I'm waiting for Milo to wake up so I can go to church. There are books and toys and clothes on my bed and no meat in the oven. When I think about Sundays growing up, I think about mom in her slip, browning the roast before church. I think of sitting in the pew waiting for Crystal Bell to get up and bear her testimony and hoping mom will play with my hair. I think of racing to change my clothes when we finally get home and hoping mom won't make me do the thickening for the gravy because I always messed it up.
Usually I got assigned to peel the potatoes and Katy too. Mom made sure at every meal we had meat, two vegetables, a salad, fruit, maybe a jello, bread or potatoes. And then dessert. Mom always made a dessert on Sundays. Sometimes that chocolate cake with the chocolate chips in it and nuts on top. Sometimes the better than you know what cake with the pudding and walnut crust. The pears and raspberries, the sherbet mixed with bananas and berries too, the tapioca with whip cream on top, the cookies and ice cream.
I never make dessert like that.
I never make roasts.
I never make gravy.
I never brown the meat in my slip.
In fact, I don't wear slips. Mom would be so disappointed.
Jake got married on Friday and some of us were standing outside the temple waiting for the he and Liz to come out. I told Karen I liked her outfit and she said, well yours is inappropriate.
What?
It's inappropriate for the temple, young lady. You should be wearing nylons.
Sandy said, that's right. We're both bad.
She and I were wearing sandals, our toes poking out.
Well, I said, Mom's not here to get mad at me.
I am, Karen said. I'm doing it for her.
Mom came to the wedding reception late with Sam and she looked beautiful. Dad went right to her and the two of them held hands. She was smiling and she was wearing a short dress that showed her tiny waist, and she danced with Dan and asked me, Where do you think you're going? when I walked by. I'm looking for my little boy, Asher, I said. She smiled and said, you're a good mom.
I wonder if I am a good mom.
Milo is starting to fuss and I have no idea what we're going to have for lunch or dinner or anything else today. Maybe one day I'll get it together like Mom always did. Or maybe not. But at least I know how it's supposed to be done.
Sunday, July 8, 2012
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Nuerology Clinic_2nd visit
Interview
The second visit stated out the same. Dr. Zamrini gave approximately the same test.
What month is it?
Who is the president?
What floor are we on?
I am going to give you three items. Try to remember them. I will ask you to give them to me in a few minutes. The item are: A Christmas tree, a white dog, a rock.
Lab tests
Then Dr Zambrini introduced us to Dr. Katzman, and his assistant who ran the comprehensive test. Then Jewel disappeared with the assistant and they told me I had three hours to kill. I went for a drive. I inspected the remodeled capital building and watched TV.
Jewel appeared three hours later as promised. Then she was sent off to have a MRI. Before we left Dr. Zambrini called us into his office.
He said, “Dr.Katzman’s preliminary diagnosis is mild dementia, pre Alzheimer’s. I am not sure I agree. We will consider the data and discuss it on your next visit. We would like you to come back in six months and repeat the tests to verify the results and look for changes. Before you leave I want you to visit with Mrs. ----- our social worker. She will give you useful information.” Then he left the room and we sat there looking at each other––dumfounded.
Before we could recover Mrs. Olsen, the social worker, entered the room.
Social Worker
Hello. I’m Jane Olsen. I have some literature that will be useful to you. It lists several resources available to you.
Assisted living facilities for Alzheimer’s patients.
There is a driver testing center in Sugarhouse.
There are several support groups that meet regularly.
Agencies that might be helpful.
You folks are from Utah County aren’t you? There is a good support group that meets at the James Towne Assisted Living Facility in Provo.
Nice to meet you. Good luck.
Jewel
On the way home
Oh, Larry I am so sorry. It is going to be hell for you. It was so hard on my mother. My father was soon just like her.
Larry
We don’t know the doctors are right. But whatever it is we will deal with it. Your mother had dementia at a younger age. I am sure you father’s dementia was not Alzheimer’s. I think it was related to his heart problems. He was OK in the mornings and had problems in the evenings when he was tired.
Dr. Hathaway thinks Cerefolin will contain your memory problem.
We drove home wondering about our next visit in six months.
Oh, we went to a good restaurant first.
Zamrini’s Assessment:
Given the information I have. I believe she meets Petersen criteria for amnestic mild cognitive impairment which, at times, is a precursor of Alzheimer’s disease, She will need to be followed to determine how she does over time. She also has mild hypothyroidism and this will need to be reevaluated by her primary care physician.
Interview
The second visit stated out the same. Dr. Zamrini gave approximately the same test.
What month is it?
Who is the president?
What floor are we on?
I am going to give you three items. Try to remember them. I will ask you to give them to me in a few minutes. The item are: A Christmas tree, a white dog, a rock.
Lab tests
Then Dr Zambrini introduced us to Dr. Katzman, and his assistant who ran the comprehensive test. Then Jewel disappeared with the assistant and they told me I had three hours to kill. I went for a drive. I inspected the remodeled capital building and watched TV.
Jewel appeared three hours later as promised. Then she was sent off to have a MRI. Before we left Dr. Zambrini called us into his office.
He said, “Dr.Katzman’s preliminary diagnosis is mild dementia, pre Alzheimer’s. I am not sure I agree. We will consider the data and discuss it on your next visit. We would like you to come back in six months and repeat the tests to verify the results and look for changes. Before you leave I want you to visit with Mrs. ----- our social worker. She will give you useful information.” Then he left the room and we sat there looking at each other––dumfounded.
Before we could recover Mrs. Olsen, the social worker, entered the room.
Social Worker
Hello. I’m Jane Olsen. I have some literature that will be useful to you. It lists several resources available to you.
Assisted living facilities for Alzheimer’s patients.
There is a driver testing center in Sugarhouse.
There are several support groups that meet regularly.
Agencies that might be helpful.
You folks are from Utah County aren’t you? There is a good support group that meets at the James Towne Assisted Living Facility in Provo.
Nice to meet you. Good luck.
Jewel
On the way home
Oh, Larry I am so sorry. It is going to be hell for you. It was so hard on my mother. My father was soon just like her.
Larry
We don’t know the doctors are right. But whatever it is we will deal with it. Your mother had dementia at a younger age. I am sure you father’s dementia was not Alzheimer’s. I think it was related to his heart problems. He was OK in the mornings and had problems in the evenings when he was tired.
Dr. Hathaway thinks Cerefolin will contain your memory problem.
We drove home wondering about our next visit in six months.
Oh, we went to a good restaurant first.
Zamrini’s Assessment:
Given the information I have. I believe she meets Petersen criteria for amnestic mild cognitive impairment which, at times, is a precursor of Alzheimer’s disease, She will need to be followed to determine how she does over time. She also has mild hypothyroidism and this will need to be reevaluated by her primary care physician.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)