to be some problems. Jan is on a 30 minute watch so someone is checking her every 30 minutes and sometimes they do it right and sometimes they don't. Its really too bad that Jan cannot partake in any of the activities that they have like the crafts, singing, exercise, bingo, etc. Jan walks pretty much all the time and cannot sit for long stretches of time. Since she entered Autumn Leaves on December 1, 2010, she has lost some weight and I going to find out how much. Some of her friends are coming by to see her and some are sending cards. Anyone can come to see her, just stop after you enter the first door and right the door bell and ask for Jan, also sign in on the log book.

More Surprises

Last Thursday we rushed Jan to the Emergency Room due to her reaction to our examination. We thought she had another UTI infection and it had gone Septic. That was not the case at all. All the doctors thought that she had fallen. We are not aware of her falling either at home or at Autumn Leaves. She was given a strong shot of steroids while at the hospital on Thursday afternoon. Upon reflection she began to get better from that point forward until she was released on Tuesday next week.
Last night the same signs began to return with increased vomiting and dry heaves.
A doctor looked at her today and we have started her on steroids again to help relive the pressure. I pray that we can find a treatment that will allow her to lead a normal Alzheimer's life and not one filled with vomiting. Of course, what is a normal life for someone with Alzheimer's, they are all different in most ways.

From Baylor Hospital Dallas

It is Tuesday morning and it looks like Jan is going to get to go home. These past few days have been very trying for her and watching it has been no fun either. The good thing is that our decision to not do surgery has lifted a Hugh load from our shoulders. Our family and friends have been very supportive and we thank and praise God for their prayers and support. We know where we are destined to be, all together, with no pain, worries or aliments. Being in the presence of god and family daily. Amen, Amen!!

Our first meeting with the doctor was a little confusing and difficult to imagine. We gave him no answer. On Sunday, the same neuro Dr. Came by at 3 pm Supper bowl Sunday. At the same ttime another Dr that represents Texas health resources was there at the same time. Imagine that, 2 dr at Jan's room at the same time, and on Super Bowl Sunday. God k new that we needed help and he double teamed us. If you ask me if I was in the same situation as a person with dementia for many years and can perform no activity of daily living and getting a little worse each month do I want you to put me through a painful surgery with unknown reprecussions and endless list of risks and no guarantee that it will work, then I would say, please don't. In Jan's situation she wouldn't want this either. Jan and I had talked years ago about DNR and other such things. In this case we are following Jan's wishes.

From Hospital on Saturday 4:00am.

Well I just spent an hour posting what has happened the last few days and somehow I lost it all, will try later.