Trying to get some needed writing in while her newest children are napping, Louisiana emails her friend in Florida.
Tuesday, April 5, 2005, 11:03 a.m., C.S.T., D.S.T.~
Dear B.J.~
I am sitting here in the newest children's bedroom, watching them sleep, as I type this on my laptop. I can't resist the urge to go over to them and touch them, but I mustn't, for fear that I may wake them up, and it would take them a while to get them settled. They just came on Saturday, and it still seems to be a dream; but I know it isn't because there they are, in front of me.
Arjun and Rani arrived safe and sound; but it was a very long trip for them, so Sunday they spent most of the day sleeping. They are coming around, but Rani is incredibly shy and reserved, and she has done a lot of crying; she isn't used to us or her new surroundings, but I am sure that once she warms up to us and learns more in the way of English, her true personality will soon come shining through! She is still recovering from her head injury and is currently using a walker and leg braces to help her walk; but once she has the appropriate therapies, doctors think she may eventually make a full recovery. As for Arjun, the baby, he is so adorable, and he just exudes health! He is quiet in nature too, but at least he will let us hold him or let us give him his bottle or change his diapers whenever he pees or poops himself. He is not walking yet, but I am not concerned yet; he is still an infant, and he will learn at his own pace. If he doesn't walk by the age of two, I shall look into it, but for now, I shall enjoy him while he is here. We have all taken to them, and it seems that God has meant for them to be here, with our family!
I loved your last letter; thank you so much for writing! It is always good to hear from you again! I loved the picture of the poofy Pomeranian you put on your letter; that looks like my dog on a "bad fur day"! LOL That is okay you don't know a lot about cats, but I am still glad you liked the picture of "Cajun", Ronee' 's Maine Coon, that I put on my last letter to you! "Cajun" is a sweetie, and she is full of purrs, and she is just a joy to be with!
You were asking me in your letter what I meant by Ronee' "having a flare". Well, Ronee' has systemic juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, which is the severe form. When she flares, it merely means that her disase is in the active phase. Her disease affects her major organs besides her joints, and if she is having a bad flare, her heart, stomach, liver, lungs, or even her eyes can be affected, and she can become very sick with a very high fever, intense joint pains, double vision, inflammation of her joints, chest pains, or nausea. Whenever she has an especially bad flare, she usually ends up in the hospital, which happened just this week, and she just got out on Saturday afternoon, as we were at the airport, picking up Rani and Arjun. On average, Ronee' is hospitalized from a period ranging from several days to a week whenever she is flaring. (Steffi, our older daughter, was the one who picked Ronee' up from the hospital and brought her home.) ANYWAY, Ronee' has had JRA since she was about five (the pains started when she was four, but she wasn't diagnosed with JRA until she was five), and she walks with forearm crutches and leg braces (or, on bad pain days, uses a wheelchair). Still, she hasn't let her disease stop her from doing what she wants to in life, and she has such a happy personality; but if she turns quiet or grouchy, then we know she is hurting or is about to flare.
I am happy to say that Ronee' is feeling much better; she is still hurting somewhat, but she no longer has the other sympstoms, and she is about back to her old self again. She is a little pale, but I am sure she will perk up some when she sees her mail that came for her while she was in the hospital; it looks like her friends sent her some packages and get well cards, and she also got some mysterious packages from celebrities and her email friends. Ronee' is at school now, and I hope she takes it easy because she just got out of the hospital and she isn't quite herself just yet.
I am glad your boys are doing well. My kids are, now that Ronee' is out of the hospital, and now that Arjun and Rani are here from Sri Lanka! It seems funny how our family has grown; but God has brought these kids into our lives, and it seems weird, but once we get used to each child that comes, we somehow can't imagine the family without any of them! Now we are the adoptive parents of an incredible 52 kids, and yet we feel that we can't love them enough! They have been nothing but a huge blessing, and God is doing great things in each of their lives! They are also growing like weeds, and the first two we adopted--Johnny and Ronee', both adopted when little babies--are turning 13 this December! They will soon become TEENAGERS! ARGGGH!!! LOL It seems like only yesterday when I was changing their diapers or feeding them strained carrots..now they are worrying about teenagery things, and they are looking less and less like little kids each passing day! They have both gotten taller (they are still short compared to most kids their age, but that is beside the point!), and they are no longer interested in little-kid things! Next fall, they will officially start junior high! WOW!
Well, I will go now; Arjun is starting to awaken, and I know that Rani will too once she hears her little brother's whimpers. So I will go for now; I will write more later! Take care, and God bless!
(((HUGS))) and much love, your friend in Tennessee, Louisiana, now mommy to >52< adopted children! :)
Let this coming of age story of a boy named Bean take you back to a simple time. Set in a small southern town in the 1960's, encircled by a river and gleaming white cotton fields.
Tuesday, April 5, 2005, 11:03 a.m., C.S.T., D.S.T.~
