Living with Bob and "Al"

Bob ( the hardware guy that he was) would have never been caught stringing pony beads on a dowel. "Al" however is attempting to sort the beads and thinks the rainbow colors are "very pretty"  :)

Living with Bob and "Al"

Bob works on trivia sheets at 'work" code for Adult Day Center. These sheets were about holidays. "Al" must have been thinking about Bob's Mom ... all year long :)

Living with Bob and "Al"

Right after Sheri took that video from yesterdays posting, when the music stopped "Al"  turned to Sheri and asked  "Do you use shoes?"  Such randomness, and such a deceiving disease.

Living with Bob and "Al"

Bob has been working on the same nuts and bolts for months now. All he is doing is screwing the nuts on the bolts, and when he has finished (which takes him days) Sheri will say " Oh , I think you were taking the nuts off the bolts." "Al" will say "Oh okay I had better get started... I would like to finish this project before I retire."
Dear man.  :)

Living with Bob and "Al"

Bob has been speaking "Al's" confusion more frequently lately and "Al" is much more social than Bob ever was. When Sheri picked Bob up from "work" code for Adult Day Center he said "nobody quite had it together there today." Then "Al" with a bit of that familiar disgust in his voice told Sheri they were having a party and he was not invited.
Bob always hated parties... "Al" apparently, not so much.  :)

Living with Bob and "Al"

In Sheri's never ending quest to find things that Bob can still do, she came across something that made her smile. Earlier in his disease, Sheri would let Bob put all of the papers with account numbers through the shredder for her, it reached the point however where "Al's" frustration out weighted the benefit of having him do this task. He could not remember which button to push, or understand that it had to cool down every once in while. Over the holidays Sheri saw these. This was the highlight of the weekend for Bob, Shredding Scissors! Sheri had never seen these before but this new activity kept Bob and "Al" busy for hours, and Sheri got the important stuff shredded! Now that is what Sheri calls a success. :)

Living with Bob and "Al"

It was really cold in the frozen tundra yesterday, so Sheri was challenged again to keep Bob involved. She decided she would wash dishes and told him when she washed them he could dry them. Bob seemed very excited about that and said "Oh, okay great!" Which was followed by "Al" asking " a ... where do I find the dishes?"    :)

Living with Bob and "Al"

Sheri and Bob liked to bowl which is something Bob can not do any more physically. Sheri tried Wii bowling with him, something they had done quite a few years ago when the girls were younger. Sheri and Daughter Number One had to keep showing "Al" which buttons to push and so forth each turn but he really enjoyed it. Sheri thinks he really though he was in a bowling alley because for those of you have seen or done Wii bowling you remember there are other people (Me's) on either side in lanes to simulate an alley, well "Al" would ask " Is he done?" and point to the other person on the screen before he would take his turn, always such a considerate man :)
So funny.

Living with Bob and "Al"

One of "Al's" new favorite activities, putting nuts on bolts. Sheri is so glad Bob still has the dexterity to do this. Part of her never ending quest to keep "Al" active and involved. One of the hardest things to remember, is that activity's Sheri gives Bob now, do not have to have the same type of purpose as in Bob's real life past. She just tries to find a familiar snippet of a function Bob used to do, simplify it as much as possible and then hopefully "Al" will be able to do it. Trial and error.  :)

Living with Bob and "Al"

Sheri is going to try and do some holiday baking today, she needs to find something for Bob and"Al" to help with.... maybe she can find a cookie recipe with peeled potatoes in it  :)

Living with Bob and "Al"

It feels like January in the frozen tundra right now, which made for a very long weekend. Sheri had Bob screwing nuts onto bolts for lack of much else to do. When she tried to switch activities thinking he might be bored "Al" said "No, can't...gotta get this finished."
Once a work alcoholic, always a work alcoholic  :)

Living with Bob and "Al"

In Sheri's never ending quest to keep Bob involved in activities, Sheri gave "Al" a bucket of  electrical terminals she bought at an overstock store. She thought since they were colored red , blue and yellow, that maybe she could get "Bob" to sort them. "Al" might have been content to just sort them, but "they" were struggling because that little part of "Bob the hardware guy"  that remains, felt  he could not sort them without knowing what "exactly" they were going to be used for.  :)

Living with Bob and "Al"

Rainy weather yesterday left Sheri struggling for something for Bob and "Al" to do again. She brought out his train puzzle. The 36 piece Alzheimer puzzle Bob likes. he worked on it for a good 3 hours and was so very close to finishing it, but "Al's" lack of ability to conceptualize left  him and convinced it must be complete just the way it was. :)

All "Al" had to do was move that whole bottom row of pieces to the top

He was headed in the right direction, even Zoey the cat was rooting for him

Oh, "Al" you were so close, back down to bottom he went :(

Living with Bob and "Al"

There was a new intern ( for real) at Bob's "work" (code for Adult Day Center), "Al" shook his hand when Sheri picked him up the other day, and "Al" told him " if you have any questions feel free to come to me, and I will help you. "   :)
Sooo darn cute.

Living with Bob and "Al"

Bob told Sheri her has been very busy at "work" (code for Adult Day Center.) When Sheri asked what he has been busy with, "Al" paused and then replied. "Well, I am not sure, but I know I have been to busy to finish it. "   :)

Living with Bob and "Al"

Because the kitties have taken over Bob's puzzle box, "Al" thinks he has all the proof he needs to defend his theory that the reason the (36 piece) puzzles are so hard for him... is because the cats are eating his puzzle pieces :)

Living with Bob and "Al"

Bob keeps asking Sheri if she wants to help with his puzzles. ( The 36 piece Alzheimer puzzles) in order to make him feel good about doing them, and to make sure she can use his puzzle time to get other things done Sheri has developed a standard answer. Sheri says "Who me? No... I am not good at puzzles. I am the picture taker, YOU are the puzzle maker." "Al" smiles from ear to ear. Some times she just has to get creative :)

Living with Bob and "Al"

Bob woke up this morning and saw the puzzle he had been working on the evening before. "Al" scratching Bob's head said " I see someone has been been working on a puzzle." Sheri replied "Yup". Bob turned to Sheri with a question in his voice "Al" said "Who"?    :)

Living with Bob and "Al"

It was really nice again in the frozen tundra on Sunday so Sheri decided to take advantage of it and go back out to see the birds. Sheri was snapping away with her camera when she turned to check on Bob. She did not have the right lens on to capture the whole shot, but there stood "Al" waving Bob's cane ( yes, it looks like a saw) straight up in the air. She asked what he was doing and "Al" replied "I am trying to get the birds to look over here for you." The look on his face says it all. Sheri is very grateful they can still share these outings.
 Gotta love him.  :)

Living with Bob and "Al"

Poor Bob, "Al" got this far in the 36 piece puzzle, then "Al" scratching Bob's head said " I just don't understand why this isn't working... there are still big gaps but I have used all the pieces."

Gotta love him :)