I had a sleep in getting up at 7.20am

Tasha was here putting clothes in the washing machine. So she did breakfast for me.

Kathy & Summer arrived at 8.30 to shower me and iron Tim’s work shirts.

Mum told me that Dawson went t o the show with his mum and her dad and younger siblings. I hope he had a good day.

Awake at 6am and got straight up and even managed to get myself dressed.

Tasha came and got my breakfast.

Mum told me about Dawson going to The Show and how expensive it was. He had a good day and enjoyed himself. Mum sounded good.

Woke at 5.15 looked at clock thought I would try and lay there a tad longer, however, the next thing I knew my alarm was going off.

Tim went and spoke to the bloke who did the motorbike as he isn’t happy with the work. The bike goes back for more work on the 27^th.

Been a sticky day drenched in sweat as per usual.

Off now to see the neurologist, fingers cross for answers.

Woke at 5.40 and got up with the alarm, Tasha was here a minute after I got up, was still peeing when she arrived.

So yesterday arvo I went and saw the new neurologist, he was a nice enough fellow after talking to me for a good while he examined me.

He is sending me for an MRI which I will have done on the 19^th at 7pm. I do not like such a late appointment but it was all they had at first the woman making the appointment wanted me to go to East Maitland to have it done. That is a 0-40 minute drive, thankfully I only have to go to Cardiff a 10 minute drive.

He has also prescribed me a new medication to try, something called Gapentin 100mg, this I take 3 times a day.

He also thing I should see another specialist in Sydney, as he says that my symptoms suggest either an Essential tremor or a Parkinson’s tremor but it can’t be both. He didn’t say anything about a Functional tremor.

Tasha gave e a shower this afternoon.

Told Mum twice about yesterday.

Slept well, woke with the alarm, as soon as Tasha saw the bathroom light come on she was here.

A nice day not hot or cold.

Mum said she had a rotten day because she didn’t sleep well.

Uo with the alarm, Tim also got up too get ready for work.

It’s a hot day and I am drenched in swear again but the breeze feels nice.

Mum started out sounding good but half way through telling me something about Sue, she switched to a story about Sandy. I didn’t let on that she did that.

Woke before the alarm at 5.50am and got straight up and opened the house. Sent Tasha a sms letting her know I was up.

Another warm day, not sweating as much.

Mum sounded good she was not repeating herself, she told me that Dawson changed the lounge-room around.

Hello Friday, are you wondering what I am thinking this morning?

Well I am thinking that dementia in any form is a bitch………

It sneaks up on many and for others it feels like one day they woke up and bam their memory is gone. Of course it didn’t happen that way but it sure feels like it.

My Mum has always had a bloody great memory right up till around June 2019 two months after Dad died. We her children noticed she would forget little things at first but now it has gotten pretty bad.

She can still remember who we all are, and that she speaks to me every day and that my brother calls in for lunch each day. However, when we chat of an afternoon she can tell me the same thing 2 or 3 times. Or she will start telling me about one thing and half way through the story changes taking at times a sharp right turn. I sometimes will mention the change, if the original tale was something I wanted to know about.

My Mum like her Mum tried hard not to end up with dementia but still it happened.

My Nan and my Aunt who also has dementia both found out who their friends were, as so many people started avoiding them when they started to repeat themselves.

I would like to hope I don’t end up with it but who knows mum says she is glad that she was 80 before her memory started to fail.

Recipe For Happily Ever After

© Ilona M. Blake More By Ilona M. Blake

Published: February 2018

Today will be perfect
In every single way.
A beautiful fairy tale
For your wedding day.
The theme of your day
Is to have love and laughter
And to live your days
Happily ever after.

Living happily is
What we need to survive,
So how does one keep
The magic alive?
How do you light a spark
That never goes out?
And how does one live a life
Without fear or doubt?

How do some people manage
To keep their love strong?
And how do some couples
Always feel like they belong?
What do you need to do
To stay in love forever
And make each day special
And grow fonder together?

Well, these very questions
You must address every day.
You must take the time
To go out of your way,
To always share love
And always share laughter,
To do whatever it takes
To live happily ever after.

Here is a recipe
I think is a must,
So let’s begin with
Always having trust.
Don’t forget it’s important
To have total respect,
And to always stay loyal
To keep your love perfect.

You must communicate
Each and every day.
Three special little words
You must never forget to say,
“I love you.” It’s amazing
How these words make you feel
Happy, safe, and valued,
And they will keep your love real.

A simple act of kindness
Goes a long, long way.
Blend it with understanding
And you can’t go astray.
Don’t forget friendship.
It will help you to cope.
Add a sprinkle of faith
And an abundance of hope.

Remember your smile.
It is beautiful to see.
It can brighten one’s day.
It can make you feel free.
So my wish for you both
Is you always have love and laughter,
And I pray that you will enjoy
Your happily ever after.

Source: https://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/recipe-for-happily-ever-after

So yesterday arvo I went and saw the new neurologist, he was a nice enough fellow after talking to me for a good while he examined me.

He is sending me for an MRI which I will have done on the 19^th at 7pm. I do not like such a late appointment but it was all they had at first the woman making the appointment wanted me to go to East Maitland to have it done. That is a 0-40 minute drive, thankfully I only have to go to Cardiff a 10 minute drive.

He has also prescribed me a new medication to try, something called Gapentin 100mg, this I take 3 times a day.

He also thing I should see another specialist in Sydney, as he says that my symptoms suggest either an Essential tremor or a Parkinson’s tremor but it can’t be both. He didn’t say anything about a Functional tremor.

Hello Monday, hello facts and hello world……………..

Mail has been carried by foot runners, bullock carts, camels and h horses.

Reindeer’s have been used in Scandinavia and Russia.

Dog’s have been used in Alaska and cats in Belgium, in 1879, the town of Liege Belgium employed 37 cats to carry bundles of letters to villages.

The first 3D stamp was issued by Italy in 1956 you needed special glasses with red & green lenses, the image of the world map would appear.

There was a time when you could lose your nose not your freedom, if you broke the law in India. As noses were chopped off so often there was a big demand for surgeons who could rebuild them.

Slept in till 6.50, got up opened the house and made my own breakfast as it is Saturday.

Kathy will be over this afternoon as this morning she has to do her refresher course in first aid for work.

So Tim had to help me dress this morning.

Kathy rang she will be here 8.30 in the morning. She felt drained after her morning.

Woke a 6ish after a shocking night, I woke every couple of hours not for long although it felt like it took ages to go back to sleep but I don’t think it did.

Kathy arrived around 8.30 alone she had left the girls with Micheal. She showered me and did the ironing.

Mum was confused a bit this afternoon, so only a short chat.

Awake with the alarm, opened house, unpacked dishwasher, and had my wash and still no Tasha. I sent her a text and she showed up minutes later.

A hot day A/C going from 9am so I am ok not too sweaty.

Asked Tasha to get me stamps as I have 10 letters to post.

Only a short chat to Mum sitting on the scooter in front of Tasha’s car while I waited for Leo to get home. She rang just as I was leaving the house. Thankfully the house phones have a decent range.

Awake with the alarm again, had a so so nights sleep.

Not suppose to be hot but it is and I am sweating but not overly.

Mum was telling me that Michelle rang and wanted to talk about the problems she is having with Landon.

Mum didn’t at one point understand why Michelle would want to speak to her as they are not related. I reminded Mum that she has been like a mother to Michelle as soon as I did she sounded different she got it, understood everything.

I can tell when Mum isn’t with it she sounds different, you can just tell that she doesn’t understand. It is sad and upsetting to me, Mum knows her memory is fading and it upsets her as well.

Woke at 6am, got up and opened the house and Tasha was here.

Started raining at 6.50, also quite cool.

Tasha changed the sheets and had a right bitch about how people don’t have a top sheet now days.

Tasha offered to give me a shower but I really didn’t feel like it maybe tomorrow.

Mum was ok not great but ok.

Awake at 6 so got up and opened the house and unpacked the dishwasher, before Tasha turned up.

Blain had to come home at lunch time as he spilt drink in his bag and needed to clean it out.

Tasha came down and gave me a shower.

Awoke at 5.40 needing to pee so got up and stayed up, I can’t see the point in going back to bed for 1/2hr.

Tasha arrived at 6.10 and got me set up for the day.

Mum was repeating and talking about old events like they just happened.

Hello everyone, want to know what Jo-Anne thinks about………..

Today I am thinking about boredom, something I do not suffer from, and according to my Mum I never have done.

Part of the reason some people feel bored is because they feel that they must be doing stuff. Children may feel they need to be entertained but I disagree.

Some people find it hard to do nothing, not me I like to just sit in the quiet watching traffic or nothing.

I have read since I was very young and love it, now days I listen to audiobooks and I love it.

As a teenager I either read or listen to music, or did nothing and didn’t feel bored.

Both my grandsons from a very young age would come and spend a night with Nana & Papa, while here they would be left to amuse themselves playing with toys, watching telly or play video games. They loved coming here and Leo still loves spending a night here.

Neither of my granddaughters have every spent a night here, I have watched them during the day but unlike the boys they expected me to interact with them more then I did.

I have heard both girls at times complain about being bored more then I have heard the boys say so. Don’t get mea wrong the boys have at times said they felt bored but it happens rarely.

Sometimes

© Colleen Ranney

Published: January 2012

Sometimes I catch a glimpse,
In softened waves of blue,
My child, my heart …when I see a smile,
I can’t help but think of you.

Sometimes these waves fill oceans.
And feelings string on every shore,
A collections of each memory
And every way I wish for more.

Sometimes I watch for answers
Because each day I call to you.
I ask for faith and courage
And strength…to help me through.

Sometimes I ask for bravery
Like dolphins in the deep,
Because time moves oh so slowly,
And sometimes the road is steep.

Sometimes I want to scream.
This was not what I had planned.
Why you ever suffered,
A mom can’t understand.

Sometimes I hear your laughter
And remember you at play,
But My Child I always miss you.
Not sometimes, but every day.

Source: https://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/poem-for-a-parent-who-has-lost-a-child-sometimes