[Slow Fade]

Hello everyone. Just browsing. Thought I would check in.

Holidays were hard without H, but they are even worse with what my Mom is going through....she is in a nursing home about 2 hours away and they are trying to tweak her meds so that she isn't aggressive to staff and other residents. She cries a lot and is totally delusional. I'm living with a low level of stress all the time.  Lewy Body Dementia is a horrible, horrible disease......

Other than that nothing much changes. Its snowing here now. S18 has to drive to counseling. My Mommy worrier is activated! If its not one thing its another! 

My doctor tells me to lower my expectations regarding the holiday and to only do what I can handle and let the rest go. If the house isn't decorated, the cookies aren't baked and the lights aren't up, so what. Do what you can do and give your self a break. This is my advice to newbies who are facing their first holidays without their MLC'rs.  Take care of yourselves and put your own oxygen masks on first! 

[Nas]

Sound advice, SF.
I'm sorry to hear about your mom. That must be difficult. ((hugs))

[Songanddance]

Good to hear from you SF - take it steady and yes - self care above all else.

I am sorry to hear about your mom - that is tough. All good thoughts and wishes from me x

[MadLuv]

SF- so sorry about your mother. That is heartbreaking. I agree on the Holidays. Pre-lit trees are beautiful with no ornaments. That is my route this year. No triggers of past Christmas decorating with family ornaments. One less thing…

[UrsaMajor]

SF, I can tell you from personal experience with R's mom, once they get the meds right, it will make a world of difference. R's mom (also Dementia) went from a paranoid manic depressive to a really quite friendly person, even if she doesn't recall names or that she left her Bible on the balcony or put her shoes in the underwear drawer... The cognitive part can't be helped a lot but at least the emotional part is much better.

I totally agree with getting done what you can and what you can't doesn't get done. We are juggling several balls as well and my motto is (as usual) "shoot the biggest wolf that is closest to the sled first."

Hugs

[Slow Fade]

Thank you Nas, Song and Dance, Tornup and Ursa. I will take all the hugs and well wishes I can get! So will Mom.

Ursa I love the wolf analogy! We live out in the rural area and that is so appropriate! They are frantically working on the proper combination of meds but its a moving target. Just when you think they have it dialed in, it goes out of focus again. She is moving into the latter stages I think......Lewy is a roller coaster!

Tornup you made me laugh because that is exactly what I was thinking as I was looking at my pre lit tree in the living room with the fake fireplace crackling on the television set!  The ornaments may just stay packed this year!

As with MLC, its not about the stuff or the traditions or the things that always were.  We are charting new territory and all prior knowledge goes out the door. Find your center, find your peace in the chaos, find yourself...

Hugs to everyone.

[forthetrees]

The scents around you can trigger good memories so may I suggest treating yourself to a thymes (the brand) candle- it has all the aroma of a fraiser fir tree and none of the hassle of a tree. Bake some sugar cookies or snickerdoodles to fill up the kitchen with that heavenly scent, pour a hot cuppa tea, snuggle under a throw, and know that you´ve been quite the trooper.

[Slow Fade]

Thank you Forthetrees....

H has become a whiskey connoisseur and is always experimenting with different brands.....he brought home a bourbon that was gifted to him and so I made bourbon balls!!!! 

I love to bake so that has been very soothing.  I have a little 4 pound dog who loves to cuddle so we sit in the chair, I put on some mindless show and crochet. The only thing missing is the chair doesn't rock! 

I'm trying to bake some of H's favorite Norwegian cookies from his childhood and its been a challenge . Rosette irons and deep frying are foreign to me! Lesson #1 was "Do not let the grease splash up on your hand!" Ouch. 

I feel very melancholy this year and am visiting memories from my past. Unfortunately there isn't anyone that shares them with me. My brother passed 5 years ago and my Mom can't reminisce any longer. You guys are the target of my rambling! You were there during the darkest days. You can follow along or not, its just nice to get it out.

Maybe I should start a computer journal? Hmmmm......

[Nas]

Omg, I love bourbon balls. Bravo, they're not easy to make! In my next life I'm going to do it right and be a master chocalatier. 

[forthetrees]

I learned how to crochet watching a Brit named Bobbi on youtube- made a lot of crowns at the lowest of my lows.