Dear Journal~

Louisiana Sandusky writing.  I know I haven't written in here since July 4th, but when one works as many hours as I do (plus take care of a husband, a house, and a whole slew of kids), well now you know why I don't write in here nearly as often as I would like to do.

We are getting ready to go on the road again.  We are leaving tomorrow for Lafayette, Louisiana.  It is LeCajun Cajun Music Festival time again; it is going to be held this weekend at Blackham Coliseum.  We have gone for the past several years, and we always have a wonderful time!

Surprisingly, Ronee', Camey, Tammi, and several others who work were able to get this wekend off.  I am surprised that Ronee' did because she just started her job at Olive Garden almost three weeks ago as a hostess; usually employers who hire new staff members aren't that lenient.  Yet they know that Ronee' is one of the scheduled performers to entertain at LeCajun, so they made an allowance for her to go to the festival.  As you can imagine, she is thrilled!

Johnathon gave us a scare last week:  he forgot to take a dose of his medication for his seizures, and he had a seizure in his bedroom.  Thank God he wasn't injured, but it scared us!  We now make sure he takes his medication, or else he could wind up back in the hospital, and we certainly don't need that, especially with LeCajun in just five days!

Bill, my husband, is off work this weekend as well.  He is looking forward to getting away from the craziness that is Wally-World.  With the back-to-school sales in full swing, you can imagine that the store is crawling with famiies, and the children have been trying to dismantle Wal*Mart, driving the employees nuts!  There have also been several people nabbed because they were caught stealing electronic items, clothing, purses, backpacks, and what  not.  He is ready for a break!!

Meanwhile, I am ready for a break myself.  I have been working lots of extra hours, sometimes as much as 90 to 100 per week.  I have been pulling lots of double shifts, and most of the time I have been working in the ER department and also in the Medical ICU.  I will be off for five days; that is going to be so wonderful!!

LeCajun isn't a spur-of-the-moment thing:  we planned this a year in advance.  This will be our tenth year in going.  Johnathon, Ronee', and the other kids were very little back then, and now that the family's grown so much, we think the newer members of our family will enjoy it as much as the other kids have in the past.  Even the youngest members, our soon-to-be three-year-old twin boys, Ian and Isaiah, will be going.  I think they will like the Cajun music and the dancing.

I know the weather will be steaming-hot in Louisiana.  That's okay.  I'm used to it.  I will just have to make sure to pack extra in the way of sunscreen, burn ointment, first-aid cream, bandages/bandaids, tweezers, scissors, and so forth.  A mamma always has to be prepared, especially if mamma so happens to be a nurse!

I just hope that no hurricanes or tropical storms decide to poke their noses in the Gulf, or I will be hotter than a habanero pepper!  There's nothing like a hurricane or a tropical storm to put a damper on your plans!  (This has happened before.  Not so much during LeCajun, but other times we went to Louisiana during hurricane season.  This was how I got caught in Hurricane Andrew back in 1992.)

Well, I have chicken and shrimp etouffee' simmerin' on the stove, and before we end up having Cajun blackened etouffee' for supper, I'd best tend to it!  I'd also better make sure the kids set the table and make sure that we eat as a family!  Until later, when I get back from Louisiana, take care and God bless!  Laissez les bon temps rouler!!  AAIIEE! (Say some prayers on our behalf; pray we get to Louisiana without any problems!  I'd greatly appreciate it!  Thanks in advance!)

~Love, your friend in Tennssee, Louie May.  :D