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Dear Kendra: Another Letter From Louisiana Sandusky To Kendra Williams by Karen Lynn Vidra, The Texas Tornado
Tuesday, August 10, 2004
Rated "G" by the Author.
Louisiana, recovering from a sinus infection, spends her day writing letters on her computer while her kids are out with their father for the entire day. (Her husband, Bill, took the kids to the Nashville Zoo for the day.)
Tuesday, the 10th of August, 2004, 11:00 a.m., C.S.T.
Dear Kendra:
Hello! This is your Tennessee friend, Louisiana! How are y'all doing? We are all well, but me, I am not so hot. I am at home, recovering from a bad sinus infection that really knocked me flatter than a flitter; it really knocked me onto my tail! I am happy to report that I am feeling much better, but I still have this nagging cough, and I am still having to blow my nose every so often! It also doesn't help that my allergies are acting up; so I am REALLY feeling it in my "node" today! LOL
I am sitting here, at the computer, in the master bedroom, trying to answer my 1,000,000 1/2 emails! LOL I have answered some, but I still have a long way to go before I get done. Bill and the children aren't home; they will be gone all day, which gives ME a much needed break! They went to the Nashville Zoo for a picnic, and today is "Special Needs Day": all kids with disabilities or other special needs get in for free. I am sure they are having the time of their lives; they LOVE to go to the zoo! I didn't go to work today; will go back tomorrow, and hopefully, I will feel better enough to work my entire shift. I have been pulling a lot of overtime and doubles lately; maybe that is one reason I got sick because I overdid myself, and my body wanted me to slow down, so this was probably why I got this silly sinus infection; PLUS on top of it, I had a migraine headache. NICE. It was NOT nice, nor was it any fun! I HURT, and I hurt BADLY! OWIE! PAIN LINES! LOL
The kids are all having fun on their summer break, but I am ready for them to go back to school! They have been driving me CRAZY at times! I must have been INSANE to have adopted 50 kids! LOL But I wouldn't trade my kids for anythiing in the world; they are my Greatest Blessing, and it has gotten to the point to where I can't imagine my life without ANY of the children! They are busy getting their needed school supplies and back to school clothes, and they are really looking forward to their return back to school! They are all growing like weeds, and it seems funny, but my youngest now is five; and he will be in Pre-K come September! And my oldest, Lightning (she's 22 now) recently had her twins; and so that makes me a grandma five times over! She had twin boys, Tyrell and Tyrone, on July 4, 2004, and I am happy to report that both Mama Lightning and the boys are doing great! They may be coming home for Christmas, so I will get a chance to meet the new twin grandsons, and I can't wait!!
Besides getting ready for school, the kids are busy getting their medical and immunization records up to date (that doesn't sit too well with the kids; but then WHAT kid likes needles? I don't know of any!), and they have been busy traveling, thanks to Ronee'. Ronee', our little "star singer", has been performing at several major country and Cajun music festivals around the south, and she has been having a blast! She is really coming along in her singing, and she really gets a kick singing for her fans! We went to the Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival back in May, and we WERE going to go to the CMA Music Festival (she was to sing there), but we had an unexpected disaster hit our house (storm damage; the damage, I am happy to say, has since been repaired), and so we couldn't go to the CMA Music Festival, the first time we have missed it in like over 9 years. We also sang at the local Fourth of July BLAST! Festival here in Nashville, and we are gearing to go to Louisiana in a few weeks for LeCajun, which is a combination Cajun music festival and awards show. Ronee' is scheduled to sing there too; she will be singing on Saturday for about an hour or so. She is really looking forward to that, and so are we! We have gone to LeCajun the past several years, and we really have had a fun time there! Then is our AASK picnic on the last weekend in August (the 29th), and we can look forward to THAT. So summer has been busy for us! REALLLLY busy, as you can see!
I trust (and hope) the summer has been good to you too?...are the girls behaving themselves? How is Anna Grace doing? How are Mia, Mariah, Sarah, Kelly, Linda, Mary, Wendy, Keisha, Kim, Sally, and Francie doing? Tell them all hello, and I am looking forward to meeting each and every one of you at the AASK picnic! How is the weather over there in Soulsbysville? Have you had any rain there? Have you had any smoke from any of the fires that were burning there? Has it been hot or cool there? Here in Tennessee, it has been fairly cool, cooler than normal, and it has been rather wet. Not good for me or any of my other children (or my hubby) who have allergies! (Break out the Benadryl! LOL) How has YOUR health been holding out? Have you had any more headaches since having your surgery or any other unexpected "surprises"? I certainly hope not! You have had more than enough of your health woes, I am sure of that! I know I have! (Between my arthritis, my back, my sciatica, and my allergies--and now my sinuses and my headaches, to add to the "fun"--NOT!--, I have been doing just DUCKY! LOL NOT!) My kids have managed to stay PRETTY well with their health, but Ronee' did have an anaphylactic shock reaction to a beesting back in June, and she was in the hospital for a few days, but it was nothing serious, thank God! A few days after she got out of the hospital, she and Johnny celebrated their "Half-Birthday", and we had a party for them; and it was a wild, and crazy good time! Cake, ice cream, and screaming kids everywhere! You would have LOVED it! LOL
My papa, Armand, is doing quite well; his heart has been behaving itself since his surgery last year, and he is breathing better and has more energy since prior to the surgery, but he had a long, rough recovery. He is nearing his later 70's, and he has lost a lot of weight (NOT by choice, but because he was so sick for so long with his heart), but he still gets around pretty good on his forearm crutches, and if he gets tired, he uses his electric scooter. His knees and hips have really been bothering him lately, which is why he has had to use his crutches. Mama, meanwhile, is still..well, Mama! LOL She is doing about the same; no worse, yet no better. She is using her scooter more and more, and she may have hip replacement surgery later this year.
My sisters are all doing well, and my youngest sister, Crystal, is now walking on her own (with forearm crutches, but she is WALKING!) after recovering from ATM (acute transverse myelitis) that left her partially paralyzed, and she is busy raising HER own brood. Erick, her husband, is due to graduate from medical school next year, and we are all so proud of all that he has accomplished on his journey to become a full-fledged pediatrician!
Well, Kendra, I must let you go; I have other letters to answer; and so I must let you go for now. I will write again soon, and I do hope you write back; it has been a while! I have written to you several letters, but you have yet to answer me. I do hope you and the girls are okay! I worry about you when I don't hear from you! Besides, I am starving; my stomach is growling at me like an annoyed polar bear! LOL I have to fix myself something to eat before my stomach thinks my throat is cut! LOL Until later, Kendra, take care, and God bless you and your beautiful family mightily!
Love you!
~As always,
In His Service,
your friend in Tennessee, Louisiana Mayrah. :D
P.S.: How do you like the picture of the Nashville city skyline that I put into this letter? I LOVE my city, and I am so happy to call her home! (Been here for over ten years now, and don't plan on leaving anytime soon! Nashville has been so good to me!) Maybe that ought to whet your whistle for when you DO come for our AASK picnic in a few weeks! CAN'T WAIT to meet y'all!
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Tuesday, the 10th of August, 2004, 11:00 a.m., C.S.T.
