Notice Mom, in background, exhibiting varying degrees of attentiveness to Mary’s antics

 

Photos taken at Aunt Marie's

Aunt Marie goes all out with the Christmas decorating, even if she is still putting on the finishing touchs in early January.

We had fun there, but I was on edge about Mary and the possibility that she would break an ornament or spill something on the sofa. Cream colored Ligne Rosset suede furniture and 4 year olds are a dangerous mix. Also, sometimes Mary and my Mom, both stubborn, have little fights and tantrums! It's actually sometimes amusing when the sundown effect meets the tantrum and they both dig their heels in : 0

Couple of photos when everyone is all happy happy : )

Clinical trial attempt

These photos were taken Jan. 19, 2010, on the day of the first visit to the clinical trial center.
A minimalist jewelry day, only 3 necklaces today. Usually there are 5 or 6, plus at least 3 serious bracelets. The irony is that Mom was always a classic minimalist jewelry wise. Just one serious, statement making piece of jewelry at a time.

Mom, after being costumed by her 4 year old granddaughter!

The neurologist mentioned a phase III trial to my Dad. At first, Dad said, no way, guinea pig concept etc.

Then, after I read about it, we decided to meet with the trial center and investigate Bapineuzimab. So where it stands now, after 3 visits to the clin trial ctr, is that Mom is enrolled in the trial, as a non carrier of some gene that is present in alz. patients. However, an MRI is required as part of the study protocol, and she could not get through that test without sedation.

I knew this would be a problem, and was laughing when the dr. at the center said he talked to Mom about just relaxing and taking a nap during the scan. Riiiight, on several levels, first, the noise level of the MRI equipment is impossibly loud, second, did he really expect her to remember what he told her. We are dealing with a 30 second reset as far as remembering info, and you would think, after he admin'd the MMSE that he would know this.

So, he is finding out if the trial sponsor would allow some sedation during the scan. I think probably not, so that ends that.

C. 1976, on vacation, southern France

It appears that these slides, from 1976, were taken on a vacation cruise that Mom and Dad took, on the Stella Oceanis. I saw signage from Nice, etc, so it looks like southern France and environs.

Looking back, I am so glad that they took these vacations when they did. If they had waited until they retired, even though the Alz. didn't kick in until years after that, they would not have had these experiences, and yes, memories.

Janet would bring a blank journal, and chronicle all the sights they saw each day of each trip that they took. She also used to methodically pack, and make a of the list the outfits she would possibly wear each day. I was never , ever that organized or structured, and safe to say, never will be ! LOL. That's our trip back to the 1970's for this week. Hope you enjoyed it!

Mother's Day 2009

Photos from our at home Mother's Day dinner. We celebrated Saturday, not Sunday, and dined at home to avoid the restaurant hysteria that occurs on the actual day...

1. Tt

2. Jt

3. M, who announced that she was going fishing...

4 & 5. JT chillin on the 'veranda'.

progressions

Photos taken May 10, 2003 and April 19, 2009.

I think I should do a slide show, when I have time to sort through all the photos. A good online memory book for our 3 year old daughter...

Funny place, this world,

this disease that causes my mom to put her pink lipstick under her eyes as 'eyeliner', this disconnect that has caused hoarding of kleenex and mascaras and eyeliners by the dozens in various handbags.

Is it often the most meticulous people that get or are diagnosed with alzheimer's?If I knew, I would be very very wealthy!

scenes from Janet and Tony's wedding day, 60 years ago!