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.

Thursday, May 31, 2007

Last night I sat outside visiting with Kathy, it was a beautiful evening. It was so nice I didn’t even want to come in and chat with my friends in the chat room. I have to enjoy this nice weather while I can… Every morning when I finally get out of bed one of the first things I do is go outside and walk around my flower gardens. I can’t wait to see what is blooming or what is about to bloom… I have never seen so many butterflies before. They are all over the place and will sometimes land on me. If you want to see a green Oklahoma now is the time to visit. I don’t remember ever seeing Oklahoma so green. We are to have another thunderstorm tonight… People have been asking how I feel about my new diagnosis of mixed dementia and I tell them that I feel very blessed to have done so well after 12 years of diagnosis. I will continue to enjoy each day to the fullest… I have been really busy today. I hosted chat, did laundry, picked up for the maids visit tomorrow, and I fixed lunch and supper. Dave has been busy mowing… Our neighbors Bob and Kim and their boys came over tonight when they saw us outside. We love all our neighbors… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Wednesday, May 30, 2007

We got woke up early this morning with a thunderstorm. We lost power for a while but not for long. Shiloh gets so scared when we have a thunderstorm; she will hide under the bed and doesn’t want to come out until it is over with… I had an appointment with Dr. Barreto today. It was to find out about the MRI and PET scan that I had recently. I found out that I have a mixed dementia which is Alzheimer’s/Vascular Dementia. She wants me to stay on the Aricept and Namenda. She also told me that my good cholesterol is just about the best she has seen and for me to keep on doing what I am doing. She said I was a intelligent lady. No one has ever said that to me before. I think I really like this doctor. When I asked her if I could still drive she said that she would never take my car keys away… We left there and went to the mall for some retail therapy. Then we went by and picked up our tow car. I followed Dave and drove our other car home from the dealership… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma
marylockhart@atlinkwifi.com

Tuesday, May 29, 2007

I pulled weeds and deadheaded the roses. I want to be outside and enjoy this weather as much as I can because I know that it is going to get hot soon and then I won’t be going outside much… I listened to a great documentary on my computer today. It was made in Canada and is over an hour long but well worth the time to watch. It is called Beyond Memory. The link to watch it is http://www.knowledgenetwork.ca/beyondmemory/ Two of my DASNI friends are in it, Lynn Jackson and Elaine Wright. I have met both of these ladies in person… Josh came down and gave me a big hug... I hosted the DASNI chats and now I am ready for a whirlpool bath… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma
marylockhart@atlinkwifi.com

Monday, May 28, 2007

Happy Memorial Day!!! Happy Belated Birthday Lynn!!! Lynn is our friend in Vancouver, Canada… We have spent a few days doing nothing much but hunting for a tow car. We found one today and will be picking it up tomorrow… Yesterday David and Lori came out and Kenny and Kathy picked up a birthday cake for Dave and we all had birthday cake. It was nice having our boys and their wives all here at the same time. First time that has happened since Christmas… Kenny and Kathy got them another puppy so we will have another grand puppy to watch grow up… We have been getting a lot of rain. The Gerber Daisies are blooming and I have never seen the pansies look so good. The Rose garden is full of beautiful blooms… I did two loads of laundry and then I went on my scooter to the next-door neighbors to get a baby fix. Marley is already six weeks old… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma
marylockhart@atlinkwifi.com

Friday, May 25, 2007

Happy Birthday, Honey!!! Dave turned 66 today. This morning is spent in a dental chair and after lunch we went car shopping for a tow car for our motor home… We later met with Kenny and he and Heather went out to dinner with us… I was happy to get home and put my feet up… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Thursday, May 24, 2007

God must have read my journal last night because this morning we got a good rain. Thank you God… I hosted chat and it took me until late afternoon to remember to start a load of laundry. I would go to do it and then I would get distracted. Just an ordinary day for me… Good Night All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

marylockhart@atlinkwifi.com

Wednesday, May 23, 2007

I finally finished up the two weeks of antibiotics and the sinus infection is all gone… Last night I was having a terrible time talking, I hope it was only because I was tired… I hosted the afternoon DASNI chat and we were so happy to see our Sandy in Ohio back. We have really missed chatting with her… I got on my scooter and went to the garden. I am really enjoying the radishes; they make a great snack. Everything else looks about the same. We need rain so badly; the strong winds we are having are really drying everything out. While I was out on my scooter the dogs were right behind me. They love it when I get on my scooter. I stopped in to see Kathy, Heather, and Josh… I fixed us some sun tea and fixed supper, sausage, peppers, and onions yummy… Dave and Kenny bought a full size tractor and now they think they are real farmers. LOL… Dave and I sat out on the back porch this evening drinking iced tea and watching the blue birds around the log cabin birdhouse… I called Lori... Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma
marylockhart@atlinkwifi.com

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Congratulations Heather!!! on passing your beginners permit on the very first try. Heather has a nice car. Josh and Heather both have their own Honda CRV… I finished up the laundry and fixed supper… I am still trying to train my husband. After 46 years of marriage he will go off somewhere out here and won’t tell me where he is going and when someone calls for him I have no idea where to find him. In the wintertime he is in his hidey-hole but in the spring there is no telling where he might be hiding… I was having trouble staying in the chat room today… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma
marylockhart@atlinkwifi.com

Monday, May 21, 2007

I have been really busy today with getting caught up on the laundry. It sure had piled up on me… Tonight I watched Dancing With The Stars and The Bachelor… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma
marylockhart@atlinkwifi.com

Sunday, May 20, 2007

A beautiful day in Piedmont… I am still resting from the running around we did last week while my work piles up… We got the first vegetables from our garden, turnip greens and radishes. The squash will be ready later this week and I can’t wait… I watered the Roses and the flowers in pots. While I was outside I noticed so many butterflies. They are enjoying my flowers and the wild flowers in the field next to us and I am enjoying the butterflies… I fixed supper. Dave has been really busy with putting down new grass and keeping it watered. He also tilled our garden… I have been listening to The Secret… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Saturday, May 19, 2007

I am back after a wonderful week with my ADF friends. There were 14 of us for Sunday Brunch on Mother’s Day… For Mother’s Day I received two Daniel O’Donnell cd’s from my honey and David and Lori gave me a Double Knock Out Rose bush, a cd of The Secret, and a beautiful card. Kenny and Kathy gave me a dozen roses and fixed us a delicious steak dinner… On Monday everyone came out here to see our home and Dave showed them his planes and even gave them a private air show… Michael and Sally treated us to a wonderful dinner at Toby Keith’s Restaurant to celebrate my new diagnosis… The last of the visitors left yesterday. Janey spent the night with us Thursday night and we drove her to the airport yesterday evening… Every day since Sunday we had been doing things with our friends and it seems funny but good not to have to worry about what to wear and go any where today… The Hollyhocks are blooming and so are the Lilies… I found the ice cream in the refrigerator instead of the freezer. I wonder how that happened??? Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Sunday, May 13, 2007

Happy Mother’s Day!!! I have had a wonderful Mother’s Day. I am blessed with two wonderful sons and their wives and of course a wonderful husband… We met with our ADF Friends at the Biltmore and had a great visit with them… I am really tired tonight, as I have had a busy day. I am going to have a busy week so I am going to take some time off doing my journal… I will be back… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Saturday, May 12, 2007

I watched a couple movies, listened to my garden show on the radio and watched the Gaither’s this evening on TV… Our neighborhood had a big garage sale this weekend so we had a few things out. I am not into garage sales anymore. Too much work so we donate our stuff… I rode around on my scooter and went up to see Sammy who got his first grooming today. He looks adorable. Then Kathy came down and we sat out on the back porch and visited and soon Dave quit flying and he joined us… Richard called. Please keep Richard in your prayers. He is to have a PetScan next Friday and we are praying that they don’t find any more cancer… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma
marylockhart@atlinkwifi.com

Friday, May 11, 2007

Dave woke me up early this morning so I could get ready to go for the PetScan. I got through it with no problems... Afterwards Dave took me out for breakfast… The maids came after we got home. I did a load of laundry and the house is clean so I should be able to rest for a little while… Josh came down to show us the Certificates he got at an Awards Ceremony the other night. He got one for outstanding accomplishments in US History and another one for outstanding accomplishment and excellent performance in CROSSTRAINING. Good job Josh… Kenny and Josh came down to eat with us tonight… David called and I got to talk to Macey… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma
marylockhart@atlinkwifi.com

Thursday, May 10, 2007

Dave mowed the grass today, it takes him about all day to do that. So I got plenty of ME time... I hosted chats and picked up around the house getting ready for the maids to come in the morning. This will be the first time that the maids have come and I wasn’t here. I have a PET scan scheduled for in the morning… I am starting to feel better but still coughing… I walked up to check on the garden and noticed all the peas were gone. Not a pea plant to be found and we planted two packs of them. Our garden is so wet… Sunday our ADF friends will be arriving in OKC. We can’t wait to see them again. We all have a brunch reservation at the Biltmore on Sunday… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma
marylockhart@atlinkwifi.com

Wednesday, May 09, 2007

I received a message yesterday from someone that is helping to promote a new study by ACT-AD, a coalition of organizations seeking to accelerate development of potential cures and treatments to slow, halt or reverse the progression of Alzheimer’s disease through research. It sounds interesting since the study claims that the US can save trillions of dollars if new Alzheimer’s drugs were approved. There is a press briefing next Monday in Washington D.C. where they will release the study to the public. You can find more information on the ACT-AD website at http://www.act-ad.org/pdf/2007-05-02-ACT-AD-MediaAlert.pdf.


We were in bed last night and Dave was asleep. It was around midnight when our weather radio went off saying Tornado Warning! We grabbed the dogs and went straight to the safe room. Dave had all three of the deadbolt locks and the knob locked. I turned on our little TV so we could keep an eye on the weather. We were in there only a few minutes when we remembered we didn’t grab our medications. So Dave started unlocking the locks and when he went to unlock the knob it was broken. At this time I started having a panic attack. I don’t like being closed up in small places to begin with but in one that is locked and you can’t get out put me in a bad state. Besides, we didn’t have a phone to let anyone know we were locked in. We didn’t have any food in there either but plenty of water. Dave found a wooden dowel in one of the shelves he had built and put in the storm room. He worked and worked till he finally got the door unlocked. Thank God and thank you Dave for being such a great handyman… Dave got our medications, phone, and my purse and he had just got back in when our neighbors Sean and Billie called and asked if they could come over. Of course Dave said yes, and they were here in no time with their three little ones. I held the new baby and that helped calm me down. A tornado did touchdown in Piedmont but it missed us. It wiped out the neighbors stockade fence behind us. They are talking about more storms tonight. At least Dave took the knob apart today and got it to working. He also added a screwdriver to keep in there in case such a thing ever happens again…. My California sister called… Goodnight All.. Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Tuesday, May 08, 2007

Dave had to go to Tinker AFB to pick up some prescriptions and then he went to the dental college to get his crown installed… Now Dave has gone to Wal-Mart to pick up an antibiotic “Bactrim” for me. The nurse called and said that the MRI showed I had a sinus infection. If it isn’t one thing it is another… I still don’t feel good but I did a load of laundry, deadheaded the roses, and hosted chat… George and Carol called… We got over two inches of rain last night and more to come tonight... Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma
marylockhart@atlinkwifi.com

Monday, May 07, 2007

Kathy went with Josh to take his driving test today. Congratulations Josh of getting your license today. Josh drove down here to show us his driving license. I wish I could say I passed on my first try. Now he is free to drive without a licensed driver with him… I rested most of the day. Just don’t feel like doing much… We had thunderstorms all night and we got over three inches of rain and it is looking like we may have a repeat tonight… We had some delicious strawberry shortcake for dessert tonight. Our first strawberries of the year and no they didn’t come from my strawberry pot. I have given up on ever having strawberries from it and I think Kathy has also… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma
marylockhart@atlinkwifi.com

Sunday, May 06, 2007

Happy Birthday Vicky!!! Vicky is our friend in Illinois… This morning I folded laundry and then got ready to go for my MRI. I was so worried about coughing during the procedure but I got through without coughing. I sure didn’t want to have to reschedule… After the MRI Dave took me to the Mall and I did some retail therapy. I got my nails done and I got a new purse and some pajamas and a matching housecoat… When we got home I went across the street to visit with Kim and she gave me some type of tall grass for my flower garden Kim didn’t know the name of it and I don’t either but I know I like it… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma
marylockhart@atlinkwifi.com

Saturday, May 05, 2007

Happy Birthday Josh!!! Josh is our grandson in Piedmont, Oklahoma… Happy Birthday Janey!!! Janey is our friend in Plainfield, Illinois… I woke up feeling really rough this morning. Asthma is back… I have had a busy day today. I got groomed and we did a bunch of other errands. Then we went to Josh’s birthday party. I can’t wait to get in bed… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma
marylockhart@atlinkwifi.com

Friday, May 04, 2007

Thanks to Phil in Ontario, Oregon for visiting Mary’s Place and signing my guest book at http://www.angelfire.com/ok4/mari5113/index.html
I received a phone call from Norita saying Wesley and she arrived back home safely today… I have been sneezing all day and I don’t know why. Sure does scare my dogs when I sneeze… I went on my scooter this evening and checked out the garden. Everything is looking good. The grass is so pretty and green after all the rain we have had the past few days… I hosted both chats and helped fix supper… I sat out on the back porch with Dave and watched the cows across the highway and listened to the birds sing. There were a bunch of egrets that flew by. They were flying real close to the ground… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma
marylockhart@atlinkwifi.com

Thursday, May 03, 2007

Last night I put up a picture of my petunias and instead of putting petunias on the subject line I wrote pansies this morning I woke up at 5:00 remembering my mistake so as soon as I got out of bed I corrected it… I fixed lunch and folded some laundry and that was it for today. The rest of the day I rested. I am having a flare up of diverticulitis. It seems rest helps me the most… I would like for you to visit Sue’s blog: http://www.livingwithearlyonsetalzheimers.blogspot.com/
I hosted Dr. Mitch’s chat tonight and it was a great one. We are so lucky to have Dr. Mitch join us in chat the first Thursday of each month… I saw a rainbow tonight…
Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma
marylockhart@atlinkwifi.com

Wednesday, May 02, 2007

Petunias in back yard


Happy Birthday Sharon!!! Sharon is our friend in North Carolina… Happy Belated Anniversary Kenny and Kathy!!! Kenny is our youngest son and his wife Kathy live in Piedmont, Oklahoma… Happy Belated Birthday to Diane in Florida and Martha in Oklahoma… I am back. Wesley and Norita arrived Sunday and left early this morning. We had such a good time while they were here. Dave and I both were sad to see them leave. One of the days while they were here we went to the Oklahoma City Zoo, something I have wanted to do for years. I hadn’t been there since the 80’s. Dave had never been. We had a great time. I really enjoyed watching the elephants and the gorillas, they really entertained us… Dave has been busy mowing the acreage and I have been back to doing laundry, hosting chats, feeding the vegetables and flowers… Tonight we are eating leftovers; I am too tired to think about cooking anything… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma
marylockhart@atlinkwifi.com

Dave and me and Wesley and Norita at Eddy's Steak and Seafood House.