Mary's Place

A web page about the life of a lady who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's.

Name:
Location: Piedmont, Oklahoma, United States

I live in Piedmont, OK, with my Husband of 50 years who has been very supportive. We have 2 sons,David and Kenny, 6 grandkids, and 6 great grandkids. I enjoy feeding and watching the birds and squirrels. Before I was diagnosed with Alzheimer's, I ran a Licensed Day Care Home for Infants for 15 years. I noticed I wasn't able to remember important things and having problems with my speech. I was experiencing severe headaches. I would get lost. I didn't know how to use the computer. At the age of 55, I told my doctor. I was sent for an MRI. which showed a large amount of shrinkage. I went to a neurologist who sent me for two days of testing. I was diagnosed with dementia of the Alzheimer's type. My husband and I were both in shock. I had to give up my job. I went to see a social worker. I've taken Aricept for 11 years. I can now use the computer and even do this web page. I also host a chat room for dementia patients. This is a very lonely disease. I don't want anyone to feel as lonely as I did when I was diagnosed (I thought I was the only one over 50 that had Alzheimer's). In 2006 I started taking Namenda. Also I was told I have a mixed dementia, Alzheimer's/Vascular.

Tuesday, October 17, 2006

I feel like a million dollars tonight. The day at the spa was wonderful. I think my favorite part was the facial. Thanks Kenny and Kathy for a great gift… Dave took Cindy to get groomed and she knows she is pretty… I fixed supper. Then Dave and I went up to Kenny and Kathy’s and got Josh and Heather’s school pictures… David called. Lori sent a goody bag for us to take on our trip. Thanks Lori… I am watching “Dancing With The Stars” tonight… It was a beautiful day today… Tomorrow I go for a haircut… This will be my last entry for a while but I will be back so keep checking… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Monday, October 16, 2006

It was sure nice to see the sun come out this afternoon. Having the sunshine about all the time in Oklahoma, you really miss it when it doesn’t show up… I took care of the house plants, picked up around the house, fixed lunch, fixed supper, and did two loads of laundry… The roses, mums, and pansies are really looking good. I hope I am able to enjoy them for a long time before the bad weather comes… Dave has been spending a lot of time in his hidey-hole. At least I always know where to find him. If he isn’t in there he is out flying his planes… Tomorrow I go for my spa treatment, which includes a facial, massage, manicure, and pedicure. It was a Christmas gift from Kenny and Kathy. I can’t wait… Lori called… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Sunday, October 15, 2006

It is hard to believe it is the 15th of October already… It rained all night and today has been cool and cloudy. Not a pretty day… I fixed lunch and supper, went to chat and watched some television… Richard called… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Saturday, October 14, 2006

I watched a movie this morning; it was a western with Paul Newman “Hombre”… Then we got ready to go to our neighborhood October Fest. Just about the whole neighborhood showed up. They had plenty of food and it was fun watching all the little ones play. The adults played volleyball and horseshoe and I enjoyed watching them… It was a beautiful day… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Friday, October 13, 2006

Happy Friday the 13th… My right knee is very painful today. I don’t remember it being like that before. The left knee feels good though. Thank goodness… I made potato soup for our lunch, did laundry, organizing things for Dave to carry to the motor home and hosted the evening chat… David called… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Thursday, October 12, 2006

Dave and I have had a busy day. We both had doctor appointments. Dave’s appointment with Dr. Miner and mine with Dr. Davoli. I got injections in both knees and I was in bad need of them. Doctor had told me before I was walking on rims. The injections only give me relief for a short time… We got groceries while we were out and had lunch at Sonic. I had a craving for a Chili Dog with onions… We drove through Brick town and went by Toby Keith’s Restaurant. If I would have thought of it sooner we could have filled my Toby Keith craving. I do want to go eat there someday… I fixed supper and now I am so tired I can’t think straight… Please visit Mona’s site at http://www.tangledneuron.info … Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Kenny

David

Wednesday, October 11, 2006

I think I slept well last night but I have been very tired today… Took care of houseplants and fixed lunch and supper… A beautiful day with lots of sunshine… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Tuesday, October 10, 2006

I had another night of over stimulation. I had a very hard time falling asleep last night. I didn’t wake up till after 11:00 this morning and may have slept later but the doorbell rang… It rained most of the day and it has gotten quite a bit cooler. I decided it was time to bring the plants in that had been outside all summer… I did two loads of laundry, hosted the afternoon chat, and made several appointments… Dave picked us another mess of okra from the garden. I will cook it tomorrow… We have started loading up the motor home… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Monday, October 09, 2006

Happy 43rd Birthday Kenny!!! Kenny is our son in Piedmont, Oklahoma… I thought I was never going to get to sleep last night. I was over stimulated. Just like a child, we with Alzheimer’s get over stimulated. I really enjoyed yesterday but last night I paid for it… David and Lori came today and we went shoe shopping for David’s birthday shoes. This is something I started many years ago and they have never been unhappy with their birthday gift. David found the shoes he wanted and on our way home we stopped at Java Dave’s for some special coffee. I can’t remember the name of mine but it was great. They had so many choices… Tonight we, David, Lori, Dave, and I went up to Kenny’s for a delicious supper. After supper Dave and Kenny entertained us with flying their planes. Then we all enjoyed birthday cake and ice cream… We walked home in the rain, which I loved… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Sunday, October 08, 2006

Happy 45th Birthday David!!! David is our son in Norman, Oklahoma… I watched a movie this morning and then I fixed lunch, hosted chat, and got ready to go to David and Lori’s. Lori had fixed a birthday dinner for David. She made this wonderful upside down German Chocolate cake. It was so delicious. It was great seeing Chris, Jenni, Madison, Macie, Kerry, and Erin again. David and Lori sent leftovers home with us also gave us a quart of fresh honey. We are so blessed with such a wonderful family… On our way home we stopped by to visit our neighbors, Greg and Jennifer. Greg was recently in a terrible motorcycle accident. He will be recovering for a long time… It was a beautiful day… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Saturday, October 07, 2006

For the past couple of weeks Dave has been working on rebuilding a 9 ft. wing span plane that he had crashed. Today he finished it and he and Kenny were flying it while I watched the OU/Texas football game and OU lost… I called George, Evelyn, and Helen… Tonight I watched “Imitation of Life. That movie is a real tear jerker. I have watched it many times and I always end up crying… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Friday, October 06, 2006

This morning Dave woke me up early so the maids wouldn’t catch me in bed again. This time they didn’t show up till 1:00 so I could have slept if I had only known… I did laundry, picked up for the maids and helped Dave finish planting the pansies and tulips. I helped some but mostly played supervisor… The Molly Maids did a great job at cleaning our house. Now if I could only keep it clean for the next three weeks… Tonight I rode my scooter up to visit with Kathy. A beautiful day and evening… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Thursday, October 05, 2006

Thanks to Mona in Largo, Florida for visiting Mary’s Place and signing my guest book at http://www.angelfire.com/ok4/mari5113/index.html …Instead of taking my usual shower this morning I decided I would take a bubble bath in the whirlpool tub. I really enjoyed it and wondered why I don’t use it more often… Dave took me to see the doctor and then we went to the TLC Nursery and got two flats of pansies and a sack of tulip bulbs. I will enjoy the pansies all winter long and I have wanted tulips ever since we moved here. I am already looking forward to seeing them bloom in the spring… The repairmen came to fix my washer and dryer. They were here for a long time I am sure glad they were under warranty and we didn’t have to pay labor charges… I fixed supper and tonight we started planting the pansies… Lori called… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Wednesday, October 04, 2006

I rode my scooter up to see Josh and Heather after school. Heather didn’t go to school today because she was ill. On my way home I saw that the okra needed to be picked so I told Dave and he picked it and I fixed it for our supper tonight… I did laundry, hosted chats, took care of plants, and got clothes in from the motor home and we will reload it soon with the right clothes for our next trip… We ate our supper out on the back porch and the blue birds sang for us... Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Tuesday, October 03, 2006

Another very hot and windy day here… I did laundry, and hosted the afternoon chat… I went through the Schwan catalog and made out a long list for the Schwan man who was supposed to come today but he never showed up… I called Martha and we hope to get together soon… David, Kenny, Evelyn, Richard, and my California sister Norita called… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Another very hot and windy day here… I did laundry, and hosted the afternoon chat… I went through the Schwan catalog and made out a long list for the Schwan man who was supposed to come today but he never showed up… I called Martha and we hope to get together soon… David, Kenny, Evelyn, Richard, and my California sister Norita called… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Monday, October 02, 2006

We went for some retail therapy today and by the time we got home I was too tired to do much of anything. I did fix our supper… George called and I called Chip… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Sunday, October 01, 2006

Thanks to Richard in Smithville, Tennessee for visiting Mary’s Place and signing my guest book….
It feels more like summer than fall here. Too warm for me… Not much accomplished today. I did get the freezers cleaned out. I watched three movies “Best Friends” “Pale Rider” and “The Long Long Trailer” … Tomorrow I will try to get more accomplished… No phone calls for several days. Everyone must be mad at us… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma