Hi everyone,
Well it was a long week between the daycare tour and the first
official visit.  Grandma's cloud of misery was thick and followed her
everywhere.  She thought we were making her get a job.  But we were
good (yes, even my husband!) and minimized any talk of it, diverted
her and reassured her that everything was okay.  The cloud of misery
didn't dissipate but at least we didn't have any thunderstorms. When
the dreaded morning finally arrived, she was miffed and subdued but
dressed nicely.  The last thing she said to me as we turned into the
daycare center was 'God, I'm going to be SICK!'

Four hours later, when I picked her up she was a changed lady.  I've
not seen her like this for at least a couple years.  She was smiling,
laughing, hugging people and looking forward to the next visit.  The
staff say that after some initial anxiety and being near tears, that
she perked up and became quite social-fully participating in all the
activities-charades, exercise, dancing and just general
socialization.  She particularly loved the dancing.  You coulda
knocked me over with a feather.

Now about the bowels (and my sincere apologies in advance!).  Grandma
has a major bowel obsession.  Funny, just as I was first joining this
group with the problem of her being lost and napping and having
nothing to do-I also happened to write out a daily bowel program.
Nothing fancy--just fruit, fiber, prune juice and a daily walk-most of
this was already part of her daily routine.  But the bowel list has
become her daily activity-she follows it faithfully-reading it over
practically every hour-looking for 'what do I do next?'  LOL.  She
naps less and has become more 'present' if you know what I mean.  My
problem is that even though her bowels are moving just fine, she can't
recognize or remember that and continues to pester me for laxatives.
Any ideas for a loving deception for bowels?
diane