Louisiana writes yet another letter to a friend she has written to in the past; she is very apologetic for not writing her friend in so long; so she lets her know what is up in her world.
Thursday, August 25, 2005 (in just four months, it will be *CHRISTMAS!*), 10:20 a.m., C.D.T.~
Dear Sikik~
Hello, hello! I am so sorry for not writing to your last email in so very long; but I have been unbelievably busy! We now have *53* Miracles in our family (our newest Miracle came from Romania just a few weeks ago, and she is already starting to adjust and assimilate herself into the family; her name is Janica Kryzstina, and she is eight years old; she has spina bifida), and I have been busy taking care of not only Janica, but the other kids who are still here, and I have also been taking care of my elderly father (who is now in the hospital as I write this; he had an asthma attack the other day due to the heat, but his doctors think that he is going to be okay, much to our relief!), and also my mother-in-law, who has been understandably concerned about her stricken husband. I also have been busy with my adoption community and helping other families with the adoption process and busy trying to answer my never ending pile of emails! Right now my computer is burping, it is so full of emails! LOL But I AM trying!! So please do forgive me for not writing in so long!
I hope you don't think I am mad at you because I am NOT! It's just that I don't have but very little free time now, and what free time I DO have is very precious to me. I hope you are feeling a bit better emotionally, I know it is hard whenever you lose a parent to sickness. Again, you are still in my prayers and thoughts, and I pray that God eases your pain and grieving soon! Yes, I did lose a friend in the adoption community, Diane Aguilar in Texas, and I have written to her husband, Humberto, several times, but he hasn't written back lately, and I am worried about him. I will have to drop him a line to see how he is faring. I do hope he is okay! I also have been writing to a woman in Colton County, Mississippi, who has had a lot of problems, and for a little while, Audrey and I wrote religiously, but now it's like she's disappeared off the face of the Earth, and I am hoping that she didn't commit suicide. She was talking about it, but that is a long story, and I don't want to go into details right now. Maybe someday I will fill you in, but right now just isn't a good time.
I have heard from Jenna Aurora Doucet, and she is happily doing much better; she and her husband, Michael, have been going to marriage counseling and mental health therapy, and it seems that her emotional issues have finally ended. She is happier now than she has been in months, and right now she and Michael have been communicating and talking to each other. I am waiting to hear from her; hopefully she is still doing okay!
The kids are all growing like weeds, and they are waiting for school to start up again (here, school starts up the day after Labor Day), but Ronee' is worried that the kids won't like her when she starts junior high. She is scared that the kids will tease her because of her being disabled; but I told her not to let that worry her; just to be her natural self and let the kids see her how she really is inside, and she should have no problems. If you ask me, I think Ronee' worries too darn much! (Kinda' like her old mama, hunh?? LOL She and I ARE a lot alike in so many ways: we both worry nonstop, we are both chatterboxes, and we both love and live life to its very fullest! And we do kinda' resemble one another, even though, technically, she isn't even my biological daughter! LOL) Johnny is doing very well too: his muscular dystrophy seems to be at a standstill (much to our relief), but we are waiting for that perverbial other shoe to drop, and it's as though we are living with a ticking little time-bomb! He also hasn't had any seizures in over a year, and the medications he is on seem to be doing the trick in controlling them. He used to have such bad seizures his entire body would turn black from lack of oxygen, and he would have one seizure after another; and it was a very worrisome time. It seemed that we were having to call for an ambulance every few weeks on account of Johnny having yet another seizure; but I am happy to say that those scary times are finally behind us now (thanks to be God!!).
We are going to have yet another Sandusky child leaving the nest soon: our daughter, Steffi, will be leaving at the start of September for Texas; she will be going to Austin, where she will be attending Texas A & M University ("Home of the Aggies"!), and she is excited about her approaching college adventure! I pray and hope that she does well at college! But I DO know this: we are sure going to miss her being here; she is a trip! She can make us laugh at the drop of a hat, but at the same time, she can be exasperating at times! LOL But at the same time, she is settling down, and she has a job at Golden Corral, and she has been there for over a year (but is now on leave, thanks to her leaving for college, but she WILL be back for Thanksgiving and Christmas), when her school goes on holiday break.
Rani and Arjun are now "Americanized", and even they are doing well. Rani is walking with crutches, and she may be off the crutches before Christmas if she continues to do as well as she is at the current time in PT. As for Arjun, he is learning about the world about him, and everything is still so new and exciting to him, and everything to him is nothing but a grand adventure! I have forgotten what it was like to have a baby in diapers living in our house, but I am enjoying it emmensely! Arjun is such a good little boy, and he is so smart, too, besides! And he is sooo darned CUTE!
How are your brothers and sisters? Please tell them that they are in my prayers as well. I know they are having a hard time in your fahter's passing, and I want to extend my deepest sympathy wishes to them as well! I hope that they are well, and I hope that they take some time to visit you! I am sorry that you are so lonely! A person shouldn't have to live in loneliness, especially if they are hurting!
Have you seen the Northern Lights? We saw some here last night, and they were quite bright; kinda' reminded of when we were in Alaska last spring! Speaking of Alaska, we are going to Alaska again in the spring; but this time the ENTIRE Sandusky crew is going! We have been saving for this trip for over a year now, and we have already booked for the cruise, and we have more than enough money to go! It liked to have near broke my savings, but at least we can now go! Now the trick is to save some money, so we can have some to spend, or we will be having to learn to live in Alaska--or working on the ship to pay off our debts! LOL (Hmmm..that wouldn't seem like such a bad idea! LOL Working and living on the high seas! LOL) But SHHHH! Do NOT tell anyone; this is just between you and myself, and I do NOT want the kids to know ANYTHING about our upcoming cruise to Alaska! I am very excited at this, and I am sure the kids will be blown away when I DO tell them come Christmas time!! :) (The cruise is a celebration for the adoptions of Arjun, Rani, and Janica, and I also wanted the other kids to see Alaska's majestic beauty!)
How is the weather there? Here it is hot, but it should cool off sometime by the weekend, much to our relief, as it was the heat that caused my daddy to get sick in the first place. He is now in his seventies, and the heat just isn't good for an elderly person, especially if that person happens to have chronic health problems. But he IS going to be okay, and right now, that is the most important thing; it could have very easily been so much worse!
Well, Sikik, that is about all that is new on the Sandusky front...I do hope to hear from you soon! Take care, God bless you always, and again, please forgive me for the long lapse in not responding to your last email; but now you know why I haven't written. Write when you can; I'll be waiting for your letter!
(((HUGS))) and much love, your friend in Tennessee, Louie May Sandusky. :)
Super write Karen, going on a cruise, all of you...now that will leave a grand impression on the crew and all of the other passengers, you will be the darlings of the trip...great letter!
LOL at Ed's HOLY NORTHERN LIGHTS! LOLOLOL And I thought WE were busy. Yep. I knew it. Underneath Louisiana lives SUPERWOMAN!!!!!! LOL Jays. She must be a master of time management (or plain crazy). :) Still an excellent story...very well done! BRAVA!
(((HUGS))) and love, Karla. *LIGHTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!* hee hee hee
Speaking of Alaska, we are going to Alaska again in the spring; but this time the ENTIRE Sandusky crew is going!
Holy Northern Lights - all 55 of you? WOW! (I'll try not to divulge this secret, but good for you!!) And do you need a Captain? The old U.S.S. Catnip might be available - but I'll probably have to add a few more decks!
Karen, I did enjoy this read! Wow it was like I was right there living it and couldn't catch my breath! I gotta tell you though, 53! Wow I would SOoooo exhausted, I doubt I would even be able to think much less find time to write. I think I will just stay here in my little country nook of Oklahoma. Leave all the travel in my mind. Thanks gf for the wonderful time out and enjoyable read!
This all makes me wonder what on earth I am DOING with my life, and tugs at my heart strings to go DO something again, rather than sit here thinking bless-ed thoughts! :)) The people you speak of seem to have the ability to stretch time, so that they have 48 hours in a day... but the rich reward of having time so jam-packed with "good" and worthwhile stuff is that it's not the length of your days, but the quality within them that REALLY make them worthwhile. Another privileged insight into the lives and inner-workings of those who really CARE for others in this world - and those whose needs go way beyond the ordinary. Bless you and thank you as always for your journals and letters which share with us these precious experiences, Karen. LOL Kate xx
Beautiful once again Karen! Not only does Louis have a huge heart, she has a huge pocketbook;-) For 53 people on a cruise it would be less expensive to buy your own boat;-) Great write!
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Thursday, August 25, 2005 (in just four months, it will be *CHRISTMAS!*), 10:20 a.m., C.D.T.~
