As I reported in my previous post, Kate was slow to get going yesterday. We skipped Panera and went straight to lunch. We didn’t arrive at the restaurant until 1:50. It was after 3:30 before we got back home. We spent almost an hour relaxing in the family room when she said she want to rest a while. Shortly after that, our son, Kevin, called. I went in the bedroom to see if she would like to take the call, but she wanted to rest. That’s just one more change that is taking place. In the past, she would have jumped on the phone right away. Kevin and I must have talked 45 minutes or so. She continued resting another thirty minutes.
When she was up, it was already an hour past our typical time for dinner. I didn’t think that was a problem since we had eaten lunch so late. By the time we got home, it was 8:15. I decided not to watch another musical. We just relaxed a short time. She surprised me by putting away her iPad and going to bed right after 9:00. I had been afraid she would not be able to go to sleep after sleeping so late and then taking a late afternoon nap. I was wrong.
I wasn’t sure what to expect this morning. Not surprisingly, she was up early and was ready for Panera at 8:45. Most of the time she isn’t even up by that time. So here we are. That makes me happy. We should have plenty of time together before the sitter comes. We should not have to rush our lunch. I suspect, however, that she is likely to get tired and want to go home in another hour. That would be close to the time I would get her lunch. We’ll see what happens.
Upon arrival, I noted another change that is occurring. Typically, I set up her iPad at our table and then go to the counter to order and pay for her muffin and our drinks. She goes directly to the drink dispensers and returns to the table. I wait near the table until she has her drink before going to the counter. Otherwise, she doesn’t know which table is ours. Today she approached me and said, “Where do you get ice?” This is something she has been doing for years. Once again, I shouldn’t have been surprised. Recently, I had noticed some confusion when she was at the dispenser. I thought it was just trying to decide what drink to get. Now I think it must be all the all options she has. Like most dispensers, the ice is right among the various drinks. It can be confusing, especially to someone with Alzheimer’s. On one or two occasions, she has given her cup to me to get ice and her drink. This may become our new normal.
