Another wonderful day ...

Mom was so great today! She has been witty, sharp, sassy and loving.

For example, when ever I go to her I will say "Mom, are you ready to go have breakfast?" Or have lunch, or have dinner, or sit in the recliner, or go outside ... whatever the case may be. And she always says "Yes". Until today I did not think much of it just figuring she she was being acquiescent, letting me decide what is best. Well the aide called to say she was on the way so I went to wake Mom from her nap and said "Are you ready to get up and take a shower?? She said "No!". I just died laughing, I had never heard her say No. In a little while I went back and tried to reason a little more and she said "I think you should take a turn". Oh my gosh that was so funny! Ya gotta admit ... if you were her would you not think the same thing?

Then this evening I sang "You are my Special Angel" to her and she was so engrossed in it I asked her, "Do you like that song?" She said "Yes, that was pretty". So all you naysayers that do not think I can sing ... HA!! Unfortunately, I only know one verse of that song too!

I also showed her a picture of Warren Earl (her brother who was a Fireman killed in the Watts Riot in Los Angeles) when he was a baby ... her face lit up like a light bulb and she said "Oh yes I remember him". Not sure I have ever seen her light up like that in response to a picture.

After dinner for some reason we were talking about her recipes and sugar cookies came up. I asked her if she wanted me to make her some sugar cookies. She got so excited I envisioned her wolfing them down hot out of the oven so I got right on it! It was funny, as I looked for the recipe I said, "Mom, you would not happen to know it off the top of your head would you?" I had no expectation of a response but she started laughing and rolled her eyes, "No!" she said.

When they were ready I took them out of the oven and rushed them right over and she ate, NOT ONE, NOT TWO, she ate ONE FOURTH of one! Oh my gosh, I do not want all of these cookies around ... MAAAAAHHHHHMMMM you must eat more! I sent them to work with Louis. ; )

Another time, I was getting her ready for bed and it is the usual routine and she does not like it. I get one side of her diaper taped (I refer to them as her pants to her). And then I go to the other side where I say, "Okay Mom, I have to roll you that way so I can get the tape to button your pants". She will say no and then I will say, "Mom, do you want to lay here all night with your pants undone?" And because I know my Mom and I KNOW she does not want that she will say okay. Well that is the way it usually works BUT tonight she says "Yes". Well crap! So then I have to go through this long spiel to convince her that no, she does not want to lay there with her pants undone! She was not really convinced but she did let me roll her BEGRUDGINGLY! It is these times that I build my arm muscles!

This is the mystery of ALZ ... this is the reason I think people talk about how hard it is to take care of a family member with ALZ. It is because you never know what the day will bring and that can be heart wrenching at times.