Wednesday, December 20, 2006

Update on the McMahon Family

Well, I've been keeping everyone up to date as best I can with Faith and Makaila but haven't spent much time talking about the rest of the family. For the past 5 weeks my father has been living with us in Abbotsford taking care of Isaiah. This has helped immensely because it has given Isaiah a routine that keeps him grounded. My Dad has him in swimming lessons, play groups, and out for play dates with friends. My Dad and Isaiah are out in Abbotsford usually from Sunday to Thursday afternoon and then we all go into Vancouver to be together as a family for Thursday night, Friday, and Saturday. We have had the huge blessing of staying in a condo in False Creek right on the water next to the Burrard Street Bridge and across from Granville Island. This condo is owned by a wonderful man in our church named John Wiebe and he has been gracious and generous enough to let us use his condo as a home away from home until the girls are released from BC Children's Hospital. We are going to stay their as a family with my Mom, Dad, and Brother over Christmas. We've even been able to decorate the place up a little for Christmas!

When Karyn has been in Vancouver on her own she has been staying at a house two doors down from the hospital owned by friends of my parents (Gwyn and Michael). She stays in a guest room upstairs and can walk to the hospital that's literally across the street. We have been so blessed by their generosity because we don't have another car and without their hospitality Karyn wouldn't be able to stay in Vancouver and be with the girls.

Between these two places, Karyn has been able to spend every night of the week in Vancouver which means she has been able to see the girls almost every day since they were born. She comes in to Abbotsford for church on Sundays and sometimes for a night or two on occasion. I am usually in Vancouver with her at the condo somewhere between 3 and 4 nights a week and we're all together (Karyn, Isaiah, and I) a couple of nights a week. We've gotten into a pretty regular routine which makes it easier to plan our week and to know what to expect, but it continues to be hard on all of us. At some point throughout every week, one member of our family is on their own without the other two, we're only together as a family for barley 48 hours, and we're never truly a family with the girls in the NICU. We are really looking forward to being all together for a week over Christmas at the condo in Vancouver.

Well, when I get another chance, I will continue to let you know more about how we are doing and how we are coping during this journey. We continue to covet your support and prayers. Thank you for all of your comments and prayers.

Blessings,

Graham

3 comments:

Melissa said...

Yes, I do think of all that from time to time, meaning how spread out all of you are, and how hard this must be! We will not only continue to pray for your girls, but pray for continual protection, comfort and peace for the rest of you as you are all experiencing such huge changes. Many blessings!

Anonymous said...

Paige and Family
Graham and Karen you are both amazing and our prayers are with you and your three little ones. I hope your week together is restful. Merry Christmas to you all...and hopefully we will be able to see you all together sometime in the New Year. Love, Paige, John, Lucas, Jaimie and Nicole x0x0x0x0x0x0x0

Anonymous said...

Dear Karyn & Graham:

Well we still did get a chance to see your girls tonight thanks to you leaving a message of your blog site. Love the picture of your first touch. WOW! Our prayers are with you and remember I am a phone call away if you want to talk (I could just listen) or if you want to rebound something off of us, we are here!
I stopped into the place in Vancouver where I bought all of Katelyn's clothes when she was under 2 lbs. and they didn't have anything so I will keep searching. Only 1 cute outfit for 0-5 lbs which was just MASSIVE (like our Gap outfit - ha ha)

Take care and may God bless you with his goodness, his love and even his laughter this Christmas!

God Bless
Christine, Jeff, Katelyn & Jessica

P.S. The card we gave you came back with us (Issiah must have put it back in the bag - we will pass it onto when we see you again)