It has been pouring rain all day today. Mom and I went to Target and I had her celexa prescription filled, 90 days for $12.00. It's the generic version. Tonight Mom has had diar, but she just had the celexa with dinner so it seems too soon for it to kick in. I will keep an eye on it. She gets so frustrated with the diar. It sucks.

Took Mom to the doctor today to discuss several things including her boredom and frustration. The doctor also discussed having Mom go for tests from a neuropsychologist; she thinks it would be beneficial to find out where Mom is doing OK and where her memory is failing. I agree so I will push for this with Mom. Mom started to get mad, put on her coat and went for the door. The doctor also prescribed a low dose of antidepressant which I will have filled tomorrow at Target (they have $4 dollar generic prescriptions and this one should qualify). Poor Mom, she is losing her independence in so many ways, so I'm hoping that the antidepressant will help with her anger and frustration, and her crying spells. I feel so bad for her. On the up side, the Meals on Wheels that I started last week seems to be helping the bathroom issues. The meals are high in fiber which causes a tummy ache but that should subside after a week or two. Yesterday morning she had a nosebleed (which she remembers) and I asked to have her protime checked for this. Haven't heard the results. It has been raining all day, very wet, cold and dreary. I can't believe that March is almost over. It came in like a lion (blizzards) and is going out rather lamb-like.

We received Angie's senior picture yesterday! I see resemblances with her Mom and our family in her features.

I'm off for 3 days and looking forward to some sunshine and mild weather.

Today at lunch we were talking about places we'd like to visit. Here is my list in no particular order: Paris, Banff, Grand Canyon, Savannah, Charleston, London, Hawaii. I was reading about the Grand Canyon Railway. That sounds like fun.

Tonight I've been transported back to the 70s. I just read that the lead singer of the band Boston has died. Another victim of the black dog known as depression. God I hate depression and the stigma that goes along with it. People just don't realize that it's a killer. That it messes up your mind and causes you to want to do anything to escape from it. People, you've got to learn to take this illness more seriously, because it's going to continue to claim the lives of those who can't escape from it.

It's amazing how a song can bring memories from 30 years ago flooding back. Suddenly I'm in junior high again in a small Michigan town and the song "More than a Feeling" is playing. I must have worn out that album listening to it over and over. I loved that album.

Tonight we talked to A. It lifts Mom's spirits lately to talk to her other kids. I'm glad for that. They need to keep connected to her, and I know that she needs to be connected to them.

Tonight she is in a much better mood, perhaps because the house cleaner was here and she always takes time to talk to Mom when she is done cleaning. Mom always mentions that she talked to V too so I know that it means a lot to her.

Yesterday it was 66 degrees. Our snow is going, going, gone.

Stinky spent the evening sacked out on Mom's lap. She is really attached to Mom.

Seems like I always choose the wrong solution for a programming problem. I'm tired of that.

Mom is in a pissy mood again tonight. And I'm in excruciating pain from my fibromyalgia. I worry about who is Mom's support network?

It was a busy Friday for us. This morning Mom and I met with the counselor from the U of MN study. It was very apparent to me just how much Mom repeats herself. On the way out she had an accident and we had to go home to change. We were supposed to go to get her INR and B12 shot, but I just rescheduled the appointments for later. Then later this afternoon I met with the social worker at Senior Community Services for some caregiver coaching. Everyone I meet with asks if I have siblings and how involved they are with Mom's care. When I mention that they live out of state the counselors always say, that doesn't matter, they can still give emotional support and other types of support. I guess that's true. This woman has met Mom twice so she had some good insight into Mom and she really thinks that we need to convince Mom to try the Adult Day Care. She also thinks Mom needs to be on antidepressants, preferably the ones that address anxiety as well. Mom has been really teary today and very upset about her accidents. I feel so bad for her. She is crying herself to sleep tonight, she hasn't done that for awhile.

It was close to 50 degrees today!! Snowmelt is happening everywhere.

I should be looking for work closer to home considering the situation with Mom. I see jobs that I could apply for, but then I have my doubts and I think about the 'tests' that many employers are giving IT job candidates and I decide to forgo the application process. I just don't have a lot of confidence in myself.

Poor mom is going crazy with boredom. I wish everyday for some guidance so that I can figure out something to make her life more fulfilling.

We have new neighbors. Someone bought one of the model homes and they moved in during the snowstorm last weekend. They appear to be retirees. That's what is cool about this neighborhood; the mixture of residents.

My cold is getting better everyday, but I am still having coughing fits. Last night I didn't get very much sleep because of the coughing.

Tomorrow I am driving the vanpool. And then it will be Friday. We are meeting the counselor in the study in which I am participating, Mom is getting her B12 shot and her INR, and then I am meeting with the woman at the senior center for caregiving coaching. This woman has met Mom so she will have good insight I hope into ways to take care of mom and help her deal with her memory loss.

"Of all God's creatures,
there is only one
that cannot be made
the slave of the lash.
That one is the cat.
If man could be
crossed with a cat
it would improve man,
but it would
deteriorate the cat."

-Mark Twain

Today I watched Nora the piano playing cat on youtube. What a cute video! I think that we could get Stinky to do that.

Am feeling much, much better today. Am nearly over this cold, which according to others, is quite a monster lasting several weeks. Mom shows no signs of getting it so far which makes me very happy.ark Twain

Stayed home today and I think that it helped. Have been using Zicam, Vick's Vapo Rub and I think they are helping. Went to get my hair cut tonight. Mom is so weird. She doesn't sundown, she sunups. She is very strange in the morning. On Friday I am meeting with a social worker (turns out to be the woman at the Senior Center) to discuss caregiver training. I need help getting help for me and for Mom. She is so stubborn though! I worry about her while I am at work, especially now that she has twice mentioned a desire to go out driving on her own.

We upgraded to digital cable and with it came a new remote. Mom struggles with it of course. But the digital picture is pretty good.

Still sick; horrible sore throat, headache and cold. Think I might call the doctor as it seems to be in my tonsils.

There are piles and piles of snow all over our neighborhood. We can't use our front sidewalk, it's impossible to get to. There is a huge pile of snow near the street. Last night Mom's financial guy (foolishly) drove from Duluth's blizzard to see Mom and discuss her portfolio. He had planned to get here @ 4:30 but he didn't show up until nearly 6:30. He had called several times to tell us where he was at.

Today Mom and I went out for a drive and for lunch just to get out of the house. It's sunny and things are starting to melt. I'm done with winter now. She is really upset about her memory but when I bring up the possibility of a memory evaluation she balks. I guess she is scared of hearing the 'A' word. But it might not be Alzheimer's. She is so stubborn. I wish she would be more open to some of these things. But then again, I'm not sure what I would be like in her shoes...

We are getting dumped with more snow today. It started out as icy and now it's snowing non-stop. So far we've had 8 inches of snow along with the foot that we got last weekend. To top things off I have a sore throat and am feeling very achy and feverish. I hope I don't give whatever I am getting to Mom.