Louisiana writes a letter to her friend from New York City who is now staying in Tennessee with her mother after reading her update.
Monday, the 9th of August, 2004~
Dear M'Kaya:
Hello there, M'Kaya! You don't know how it gladdens my heart to know that you are doing (fairly) well, and that you are safe! Ever since the terror alert went out for the East Coast, my heart has been sick with worry, and I am glad that you are safe! I will continue to lift you and the entire East Coast in prayer, and I pray for the safety of our country each and every day!
My prayers (as well as the prayers of others) must be helping because they got another big gun from Al-Quaeda yesterday in the UAE; the man was planning on using limosines and helicopters as weapons of distruction, and he was planning on attacking Washington, DC and NYC again. But he was thankfully stopped and was caught and arrested; and now he is in custody. The attack was thwarted, and again, we here in America can breathe just a little bit easier today!
I am glad you and Stefan are with your mama here in Tennessee. I know it must help your nerves to be away from all the fear and uncertainty (and all the beefed-up security) that surrounds your beloved NYC; that has got to be so frightening to see all the extra police cruisers and police personnel walking around! I am sorry that Franklin couldn't get time off from his job at Jonas Bronck to be with you and your son; that has got to be so difficult to be apart like that! But I am glad you are coping well, considering the circumstances, and that you are all well!
It sounds like little Stefan is going to be a little charmer! He seems like such a bright little boy! I bet he is going to be breaking hearts left and right by the time he gets to pre-K! Give him a (((HUGE HUG))) from his (adopted) Auntie Louie in Tennessee, okay? Thanks! Also give Franklin a (((HUGE HUG))) and tell him that we here at Nashville Mem miss him like CRAZY! He really was quite the character! LOL
Speaking of kids, my children are all doing well. Ronee' did go into the hospital for a few days back in June, but we are glad it was nothing serious. It was serious enough for her to go into the hospital for a few days, but she is now doing swimmingly. (She had an asthma attack when she got stung by a bee, and she was in the hospital for a few days, but she hasn't had any more health episodes since then, thank God!) Johnny has been behaving himself with HIS health, but he has his bad days and his good days. Some days he is doing quite well, and other days, he is really struggling. If it isn't his weak muscles acting up again, it is another seizure, or another breathing episode. He last had a problem in the spring; he had an attack of brachycardia (abnormally fast heart rate), and he had to be defibrillated a few times to get his heart rate back down. It was a very scary incident for all involved, and for a while, I thought we were going to lose him, he was so sick; but he thankfully recovered. (He was in the hospital for about four days after he got shocked, just so they could keep a good, close eye on him.) Jodie is now talking up a storm, and every day she is expanding her vocabulary. She is quite a bright child, and now that she has discovered the Gift of words, she is able to express herself more openly, and she is an altogether different child. The change in her personality has been nothing short of miraculous!
And speaking of children, I am a grandma to two new boys (twins): our oldest daughter, Lightning, had her twins on July 4, 2004, and I am happy to report that Mama Lightning and her boys (their names are Tyreese and Tyrell, and they are absolutely PRECIOUS!) are all doing well! They are now both nearly two months old, and they are little Miracles! So now I am the proud Grandma to five little children! (I now have four grandsons and one granddaughter!) Funny thing is this: I may be a grandma, but I really don't FEEL like a grandma! For one thing, I am too young: I am only 35 years old! LOL (But TRY telling THAT to my body! I may be only 35, but my body feels more like 105! LOL)
I am getting over a sinus infection from the pits of hell. I was sick all day Friday and Saturday, and yesterday, and today is the first day where I feel SOMEWHAT human! LOL I did not go to work today (am still not feeling 100% yet; feel more like maybe 60%! LOL), so I am spending the day taking it easy and enjoying my kids. My kids know that Mama has been sick, so they have been trying their best to behave, which I greatly appreciate! I don't want my head acting up again! One migraine headache is MORE than enough, I DON'T need another one! LOL
I felt so bad I didn't even go to church yesterday, and you know that if I miss church, I MUST be feeling bad! But I did feel the prayers from my church family, and so that must explain why I am feeling better today than I have in recent days! But I am NOT all the way there yet, but I AM heading in the right direction; so that is good! LOL But Wednesday, I DO plan on being at church, and even if I have a relapse and have to go on a stretcher, Wednesday night *WILL* find me at Christ Community Assembly of God! LOL
Did I tell you that I am working on a new book? No, it is NOT a sequel to "A Family Made Out of Rainbows And Miracles: The Sandusky Family Story--A True Story of Love and International Adoption"; it is a compilation of stories from myself and some of my fellow nursing staff. I am still adding the stories into my computer, and I will then work on the manuscript; and when I get the final one done, I will send it, and hopefully, SOMEONE will pick it up, and I will have another book under my belt! My daughter, Ronee', sent out her manuscript for HER book, "People Say No, But God Says YES!: My Story", and right now we are waiting to hear if anyone will publish it. We won't expect to hear anything for a while, but no news is good news, and all we can do in the meantime is wait and be hopeful. If Ronee' 's book is published, then there will be TWO authors in the same family! That would be SOMETHING!
How has your health been holding out, M'Kaya? Hope you are doing well; I know you have your bad days, what with your MS symptoms and also your phantom pain. I will continue to lift you up in prayer, and hope that your suffering eases somewhat. I know, what with the anniversary of the terror attacks being only a month away, your nerves must be on hyperspeed; I pray that our nation never sees such violence or bloodshed in the name of evil EVER again! I know you must be having nightmares of the attacks (and I don't blame you; I have had a few myself already in the past few weeks), but all we CAN do is hope and pray that nothing of that magnitude NEVER darkens our shores EVER again! Once was MORE than enough! I will be praying extra hard for our nation in the coming weeks, and also for the Olympics and our Olympians! God help our Nation, and God help the Olympics over there in Greece! May He put His protection and His warrior Angels around both the United States, her Allies, and the Olympic Games!
Well, sweets, I must go now. It is time for me to go. I have written far too long already, and besides, I have a doctor's appointment at two. That is only in two and a half hours, and I have to shower, get dressed, and get ready, so I won't be late for my doctor's appointment. (Usual checkup, nothing major. But I am sure he will give me something to further speed up the healing process from my recent attack of sinuses! LOL) I will let you know how I made out! Until then, or until I hear from you, M'Kaya, you take care, and God bless you and your family ALWAYS! Tell your sweet Mama that I say hello, and give your babies (the little one and the BIG one! LOL) (((HUGS))) and XXXX's from me and all the Sanduskys! Tell them we miss them! Keep the faith, and know that God is watching out over you and our country! He will take care of us!
(((HUGS))) and much love, your friend in Nashville, Louisiana Sandusky.
P.S.: As long as you are in Tennessee, why don't you and the baby come for a spell? We'd be more than happy to see you and stay a while; we'd be more than happy to feed you or even spend a night with us! We'd LOVE to have you!
It's almost Christmas. Lynn Basil is writing her last book about a secret entrance into the magical doll land of Sha Bebe that she loves so much. Bagannos have taken over the world! Lynn finally meets her dolls in real life. Can she write in a Secret
The familiar lament of dual-career parents raising children is, "I just can't do it all." The Libra Solution provides an alternative - a more satisfying and sustainable work and life approach - to the overwrought modern day norm.
Monday, the 9th of August, 2004~
