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.

Monday, March 31, 2008

Happy Birthday Erin!!! Erin is our granddaughter in Norman, Oklahoma and is expecting Kooper Allen, our seventh great grandchild… Dave and I didn’t sleep well last night, the weather radio kept going off and we were expecting to have to go to the safe room at anytime. Lucky for us we didn’t have a tornado but one touched down in Edmond… I am really tired tonight… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Sunday, March 30, 2008

I watched the church services on TV this morning… I went to the DASNI chat and chatted with my friends. Then I made some delicious blueberry muffins. I shared with Kenny and Kathy… I spent a lot of time outside this afternoon. Kenny came down and wanted me to go four wheeling with him so I did. It was fun and Kathy rode with us. We must have rode for a half hour. Then in a few minutes they came down and told us that they wanted to give us a four wheeler so now we have our own four wheeler. Thank you Kenny and Kathy… I helped fix supper… It has been a good day but now we are under a tornado watch… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Saturday, March 29, 2008

Dave and Kenny went to the hobby shop this morning. I stayed home and listened to the garden show on the radio. A lot of Saturdays I forget to do that and I learn so much from it… I am still tired from yesterday… I got outside with the dogs but it was too chilly for me to stay out for long… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Friday, March 28, 2008

Today was the day we went to Tinker Air Force Base to pick up our medicines at the pharmacy and to the commissary to get groceries… We ran into a couple friends that we hadn’t seen in a long time at the pharmacy. Benny Thorne and Ken Stone. We rode motorcylcles with Benny and his wife Ferlene back in the eighty’s and Ken and his wife Rosie were neighbors in our old neighborhood… It took us forever or at least it seemed like it to get home because of road construction going on. I called Lynn in South Dakota and Joyce in Colorado and caught up with them… When we finally got home, I fixed supper with a lot of help from Dave. My back was hurting so bad. I can’t stand for very long anymore… George and David called… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Thursday, March 27, 2008

I did laundry first thing this morning and got it all put away… We went into town to pick up some fresh fruit and vegetables… It was a warm day but tonight that has changed… Kathy called… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

We were showered and dressed to go to Tinker Air Force Base this morning when Dave remembered it was the third Wednesday and the pharmacy closes at noon on that day. I am so glad he remembered before we drove all the forty miles out there… I spent a lot of time outside today. Our peach trees are full of pink blossoms. Karmelita likes to ride with me on my scooter. And whatever Karmelita wants she gets… Dave and I went over to see the new house. They have their inground pool in and it is a nice size. They will get a lot of enjoyment from that… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

I had to get busy today after loafing all day yesterday… I cleaned the bathroom, did laundry, took care of the house plants, and fixed lunch. I didn’t have to worry about supper, just heat it up. Thanks to Kathy for bringing it down last night. Brisket, potato salad, green beans, and rolls. It was really delicious… I went up and checked on the garden and visited with Josh when he came home from school… Heather leaves at midnight going on a five day cruise. This will be her first cruise. She is going to Cozumel, Mexico with her Honors Choir group. I look forward to hearing all about it when she returns. When I went up to see her she was packing and was all smiles… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Monday, March 24, 2008

The wind blew the car door shut on Dave’s foot and he has been complaining about it hurting and it was swollen. I talked him into seeing the doctor. They did three xrays and decided it wasn’t broke, just badly bruised. He was told to stay off it but he didn’t listen very well. He has been out working in his hidey hole… I have loafed today… Kathy came down and brought us supper for tomorrow night. She stayed and watched “Dancing with the Stars” with me… Now I am going to watch “Medium” Monday night is my favorite night for TV… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Great grandchildren and their cousins on Easter


Sunday, March 23, 2008


Happy Easter!!!
It was very cool today… I went to the DASNI chat and chatted with my friends. Kenny called and I rode with him to see Kathy. She was at work at the heart hospital. I had to wear my wintercoat… I came home and Dave and I fixed a delicious supper. We work well in the kitchen together. He is my best friend… Dave and Kenny flew their planes… We watched the Oklahoma/Louisville basketball game. We lost… I spent some time going back through my journals at Mary’s Place. http://www.angelfire.com/ok4/mari5113/index.html It was fun reading some of the stuff I wrote a few years ago… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Saturday, March 22, 2008

I watched a movie this morning, already forgot the name of it… Then I got out and did some supervising and cleaned out one of the flower beds. I went up to check on the garden, so far only have onions, turnips, and peas coming up… Dave finished the landscaping until the items that they don’t have at the nursery come in… I fixed him a good supper to show my appreciation… I would like for you to visit my friend Gayle’s new blog. She has done a great job with it. http://clearbrook.wordpress.com/ please leave her a comment so she will know you were there… I had a phone call from Duchess this morning. She has been a busy lady. Her husband is still in the hospital… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Friday, March 21, 2008

Good Friday… I got up earlier than usual this morning because the maids were coming. I stripped the bed and did laundry… I fixed our lunch and then we left to go to TLC Nursery. We got almost everything we needed. Some of the stuff we were needing they didn’t have in yet. They loaded up our trailer and we came home and I fixed supper… After supper we got outside and started the landscaping. Kenny came down to help Dave and Kathy came down to help me supervise. What we got done looks really beautiful… I stole this link from my friend Gail. She had it on her web page. I hope you like it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NaSROohLzs Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Thursday, March 20, 2008

Happy First Day of Spring!!! I am so happy it is here… Thanks to Sandy in Ohio for visiting Mary’s Place and signing my guest book at http://www.angelfire.com/ok4/mari5113/index.html I got groomed this afternoon and I feel so much better and look better too. Then we got groceries at Aldi’s, mostly fruit and vegetables… Came home and had leftovers for supper and now I am ready for bed… Lori and Norita called… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

I got up early this morning to go with Dave to the doctor. This was a follow-up appointment from his surgery… Everything was fine. I got permission from the doctor for Dave to do some landscaping. The doctor said as long as he doesn’t lift over sixty pounds it would be okay. So I am ready to put him to work… I got the laundry started before we left for the doctor… Our bradford tree is blooming and the flowering crapapple is full of buds… The sun was shining and it was warmer so was able to get out on my scooter. I went up to see Josh and Heather and later to see Kathy. I peeked at the garden from a distance. It is very muddy but we have a lot of onions coming up and turnips. I am sure other stuff is coming up to but I will have to check that later… I tried something I have never tried before. I made some Chicken Chow Mein for supper. Dave liked it… George and Martha called… I called Aunt Florence… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Thank you Barbara in Kokomo, Indiana and Elaine in Kentucky for visiting Mary’s Place and signing my guest book at http://www.angelfire.com/ok4/mari5113/index.html I had one of my lazy days. Went to the DASNI chat and played online games at pogo… The sun came out this afternoon but it is very cool. I will be glad when I can get outside and play with the dogs. Right now it is too muddy… David and Lori called… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Monday, March 17, 2008

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day!!! I am back. I needed a break and it felt good to take some time off from journaling… Dave’s surgery went well and I am happy to report that it wasn’t cancer. Thank you God… Yesterday I went to a baby shower in Noble, Oklahoma for Erin and Kerry. I had a wonderful time visiting with everyone and it was so good to see Erin and Kerry again. Erin looked beautiful. She got about everything she will need for the baby. I got her a baby monitor. I won a game that they played and got a bag of goodies which included a box of caffinetated green tea. Dave still isn’t able to drive so a big thank you to Kenny for taking me to Lori’s sister Brenda’s house who drove me to Noble. Thanks Brenda… Today in the mail I received Virginia Bell and David Troxel’s book “The Best Friends Book of Alzheimer’s Activities.” I am featured in this book along with some other DASNI friends. Thank you Virginia for the book. I so appreciate it… We got a good rain today and looks like we are in for more. This will be so good for our garden… I did laundry and made tortilia soup for supper… Good Night All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma