Hi Everyone, I hope you are all

With over a month under out belts of additional isolation…… I miss just wandering around the grocery store, just looking at things, Simple life graces that keep us connected; the actual impact of this is starting to affect me.

Even though isolation has become a part of my life in many ways, the added pressure ( for lack of a better term) had only added to the loneliness & separation.

I am lucky, however. In a few short days our house will be ready and I will be with my family.

I would like to share some of the relaxation measures and techniques I use to help me remain whole, I am hoping they will help you, in the event you are feeling not quite yourself. I have found that these small measures have allowed me to bring me back to myself, think clearer and be at peace with the going’s on.

The first is one of the meditation’s I use, earphones in, any time of the day. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVLVC7jIB5M&t=1592s

My daughter calls it my “hippie mumbo-jumbo stuff” hahhahahaha, but I love it. I have followed Kelly Howell for years, her meditations have helped immensely throughout my life. It is part of my mindfulness practices.

Next, pure lavender oil. Lavender oil on your feet, on the soles of your feet. The soles of our feet have large pores so they’re the perfect place for essential oil absorption. A good high-quality lavender oil on the bottom of your feet, a quick massage, cozy socks and crawl into bed. Happy sleep. You can also put a small amount on your pillow case, let it sit for 10 minutes before you go to bed and the scent will be subtle but effective for a good nights sleep.

That is my two tips for today, hope they are useful to you!

Next……….

WEll……. took some time out again because my pain came back, and it came back 10 fold. So Awful. I wrote in my last blog, I thought it was creeping in, well it did. I cried so much.

When the first real pain started, when my brain in the Parietal section started to show its true colors, it was absolutely horrible. I had never felt anything like that in my entire life…… and I thought I had it under control. I thought with my natural anti-inflammatory stuff and the meds the doctor gave me, I was good for quite a while. However during that while, I did not keep a good eye on my anti-inflammatory and started running low. Huh! imagine that!

I have a standing order on Amazon ( much less expensive than my health food store and it delivers) but when I first starting experiencing pain I added 1 or 2 extra per day till my meds kicked in, I didn’t account for the “shortage” and let my delivery date remain the same.

In my region, the Health Food store that carries my specific brand is not a stand alone store but located in a shopping mall. We have 2 malls. Both are closed during this Covid19 time. Stuck.

I asked my daughter to see if she could change things, but alas. Anyway…… I streamlined my remaining pills over 2 weeks, reducing my normal dosage. Boy did I pay for it. Slowly but surely I could feel the pain creeping in. A bit here and there, subtle.

I started feeling odd sensations. It was like I could remember those sensations, way in the back of my mind……something familiar. I never imagined it would fully rear its head.

My daughter was supposed to drop by with my groceries ( I love her), and I called her. “Honey, I think I’m having a body fog” That’s what I call it, I no longer get brain fogs, its been now over a year, my experience now is a body fog with pain ripping through my back like fire and systematically lighting all the nerves in my body from the top of my head to my toes. She was so surprised , she couldn’t even say anything for a few seconds.

Again, since Wednesday of this week, I’ve spent most everyday in bed, fitfully trying to sleep, get comfortable and crying; the two weeks leading up to that, carefully safeguarding myself and hoping to avoid that happening. That’s why I haven’t written anything. My safeguards and self preservation steps into first place during those times.

Wednesday was also the day, my anti-inflammatory was delivered. I feel better today. My daughter changed the delivery to every 30 days. I can stock up now, just incase.

Next………

My Dementia manifests in all the ways I have described and there is still more unknowns to come as well as the “knowns”. This disease, although labeled in blanket form, manifests differently in every person diagnosed. Although I have been diagnosed with Early On Set Alzheimer’s Dementia, I am quite sure, for some of you, my journey is not what you expected or thought to be EOAD. Well, this is how my Dementia is playing out. Uniquely, just as it is playing out uniquely in every other beautiful person diagnosed with EOAD. That is also ONE of the reasons doctors have very little answers.

I am back up and just chugging along.

There is a connective line that all people with any form of Dementia share, it’s just there. WE just do, we just go on, we just live. We strive, we continue our days, adjusting, sometimes unknowingly. WE become the warriors, silently. We evolve into who we are in each day without skipping a beat. We just continue, different each day , perhaps, but no worries, chuggin’ along for as long as we can.

Mindfulness, as I mentioned above, means neither dwelling in the past, nor getting caught up in dreaming about the future; remaining focused on the here and now, the present; allowing yourself to experience, fully, every single moment, and savoring it. It means less internal conflict and overwhelming thoughts, providing a clear path to less stress and suffering. I think that practice had led me to be able to accept this as fearfully as I have.

So once again, I send to all of you, the Warriors of this silent, intimate success, all of my love. xo

Segue……..

MOVING IN 11 DAYS! My Son-in-law visits the build almost daily and updates me with all the details. Love him.

My grandkiddies, the older ones, well, the excitement is muted. The isolation for them is still full of school work, Karate lessons via on line lessons, and no physical contact with their friends. Right now, they can’t imagine just how much this is going to fulfill them. But once it comes……. I cant wait to see them light up!

I am buying them all new bedding and google mini’s for their rooms. The mini will be their new alarm clocks, intercom for the house ( magical in many way including me pranking them hahahahaah) a learning tool for studies and so many other things. They are the light of my life.

Soon we can get back to the forest, I may not be able to walk as long, but this means we can sit more, observe and tell funny stories while sitting longer in that beautiful place.

Stay well my friends xo Jan

And now….. Imagine Dragons, Whatever it Takes. https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=gOsM-DYAEhY&list=PL9LUD5Kp855JQsoWUNapX28-7xX8jSnoX