Update - June 26

Kay and Dad were at McDonalds having coffee a couple days ago. Dad looked over at a nearby table and noticed an older man sitting by himself. He told Kay that he was glad he wasn't that man all alone. Yesterday, Pat took Dad to McDonald's after his doctor appointment. They were both looking out the window, and Dad said, "This is so much fun."

Update - June 20

Dad fell yesterday evening when he got up from his chair. When I came over he told me he thought he had broken his hip at first. But everything is working okay, and he is just sore. I could tell by the way he was sitting later that he was favoring the other hip. I got out his Ben Gay and he said that did the trick. Kay did say he was more sore than usual today when getting in and out of the car.

Update - June 17

Dad's day is usually pretty routine. Some things I do for him and other things Kay does. Last week, Kay went to Coloma to stay the night with Kimi. Usually she takes Dad for a ride to one of his usual "hangouts".......Meijer, McDonald's, church. I told him that I could take him to McDonalds that day. His response was.....how long until Kay will be home. Once he was resolved to the idea that I was who he was "stuck with" ........he asked if I was going to know how to do things the way Kay does. :)

Yesterday, he was especially confused. After his usual routine with me, Kay took him to McDonalds and he even stopped at WalMart for socks. After getting home he kept waiting for Pat, so she came over and visited for a couple hours. After she left in the afternoon, he decided he didn't have anything to eat at his house. So Kay again took him out shopping.

This morning, when they went to McDonald's, Dad told Kay that he waited and waited for Pat yesterday, and she never came. Kay reminded her about a painting project Ruth did for him while they were over, but he had no memory. When I went over at noon to check on him today, he had a big pile of mail spread out all over the floor trying to figure out what to do with it. He has a yellow basket to put bills in for us to take care of, but he had forgotten. Writing a check is pretty challenging for him most of the time now. It took a while, but we got things organized. He was really grateful.

Update - June 12

Going to church daily has been a big part of Dad's routine for quite a long time. Our priest is gone for awhile, so there will only be Mass on the weekend. Kay and I weren't sure how he would handle that change of routine. So far, so good. But he is getting to be a regular these days at MacDonalds.

We have noticed the scab on Dad's ear has returned. The doctor has kept an eye on it since they predict it is cancer. Kay plans to move his next appointment up since he is next scheduled to see that doctor in August.

There are some signs that Dad is having a little more trouble with confusion. His sceduled time to watch for the mail at his window is 11:00 to 12:00. Once in a while he goes out to check the box if he thinks he might have missed the carrier. However, several times he has been going out to check for mail again closer to evening.

Dad does get bored at times during the day. He reads the newspaper and magazines. But he isn't able to read books. Even the 100 piece puzzles are too hard for him. Kay helps him read e-mails. He doesn't have many indoor interests that he can pursue. Maybe I will encourage him to write a letter to Opal.

Update - June 2

Kay, Jennifer, Gretchen, and I went down to Ohio for Caitlin's party on Saturday. Dad seemed very upset in the morning at the change of routine. But Jim came in the morning and Pat came after that. Dad enjoyed the company, although he wasn't positive afterwards exactly who was there. He was exhausted by the end of the day both from concern that Kay and I were gone and excitement over so much company.
Yesterday I stayed at school late finishing up reports. I think some of the worry from when we were gone Saturday returned. He has more trouble now with time, so I never really thought about Dad being aware that I was late. When I went in to see him about 10 min after getting home, he was still getting over the stress.
Somebody at school loaned me a book that was very helpful. Although it is fiction, it offers much insight into how dementia affects thinking. If anyone is looking for a book at the library this summer, you might want to consider reading Still Alice.