Happy Holidays Everyone

Happy Holidays to you also, Brenda. So glad things are improving for you. Been a busy time for me
also and i haven't been on much either, so Happy New Year to you and yours. Elaine K
331.4/209.8/179

Brenda Hammond said:

I haven't been on here much the last few days. I've been really busy at home getting everything
ready for the big day! Nicholas is almost 3 now, so this year is the first one that he's really
been into Christmas. He was looking forward to Ho Ho bringing him the gifts he asked for.
Christmas morning we had a very excited little boy, got most of it on video to show the rest of
the family once we get to see them.

Santa was very good to all of us. I received an electronic kitchen scale that weighs in 1/8 oz or
1 gram increments up to 5 lbs or 2.2 kg., sausage stuffer and pasta maker attachments for my
Kitchen Aid mixer, lots of bath stuff and new pjs. DH received a DVD burner and a weather station
that he can attach to his computer, so we have our own amateur meteorologist in house! Nicholas
got the large gobblegobble (Tonka gravel truck) and Henry the green engine from the Thomas the
Tank Engine group, among other things. We had a great day, managed to get the in-laws over here
for the very first time at Christmas, and did over-do it on food, but we had a great day, lots of
fun with our son, which was the most important thing!

I'm looking forward to the holidays being over now. I want to concentrate on getting to my final
goal weight, WW goal of 150, then my personal goal of 140ish. I've been eating way more than I
should and feeling crappy. I had that over-stuffed feeling, more now than ever before. I think
about how great I felt last spring when I began my weight loss journey and want to feel that way
ALL the time!

My work situtation has improved a bit, now that I have someone there to help me with the
bookkeeping that I've been forced to let slide since DH fell ill. I don't know how I would've
caught up with it all if it weren't for Laura. Much of the stress I've been under has been
aleviated since she returned from Nova Scotia (after being there for 2 1/2 years). She worked for
us when I was pregnant with Nicholas and then had to move home to look after her Mom for a few
years. She's just returned and I feel so grateful! Someone up there must be watching over me.

It's almost a new year now and I'm looking forward to the next one being MUCH better than the
last. I keep thinking that it couldn't be any worse than the last one. Anyway, I've babbled enough
here, I'm sure you're all bored to death now, so I better cut this off. Sorry for the
loooooooooooooong post!

Happy and healthy holidays to everyone!

--
Brenda
209/173/150 NYNY goal 160

Glad you had a good Christmas Brenda. Nice to see you're ready to get back OP again too.
--
WatchingWorks
190/167/130 Drop some weight to reply "Brenda Hammond" <[email hidden]> wrote in
message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I haven't been on here much the last few days. I've been really busy at home getting everything
ready for the big day! Nicholas is almost 3 now,

so

Quoted message said:

this year is the first one that he's really been into Christmas. He was looking forward to Ho Ho
bringing him the gifts he asked for. Christmas morning we had a very excited little boy, got most
of it on video to show the rest of the family once we get to see them.

Santa was very good to all of us. I received an electronic kitchen scale that weighs in 1/8 oz or
1 gram increments up to 5 lbs or 2.2 kg., sausage stuffer and pasta maker attachments for my
Kitchen Aid mixer, lots of bath stuff and new pjs. DH received a DVD burner and a weather station
that he can attach to his computer, so we have our own amateur meteorologist in house! Nicholas
got the large gobblegobble (Tonka gravel truck) and Henry the green engine from the Thomas the
Tank Engine group, among other

things.

Quoted message said:

We had a great day, managed to get the in-laws over here for the very

first

Quoted message said:

time at Christmas, and did over-do it on food, but we had a great day,

lots

Quoted message said:

of fun with our son, which was the most important thing!

I'm looking forward to the holidays being over now. I want to concentrate on getting to my final
goal weight, WW goal of 150, then my personal goal

of

Quoted message said:

140ish. I've been eating way more than I should and feeling crappy. I

had

Quoted message said:

that over-stuffed feeling, more now than ever before. I think about how great I felt last spring
when I began my weight loss journey and want to feel that way ALL the time!

My work situtation has improved a bit, now that I have someone there to

help

Quoted message said:

me with the bookkeeping that I've been forced to let slide since DH fell ill. I don't know how I
would've caught up with it all if it weren't for Laura. Much of the stress I've been under has
been aleviated since she returned from Nova Scotia (after being there for 2 1/2 years). She worked
for us when I was pregnant with Nicholas and then had to move home to look after her Mom for a few
years. She's just returned and I feel so

grateful!

Quoted message said:

Someone up there must be watching over me.

It's almost a new year now and I'm looking forward to the next one being MUCH better than the
last. I keep thinking that it couldn't be any worse than the last one. Anyway, I've babbled enough
here, I'm sure you're all bored to death now, so I better cut this off. Sorry for the
loooooooooooooong post!

Happy and healthy holidays to everyone!

--
Brenda
209/173/150 NYNY goal 160

Hi Brenda, and thanks for sharing your holidays with us... sounds like you all had a fabulous time!
I sure hope 2004 is wonderful to your family, you deserve it!!!!

--

~Kristin O~
272/237.4/172

Here's our FAQ: didian.comasdwwOpen ↗ and welcome notice:
geocities.comindex.htmlOpen ↗

"Brenda Hammond" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I haven't been on here much the last few days. I've been really busy at home getting everything
ready for the big day! Nicholas is almost 3 now,

so

Quoted message said:

this year is the first one that he's really been into Christmas. He was looking forward to Ho Ho
bringing him the gifts he asked for. Christmas morning we had a very excited little boy, got most
of it on video to show the rest of the family once we get to see them.

Santa was very good to all of us. I received an electronic kitchen scale that weighs in 1/8 oz or
1 gram increments up to 5 lbs or 2.2 kg., sausage stuffer and pasta maker attachments for my
Kitchen Aid mixer, lots of bath stuff and new pjs. DH received a DVD burner and a weather station
that he can attach to his computer, so we have our own amateur meteorologist in house! Nicholas
got the large gobblegobble (Tonka gravel truck) and Henry the green engine from the Thomas the
Tank Engine group, among other

things.

Quoted message said:

We had a great day, managed to get the in-laws over here for the very

first

Quoted message said:

time at Christmas, and did over-do it on food, but we had a great day,

lots

Quoted message said:

of fun with our son, which was the most important thing!

I'm looking forward to the holidays being over now. I want to concentrate on getting to my final
goal weight, WW goal of 150, then my personal goal

of

Quoted message said:

140ish. I've been eating way more than I should and feeling crappy. I

had

Quoted message said:

that over-stuffed feeling, more now than ever before. I think about how great I felt last spring
when I began my weight loss journey and want to feel that way ALL the time!

My work situtation has improved a bit, now that I have someone there to

help

Quoted message said:

me with the bookkeeping that I've been forced to let slide since DH fell ill. I don't know how I
would've caught up with it all if it weren't for Laura. Much of the stress I've been under has
been aleviated since she returned from Nova Scotia (after being there for 2 1/2 years). She worked
for us when I was pregnant with Nicholas and then had to move home to look after her Mom for a few
years. She's just returned and I feel so

grateful!

Quoted message said:

Someone up there must be watching over me.

It's almost a new year now and I'm looking forward to the next one being MUCH better than the
last. I keep thinking that it couldn't be any worse than the last one. Anyway, I've babbled enough
here, I'm sure you're all bored to death now, so I better cut this off. Sorry for the
loooooooooooooong post!

Happy and healthy holidays to everyone!

--
Brenda
209/173/150 NYNY goal 160

Thanks for the wonderful post! I love hearing the happy holiday stories. Our families Christmas was
also very nice, but I must admit I'm glad it's over. I was very worried about this christmas, the
first since my mom has been in the nursing home - and she is *losing it* pretty quickly these days.
Christmas Eve she was wonderful, despite telling me 6 times how bad she felt because she didn't have
time to get out and shop for anyone. I told her I did it for her, as she requested ... 2 minutes
later she would repeat the same thing. Christmas Day she was much worse - constant tears and death
wish related talks. Telling me she hated working where she was and wants to quit ... clothing gifts
for her are wonderful but she will not be allowed to wear them at *work*. <sigh> I did notice her
hands constantly shake now, making eating difficult. Not sure if this is part of the disease or if a
medication thing ... something I need to remember to ask next time I go visit.

The kids had a wonderful holiday, and son *won* the contest (who can buy the gift that puts mom over
the edge and makes her cry). Wierd but funny little tradition they have gotten into. He knows I love
the new song *the baby* by Blake Shelton, have told him it reminds me so very much of our
relationship. So the kid went out and bought me the cd - then made me explain the song to the rest
of the family ... laughing when I started getting weepy. <sigh> Oh well, it's a mom thing I guess.
LOL He was thrilled with his new hard drive and x-box system that replaced his broken one .. as well
as some much needed clothing that fit. Hub loves his dvd recorder, but has to wait for sonny boy to
hook it up for him ... and also received a baseball auto window sticker from sons college (which he
has been begging for). Youngest girl received her long begged for video camera and some clothing. I
received a new coat (YEAH!). As usual, everyone was successfully spoiled, very happy and relaxed.

And we get to have the fun all over again Sunday, when daughter, sil and grandson join us. I now
admit I am looking forward to this. It will be so much fun to watch grandson open his gifts, without
being totally lost in the shuffle of everyone else.

Joyce

Brenda Hammond said:

I haven't been on here much the last few days. I've been really busy at home getting everything
ready for the big day! Nicholas is almost 3 now, so this year is the first one that he's really
been into Christmas. He was looking forward to Ho Ho bringing him the gifts he asked for. Christmas
morning we had a very excited little boy, got most of it on video to show the rest of the family
once we get to see them.

Santa was very good to all of us. I received an electronic kitchen scale that weighs in 1/8 oz or 1
gram increments up to 5 lbs or 2.2 kg., sausage stuffer and pasta maker attachments for my Kitchen
Aid mixer, lots of bath stuff and new pjs. DH received a DVD burner and a weather station that he
can attach to his computer, so we have our own amateur meteorologist in house! Nicholas got the
large gobblegobble (Tonka gravel truck) and Henry the green engine from the Thomas the Tank Engine
group, among other things. We had a great day, managed to get the in-laws over here for the very
first time at Christmas, and did over-do it on food, but we had a great day, lots of fun with our
son, which was the most important thing!

I'm looking forward to the holidays being over now. I want to concentrate on getting to my final
goal weight, WW goal of 150, then my personal goal of 140ish. I've been eating way more than I
should and feeling crappy. I had that over-stuffed feeling, more now than ever before. I think
about how great I felt last spring when I began my weight loss journey and want to feel that way
ALL the time!

My work situtation has improved a bit, now that I have someone there to help me with the
bookkeeping that I've been forced to let slide since DH fell ill. I don't know how I would've
caught up with it all if it weren't for Laura. Much of the stress I've been under has been
aleviated since she returned from Nova Scotia (after being there for 2 1/2 years). She worked for
us when I was pregnant with Nicholas and then had to move home to look after her Mom for a few
years. She's just returned and I feel so grateful! Someone up there must be watching over me.

It's almost a new year now and I'm looking forward to the next one being MUCH better than the
last. I keep thinking that it couldn't be any worse than the last one. Anyway, I've babbled enough
here, I'm sure you're all bored to death now, so I better cut this off. Sorry for the
loooooooooooooong post!

Happy and healthy holidays to everyone!

so glad you are looking up, little ones are great at Christmas, spent it
with my sister's kids youngest is five and just plain too cute for his own
good, Lee
Brenda Hammond <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I haven't been on here much the last few days. I've been really busy at home getting everything
ready for the big day! Nicholas is almost 3 now,

so

Quoted message said:

this year is the first one that he's really been into Christmas. He was looking forward to Ho Ho
bringing him the gifts he asked for. Christmas morning we had a very excited little boy, got most
of it on video to show the rest of the family once we get to see them.

Santa was very good to all of us. I received an electronic kitchen scale that weighs in 1/8 oz or
1 gram increments up to 5 lbs or 2.2 kg., sausage stuffer and pasta maker attachments for my
Kitchen Aid mixer, lots of bath stuff and new pjs. DH received a DVD burner and a weather station
that he can attach to his computer, so we have our own amateur meteorologist in house! Nicholas
got the large gobblegobble (Tonka gravel truck) and Henry the green engine from the Thomas the
Tank Engine group, among other

things.

Quoted message said:

We had a great day, managed to get the in-laws over here for the very

first

Quoted message said:

time at Christmas, and did over-do it on food, but we had a great day,

lots

Quoted message said:

of fun with our son, which was the most important thing!

I'm looking forward to the holidays being over now. I want to concentrate on getting to my final
goal weight, WW goal of 150, then my personal goal

of

Quoted message said:

140ish. I've been eating way more than I should and feeling crappy. I

had

Quoted message said:

that over-stuffed feeling, more now than ever before. I think about how great I felt last spring
when I began my weight loss journey and want to feel that way ALL the time!

My work situtation has improved a bit, now that I have someone there to

help

Quoted message said:

me with the bookkeeping that I've been forced to let slide since DH fell ill. I don't know how I
would've caught up with it all if it weren't for Laura. Much of the stress I've been under has
been aleviated since she returned from Nova Scotia (after being there for 2 1/2 years). She worked
for us when I was pregnant with Nicholas and then had to move home to look after her Mom for a few
years. She's just returned and I feel so

grateful!

Quoted message said:

Someone up there must be watching over me.

It's almost a new year now and I'm looking forward to the next one being MUCH better than the
last. I keep thinking that it couldn't be any worse than the last one. Anyway, I've babbled enough
here, I'm sure you're all bored to death now, so I better cut this off. Sorry for the
loooooooooooooong post!

Happy and healthy holidays to everyone!

--
Brenda
209/173/150 NYNY goal 160

Thanks Elaine

"Elaine Kirkham" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Happy Holidays to you also, Brenda. So glad things are improving for you.

Been a

Quoted message said:

busy time for me also and i haven't been on much either, so Happy New Year

to

Quoted message said:

you and yours. Elaine K
331.4/209.8/179

Brenda Hammond said:

I haven't been on here much the last few days. I've been really busy at home getting everything
ready for the big day! Nicholas is almost 3

now, so

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

this year is the first one that he's really been into Christmas. He was looking forward to Ho Ho
bringing him the gifts he asked for. Christmas morning we had a very excited little boy, got
most of it on video to

show

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

the rest of the family once we get to see them.

Santa was very good to all of us. I received an electronic kitchen

scale

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

that weighs in 1/8 oz or 1 gram increments up to 5 lbs or 2.2 kg.,

sausage

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

stuffer and pasta maker attachments for my Kitchen Aid mixer, lots of

bath

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

stuff and new pjs. DH received a DVD burner and a weather station that

he

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

can attach to his computer, so we have our own amateur meteorologist in house! Nicholas got the
large gobblegobble (Tonka gravel truck) and

Henry

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

the green engine from the Thomas the Tank Engine group, among other

things.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

We had a great day, managed to get the in-laws over here for the very

first

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

time at Christmas, and did over-do it on food, but we had a great day,

lots

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

of fun with our son, which was the most important thing!

I'm looking forward to the holidays being over now. I want to

concentrate

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

on getting to my final goal weight, WW goal of 150, then my personal

goal of

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

140ish. I've been eating way more than I should and feeling crappy. I

had

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

that over-stuffed feeling, more now than ever before. I think about how great I felt last spring
when I began my weight loss journey and want to feel that way ALL the time!

My work situtation has improved a bit, now that I have someone there to

help

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

me with the bookkeeping that I've been forced to let slide since DH fell ill. I don't know how I
would've caught up with it all if it weren't

for

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Laura. Much of the stress I've been under has been aleviated since she returned from Nova Scotia
(after being there for 2 1/2 years). She

worked

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

for us when I was pregnant with Nicholas and then had to move home to

look

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

after her Mom for a few years. She's just returned and I feel so

grateful!

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Someone up there must be watching over me.

It's almost a new year now and I'm looking forward to the next one being MUCH better than the
last. I keep thinking that it couldn't be any

worse

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

than the last one. Anyway, I've babbled enough here, I'm sure you're

all

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

bored to death now, so I better cut this off. Sorry for the loooooooooooooong post!

Happy and healthy holidays to everyone!

--
Brenda
209/173/150 NYNY goal 160

Thanks WW. I feel like I'm ready to give it a good try once the holidays are over.

"WatchingWorks" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Glad you had a good Christmas Brenda. Nice to see you're ready to get back OP again too.
--
WatchingWorks
190/167/130 Drop some weight to reply "Brenda Hammond" <[email hidden]> wrote in
message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I haven't been on here much the last few days. I've been really busy at home getting everything
ready for the big day! Nicholas is almost 3

now,

Quoted message said:

so

Quoted message said:

this year is the first one that he's really been into Christmas. He was looking forward to Ho Ho
bringing him the gifts he asked for. Christmas morning we had a very excited little boy, got
most of it on video to

show

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

the rest of the family once we get to see them.

Santa was very good to all of us. I received an electronic kitchen

scale

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

that weighs in 1/8 oz or 1 gram increments up to 5 lbs or 2.2 kg.,

sausage

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

stuffer and pasta maker attachments for my Kitchen Aid mixer, lots of

bath

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

stuff and new pjs. DH received a DVD burner and a weather station that

he

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

can attach to his computer, so we have our own amateur meteorologist in house! Nicholas got the
large gobblegobble (Tonka gravel truck) and

Henry

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

the green engine from the Thomas the Tank Engine group, among other

things.

Quoted message said:

We had a great day, managed to get the in-laws over here for the very

first

Quoted message said:

time at Christmas, and did over-do it on food, but we had a great day,

lots

Quoted message said:

of fun with our son, which was the most important thing!

I'm looking forward to the holidays being over now. I want to

concentrate

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

on getting to my final goal weight, WW goal of 150, then my personal

goal

Quoted message said:

of

Quoted message said:

140ish. I've been eating way more than I should and feeling crappy. I

had

Quoted message said:

that over-stuffed feeling, more now than ever before. I think about how great I felt last spring
when I began my weight loss journey and want to feel that way ALL the time!

My work situtation has improved a bit, now that I have someone there to

help

Quoted message said:

me with the bookkeeping that I've been forced to let slide since DH fell ill. I don't know how I
would've caught up with it all if it weren't

for

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Laura. Much of the stress I've been under has been aleviated since she returned from Nova Scotia
(after being there for 2 1/2 years). She

worked

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

for us when I was pregnant with Nicholas and then had to move home to

look

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

after her Mom for a few years. She's just returned and I feel so

grateful!

Quoted message said:

Someone up there must be watching over me.

It's almost a new year now and I'm looking forward to the next one being MUCH better than the
last. I keep thinking that it couldn't be any

worse

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

than the last one. Anyway, I've babbled enough here, I'm sure you're

all

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

bored to death now, so I better cut this off. Sorry for the loooooooooooooong post!

Happy and healthy holidays to everyone!

--
Brenda
209/173/150 NYNY goal 160

Thanks Kristin. I hope 2004 is a better year for us, healthwise at least.

"Kristin" <[email hidden]> wrote in message -"]news:[email hidden]-
berlin.de...

Quoted message said:

Hi Brenda, and thanks for sharing your holidays with us... sounds like you all had a fabulous
time! I sure hope 2004 is wonderful to your family,

you

Quoted message said:

deserve it!!!!

--

~Kristin O~
272/237.4/172

Here's our FAQ: didian.comasdwwOpen ↗ and welcome notice:
geocities.comindex.htmlOpen ↗

"Brenda Hammond" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I haven't been on here much the last few days. I've been really busy at home getting everything
ready for the big day! Nicholas is almost 3

now,

Quoted message said:

so

Quoted message said:

this year is the first one that he's really been into Christmas. He was looking forward to Ho Ho
bringing him the gifts he asked for. Christmas morning we had a very excited little boy, got
most of it on video to

show

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

the rest of the family once we get to see them.

Santa was very good to all of us. I received an electronic kitchen

scale

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

that weighs in 1/8 oz or 1 gram increments up to 5 lbs or 2.2 kg.,

sausage

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

stuffer and pasta maker attachments for my Kitchen Aid mixer, lots of

bath

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

stuff and new pjs. DH received a DVD burner and a weather station that

he

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

can attach to his computer, so we have our own amateur meteorologist in house! Nicholas got the
large gobblegobble (Tonka gravel truck) and

Henry

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

the green engine from the Thomas the Tank Engine group, among other

things.

Quoted message said:

We had a great day, managed to get the in-laws over here for the very

first

Quoted message said:

time at Christmas, and did over-do it on food, but we had a great day,

lots

Quoted message said:

of fun with our son, which was the most important thing!

I'm looking forward to the holidays being over now. I want to

concentrate

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

on getting to my final goal weight, WW goal of 150, then my personal

goal

Quoted message said:

of

Quoted message said:

140ish. I've been eating way more than I should and feeling crappy. I

had

Quoted message said:

that over-stuffed feeling, more now than ever before. I think about how great I felt last spring
when I began my weight loss journey and want to feel that way ALL the time!

My work situtation has improved a bit, now that I have someone there to

help

Quoted message said:

me with the bookkeeping that I've been forced to let slide since DH fell ill. I don't know how I
would've caught up with it all if it weren't

for

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Laura. Much of the stress I've been under has been aleviated since she returned from Nova Scotia
(after being there for 2 1/2 years). She

worked

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

for us when I was pregnant with Nicholas and then had to move home to

look

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

after her Mom for a few years. She's just returned and I feel so

grateful!

Quoted message said:

Someone up there must be watching over me.

It's almost a new year now and I'm looking forward to the next one being MUCH better than the
last. I keep thinking that it couldn't be any

worse

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

than the last one. Anyway, I've babbled enough here, I'm sure you're

all

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

bored to death now, so I better cut this off. Sorry for the loooooooooooooong post!

Happy and healthy holidays to everyone!

--
Brenda
209/173/150 NYNY goal 160

"Joyce" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Thanks for the wonderful post! I love hearing the happy holiday stories.

Our

Quoted message said:

families Christmas was also very nice, but I must admit I'm glad it's

over. I was

Quoted message said:

very worried about this christmas, the first since my mom has been in the

nursing

Quoted message said:

home - and she is *losing it* pretty quickly these days. Christmas Eve

she was

Quoted message said:

wonderful, despite telling me 6 times how bad she felt because she didn't

have

Quoted message said:

time to get out and shop for anyone. I told her I did it for her, as she requested ... 2 minutes
later she would repeat the same thing. Christmas

Day she

Quoted message said:

was much worse - constant tears and death wish related talks. Telling me

she

Quoted message said:

hated working where she was and wants to quit ... clothing gifts for her

are

Quoted message said:

wonderful but she will not be allowed to wear them at *work*. <sigh> I

did notice

Quoted message said:

her hands constantly shake now, making eating difficult. Not sure if this

is part

Quoted message said:

of the disease or if a medication thing ... something I need to remember

to ask

Quoted message said:

next time I go visit.

It must be very hard for you to see your mom this way. I couldn't imagine my mom being "not
herself", but I suppose it's something that could happen to any of us. I have to admit that I've not
had a family member with dementia, so don't know how I would deal with it.

Quoted message said:

The kids had a wonderful holiday, and son *won* the contest (who can buy

the gift

Quoted message said:

that puts mom over the edge and makes her cry). Wierd but funny little

tradition

Quoted message said:

they have gotten into. He knows I love the new song *the baby* by Blake

Shelton,

Quoted message said:

have told him it reminds me so very much of our relationship. So the kid

went out

Quoted message said:

and bought me the cd - then made me explain the song to the rest of the

family ...

Quoted message said:

laughing when I started getting weepy. <sigh> Oh well, it's a mom thing

I guess.

Quoted message said:

LOL He was thrilled with his new hard drive and x-box system that

replaced his

Quoted message said:

broken one .. as well as some much needed clothing that fit. Hub loves

his dvd

Quoted message said:

recorder, but has to wait for sonny boy to hook it up for him ... and also received a baseball
auto window sticker from sons college (which he has

been

Quoted message said:

begging for). Youngest girl received her long begged for video camera and

some

Quoted message said:

clothing. I received a new coat (YEAH!). As usual, everyone was

successfully

Quoted message said:

spoiled, very happy and relaxed.

I like that contest thing, that's funny. We could never do anything like that in our house yet...
Nicholas is too young and DH asks me to write a list of things that I would like for Christmas. I
put a list on the fridge and wrote things on it when I thought of them. He ended up buying
everything I had on my list, so I ended up with everything I needed/wanted. Worked out well though,
we were all happy with what we received. I love my new pjs, don't want to get dressed in the
morning. Yesterday I didn't get dressed until 1:30 pm!

Quoted message said:

Joyce

Brenda Hammond said:

I haven't been on here much the last few days. I've been really busy at home getting everything
ready for the big day! Nicholas is almost 3 now,

so

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

this year is the first one that he's really been into Christmas. He was looking forward to Ho Ho
bringing him the gifts he asked for. Christmas morning we had a very excited little boy, got most
of it on video to show the rest of the family once we get to see them.

Santa was very good to all of us. I received an electronic kitchen scale that weighs in 1/8 oz or
1 gram increments up to 5 lbs or 2.2 kg.,

sausage

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

stuffer and pasta maker attachments for my Kitchen Aid mixer, lots of

bath

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

stuff and new pjs. DH received a DVD burner and a weather station that

he

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

can attach to his computer, so we have our own amateur meteorologist in house! Nicholas got the
large gobblegobble (Tonka gravel truck) and

Henry

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

the green engine from the Thomas the Tank Engine group, among other

things.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

We had a great day, managed to get the in-laws over here for the very

first

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

time at Christmas, and did over-do it on food, but we had a great day,

lots

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

of fun with our son, which was the most important thing!

I'm looking forward to the holidays being over now. I want to

concentrate

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

on getting to my final goal weight, WW goal of 150, then my personal goal

of

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

140ish. I've been eating way more than I should and feeling crappy. I

had

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

that over-stuffed feeling, more now than ever before. I think about how great I felt last spring
when I began my weight loss journey and want to feel that way ALL the time!

My work situtation has improved a bit, now that I have someone there to

help

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

me with the bookkeeping that I've been forced to let slide since DH fell ill. I don't know how I
would've caught up with it all if it weren't for Laura. Much of the stress I've been under has
been aleviated since she returned from Nova Scotia (after being there for 2 1/2 years). She

worked

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

for us when I was pregnant with Nicholas and then had to move home to

look

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

after her Mom for a few years. She's just returned and I feel so

grateful!

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Someone up there must be watching over me.

It's almost a new year now and I'm looking forward to the next one being MUCH better than the
last. I keep thinking that it couldn't be any worse than the last one. Anyway, I've babbled
enough here, I'm sure you're all bored to death now, so I better cut this off. Sorry for the
loooooooooooooong post!

Happy and healthy holidays to everyone!

Christmas is really fun with kids. When we were kids the four of us had a ball Christmas morning. I
get to relive all that through Nicholas now. It's great!!

"Miss Violette" <[email hidden]> wrote in message -"]news:[email hidden]-
berlin.de...

Quoted message said:

so glad you are looking up, little ones are great at Christmas, spent it with my sister's kids
youngest is five and just plain too cute for his own good, Lee Brenda Hammond
<[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I haven't been on here much the last few days. I've been really busy at home getting everything
ready for the big day! Nicholas is almost 3

now,

Quoted message said:

so

Quoted message said:

this year is the first one that he's really been into Christmas. He was looking forward to Ho Ho
bringing him the gifts he asked for. Christmas morning we had a very excited little boy, got
most of it on video to

show

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

the rest of the family once we get to see them.

Santa was very good to all of us. I received an electronic kitchen

scale

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

that weighs in 1/8 oz or 1 gram increments up to 5 lbs or 2.2 kg.,

sausage

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

stuffer and pasta maker attachments for my Kitchen Aid mixer, lots of

bath

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

stuff and new pjs. DH received a DVD burner and a weather station that

he

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

can attach to his computer, so we have our own amateur meteorologist in house! Nicholas got the
large gobblegobble (Tonka gravel truck) and

Henry

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

the green engine from the Thomas the Tank Engine group, among other

things.

Quoted message said:

We had a great day, managed to get the in-laws over here for the very

first

Quoted message said:

time at Christmas, and did over-do it on food, but we had a great day,

lots

Quoted message said:

of fun with our son, which was the most important thing!

I'm looking forward to the holidays being over now. I want to

concentrate

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

on getting to my final goal weight, WW goal of 150, then my personal

goal

Quoted message said:

of

Quoted message said:

140ish. I've been eating way more than I should and feeling crappy. I

Quoted message said:

had

Quoted message said:

that over-stuffed feeling, more now than ever before. I think about how great I felt last spring
when I began my weight loss journey and want to feel that way ALL the time!

My work situtation has improved a bit, now that I have someone there to

help

Quoted message said:

me with the bookkeeping that I've been forced to let slide since DH fell ill. I don't know how I
would've caught up with it all if it weren't

for

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Laura. Much of the stress I've been under has been aleviated since she returned from Nova Scotia
(after being there for 2 1/2 years). She

worked

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

for us when I was pregnant with Nicholas and then had to move home to

look

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

after her Mom for a few years. She's just returned and I feel so

grateful!

Quoted message said:

Someone up there must be watching over me.

It's almost a new year now and I'm looking forward to the next one being MUCH better than the
last. I keep thinking that it couldn't be any

worse

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

than the last one. Anyway, I've babbled enough here, I'm sure you're

all

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

bored to death now, so I better cut this off. Sorry for the loooooooooooooong post!

Happy and healthy holidays to everyone!

--
Brenda
209/173/150 NYNY goal 160

Brenda Hammond said:

"Joyce" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Thanks for the wonderful post! I love hearing the happy holiday stories.

Our

Quoted message said:

families Christmas was also very nice, but I must admit I'm glad it's

over. I was

Quoted message said:

very worried about this christmas, the first since my mom has been in the

nursing

Quoted message said:

home - and she is *losing it* pretty quickly these days. Christmas Eve

she was

Quoted message said:

wonderful, despite telling me 6 times how bad she felt because she didn't

have

Quoted message said:

time to get out and shop for anyone. I told her I did it for her, as she requested ... 2 minutes
later she would repeat the same thing. Christmas

Day she

Quoted message said:

was much worse - constant tears and death wish related talks. Telling me

she

Quoted message said:

hated working where she was and wants to quit ... clothing gifts for her

are

Quoted message said:

wonderful but she will not be allowed to wear them at *work*. <sigh> I

did notice

Quoted message said:

her hands constantly shake now, making eating difficult. Not sure if this

is part

Quoted message said:

of the disease or if a medication thing ... something I need to remember

to ask

Quoted message said:

next time I go visit.

It must be very hard for you to see your mom this way. I couldn't imagine my mom being "not
herself", but I suppose it's something that could happen to any of us. I have to admit that I've
not had a family member with dementia, so don't know how I would deal with it.

Thanks, it is hard. Every time I think I've come to grips with it, I realize I haven't. Was speaking
about this to my oldest girl today, who hadn't seen her granny in several months (september). They
were together Christmas Eve, daughter said tonite that she couldn't believe how far mom has declined
in such a short period of time. I do hope it will level off a bit, who knows though. There was no
one in our family with any type of dementia either, so this is entirely new territory to me. I don't
think anyone knows how to deal with it - you just do. Like everything else, I try to tackle it with
humor - play along with many of her *stories* as best I can. It wold have helped though had the
nursing home let me in on the story that she was *working* there ... now I understand why she was so
concerned about not receiving her paycheck. <G>

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

The kids had a wonderful holiday, and son *won* the contest (who can buy

the gift

Quoted message said:

that puts mom over the edge and makes her cry). Wierd but funny little

tradition

Quoted message said:

they have gotten into. He knows I love the new song *the baby* by Blake

Shelton,

Quoted message said:

have told him it reminds me so very much of our relationship. So the kid

went out

Quoted message said:

and bought me the cd - then made me explain the song to the rest of the

family ...

Quoted message said:

laughing when I started getting weepy. <sigh> Oh well, it's a mom thing

I guess.

Quoted message said:

LOL He was thrilled with his new hard drive and x-box system that

replaced his

Quoted message said:

broken one .. as well as some much needed clothing that fit. Hub loves

his dvd

Quoted message said:

recorder, but has to wait for sonny boy to hook it up for him ... and also received a baseball
auto window sticker from sons college (which he has

been

Quoted message said:

begging for). Youngest girl received her long begged for video camera and

some

Quoted message said:

clothing. I received a new coat (YEAH!). As usual, everyone was

successfully

Quoted message said:

spoiled, very happy and relaxed.

I like that contest thing, that's funny. We could never do anything like that in our house yet...
Nicholas is too young and DH asks me to write a list of things that I would like for Christmas. I
put a list on the fridge and wrote things on it when I thought of them. He ended up buying
everything I had on my list, so I ended up with everything I needed/wanted. Worked out well though,
we were all happy with what we received. I love my new pjs, don't want to get dressed in the
morning. Yesterday I didn't get dressed until 1:30 pm!

The crying thing started when the kids were tiny - dad always managed to get me something that would
put me over the edge. I guess over the years they just picked up on it. A few years back it was my
youngest girl who won ... she snuck into the photo box and cut out a ton of their youth pictures ...
baseball, softball, school photos,etc - cut them out so only the figures were seen (shadow box
style), then mounted them on top of each other into a collage, on cardboard and glued a piece on the
back to make it stand up. It really is wonderful, and is still sitting atop my computer desk where I
stare at it every day. It's like an instant flashback through the years of their lives.

I no longer make lists for hub, learned that long ago. He would ask me for my list, then I would
recieve nothing on it. I finally asked him why he even asked. His logic was that he wanted me to be
totally surprised, so the list was his clue as to what NOT to get me. <sigh> I won't bore you with
some of the wierd items I have received through the years. <g>

Joyce

"Joyce" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On Sat, 27 Dec 2003 07:14:15 -0800, "Brenda Hammond"

Thanks, it is hard. Every time I think I've come to grips with it, I

realize I

Quoted message said:

haven't. Was speaking about this to my oldest girl today, who hadn't seen

her

Quoted message said:

granny in several months (september). They were together Christmas Eve,

daughter

Quoted message said:

said tonite that she couldn't believe how far mom has declined in such a

short

Quoted message said:

period of time. I do hope it will level off a bit, who knows though.

There was

Quoted message said:

no one in our family with any type of dementia either, so this is entirely

new

Quoted message said:

territory to me. I don't think anyone knows how to deal with it - you

just do.

Quoted message said:

Like everything else, I try to tackle it with humor - play along with many

of her

Quoted message said:

*stories* as best I can. It wold have helped though had the nursing home

let me

Quoted message said:

in on the story that she was *working* there ... now I understand why she

was so

Quoted message said:

concerned about not receiving her paycheck. <G>

I don't think that anyone knows exactly how to deal with dementia. Each person is different in how
it affects them. The rate at which they deteriorate also varies. My mother has a mild case of
dementia right now (age 85). Who knows how bad it will get. We constantly get the repeated stories
and questions because she can't remember things that are more than an hour old half of the time. She
also has come up with some very strange "habits" that she claims her mother taught her yet no one
has ever seen her do these things until recently. One of the strangest is that you are "not
supposed" to eat the outside threads on celery. So she peels her celery stalks. Don't know where
this one came from. We also get a lot of stories from her childhood that I have never heard before.
She seems to be living more and more in the past. Her present seems very limited. What a sad
existance we have to look forward to. ;-(

Laura said:

"Joyce" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On Sat, 27 Dec 2003 07:14:15 -0800, "Brenda Hammond"

Thanks, it is hard. Every time I think I've come to grips with it, I

realize I

Quoted message said:

haven't. Was speaking about this to my oldest girl today, who hadn't seen

her

Quoted message said:

granny in several months (september). They were together Christmas Eve,

daughter

Quoted message said:

said tonite that she couldn't believe how far mom has declined in such a

short

Quoted message said:

period of time. I do hope it will level off a bit, who knows though.

There was

Quoted message said:

no one in our family with any type of dementia either, so this is entirely

new

Quoted message said:

territory to me. I don't think anyone knows how to deal with it - you

just do.

Quoted message said:

Like everything else, I try to tackle it with humor - play along with many

of her

Quoted message said:

*stories* as best I can. It wold have helped though had the nursing home

let me

Quoted message said:

in on the story that she was *working* there ... now I understand why she

was so

Quoted message said:

concerned about not receiving her paycheck. <G>

I don't think that anyone knows exactly how to deal with dementia. Each person is different in how
it affects them. The rate at which they deteriorate also varies. My mother has a mild case of
dementia right now (age 85). Who knows how bad it will get. We constantly get the repeated stories
and questions because she can't remember things that are more than an hour old half of the time.
She also has come up with some very strange "habits" that she claims her mother taught her yet no
one has ever seen her do these things until recently. One of the strangest is that you are "not
supposed" to eat the outside threads on celery. So she peels her celery stalks. Don't know where
this one came from. We also get a lot of stories from her childhood that I have never heard before.
She seems to be living more and more in the past. Her present seems very limited. What a sad
existance we have to look forward to. ;-(

The celery thing is interesting, I do wonder if she read something in a cookbook and has changed (in
her mind) directions into something that *has* to be done. Those threads in celery can be very tough
to chew, so many cooks will tell you to peel them off before eating (I try to do this also). My moms
dementia did come on slowly and in stages. If we look back through the years, there were probably
many problem signs earlier and we just blew them off ... thinking mom just had one of those brain
farts that we all get on occassion. They became much more frequent about 18 months ago and held
steady for a bit, then another huge decline last January ... and again in May. Now she appears to be
going more through personality changes along with the memory problems - and I have noticed that she
really has no interest or concern in personal appearance. I'm learning as I go, and many here have
been a great help with relating their own personal experiences. I am finding a *patience* side of me
that has been missing for many years - it's almost like I'm back to raising another child. <sigh>

Joyce

"Joyce" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Laura said:

"Joyce" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On Sat, 27 Dec 2003 07:14:15 -0800, "Brenda Hammond"

Thanks, it is hard. Every time I think I've come to grips with it, I

realize I

Quoted message said:

haven't. Was speaking about this to my oldest girl today, who hadn't

seen

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

her

Quoted message said:

granny in several months (september). They were together Christmas

Eve,

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

daughter

Quoted message said:

said tonite that she couldn't believe how far mom has declined in such

a

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

short

Quoted message said:

period of time. I do hope it will level off a bit, who knows though.

There was

Quoted message said:

no one in our family with any type of dementia either, so this is

entirely

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

new

Quoted message said:

territory to me. I don't think anyone knows how to deal with it - you

just do.

Quoted message said:

Like everything else, I try to tackle it with humor - play along with

many

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

of her

Quoted message said:

*stories* as best I can. It wold have helped though had the nursing

home

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

let me

Quoted message said:

in on the story that she was *working* there ... now I understand why

she

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

was so

Quoted message said:

concerned about not receiving her paycheck. <G>

I don't think that anyone knows exactly how to deal with dementia. Each person is different in
how it affects them. The rate at which they deteriorate also varies. My mother has a mild case of
dementia right now (age 85). Who knows how bad it will get. We constantly get the repeated
stories and questions because she can't remember things that are more

than

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

an hour old half of the time. She also has come up with some very strange "habits" that she
claims her mother taught her yet no one has ever seen

her

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

do these things until recently. One of the strangest is that you are "not supposed" to eat the
outside threads on celery. So she peels her celery stalks. Don't know where this one came from.
We also get a lot of stories from her childhood that I have never heard before. She seems to be
living more and more in the past. Her present seems very limited. What a sad existance we have to
look forward to. ;-(

The celery thing is interesting, I do wonder if she read something in a

cookbook

Quoted message said:

and has changed (in her mind) directions into something that *has* to be

done.

Quoted message said:

Those threads in celery can be very tough to chew, so many cooks will tell

you to

Quoted message said:

peel them off before eating (I try to do this also). My moms dementia did

come on

Quoted message said:

slowly and in stages. If we look back through the years, there were

probably many

Quoted message said:

problem signs earlier and we just blew them off ... thinking mom just had

one of

Quoted message said:

those brain farts that we all get on occassion. They became much more

frequent

Quoted message said:

about 18 months ago and held steady for a bit, then another huge decline

last

Quoted message said:

January ... and again in May. Now she appears to be going more through personality changes along
with the memory problems - and I have noticed

that she

Quoted message said:

really has no interest or concern in personal appearance. I'm learning as

I go,

Quoted message said:

and many here have been a great help with relating their own personal

experiences.

Quoted message said:

I am finding a *patience* side of me that has been missing for many

years - it's

Quoted message said:

almost like I'm back to raising another child. <sigh>

We just spent 2 weeks with mom. She is definitely getting worse. We went to the local "Raw Bar" for
dinner one night. We split an order of "peel & eat" shrimp. In the past this has not been a problem.
We did it at Thanksgiving when we were down there. This time she tried eating the shrimp without
peeling it. She took a bite of one and I said "you need to peel it first". She finished that one by
eating and spitting out the skin. Then she picked up another one and proceeded to do the same thing.
My husband was the one that told her that she needed to peel them first. I ended up peeling them for
her. Very strange.

Patience, what patience? I know that I was back to raising another child and I did not like it at
all. Especially since this one does not want to listen. This summer is going to be very interesting
when we take care of her for too many weeks.

On Sun, 04 Jan 2004 18:19:39 GMT, "Laura" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

"Joyce" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Laura said:

"Joyce" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
> On Sat, 27 Dec 2003 07:14:15 -0800, "Brenda Hammond"
>
> Thanks, it is hard. Every time I think I've come to grips with it, I
realize I
> haven't. Was speaking about this to my oldest girl today, who hadn't

seen

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

her
> granny in several months (september). They were together Christmas

Eve,

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

daughter
> said tonite that she couldn't believe how far mom has declined in such

a

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

short
> period of time. I do hope it will level off a bit, who knows though.
There was
> no one in our family with any type of dementia either, so this is

entirely

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

new
> territory to me. I don't think anyone knows how to deal with it - you
just do.
> Like everything else, I try to tackle it with humor - play along with

many

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

of her
> *stories* as best I can. It wold have helped though had the nursing

home

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

let me
> in on the story that she was *working* there ... now I understand why

she

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

was so
> concerned about not receiving her paycheck. <G>

I don't think that anyone knows exactly how to deal with dementia. Each person is different in
how it affects them. The rate at which they deteriorate also varies. My mother has a mild case
of dementia right now (age 85). Who knows how bad it will get. We constantly get the repeated
stories and questions because she can't remember things that are more

than

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

an hour old half of the time. She also has come up with some very strange "habits" that she
claims her mother taught her yet no one has ever seen

her

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

do these things until recently. One of the strangest is that you are "not supposed" to eat the
outside threads on celery. So she peels her celery stalks. Don't know where this one came from.
We also get a lot of stories from her childhood that I have never heard before. She seems to be
living more and more in the past. Her present seems very limited. What a sad existance we have
to look forward to. ;-(

The celery thing is interesting, I do wonder if she read something in a

cookbook

Quoted message said:

and has changed (in her mind) directions into something that *has* to be

done.

Quoted message said:

Those threads in celery can be very tough to chew, so many cooks will tell

you to

Quoted message said:

peel them off before eating (I try to do this also). My moms dementia did

come on

Quoted message said:

slowly and in stages. If we look back through the years, there were

probably many

Quoted message said:

problem signs earlier and we just blew them off ... thinking mom just had

one of

Quoted message said:

those brain farts that we all get on occassion. They became much more

frequent

Quoted message said:

about 18 months ago and held steady for a bit, then another huge decline

last

Quoted message said:

January ... and again in May. Now she appears to be going more through personality changes along
with the memory problems - and I have noticed

that she

Quoted message said:

really has no interest or concern in personal appearance. I'm learning as

I go,

Quoted message said:

and many here have been a great help with relating their own personal

experiences.

Quoted message said:

I am finding a *patience* side of me that has been missing for many

years - it's

Quoted message said:

almost like I'm back to raising another child. <sigh>

We just spent 2 weeks with mom. She is definitely getting worse. We went to the local "Raw Bar" for
dinner one night. We split an order of "peel & eat" shrimp. In the past this has not been a
problem. We did it at Thanksgiving when we were down there. This time she tried eating the shrimp
without peeling it. She took a bite of one and I said "you need to peel it first". She finished
that one by eating and spitting out the skin. Then she picked up another one and proceeded to do
the same thing. My husband was the one that told her that she needed to peel them first. I ended up
peeling them for her. Very strange.

Patience, what patience? I know that I was back to raising another child and I did not like it at
all. Especially since this one does not want to listen. This summer is going to be very interesting
when we take care of her for too many weeks.

I do feel for you. As I explained to my dad with my mom's deterioration - a child is exasperating
but learning while the patient with dementia will unfortunately not be learning or progressing so
that attempting to teach will be frustrating and unrewarded. Dad expected her to improve her
behavior and, of course, it never happened or could happen.

Laura said:

"Joyce" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

Quoted message said:

The celery thing is interesting, I do wonder if she read something in a

cookbook

Quoted message said:

and has changed (in her mind) directions into something that *has* to be

done.

Quoted message said:

Those threads in celery can be very tough to chew, so many cooks will tell

you to

Quoted message said:

peel them off before eating (I try to do this also). My moms dementia did

come on

Quoted message said:

slowly and in stages. If we look back through the years, there were

probably many

Quoted message said:

problem signs earlier and we just blew them off ... thinking mom just had

one of

Quoted message said:

those brain farts that we all get on occassion. They became much more

frequent

Quoted message said:

about 18 months ago and held steady for a bit, then another huge decline

last

Quoted message said:

January ... and again in May. Now she appears to be going more through personality changes along
with the memory problems - and I have noticed

that she

Quoted message said:

really has no interest or concern in personal appearance. I'm learning as

I go,

Quoted message said:

and many here have been a great help with relating their own personal

experiences.

Quoted message said:

I am finding a *patience* side of me that has been missing for many

years - it's

Quoted message said:

almost like I'm back to raising another child. <sigh>

We just spent 2 weeks with mom. She is definitely getting worse. We went to the local "Raw Bar" for
dinner one night. We split an order of "peel & eat" shrimp. In the past this has not been a
problem. We did it at Thanksgiving when we were down there. This time she tried eating the shrimp
without peeling it. She took a bite of one and I said "you need to peel it first". She finished
that one by eating and spitting out the skin. Then she picked up another one and proceeded to do
the same thing. My husband was the one that told her that she needed to peel them first. I ended up
peeling them for her. Very strange.

Oh wow, so far I haven't seen that far of a decline. That is really sad, but guess it's what I have
to look forward to.

Quoted message said:

Patience, what patience? I know that I was back to raising another child and I did not like it at
all. Especially since this one does not want to listen. This summer is going to be very interesting
when we take care of her for too many weeks.

Maybe it's easier for me to be patient since mom is now in the nursing home. I really don't have to
*raise* her again, just do her laundry, pay her bills, etc.
<G> She is always thrilled to see me, then constantly tells me I have to leave, and once I am gone
she immediately forgets I was ever there (according to my brothers). I do have to continually
guess at who has been to see her - seems both my brothers now have the same name. <g> Gotta
keep our sense of humor.

Joyce

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Encoding: quoted-printable

(((Laura))) This sounds like my mother, who also has agitated depression to go along = with her
"other" problems, and my poor mum is only 53 years old. I am only 32, and it is no easy task trying
to care for an adult, = especially your own parent when they behave like a child, but with the =
mind of an independent adult. My heart goes out to you. & sadly, it only gets worse.... Vanessa In
OZ :-) Overall (Was 273- Current 214- Goal 160 to 140) "Laura" <[email hidden]> wrote in
message = "]news:[email hidden]...

"Joyce" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On Mon, 29 Dec 2003 02:16:41 GMT, "Laura" <[email hidden]> =

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

"Joyce" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On Sat, 27 Dec 2003 07:14:15 -0800, "Brenda Hammond"

Thanks, it is hard. Every time I think I've come to grips with =

it, I

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

realize I

Quoted message said:

haven't. Was speaking about this to my oldest girl today, who =

hadn't
seen

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

her

Quoted message said:

granny in several months (september). They were together =

Christmas
Eve,

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

daughter

Quoted message said:

said tonite that she couldn't believe how far mom has declined in =

such
a

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

short

Quoted message said:

period of time. I do hope it will level off a bit, who knows =

though.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

There was

Quoted message said:

no one in our family with any type of dementia either, so this is

entirely

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

new

Quoted message said:

territory to me. I don't think anyone knows how to deal with it =

- you

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

just do.

Quoted message said:

Like everything else, I try to tackle it with humor - play along =

with
many

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

of her

Quoted message said:

*stories* as best I can. It wold have helped though had the =

nursing
home

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

let me

Quoted message said:

in on the story that she was *working* there ... now I understand =

why
she

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

was so

Quoted message said:

concerned about not receiving her paycheck. <G>

I don't think that anyone knows exactly how to deal with dementia. =

Each

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

person is different in how it affects them. The rate at which they deteriorate also varies. My
mother has a mild case of dementia =

right now

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

(age 85). Who knows how bad it will get. We constantly get the =

repeated

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

stories and questions because she can't remember things that are =

more
than

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

an hour old half of the time. She also has come up with some very =

strange

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

"habits" that she claims her mother taught her yet no one has ever =

seen
her

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

do these things until recently. One of the strangest is that you =

are "not

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

supposed" to eat the outside threads on celery. So she peels her =

celery

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

stalks. Don't know where this one came from. We also get a lot of =

stories

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

from her childhood that I have never heard before. She seems to be =

living

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

more and more in the past. Her present seems very limited. What a =

sad

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

existance we have to look forward to. ;-(

The celery thing is interesting, I do wonder if she read something =

in a cookbook

Quoted message said:

and has changed (in her mind) directions into something that *has* =

to be
done.

Quoted message said:

Those threads in celery can be very tough to chew, so many cooks =

will tell
you to

Quoted message said:

peel them off before eating (I try to do this also). My moms =

dementia did
come on

Quoted message said:

slowly and in stages. If we look back through the years, there were

probably many

Quoted message said:

problem signs earlier and we just blew them off ... thinking mom =

just had
one of

Quoted message said:

those brain farts that we all get on occassion. They became much =

more frequent

Quoted message said:

about 18 months ago and held steady for a bit, then another huge =

decline
last

Quoted message said:

January ... and again in May. Now she appears to be going more =

through

Quoted message said:

personality changes along with the memory problems - and I have =

noticed that she

Quoted message said:

really has no interest or concern in personal appearance. I'm =

learning as
I go,

Quoted message said:

and many here have been a great help with relating their own =

personal experiences.

Quoted message said:

I am finding a *patience* side of me that has been missing for many

years - it's

Quoted message said:

almost like I'm back to raising another child. <sigh>

We just spent 2 weeks with mom. She is definitely getting worse. We = went to the local "Raw Bar"
for dinner one night. We split an order of "peel & = eat" shrimp. In the past this has not been a
problem. We did it at = Thanksgiving when we were down there. This time she tried eating the
shrimp without peeling it. She took a bite of one and I said "you need to peel it = first". She
finished that one by eating and spitting out the skin. Then she = picked up another one and
proceeded to do the same thing. My husband was the = one that told her that she needed to peel
them first. I ended up peeling = them for her. Very strange.

Patience, what patience? I know that I was back to raising another = child and I did not like it
at all. Especially since this one does not want to = listen. This summer is going to be very
interesting when we take care of her = for too many weeks.

------=_NextPart_000_06F1_01C3D3E7.ADBDD070 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-
Encoding: quoted-printable

<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=3DContent-
Type content=3D"text/html; = charset=3Diso-8859-1"> <META content=3D"MSHTML 5.50.4912.300"
name=3DGENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=3D#ffffff>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#800080>(((Laura)))</FONT></DIV>
<><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#800080>This sounds like my mother, who = also has=20 agitated
depression to go along with her "other" problems, and my poor = mum is=20 only 53 years
old.</FONT></DIV>
<><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#800080>I am only 32, and it is no easy = task trying=20 to care for
an adult, especially your own parent when they behave like a = child,=20 but with the mind of
an independent adult.</FONT></DIV>
<><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#800080>My heart goes out to = you.</FONT></DIV>
<><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#800080>& sadly, it only gets=20 worse....</FONT></DIV>
<>Vanessa In OZ :-)<BR>Overall (Was 273- Current 214- Goal 160 to =
140)</DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE=20 style=3D"PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; = BORDER-
LEFT: #800080 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV>"Laura" <<A=20 href=3D""][email hidden]">[email hidden]</A>> =
wrote in=20 message <A=20
=
href=3D""]news:[email hidden]"=

Quoted message said:

"]news:[email hidden]</A>...<=

/DIV><BR>"Joyce"=20 <<A href=3D""][email hidden]">[email hidden]</A>> wrote in=20
message<BR><A=20
=
href=3D""]news:[email hidden]">news:dh0dvvklfhg=
[email hidden]</A>...<BR>>=20 On Mon, 29 Dec 2003 02:16:41 GMT, "Laura"
<<A=20 href=3D""][email hidden]">[email hidden]</A>>=20
wrote:<BR>><BR>> ><BR>> >"Joyce" <<A=20
href=3D""][email hidden]">[email hidden]</A>> wrote in = message<BR>>=20

Quoted message said:

"]news:[email hidden]...<BR>> = >> On=20 Sat, 27 Dec 2003

07:14:15 -0800, "Brenda Hammond"<BR>> = >><BR>>=20 >> Thanks, it is hard.
Every time I think I've come to = grips with=20 it, I<BR>> >realize I<BR>> >>
haven't. Was = speaking about=20 this to my oldest girl today, who hadn't<BR>seen<BR>> =

Quoted message said:

her<BR>>=20 >> granny in several months (september). They were = together=20

Christmas<BR>Eve,<BR>> >daughter<BR>> >> said tonite = that she=20 couldn't believe
how far mom has declined in such<BR>a<BR>>=20 >short<BR>> >> period of time. I
do hope it will = level off a=20 bit, who knows though.<BR>> >There was<BR>> >> no
one = in our=20 family with any type of dementia either, so this = is<BR>entirely<BR>>=20

Quoted message said:

new<BR>> >> territory to me. I don't think anyone = knows how=20 to deal with it

- you<BR>> >just do.<BR>> >> Like = everything=20 else, I try to tackle it with humor
- play along with<BR>many<BR>> = >of=20 her<BR>> >> *stories* as best I
can. It wold have = helped=20 though had the nursing<BR>home<BR>> >let me<BR>>

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

in = on the=20 story that she was *working* there ... now I understand =

why<BR>she<BR>>=20 >was so<BR>> >> concerned about not receiving her = paycheck.=20
<G><BR>> ><BR>> >I don't think that anyone knows = exactly how=20 to deal with
dementia. Each<BR>> >person is different in how it = affects=20 them. The rate at which
they<BR>> >deteriorate also varies. My = mother=20 has a mild case of dementia right
now<BR>> >(age 85). Who knows = how bad=20 it will get. We constantly get the repeated<BR>>

Quoted message said:

stories and = questions=20 because she can't remember things that are more<BR>than<BR>>
an = hour=20 old half of the time. She also has come up with some very = strange<BR>>=20
"habits" that she claims her mother taught her yet no one has ever =

seen<BR>her<BR>> >do these things until recently. One of the = strangest=20 is that you are
"not<BR>> >supposed" to eat the outside threads = on=20 celery. So she peels her
celery<BR>> >stalks. Don't know where = this one=20 came from. We also get a lot of
stories<BR>> >from her childhood = that I=20 have never heard before. She seems to be
living<BR>> >more and = more in=20 the past. Her present seems very limited. What a
sad<BR>> = >existance we=20 have to look forward to. ;-(<BR>><BR>> The celery thing is
= interesting,=20 I do wonder if she read something in a<BR>cookbook<BR>> and has = changed
(in=20 her mind) directions into something that *has* to be<BR>done.<BR>> = Those=20 threads in
celery can be very tough to chew, so many cooks will = tell<BR>you=20 to<BR>> peel them off
before eating (I try to do this also). = My moms=20 dementia did<BR>come on<BR>> slowly
and in stages. If we look = back=20 through the years, there were<BR>probably many<BR>>
problem signs = earlier=20 and we just blew them off ... thinking mom just had<BR>one of<BR>> =
those=20 brain farts that we all get on occassion. They became much=20
more<BR>frequent<BR>> about 18 months ago and held steady for a = bit, then=20 another huge
decline<BR>last<BR>> January ... and again in = May. Now=20 she appears to be going more
through<BR>> personality changes along = with=20 the memory problems - and I have
noticed<BR>that she<BR>> really = has no=20 interest or concern in personal appearance.
I'm learning as<BR>I =

go,<BR>> and many here have been a great help with relating their = own=20
personal<BR>experiences.<BR>> I am finding a *patience* side of me = that has=20 been missing
for many<BR>years - it's<BR>> almost like I'm back to = raising=20 another child.
<sigh><BR>><BR><BR>We just spent 2 weeks with = mom. She=20 is definitely getting worse.
We went to<BR>the local "Raw Bar" for = dinner one=20 night. We split an order of "peel &
eat"<BR>shrimp. In the past = this has=20 not been a problem. We did it at Thanksgiving<BR>when we
were down = there. This=20 time she tried eating the shrimp without<BR>peeling it. She took a =
bite of one=20 and I said "you need to peel it first".<BR>She finished that one by = eating and=20
spitting out the skin. Then she picked<BR>up another one and proceeded = to do=20 the same thing.
My husband was the one<BR>that told her that she = needed to=20 peel them first. I ended up
peeling them<BR>for her. Very=20 strange.<BR><BR>Patience, what patience? I know that I was back
to = raising=20 another child and<BR>I did not like it at all. Especially since this = one does=20
not want to listen.<BR>This summer is going to be very interesting = when we=20 take care of her
for too<BR>many weeks.<BR></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>

------=_NextPart_000_06F1_01C3D3E7.ADBDD070--

"Fred" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

We just spent 2 weeks with mom. She is definitely getting worse. We went

to

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

the local "Raw Bar" for dinner one night. We split an order of "peel &

eat"

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

shrimp. In the past this has not been a problem. We did it at

Thanksgiving

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

when we were down there. This time she tried eating the shrimp without peeling it. She took a
bite of one and I said "you need to peel it

first".

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

She finished that one by eating and spitting out the skin. Then she

picked

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

up another one and proceeded to do the same thing. My husband was the one that told her that she
needed to peel them first. I ended up peeling them for her. Very strange.

Patience, what patience? I know that I was back to raising another child

and

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I did not like it at all. Especially since this one does not want to

listen.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

This summer is going to be very interesting when we take care of her for

too

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

many weeks.

I do feel for you. As I explained to my dad with my mom's deterioration - a child is exasperating
but learning while the patient with dementia will unfortunately not be learning or progressing so
that attempting to teach will be frustrating and unrewarded. Dad expected her to improve her
behavior and, of course, it never happened or could happen.

Thanks. I think what bothered me the most is that she is either going rapidly downhill or my
patience level has deterioted. The incident with the shrimp really startled both my husband and I as
we had the same meal not more than a month ago when we were there at Thanksgiving. Could also have
been the fact that she needs a cateract operation in her good eye (scheduled for this coming
Tuesday) and she honestly thought they were already peeled. Well, that would explain the first
shrimp but when she did the same thing with the next one we were shocked.

"Joyce" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

We just spent 2 weeks with mom. She is definitely getting worse. We went

to

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

the local "Raw Bar" for dinner one night. We split an order of "peel &

eat"

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

shrimp. In the past this has not been a problem. We did it at

Thanksgiving

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

when we were down there. This time she tried eating the shrimp without peeling it. She took a
bite of one and I said "you need to peel it

first".

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

She finished that one by eating and spitting out the skin. Then she

picked

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

up another one and proceeded to do the same thing. My husband was the one that told her that she
needed to peel them first. I ended up peeling them for her. Very strange.

Oh wow, so far I haven't seen that far of a decline. That is really sad,

but

Quoted message said:

guess it's what I have to look forward to.

Quoted message said:

Patience, what patience? I know that I was back to raising another child

and

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I did not like it at all. Especially since this one does not want to

listen.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

This summer is going to be very interesting when we take care of her for

too

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

many weeks.

Maybe it's easier for me to be patient since mom is now in the nursing

home. I

Quoted message said:

really don't have to *raise* her again, just do her laundry, pay her

bills, etc.

Quoted message said:

<G> She is always thrilled to see me, then constantly tells me I have to

leave,

Quoted message said:

and once I am gone she immediately forgets I was ever there (according to

my

Quoted message said:

brothers). I do have to continually guess at who has been to see her -

seems both

Quoted message said:

my brothers now have the same name. <g> Gotta keep our sense of humor.

That is possible. You know that she is safe and sound now. Mom forgets that we have been there too.
She gets bladder infections easily if she forgets to drink enough water. She got one while were
there. She told my sister that we "forgot" to give her any water. I have to do "damage control" with
my sister after every visit.

My mother started calling my husband Cliff last year. Cliff was a boyfriend of my sister when she
was in highschool. Fortuneately, my husband (Craig) has a sense of humor and makes a joke of it with
her when she slips.