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.

Saturday, February 28, 2009

It was another cold day but at least today I didn’t have to get out in it… I watched a movie “Beyond The Sea”, did laundry, went to the DASNI chat, and fixed supper. I also took a short nap… David called... Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Friday, February 27, 2009

This morning I had to crawl out from under the covers early. I had to be at Dr. Barreto’s at 8:30 for some fasting lab work… It was a very cold and windy day; I don’t know what happened to our spring. We are back to winter again… We went out for breakfast, went to Sears and to Aldi's to get groceries. We had planned to do more errands but I was ready to come home after that. I was half asleep when we left this morning and forgot my mask so I needed to get home and use the nebulizer and the rescue inhaler… I fixed beef stew in the pressure cooker. It has been awhile since I made beef stew and used the pressure cooker but I figured it out and the stew was delicious… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Thursday, February 26, 2009

This morning it was 10:00 when I woke up. The birds were singing and that always makes me feel good to hear them… I spent some time outside with the dogs enjoying the warm weather… I hosted the DASNI chat and fixed supper…. George called… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

This morning Dave gave the dogs a bath and I washed their bedding… Dave went for a follow-up doctor’s appointment for the Gout. Doctor wanted him to come off the medication he was on for it since he was doing better and the medicine can affect the kidney… Dave then went up on the roof to replace some roof shingles that had blown off several days ago. I begged him not too but he did anyhow… Between the stress of getting used to a new computer and Dave climbing on the roof, I went to bed for my Nebulizer treatment and fell asleep for about an hour or so… I was just starting to fix supper when Kathy called and asked me to go with her to pick up a recliner. So I went with her and turned the supper fixing over to Dave. By the time I got home he had it all ready. Kathy got a nice leather recliner just her size… It was another beautiful warm day… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Today was a beautiful 70-degree day with very little wind. Thank you God for a day that I was able to get out on my scooter and play with the dogs. We even were able to raise windows to air out the house… One of our dogs, Mindy, the Maltese has been chewing on her tail so bad that she chewed some of it off. Dave took her to the Vet this morning and the Vet sewed up the bad area and removed one of her teeth. We sure hope this will take care of the problem. We would hate to have to have her tail docked. She is such a pretty dog and she loves everyone and everyone loves her… Sugar and Shiloh followed me all over the yard today and we even went up to the garden. I wasn’t sure how Sugar would do with me on the scooter but she was just like Cindy used to be, bouncing behind me… I did another load of laundry and fixed supper… Dave and Josh got everything transferred from my old laptop to the new one and for the first time I am doing a journal on the new one… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Monday, February 23, 2009

Today I have been pushing myself to get the Monday chores done. I cleaned the bathroom, did a couple loads of laundry, and helped with supper... I hosted the DASNI chat and then I laid down and used the Nebulizer… Josh came down to help with transferring computer stuff… Tonight I watched a pretty sunset… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Sunday, February 22, 2009

I attended church service on television this morning… Last night Dr. Zhivago was on television but I was too tired to watch it so I recorded it and watched it this afternoon… The guy we bought the H/P laptop from came today and we exchanged it for a Toshiba. I think I will like this one a lot better. I am waiting on Dave to get it all set up for me… I thought I was feeling better but today I have been coughing more… Martha, Richard, and Janey called. Kathy came down to see us… Kenny tilled up the garden today… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Happy Birthday Ernie!!! Ernie is my cousin in Kentucky… Happy Birthday Bob!!! Bob is a friend in Texas… I am finally starting to feel better. I called the doctor on Monday to let her know I wasn’t doing any better. She ordered five days of steroids and Kathy went to the pharmacy and picked it up for me. Thanks Kathy… Dave is dealing with gout again. I feel so sorry for him. His foot is swollen really bad and he can barely walk on it. He saw the doctor on Wednesday and is on medication for it… I chatted with my DASNI friends and watched a movie. “Gone With the Wind”… We enjoyed some of Lori’s leftovers for supper… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Our son David being honored by two Generals at Tinker Air Force Base for saving a co-worker's life on Friday 13th.


Tuesday, February 17, 2009

I am taking a break and will be back when I feel better.
Goodnight All... Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Sunday, February 15, 2009

This morning I attended church services on TV… I hosted the DASNI chat and then I went to bed to use the Nebulizer and took a nap… David came out for a visit and brought us some of Lori’s leftovers. We love leftovers. Tonight we had some of her beef stroganoff. Lori didn’t come because she had gone to visit her grandmother… Kenny didn’t fly the plane because it was a bit too cold for an open cockpit. I was relieved that he didn’t fly… Martha called… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Saturday, February 14, 2009



Happy Valentines Day!!!
Happy Anniversary Morris and Andrea!!! Morris and Andrea are our friends in Houston, Texas… We are extra proud of our Son David today. Last night at work he saved a 24-year-old guy’s life. David administered CPR and AED on him. The guy is married and the father of two. Tonight he is in intensive care. Thank God David had the training to do so… I did laundry, went to the DASNI chat and the rest of the day I slept on and off… Kenny came down with roses for me. I received three Valentines… Kenny taxied his plane again. I think tomorrow they will go to an airport and he will fly it… Lori’s grandfather is in the hospital with congestive heart failure. Please keep him in your prayers… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Friday, February 13, 2009

Me and our four dogs.


I had to get up early this morning to get ready for the maid’s visit. Our house is nice and clean now for a day or two. I only get them to come every three weeks so by the time they get here we are ready for them… Kathy called and asked if we wanted to take a ride with them to look at some property in Cashion. We went with them and then they took us out for a Mexican dinner to my favorite place to eat. We came home with a to go box. We will have lunch tomorrow… Tomorrow our friends Vince and Duchess in Ohio will leave for Florida. I know they are anxious to get away from the cold weather… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Thursday, February 12, 2009

I felt better this morning when I woke up… We have wanted to go visit David and Lori and see their new bedroom suite. So today we went. Lori made some delicious Chili for lunch. We didn’t stay long because David had to go to work and Lori had to pick up Madison and Macey from school… On our way home we met with Martha at Kohl’s and then picked up some KFC for supper. We stopped in Piedmont and Dave and I both got groomed… My foot with the Desmoid tumor in it has been very painful today… I did a load of laundry and picked up around the house… Kenny came down tonight and George called… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Since I have been ill, I notice my dementia has gotten worse. I am doing things that I normally wouldn’t do. Last night instead of taking my bedtime medicines I took the morning medicines. I did sleep well last night. I feel worse today than I did yesterday. I spent most of the day in bed. Dave fixed me chicken and noodle soup for lunch and I always heard that is what is good for us when we are sick. Dave is taking good care of me. I am so blessed to have him… Thanks to all the people who were concerned about us when they heard about the tornado on the news. It is good to know that you care… I called Martha who is having a hard time right now… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

I had a horrible night last night. I was awake the whole night and I am blaming it on the moon. I usually have no trouble sleeping. I have been awake for 24 hours. I am sure hoping I can sleep tonight… I washed our bedding and the dogs bedding… We had tornado warnings this afternoon and Dave and I along with the dogs went into the storm room for an hour. We got a good rain and some strong winds. But thankfully we didn’t have a tornado here or any hail. Edmond had a tornado and they had one in Oklahoma City also… George called… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Monday, February 09, 2009

Happy Birthday Ben!!! Ben is our friend in Irving, Texas… It was a warm day but the wind could blow you away but not someone as heavy as me… I had a three-month follow up appointment with Dr. Barreto this afternoon. I wore a mask. She said I have Bronchitis. I got two shots, one was an antibiotic shot and a steroid shot and gave me a prescription for Levaquin and cough syrup. The doctor told me I looked bad and I told her thanks that I needed to hear that. I should feel better by Wednesday or Thursday, if not I am to give her a call… Terry, the previous owner of Sugar called to see how she was doing. Each day is a little better, she is starting to warm up to us but is still quite shy… Josh called and came down and Wesley called… I called Ben… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Sunday, February 08, 2009

Josh, our grandson came down this morning to visit with us and it was so good to see him. He has a busy schedule with school and working. It was sure great getting one of his big hugs… I hosted the DASNI chat and did laundry… Tonight Kathy came down to help us with my new laptop. It looks so complicated but I guess I will get used to it… David called… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Saturday, February 07, 2009

Dave,Karmelita, Shiloh, Mindy, and Sugar.


I am having trouble with my computer battery so if I disappear you will know why… I cleaned the bathroom, dusted our bedroom, and did laundry… I watched a movie “Sarah Plain and Tall” ... Cindy, one of our neighbors brought us a plate of goodies and visited with me… I fixed supper and we ate outside. The wind finally died down and it was warm evening. All the dogs love to be outside… I am going to watch “The Notebook’ again, it is one of my favorite movies… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Friday, February 06, 2009

It was a warm 73 degrees today with a 33 mph wind. I went with Dave to pick up Mindy. When she heard us in the waiting room she started barking and crying. She has slept most of the day since we got her home. We took Sugar to the Vet with us so she could get checked out. She has an ear infection but it is being taken care of now. Sugar weighs 8.4 lbs… My asthma is back so I am back on the Nebulizer. It is no wonder I am having problems with all this wind… I didn’t do anything today but play with the dogs. It is my favorite thing to do… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Thursday, February 05, 2009

Dave took Mindy to the hospital to be spayed. I have really missed her. She has to spend the night and I will go with Dave in the morning to pick up our baby… Sugar is doing fine. She is still very shy and will play with a ball. She sleeps a lot… I hosted the DASNI chat and tonight is Dr. Mitch’s chat in the Dr. Mitch’s chat room at http://www.alzinfo.org/alztalk/flashchat.php I fixed supper and played Poppit and Solitaire at Pogo… David called… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Wednesday, February 04, 2009

It was 50 degrees today but with the wind it sure didn’t feel like it when I was out with the dogs… Dave went to see Dr. Mosca this morning for a follow up appointment and everything was fine… I hosted the DASNI chat room and rode the bike. I have been lacking at riding the bike but hopefully I am back on track… I helped with supper and took care of all the house plants… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Tuesday, February 03, 2009

Happy Birthday George!!! George is my brother in Louisville, Kentucky… Happy Birthday Morris!!! Morris is our friend in Houston, Texas… Our puppy Sugar did great last night. We put her in the crate and she slept all night. Not bad for someone who had never been crated and she hasn’t gone potty in the house… I washed our bedding today and picked up around the house. I hosted the DASNI chat and helped fix supper. I made a dump cake. Dave and I both wanted something sweet… I went up to visit with Kathy. She surprised me with some LIVE, LOVE, and LAUGH plaques… Jeanne, and George called and I called Martha… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Monday, February 02, 2009

I have had another lazy day. Tomorrow I must get busy… I had to leave the DASNI chat early today for a Conference call… Then we went to Lexington to pick up a Bichon puppy. We have been searching for a Bichon puppy for a couple months and finally found one. We are tickled to have her and I named her Sugar. She is eight months old and will fit in nicely with our other three dogs once she gets acquainted. We stopped at Wal Mart and picked up a new crate for Sugar. We will see if we get any sleep tonight… Dave made an appointment to have Mindy fixed on Thursday… Jeanne called and I called George… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Sunday, February 01, 2009

It has been one of those days that I didn’t do anything but play solitaire on the computer… Dave and I are watching the BIG football game… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma