• Tuesday, August 18, 2009 - Another surgery in our family...
I apologize for the lack of posting, again.
And, I am not sure if anyone even reads this blog anymore. But, I wanted to take a minute to update the site, so that if someone does by chance read this, they will get current info.
As of now, Rachael will be having a Tethered Cord Surgery next week. It will be to release the spinal cord that is tethered to her spine. We pray that she will be able to go home within a couple of days. However, the hospital where she is having the surgery is four hours away from home. So, I am sure how the ride home will go.
www.caringbridge.org/visit/rachaelyoung
This is the caring bridge page that I use to update about our families medical issues. It is a quite a challenge to be a larger-than-most family and to have several within your family dealing with medical issues. It has been because of this that we have had to make major changes in our lives.
We no longer can go to church camp as a family. This past year, a few of the kids got to go with family for various lengths of time. It was hard to not be able to see my good friends from around the country that gather each year at camp.
We no longer can take vacations. Our trips are for doctor visits only.
We no longer are able to make it to church each and every Sunday. Thankfully, we have SermonAudio to listen to when we are home bound.
We no longer get to go to things like singing schools like we used to be able to.
We no longer have a strong focus on academic things. It has had to go on the back burner for now. I know that there will be a time and place for that. Right now, we are just surviving from day to day.
We no longer have the degree of structure in our home that we once did. When you have children living in pain, they often also have insomnia. And that can lead to late nights/early mornings for mom. So, a routine has been strange to us for quite some time.
We no longer live tantrum free. Since my time and attentions have been elsewhere, we have a two year old that fits the classic "terrible two's" mold. She is a pistol!! I know that we have lots more time, though, to work on her, thank the Lord.
We no longer own our home. Because of the strain on our finances, we have lost our home. Now we have to rent a home that has no stairs and will allow for pets. We got Rachael a dog to help her cope with her pain. And finding a place to rent that allows pets is quite a challenge.
We now have weekly (some times daily) doctor appointments. I must use a planner for appointments now instead of lesson plans. I joke that sometimes I feel like a professional appointment keeper.
We no longer can always go out as a family. There are many times that Rachael or Hannah do not feel well enough to go places with us.
We no longer can plan a garden. Like I said, when you live in survival mode, it's just all you can get done.
So I miss being a homeschooling family. Now we are a family dealing with chronic pain, depression, anxiety, surgeries, ER visits, DR visits, and medications. We miss being the family we used to be. I miss having the physically abled daughters that I used to have. While I am extremely thankful that they are here with me, and that their conditions are not life threatening, if treated. I do mourn for the lives they may never lead that they once dreamed of.
I don't mean to harp on just the negatives. We have so many blessings, and things to rejoice in. God is so very good. And HE is always faithful!
Please pray for us. We need your prayers, and the Lord's help to wade through this deep ocean of trials.
A day in the life of raising these Young youngins that the Lord has blessed and entrusted us with! May His name be glorified in all that is said and done!
