Pretty Good Week

It's been a good week for Billy. With Alzheimer's you learn to live in the present and appreciate those days that go well. When we have consecutive "good" days, I'm very thankful. It's rare that I make it a full week without having a report of Billy being out of sorts and getting irritated with someone at the Cottage. We made it all five days this week. I must admit that I did not ask for details today, but if it had been bad, I think I would have known. One day, I caught him sitting in a recliner watching an old western. It was wonderful to see him sitting and enjoying some down time. The usual routine is that I open the door from the foyer into the main living area, and he hears the door. I hardly get in the door before he walks toward me and says, "There you are!"

Because he pretty much refuses to stay in the TV room, all of the clients and caretakers are in the front room with him when I arrive. He is NEVER sitting down, so when I found him sitting and watching a movie, it was a BIG deal.

When we get home, we eat dinner, and he's so tired, he falls asleep in his chair by 9:00. I've started having Catherine, his former caretaker from Easter Seals, stay with him on Thursday evenings. That's the night I nearly always have a function at school, and if I don't, I just try to get away for a few hours. It helps tremendously, and I'm so thankful he's been happy to see Catherine on Thursday evenings.

Thank you so much to those of you who have donated to my team for the Walk to End Alzheimer's! I'm not too far from my goal, and I really appreciate it. I've emailed those of you that I have addresses for, but I don't know Alice's or Allison's. Thank you, ladies!

You may have heard the big news this week about the insulin nasal spray that is having a positive impact on Alzheimer's Disease. Donations that you make go to research like this, and I can't thank you enough. Billy has a doctor's appointment on Monday afternoon, and that will be one of my topics. Where is the study, and is it possible that Billy could get in on it. The last time I asked, I was told that the research in our area is for earlier stages of the disease, and his is too advanced. Another reason for early diagnosis!

Thank you for your prayers that sustain us as we walk through this disease, and as always, thank you for reading!