This time Louie writes to her Texas friend, Diane Renee' Aguilar, who lives in Del Rio.
Wednesday, April 20, 2005, 12:10 p.m., C.S.T.~
Dear Diane~
Thank you so much for your beautiful letter; it is good to hear from you, but sorry you have been in the hospital. Are you home now, or are you still in? I pray and hope you are back home where you belong! You have been in my prayers, and so have your husband and kids!
I had to laugh about Chico stuffing the pecan nut up his nose. That sounds like something some of my kids would do! LOL But glad he is okay; now he knows NOT to do that anymore! LOL Poor kid...kids are curious; that's what makes life with them so interesting! LOL My kids have done some funny (and even NOT so funny) things that caused grey hairs to pop up all over our heads! With some of the things that they have done or had to experience, it's a MIRACLE that Bill or myself aren't COMPLETELY grey by now! LOL (Of course, I DO cheat, thanks to Clairol, but shhhh...DON'T tell anyone, okay?? LOL)
Sorry to hear of Rosita's school troubles. That is horrible! I can understand why you would want to pull her out of that school; such a darn shame of all the "goin's on" in the world today!! Sad!! I am sure she would be much happier to be home with you guys than to be far away in Austin! I don't know what I would do if Todd, Jodie, or Deborah were in that situation, but I DO know that they would NOT be at that school ever again if I heard of allegations of abuse or corruption! I will keep you all in my prayers! Poor Rosie! It's bad enough when ANYONE faces the hell of abuse, but to inflict it on a DISABLED child who can't help themselves?? It's UNIMAGINABLE, and I just can't fathom ever doing that to MY children or putting them in that situation!! That is downright SCARY!!
Our two Sri Lankan children, Rani and Arjun, are here (they've now been here for about a month now; it will be a month on Saturday), and they are adjusting well, especially Arjun, the baby. He is one year of age, and he has the fattest cheeks you can imagine! As for Rani, who is five, she reminds me of Ronee' when she was younger, and it is almost like looking at Ronee' as a little girl all over again! She does have some noticeable developmental and physical delays, but therapy should help her get over the worst of the problems, and doctors think she will fully recover. (She had a serious head injury and was in a coma when I first met her back in Sri Lanka, but Arjun, miraculously enough, emerged without so much as a scratch!) Arjun is a delightful little baby with a killer smile and an outgoing personality, but Rani is very shy, and it takes her a while to warm up to new people or situations. We are so happy that Arjun and Rani are here; they are great kids, and we are so fortunate that God brought them into our lives!
So now we are the parents to an incredible FIFTY-TWO children, and we have been enjoying the newest additions very much! Life here at the Sandusky Hamlet is NEVER dull, that is for DARN sure! LOL
Life is also good to me in the fact that my third book, "The Miracles Continue: The Sandusky Family Story, A Sequel" has been accepted for publication. It is a continuation of our story, where I last left off, and it ends just prior to the adoptions of Arjun and Rani, right before I went to Sri Lanka to help with the relief efforts; before then, I never knew that Rani or Arjun even EXISTED.
Our Easter went well, but then Ronee' got sick; she had another flare, and she did go to the Cantata, but she didn't participate in it, she felt so bad. The next day, I took her to see her pediatrician, Dr. Emmons, and he had her admitted into the hospital, where she stayed for five days. But she is now recovered, and she is back to her normal self again, thank the Lord! We also dyed Easter eggs the day before, and the kids enjoyed their Easter treats. They all got candy, games, books, and drawing or painting supplies, and they have since eaten all of their Easter candies and stuff! LOL I am sorry you are having to be on a central line, but be thankful that you are ALIVE. No, being in the hospital or having to endure cancer or the treatment is not fun by any stretch of the imagination, but you are a SURVIVOR, and if there is anyone who IS going to make it, it is going to be YOU. I have complete faith in you!
I loved the picture of the Texas bluebonnets on your letter; I remember seeing them (and the Indian paintbrushes) the last time we were in Fort Worth, Texas, when we went to Billy Bob's Texas to see Loretta Lynn last year!
Well, dear Diane, I have to go now; have to get the kids' lunches together and call them for their meal. The kids are home from school because the elementary school they go to is shut down due to electrical problems, and they will miss school tomorrow as well; it looks like they won't be back at school until Friday or even Monday. So I have kids out the wazoo today! LOL Take care, and God bless, and hope you are feeling better soon!
(((HUGS))) and much love, your friend in Tennessee, Louisiana Mayrah. :)
P.S.: OH!! Before I forget, Johnny and Barbara went to Alaska; they got back last Saturday, and they were there for a week. They visited my friend, Sikik Eegeesiak, who lives in Barrow, and they had a good time, but poor Johnny DID get homesick. He was never so happy to be back; when he got off the plane, the first thing he did was wrap his little arms about my waist and give me the biggest, wettest, sloppiest kiss! He sure did miss me!! LOL I guess the Inuit lifestyle isn't for him! LOL
This time Karen, I too, am with Karla....you are faster than a speeding bullet, with turning out these wonderful stories....hard for us working folks to keep up with you....smiles
You pen stories faster than I can review them--JAYS! And what makes them all special is that they're all terrific reads! Well done!
(((HUGS))) and love, Karla. :)
Reviewed by M. B.
4/20/2005
Karen, I *really* enjoy these letters. They seem quite authentic! I get so caught up in them that I have to remind myself they are from the magnificent creative imagination of the Texas Tornado!
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.
A wicked Cajun Fairy named Robes Pierre entered the impenetrable Magical doll land of Sha Bebe. Queen Faustina, the ruler of the doll land, thought she had destroyed him, but he's back! Will the doll land survive his evil ways?
Wednesday, April 20, 2005, 12:10 p.m., C.S.T.~
