Friday, March 1, 2019

Out Came All The Chocolate

At the end of 2017, Valerie had a choking episode.  

Her home care aid had been feeding her. I cam into the room and Valerie was unresponsive. She was sitting in her chair. I turned her on her side and gave a firm slap on her back. She vomited. It was liquid chocolate.  She came around, but we had already hit the panic button, and the EMT group arrived within minutes.

At the hospital they ran some tests and recommended a feeding tube. I said no. Her doctor said no. All the research I looked into said no. So no feeding tube.

We had been using a product called Thick-It, that is used for people with swallowing problems. We need to increase the amount so that even her water and juice had to be at pudding consistency. 

It has been over a year now that we have been doing this. We go through 3 36 oz.  containers every month. 

She still continues to have problems with the swallowing( coughs while eating) but she still has a good appetite thank god.




Sunday, July 15, 2018

July 14, 2008




It was ten years ago, July 14th 2008 that Valerie was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease.  I remember the neurologist almost crying as he told us. It was a hard day and its been a long road.

It was time to build a bridge...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_a46WJ1viA




Saturday, July 22, 2017

Call of the Wandering Song....



I've only read a few of William Butler Yeats poems, but I have adored each one that I've read. Valerie loved his poetry. The poem  "the song of the wandering Aengus" for some reason has been recurring in my life for some reason.

Early this morning Valerie had another seizure.  I calmly tried to recite the poem to her.  She is now sleeping...

Though I am so old with wandering, I will hold on to my glimmering girl...

the song of the wandering Aengus

Saturday, June 17, 2017

Takes My Breath Away





I've written about this before....

Tomorrow is Valerie's Birthday.

it has now been over 8  years since her diagnosis of Early Onset Alzheimer's Disease. She has been bed bound since June of 2011. She no longer speaks, except for a word or maybe two...


There are times when Valerie hasn't seen me for a while.... maybe a few hours... and when I walk over to her chair, there are times when there is an intense look of recognition. If she could, she would leap up and give me a big hug. It's her birthday tomorrow, but I feel like I got a gift! This happened today!!!

the expression on her face, her eyes so big and shinning, her smiling face, her whole body comes alive... Val used to say that sometimes God makes miracles we can't see... I can see this one and am very thankful beyond measure...

Sunday, May 14, 2017

new old posts

I've been posting things I written several  years ago so I have a record. just didn't have time to put things up here before....

Got A Job Interview Tuesday - Need Help

Got A Job Interview Tuesday - Need Help

(written july 5, 2013)

Not sure if I should take the job, even if I am lucky enough to be offered this position.
Yeah money is so tight it's starting to choke me, us. I don't know if I can/should take a job even though we need the money, Val's quality of life is the issue. Yes, we have 27/7 care now, and all the Aids love Valerie. But I'm her husband. I don't think I can or even should let go. I don't want to let go even if I have to. I know that someday I will. Maybe.

It's just I don't think taking a job is more important that my being with Valerie all the time.
Yes I do take breaks. I play music with my friends. I have even seen 3 movies in the past year.
But I don't know. I HATE that I even have to make this choice. Sophie's Choice??
I've been caring for Valerie now for over 5 years. I know one day, things will change and I will be really alone. Unless I go first of course. (Sometimes I wish I would.)
I know years ago, if I put this question to Val, she would tell me to take the friggin' job. I know also that now, if Val could tell me, she wouldn't be sure at least. I fear she would feel scared and abandoned and start to cry. I would too.

I don't know that I can focus enough to even hold down this job if I get it. I have enough stress in my life, do I need more by taking a job? Yes I need the money, but Val is more important than anything.
Yes it's close by, a 20 minute drive. Yes its a job with computers. I know that most people, even you guys here will tell me to take the job and somehow, it will work out. Really? I have no confidence that it will. It may make things worse for both of us. I mean, we're not going to starve, but I have no comprehensive Health Insurance. If I don't have a job when Valerie passes, I won't have a dime to pay the mortgage, or anything else. I know that's a big concern for most people. I just don't care. I want to be with Val every second of every day, near her when she cries, sneezes or says a few words I can understand. If I get a job, I won't be there for those things. I don't care about anything but being there for Valerie. I've always said, I will worry about tomorrow when it comes, and not one second before.
So what's the BEST reason I should or should not take this job?

Of course I may not even get the job so this would be moot for now. But how could one go on with life, when the person you love, even more than yourself is on a slow ride to heaven. Part of our wedding vows was this:

"Wherever you go I'll go, and whatever you'll face I'll face too."

I just can't figure life out sometimes, maybe some of you can. Let me know.
thanks
guy

Vomiting.

Vomiting.


(written dec. 10 2012)

Val vomited about 30 minutes ago, I had just come from the bathroom. Really scary, mot sure why she thew up. She never vomits. I'm going to call the doc I the morning, but I don't think I'm going to sleep tonight. I helped her get it all out, but I was really scared. I washed her up and sitting here thinking what if I had been in the bathroom for another minute. God I had this dam disease.