june 16, 2012

its hard to find some nice pictures of mom..since..she is getting older.  like all of us.

this picture i love even tho her teeth arn't in yet ( i swear her teeth when in..take 10 years off her age)...but cassie the hospice nurse dresses her up every day.  Here she is in her heart shirt and her red socks and her lace in her hair...and ready to start her day..bless you mom!

 mom loves being in the kitchen and here she is eating breakfast...you can see her hair which is sooo thick. i told her ' when you get to heaven can I have your hair".  she replies..judy you can have anything you want'.  cute mom

 this picture is special because..mom has some very very confusing moments..hours..etc...
and i have found taking her in my studio somehow calms her..and this picture i did over a period of 2 weeks and she was there in the studio every minute i painted it...she would look at it...tell me it was pretty..ask me ' when will it be finished'...and i will never sell this one....

 i am trying to figure why mom had a blanket on her feet..but she is always cold...you can see flowers on her little table and i must say..there are usually always flowers, either from some that someone sent...or i pick roses from the garden..and believe it or not..she knows it..loves to smell them..and realizes ' mom look at the beautiful flowers on your table'.

 This box i made for mom.  Or was it for me..for moms special things.  anyway, i create boxes from plaster and cardboard..i learned from stephanie lee..and her book..'plaster studio'..  i decided to make
one for US. ..mom and me!   the top of this box that your seeing...is covered with encaustic wax...
and i painted the face..and added some fabric and music pages...the halo says ' you are loved'..
and we..keep moms special rosary and whatever else she is always asking for....in our angel box!

 well i dont' think this idea worked.  it was a movie of mom doing her leg exercises..
it took forever to download, but for whatever reason..sits there and does nothing!!! sorry!

well mom will be 97 in a few weeks...and between now and then i will ensure i take some really good pictures of mom...because sometimes i love watching her and then its over..and i realize i never got a picture.  i am taking some movies on my iphone and some 'voice' messages.  i plan to download them to a dvd and cd...a project i am slowly slowly..finishing.
yesterday..i was sitting in front of her and had forgotten to zip up my shorts..and she says ' judy...you better zip up your pants or your penis will fall out'.
yes..so many funny funny things mom says that i can't put on the blog..but i have a journal and am trying to capture as much of this journey with her as possible!  thanks for asking for updates!

every day is an event...

well hot as it has been..we still get out and mom loves to sit by the lily pond..and fill it with water...seems relaxing to her...but she can't see the fish...

 i know she looks old..but honestly...its because she doesn't have her teeth in..let this be a lesson to all of us..take care of our teeth..once her teeth are in..she becomes 20 years younger..but just look at her red socks...her red heart shirt and the bow in her hair...she really looks cute

 some mornings mom is tired..doesn't sleep well at night..and falls asleep in her cereal!!!

 she received some beautiful flowers for mothers day from ken and carolyn..and we took some of
them out as they got older but the roses lasted..and she loves them.  we put them on her table..
and she smells them all day!  these little things she understands!

the bow in her hair..the cute socks each week..thats cassie. the hospice caregiver that comes 3 days a week to give her a bath..always matching her clothes..putting cream on her face and bows in her hair. this here is a flower plant for mothers day!!

moms mind is going going and some days i swear..gone..but then...the next day its all new and we start all over and we never know where she will be..here..there ..and everywhere.  right now as i write this she is talking to someone...asking them to call their friends to come over for a party...' go ahead call' she says to whomever!  I would love to know these ' friends' of hers..but at least..it keeps her happy.
Now I hear her telling them to bring pickles!

EASTER 2012 WITH MOM AND THE GANG

WHO WOULD  HAVE GUESSED..HERE SHE IS. GOING TO BE 97 AND POSING FOR HER EASTER PICTURE...THATS GERI, GEORGIE (GERI'S MOM)..ME..AND MOM!

I DECIDED SHE NEEDED AN EASTER OUTFIT..SO NEW DRESS, SHOES, SOCKS AND HAT..AND SHE KNEW..KNEW..IT WAS EASTER!!  I FIGURED ...HOW MANY TIMES DID HER AND DAD DRESS 4 CHILDREN WITH NEW CLOTHES AT EASTER..EXPENSE WASN'T THE ISSUE...IT WAS ALSO OUR SUMMER CHURCH WARDROBE..BUT THEY ALWAYS MANAGED THIS EXPENSIVE AFFAIR..AND I JUST DECIDED IT WAS HER TURN!!! EVEN TOOK HER FRIDAY TO GET HER HAIR DONE..CAR RIDE..SIT AT SALON..AND SHE WAS ALL DOLLED UP!!!  SHE EVEN FELT LIKE IT..SAID ' I FEEL LIKE A NEW WOMAN'.  GOOD MOM.

THIS WAS THE BEAUTIFUL PLACE SETTING GERI DESIGNED FOR OUR EASTER DINNER..JUST SOOOO PRETTY..SO FESTIVE..SO ARTISTIC..WE LOVED IT!! GERI HAS MANY TALENTS!!!

AND MOM IN HER EASTER BONNET. FIGURED WITH TEMPS GOING TO 95 AND BEING OUTSIDE AT JOHNNYS AROUND THE POOL SHE NEEDED COVERAGE.  SHE SAW IT HANGING IN HER ROOM FOR A WEEK AND COULD NOT WAIT TO WEAR IT!!

 MEANWHILE..BACK AT THE RANCH..ABBIE SAYS..I JUST STAYED HOME. WAY TOO MUCH TROUBLE AND ACTIVITY FOR ME...I HAD THE BEST SEAT WHIL THEY WERE GONE!

AND

THIS IS OUR LITLE  NEIGHBOR ..BROOKLYN SHARING A MOMENT WITH MOM..WE GAVE HER SOME ITEMS FROM THE STUDIO THAT WE DIDNT' NEED AND THE CHILDREN ARE SO FRIENDLY AND NICE TO MOM.  THEY WALK BY AND SAY ' HI MOLLIE'...SHE LOVES THE LITTLE CHILDREN. WE GO NEXT DOOR AND WATCH THEM WORK OUT FOR THERE TUMBLING LESSON..AND MOM CLAPS AND CLAPS. ITS AMAZING..THAT SHE UNDERSTANDS WHAT THEY ARE DOING.  SOMETIMES SHE JUST SITS LOOKS OUT THE WINDOW..SAYS ' I CAN'T SEE'..AND THEN..TAKE HER NEXT DOOR TO THEIR GARAGE WHERE THEY WORKOUT AND SHE IS LAUGHING AND CLAPPING!!

THESE ARE LONG DAYS FOR MOM.  WE TRY TO KEEP HER BUSY..WILL SEND SOME PICTURES OF HER EMPTYING DISHWASHER, FOLDING CLOTHES ETC...NEXT TIME!!!!

MISTAKE..MISTAKE...WHAT.WHERE.WHO.WHEN.

OK. BIG MISTAKE. I THOUGHT I WAS ON MY 'AWINGANDAPEAR' BLOG..NAMED AFTER WHAT MOM USED TO SAY ...'A WING AND A PEAR...WHICH IS MY PERSONAL BLOG FOR FRIENDS ETC ON WHATS GOING ON..ART...VACATIONS ETC...BUT INSTEAD..I WAS ON MOMS DEMENTIA BLOG...SORRY SORRY. PROBABLY BORED YOU...SO HERE IS MOM!!!  AND THATS HER APRON FROM KIRSTIE!

WHIS WAS MOM READING SOME OF HER VALENTINE CARDS..AND HER VALENTINE BEAR...CAUGHT HER WITH HER EYES CLOSED..SORRY...HARD TO GET GOOD PICTURES OF HER ANYMORE.  AND I MUST ADMIT..I DONT' TAKE AS MANY.  MOSTLY I USE MY IPHONE FOR VIDEO'S OF HER..TALKING ETC.  WISH I HAD THIS 14 YEARS AGO SO I COULD HEAR MY DAD!!

BUT SHE LOVED THE FLOWERS FROM MY BROTHER KENNY AND CAROLYN...LOVED THEM.  GOT HER TO SMILE.  THEY SAY DEMENTIA PATIENTS FORGET HOW TO SMILE..ITS HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE MUSCLES ETC...BUT I GOT A GOOD ONE HERE...

 SO WHAT WAS SHE DOING...HELPING ME WRAP SOMETHING. I WILL TAKE A PICTURE NEXT TIME OF HER PUTTING SILVERWARE AWAY. WE TRY SO HARD TO FIND LITTLE THINGS FOR HER..WE HAVE TO KEEP HER MIND BUSY OR SHE GOES TO NEVER/NEVER/LAND!!!  SHE DRIES THE GLASSES FROM THE DISHWASHER AND PUTS AWAY THE SILVERWARE...AND WHATEVER ELSE WE CAN FIND.  SHE LOVES TO BE IN THE KITCHEN, BUT FOR THOSE WHO KNOW HER..YOU KNOW THATS WHERE SHE ALWAYS WAS..COOKING, BAKING......

I DID THIS PIECE OF ART FOR HER. I FOUND THIS LARGE OLD OLD METAL HEART AT A THRIFT STORE..AND USED SOME AIRBRUSH PAINTS ( DONE BY HAND) AND SOME PUMICE GEL..AND MADE THIS FOR HER.  I HAD HER IN THE STUDIO WITH ME SO I COULD REMEMBER US DOING THIS..BUT ACTUALLY SHE WASN'T MENTALLY THERE...SHE KEPT SAYING ' WHY AM I HERE..WHEN AM I LEAVING...WHERE AM I SUPPOSED TO BE..ETC. ETC...BUT..I KEPT PAINTING ANYWAY!!!

NEXT UPDATE I WILL GET MORE PICTURES OF MOM.  ITS HARD.  SHE WONT' LOOK AT THE CAMERA..AND SHE BARELY SMILES...LATELY ALL SHE WANTS TO DO IS 'GO HOME AND SEE MA AND PA"...THATS WHAT SHE SAYS.  AND THEN ITS ALWAYS ' DO I NEED A COAT..THEY ARE COMING FOR ME".  I SAY..WHO MOM..SHE SAYS ' THEY'.

EVERY DAY WITH HER IS A PRESENT...THIS HAS BEEN A LONG JOURNEY FOR HER...BUT SHE GETS OUT OF BED EVERY DAY ( CAN'T WALK..WE GET HER UP) AND SHE FACES THE DAY...6 OF 7 SHE DOESN'T KNOW ME IN THE MORNING, BUT AT NIGHT SHE USUALLY DOES...WHEN SHE DOESN'T KNOW ME SHE SAYS ' I DON'T KNOW YOUR NAME..BUT I KNOW YOUR FACE....SO I WILL CALL YOU SWEETIEPIE!

NOT SURE HOW PICTURES GOT OUT OF ORDER...I AM REALLY NOT GOOD AT THIS...

THIS PICTURE HERE IS MY LATEST WHICH I AM GOING TO KEEP BECAUSE I LIKE IT...

THIS IS WATERCOLOR/ACRYLIC....I PUT THIS ON MOMS BLOG BECAUSE..SHE ALSO LIKED IT.  SHE PAYS LITTLE ATTENTION TO THE ART I DO..DOESN'T EVEN NOTICE IT ON THE WALL..BUT THIS ONE..FOR WHATEVER REASON CAUGHT HER EYE...SAYS ' JUDY DID YOU MAKE THIS?  ITS SO PRETTY".  THAT IS PROBABLY THE ONLY TIME SHE HAS ACKNOWLEDGED  MY WORK...SO ITS A KEEPER!!!

UNTIL NEXT TIME.

THE DAYS FLY BY...

WELL LUCKILY I DO WRITE IN MY JOURNAL OR I WOULD NEVER KNOW WHAT I HAVE DONE..DID..WENT..WHATEVER. HERE WE ARE BAKING COOKIES  FOR CHRISTMAS..SEEMS LIKE YESTERDAY AND IT WAS ...UM...3 MONTHS AGO! THATS SANDY, CHERYL, AND GAYLENE!   GOODY GOODY YUM YUM

 COULDN'T WAIT FOR CHRISTMAS SO GAVE DANNY HIS NEW GUITAR...A RESONATOR ON THE 23RD...WANTED TO HEAR HIM PLAY IT BEFORE HE WENT HOME AFTER CHRISTMAS...WAY TOO SOON, WE LOVE HAVING HIM VISIT!

 THEN..AFTER CHRISTMAS WE WENT FOR JUST A SHORT VACATION TO HUNTINGTON BEACH..AND IT WAS WONDERFUL WEATHER. SAT OUTSIDE AT A CAFE..AND OF COURSE...FLAPJACK JOINED US.  HE IS A GREAT COMPANION..QUIET..EATS LITTLE..AND ASKS FOR NO MONEY!!!

 AND..STOPPED AT OUR CHRISTMAS TREE AT FASHION ISLAND. BEEN DOING THIS FOR YEARS, EXCEPT FOR THE YEAR IT WAS TOO WINDY TO PUT THE HUGH TREE UP...MANY HAPPY MEMORIES...

 BUT CAN YOU BELIEVE, BY END OF JANUARY..MOM AND I WERE SITTING OUTSIDE IN THE COURTYARD EATING..SUNNY...HAT ON MOM...BEAUTIFUL DAY..BEAUTIFUL MEMORY

 MOMS CAREGIVER KERSTIE GAVE MOM A NEW APRON..SO CUTE WITH A BOW ETC AND THIS WAS A FLOWER FROM MOMS FLOWERS AT CHRISTMAS..GREEN..AND STILL ALIVE A MONTH LATER.
WELL I NEED TO BLOG..WRITE..WHATEVER..MORE. TIME FLIES. I DONT' GET MUCH TIME AT THE COMPUTER OR IN THE STUDIO..BUT NEXT UPDATE WILL SHOW SOME OF WHAT I HAVE BEEN DOING..AND MORE OF MOM!!!

MOM MARCHES ON

WELL WE HAVE HAD SOME MOMENTS..BUT THIS IS MOM IN THE MORNING..FIRST THING.  SHE WAKES IN A WONDERFUL DISPOSITION..TO START THE DAY. I MARVEL AT THIS SINCE...WHAT DOES SHE HAVE TO LOOK FORWARD TO...NOT MUCH...AS THE DAY GOES ON..SHE TIRES...SHE DOES HAVE MOMENTS WHERE SHE REALIZES...THIS LIFE IS TERRIBLE...AND SHE HAS MOMENTS WHERE SHE FORGETS THAT SHE HAS NOT WALKED IN MONTHS....SHE WILL SAY ' WHY CAN'T I WALK, I WALKED YESTERDAY...

THIS VIDEO TAKES A WHILE TO LOAD..SO BE PATIENT...

SHE SEEMS UNHAPPY HERE, BUT I FIND ITS HARD FOR HER TO SMILE. NURSE SAYS, THEY FORGET HOW TO SMILE...THEIR MOUTH JUST DOESN'T DO IT..BUT SHE HAD A BOW IN HER HAIR...A NEW DRESS ON..AND SHE SAID SHE FELT LIKE A  ' SCHOOLGIRL'....JUST DOESN'T LOOK IT UH...........

 KRISTIE HER CAREGIVER BOUGHT HER THIS BEAUTIFUL APRON.MOM LOVED IT AND SAID IT LOOKED LIKE A DRESS.  I DID A VIDEO OF HER SEEING THIS FOR THE FIRST TIME BUT DIDN'T DOWNLOAD IT SINCE I AM NOT SURE HOW LONG IT TAKES FOR YOU..THE VIEWER TO DOWNLOAD..BUT SHE KEPT SAYING ' HOW BEAUTIFUL'

CAN YOU BELIEVE. HOLIDAY AND THIS IS THE WEATHER. SO WE DECIDED TO HAVE BREAKFAST OUTSIDE.  FIRST SHE WAS HOT.  THEN SHE WAS COLD.  THIS PICTURE SEEMS SO PERFECT..BUT SHE WASN'T.  MY IDEAS SOMETIMES JUST DONT WORK OUT THE WAY I PLANNED...BUT I AM PLANNING WITH A DEMENTIA PATIENT. SHE COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHY WE WERE OUTSIDE...' WHERE AM I..WHY ARE WE HERE ETC...BUT WHAT THE HECK..I TRIED AND IT WAS BEAUTIFUL OUTSIDE AND WE DID STAY FOR AN HOUR!!!

LATELY MOM GETS VERY UPSET WHEN LEFT ALONE..BUT NOT REALLY ALONE. JUST CAN'T SEE ME. I CAN BE RIGHT BEHIND HER WORKING AT THE SINK AND SHE WILL YELL OUT ' HELP I AM ALONE'.  THERE IS VERY LITTLE PEACE IN THIS HOUSE BUT THEN..MOM CANT FIND PEACE WITHIN .

SHE HAS SOME MEDS JUST FOR CONFUSION.  THEY DO NOT MAKE HER SLEEPY AND THEY SEEM TO WORK. WE STARTED THEM AT 2 AND 4.  BUT NOW..3 MONTHS LATER..THEY ARE IN WITH HER BREAKFAST MEDS AT 11..AND THEN AGAIN AT 4.  THEY DO HELP HER WITH HER ANXIETY...BUT SHE SLEEPS AT NIGHT BECAUSE THESE MEDS DONT' MAKE HER SLEEP DURING THE DAY.

SO...UNTIL NEXT TIME...THIS IS WHERE MOLLIE AND I ARE ON THIS JOURNEY.