Birthday Month - 2021🎂

It’s been a while since I’ve posted / written on my blog and I thought today might be a good day. I’m having some issues with my medication - my neurologist gave me a higher dose of Aricept and my stomach doesn’t like it very much! I haven’t had a lot of energy and there are days that all I want to eat / drink is a smoothie and very bland food. I'm hoping to connect with her soon to see what's next. This cannot continue.....

Thankfully last week my stomach cooperated and I was able to have a nice dinner with Bob on my birthday at The Slanted Door. Earlier that day I had lunch with Kristen and on the weekend we celebrated with Ryan & Kristen at Piatti. It was definitely a great birthday week 🎈 I would also like to send a big thank you to all of my friends who sent me texts, emails, cards and FaceBook notes! Over 200 of my Intel buddies & family/friends  reached out and that meant a lot to me!!

Bob has been swamped and accepted a new job as the CEO of the Walnut Creek Chamber of Commerce.  He's been so busy with that and with his interim job at the SVO Chamber that some days I barely see him! I'm sure it will show down when he can focus 100% on Walnut Creek and hopefully he can take some lunch breaks with me.

My short term memory loss is annoying but I’m turning it into a positive! I can read the same books I've read before and I don’t remember what happens! I can watch Grey’s Anatomy over and over again - six time to be exact and still enjoy it!! Some of the episodes I don’t remember what happens, but I will never forget that Derek died. I’ve  watched it so many times and that episode still brings me to tears. Do I know what I had for dinner yesterday? Probably not - but does that matter ?? The real issues are the headaches and constant ringing in my ears, and my lack of CRS (can't remember sh*t)! I'm hoping this will change soon but either way I will keep going!

Bob & Kristen and the rest of my friends and family are patient with me. I also have a trick - when I’m talking to people I always say “we might have talked about this already but .(fill in the blank)”. I know things will get worse before they get better but that’s ok. We all knew this is what happens when you have Alzheimer’s disease. I am grateful every day for what I can do and try not to focus on the negative issues I'm dealing with.

I've made adjustments and try not to schedule too much on my calendar. Any time I have a phone call or ZOOM I have to lay down afterwards, and sometimes I have to take some Tylenol to stop my head from pounding.  I can still drive but that may be coming to an end. I have to take my annual DMV written test, and I have to take a driving test behind the wheel this year too! I'm not sure how that's going to go and I'm pretty sure I won't pass the written test because I won't be able to remember the correct answers. Honestly I don't care either way! I would be happy to hire a care partner/buddy to be my driver and to help me out. If I find the right person that could be really fun😊

So enough of the sadness and bad stuff that's going one. Let's talk about the good stuff💜 I've had both of my vaccines but won't be out and about until May and that's ok. I have a few lunch dates on the calendar already and am looking forward to seeing some of my friends. I've done a lot of knitting and finished another lap blanket. I will be using that as part of my fundraising for our Walk2EndAlz! I really want to be one of the top fundraisers again so look for my posts on FaceBook soon. Since my last blog we also celebrated my daughters birthday in Sausalito and that was fun. Staying at their house and spending time with Celly was great too. 

 

I had another infusion -- #24 at the end of the month and shared my fancy Kate Spade shoes. The next one is tomorrow and this time Kristen will be with me! I'm very excited about that. It's been a long time since she's been able to take me to UCSF. I'm going home with her too and will spend some quality time at her house. 

I'm still listen to Audible books almost every day and keeping active and engaged. These last few weeks I've read five books on Audible and am rereading ''Something In the Water" now. Listening is good for me even if I have to take notes on the story line and characters. It's calming and I'm  pretty sure it's good for my brain and my attitude.

I'm still walking on the Iron Horse Trail, doing my yoga, meditation and prayers, but I'm also spending time with Rusty on the couch and dealing with my headaches. I've decided down time is essential. 

I hope you are all doing well and I hope to connect with some of you in person later this year - or maybe next year! We'll just take it one day at a time.

Thank you as always for your thoughts, prayers and notes/emails/Facebook posts! You all keep me smiling and lifted up🙏💓