October 18th, Family Harvest Day At Gilbert Residence.

Oh.. my .. what a fun event! Everyone was busy, and family members were having so much fun too.  Our Oldies and Goodies each had a pumpkin and they had to turn them into Jack-O-Lanterns.  A couple of them had no idea what to do but when they had seen others working on faces for the pumpkins, they started getting it.

Each one of them made adorable ones, and when they finished or while they were working on their pumpkins they would look around them at the table to see what the others were doing.  Every one was happy and they we laughing at their own Jack-O-Lanterns.  A couple I heard even said to others how nice their pumpkin looked. Yes, many including my mom had no idea what they were holding, but they were having fun. This little project took a long time to do, because a lot of them just held tightly to their pumpkins. They just felt happy to have one all to their own.

When they got finished drawing the faces on to their pumpkins they got very possessive of their own pumpkin. A couple of them did not want to put it on the shelves for others to see.  Many would walk with their pumpkins as though someone would take it from them.

At the end, Elicia had pie and drinks for everyone.  Mom and a couple of them had no idea what cherry or pumpkin pie was. Mom would say to me what ever I like she would like. One happy man had a whole table with his family. He was smiling all over the place. We have to remember just because our loved ones have dementia, they still need visitors and to be loved.

October 15th Painting at Grace Hall.

All the staff at Grace Hall were so excited when this day finally came, except me. I was very nervous and I felt it was going to be a day with lots of Oldies and Goodies being grumpy and upset that they could not paint.

I walked into the double doors and I was in shock to see a long table with artists working. They were all happy, and into their paintings. I did not hear one person complaining, every one was smiling and asking me to look at their work. It was amazing to see such happy people who now were such creative artists, including my mom.... Lucy Lou. You don't realize my mom was never an artist or very creative.

It was very quiet except one man who loves to whistle was whistling but not for long. He stopped the whistling once he was into his painting. This was such a wonderful experience for them all, and they all ended up with their own master piece to share with their family.

Everyone wanted me to see their work, and some even tried to explain how they did it. It was a day that everyone at Grace Hall was smiling... and I think they all felt fabulous because they had something that they were so proud of.

Gilbert Residence with Mom

 Lois celebrating her birthday with her Buds..

 Helen and Mom having such an Awesome Friendship... made from Heaven..

Mom has been at the Gilbert Residence for over a month. New meds...and so happy.... Gilbert Residence is such and amazing place that has so much love and staff that care so much about my Mom, and others there. Mom has made a friend, and her name is Helen.  She is completely deaf, and they communicate just from their smiles to each other, and lots of love in their hearts. 

Today, Tom and I saw them holding hands and walking together down the halls. I gave the two friends a sucker each and they both said thank you and continued walking. No one can understand how happy I am to see Mom happy, safe, and comfortable. This disease may stop her to know me or the family, but I know she sees how much we love her. It's so hard to know each day my mom is going farther away from me, but now I know she is happy and loved at her new home. God bless all the staff there for taking such good care of my mom, and so many others there. They are my angels.....

Big Move for Mom...

After worsening issues with mom at American House, it was time for a change.  After a trip the St. Joseph Emergency and then a short stay at Botsford Hospital, she is now at The Gilbert Residence in Ypsilanti.  What a great place for her! No more worries, no more phone calls from American House, and no more broken bones.

It was rough getting her into a place that has a Memory section, but thank goodness for an amazing doctor at St Joe's for guiding us the right way. We were able to get her on the right meds, and a new home for her. The Gilbert Residence staff there knows what Mom needs. They love her and she loves them. I have not heard one word from Mom telling us to get her out of here. When we go and visit her, she says hi with a very big smile, and continues doing a fun activity. It seems now we are bothering her from having fun. I love it.

I wish we had put her there a long time ago. But, this facility has only been open for about a year.  I learned a lesson, when my heart says this is not a safe place for someone I need to react quickly, and do something quickly. This journey now with Mom will be a journey with amazing professionals who know what they are doing, and who love their jobs taking care of people who have Dementia like my Mom.  They will help me too, dealing with the ups and downs on this journey with Mom.

Mom has a friend now. Her name is Helen, and she is completely deaf. I think they communicate through their smiles, and their love for each other. They are always together, and holding hands. I love it. I am finally seeing Mom happy and not upset, or angry. Thank you God for such a blessing for Mom having a home that is filled with so much love and care.

 Here is a photo of two caring friends. Helen and Mom.

 Here everyone is celebrating a birthday for Lois.

Mom wanted to know why she did not get flowers?

Pizza Party for everyone...

We thought it would be fun to bring pizzas for everyone who could eat it and the great staff that helps Mom each day. Mom loved the pizza and loved the attention of everyone thanking her for the pizza party.  Mom loves the attention... and I can't blame her.

Mom.. did it again... Broke another bone.

Mom broke another bone, and it was a year from the time she broke her shoulder bone she broke her right arm this time. Thank God we did not have to take her to the nursing home like we did when she broke her shoulder. We did not know how she broke her shoulder and again we did not know how she broke her arm. Through this journey we keep taking her to the doctor's to try new meds to help her to sleep and her anger issues she has been having. I hate seeing her in this condition, but thank goodness our family is all on the same page in making her happy and comfortable. When you look at her photos you will see her different faces how she had dealt with this broken arm problem. We had to get her cast off twice because the doctor had to check to make sure that she was not getting an infection, and the second time having the cast removed he noticed that she was getting an infection. The cast then was taken off immediately. During this time we had several other visits at emergency. We thought she broke her leg, because she was having trouble walking. Well.. it was not broken but she had four old blood clots in her leg and we just had to keep an eye on her. I feel so badly for her  she had been a trooper through all this..

 Kept asking questions.... the same ones over and over.

 This color cast was her first one. Mom's favorite color is pink.

 Does not have patience like she used too.

 Does not like to wait...

 She is glad that the cast is on and wants to go home.

 Happy because its a green cast for MSU...I kept thinking that...  But no way..

 Looking at her hands and said that her hands don't look like hers.

 Kept saying to herself...How did this happen?

 She loves the attention..