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.

Wednesday, December 31, 2008

New Year’s Eve… Today went by very fast… I can’t remember what I did except fix supper… I am hoping that 2009 will be a great year for all of us… Dave and I have been searching the Internet for dogs. We are going back and forth on getting another one… Kenny and David/Lori called… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

It was another warm day for December. I got outside on my scooter to get some sunshine. While I was out there I noticed one of my tulips peeking out of the ground. The weather has them confused… I went to the DASNI chat and chatted with friends and we had more than usual there today… We got more bird seed for the birds so they should be happy… I played pogo games, rode the bike, cleaned up the kitchen... Tonight I will be watching OSU play Oregon. Go OSU!!! Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Monday, December 29, 2008

Happy Birthday Frank!!! Frank is a friend in England… It was a beautiful day with little wind and 69 degrees… Dave and I got out of the house and ran some errands. We went to Kohls, Home Depot and Aldi”s for groceries. Our cupboards were nearly bare… We went by to visit with Alfred and Martha. Alfred’s appetite is better and we are happy for that… I fixed supper and did a load of laundry… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Sunday, December 28, 2008

Happy Birthday Lucy!!! Lucy is Dave’s sister in Huntington, West Virginia… I attended church services on TV, hosted the DASNI chat, rode the stationery bike, played games at Pogo, helped take down the Christmas tree, fixed supper, and now I am watching “The Sound of Music” again… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Saturday, December 27, 2008

I have been doing some housekeeping and laundry… Dave and Kenny were back at installing the camera. I will be glad when it is done and Dave can start working on loading my digital photo frames. I received two of them for Christmas… I watched some old movies while Dave went to Kenny's to watch the fights … I called Martha. David and Norita called me… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Friday, December 26, 2008

Dave and my most prize possessions. Kenny on left and David on the right.


Happy Birthday Alan!!! Alan is a DASNI friend in New Zealand… It was 76 degrees today… We went with Kenny and Kathy to near Alva, Oklahoma to look at an airplane. While we were there at the airport I had a bad fall on the concrete. On our way home Kenny treated us to a mexician dinner… I am very sore tonight and I am not looking forward to tomorrow… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Thursday, December 25, 2008

Christmas Eve with our family



Happy Birthday Jesus!!!Happy Birthday Carole!!! Carole is our friend in Missouri… I had a wonderful time with my family last night. Everyone was there but Jamie and her family, Heather, Jake and Trevor…. Kathy prepared a delicious dinner for us and Lori baked a Happy Birthday Jesus cake… We received some very nice gifts… I was so over stimulated last night that I had a heck of a time falling asleep. Dave had no problem, as always when he hits his pillow he is asleep… Today has been very pretty, 62 degrees but too windy for me to be out… Kenny has been helping Dave install a security camera system that we received for Christmas… I have been busy cleaning out some closets getting stuff together for when the Prevent Blindness comes next week. I cleaned the bathroom and did a couple loads of laundry… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Happy Birthday Larry!!! Larry is our friend in Tennessee… It is Christmas Eve. I woke up at five o’clock this morning; I guess I am excited about Santa coming tonight… Dave baked the 17-pound ham and then we cut out cookies and decorated them. The cookies are all baked and soon we will be going to Kenny and Kathy’s for our annual family Christmas. I am so thankful I have family to celebrate with… David and Lori called and Kenny came by and gave me a lottery ticket… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Happy Birthday Jennifer!!! Jennifer is our granddaughter in Moore, Oklahoma… Thanks to Frank in England for signing my guest book at http://www.angelfire.com/ok4/mari5113/index.html My asthma seems to be worse today. Probably being outside in the cold and wind yesterday wasn’t the best thing for me to do… Cindy, another neighbor brought us a tin of fudge today… I went to the DASNI chatroom and stayed until I got knocked off… I helped fix supper and later we will make the sugar cookie dough for tomorrow… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Monday, December 22, 2008

Today I went with Dave to see the audiologist. He told Dave he couldn’t do anything to improve the hearing in his right ear because it has too much nerve damage. The left ear can be helped with a hearing aid so he has ordered one for Dave. We ran several errands while we were out, stopped at the Piedmont Service Center and gave them a donation, and also went to the Salvation Army and made a donation there. While we were at the Salvation Army I noticed a couple guys sitting in their cars and one was wrapped up in a blanket. I just can’t seem to get that picture out of my head. It is so cold, near zero with the chill factor… We stopped at our favorite Mexican Restaurant and had supper… I called David… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Sunday, December 21, 2008

It is the first day of winter and it sure feels like it… Martha called last night from Mercy Hospital to let us know that Alfred was back in the hospital… I attended church services this morning on television… I cooked ham and beans in the crockpot for supper… The Bailey’s brought us a plate of goodies today… “ Dear Santa, I need larger clothes for Christmas”… I have been playing pogo games on my laptop… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Saturday, December 20, 2008

I stayed under the covers this morning untill almost noon. I went to the DASNI chat and watched a couple of movies… Dave delivered the Christmas gifts to the neighbors wearing his Santa hat at my request… I have been staring at the Christmas tree and enjoying the 1000 lights on it and listening to Christmas music… this the last day of fall… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Friday, December 19, 2008

Happy Birthday Roger!!! Roger is our nephew in Colorado Springs, Colorado… It was almost like spring today but tomorrow it will turn cold again… I have been enjoying the Christmas cards that come in the mail each day. Many of them are photo cards, which I like a lot. I received a Christmas card from Marcel a special friend in Switzerland… I did a load of laundry and fixed supper… Our neighbors are bringing us goodies again this year … Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Thursday, December 18, 2008

I don’t have much to write about tonight... I went to chat and many of my friends were there… Phone calls from Norma in Canada and Martha in Bethany… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

I am tired of this cold weather. Spring can’t get here soon enough to suit me… Dave left this morning to go see the ENT doctor; next appointment will be to see about getting hearing aides… I cleaned the bathroom and washed a load of clothes. I really have to push myself to do anything… David and Kenny called… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Thanks to Aralee in Schertz, Texas, Christina in Las Vegas, Nevada, and Frank in England for signing my guest book at http://www.angelfire.com/ok4/mari5113/index.html Last night our neighbors Kelly and Kailey brought us a beautiful Poinsettia. Then Kenny called and asked Dave and I to go to Kingfisher to see the Christmas lights with Kathy and him. I bundled up and we went. I always enjoy seeing the Christmas Lights. Thanks Kenny for taking us… Another one of my DASNI friends, Vernon is going to be under Hospice care. It hurts to hear news like that… Martha called and Jeanne in Hawaii called… Dave had to go see the guy who made his eye today and everything is okay. He went by the hospital to see Alfred and Alfred hopes to be released tomorrow. I was sure glad when Dave came home because the roads were very icy today… Our DASNI chat room is down... Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Monday, December 15, 2008

Brrrr It is freezing here… I spent most of the day in bed under the covers… I watched a couple episodes of “Little House on the Prairie” … We had leftovers for supper so I managed fixing that by myself… Our friend, Alfred is back in the hospital. Please keep Alfred in your prayers… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Happy 10th Birthday Trevor!!! Trevor is our great grandson in Moore, Oklahoma… Lynn Jackson and other DASNI members are on this You Tube (Fireside chat) http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Alzheimer+Society+of+B.C.+Learning+Forum&search_type=&aq=f Josh came down last night and helped me decorate our Christmas tree. Heather was at work… Kenny came down today to see our tree… I fixed supper with some help from Dave… I watched an old movie “The King and I”… I am still not feeling well, doing a lot of coughing and it is always worse in the morning and evenings… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Saturday, December 13, 2008

While I was away I missed several birthday’s and anniversary’s including mine. Happy Belated Birthday and Anniversary to all whom I missed… We woke up to 40 to 50 mph winds today and our power was off for an hour or so. The temperature was 65 degrees… We had to run some errands today so I put a scarf around my face and away we went. While we were out we got a new 7!/2 ft. prelit Christmas tree. On the way home we stopped at Sonic for a butterfinger blast. Dave got the tree put up and now I will invite Josh and Heather down to help decorate it… I called my friend Chip who now is under hospice care. He sounded pretty good… I helped fix supper… I am hoping Sam Bradford wins the Heisman Trophy tonight... Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Friday, December 12, 2008

I am back. I had no idea that my break would be for such a long time. I was very sick with pneumonia and I am still not over it. I didn’t want to have anything to do with a computer. I am on my third kind of antibiotics. Anyhow, I just wanted to say thank you everyone for the cards, phone calls, and emails. I really appreciated them… Last Friday we had to put our Bichon dog, Cindy, down. We really miss her but know she is in a better place… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma