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, September 30, 2010

Happy 16th Anniversary, David and Lori!!! Another month has flown by… The guys came back today and pulled up the rest of the carpets. Now we are living on concrete till they lay the wood floors… I swept the front porch and helped fix supper… The cough medicine I am taking makes me sleepy. I ended up taking an afternoon nap after chat was over… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Thank you Sandy and Penny for signing my guest book at Mary’s Place http://www.angelfire.com/ok4/mari5113/index.html … It was another beautiful day here in Piedmont… The men came today and removed the carpet from dining and living room. I will be glad when they are all finished… I hosted chat and fixed supper. I am not feeling very energetic today… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

I got up early this morning so I could go with Dave to see the foot doctor and then to Dr. Wilbanks to get a tetanus shot. Because yesterday Dave stepped on a nail… While we were out I got my nails done… I did a load of laundry, fixed supper, and cleaned the kitchen… Our nephew Bill in Ohio called… Brenda the aide came to see me and did some light housekeeping… I need to go ride the bike before I forget… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Monday, September 27, 2010

Jeanne Lee with our Leis...

It has been a beautiful day with temperatures in the low 70’s and a slight breeze… I hosted the DASNI chat and did a load of laundry… Josh came and spent the day with us. Dogs were happy to see him. He says he will spend every other Monday with us. I am always happy to see our grandson… I am looking forward to watching “Dancing with the Stars” tonight… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Sunday, September 26, 2010

It was really late when we got home last night. Dave wanted to stay and watch the fights with Kenny and Kathy. I don’t care much for the fights so I went to their bedroom to rest and watch some television till the fights were over… I woke up just in time for church on TV this morning. That always gets my week started off good… It was only in the 60’s today. Air Conditioner has been shut off and windows are open… I did laundry because our hamper was running over… I am still enjoying the hummingbirds… Tonight I am watching a baseball game. Go Red Sox! … Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Saturday, September 25, 2010

I slept late this morning and I still have a bad cough… I folded laundry that I found in the dryer from a couple days ago… I went to the DASNI chat and chatted with friends… Dave put the stationery bike on the back porch so now I can ride outside with better views… We are going to Kenny and Kathy’s later so I am posting early… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

David and Lori celebrating their 16th Anniversary in Hawaii...

Friday, September 24, 2010

We got some rain last night and it has cooled down. It is feeling like fall outside and I love it… Brenda, the nurse’s aide came to see me… ABC Carpet came and we made a partial payment for the wood flooring. We are getting our carpet taken out and replacing it with hardwood floors. They should start on it next week. I can’t wait till it is finished but not looking forward to the mess of getting it done… David called… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Kalina a Pearl Harbor Survivor

Elvis and Me. This in one of the many Elvis's at the fair last night.

Last night we went to the State Fair and it was late when we got home. So that is the reason for no journal entry last night. Kathy went to the fair with us and we had a great time eating corn on the cob, corn dogs, funnel cake, and fried snickers. We were going to get turkey legs but by the time the Elvis show was finished the turkey leg places were closed… I keep forgetting to tell about our 50th anniversary party that Jeanne had for us at the Elks. It was so wonderful. We had beautiful hula dancers, band playing Hawaiian Wedding Song and even played Tiny Bubbles for us. Several of Jeanne’s friends came and brought gifts and cards and we renewed our vows. It was a beautiful place on the water. Thank you Jeanne for making our 50th anniversary so special and memorable… I have been doing laundry and picking up today for the maids. We sure need them… Redonna the Nurse came to see me… Dave went to the doctor and we are waiting to hear back from his lab work. He has been having back pain and they gave him a steroid shot for that and I am hoping it helps… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Today I have been finishing up the laundry and getting stuff put away. The hardest part was making decisions on what to keep and what to toss… I didn’t sleep well last night. I have this terrible cough so decided to take some cough syrup at bedtime and I was scratching most of the night. I must have been allergic to the cough syrup… Brenda the aide came and did some dusting for me… We are talking to the local carpet people about getting rid of all the carpets and putting down hardwood floors. That should help out with my allergies… I am going to get ready to watch “Dancing With the Stars”… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Me being silly...

Paradise Cove Luau

Monday, September 20, 2010

Dave and I just returned from a wonderful vacation in Hawaii. We went there to celebrate our 50th Anniversary. David and Lori went with us. Our grandson Josh house and dog sat while we were gone. Jeanne, a friend who lives there met us at the airport with beautiful leis for all of us and was our tour guide. Also, Amanda our great niece came to the airport with her baby Rowan who is a little doll… We rented a cottage and a car and David was our chauffeur. We put nearly 900 miles on the car. Now I will try to remember everything we did. We went to Pearl Harbor Memorial where Alfred Rodriguez "Kalina", a friend who is a Pearl Harbor survivor gave us a private tour. We went to see the large sea turtles, toured the Pineapple Plantation, went to a Luau, went on a dinner cruise that David and Lori gave us for our Anniversary, went on a catamaran, and we took a plane over to the Big Island where we took an open door helicopter tour. We were there for ten days and the only day I didn’t go anywhere was the day that David and Lori went Scuba Diving… It was wonderful waking up each morning looking out at the palm trees with coconuts hanging on them. I wish I had that view here. We had a rooster crowing each morning making sure we didn’t miss the beautiful sunrises. We could sit on the front porch with a view of the ocean that was just across the street… On the way over I rode first class and I loved that, but coming back it was an all night ride and I was in coach and I didn’t care much for that… David and Lori took great care of us and really spoiled me… We got home on Thursday and on Friday night we went to Lexington to see Jake, our great grandson’s football game. It was good seeing Jake, Trevor, Madison, Macey, Chris, Jenni, and Erin and getting hugs from all of them. It was the first football game I had been to since 1957. David and Lori treated for a dinner at Kendall’s in Noble… Saturday Dave was busy doing the yard work while I did laundry, and that evening Kenny and Kathy had us out for a delicious steak supper… Sunday we took the gifts to the neighbor’s kids and later the ice cream truck came and took us to Braums. Thanks Kenny and Kathy for taking us to get a pineapple. We sure miss having Hawaiian pineapples… If I can remember how I will post some pictures later… Oh I almost forgot Dave danced with me to the Hawaiian Wedding Song on our Anniversary. It was the first time he has ever danced with me… Goodnight All… Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma

Sunday, September 19, 2010

I am back...
I will write more later...
Goodnight All... Keeping The Faith In Oklahoma