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.

Tuesday, January 31, 2006

Thanks to Joann and Clarence in Welcome, North Carolina, Lori in Greenfield, Indiana, and Lisa in Belmont, Massachusetts for visiting Mary’s Place and signing my guest book… It really lifted my spirits to see so many signing my guest book, that and the emails I get encourages me to keep on keeping on…
Last night when I got up from my recliner to go to bed I was hurting so bad I could hardly walk to the bedroom… I am on so much medication that I hate to take a pain pill but this morning my knees and foot were still hurting so I gave in and asked Dave to give me a pain pill. Dave said I should just stay in bed today and rest and I didn’t argue with him when he brought my laptop into me. I have been in bed all day just lying here watching TV and playing games on the computer, which helps me take my mind off the pain… 68 degrees and strong winds today and several fires in Oklahoma but none near us… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Monday, January 30, 2006

Thanks to Dewey in Clemmons, North Carolina for visiting Mary’s Place and signing my guest book at http://www.angelfire.com/ok4/mari5113/index.html … Last night we had phone calls from Richard, George, and Kenny… I am still trying to decide if I really like my new drapes or not. I have trouble with change… I hosted chat and took care of the houseplants. I noticed my Christmas cactus is blooming and is so pretty… Our Filter Queen vacuum died so I have ordered a new Hoover… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Sunday, January 29, 2006

The birds were singing when I woke up this morning. Makes you feel like spring is in the air. It was a beautiful day, very little wind and up in the 60’s… I was going to go to the mall with Dave to pick up our drapes but Kenny called just before we were to leave and asked me to ride to Chickasha with him and Kathy to pick up Heather and to Tuttle to pick up Josh. So I rode with them instead and gave Dave some ME time… When I got home I decided to call and ask Martha and Alfred out to eat with us tonight. I had a Cranberry/Apple Pie that I was dying to bake… They came and we shared a nice dinner. I did all the cooking... Dave and Martha hung the drapes and they look good… Thanks to Mary in Canada for hosting chat for me today while I played... Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Saturday, January 28, 2006

This morning about 5:00 I woke up to the sound of thunder. I was never so happy to hear thunder and rain. I turned over and went back to sleep and slept till the phone rang. It was the firefighters asking for money… I have been having a lot of trouble with reflux. I may end up having to go to a doctor yet… I played dominoes with Martha and Nobie… I called David and Lori… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Friday, January 27, 2006

The maids were here before I woke up this morning. They showed up ringing our doorbell before nine. I wish they wouldn’t come so early because with all the meds I take I am really drugged at that time of the morning. I guess I should just be happy someone comes all the way out here to clean. We are a long ways from any place… I finished up the laundry for a few days and hosted chat and as usual I rode my bike. I am riding a little bit further each day… We are hoping for some rain tonight… Check out Mary in Canada newest blog at http://justmary06.blogspot.com ... Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Thursday, January 26, 2006

I have felt much better today and it is a good thing. The maids are coming tomorrow so I have been busy picking up around the house and doing laundry. I am not one of those people who clean before the maids come but I do like to have things picked up and put away before they come. By the time I put everything away the house doesn’t look half bad… I hosted both afternoon and evening chats at http://www.alzinfo.com/community/chatrooms/ … Dave fixed Spam supreme for supper. I watched a beautiful sunset tonight… This has been the warmest and driest January on record they are saying… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Wednesday, January 25, 2006

Tonight is Dave’s men’s bible study group so I will be staying with Martha again while Alfred and Dave are gone. I am posting this early because of the way I have been feeling I probably will be too tired when I get home tonight to do it… I hosted chat cleaned the kitchen and washed the dog’s bedding… Dave gave the dogs a bath. I use to be the one to bath the dogs just one more thing I have given up doing… A beautiful day, very little wind and 65 degrees… I would like for you to check a friend's blog. http://www.knitmentia.blogspot.com/ Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Tuesday, January 24, 2006

Thanks to Diane in Kempner, Texas for visiting Mary's Place and signing my guest book at http://www.angelfire.com/ok4/mari5113/index.html
This morning I slept till noon. I couldn’t believe the clock when I opened my eyes to see what time it was. It must have been all the decision making at Penny’s yesterday… I did laundry and watered the house plants… Dave and I watched a DVD “Out of the Blue” I have been tired all day… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Monday, January 23, 2006

Thanks to Sally in Canberra, Australia for visiting Mary’s Place and signing my guest book… Didn’t do much around the house today. I hosted chat and after that Dave and I went to the mall. He has offered to take me to the mall and push me around in the wheelchair once a month. What a guy I have. We found the perfect window treatment at Penny’s for our living room. Dave treated me to some dipping dots while at the mall. I had never had them before. I really liked them… I helped Dave fix supper and now I am going to relax… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Sunday, January 22, 2006

Happy Birthday Norma!!! Norma is our friend in North Carolina… I finished up the laundry, hosted chat and played computer games… Dave said we got rain last night. I was sleeping and missed it. I wanted to hear it, see it, walk in it, and sing in it. LOL We didn’t get much but we will take any we can get… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Saturday, January 21, 2006

This week I have been having a lot of headaches. I woke up with another one this morning but it didn’t last that long… I hosted chat, did laundry, and played games on the computer. Tonight I fixed tortilla soup for supper and it was really good… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Friday, January 20, 2006

Boy am I tired tonight… We left this morning and went to David and Lori’s. Lori fixed us a nice lunch and David went to the feed store and got us fifty pounds of sunflower seeds. Our birds will sure be happy because we had ran out… Madison and Macey were there at David’s and I read stories to them and rocked Macey to sleep… We left there and went to Tinker, got our car registered with a new base sticker, then to the Pharmacy, BX, and the commissary… Just finished helping Dave put away all those groceries… I still need to ride my bike and then I am off to bed… I called cousin Ernie in Kentucky to wish him a Happy Birthday and found out his birthday isn’t until next month. LOL… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Thursday, January 19, 2006

I have rested a lot today, still tired from last night I guess… I hosted two DASNI chats today and in the afternoon chat we had eight people show up and we had a fun chat. Three of them were from Canada. If you are someone with dementia or someone who is a caregiver, you can join us in the chat room by clicking on this link. http://www.alzinfo.com/community/chatrooms/ … I watched the cows walking along the fence across the highway. I like watching the cows as much as the birds… I made out a grocery list, picked up around the house and rearranged a few things… I find I continue to have a hard time talking at times. Just never know when it will happen. I also use the wrong words when I am talking and also when I am typing… I have been enjoying Dancing With The Stars… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Wednesday, January 18, 2006

Thanks to Richard in Smithville, Tennessee and Jenny in Mason, Michigan for visiting Mary’s Place and signing my guest book at http://www.angelfire.com/ok4/mari5113/index.html… My brother George called me early this morning at 9:45 and woke me up. George thinks if he is up everyone should be up. LOL … This afternoon we went to Kohl’s and to the Hobby Shop. Then we went to Alfred and Martha’s for a delicious spaghetti supper that Alfred had fixed… After we finished eating Dave and Alfred went to their Men’s Bible Study group. Martha and I visited and played games… I called Chip in Florida… When we were getting ready to leave our house this afternoon I tripped in the garage and lucky for me the refrigerator was there to catch me. I skinned my hand and broke a nail but other than that I am lucky to just come out with sore hands… Goodnight all… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Tuesday, January 17, 2006

Brrrr it is a cold 35 degrees… I did laundry and played computer games… Kathy called and invited us up for beef stew, it was a perfect day for it too. The stew was delicious and Kenny shared his Chocolate Silk Pie with us… Kathy showed me the pretty lap quilts that she is making. Then we all sat around the TV to watch American Idol and laughed a lot and I got another grandkid fix… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Monday, January 16, 2006

It felt a lot like winter today, nothing like what we have been having. Yesterday it was in the 60’ and 70’s and today we are in the 40’s and 50’s. I was hoping for some rain but none so far… I made potato soup for lunch, hosted chat, watered the plants, and rode the bike for two miles… I have had a moody day and not feeling very good sure hope I am not coming down with something… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Sunday, January 15, 2006

Happy Birthday Judy!!! Judy is Dave’s sister in Clemmons, North Carolina… Happy Birthday Jeanne!!! Jeanne is our friend in Hawaii… Today has been a better day than yesterday as far as my forgetting. I did laundry, cleaned the bathrooms, dusted, hosted chat, fixed supper, and played computer games… I called David and Lori… Dave cleaned the aquarium so the fish are happy and so am I… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Saturday, January 14, 2006

It was another very windy day here. Dave has been watering outside all day… I hosted chat and took care of the bills… I enjoyed watching the birds at the feeder and on the ground, we sure have a lot of them… I called Aunt Flo and George and Norita called me… A DASNI friend in Canada has started a new blog. You can visit Mary’s blog by going here: http://www.kos.net/blogs/jimmary/ Tonight we went with Kenny and Kathy to Smokey Bones to eat. The food was really good… I forgot to take my afternoon meds… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Friday, January 13, 2006

This morning I got in the shower and when I went to get out I realized I had forgotten my towel. I always get a clean towel out of the cupboard before getting into the shower. It is a good thing that Dave was here in the study on the other side of the house and in yelling distance. I could have fallen down trying to get to a towel. Our tile floors can be very slick with wet feet. The other day I got in the tub without the soap. I don’t know what I would do without Dave… Kenny stopped in to say hello this afternoon and then he and Dave left for Home Depot. I am sure they enjoyed being together and taking their time. Dave came home with a trailer load of stuff to finish up his hidey-hole… I fixed supper and had a timer around my neck while the rice cooked. Thanks to Linda for the timer. It allowed me to play computer games while the rice was cooking… Josh came down to return the DVD and he showed me his grade card. He had all A’s and B’s. I sure am proud of you Josh… I played Dominoes online tonight with Nobie, a long time friend in Paden, Oklahoma… Aunt Flo called… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Thursday, January 12, 2006

Not much going on here today. I folded the laundry that was left in the dryer from the other day and got them all put away… I watched a DVD “Fever Pitch,” Josh came down tonight to get the movie so they could watch it. It is a very windy night here. More fires in the state… I helped Dave fix supper, I peeled the potatoes… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Wednesday, January 11, 2006

Dave took me for a haircut then we went to Alfred and Martha’s. Dave left me with Martha while he and Alfred went to a Men’s Bible Study group. I taught Martha about Pogo and she taught me how to play free cell and spider solitaire… I called my cousin Mary Lou in Monticello, Indiana… I am very tired tonight… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Tuesday, January 10, 2006

We had a good time at Kenny and Kathy’s last night. Kathy is a great cook and sent leftovers home with us. It was good to get a grandkid fix too. I needed one of those… We woke up to three inches of snow this morning. Thanks Mary for sending it to us… When Dave went out this morning to put up the flag he saw a note written in the snow. It said “Hi Pops,” I think it was Heather that wrote it… This afternoon after I finished hosting chat we took the dogs and went to pick up the motor home. I am sure happy we have an extended warranty on the motor home… My brother called to let me know that we have lost another cousin. Melton in Indianapolis, Indiana passed away this morning. Our condolences go out to his family… The Schwan lady came and I got more groceries. Some of their stuff I really like… I fixed supper tonight all by myself… I am going to watch a Oklahoma/Missouri basketball game... Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Monday, January 09, 2006

We had a wonderful visit as usual with Alfred and Martha last night. The dessert was strawberry cheesecake and it was yummy… I did laundry and hosted chat… Kathy called and invited us up for supper tonight. She is fixing a beef roast… We had temperatures in the 70’s over the weekend and today it is very cold in the 40’s and we are under a snow advisory… Dave took our motor home to the Air Conditioner shop today. The vacuum pump went bad while we were in Texas on our last trip. We want it to be working before we go on another trip… I called Kim, my neighbor across the street today and she was telling me she saw three coyotes on our land on Friday so we will be keeping a closer eye on our little dogs… Goodnight all… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Sunday, January 08, 2006

Happy Birthday Aralee!!! Aralee is our friend in Schertz, Texas… I received a call from my brother George; he had just gotten out of the hospital. Please keep my brother in your prayers… Dave was either in his hidey-hole or flying his plane. I hardly know I have a husband… I have played computer games most of the day but I did take time out to ride my bike and host chat… Martha called and she and Alfred will be out later and they are bringing dessert… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Saturday, January 07, 2006

Rachel called me this morning and asked me to go with her to visit her father who is in a Nursing Home. Rachel and her father lived across the street from us in our old neighborhood. I was happy to get out of the house. We had a good time and talked non-stop. It was so good to have a live person to talk too… We had wild fires not far from us. Rachel had to take a detour to get me home. This time the fires were too close for comfort. It is getting so scary… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Friday, January 06, 2006

Happy Birthday Matthew!!! Mathew is our great grandson in Mammoth Cave, Kentucky who is eight today… I am happy to say that all the dust bunnies and cobwebs are gone from our home. The maids came really early this morning and almost caught me in the bathtub. I thought I would enjoy a nice whirlpool bath before they got here… I did a couple loads of laundry and the hamper is empty for a change… After the maids left I was having a big craving for a chilidog from Sonic so Dave took me out to lunch to get one. I am so spoiled… I hosted chat and rest of the day I played dominoes… Goodnight All… I called Rachel and we are going to get together soon… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Thursday, January 05, 2006

I didn’t sleep well last night and woke up with a very cloudy head this morning. It was afternoon before it started clearing up… I took care of the houseplants, hosted two chats and got ready for the maids tomorrow. I am sure looking forward to the maids visit because I have dust bunnies all over the house. They are building a new home on the acreage next to ours and with this wind and it being so dry the dust has been horrible… I called Jaunita and Mark Fisher… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Wednesday, January 04, 2006

Thanks to Eleanor in Nova Scotia, Canada for visiting Mary’s Place and signing my guest book… Dave gave me a vitamin B/12 shot so hopefully I will have some energy soon… I did laundry, hosted chat, and played dominoes… Dave flew his plane… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Tuesday, January 03, 2006

Thanks to Mary in Picton, Ontario, Canada for visiting Mary’s Place and signing my guest book. http://www.angelfire.com/ok4/mari5113/index.html Mary is another proud member of DASNI and you can visit the DASNI site by going here: http://www.dasninternational.org Thanks to all of you who have called us to make sure we are okay from all the fires. It is always nice to know that people care about us but we are all fine and don’t worry cause I do enough of that for all of us… I have had to push myself to ride the bike and do laundry but I did it… Tonight I fixed a Spinach Quiche all by my self but I was exhausted and shaky by the time I finished and when we were eating I realized I had forgot to put in the onions… Phone calls from Ernie in Kentucky and Aunt Flo in Texas… I called Josh… More fires in the Oklahoma City area and 73 degrees… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Monday, January 02, 2006

Tonight's sunset

I watched the Rose Bowl parade this morning and really enjoyed it. Especially seeing some rain since it has been forever since I have seen rain here… I have started going through our clothes closet and getting stuff ready to give to the Salvation Army… Dave is still watering the lawn everyday… Aunt Flo called, she has been watching the news and was worried about us… The winds were not near as bad today. But still no rain in the forecast and the winds are to pick up again in the next few days. More fire danger. Oklahoma is burning up… A beautiful sunset tonight… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Sunday, January 01, 2006

Happy New Year!!! Wishing everyone a great 2006… Thanks to Susan in Canada for visiting Mary’s Place and signing my guest book… We sure had a great time last night with our family. Madison and Macey are the cutest little girls I have ever seen. And I could tell they like coming to Grandpa and Grandma 3’s home… I have been really nervous today about the wildfires and praying they don’t get to our home. They are all around our area… I have rested a lot today… We will have our black-eyed peas tonight… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma