smile?

Me: "Can you give me a smile?"

Mom nods her head "yes," 

but her expression doesn't change.

Me: "For the picture?  Can you smile?"

Mom nods compliantly. 

She looks at me expectantly.

Her expression doesn't change.

I take the picture, It's late, 

and I think she thinks she's smiling.

(Anyway, I see she's trying in her eyes.)

feeling better

Sleepy day - but still a good day.

much better

I've been so busy and stressed that I forgot to post (and take) pics this last week.   I meant to take one today, and then suddenly it was night, and mom is asleep.  This pic is from a couple days ago.  As you can see, she's tired but feeling better.

it's a two banana day

Poor mom is suffering from shingles.

She's so uncomfortable that it would make you cry to see the rash she's enduring.

The doctor has her on an antiviral, and hopefully she'll feel better very soon.

But, I'm having a hard time getting her to eat or drink.  She has no appetite and no interest in drinking or eating.  Above she's eating the last banana. (That was earlier today, in the morning.)  

Later, though, Stephan brought home more for her, but they were too green to eat easily (and she's so out of it, I'm worried about her choking).  So, I mashed it up for her.  Hopefully, she'll eat some.  If not I'll feed it to her.  I got her to eat applesauce this morning and managed to feed a little bit of her oatmeal before she refused to eat any more.  Also, got one Boost down, but she is mostly refusing to drink.  Shingles is a horrible, painful event.

You can see the pain in her face :-(

Edit:  Stephan got her to laugh, though.  He came in eating an onion like most people eat apples, and he offered her some.  She laughed at that.  He's a really good person for cheering a body up!

happy day :-)

She loves this little book about Grandmothers.

all clean

She was a little grumpy at me, and I said that she could tell Pete that she didn't want this mean woman washing her face anymore.  That's the look that comment got.  (Made me smile, too.)

where'd the birds go?

For some reason all the birds who are usually pigging out 

at Mom's bird feeder have all disappeared.  I wonder why?

two phone calls/ one day

Pete called this morning for Facetime, and Aunt Bonnie a little later.

She was very happy to talk on the phone!

Mom in stereo . . .

Lookie what Amanda showed me how to do today!  A Panorama! 

Taurine

I haven't been giving a lot of text to these pictures, but I think it's really important to share this. I posted it on Facebook a couple of minutes ago (the text, not Mommy's picture) and I really think it's important to think about Taurine!  It might be a really helpful organic acid.  And, it can't hurt.

Taurine. Think about taking taurine, people! There are a thousand billion things that might cause or contribute to Alzeheimer's, and one of these things is a heat de-activated organic acid that humans used to get a LOT, LOT, LOT of in traditional diets. Taurine is in raw-milk, raw-eggs, rare meat and so on . . . We don't get much of it anymore. I've been supplementing Mom's diet with taurine for about a month now, and I swear to God there is a difference in her cognition! Now, of course, I don't have any crazy-hopeful thoughts that this will give her back her memory (Alzheimer's has stolen her mind and there is no getting that back now - it's too late. Mom's doctor puts her in stage 7. There has been a lot of damage to her brain.) However, taurine might be making a big difference in her day to day life. I noticed it about two weeks ago, after she'd been on it a couple weeks, but I thought I might be imagining it. (Not that unlikely - hopeful hearts give people false positives.) Then, Stephan started remarking on it soon after. He's more objective than I, and he is positive she's more "with it". Amanda has noticed and mentioned it as well. And, just a few minutes ago, one of Amanda's friends who is over here for a visit also mentioned that Mom seems to be a lot more with it. That's an unsolicited, outside of the family, observation! That's a confirmation to me. Taurine. Try it. It might be an important part of a regime to let you keep your memories inside your heart for all your life!

It was a sleepy day,

but she's awake now :-)

busy and tidy

She spent a lot of time playing with her stuff

in her box, and then she tidied it all up.

Watching National Parks

She's really interested in this series on Netflix

where a couple guys are touring National Parks.

sleepy day

She's been sleepy today.  Dozed most of the day.

all clean and happy

Had a shower. Now it's time for a book!

The New Year

She's pretty interested in this box of Christmas stuff.