Living with Bob and "Al"

Since the time change, it has been dark again when Sheri and Bob leave for work. On the drive in the morning at about the same place Bob will say "Look there are 2 moons this morning." Because Sheri is the one driving it is hard to see the "two moons". Well after much anticipation Sheri was finally able to wrench her neck to see the "two moons"  "Al" was talking about which turned out ... to held up in the sky by very tall light poles  :)
Gotta love him.

Living with Bob and "Al"

Sheri is drained and tired. Sometimes she thinks maybe she is in denial about how much longer she can care for Bob and "Al" at home. She write this blog daily because Alzheimer's is a daily disease. It is not just the spot you see on the news, or the quick mention on the radio.
It is a personal blog, because Alzheimer's is personal disease. It affects the most personal of issues and it is happening everywhere to someone and that someone's caregiver, every moment of every day. As caregivers we just keep evolving to meet the demands of the evolving disease, making our perspective on our world distorted and convincingly tolerable.
 Then even as Sheri says that in her head, her heart is still beating to a different drummer, for reasons even Sheri does not understand.

Living with Bob and "Al"

Music is a wonderful thing for an Alzheimer victim. "Al" was not in the mood to sing here, but he was whistling and slapping away!  Video takes a few seconds to start.

Post by Sheri Zschocher.

Living with Bob and "Al"

Sheri does not understand why sometimes Bob is able to communicate his thought clearly yet other times "Al" speaks and the words are clear, but they don't make sense. Yesterday Bob said "Oh, I did not tell you. The lady, this project (pointing to the folding table), the couch, the cat..... but a.. it can't.
And that was that.
Miss firing brain connectors she supposes :(

Living with Bob and "Al"

Sheri gave Bob one of his 36 piece puzzles the other day to work on. He has not been able to complete them any more, but will still work on it for a while. As Bob's frustration grew not being able to connect the pieces, "Al" turned to Sheri with his thumb in Bob's belt loop stretching out his back in his usual way, and said "I really just need a razor or scissors so I can get these pieces to fit." Sheri replied "Well lets see if we can move them around a bit." She worked with him on a few pieces  and went back to what she was doing. A few minutes later Bob repeated his request and asked Sheri for some scissors. Sheri made the mistake of saying that he did not need scissors. "Al" in a very angry and uncharacteristic way shoved the card table forward stood up with his jaw clenched tight to one side, raised his voice and said "then I might as well find something else to do, I need a knife to finish this it is an old puzzle it does not work anymore!" Sheri was not prepared for this outburst. Redirect she thought to herself, redirect. While she was trying to regroup Bob and "Al" took off to the bedroom. Sheri paused and thought "okay just give him a minute to cool down." Sheri waited and within a minute or two she hears the very familiar sound of Bob's whistling in the hallway. Bob returns to the living room calmly sits down at the puzzle. Sheri is thinking "Oh good he has forgotten his frustration". Well, Sheri's assurance that the situation had resolved itself ended quickly as Sheri glanced over just in time to see that "Al" ( determined fellow that he is ) was quite pleased with himself as he placed the exacto knife he lifted from the craft shelf in the hallway...  down by the puzzle. :)
No wonder he was whistling, no more puzzles for "Al".

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"

Sheri and Bob were watching a random piano player on TV. "Al" watching with joy on his face, declared "When I was there she invited me down to play the piano with her!"  :)
(P.S. Bob does not play the piano, but simple pleasures are all that matters :)

Living with Bob and "Al"

Sheri just does not get it. "Al" as been whistling "Can I have this dance for the rest of my life" for a week and a half now. Which is some what ironic, Sheri always wanted Bob to dance with her, which he never did, even before "Al" moved in.This was not a song that Sheri even thought Bob knew, and she was right... she asked Bob the name of the song he was whistling and "Al" leaned to one side, thumb in his belt loop, stretching out Bob's back in his usual way and replied "Oh I don't know,,, was I whistling?"

Living with Bob and "Al"

Bob still whistles constantly, even off and on during the night, which Sheri has learned to tolerate. However, Pomp and Circumstance (although she loves that tune) is not really a great sleeping tune. :)

Living with Bob and "Al"

Sheri need to make a note to herself, to check Bob's pockets before putting "Al's"jeans in the wash. Vanilla wafers and milk may be good for snack at "work" (code for Adult Day Center), but vanilla wafers and washing machine water just makes for well...mush. :(

Living with Bob and "Al"

Bob was very chatty yesterday. "Al" spun a very long tale of an employee of his at "work" (code for Adult Day Center ) that was terminated without his permission, and convinced the others to rehire. He laid out all the rules of hiring and firing, and all the great qualities of the employee, "Al" essentially gave Bob one big pat on the back :)

Living with Bob and "Al"

When Sheri picked  Bob up from "work" (code for Adult Day Center ) yesterday, the workers  were teasing him saying he ad been a real "pain" during the day. When they got in the car Sheri asked why he had been a 'pain", "Al" replied " well, probably because I was trying to get them to do there work and they were not cooperating! "
Ah... once a workaholic, always a workaholic  :)

Living with Bob and "Al"

Bob is concerned about Meeko the cat. "Al" is thinking that her whiskers are way to long and should be trimmed  :)

Living with Bob and "Al"

Bob is not sure but "Al"  thinks he heard someone at "work" (code for Adult Day Center) talking about a choir trip to preform at the Grand Ole Opry.  :)
Gotta love him.

Living with Bob and "Al"

"Al" has apparently been to Ireland... several times, while Sheri and Bob have never had a honeymoon or a " just decided to go someplace together" vacation. Don't miss understand Sheri had always been okay with that, but for some reason now, as "Al" points out all the wonderful places "he" has been,  she has grown a wee bit jealous of "Al's" adventures :)

Living with Bob and "Al"

Sheri wishes she could make time stand still in the mornings. Coffee and her kitty are her escape from her ever growing mountain of worry's. As soon as Bob and "Al" wake up the avalanche down the mountain begins. She never was a very good skier. She sees that roaring pile of snow over her shoulder all all day long, and all she thinks about is that with Alzheimer's there is no way out. The darkness is headed this direction and it gets closer to consuming Bob and in many ways Sheri each day.
Sheri needs to pause, praise, and pray.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).

Living with Bob and "Al"

Bob has been calling Daughter Number One ( the one the wears her heart on her sleeve) the name of one of his sisters lately. Sheri has not corrected him, she knows it will do no good. But her heart sinks a little each time "Al" says it.

Living with Bob and "Al"

Coming home from work yesterday, Bob noticed all the political signs out in all the yards. One in particular caught his eye. The sign said LOON for State Representative. ( Which is really the persons name) "Al" with confusion in his voice said "well, some one sure did not think that through."
The Minnesota state bird is the Loon  :)

Living with Bob and "Al"

Sheri can see that Bob is slipping away, sometimes this seems like life in slow motion. The simplest functions are becoming more difficult. "Al" can not longer follow "get undressed" without assistance. Everything seems foreign to him. From where to go to get undressed to how to do it. Sheri must stay with him and assist from start to finish. Bob may look the same on the outside of these four walls because Sheri disguises "Al" the best she can, but Sheri sees the shadow of the man she knew around every lost corner of this tiny house.

2 Corinthians 4:16

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.

Living with Bob and "Al"

Truth be told, Sheri and Bob don't get out much. She hears friends at work talking about places and vacations, events and celebrations. Sheri wishes sometimes they could be more social. It just seems to be so much work and creates so much stress. But Sheri has learned to enjoy the very simplest things in life. Sometimes the simple act of pouring a cup of coffee gives her great joy. (Of course she blames that on "The best part of waking up, is Folgers in your cup" commercials)    :)