Plateau or decline?

When I was pregnant with Liz, our first, I would watch two half hour TV shows with well known child psychologists. It gave me so much insight on a child’s mind and how they grow and change. One thing they talked about was what was happening when a young child suddenly was fussy or clingy or out of sorts. They said the child was on a plateau but preparing to spring to the next leap of development.

On the opposite side I wonder if the same thing happens in Alzheimer’s? Joe has been hovering so badly recently. He needs to be within arms distance. I try to work on the computer and he wants to hold my hand. He follows me the five steps from the kitchen counter to the recycling bin then blocks the way so I can’t take the five steps back. He follows me around our very small kitchen as I try to make coffee and tea then get his cereal.

I snapped at him recently to just please sit down. I couldn’t move without him being tight in the way. Then I felt guilty because he was hurt I snapped and apologized over and over till I wanted to snap at him to just stop.

I wonder if he is on the precipice of the next decline. Does the brain follow a pattern? Does the brain need constant reassurance as it makes strides in developmental increases or decreases? Time will be the judge.

I know I will miss him just as I knew I would miss little arms hugging me and expecting me to make the world right again. It was just so much easier then rather than now.