Ronee' Le-Anne Reaux, recovering from a flare up of JRA, decides to start a journal, just as her brother, Johnny, has done.
Friday, the 22nd of October, 2004~
Dear Journal:
Hi! I hope you are doing better than me at the present time. I am stuck in bed, and I feel awful (but not as bad as yesterday; still, I feel like heck!); I am home from school, recovering from another dang-blasted flare. I feel as though a HUMMER has run over me more than once; my body is killing me. OW!
My name is Ronee' Le-Anne Reaux, and I am 11 1/2; I will be 12 come Christmas Day, which is almost in two months; in fact, it will be two months and three days to be exact until it is Christmas and I turn twelve years old. I live with my family in Nashville, Tennessee, and I am in the sixth grade at Eastview Elementary School, where my teacher is Mr. Gee. I am in the Gifted/Talented program, and I like school, but I am not so sure about my teacher just yet. He is rather tough, and he doesn't stand for much in the way of horseplay. You can't get away with much in his class, and he gives out homework just about every night.
People say I am very pretty. I am short for my age (I may be going on 12, but I look more like NINE!), and weigh less than 60 pounds. I have longish, black hair that is very thick and wavy (it goes to below my shoulder blades; it used to go past my butt before I got it all chopped off last year; it is growing out again!) and black eyes with long, long lashes, and when I smile, I have big dimples in my cheeks. I have dark skin, and I talk with a Cajun French/Tennessee type accent. I am starting to get a chest, like a big girl's, and hips, and I find it embarrassing; but it is proof that I am growing up and turning into a teenager.
I have many brothers and sisters, and all of us kids are adopted. I was adopted when I was a little baby, and I was born in Louisiana. I was adopted because my real parents couldn't take care of me; and I was sickly; so they wanted a different family to have me. That is okay, but I was mad at first because I wish they could have given me a chance. I now consider the family I live with now (the Sanduskys) my true family, and they are the only family I have ever known, really.
I also am physically disabled. I was born with asthma and severe allergies, and for years, I had severe breathing problems where I was always having to go to the hospital; but as I get older, these problems are gradually going away, and I can breathe much easier than I once could, thank goodness. I still do have attacks, but I know well enough now to stay away from things that bother me, and I know not to eat things like nuts or get stung by bees because if I am not careful, they can kill me if I get too much of it in my system. I also walk on forearm (Lofstrand) crutches (my crutches I have now are teal-colored) and leg braces because I have JRA (juvenile rheumatoid arthritis) which has affected the joints in my ankles, feet, arms, hands, fingers, elbows, shoulders, lower back, and hips; and I have had one joint replacement surgery last year (my knee; I may be getting the other one done next year, like in the spring, so I have that to look forward to...WHEE!!). I have pain, and some days are worse than others, like now. Sometimes I get an upset stomach and fever to go along with my joint pains, and my joints swell up and it is hard to move without being in severe pain. This is what is known as a "flare", and I am having one of those now. OWIE! I am home from school because I have been throwing up and just spending time on the potty because it has been playing havoc with my insides besides my joints. It is NOT fun AT all when I "flare", and I wouldn't wish this on ANYONE! It's AWFUL!!
Sometimes, if I am hurting bad or am flaring, I use my wheelchair; but I usually just use my crutches. I wish I could walk without them, but I can't, so I have to just learn and make the best of my situation and try to go on. It is hard though, but I think I do quite well, considering some of the stuff I have had to go through in my life!
I am a very happy kid. I like to do many things, among them, read (seems I am ALWAYS reading!), writing stories (I have a book out; it's my autobiography as well as a self help book for kids with disabilities) or poems, draw, watch tv (I like "Spongebob SquarePants", "Rocko's Modern Life", "Doug", "Hey, Arnold!", "The Rugrats", and "Ahhh! Real Monsters!" on Nickolodeon, "Bugs Bunny" on Cartoon Network, the Disney Cartoon Channel--Disney Toons, I think it's called--, and PAX tv; my favorite shows on there are "Miracle Pets", "It's A Miracle", and "America's Most Talented Kids"; I also like "American Idol" and "Star Search"), go to church (I go to Christ Community Assembly of God), sing in the choir at school (and at church), perform in front of people (I want to be a country/Cajun entertainer when I grow up), meet my favorite stars in music, tv, and movies, and collect their autographs, and hang out with my friends. (I recently got to open up the show at the Tennessee State Fair for my favorite singer of all time, Loretta Lynn. I was so nervous, just as I always am whenever I have to open up for Loretta! I am always scared of royally screwing up in front of her!) I also love to travel and go to amusement parks or fairs and ride the rides (in particular, the roller coasters!). I also love to play music on my instruments. (I play the Cajun French accordion and fiddle mostly, but I can also play the guitar, piano, and banjo. I am also teaching myself how to play the mandolin.)
Well, I will stop writing now; my hands and fingers are begging for mercy, and I am also having pains in my shoulders. NOT easy to type when one is flaring. OWIE! I will write again when I am feeling better; until then, Journal, this is Ronee' signing off! I will tell you more about myself and my school (and also my family) next time, if that is what you want. Until then, C ya!
~Luv, your (recovering) friend, Ronee' Le-Anne Reaux. :(
P.S.: By the by, people STILL do not know how to say my last name, which is spelled "R-E-A-U-X". It is prononced like "ROW" or "RAY OH" (depending on where you live). People in Louisiana say it like "Row" while the Texas folk say it like "Ray Oh". Either way is correct, but I prefer "Row", as it is easier. The "X" in my name is SILENT; you do NOT say the "X" in my name! I am always having to correct them on my name! It is past annoying!!
Day's End Lullaby is a sweet and melodic bedtime picture book intended to help lull little ones to sleep. As an added feature, the accompanying sheet music is included.
Friday, the 22nd of October, 2004~
