Louisiana answers yet another email before her kids come home from school.
Tuesday, the 8th of February, 2005 ("Mardi Gras Day"!), 3:14 p.m., C.S.T.~
Dear Diane~
Hello! How are you? I hope this letter finds you blessed! It was so nice to hear from you at last; I am happy to hear of your news about your husband's disability being approved! (It's about DANGED time, I say!) I was also happy to hear that the tumor you have isn't cancerous; but I am sorry you still have to go through the rigamarole of chemo and radiation. That isn't going to be pleasant, but if I know you, you will make it through just fine! I have complete faith and confidence in you!
I am glad that Rosie is better, and I am glad to hear that your kids haven't had the flu. That is one thing I can be thankful for; my kids have managed to escape the flu's clutches this year. They haven't had as much as even the cold this year; a flare or two maybe (on Ronee' 's behalf); they have been quite fortunate this year, in regards to their health. It has been quite a while since I have had to call an ambulance on one of my children; I think the last time I called for an ambulance was when Ronee' got stung by a bee on her half birthday, and that was way back in June, nearly eight months ago!
I have been busy answering letters today: I already wrote to my friend in Barrow, Alaska, Sikik Grace Eegeesiak, just a while ago, while I was at work, and yesterday, I wrote to my OTHER Alaskan friend, Jenna Aurora Doucet, who lives in Anchorage. Now I am writing to you. I have yet to write to Erin in Idaho and Gretchen in Arizona, and also Kendra and Louisa in California, but I will get to them in due time. I write when I can; I don't have much in the way of free time, as you can very well imagine. It is very hard trying to get some free time when one has an army like mine: 50 rambunctious children ranging in age from five on up to 22 1/2, and one husband, plus MY dad and MY step-mother. I also have the animals to contend with: dogs, cats, horses, birds, rabbits, even a brand-new goat in which we got just about a week ago. My friend had been trying to sell me this goat for months, and I have hesitated because I know very little about goats, and now that I have done some research on goats, I decided to quiet him and get this stupid thing. So now we have a goat. Another kid. (LITERALLY! LOL) AND we will be adding to the family yet again: Bill and myself have gone ahead in started the proceedings to adopt two little children from Sri Lanka that I had taken care of while I was there, helping out the tsunami victims, a little baby boy of seven and a half months named Arjun, and a three-year-old little girl named Rani. The baby boy was apparently unhurt from the tsunami disaster, but the little girl had a severe head injury, and she is currently receiving therapy and appears to be improving slowly but steadily. It is unknown at the present time whether Rani has permanent disabilities, but she IS getting better, so that is the most important thing right now.
I have also been very busy with the adoption community and message-boarding my community friends whenever they have had questions come up, and I have been busy with the local AASK newsletter, contributing articles, stories, or what have you. Seems I hardly have any free time anymore, and it has left me plumb tuckered out! I am so busy nowadays I don't know whether I am coming or going half the time! I hope this finds you not nearly as busy as I have been as of late! And now I am facing surgery and a lengthy recovery period. WHEE. So until I go into the hospital, I figure I'd best try and get my emails caught up while I still am well enough to be able to do so! Just be praying for me is all I ask, and I shall be doing the same for you!
How is the weather there? Here it is raining, but it is expected to clear out for a day or two before the rains come back. The rain has lightened up, and it looks lighter to the north and west, and the barometer is rising, so drier, cooler weather is on its way, apparently (plus I am not hurting nearly as much as I was before the rains came). Hope it is nice where you are at!
I still don't know whether I will be well enough to go to Greece in time for Sari and Nikolas's wedding. I and my husband, Bill, have been invited by my friends from Finland (Sari Annike Gustaffssenn) and Greece (Nikolas Artemis Constantinos) for their upcoming wedding, which will be in Athens, Greece (that is where Nikky lives), and we have accepted; but then this with my back came up, and I don't know if I will be well enough yet to go. I hope I am; I would hate to miss out on this opportunity to go to someplace I have never been to, and I would hate to see either Sari or Nikky be so disappointed! I would feel so bad!
I am glad you are getting a wheelchair and crutches for your husband; that ought to help him out and make his life so much easier. I know it has done so for both Bill and myself. I wish you all the best regarding your husband's disability, and I know it will be tough until that first check comes in; but once it does, it will be so much better! I will keep you all in my prayers, and you are still on our prayer list at my church!
Well, I know this isn't much, but at least I wrote to you now instead of waiting, like I have done with your past several letters! I did the same exact thing to Sikik; and I thought she was mad at me because I hadn't heard from her in a while, but it turned out that her mother died, and she was too busy. But now she wrote at long last, and I have already done two letters to her in a matter of days! So I am getting better in answering my mail! The kids are due home at any time; and in fact, I see the one special needs bus coming down the road; so I know Johnny, Jodie, Ronee', and Todd will be on that one. I will write more later. Until I next hear from you, Diane, you take care, and God bless! Call me when you can; I'd love to talk to you!
These Louisiana letters are an excellent series. Enjoy reading them! So chatty, so down to earth--Louisiana sure sounds like she's got her hands full...how does she find time to write! LOL
Tuesday, the 8th of February, 2005 ("Mardi Gras Day"!), 3:14 p.m., C.S.T.~
