GOD ANSWERS PRAYER!!!!!

Carol has now been in the Nursing Home (NH) for 3 weeks and we are very comfortable by the way that God has answered our prayers.  We prayed that she would not have any sadness, anger, or desires to leave whenever we visited.  Only God could have enabled these request to come about.

Carol is very Content, glad to see us ( very simply) and likes to see her family visit her.  She has never asked me to take her home, --please don't go--etc,  She is very peaceful with her surroundings.  The staff seems to be taking good care of her.  One aide has changed Carol's hair to a pony tail to keep it out of her face.  Her head is nearly always drooping to the right.  It was hard to feed her and she seemed to even have trouble chewing so they now chop her main food up.  But she does swallow her food, drinks her tea or water.  She continues to walk from her recliner to her bed, to her bathroom.  But the staff is very cautious and protective which is OK with us.  A fall can be a disaster in her lifestyle. 

GOD IS GOOD and we are very relieved to have her reacting in such a good way. 

But----please do keep us in your prayers.  I am feeling a lot of loneleness but OK otherwise.   

Love from Carol and Bill.    2/17   7:00PM

CAROL IS NOW IN A NURSING HOME

Last friday, the Alzheimer's facility decided that Carol could get better and more personal care in an adjoining Nursing Home.  So we moved her and took some of her furniture but she is sharing a room.  But she seems contended and we see no anger or agitation.  She sometimes shows recognition but usually she just continues to look at pictures or eat or whatever she was doing.  No conversation but seems to be in fairly good spirits.  We still feel that this is what God was leading us to do.  It is very hard on me as I just get down and funky.  I'm OK when I am with her but miss her in our home. 

Leave a comment if you feel like it.    bill

CAROL NOW LIVING IN AN ALZHEIMER'S FACILITY

During December, Carol took a downward spiral and had a fall and several squats that took her down.  I had great difficulty getting her back to her feet.  She was still walking hesitantly and we tried to indoctrinate her to use a walker.  She was still sleeping well and eating with some "proding".  I awoke one morning with the strong conviction that the time had arrived to start the process of finding a new home for Carol.  I truly believe that God was directing this new direction.  We choose The Courtyard, part of The Christian Care Center, Mesquite.  It is the same facility her father lived for about a year.  We think it is very good with a lot of compassionat staff. 

Carol seems to be adjusting very well and has not had any anger or sad actions.  She is glad to see us when we get there and is being kept busy with a lot of interestng activities. 

I will post more in several days.            bill

50th Wedding Anniversary

50th Wedding Anniversary

Bill & Carol Eldridge

Bill & Carol Eldridge are celebrating their 50th Wedding Anniversary on January 15, 2010. Due to Carol’s condition with Alzheimer’s we are compiling a Memory Book for them in lieu of a reception. You are someone important in their lives! Please help us celebrate with them by emailing or mailing a fond memory you have with Bill & Carol. Carol LOVES pictures so photographs of you, or with Bill & Carol will be most appreciated. Please mail or email your stories by January 15th to one of the addresses below.

cdennard@att.net (Carman Eldridge Dennard) or eric@theeldridges.net (Eric Eldridge) or

billeldridge2@att.net (Bill Eldridge)

Or, snailmail to: Bill Eldridge
3404 Waterview Trail

Rockwall, TX 75087

Here's a a short video commemorating our 50 years of marriage:

THANKSGIVING UPDATE-2009

I will try to decipher some things that Carol might be Thankful at this time in her rapidly declining life.  Some ideas that come to mind, in no particular order:

1. She still sleeps good at night and sometimes an afternoon nap with me.  We go to bed soon after it gets dark but I try to keep her awake until at least 8:00 pm.  She awakes soon after daybreak. Sleeps very solidly.
2. She is still is able to go to bathroom by herself but I usually remind her.  She seems to have a larege bladder which is something I am very thankful for.  A few minor accidents but not using Depends yet.
3. She is still able to walk though it is more like a shuffle.  A couple of trips but onlly one fall and this is another big thing -   Thank you Lord!
4. She still likes to eat and does OK in this dept.  I have to prepare food and serve her and then cut up her food.  Does not drink much unless I coax her. Try to keep a Coke out all day so that she will get some liquid.  Water is sometimes OK at mealtime.  Also Crystal Light Peach Tea.
5. Her sensory ability is noticibly declining.  Especially her smell and taste.  She now eats some things she hasn't eaten since we have been married.  Things like onions, brown bread, cottage cheese, sour cream, and even ate some of my corn beef hash the other morning. Her smelling ability has almost vanashed which makes my male bad habits go unnoticed.  I am not sure she hears as good but definitely does not understand most words.  Her speech is virtually gone except for a very few words or phrases.  Still says " I love you"  and Thank you.  Go is a major expression because she love to go places.  I call her my Go  Go  Girl. 
6. Not only does she profess to love me, she follows me around the house all the time.  Does not like to be left alone.  In the kitchen, she is right behind or beside me whatever I am doing.  But she can not really help anymore.  Still try to get her to help me put away the dishes from the dishwasher but it is not very successful.
7. Her favorite pastime is looking at pictures, or albums or picture magazines.  She acts like she is explaining what she is looking at but we seldom know what she is saying.  They call it babbling and it is so sad, because I know she wants to talk to me but most of the times she accepts that I don't know what she is saying.  I think it hurts me more than it does her.
8. I am thankful that Carol does not seem to realize how much she has lost.  It would be devastating to her and unbearable to live.  Sometimes, she cries and she can't tell me what is wrong.  I assume that she is experiencing some kind of realization that something is wrong.  She used to ask questions about her disease and if she would ever get well.  Now, I hear nothing but just witness the blank look on her face.  It is very hard to see her dieing a little more each day.  I think a big day of Thanksgiving will be when she gets to join Jesus in Heaven. 
9. We are especially thankfur for all our friends from the neighborhood and church who have been so kind by bringing prepared meals.  They have been excellant and much better than my cooking.  Many have also come by to visit and stay with Carol while I take a little break or respite.  You're great friends.  
10. We are both thankful to have a baby in the house 3 days a week when Addy comes to help us.  Carol does seem to enjon Caleb or as I call him-"bigaboy!"

Hope I was not too descriptive.  I will try to add some things as time goes on.   Love to you all!!!!! Bill

Some have asked if we could use your Help!!

I'm often asked by many of you, our friends, what you can do to help(?). It's hard for me to answer that some of the time. I've been encouraged to make a little list, (below). If you find it in your heart to choose from this list, or if it gives you another idea, we'll love and appreciate you even more! I have a Helper (from Ghana) that comes over three days a week for a few hours. She cooks lunch and does the laundry and other light housekeeping. But mostly, she entertains Carol by looking at pictures, or playing with her 3 month old baby boy that Carol loves. But Carol does not like it when I leave for any reason (except maybe a Doctors visit) and is angry when I get back. Almost not worth it. But Carol does like to:

Go to movies
Drive around the county
Drive through residential neighborhoods.
And of course go to Church.
She likes to eat out and her manners are not embarrassing, just a little slow
She likes people to come by and visit (but conversation is almost impossible)
She likes to look at any kind of picture. Mildred brought her pic’s of her mission trip to Ghana
I could use any kind of meal, (casserole, salad, sandwich, etc.) for evenings.
I also need conversation with other adults but that is hard because Carol wants to be included.

If you would like to help and any of these items appeal to you, I am sure open. Alzheimer’s is very hard on the Caregiver. The constant attention it requires is never ending. And it is so sad to see the one you love loose her brain right in front of you. Ronald Reagans daughter wrote the book “THE LONG GOODBYE!” which is very appropriate. We still have hope but it is not because of any cure that is even on the horizon. We hope they find it sooner rather than later.

Thank you, Carol and Bill

MIRACLE MEMORY

Today, I took Carol to the movie about Julia Childs. As we were walking from handicap parking, around the bldg to the theater entrance, Carol pulled an old memory out of her brain. When we were still about 20 yards to the few stairs, Carol reminded me that " right up in front is where you fell before" (or something like that!) The fall did happen but it was 2 yrs ago last Jan. There is nothing even close to this old memory that she remembers. When we got to the stairs, I pointed to the placed I fell and she seemed to agree. It was a very dramatic occasion. I was bleeding badly and had sore knee and arm. Someone called 911 and we were transported to the emergency room. Presbyterian Hosp, Rockwall, sent me and ambulance to Presby. Dallas because their MRI machine was out of order. Presby decided that main damage was a broken nose, but no concussion or skull damage. Guess that shows what a hard head I am. I thought I had damage to my right eye but Dr finally decided that it was Macular Degeneration. Thought you would get a better understanding of what Carol might have remembered. She does recogonize pictures of family members, especially her mother, father and of course her siblings and her children.




If you want to leave a comment, just click on the comment below and look at bottom of screen for an open box. Would love to hear from you. bill