Family Moments 2015

Family is one of the most important things in my life, so I am taking the time to share a few photos that I took over the weekend. Enjoy!

My Dad loves his flowers, so I took a picture of them all blooming so vibrantly outside. 

My parents. They are really happy living in Tecumseh.
Although I wish my Dad's illness never occurred, it has brought my parents closer together
 in so many ways, not to mention the rest of our family.

What's that, only kids colour? Ha! Adult-colouring helps to promote relaxation and it stimulates the brain in a lot of positive ways.  My Dad was not keen on doing this at first, but it's growing on him. He did a really good job!

My dad is happy to be able to use his computer to keep up with what's going on in the world.
A big switch from the monster desk at the old house, but he really likes it.
We got my mom a matching desk too!

We had a great Sunday afternoon taking a walk. That is usually one of the "must-do" activities when I come over.
I also wanted to snap a "selfie" with my Dad.
This is our first one together. A bit awkward as I looked the wrong way, but I hope you like it. lol

Dad's progress

UPDATE: Just another update on my dad since I know a lot of our friends want to know how he is doing.

So I guess I could say that everyday is certainly an adventure for all of us! When i walk into the room, either my dad knows who I am or it takes him a bit of time to process. At first this was really hard to handle emotionally, but I have come to terms that there may be days where he doesn't remember my name, but he recalls details. The other day, he realized that I had my haircut.

My dad is feeding himself and we are trying to keep meals healthy. His appetite is still weak, but way better than before. He is also walking around a bit more and doing exercises that were prescribed by the physiotherapist, instead of always staying in bed.

We got him a whole stack of dvds and musicals to watch, so Fiddler on the Roof has been playing pretty much non-stop, along with The 3 Tenors. It makes him smile and stimulates his brain. We're going to try some cards today.

He is also communicating better as well, cracking jokes at times, although still a bit jumbled especially when he gets tired. So although some days are better than others, we are still very hopeful for more improvement as time goes by.

We are welcoming visitors who are able to provide *only* positive and upbeat conversation because that is what my dad is really responding to. Sometimes his mind goes back to certain topics, but the best thing to do is just say "everything is taken care of and there's no need for you to worry" and then change the subject.

I guess that's it for now. Our days are long and sometimes physically and emotionally exhausting. We just want to say thank you again to those who have actively been helping our family, in even the smallest of ways. Every bit counts so we can provide the best possible care and continue the path of recovery. It is all greatly appreciated.

~The Arditti Family~