Friday 16 August 2013

Moving right along

I went and stayed with my parents recently for a couple of nights with the family.  It went ok on the whole, but each time I spend time with mum, I notice another little thing or two that means her alzheimer's is moving along, slowly but surely.

While I was there mum didn't do anything for the kids, which is unlike her.  A snack or a meal usually.  This time she didn't make them toast in the morning, didn't warm up their milk for them, she didn't make their lunch and she didn't make their dinner.  I think through the whole visit, she got them a plastic cup and filled it with water.  That is new, she is normally trying to make them some kind of snack.

She was exhausted, absolutely shattered by the end of the 2 days, even though she slept late and didn't have to do any meal preparation.  I now realise that although she still thinks it's a possibility, there is no possibility that I will be leaving my kids overnight at their house without me or their father.  It's just become too hard for her.  I can't rely on  Dad to not just pop down the road or across town to see someone for 10 minutes (which inevitably turns into a couple of hours).

We went out to dinner one night, and I had to go back into the restaurant to get a forgotten jacket.  When I came out, Dad had loaded my 4 year old into the back of his car, without a car seat.  I quickly nipped that in the bud and told him that the law is, that they have to be in a car seat to 8 years old, and promptly put her back in my car with the car seat.  If this is what he thinks is appropriate, it concretes my decision to not leave my children with them anymore.  It's not worth it, my car was there, with a perfectly good child restraint, so why not just use it.  We'd never forgive ourselves if this 4 year old was to end up in a wheelchair because of our laziness about car restraints.

Also, she was trying to read a short basic recipe from the back of a packet of sauce for meatballs, which she has made dozens and dozens of times, and although she was reading it ok, the words were coming out her mouth correctly, but the numbers just stumped her, she would read it, and re-read it, and re-read it again until she finally gave up and said "I can't even read anymore".  She can read it, she just can't comprehend and understand what she is reading.

We did go shopping together, and managed to pick out a couple of presents for my 4 year olds 5th birthday coming up soon.  So, after last christmas and the interesting present choices, at least I'm safe in the knowledge that my daughter will receive a winning present from her Nanna this year.  I am aware that this could well be the last year that happens.  I guess we'll see.