After initial tests about three years ago, we found out that Carmen most likely had Tay Sachs. When the dust started settling, we realized that we had to make a few changes in our living situation. We felt that the best thing for our family was to be as close as possible to our support system. So during the summer of 2007, we sold our townhouse and moved into a rental about 2 miles from our church.
Although we miss our old neighbors a lot, moving turned out to be a very good decision for us. We were able to maintain a semblance of normalcy by keeping Lauren in preschool and continuing to be actively involved in our church. Several generous friends helped by picking up Lauren from preschool each day and bringing her home.
We feel like we are at another crossroad.
It’s hard to explain and I hope this doesn’t come across as complaining. But the combination of nursing care, other children and the physical layout of our rental townhouse is making it increasingly difficult to remain sane these days. We don’t feel like we have any privacy whatsoever. It would be ideal to have a separate space for Carmen and her nurses that doesn’t involve carrying Carmen up and down several flights of stairs each day. She is so heavy! In addition, Carmen doesn’t really like to be moved anymore. Sometimes she’ll groan when we just move her to a new position so she doesn’t get bed sores.
We have requested that our landlord finish the bathroom in the basement. If we can move Carmen’s room down to the basement, that would open up things upstairs (eg. moving Lauren to her own room so we don’t have a “family” bedroom). If that happens, we will have the option of staying where we are. If not, then we are potentially faced with a move this summer. The question then becomes where. Do we stay in this area? Do we rent or buy? Should we move closer to family? Or somewhere else?
My tendency is to be paralyzed by fear and to not make any decisions and let life make decisions for us.
So, we ask for your prayers that God will intervene in our situation and provide exactly what we need for our family. And that He will show us exactly where He wants us to be.
Beth, Sugar Rush Photography, took this picture of our three girls.
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Poor Lauren has an ear infection. She is starting an antibiotic today so hopefully she will feel better very soon!
Carmen had another low, low temperature episode last night: 92 degrees. I’m hoping that the coming spring and summer weather will help Carmen maintain her body temperature.
I will be praying for this difficult decision, and keeping you close to my heart!
Lana,
Making decisions about moving are very difficult, and even more so for your family I would imagine. I will keep this in my prayers and I know God will open the right doors for you.
In Christs’ love, Rikki
I will be praying, too, for God to open the path He would have you take.
Hope Carmen warms up! and hope Lauren feels better really soon!
Hugs to those three beautiful angels!
Know that I will be praying that God will show you clearly the path you should take. God bless you!
I also used “to not make any decisions and let life make decisions for me.” But lately I just trust God and myself! and go ahead with making a decision. Then the process, and my responsibility, is to jump in there with all conviction and really trust God that He will work out everything. In my experience that’s a working formula. Love you.
Hi Lana, I will be praying but must say I am with dad…go with your gut and make it work, you can do it
)
Praying for you. I am sure you all will figure out what is best for your family and come to peace with this big decision soon. Thinking of you!
I understand fear and decisions, and am praying for you and Dave… regularly.
I’m just throwing this out there (and apologizing profusely ahead of time if it comes across condescendingly, or like a mom or something), but Carmen’s bouts with low temps came to mind when you mentioned using the TH basement for her space. Yours might be much more efficient, but mine can be 5-10 degrees cooler than the rest of the house and downright cold in the winter.
I will leave you with the verse that God has been repeatedly throughout each day telling me through every means (literally, everywhere I go) for at least 1-1/2 weeks now: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.”
For what it’s worth.
Love you & CYH!
Valerie,
Not condescending at all! We thought about that but our basement is weird. It is actually hotter down there than upstairs! We have portable heaters for upstairs but the basement is warm! And yes, we have the thermostat set for “winter” setting. Strange, huh?
Hahahaha… that seems totally backward! :~)
Adding a bathroom to the first level is an absolutely perfect set up! I think I told you how another family that I worked with built on an addition with it’s own entrance. I have always said how hard it would be for me to give up the privacy. From the owner’s perspective if you move out, there is the cost to refill the unit–usually involves a months rent to a realtor. It may sit empty for several months. Two months of it sitting empty would have practically paid for the bathroom. You say “finish” so it makes me think there may be rough ins all set to finish. It also would add value. I think they will finish it. If they opt not to, you have part of your answer and know that staying there is not part of the plan. BTW I am ga ga over your gorgeous little Hope! The strawberry blond hair is just icing on the cake.