Friday, May 27, 2011

Friday 27th May

Hi I have just looked at this and found it has been a full month since I last wrote.
We were having difficulties with Georgie's breathing and with home carers.
For the last week Georgie has had one of her best weeks for a long time , very settled and no hiccups.
We are back to only two days care at present. I stayed home from work yesterday to look after Georgie so Ange could teach and it was good.
Georgie is growing now and putting on weight. She is getting too heavy for Ange to lift now.
Em is really enjoying her time in Vanuatu. James is growing and eating us out of house and home. He is working a couple of nights a week at a chinese takeaway and learning some good cooking skills.
We have a home bible study group which we have over every second Friday. Some of these folks we have been in the group with for 5 or 6 years. It is good.

Sunday, May 1, 2011

1st May

Good morning and thankyou for your persistent prayers!

Georgie still has a cough but hasn't gone down with the chest trouble. We did have to put her on oxygen for a couple of nights about a week ago. It is heartening to know there are prayer groups who still pray for her each week and churches who still pray for us each week. We will never be able to thank them.

We are learning a lot about carers and home situations. A number of people have told us it ends up being more about them (the carers) and their needs than the client and the family. Originally it was nursing care, then we were told they were carers not nurses, making a big distinction over what they would or wouldn't do now we are told they are a respite service only allowing us to get out of the house and we need to be more considerate of them, cut them more slack, realise they have other clients and may not have the energy to do everything here, that technically they do not even have to do anything like shower her etc so essentially they are saying they will just do what they feel like, if they like and if we don't like it too bad. We have had our hassles with it all.


Carers using bad language on the phone in front of Georgie, upsetting the other kids, then complaining that the other children are dobbers. Using the time to organise her work rosters and then not getting other things done here, one staff member used to regularly steal toilet paper from us (don't ask me why!)Another recently turned up completely hung over an hour and a half late and spent the day sleeping it off, so i was late for work having to take a 1/4 day flexi day as a result. Some at times have just not turned up at all again affecting work. I don't know whatever happened to having a work ethic.

All this sounds like a whole lot of whinging but it all just hangs over our heads so at times we feel driven out of our own home. All the various affiliated agencies in town just support each other so you have no reply with anyone.

I am told that the Govt is moving towards giving the funds to parents and letting them organise their own home help.

We would value your prayers for wisdom, patience and a resolution to the ongoing strain caused by home care staff. I could go on but I won't. Satan has tried everything to get at us and this is just another way to cause trouble, strain and fatigue and bring it into our house and little Georgie who was never any trouble to anyone is right in the middle of it all. He has his fun but his days are numbered.

Ange had a few friends come over and watched the Royal wedding on Friday night.

Thankyou, sending our love.
Greg, Ange, Em, James and Georgie

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities,against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after everything to stand. Ephesians 6 v 10 to 13

Why do we forget this ?