June 1st
Our first full day went pretty well. I got mom up at 10:00 a.m., changed, dressed and fed by 11:00 and she was in a great mood. I did some cooking while she was watching t.v. (The country channel). Robert came up and mowed the yard for me and messed with Granny on his breaks. Today is also mom's first day on Aricept 5mg. Mom seems very content being back home, she toileted herself with me only walking behind her and changing her pad. She ate her meals completely and did ask for a little more peaches, so much for poor appetite. We are going for a short ride now too, fresh air will help us both.

June 2nd
Boy, mom has sure developed some strange habits since being gone. She sang and talked to herself all day and half the night. She talks to and answers for objects, ie: her blanket, stuffed dog toys, coffee cup and things in thin air, making no sense at all. She is really loud too. I’m not sure what to make of this yet.

June 3rd
Betty came today at 10:30 a.m., it was nice knowing I could be gone and not listen to mom’s talking all day. They did very good together, Betty did a good job of keeping mom busy and taking care of her. I went to Vancouver for several hours, then came home back home and visited with Betty for awhile before she left. The night was a repeat of last night although mom did tone it down some. We found out that Crystal is having just ONE baby, thank God. We don't what yet but may find out next week.

June 4th
Mom and I went to Vancouver/Portland for a little while today, the Portland Rose Festival started so we had something to do, on the way home we went to a friends property, in the hills, to visit since they were in from Florida vacationing which mom didn’t care for, the road bothered her so we didn’t stay. It was an early night for mom, the fresh air and sunshine tired her out and she actually went to sleep rather quickly.

June 5th
Today was the same as the rest. I wish I could figure a way to get mom to stop this behavior. I really think it is her way of coping with stuff although some is pretty bizzar. This morning she thought she had given birth or miscarried, felt her water break (had pee’d the bed) and she kept on about it almost all day. She couldn’t understand how she got ‘that way’. The things that she does recall about the past are pretty accurate, like her age, birthday, our address here, having been gone from here for about 6 months etc., but the other stuff like where are the boys, why aren’t they home, why am I letting the dogs kill the baby (stuffed animal), etc., are really different for her. She used to play with the dogs, throwing the animal/ball for them to catch. Her dementia has gotten worse, yet it isn’t AD.

June 6th
I found out that the NH would turn off all the lights in moms room and leave the door ajar so that just the light from the hall would shine in a litle so, I turned off mom's little lamp, opened her door and left the bathroom light on to shine into her room and she went to sleep within 30 minutes. I had always left the lamp on so that she could see if she got up during the night and not fall but I guess she got used to being in the dark. I'll keep trying this but I sure hope and pray she doesn't get hurt. Her behaviors kind of slowed down late last night, she is worried about not being able to get home.

June 7th
I decided not to worry about mom's behavior, it is normal for persons with any form dementia to exhibit some of these things when they are moved, whether from or to a home or NH, she is just feeling insecure right now and even though she didn't particiate that much in the activities or socilize much with the other people there was still much more activity going on around her that she became familiar with. I am sure that she will mellow out with a little more time and reassurance that all is well. She gets her B12 shot on the 14th, maybe this will help eliminate some of it too, it has in the past.

June 8th
Today was mom's seventh day to be on Aericept but I took her off it. It was the only thing 'new' in our lives other than her being back home so I thought perhaps it might be the problem and sure enough it was. Today has been a good day, not much of the singing/talking stuff going on at all and her mood is much better and the other behavior stuff has decreased alot.

June 9th
Last night and today have been good. Mom slept through the night without much talking and all of today has been spent in conversations with me rather than herself. She is in a good mood, did her exercises without trouble, in fact she enjoyed them. I reported to the doctor what I had done with the Aericept and why and he had no problem with it.

June 10th
Things are going great today. Mom isn't doing her stuff so much and Betty is here to take over. They get along so well, Betty is a very animated person so she can keep right up with mom and they both love to play cards. I really do think the Aericept was the wrong medication for mom, she is getting back to 'her normal' again.

June 11th
We have sure been having terrible weather, windy and rainy for days now, next week it is suppose to get up to the 80's again, ALL RIGHT. Mom does't like the rain either, she gets tired it, being a Californian even through dementia it is understandable. She is doing really pretty good. She gets herself up to her walker and takes herself to the toilet, she even went into the kitchen and got a drink of water by herself. I keep close by and always watch her but don't get in the way when she tries to do for herself.

June 18th
This past week has gone very well. Mom is more like her old self again, although she still does alot of singing at night, it could be worse though. She has a great appetite and alot of energy during the day. It is kind of hard to get her up but once she does it is o.k. We have been going places during the day and taking rides when the weather is nice. Yesterday I was able to go to the beach and enjoy 87 degree weather, I took the big dogs and Robert and Crystal came too. It was fun watching the dogs frolic in the water, this was Wizzers first time to go and he loved it. Betty and mom played cards and talked while I was gone. It does them both some good, it keeps mom occupied and gives Betty something to do as well. Here is a picture of mom doing the dishes, just a few but it made her feel better, more needed and less in the way. Gosh my kitchen is SOOOOO small.

June 30th
These past days have very busy for me and I haven't had a chance to update. I have been spending every free moment fixing up the exterior of my hourse, which definately showed 30 plus years of neglect, I am having it painting Wednesday the 5th and had to get it done, by myself. Mom has been great, her moods are wonderful and she has been very attentive to details in her communication, she stillhas her singing and carrying on momnets but they aren't too bad anymore. She is looking to the 4th and all the 'doings' at the lake.

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