I have been here on this board for a month or two now and am getting to know everyone but have noticed that I really dont know the history of all the old posts. Quite often something is mentioned in a current post regarding things from past posts or about your LO's that would help me "know" the wonderful people posting here. I would like to start a thread for a little bio on people so we can get to know everyone. When I have looked up people's profiles, quite often they just say they are caring for MIL or Mother. I think it would help to know a little about the LO's, their condition, if you care for them in your home or in a facility, how long you have been caring for them etc.

It just helps me get an idea of where the other person is and how their situation relates to mine.

Please let me know if you would be interested in this information also.

I don't always post, but I'm usually around. Altho no AD in my husband's family, he got it and I think he was very young, but I thought all his odd behaviors were male hormones, stress, whatever, never thought it could be a brain disease. I could no longer ignore things when he was 64. Told the doc if it was Alz, don't tell me, make something up. I chose to be in denial and knew zilch about the disease. However, I was forced to learn. I cared for him for 10 yrs, he died in 2003. Now I write a monthly AD column at todayssr.com and have published two AD books. By sharing what I've learned, I feel it makes my husband's ordeal count for something--helping others get thru it is important and I know he'd agree. Of course I've had to build a new life since he died, and I have some residual medical problems from the long-term stress, should have taken better care of myself--that's what I tell everyone--and I know it's not always easy. But mostly, life is OK.

Hey Kid,
I hope this is what you are looking for.

I am in my mid 60's and I care for my mother who has developed Alzheimer's disease. She was diagnoised in '97 (she is 84 now) after she had a stroke that did not affect her physically but mentally took a big tole. Mom is in late stage.
I also have a son who is in mid fourtys that needs some looking after because he has schizophrenia. He was diagnoised in his early twenties.

My mother lives in a trailer which is about twenty feet from my back door. My son lives with her. We recently moved to my mother in laws property on which we put a house so that we could take care of them all. My MIL is still pretty active but at 83 she needs some help.

Just recently My only daughter has been diagnoised with an adrenal gland tumor and we are waiting "patiently" for it to be removed. Should happen on the 4th of April. Will not know until then if it is malignant but am hopeful.

I know how you feel. I came here in 2000 I think and was lost at first. Because folks don't really fill in those bio very well. I guess I didn't either, have to go back and look at that.

Anyway I hope my bit of info has helped.
BTW I don't have pets, but have three lovely teenage granddughters. A son in AirForce Reserves(who flies a jet and goes to Iraq area a lot) I am a busy Gabby Granny. Hense the name GABGAN

Bob cat, so cute.I have 2 cats that I love but drive me crazy.They know food time like clock work.If I do not feed them on time, the one will chew on my bags, the other will go around my living room and knock things off the table.I tell them it is a good thing I love them.

I can finally share a pic of the best old gal I ever had. She's the one who would kill a mouse and tuck it in my work boot in case I forgot to pack my lunch. She tried to take good care of her Momma.

Hey The Kid, I hope you can get back soon. I'ld like to get to know you. Some parts of the country got double whammied. No hope of power for weeks. I can hang in for about a week, but after that I have to bail, especially with Mom. Just so you know, I'm thinking of you. Best of luck.
Respectfully yours, Bobcat

I learned through my one cat that they are so much like humans.My daughter saw this kitten thrown from a car on a busy highway.My daughter held her breath when trying to entice the kitten to come to her to be rescued.That went well.What she soon discoverd was the kitten had a broken tail , parasites and was very aggressive.Why because all human touch , to her, represented abuse.When she moved in the kitten came with her.The cat was so aggressive in her behavior to the point she would attack.I took her to the vet and the vet placed her on Prozac.Quite common for animal behavior.I learned she never liked closed inside doors.She was always on her guard.I had another cat and the new one would try to be aggressive.I had to be consistant and watchful so the other cat did not get harmed.At one point the vet thought I would have to make a choice on whether I would get rid of the new cat.I told her my kids were bad as children but I never gave up on them.It took a while , long while and alot of hard work.The cat is now a lap cat , no aggressive, just a delightful cat.Well she has a bad day now and then.When she has a less then good day I place her in a room by herself for a short time.She interacts with everyone who comes to care for hubby.Follows me around like a shadow.Time and effort , plus consistancy payed off.She is so alert to any changes in the house./One time hubby fell and she let me know.

Another animal lover here. Only have one dog unless you count all the birds we feed and the odd squirrel and raccoon and deer that eat the garden or birdfeed. When I was little(real little) we were raised on goat's milk-hence a goat to supply it. Haven't drank goat's milk in 50+ years but still sometimes buy goat's cheese. We also had rabbits and chickens at various times. Problem with the rabbits was they were supposed to be for meatDad finally had to get someone else to slaughter them and Mom froze them in the locker for about a year before she cooked and fed them to us as you guessed itchickenVery conveniently all us kids prefered white meat. I don't remember if Dad ate it or not. I didn't know bout what had happened to them until a few years ago during one of our family get togethers. Not only do I agree we learn from our pets they also have a 6th sense about people-they don't need words to know how we are feeling. They have programs here where people take their pets to visit residents in care homes. When Mike was in hospitals and various facilities our dog was always allowed to visit. Our old dobie was the first dog allowed into the ICU in the hospital where Mike had his stroke. The Dr. even helped lift her onto the bed. It doesn't seem possible it is almost 7 years since our Brandy(dobie) left us. I always say she and my Dad sent Sandy(our labx) as she was born about the same time Brandy passed away. Gypsy

Hey, The KID
Moms_Buddy, The hardest thing for me to master, and I still fail miserably at times, is the ability to be here right now. Not yesterday, not tomorrow, but right now. The next hardest thing they try desparetly to teach me is to let it go. Then, the whole control issue, task masters on that one too. What kind of creature would I be, if they didn't keep me in my place, I really wonder.
Where is TheKid in all this, she started this wonderful topic and hasn't told us squat about her cats yet.

Edit, I just checked her last post, chance is the power is still out there. Don't know quite where that is , but I know some places got hit hard then and are still in trouble. Best of luck to you Kid, hope things are back to normal soon and you guys are Ok. PLease be Ok. I've been through 5 Power outages in the past 10 years that lasted more than 3 days, the longest lasted 8, and we were lucky to be on the main drag. Sounds like you take storm drill seriously, too. JEEZ.....

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Bobcat, I honestly think that nearly everything important about life, I learned from dogs. I'm still struggling with some concepts and ways that just come natural to them... Their wisdom is astonishing when folks slow down enough to listen and observe.

Wow , it's great to hear about everyones pets. I'm not as ambitious as I used to be about having them all, but I currently have 2 cats, Bobcat, 4 1/2, and Topcat, close to 9, 2 goats, Chip and Dale, twin Nubean wethers (nuetered boys) who are 9 this spring(and who's names would have been Burger and Chop if I hadn't taken them after weaning) and a very old horse, 36, that I keep at a nearby farm. At my hayday, I had up to 5 dogs, 12 rescue Easter bunnies, a flock of chickens, 2 geese, and a turkey no one had the heart to eat at Thanksgiving, as well as having 2 cats at all times. I know there are people who don't like to compare non humans and humans in this sense, but the critters honed my nonverbal communication skills with humans, we critter people can often see a look, a grimace, a hint of pleasure or pain, not spoken. I guess some folks don't need a dog or a cat to teach them these things and I'm just a slow learner, but I take my lessons where I can get them, and these guys have been the best teachers I could have ever had. Even at how to say good bye, and what my limits are in having things my way at times. Any one else feel that way? Bobcat

Bunnys Grl, you too have a full house.It is amazing how these animals rule the nest.
My grandchildren have 1 dog, 1cat, 2 birds, big house turtle and something else I forget what they are called.When you go to the turtles home and talk he comes to you.In the summer they take it outside to play in the grass.
My daughter has a dog and cat which she got from the rescue shelter.So I am a grandmother to human and domeatic animals, at least that is what the xmas cards said.

Pics pics! We need pics!

2 dogs Brandy an Whiskey 1 guinea pig Smores who rules the entire house with her squeals of "I WANT FOOD"! And who now has her own personal chair cause lord knows she couldnt live without one! And a lil bird "Peepers" aka "Mr Sheffield" named after the character in "The Nanny"
BBL with pics of Smores in her new plush chair
Her she is in all her glory!

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MomsBuddy, you do have a full house and a good heart.Having dealt with cats all my life they do the darnest things.

We have 2 dawgs, a facist wabbit and 10 cats, one of whom has been choosing to crap on Big Louie's bed lately and when I catch that twisted Sister cat at it, BAM ZOOM TO DA MOON!!! I know the nursery rhyme said the COW jumped over the moon, but they didn't have a cat that craps on their dog's bed!!

Atilla Da Bun
Big Louie
Rambo (aka Da Maggot)

Callie (11 year old happiest kitty on the planet), who had...
Buster (6)
Cornflake(5)
Moonshine(5)
Kohl(5)

and...
Sadie (aka Babycat), 3, who had...
Sissy (2)
Tux (2)
Gem and
Ni (the twins - 2)

I am babysitting tonight for my friends grandaughter.She likes to play games on the computer.Maybe she can teach me something.Night alL.

Bob Cat, I too have cats.Lucky who is 10 and snickers who will turn 17.I thought I was the boss of my house but they had their own ideas.

Hi The Kid, I'm new now, mid Jan., And also wonder where these wonderful kind people got their wisdom. Hopefully I'll be at this for years to come with my Mom(but have a good break before it's someone else) and maybe someone then will wonder about us.
I really like the soap opera analogy. There are a few I've watched, then didn't, then did, etc., and even with huge gaps, the pieces seem to fall in place somehow.
I think it will be a while though, before any whole story comes together. If I were to start at the beginning, and explain it all in a piece, I could lose track of the here and now. Maybe one day, that will be a good thing,but at the moment, if I saw it all at once, I'm afraid I could lose my momentum for now.
I peeked at your bio and you've got a full plate. From what I've seen so far, everyone here is addressing today, the past history that they share will come out as it applies as needed to inspire us to make it through rough moments.
Tell us about your cats. Mine keep me sane. Again, they are so here and now. No past regrets, no future fears, just where are my cookies and why was the litter box an hour late being cleaned?.
Where did abbb come from, that you are addressed? My moniker is taken from my tailess grey tabby.

I sympathize, abba - both with not having seen the soap opera for the past several seasons AND for having so much to do! My best suggestion is if you have a question, just ask and the member'll update you when they can. You can also take a shortcut and search the forums.

BTW - Mom had a car accident in '99 that ended her independent living. Came to live with me in Dec. 2000. Been havin' fun ever since!

Speakin' of which - time to go make coffee...

Well Abbb you bring up a good point Its kinda like walkin in on a soap opera you have to watch for a couple of weeks before ya git the jist of it a month before you get to really know the characters then you have to write to a online rag to get a back story! LMAO!
How bout if we post right here? Sound good to you?