Happy Birthday Lily!

Elizabeth Patricia O'Callaghan born in Dublin Ireland celebrates her birthday this day March 16, 2010 with friends and family in Dayton, Ohio.

Driving into St. Leonards this morning Lily said, 

"Oh I am going here again?  They are going to think I am a nut.  Here she comes again.  She must be hard up.  I am not coming back here for at least 2 weeks."

"But Mom," I said. "Today they are going to love to see you because we are bringing chocolate chip cookie cake for everyone for your birthday."   She thought that was a great idea!

A beautiful purse from the good folks at St. Leonards.  Perfect for our upcoming cruise!

 Early this evening my friend and running partner Leigh Ann showed up at the door with a darling birthday present for Lily.  Surprise!

Can't have a birthday dinner for an Irish lass the night before St. Paddy's Day without corn beef and cabbage followed by mint chocolate cake!

Our wonderful neighbor Anne helped us top off the celebration with a little Bailey's Irish Cream.
Yum!  She also brought Lily a beautiful jewelry box to put in her room.

Everybody had a great time especially Lily!

P. S.  Judy what a coincidence?? our mom's birthdays are so close.  Happy St. Paddy's Day!

Packing

On Thursday Lily, my daughter Emily, and myself  are hopping on a plane and heading south.  We will  be in Florida for about 3 days where Emily will  be auditioning for Disney and Holland America.  In our down time we will eat, shop, and hopefully relax (weather permitting) on the beach.  Sunday evening we will pick up my daughter-in-law Jenny at the Daytona Beach airport as she will be joining us for the rest of our trip.

On Monday we will be boarding a Royal  Carribean ship for a four night cruise to the Bahamas.  Two years ago the entire family took a fabulous cruise through the eastern carribean. Lily was with us and had a wonderful time although initially fought the idea. That was back when she was constantly asking to go home so we had to tell her we were taking her back  via Florida.  By the time
she got off the plane she had totally forgotten going home and enjoyed herself for most of the trip.

Each evening she would say to one of us,  "So are you going home now?" and we would  be in the middle of the ocean.  Unless she was looking at the sea she had no idea where she was.   Being with us and enjoying all the ship had to offer was all she really cared about.

For this trip I have been telling her we are flying to Florida to go on a cruise and she just asks me questions.  Of course 30 seconds later she has already forgotten that she is even going.  But at least this time she is more open to the idea.

I  can't wait!

1964 Seattle

Traci, Grandpa Gehrke, Grandma Gehrke, Lily, Norbert, and me (Kerry) in the front.
 This was the last picture taken of my father prior to his death.

Haunted

The below post written by me was published on the Alzheimer Reading Room blog today. 


In the midst of a conversation regarding a netbook with a salesman at Radio Shack I overheard a man raising his voice to another salesman at the register.  "This is ridiculous.  I have never had this happen before."  The salesman was telling him he was trying to use a debit card as opposed to credit.  Glancing over I could see an elderly gentleman with his nicely dressed wife standing right next to him holding on to his arm.  As he pulled out another card he must have flipped it at the salesman because I then heard him say, "Oh I am sorry.  I didn't mean to do that.  I am just really frustrated.  I had my wife at the doctors today.  She has Alzheimers."

In the meantime my salesman is explaining details to me about the netbook, but I can hardly listen as my heart immediately starts to ache for this man.  Sensing his frustration, I felt a need to go over to him and say, "I understand.  I know what you are going through."  I wanted to look into his eyes so he could see into mine and share a mutual understanding.  I came so close to doing so but the timing just was off and I wasn't sure my actions would be appreciated although I was willing to chance it.  By the time my salesman finished talking the couple was already heading out the door.  I remember feeling tempted to run after them.  Haunted was how I felt watching the husband leave with his wife shuffling along  by his side. 

All day I kept thinking about this man.....  lost dreams, lost companionship, lost conversation.   How lonely and isolating it must be to be the only one to shoulder the burden of dealing with this disease.  And yet I would venture to guess most caregivers are in this situation being the ONE (as Bob DeMarco says) and the only ONE.  Me.... even though I am the primary ONE.....there are 3 other family members helping each in their own way with Lily.  How blessed I really am.

Elizabeth Patricia O'Callaghan

This picture was taken in Dublin Ireland and the youngest picture we have of her.   I don't know the exact date but she came to America at age 23 so had to be before that.

John & Mary O'Callaghan (Lily's paternal grandparents)

County Kerry Ireland

Happy First Birthday Ryan 1993

Oh how Lily loved babies!