Sunday, November 17, 2013

Mom's Diagnosis

After spending the week with mom in VT I noticed some things more prevalently than I would just visiting her occasionally. Her forgetfulness, for one. And WHAT she tends to forget. And how quickly.

Since that week, I've gotten together with my siblings and another meeting with  my mom, and we made an appointment for her at a geriatric psychiatrist in Glastonbury (Dr Harry Morgan) for an evaluation, MRI and bloodwork. The MRI and bloodwork came back "pretty normal", but they said something definitely is 'going on' in there. She has had some slight white batter shrinkage and has been diagnosed with minimal onset of Alzheimer's disease. She is taking medicine, denoprazil every day, to slow down the progression. We'll see how that works in the next 6 weeks for her follow-up visit. (Dec)

I have alerted a few family members (not her sister, Ellie, as she'd have the news all over Cromwell), but her brother Richard and sister Lolly, my aunt Norma and my mom's best friend's (who my mom doesn't want to know-the best friend, that is) daughter, Regina.

My sister, Janet and I differ at this point on her driving at night. She's afraid that she'll be confused and get lost. She has never gotten lost so far, day or night, so I don't feel the need to 'manage' her driving habits yet. She would be upset to have EVERYONE catering to her, so she does nothing for herself. Usually, she will call when she's leaving her 93 yr old boyfriend's house (Amby) and say she'll come over for dinner (bring grinders or such), and watch a movie, or play cards. She will sometimes leave at 9-10pm. She's very comfortable doing it so far and hasn't mentioned concern about it. So I'm not concerned... yet. Janet wants to keep her in a little coccoon.

I'm going to a support group at our church, will see how I like it.There are others around, just not tried them yet.

Saturday, August 31, 2013

Hello, again, my friend....

Wow...

Has it really been that long since I last posted here? I seem to post more things on my Facebook page, my PbPQ blog, or my PbPQ FB page. Sorry, I didn't mean to neglect you.

I just returned last Sunday from VT. You remember, the cabin? VVV? Vermont Venison Villa? It's a cabin that has belonged in the family for ever. Or at least as long as I can remember. I have pictures of my dad walking up the hill, hand in hand, when I was three and my mom was pregnant with my younge brother.(that would be in 1957). I usually drive up towards the end of the week and help my mom close up the cabin (sister usually goes up to start the cabin up). It's only a one room cabin, so not much to do, but this year my sister has a new job and couldn't take the time off. I was on an extended layoff from Century Color so I went for the whole week.  I also decided this was the year I'd drive my mom UP in my car so she wouldn't have to drive (follow) at all. It worked out fine, but I may have to do this every year as she's 85 now and getting VERY forgetful!! We only had one 'kerflufful" all week,... I couldn't get the broiler gas pilot light lit and didn't shut the gas OFF while running up and down the street (only two houses around) to see if anyone was available to help. Finally got Don Wood from the farm down the hill to help although he said he probably shouldn't have lit the grill lighter before he bent down o the floor as he could smell gas pretty strong! (I could have blown up the whole cabin!)



We survived the 'opening' and had the most perfect week (weather-wise) I can EVER remember. There may have been two days where we started to perspire (humidity) a little more than 'comfortable', and one day when the rain came on Thurs at dinnertime, but no lightning and only distant rumble of thunder, and it was gone in the morning.
This is the storm a'coming....from the northeast.

This is real early in the am....5:45-ish

The clouds are starting to part.... Yea!
Woke up to puffy rumbling clouds LEAVING quickly....and the sun trying to force it's way onto our back field. Then it finished the week with a very cool breeze that was so refreshing, I almost didn't want to go home.

Saw the usual deer in the back field, one with spots still vaguely on her back side and a few down the road. A few turkeys...


I even got to work on some quilts (brought my sewing machine in case of rain).  Named one of them "Pawlet Mountain Trails" (finished the top on i VT) and the other "Cycling in VT" (still in the' design as I go' stage). They are charity quilts so I'll post them here when I get them done, but here are some photos of them in progress.
The design process of "Cycling in VT"
 
Pawlet Mountain Trails
 Nice to have some company... my brother, Bob, his son Jonathan and wife Paula...They showed up real late the night we got there, and stayed over. We went for a hike the next morning (my first hike up this mountain).



Loved this freak of nature. Wonder where the tree thought HE was going...

 It was a full moon the night we got there...beautiful.

 This was the start of our dinner.....Loved this wine.

 Took off on a day trip to Castleton, VT via the back roads(aren't ALL roads inVT 'back roads'?). We had such a nice trip... got corn at a stand.
Heading to Castleton, VT

 
Great to just enjoy the peace and quiet of the mountain peaks... dinner on the deck.

 
Taking a walk to my mom's good friend, Vivian Waite. Known each other for years. The fram in the background used to be Vivian's, now is her daughter Joyce's and husband, Don Wood.

 
Mom & Vivian... she is so sweet. I think she's 83.

 
See the hummingbird under the cross of the lines? They were so prevelant!!


This is the view from Viian's house (livingroom).
This is how we spent most every morning....then by 10:30am, the sun would move around the cabin putting us ithe shade for the rest of the day.

Our buddy the chipmunk! Love his shadow...

 This is the pond way down in the backyard....
 Turning around after the last photo, you see the cabin from the pond.

Love the water lilies by the pond at old Michael's house (former, RIP- house is no longer there).

Last night at the cabin.... Lee came up on Sat afternoon, and followed us (or didn't--lost us going around the rotary in Manchester, VT) home. Last walk we took there. Nite VVV.


Friday, February 22, 2013

Cancelled appointment means more sewing!

Okay, in reality, I should be doing my taxes. ... and I will. Later. I have to prepare the itemized stuff anyway (the mileage for my doctor visits is deductible...really?).

So, since my portfolio appt is postponed for the 4th time, I'm gonna sew. I have four tops that I need to pin to batting, but two of the backs weren't big enough. I'll extend them, then roll them on pool noodles before sandwiching them. (I'll post photos of this procedure). I did get one quilt pinned, but the other three tops are just 'stuck' to the batting and folded.

I can't believe how long I've had these tops.... they are so old!!! Talk about oUFO' (OLD UnFinished Objects). Will be nice to have drawer space free again (where they lived).

Diamonds in the mud is from March 2010.


This should be a tablecloth, but I'm not sure if I want to make it into a lap quilt.


This was an experiment... (It's selvedge strips sewn onto one half of the floral square so it looks like a half square triangle.

These are only three of the four tops.

Monday, February 4, 2013

New Car for Julie!!

 
Finally, Julie has a new (to her) car. A 2004 Chevy Trailblazer, dark green. $4k.


 Even Kai likes it!


Now my car can be just mine... Not that I minded sharing.....but.