Friending in Caregiving

This morning on Your Caregiving Journey, Liliana joined me on Table Talk. You can listen to our show via the player, below. During our show, Liliana, who cares for her mom, shared how she learned to take a break and leave the house without guilt. She also talked about what’s hard now in caregiving: It’s the constant of the same routine that wears. Liliana also shared very good news: She just learned...

Last of April

As I type, Paul is asleep upstairs on our first common day off in several weeks; a church organist at Easter has almost as busy a schedule as a professor in the last 2 weeks of the semester! Looking back at this photo from nearly 5 years ago caught me up a bit; how full of hope, health and the future we were. The last few days have been stressful at work, and we’re both looking forward to the semester being...

Remarkable Day

Lewy Body dementia is such an odd duck. The fluctuations between good days and bad come without warning and stop as they please. I suppose that’s the reason many caregivers of Lewy Body consider it the roller coaster. Take for instance; 2 weeks ago Hubby was down, completely down, physically, mentally and verbally. But yesterday, 180 degrees. For the past few days he has kept me on my toes trying to keep up...

Tell Us: Your First Kiss

Well, I am quite smitten this morning: The Royal Wedding was well worth the early rise. And, the first kiss (two, actually) was quite charming. So, today, in honor of the Royals, let’s reminisce. When did you enjoy your first kiss? Share your memory in the comments section, below. We’ll choose a random winner to receive an autographed copy of my book, Good Morning! Sunny Reflections to Start Your...

New Hardware

Robert is sporting six new staples in the back of his head and I got to visit two hospitals in one day. At 6:00 a.m. my husband’s mom went in for a Valvuloplasty to help out her heart. We were at a downtown hospital to visit with her before she was put under and stayed until the procedure was over. Her procedure was pronounced a success and she’ll be home – better than ever – tomorrow. At 5:30 p.m. I was...

Thunderstorms

In our lives there are ups and downs; this week has seen some of each. Paul has been having transient bone pain and flagging energy, but learning to manage pain a bit better by staying ahead of it a bit with meds. I had a cystoscopy on Wednesday that was a-okay, which cheered us both – 18 months in the clear now! We’ve had several warm and thundering nights here. Unlike others I love the sound of...

Call for Submissions: Your Story About Help

As you know, we launched an initiative called CareGifters in March. Through CareGifters, we fund caregiving solutions, one family caregiver at a time. Each month, we raise $500 to give to a family caregiver; the family caregiver uses the money to fund a solution for one (or more) of their challenges. We raise money for CareGifters through direct donations and through the sales of “I CAN!” wrist bands....

Why?

Why did Nicole have to be one of the one’s who fell through the cracks? Why was she was born with a large hole in her heart and nobody knew? I try to stay positive and just focus on today and how blessed I am to have Nicole. Other days, I want to scream and cry. I remember the old Nicole and now the new Nicole. She is just different mostly due to her lack of being able to do a lot of physical activity,...

Webinar Follow-Up: What’s Your Future Self Wisdom?

In yesterday’s free webinar, Planting your Seeds for Your Future, I helped your see your future, however you define your future. And, as you visualized your future, you had a chance to ask your future self how you can overcome a fear. So, I’d love to know: What did your future self tell you? Please share what you learned in our comments section, below. (Did you miss yesterday’s webinar? No...

Falling Behind…

There are times when I get into this funky mood and just can’t get myself to snap out of it. Well right now I am currently in it. Lately I just been noticing more and more that people from high school are moving on with life and doing great things while I’m stuck in mine. Many girls who went to school with me have children, married and some are even on their second child. No I do not want to be 23 and...

Dropping The Robe

Nelson transitioned on April 20, 2011 with The Style Crone and Camille at his side, loving him and touching him as he drew his last breath. His dazzling smile and inspirational spirit live on in the air that we breathe. Now cracks a noble heart Good night, sweet prince And flights of angels Sing thee to thy...

Share Your Miraculous Moment

Yesterday afternoon on Your Caregiving Journey, Elissa Al-Chokhachy joined me to discuss her book and our March Caregiving Book Club pick, Miraculous Moments, True Stories that Life Goes On. You can listen to our discussion via the player, below. Miraculous Moments is a collection of 88 stories from individuals telling a true tale about connecting to family members and friends who have died. The authors write about...

A Wrong Turn Into the Right Life

This morning on Your Caregiving Journey, Anna Stookey joined me to talk about how the wrong turns in life often lead to the right life. You can listen to our show via the player below. I’ve been thinking about life’s wrong turns. I’ve noticed that when I take a wrong turn in the car I often find a short cut. What if, I’ve thought, a wrong turn leads to the right life? Anna and I discussed...

In Six Words, What’s a Good Day?

About two weeks ago, you shared your bad days—in six words. I thought it would be fun to describe your good day in six words. (You can read how Kathy describes a good day in three words here.) You might describe a good day this way: We laughed so hard we cried. We smiled, together and at once. We held hands, which held hope. I took time, I found peace. And, when you share, you also get a chance to win. I’ll...

Center

I like words that have several meanings. Center, for instance, carries two meanings. You can center so that you connect within yourself to act and think in a way that honors who you are. Or: You can be in the center of a storm. In caregiving, you may feel like you are in the middle of many storms. A health care storm. A family storm. An internal storm. All these storms can knock you off your center. Find your...

What is Our Primary Responsibility?

(Editor’s Note: Today, we welcome a second new blogger, Jonathan, who cares for his wife and cared for his mother-in-law.) With all the video out there garnering viewership and making money for people, it’s hard to sort through the reviews designed to benefit the reviewer or make money for a friend from those that actually sing the praises of good work. Oprah went nuts over a movie called “Eat, Pray,...

Now I Call Myself a Caregiver

(Editor’s Note: Today, we introduce a new blogger, Jennifer, who cares for her husband, Paul.) For the past 16 months I’ve not thought of myself as a “Caregiver” for my husband, Paul, who was diagnosed with inoperable prostate cancer.  When something is “inoperable” you need to feel more like part of a team whose problem is mutual. For us it is doubly bitter since we were...

Happy Easter

Religion is very important to Robert. Growing up, our parents went through a “church phase” (it was the 70’s and there were a lot of phases). We went to church fairly regularly for a while – trying out different faiths – but I wouldn’t say either of our parents were “religious.” Mom grew up in a devoutly Catholic family but, for whatever reason, did not continue those rituals when raising us kids...

Happy Easter Update

Hi all, My mom is doing fairly well at the moment. A week ago today, the confusion lifted, and she has been back to her old self mentally. There is still mild confusion, but nothing like what we were dealing with from mid-March until last week. This, in spite of moving to an adult family home on Wednesday. She’s doing so well, that we’re bringing her home for Easter dinner today, and an overnight stay...

The Caregiver’s Dictionary

Sometimes I think caregiving should have its’ own dictionary.  Everything seems to take on a different meaning than Webster’s. It’s so easy to envision what our holidays and special days should be, based on what they have been. This morning started with an Easter egg hunt – as the clues in the eggs always lead to the baskets. (: Rees and Abrah decided they didn’t want to participate...

Buy a Band; Help a Caregiver

The bands are here! We’re selling Caregiving.com wrist bands which feature the message, “I Can!” The orange bands sell for $5; a portion of the $5 will be donated to CareGifters.org, our initiative which gives $500 to a family caregiver. CareGifters supports caregiving solutions, one family caregiver at a time. Thanks so much to Bette for spearheading this project. She had the idea, found our...

Social Security Journey

Yesterday we started the Social Security journey again with Nicole. I hope that we will get farther with it then last year when we initially applied. My husband had just been laid off from his job and had been given a severance package which based on that we were denied. They don’t even look at the health issues if you don’t meet their financial guidelines. There’s a wonderful non-profit...