When Things Fall Apart, Elephants Arrive!
The past few weeks have been rough. Our wonderful nurse, Connie, moved away. In her six months with Carmen, she really revolutionized Carmen’s night care. Yesterday we found out that Carmen’s other great nurse, Susan, turned in her two week notice. Susan has been with Carmen for 11 months. She was with us when that horrible Robinul and Tylenol overdose happened. She stepped up and took over the details of Carmen’s night care and made absolutely certain every order was written correctly and that every nurse understood Carmen’s care. I don’t know what we are going to do without her! She will be working for an agency with better benefits but I sure wish we could keep her right where she is.
In the course of a month, we have gone from 84 hours per week of night nursing to 12 hours. We do have one really good nurse on Tuesday nights and I think I will pass out if she leaves!
The nursing agency did send out two nurses who both fell sound asleep on their first shift. Falling asleep before Dave and I even go to bed does not make a good impression. Nurses who are too tired to stay awake, especially at the beginning of their shifts, start making mistakes. There is no room for error with Carmen. Been there, done that with the Robinul mess and we will do everything we can to ensure that Carmen is safe and well-cared for. As of now, the nursing agency does not have anyone else to cover the shifts.
We would greatly appreciate your continued prayers that we find good nurses.
Yesterday, I felt like I was hanging on by the thinnest of threads. The doorbell rang and a package was on the porch. I didn’t recognize the return address from Oregon. We opened it up and found the prettiest handmade elephant, coloring book and markers, stickers, a lovely plaque that says, “Treasure Yesterday, Celebrate Today, Dream of Tomorrow”, Oreos, a card and a picture for Carmen.
Debbie and her two beautiful girls sent the package. Debbie said that she made both of her girls an elephant before they came home from Guatemala so she made one for Carmen to share with Lauren. Debbie’s daughter colored a picture of her and Carmen on the swings at the park and said that Carmen is her friend.
Thank you Debbie for such wonderful gifts. Thank you for sending them at the perfect time. I think God knew I needed something to lift my spirits. Thank you for sharing Carmen with your girls. We so much appreciate your prayers.
Here is a picture of the lovely elephant!
I will be praying that God will provide awesome nurses to take care of Carmen. Praying too that God will give you the strength you need for each moment and His peace. Praying you will have a really restful night tonight. God bless you all!
C.O.L.E. (Caring Openly, Loving Eternally) Prayer Team
http://www.colesfoundation.com
Hi Lana, I will be praying you get some good nurses soon, till then I hope you find time to rest here and there. I hope Carmen is having a great day. God bless. In Christ, Joe http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/saraweidemann
I include this site so any who will can visit and support this family, they are precious to me. Thanks
Lana, Prepare yourself for a 4 hour nap tomorrow afternoon. Lauren, Carmen & I will use our quiet voices while we play. love, hugs & prayers, monica : )
I too will be praying for 2 wonderful nurses to come along for the night shift. God has the perfect nurses for you. And I know they will be Angels in disguise. I’m agreeing with everyone they’ll be quick about coming…..
I LOVE the elephant! Darling!
I send my love to you.
Diane
That is soooooo PRECIOUS!!!!! The elephant that is!
We are so sorry that you have now lost another good nurse. We are praying that God will provide the best of the best for you. I wish we were there to help cover the bases in the meantime.
Sending love and hugs across the miles.
Auntie Trish for all of us
praying for some awesome, God-sent nurses for you guys!!
Hooray for Monica! Can’t wait for a nap!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Everyone needs a Monica in their lives!
Awww! You’re too sweet.
See you in 3 hours & 57 minutes.
Get your jammies ready.
monica : )
We are praying for your nursing situation. I can’t imagine the stress and worry. Thanks for the update so we know how to pray.
Rebecca
Ah, you are so welcome. I’m so glad it lifted your spirits.
Last night when I got home from work I asked Maelette what she wanted to do when we got home. She thought for a few minutes and then said “I know! Lets fly on a big jet airplane to see Carmen so we can comb her hair”.
? I think I told her once that Carmen has pretty hair like her. She has a great imagination.
We are praying for wonderful nurses for you and Carmen. I wish we lived closer so we could help!
Debbie and girls.
Lana/Dave
Grace Community Church Arlington has been praying for you, Carmen and Lauren since January 2009. Pastor Gary asked his pastor friends in China to pray from 12 midnight until 5am so that our prayer requests are going up to the Lord 24 hrs/day. We pray for them while the people in China are asleep. We are seeing and hearing of God’s intervention in ways that only HE can do. Lana’s Dad and I have had so many prayers answered that we will need to start our own blog if we list them.
As far as feeling low or okay about the situations each of us go through on earth, if we acknowledge that the God of the universe is sovereign and He really really loves us, we can rest knowing that nothing will touch us that the nearness of Christ cannot handle
( Romans 8:28, Daniel 4:35,and Ephesians 1:11).
God’s Amazing GRACE
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. Ephesians1:3
Consider the wonder of what God the Father has done through Jesus Christ.
God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies through His Son. We didn’t have to prove ourselves worthy or measure-up to His expectations. God just blessed us.
The world demands performance first, and how well we perform determines our reward. God reverses the order. First, He blesses us. Then, through the
divine grace of our union with Him, He enables us to live out of His strength and wisdom. Amazing!
Our life source is Christ and nothing can separate us from Him. This means that we are blessed right now no matter what is going on in our lives.
Even in the most difficult of circumstances, nothing can touch the deepest reality of who we are in Christ.
Listen to some examples of spiritual blessings we have been given:
We are chosen, holy and blameless, children of God, redeemed, forgiven, heirs, and sealed with the Holy Spirit. Read Ephesians 1:4-14.
Spend time with your Heavenly Father. Ask Him to reveal the blessings He has freely given to you. By faith, receive these blessings and rest in the
abundant, extravagant love of your Heavenly Father!
Grace Life Seminar
These principles of God’s Amazing GRACE can also be examined on:
1) http://www.abidinglifeministries.com
2) http://www.gracearlington.com God really really loves you 03/15/09
In God’s amazing love, Dad and Nancy
Dear Lana,
I came across your blog while doing a school project on Tay-Sachs disease, and I just wanted to let you know what a wonderful website you are running. You said in one post that God blessed you with Carmen, and I just wanted to let you know that I think Carmen was blessed with you as well. Carmen is very lucky to have a mother/caretaker as diligent as you. I can see from your posts how much you care about Carmen and the amount of strength you have. I feel God blesses certain people with an abundance of strength when he needs them to look after someone that he cannot fully help. I, myself, and my family have suffered with many health problems and it takes massive amounts of strength to keep going sometimes. I applaud you for how much you have endured. From all the research I have done, Tay-Sachs is a horrible disease, and I think you have helped Carmen battle this crippling disease astonishingly well. I also think that from all of the care Carmen is receiving, and the strength from you and Dave, helps keep her going, along with the people who read your blog. Keep up the good work, and may God help you in your times of need!
P.S. The elephant is so precious!