Home Dyalysis care giver

[akie2005]

My husband Rick is a hemo dialysis patient at home on the nxstage machine. I am his caregiver. I feel so over stretched. With working 40 to 50 hours a week, raising 3 kids who are very active, and then the dialysis. There is no time left for me. No time to even breathe. I feel like I am going to explode. A lot of people in my circle tell me to just stop doing it at home and send him back to center. The problem is that the home machine is so much better for him. He is unable to drive so there schedule does not go with my work schedule at all. And there is just no life for one on an in center mahine. The side effects are grand. I dont want to be complaining and I know this was my choice, problem being it is effecting my entire out look on everything. With everything that has happened this past year (2011) I am just angry, at the littlest things I go off the deep end. Any comments and/or support is appericated. Would love to find someone in a similar situation.
Thank you, Amy

[Mackenaw]

Hello Akie

God bless you this day.

Awwwwwww, Akie, you must get physically weary at times, not to mention mentally drained. God bless your heart.

Akie, any time you make for God and you, is in fact, the best time you can make for yourself, and it is so very important. You sound like you try your best to depend on The Lord, which is the righteous thing to do.

I just wanted to let you know that I am here to listen and pass on any insight I may have, or that The Lord might send my way to help lift up your spirit. You are not alone, Akie.

Prayers are rising to our Lord in the name of Jesus, on your behalf. May God's blessed will be done.

God bless and keep you.
Love,
Sister Mack

[Dora]

Akie I just wanted to add that perhaps you need to take a look at your kids activities. As a mother of three I know how they want to do so much and it tugs at my heart to want to help them do everything they want to do. I don't know how active your kids are or what ages but I do encourage you to not allow their wants to push to far. Kids can't have everything and shouldn't have everything. Not saying your kids activities are out of balance. I just know it is common for parents to have their kids involved in way to much stuff. With three kids I had to limit mine to one activity at a time out side of school. They are all teens now and can drive each other to most places and I don't regret my choice. Though at the time it was hard to say no. We are very close nit family. When the children express what is important to them family is always an overwhelming response. My son had to make a collage for school and most of the collage was a family member. My daughter is 18 and has a project on taking a picture a day then putting each months picture on the web. Many are of her family and her home. With out this limitation on them perhaps now that all the activities are coming to an end as they are older they still have what was always the most important, family. Just wanted to share that, just in case there isn't balance in that area of your life.

Take care.

[akie2005]

The kids are very resilent. Kay 16 (17 in just days) is captian of her color guard team with band. She was unable to march because she wears hearing aids and cant spread out like that on the field. She has been captain for 2 yrs. She pays all her band fees by working or just staying after to clean up. Isaiah 15 is a first string full back. He has been invited to Clemson already for this years summer camp. He also pays all his dues by staying behind cleaning up or arriving early for set up. Em 11, she is the arts and craft one. She has tried soccer which did not pan out, and girl scouts which also did not pan out. She is now in an afterschool program that works with special needs and she gets to do all the arts and crafts with them. There are no fees for her and she has really blossomed with this because it has boosted her self esteem. Being the 3 child 5 and 6 yrs behind the others has been hard on her. She adores her daddy and she is the closet to him. I dont think it is the kids activities. They know I cant drive them and I have to take turns on wht I get to go see and do. They all seem to understand that. They try to help as much as possible but they just cant sometimes. They all have chores and they all have a night to cook dinner. I think these things are good for them. I would not take these away from them. Not saying thats what you meant, but these things will bring a future for them. They teach more than just fun. By the way, Kay started working at pizza hut 5 weeks ago. She was so proud and excited when she got her 1st check. Do you know wht she did with that first check. While at walmart buyin some christmas presents for her brother and sister she bought a large bottle of dawn dish soap, large bottle of detergent and a 24 pack of tissue. I was so floored. She said mom I thought we might need some. I wanted to cry. Well i could go on and on but I wont. Thank you for your words of encouragement.

[Mackenaw]

Hello Akie,

Your children sound so sweet and loving, and what you shared about your oldest daughter buying dish detergent, tissues and laundry detergent with her first paycheck actually brought tears to my eyes. Awwwwwwww, what a gem she is. Praise God!!! What a fine job you and your husband have done in teaching them what family is about, and how each member can pitch in for the betterment of all. Awwwwwwwwwwesome!!!

I'm so glad The Lord led you here, Akie. You've already blessed me, and I know you'll be blessed by others here on the site, as well. God is so very Good!!!

God bless and keep you. Looking forward to seeing you around.

Love,
Sister Mack