Our Butterfly Lady today

So maybe I left you all hanging for a few days, worried sick about Mom's status... Well, I'm sure you weren't worried sick but at least were maybe more aware of the insidious progression of Alzheimer's. Mom has bounced back to some extent, but Joe and I believe the lapse the other day is another symptom of the progressive decline we have seen this past year. Today, he and I have moved our laptops to her office - the three of us at the dining room table - Joe desperately seeking employment and me avoiding getting lunch ready.

Mom has been napping a lot this week coming out of her room to sit in her "office" doing crafts, talking to the dog and gazing out of the window. Joe is in his office a lot and not very entertaining or engaging for her. We had some really warm days this week so he was able to take her to lunch and to the craft store, which she totally enjoyed. (The Waffle House is their lunch spot) A good day for Mom is when she gets to go somewhere or someone comes to play with her. I say that she has bounced back a bit because her eyes are bright she responds to simple conversation with her - not necessarily on the same track as the conversation - but a heartfelt attempt no less.

And you know that it was church and IHOP last night. If we ever have trivia questions about what is on their menu, Joe and I would win! That part aside, Mom was engaged and singing in church, greeting everyone, waving to people from the pew and clapping her hands to the music. She was adorned with her butterfly necklaces, bracelets and rings - which everyone notices and comments on - she loves it! At IHOP, Mom studied the menu and decided to have something different. We joked and teased - Joe reminding her of liver and onions and me sounding shocked and surprised. Given a minute to talk to Courtney, our weekly waitress, Mom asked about something on the menu that said 5 pancakes and asked how big they were. Courtney said they were kind of big but they could make them smaller - or maybe she just wanted 3 instead.(Courtney serves us every week in the same booth and knows that this is her usual of course.) Mom agreed to either one and asked what they put on top of the pancakes. Courtney advised her that she could have anything she wanted - did she want syrup or maybe strawberries? Mom said that strawberries sounded good. See what I mean about kind of bouncing back? It was if Mom did not remember that she orders that every week and that has been the theme with most everything since her bad day earlier in the week.

Well, Joe is still unemployed and we still have not had lunch! Mom is waiting to take her nap until after lunch and we do try not to deviate from schedules too much! Love you ALL.