Louisiana is still trying to get her emails answered before she has to go into the hospital in a few weeks, where she will be having back surgery.
Friday, February 11, 2oo5, 2:48 p.m., C.S.T.~
Dear Greta~
I am so sorry for not writing sooner, but I have been so busy it is absolutely UNREAL! Try working, raising a village (HA), raising a husband, and trying to get all my mail answered; and you will know what my life is like! I also am getting ready to go into the hospital in a few weeks, where I will then be undergoing back surgery (details forthcoming).
Hope this finds you, Peter, Nichole, and Nicholas all well; I am well (other than my back, that is), and I am happy to report that my kids and husband have managed to stay well this winter season. We have only had a few colds and Ronee' had a few flares (and one cold), but nobody has had to go to the Emergency Room, which is a rarity around our place! Hope it lasts!
I am having surgery on my back on the 24th of this month; I have been having problems with my sciatic nerve, and my walking has suffered; and besides, my doctor says if I don't get this done within the year, I will be in my wheelchair--on a permanent basis. That is how serious this is, and while I AM nervous at the thought of having back surgery, I am afraid that there is no alternative; so I have decided to put my trust completely in the Hands of the Lord and go ahead and have the surgery. I will be going into the hospital on the 23rd, and depending on the results of my bloodwork (that will happen on Wednesday, the 16th), I will then have the surgery if my bloodwork is okay. I am now walking with the aid of Lofstrand (forearm) crutches, and they DO help; but hopefully, once all this is overwith and done, I will no longer NEED the crutches to walk! That would be so wonderful!!
We are also getting ready to add to the family. No, I am NOT pregnant in any way (last time I checked, anyway! LOL A little motherly humor here...very little, says Louie! LOL), but we ARE thinking of adopting two more children into our family. We have gone ahead and started the paperwork in getting a little baby boy (Arjun Ravi) and a five-year-old girl (Rani), both from Sri Lanka, into our family. I met the children while I was in Sri Lanka, helping out the tsunami/earthquake victims (I was in Sri Lanka for a week), and I just fell in love with the two of them. The boy was thankfully unhurt in the recent disaster that hit that country, and the little girl had a serious head injury and is now undergoing therapy; but they think she should be fine. She may still have disabilities as a result of her head injury, but right now, that doesn't matter: all that really DOES matter regarding Rani's situation is that she gets a home (and a family) that she so desperately needs! I will keep you informed regarding this matter; so stay tuned!~
I have answered emails from Kendra Williams in California, Sikik Grace Eegeesiak, Anna Arnette King, and Jenna Aurora Doucet all in Alaska, Diane R. Aguilar in Texas, Sari Annike Gustaffssenn in Finland, Erin McDonnell in Pocatello, Idaho, and Pulalay Halah Khelefi (she lives here in Nashville; she is originally from Sudan, in Eastern Africa), but I have yet to write to Louisa May Williams in Soulsbysville, California (in fact, she and Kendra Williams are friends; they have been the best of friends going on 19 years now!), and also Phoebe Pearson in Texas (she lives in Fort Worth; my other Texas friend, Diane, lives in Del Rio). I also have to write to several other people who have emailed me, but these are the main ones. Seems if I am not working or raising a family, I am busy writing letters! LOL Seems that my computer is my third home! LOL
How is the weather there in Arizona? Here it is sunny and mild out, but I am busily trying to get my emails answered; and trying to get the latest Adoption Newsletter out. I also have that to do, and I also have submitted an article to Exceptional Children Magazine, and also an article to Adopted Child; haven't heard anything from either publication, regarding as to whether they are going to use my article or what. I also have my book business to attend to: I am still waiting word to see if my second book has been approved for publication, and I have started working on my third book, which is a children's book about adopting children with special needs. So I have a lot on my plate, as you can very well see!
How are the children's English lessons coming along? How are Nichole and Nicholas adjusting, and has Peter finally accepted his new little Korean siblings? I hope so; I know the frustration and tempers of which you speak; my children went through the exact same thing when they first came; but once they got used to living in America and once they got used to learning English and started expressing their wants and desires in their new language, things became MUCH easier, and they soon settled into their new routine, and they have blossomed into such loving and compassionate kids! Now it's as if they never even HAD any problems adjusting; they are each other's advocates and support system! And they would fight to the FINISH to defend their brothers and sisters! The change in all my children has been nothing short of miraculous!
And now here we are, going to be adding two more little Miracle Children from Sri Lanka into the mix! Ah, such as life with the Sanduskys: life for us is NEVER dull, that is for DARN sure! LOL
Well, Gretchen, I will let you go for now. The kids are now home, and I have to get their supper ready. I will write more later. Until later on, take care, God bless, and write when you can! I will be looking forward to your email!
(((HUGS))) and much love, your Tennessee friend, Louisiana in Nashville. :)
When two men hit the reset button and decide to go out looking for the good in the world, they not only find it but also a lot more.
P.S. The title is listed on Amazon under Look for Something Good by Robert Drews (not by Robert H. Drews)
Friday, February 11, 2oo5, 2:48 p.m., C.S.T.~
