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.

Sunday, July 31, 2005

I have been lazy today. I didn’t sleep well last night my left hip and knee were hurting me. I got up late and never even got dressed until the evening. I did some pacing trying to figure out what I should be doing. Finally I sat down and watched a TV movie then I hosted chat at http://www.alzinfo.com/community/chatrooms/ then after chat I played some solitaire… I called Aunt Flo and she still isn’t doing well. She is still in a lot pain… Kenny called and asked us to go out to eat with them and then to The Comedy Club. So that is what we are going to do… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Saturday, July 30, 2005

I listened to my talk show on the radio this morning. I wanted to see if I could learn something and as always I did…
I received a nice long letter from Carolyn in Canada. Carolyn is a school friend. I still keep in touch with my best friends from school. They know me the best. We have been friends for close to fifty years and some even longer… I have been busy today getting tomatoes ready to freeze. I haven’t done this before so I went online and found a site that told me how to do it. Nothing to it and I know we will enjoy them this winter… I vacuumed up some mud that had been tracked in by my better half. Grrrrrr!!! We have been married almost 45 years and I still haven’t trained him to wipe his feet… I have been listening to “MY LIFE” by Bill Clinton. I recently signed up for books on tape that is put out for the Blind and Disabled. They sent me six books on tape to listen to plus a nice tape player. When I send one back they send me another one… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Friday, July 29, 2005

Today I have been busy picking up around the house and folding laundry… I made some nectar for the hummingbirds after seeing them flying around and giving me dirty looks outside the window… I cut up some okra from the garden and fried it for supper. After supper I went out on the patio and enjoyed a glass of sun tea. It was a beautiful evening for watching the birds and Kenny flying his plane. Dave joined me and we discussed plans for our next motor home vacation for the fall… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Thursday, July 28, 2005

Happy Birthday Carolyn!!! Carolyn is a friend in Canada… Happy Birthday Chip!!! Chip is our friend in Florida… We had a good time last night with all the family. There were sixteen of us that went to eat at Cattleman’s. They had a horse drawn shuttle to take us from the parking lot to the restaurant. Josh, Heather, Allison, and Matthew really enjoyed that and so did I… Because it took so long to finish our dinner it was too late to go to the Comedy Club. We will try that another time… I hosted chat, did more laundry, listened to some talking books and the rest of the time I was snacking… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Wednesday, July 27, 2005

I made another batch of salsa and did laundry. Tonight we are going out to eat at Cattleman’s with Kenny, Kathy and family then to The Comedy Club… We didn’t get any rain but the weather has cooled down and I am thankful for that… This morning I was checking the flowers outside and they are looking poorly from all the hot weather we have had. I did notice that the Bougainvillea was starting to bloom… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Tuesday, July 26, 2005

Thanks to Betty in Silverton, Idaho, Joann in Welcome, North Carolina, Norma in Fullerton, California, and Fran in Maroochydore Qld Australia for visiting Mary’s Place and signing my guest book at http://www.angelfire.com/ok4/mari5113/index.html…
Our granddaughter Jamie and two children Allison and Matthew are here from Kentucky visiting Kenny and Kathy for a couple weeks. It has been fun watching them get out in the evening and play croquet and volley ball. They all play so well together… Dave fertilized the lawn today and now we hope to get the rain that the weatherman has promised us… I made my first batch of salsa using Kim’s recipe and it is so good… Tonight we have been invited to Kenny and Kathy’s for enchiladas. Kenny is making them and I plan on taking up a couple of Schwan’s chocolate silk pies… I had a phone call from Nancy a phone buddy… Hi Judy and Dewey!!! Goodnight all… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Monday, July 25, 2005

Our neighbors Robert, Kim, Zachary and Ethan from across the street came to visit last night. We had given some tomatoes to them and Kim made us some of her delicious salsa and brought us some and also gave me her recipe so now we can make it. We took them up to see our garden and the boys had a ball looking around at all the vegetables growing. We let them pick their own vegetables to take home with them and gave them a watermelon too…
I did laundry and fixed supper…
Lori called me… We called Aunt Flo. She is suffering from a fractured back. Please keep her in your prayers… Tonight we went to Wal-Mart and Lowe’s… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Sunday, July 24, 2005

Just a short post to let you know I am still hanging on… As most of you know I have quit going to church because of the panic attacks I get. Well today I really wanted to attend church. They were having a old time singing at the Methodist church here in Piedmont. Dave and I got up early and got all dressed to go. We even made it to the parking lot at the church. But then it hit me and all I could think of was getting back home. Dave said we didn’t have to go if I wasn’t up to it so we came back home. I guess I will continue attending church on TV. I hope God will understand… Today was our great granddaughter Macie’s first birthday party and I wanted to attend but just wasn’t up to getting out in the heat to go… We are still getting plenty of vegetables from our garden and enjoying eating and sharing them with the neighbors… I had a phone call from Chip today. He has started doing his journal regularly now and I am enjoying reading it. Go here to read Chip’s journal: http://www.zarcrom.com/users/alzheimers/chip.html Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Sunday, July 10, 2005

Thanks to all of you who have called, written and asked what happen to me… I am fine just taking some needed time off from doing my journal for a while… The vegetable and flower garden are keeping me busy and I have so many more birds to watch and care for now… We have met more of our neighbors and we are visiting with them more and spending more time with family… Dave and I enjoy sitting outside in the evening… I will be back when I am not so busy… I hope all of you are enjoying your summer…
Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma
Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma