Cate's Diary

Op-shops are great! When I was in Victoria years ago, we had to shop for winter clothing @ the local op-shops because of an unexpected snowstorm in the mountains. Donated it back as had no need for it in tropical Southeast Asia. :)

Hope you're feeling less tired soon, Cate!

xoxo
dietgrrl
 
Dietgrrl- Thanks sweets. I was asleep in my chair by 9pm (grand-son on my lap!) & in bed by 10. I got out of bed at 7.30 this morning & feel very rested. It was very stormy overnight & is raining. There goes the gardening & wood gathering for the day. Lazy day coming up! :D When it's sunny I feel almost compelled to get out there & love it when I do. Today I have the best excuse to be lazy.
I'll pop back later today to check up on all the diaries. Thinking of you all, xoxo Cate

 
Awesome? It's just how I look & hopefully, from this photo, you can see how I am. I can see myself in this photo. Not that I like it particularly or think I look good. I just see who I am & I thought I would let you see it too, in a photo, rather than just in my words. I like who I am these days. It's about time, but it's good that it happened eventually. :D Thanks Geo. You are very sweet!

Today-
I'm going in to see my MIL & am going through her clothes to see what needs washing, mending etc & to sort them out into outfits fit for public wear. She prides herself on her appearance & it has been a bit shabby lately. I'll clean some shoes etc.

I'll pop back this afternoon. We have to go out to farewell someone tonight. We organised it so we had better go. LOL.
Bye for now, Cate.
 
Have had an uncomfortable afternoon with bad bloating, inflammation & also diarrhoea. 2 days ago I had 2 small pieces of garlic bread. My husband made a beautiful soup & added some pasta. I had some yesterday & a small bowl for lunch today. I can't think what else it can be. Gluten intolerance? Wheat intolerance? Coeliac disease? I must find out. I really must give up having even a little piece of bread. I haven't felt like this for ages. It's horrible! We have to go out for dinner & it took me ages to find something comfortable to wear. My allergies are getting much worse. I'm dreading all the perfumes etc tonight. Lynx is by far my biggest allergy. Some people drown themselves in it.
Wish me luck!
Bye Cate
 
Great start to today-
Our YS's GF's Facebook status at 1.30am this morning-
"gives thanks that everyone is alive and says things could always have been worse."
Great! That sounds good doesn't it? Our son has lost his mobile phone again & I haven't spoken to him for days. I sent her a text message asking what's happened but haven't heard back yet. I really dislike melodrama & making people worry without explaining properly. I don't watch soap operas!
She just messaged me back to say that her best friend's father's home was blown up last night but no-one was hurt, except for the dog who is at the vets. Women!

I can stop shaking now. I am getting out in my garden today & pulling out weeds. The sun is shining & I need some stress relief. 3 more sleeps & we'll be at my mum's. I'm very nervous about it today. I had better get online & hire a car first.

I'll head I think as I don't have much to say today.
Bye Cate
 
I gardened for hours today & it took my mind off going up to my mum's but I have felt fairly miserable the last few days. Tomorrow I had better get my clothes ready etc so I can go to Tai Chi on Tuesday & try to relax a bit. When daylight savings ends & the days draw in I almost always feel a little sad for a while but then get used to it. At least I'm eating healthily. Those days are gone where I use food as comfort. I eat for nourishment. I am going to stop taking vitamin supplements soon & reassess what I take. I spend way too much money on them & I have a healthy diet so am probably wasting my money. Apparently people with multiple chemical sensitivities can react to them as well so that's a good reason to cut down. I keep adding to the list & am probably doing myself more harm than good.

I'm sorry if I sound negative at the moment. I think it's the stress of going up to see my mum & worrying about how I'll tell her what I think re dementia. It could go so wrong. I'll just have to trust my instincts.

I'll say 'night for now, xoxo Cate
 
I woke up feeling quite a bit better. A good night's sleep always helps. I have been suffering a lot from sinus pain & headache lately so that affects my mood as well. Usually I just don't think too much about allergic reactions & get on with life but it must be the worry about my mum being transferred. I will try to stay in the moment & stop worrying as worrying helps no-one.

Today-
I am not going anywhere. It is a beautiful day & I might go for a walk I think. There are little wrens everywhere, flitting about the house. There must be an abundance of insects for them. Possibly they are finding worms from my gardening yesterday as well. It's too good a day to stay inside. I might head off now, for a change, rather than wait until after lunch. Bye for now, Cate.
 
Today-
I went for a walk but mostly I have been carting rocks. I did about 7-8 barrow loads. My retainer wall is looking great. we have some plants to put in but they can wait until after the w/e. I had to dig 2 plants up & put them back in pots out on the decking, which is fenced off, as the wallabies were eating them! I also planted out a bed of perpetual spinach & coriander. I also need to go down to our bush block & dig up some ferns to fill the gaps in the garden. They flourish amongst the rocks & the native animals don't eat them. I love being outside & being physical. My mood has improved out of sight today!
I ironed first thing today & our clothes are ready to take away. We only take carry on baggage on the plane so will take mostly black. I'll work it out tomorrow.
Bye for now, Cate
 
Hi Cate

Lovely of you to come and visit my diary....at least your keeping it updated.
I am doing ok...still eating well....been slack with the exercising...this is my weak point.

I am having a lazy one today....not feeling the best...runny nose and feeling just abit blah!. it's raining and cold here today.

I am so glad to see you don't do the emotional eating anymore...that is something I need to overcome still "once the weight has gone" of course!

So are you going away for a holiday??? You mentioned bags and planes etc....

Anyway like I said I appreciate you checking in on me and by the way I love your photo...:).

Keep well and take care now - Sam:)
 
Hi Sam- I'm feeling blah too, to be honest. I have felt blah for over a week now. I keep having reactions to perfumes so stay home for a day, feel better, then go out again & then whammo again. It's a vicious cycle. I don't want to turn into a hermit but I may end up that way. I'm such a sociable animal that I would find that really hard. The plane trip is not for fun I'm afraid. I'm quite sure my mum has Altzeimers or Dementia but I can't seem to get it through my brother's skull. He is totally in denial. He lives near her (up on the Murray River, near Albury) & I live in Tassie. I am going to talk to my mum about it & hope it goes ok. She had a bad fall about 6 months ago & knocked herself out. She cut open her forehead (frontal lobe) & she has gone downhill rapidly since. I think if my brother acknowledges it then he would have to deal with it so, instead he chooses not to deal with it at all. She lives on her own & still drives, both of which are scary now.
Thanks for popping in Sam. I appreciate it, xoxo Cate

Stress-
I am really stressed but also have had such a strong allergic reaction to perfume at Tai Chi. It's not my usual class & I don't think I will go again. My class all make sure not to wear perfume or use strong soaps etc. I never had to ask them. They just are considerate of me, which I really appreciate. I felt like I needed Tai Chi today but it ended up making me feel much worse. I could hardly drive home.

I had to run around beforehand getting things for my MIL, who then gave me this long speech about not worrying about her while we were away. She's the least of my worries at the moment. She is very self-centred & I don't think it would enter her head to offer me support regarding my mother. *sigh*

I don't think I can go out tonight to my LH's 8-ball. He wants me to but I feel so tired & have a head-ache. It may be good for me to get out & stop worrying but another perfume attack would tip me over the edge. I have to fly early tomorrow & will suck on Strepsils for dry cough to help combat any reactions. They are not healthy long-term but do help lessen reactions. l might go pack now so that if I feel ok later I might go.

I'm sorry to be whinging so much. I don't like it at all. I try to be positive no matter what comes my way. I will feel better after having had this conversation with my mother. I can only try to do what I think is best for her & she needs to know. I won't be back online until Sunday. Wish me luck & strength. I think I will need lots of strength anyway, xoxo Cate
 
I have decided to go out with my LH to 8-ball. We're packed, my headache has gone & I know it will take my mind of everything. I was telling my LH a story about this morning & I mentioned picking up my MIL's dry-cleaning. Doh! That will be the allergic reaction. I couldn't work it out as I could smell something awful in my car but thought it must have been on me somehow. I'll air my car out.

Won't be back now until Sunday. Take care folks, xoxo Cate
 
Hi folks, I'm back from my trip, tired but also comparatively relieved. It all went ok I think. It was hard to tell my mum that I thought she had Altzeimers, but she knows that something is wrong & that her memory is disappearing, but, of course she doesn't realise how bad it is. It is a little like Ground-hog day but is probably not much worse than when I saw her last November. The main thing that I achieved was to get it through to my brother. I think just flying to Melbourne & hiring a car to drive up to see her just for 2 days was enough to make him wake up & face it. We had a chance to have a brief talk & he will take more time to see her. I told him that I had managed to talk to Mum's doctor before her last visit but that she is not able to pass on any info to me as I do not have any legal powers- he does. He didn't even know! He told me that he will go see her doctor, instead of his usual one soon & give her permission to let me know how Mum is.
I was also able to have a chat to a few of Mum's friends who are all aware of what's happening & I have all of their phone numbers. I got them out of Mum's Teledex when she was asleep. I will ring one of them later today as she is going to keep me informed. I also have an email address of another. I'll take a more active role & also keep my brother up to speed. At least he has decided that he needs to take a more active role. All in all while it was a difficult visit it achieved a lot. My mum is still living at home on her own but I feel that there is a more coordinated care plan organised for her.

Melbourne-
We spent a good evening (our team the Saints won) in Melb. on Friday night & had all of Saturday to spend in town. We caught the free tram & got off near a big park where a squillion "zombies" were congregating. It was great. We then walked back into the centre of town & watched what was a zombie parade march through the centre of town. I think that this new phenomenon is really entertaining, light-hearted FUN! I took some videos & photos with my phone I laughed for hours. They were really getting into it & showed such self-expression & passion. When they came towards me they were so entertaining. I loved it.
The last 4 days were such a mixture but overall very positive.

We are going to visit a friend today who is in hospital. We went to his "farewell" party that he put on himself last November. He is not expected to come out of hospital apparently. We always bump into people we know from Tasmania when we are in Melbourne & one of them told us he that our friend was in hospital. We feel lazy but it's best to live your life so that you don't have regrets so we will go visit him today.
We did not get home until late last night, after watching the State 8-ball singles championship finals after getting off the plane. Both our sons made the final 8 but neither made the final. I'm proud of them both.

Coincidences!
We rarely go anywhere in Australia without seeing someone we know. When we returned our hire car into the city in Melbourne & they checked it out we were asked to complete the paper work & pay. The man who took us up to do the paper work was friendly & asked us how the car went & we told him that we had been very happy with it & with getting a free up-grade etc. My LH said that we had been up the Hume Highway & not driving around the city. He asked where & I told him. He asked me again & I repeated the name of the very small town but also another town nearby & that we had been visiting my mum. He seemed very surprised & asked me who my mum is & I told him. It seemed very weird that he was asking me. Then he told us his name & of course I knew that his parents live across the road from my mum & up 3 doors. I rang my mum from our hotel room & told her & yesterday she went up to tell his parents. Funny, small world!
When we went to the bar in our hotel after the football to have a glass of wine my MIL's gardener from Tasmania was there. Funny small world.
Time to go. We had a big sleep-in & didn't wake until 9.25am!
Bye for now folks. Will come back this evening & catch up with the diaries.
Much love to all, Cate
 
Thanks Geo. Glad to hear you're dealing with your outlaws too. Thanks for always visiting my diary. I appreciate it, xo Cate.

Yesterday-instead of spending the day making calls about my Mum I ended up going into town with my MIL while she had chemo & radiation. She showed no empathy whatsoever about my mum but it was not a bad day at all. Very tiring as I had to get up early & we were in town for 7 hours. My SIL had a cold & rang me Sunday night as she couldn't contact her sister. I said not to worry that I would go. They put a catheter in so she didn't have to get up continuously. She has no patience at all though & complains about everything.

Today-
I have rung the shire that is responsible for organising home care for my mum & have spoken to her assessor. She is about to ring my mum to make an ap't to go see her to organise some personal care. Mum only gets 1.5hrs a fortnight cleaning & no personal care. It may be possible for someone to come in 3 days a week so she can shower but she needs some things added to make her bathroom safer as well. Fingers crossed my mum does not get crabby about it as I gave her permission to say that I had rung. I have given them my phone number & my brother's. She wanted to send in an assessor who would test mum's mental capabilities but I said that would alarm her & have her thinking we are trying to put her in a home. It's not time yet for that. Baby steps. More care in her home will make everyone more alert to what's happening & she will a lot safer.
I had better go do some housework. I feel like a lazy bones but it's probably ok. A lot is happening with mothers!
Bye for now, Cate.
 
My day-
Was really lazy but I enjoyed it really. I rang my mum & she had already spoken to the assessor. I'm glad I had given her permission to say that I had rung as my mum was testing me a little to see if I would 'fess up. She said she was a little cross with me but I made a joke about it & said "cross with for caring about you?" & said once again that I thought it would be nice if she could pamper herself & at least have a weekly bath safely. She agreed. I laughed & said "so you're over it?" & she said yes. Phew. I would much prefer that she does not think that I'm going behind her back. I then rang my sister & told her & then my brother who has only just returned my call this evening. He was amazed that I even got through to the assessor, let alone having organised a visit by her already. I like to think that I am not pushy but I seem to be able to get through to people by being nice.
Tomorrow we are driving into town again, after my Tai Chi & will go see my MIL's doctor with her & then go visit our friend who is in another hospital. Life feels very hectic at the moment. In 2 weeks time we will be in Cairns for my birthday. Oh dear. I do wish we weren't going but I guess we'll enjoy it when we're there. *sigh*

My LH has gone out to 8-ball & I am enjoying being home. I'll say goodnight for now, xoxo Cate
 
I just wanna pop in and say Thank you for being you, Cate! I don't think you realize what an inspiration you are to all the Cohenites here...
*big hugs and a big thank you*
mwahhH!!! :grouphug:

Lovies xxx
 
I second that Luvbug! Cate, you're so encouraging and I've learnt alot from your diary. And every day, I look forward to reading more of it and of course your comments in my diary.
 
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