I like to play by the rules. Alzheimer’s doesn’t. I like to win. Too bad for me, cause Alzheimer's always wins.
My day today:
~ I got up early, ran to Panera to get pastries which I ran to work for a program we were having today, greeted the facilitators, dropped off said pastry then got home before mom woke up (not to worry – Lian was home with her).
~ Mom woke up after having a poop explosion issue…. When I offered her breakfast, I noticed stool all over the back of her night gown. Found the used Depends behind the chair in her room where she hid it. So…. I get her in the shower, and I tell her don’t get your hair wet, we’re not washing your hair, just cleaning off your butt. I looked her in the eye and repeated slowly and loudly “Do not get your hair wet.” She nods in supposed agreement, steps into the shower and promptly puts her head under the running water…. Sigh…. I clean her, the toilet and bathroom floor. “This is your fault (Of course it is…) the pills you make me take at night make me poop.”
~ There are no hand towels in the bathroom, because she regularly confiscates and hides them. Why? Alzheimer’s. Found her toothbrush in her underwear drawer. Why? Alzheimer’s.
~ I go to her room to get a clean Depends on her, and what do I see on the floor by her chair? A banana peel. And that’s what pushed me over the edge. So like a fool I ask her “Why did you throw the peel on the floor?” Because I was hungry. Right, mom you’re missing the point. I don’t care that you had the banana, but why didn’t you throw the peel away? “Because I wanted a banana.” And I wanted a normal answer. And if I’m honest, a normal mom.
So to summarize my day:
I don’t like Alzheimer’s
I don’t like what it does to my mom
I don’t like what it does to me
Mom hides the towels
Mom cleans the toilet with her toothbrush then hides it in her drawer
Mom thinks my daughter and my nephew are dating
Mom thinks I’m trying to kill her
Mom thought today was her birthday and was mad that I didn’t have a cake for her
Pretty sure she loves the home care aides more than me
This is hard
I may start drinking!
It's all good - just another day in the life.....
Comments