Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Monday, July 27, 2009
Shhhhh, Don't tell Bob
SHHHH….Don’t tell Bob, but he is getting better! The new medication for Parkinson’s is working. It has taken three weeks to get into his system, but we are seeing improvements. Of course Bob can’t see any improvements and if you ask him he will tell you he is still the same.
The other night Pat and Tina bought tickets for Rob and Sarah to go and see a concert of their favorite band. It was an early birthday gift for Sarah and a graduation gift for Rob. (He now has a Master’s degree) Anyways, while they went to the concert, Pat, Tina, Bob and I went to dinner. Bob got to ride in the new truck which is very high and very large. Bob stepped up and climbed into that truck without any problems at all. Tina and I both dropped our lower jaw and stared at each other.
He is also standing much better. He used to have to rock three or four times in order to stand; and now he is grabbing the bars and pulling himself up with the first try. He still has tremors and is slow moving, but he is moving a lot better. Exercise helps him a lot, but Bob doesn’t like to exercise at all. He will if we make him come out and do them, but volunteer….no way! I find that after he has been on the recumbent bike, worked with his weights, and played a few games of bowling on the Wii, that he is able to walk and stand a lot better.
He doesn’t see the improvements like the rest of us do. He wants to be healed immediately. He wants to run around the block like he did in his 20’s. That unfortunately, isn’t going to happen. He does sometimes uses that dirty word, “can’t” while we are trying to exercise. I have told him for now on, that word isn’t allowed. He has to come up with some other kind of vocabulary to express himself other than the word ‘can’t’.
We have started to slowly take him off one of the Alzheimer’s medication and it hasn’t made a bit of difference. I think one of the reasons he was having so much trouble is one of the medications the doctor’s prescribed was making him nutty. Once we took him off of that, he has slowly gotten it out of his system and is so much better now.
Christina, one of his granddaughters is coming this week for a visit from Louisiana, and his other granddaughter, Nancie, is having her first child this week. It will be an exciting week as Bob waits for photos of Nathan his great-grandson, and seeing the rest of the family for a cookout this coming weekend. Bob still had cards coming in this last week from his birthday. He so enjoyed each and every one of them.
The other night Pat and Tina bought tickets for Rob and Sarah to go and see a concert of their favorite band. It was an early birthday gift for Sarah and a graduation gift for Rob. (He now has a Master’s degree) Anyways, while they went to the concert, Pat, Tina, Bob and I went to dinner. Bob got to ride in the new truck which is very high and very large. Bob stepped up and climbed into that truck without any problems at all. Tina and I both dropped our lower jaw and stared at each other.
He is also standing much better. He used to have to rock three or four times in order to stand; and now he is grabbing the bars and pulling himself up with the first try. He still has tremors and is slow moving, but he is moving a lot better. Exercise helps him a lot, but Bob doesn’t like to exercise at all. He will if we make him come out and do them, but volunteer….no way! I find that after he has been on the recumbent bike, worked with his weights, and played a few games of bowling on the Wii, that he is able to walk and stand a lot better.
He doesn’t see the improvements like the rest of us do. He wants to be healed immediately. He wants to run around the block like he did in his 20’s. That unfortunately, isn’t going to happen. He does sometimes uses that dirty word, “can’t” while we are trying to exercise. I have told him for now on, that word isn’t allowed. He has to come up with some other kind of vocabulary to express himself other than the word ‘can’t’.
We have started to slowly take him off one of the Alzheimer’s medication and it hasn’t made a bit of difference. I think one of the reasons he was having so much trouble is one of the medications the doctor’s prescribed was making him nutty. Once we took him off of that, he has slowly gotten it out of his system and is so much better now.
Christina, one of his granddaughters is coming this week for a visit from Louisiana, and his other granddaughter, Nancie, is having her first child this week. It will be an exciting week as Bob waits for photos of Nathan his great-grandson, and seeing the rest of the family for a cookout this coming weekend. Bob still had cards coming in this last week from his birthday. He so enjoyed each and every one of them.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
A Great Birthday!
Bob had a great birthday! Thank you all so much for sending him so many cards. He really enjoyed sitting and reading them all.
I spent most of the day in the kitchen preparing for the afternoon event. I made three pounds of pizza dough, and a cake. Pat, Tina, and their daughter Helen came over and we all started making pizza and celebrating. Bob had so much fun hanging out with two of his grand-daughters Helen and Sarah. After everyone had left and he was getting in bed he told me over and over how much he enjoyed sharing the day with his family. It really was the best gift we could give him.
Pat and Tina got him a new bed. He really needed one since his bed was over 30 years old and was falling apart. He hadn't been sleeping well, so they decided it was time. A new bed with matress and box springs. That meant all new sheets and comforter also. He was all set up when it was all said and done. It is a beautiful bed that will last him a long, long while. What a great gift.
Dave, Lois, and Lesa came down and spent a few days with Bob and spent the day at Sea World with him. That was the best gift ever! He loved spending time with them and told me how much fun he had at the theme park with his family. What a special gift.
The cards everyone sent were fabulous. As Bob opened all of his cards and read each one we all laughed and made jokes after each one. And then he opened a card from an old friend from high school. Doris had sent him a card. He opened the envelope, read the front, and then opened the card. Silence. Tina and Rob both leaned toward their father. Pat and I both asked, “What does it say?” Silence. And then Tina spoke, “There’s a lot of writing, from all kinds of people. Here Daddy, let me help you with the names,” and she began reading messages from friends far away.
We all stood in awe and silence for a brief moment, touched that he has a network of love from near and far and that network spreads out further than we can imagine. It takes a small moment like that to make you smile. We smiled for Bob because he was happy, we smiled for his friends who were thinking of him, and we smiled for ourselves because we knew it was a good moment.
Enjoy his highlights from his birthday! We had a great time and sure wish you all could have been with us.
I spent most of the day in the kitchen preparing for the afternoon event. I made three pounds of pizza dough, and a cake. Pat, Tina, and their daughter Helen came over and we all started making pizza and celebrating. Bob had so much fun hanging out with two of his grand-daughters Helen and Sarah. After everyone had left and he was getting in bed he told me over and over how much he enjoyed sharing the day with his family. It really was the best gift we could give him.
Pat and Tina got him a new bed. He really needed one since his bed was over 30 years old and was falling apart. He hadn't been sleeping well, so they decided it was time. A new bed with matress and box springs. That meant all new sheets and comforter also. He was all set up when it was all said and done. It is a beautiful bed that will last him a long, long while. What a great gift.
Dave, Lois, and Lesa came down and spent a few days with Bob and spent the day at Sea World with him. That was the best gift ever! He loved spending time with them and told me how much fun he had at the theme park with his family. What a special gift.
The cards everyone sent were fabulous. As Bob opened all of his cards and read each one we all laughed and made jokes after each one. And then he opened a card from an old friend from high school. Doris had sent him a card. He opened the envelope, read the front, and then opened the card. Silence. Tina and Rob both leaned toward their father. Pat and I both asked, “What does it say?” Silence. And then Tina spoke, “There’s a lot of writing, from all kinds of people. Here Daddy, let me help you with the names,” and she began reading messages from friends far away.
We all stood in awe and silence for a brief moment, touched that he has a network of love from near and far and that network spreads out further than we can imagine. It takes a small moment like that to make you smile. We smiled for Bob because he was happy, we smiled for his friends who were thinking of him, and we smiled for ourselves because we knew it was a good moment.
Enjoy his highlights from his birthday! We had a great time and sure wish you all could have been with us.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Send a Birthday card
Send Bob a Birthday Card! His 79th birthday is July 17, 2009. We would love for him to receive lots of cards in the mail. He loves funny cards. The funnier the better! If you need an address shoot me an e-mail and I will be happy to send it to you. If you add a photo in the card that would be awesome! Dchipley1@yahoo.com
Bob has had a great time with his brother, Dave, and his family this weekend. I give you photos of, “The one that got away,”
Enjoy!
Bob has had a great time with his brother, Dave, and his family this weekend. I give you photos of, “The one that got away,”
Enjoy!
Friday, July 3, 2009
It's not Alzheimer's
It’s Parkinson’s disease! He was misdiagnosed all of this time. We went to the neurologist on Thursday and she had him diagnosed within an hour. We were amazed at what she pointed out to us.
He has NOT been having mini strokes, NOR does he have Alzheimer’s disease. He does have a loss of memory and has trouble with speech. That is all symptoms of Parkinson’s.
So the treatment now is that he has to be slowly weaned off of the Alzheimer’s medication. He has started a new medication and been removed from one of the Alzheimer’s medication. The others will be removed over the next few months.
He is also having home therapy. This will help him with walking, eating, and daily things like getting dressed. We have been told that once the new medication gets in his system we will start to see a big change in him.
Parkinson’s is a very touchy disease and while it is treatable there is no cure for it. Stress and change in schedule will agitate the disease. So we are still asking for no bad news to be shared with Bob. Each time he has bad news there is a decline in his condition and that is a classic symptom of Parkinson’s disease.
The disease is not hereditary and they are not sure what brings the disease out, but the trauma from his neck injury is most likely what brought this on.
Bob has been in a much better mood since the doctor visit. While he still is not sure what is wrong with him, he knows that Rob and I were thrilled with the news and so that made him feel so much better. As a caregiver to Bob I am so happy to finally have some answers. I now know why he is having trouble walking, and I can stop fussing at him, and start helping him. There are a lot of things that make sense now and finally a light is at the end of the long tunnel.
Rob and I both know that the tunnel is a long one and at Bob’s age this recovery is not going to be easy. With prayer and a lot of hard work I know that Bob will have a good road ahead.
He has NOT been having mini strokes, NOR does he have Alzheimer’s disease. He does have a loss of memory and has trouble with speech. That is all symptoms of Parkinson’s.
So the treatment now is that he has to be slowly weaned off of the Alzheimer’s medication. He has started a new medication and been removed from one of the Alzheimer’s medication. The others will be removed over the next few months.
He is also having home therapy. This will help him with walking, eating, and daily things like getting dressed. We have been told that once the new medication gets in his system we will start to see a big change in him.
Parkinson’s is a very touchy disease and while it is treatable there is no cure for it. Stress and change in schedule will agitate the disease. So we are still asking for no bad news to be shared with Bob. Each time he has bad news there is a decline in his condition and that is a classic symptom of Parkinson’s disease.
The disease is not hereditary and they are not sure what brings the disease out, but the trauma from his neck injury is most likely what brought this on.
Bob has been in a much better mood since the doctor visit. While he still is not sure what is wrong with him, he knows that Rob and I were thrilled with the news and so that made him feel so much better. As a caregiver to Bob I am so happy to finally have some answers. I now know why he is having trouble walking, and I can stop fussing at him, and start helping him. There are a lot of things that make sense now and finally a light is at the end of the long tunnel.
Rob and I both know that the tunnel is a long one and at Bob’s age this recovery is not going to be easy. With prayer and a lot of hard work I know that Bob will have a good road ahead.
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