“You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. John 14:28
So here we are today! Gramma went to church, worshiped and prayed and came home to take a nap. She woke up and came to spend time with us and played with Emily, pouring ice water on her feet. They watched TV and she cracked up at the boy on "Wizards of Waverly Place" when he couldn't push the chair in for a chubby girl he was dating and pulled the table over to her!!! Gramma is like a box of chocolates, "You never know what yer gonna git!"
Unless you have ever cared for the elderly, you have no idea what daily life brings. "Gramma proofing" requires more creative skillt than child proofing! Gramma's can think up way more dangerous ways to entertain themselves that a two year old! It isn't pretty, fun, or glamorous. It IS humbling, emotional and spiritually gradifying!
Watching her deteriorate has challenged the whole family. We sometime forget that she needs us to sit and talk with her, even if no one has a clue what she is talking about, not even her! Remember to pray for Gramma as she continues to walk closer to the Father because where she is going, there we will be also!
Well, the path of dementia has so many ups and downs! Some days it seems we are moments away from an inevitable end, other days she's giving us free stand up comedy! Earlier in the week she had spent two whole days talking to herself. I had to go in her room every so often and make sure there was really no one there! She fell twice that day and bruised up her back and elbow and has a nice little spot on her forehead. The next day, she heard John and I having a "discussion" and she wanted to counsel me. She knew what she was talking about and said that all she wanted was to see the two of us TOGETHER! Another day later, she pretended she was dying for about five minutes until I ignored her and walked out of the room. Then she packed everything she owns up into a suitcase, stripped her bed, put three layers of clothing on and came out to wait for "them" to come and get her! Once she was distracted, we put all of her things away and made her bed. Later she said asked me "Wasn't I supposed to be going somewhere?" I told her no and she cried and apologized. She thought she had hurt me and told me she was crazy.
So here we are today! Gramma went to church, worshiped and prayed and came home to take a nap. She woke up and came to spend time with us and played with Emily, pouring ice water on her feet. They watched TV and she cracked up at the boy on "Wizards of Waverly Place" when he couldn't push the chair in for a chubby girl he was dating and pulled the table over to her!!! Gramma is like a box of chocolates, "You never know what yer gonna git!"
Unless you have ever cared for the elderly, you have no idea what daily life brings. "Gramma proofing" requires more creative skillt than child proofing! Gramma's can think up way more dangerous ways to entertain themselves that a two year old! It isn't pretty, fun, or glamorous. It IS humbling, emotional and spiritually gradifying!
Watching her deteriorate has challenged the whole family. We sometime forget that she needs us to sit and talk with her, even if no one has a clue what she is talking about, not even her! Remember to pray for Gramma as she continues to walk closer to the Father because where she is going, there we will be also!
Gramma talking to a pig puppet! "How do I look? Not good huh?" puts the puppet down!
