Louisiana writes about what is new with her family, observing a rare celestial treat, and other "newsworthy events" in her life.

Wednesday, November 5, 2003~

I am sorry for not writing sooner, but work and my family has me so tied up I don't know whether I am coming or going!

I have been doing a lot of extra overtime at work, and I have been working some nights in addition to my usual days. Sometimes I have even been pulling DOUBLE or SPLIT shifts! (My paychecks ought to be awfully pretty, though; Lord knows, I can ALWAYS use the extra money! Especially with THIS army of mine! Feeding a family like mine is NOT cheap AT all!)

I have met several new patients who are still currently in the hospital: Jenna Aurora Whitson, an Alaskan Indian who LIVES in Anchorage, Alaska (she had been on her way to Shreveport, Louisiana, when she was involved in a nasty car accident that resulted in fractures to her left arm and leg, and also to her lower and upper jaws; she was on her way to Shreveport to visit a friend and also do a little gambling on the side), Windy Thundercloud (a Native American woman from Oklahoma who had accidentally run over by a train when she slipped and fell onto the track, just as the train was approaching; she ended up losing both her legs), and Tamyra Williams (an African-American woman who had been injured in a car wreck and suffered severe fractures to her leg). Both Windy and Tamyra are doing quite well, and Jenna will hopefully do well, too. She is still in Intensive Care, but Tamyra and Windy are both in regular rooms, and it looks like they should be going to the Rehab part of our hospital by sometime next week.

Last week we had some exciting things happen to us: for starters, there have been several solar flares (storms on the sun), and they have been coming to earth. Because of this, there have been some interruptions in phone communications, television reception, and unusual occurrances of the northern lights, or aurora borealis,which are usually NOT seen south of the Artic regions of our world. The auroras have been exceptionally and unusually bright, and we have been looking at them and enjoying the celestial displays in our northern skies. The lights remind me of gigantic lighted curtains waving in the breeze; and they turn all colors: orange, yellow, white, blue, purple, pink, red, and green, also aqua; and then they turn back again. They are truly spectacular, and we have all been in awe of them. The kids have been especially fascinated, and Ronee' is now obsessed with the aurora. She can't seem to get enough of them, and she now wants to go to Alaska, so she can see the auroras all the time! (I tell her there is NO way we are moving to Alaska, but I know that is what she wants. I tell her the cold won't be good on her achy joints, but somehow she isn't convinced: all she wants to do is look at the auroras! Or maybe meet a polar bear or two! LOL)

Johnny has been very depressed and disappointed: to him, the aurora borealis has been nothing but a big bust for him because he doesn't have good enough vision to be able to see them clearly, so he has been holed up in his room, playing his games on the computer. He also has been doing a lot of complaining; he wants to see the auroras, too, but he isn't able to. Poor little guy: he wants so much to have his eyes operated on, so he can see, but his eyes have sustained too much in the way of damage, and I am afraid that nothing much can be done to improve what little vision he DOES have.

He really has been depressed; and somehow I don't blame him. He has been robbed of many beautiful sights, and it wasn't even his fault. He had a sickness when he was a baby that affected both his hearing and vision, and he will have to learn to live (and cope) with both problems as best as he possibly can. I try to be there for him and try to be supportive, but inside, my heart breaks because nothing can be done; and if I could, I would do ANYTHING to be able to give back his vision or his hearing so he can enjoy the sights and sounds of the world around him!

Hallowe'en went over with a bang; the Harvest Celebration at our church was a rousing success. The kids dressed up as lions, hippies, aliens, or even Dracula (the Dracula was Anh; he loves those horror movies and vampires and such; he is a typical teenaged boy!), and we all had fun playing games, spending time in fellowship or prayer, and just enjoying the music and food. The kids got gobs of candy and other sweet treats, and we adults had fun watching the kids fighting over the treats! Now it is November, and it is time to seriously start thinking about Christmas and shopping for the kids; and also thinking about what to get Johnny, Ronee', and Enriquesa for their birthdays, which are all around Christmas (or, in Johnny's case, the day AFTER, and in Ronee' 's case, the day OF Christmas!). Christmas is always a very busy and hectic time for our family!

We also have to start thinking about the upcoming Christmas Cantata for our church; and I have to think about what clothes or toys we can gather for the children in Kenya, Africa (our church is sending toys and clothing to children in an orphanage in Kenya, Africa; we do this every year). So if you don't hear much from me, this is why. I will be very busy, more so than in recent months (as if my life isn't already BUSY enough! LOL).

My book is now available in local Christian bookstores; and it is rather strange to see my book on display. I really don't know what to make of it; I am happy to see my book in print, but at the same time, I am scared that nobody will buy it! LOL Oh, well...all I can do is pray that someone DOES buy my book and read it!

Well, I don't know when I'll come by this way again, in terms of my journaling, but I promise as soon as I am able, I WILL let y'all know what is going on. Until the next time, take care, and I will be back as soon as I can!

OH! Starting in January of 2004, I will be on the road, promoting my brand new book, "A Family Made Out Of Miracles and Rainbows: The Sandusky Family Story--A True Story of Love and International Adoption"! I will be going to bookstores across Tennessee and in surrounding areas. This is going to be so exciting; I can't wait! Will give you more details as soon as they are made available; until then, stay tuned~

~Love, Louisiana. :D