Saturday, October 29, 2005, 10:30 a.m., C.D.T.~

Dear Louisiana!~

Hey! Thank you for your beautiful and uplifting letter yesterday; it was good to hear from you again! You always know the right thing to say to a person!

I am happy to report that Aurora's heart is doing better. She sometimes gets a faster than normal heart rhythm (especially if she is upset or excited), and we had to call the paramedics on her so they could "shock" her heart back to a more normal rhythm; and after a few days in the hospital, she recovered without any lasting effects. Still, it was scary, very scary, and now we have taken to watching over Aurora like a hawk. The other children are doing well, I am happy to say, but I am waiting for that preverbial "other shoe to drop", as you have said. Still, even with all her medical problems, Aurora is a very sweet-natured little girl, and we just love her so much! We love ALL our kids, but Aurora has something that really makes us love her a bit more. Maybe that sounds mean or crazy, but Aurora is special, and we just can't imagine our world without her!!

Speaking of kids, how are YOUR kids? I am glad that Johnny and Ronee' are over their illnesses; sounds like you are going to be busy come trick and treat time! The kids' Hallowe'en costumes sound delightful! I bet Johnny would make an aDORable hobo, and I bet Ronee' makes a beautiful young Loretta Lynn! Are you going to have her hair done up like Loretta's? I bet that would be cute! I am glad that even Janica, your newest child, is going to be getting into the "spirit" of the holiday; maybe that will make her feel less stressed out about seeing people dressed up in unfamiliar ways! Are YOU and Bill going to dress up? My kids are going to be ghosts, goblins, witches, even a vampire...you know, the "traditional" Hallowe'en fare. I am going to be a spider, albeit a friendly one. It just goes to show you: Hallowe'en just isn't for kids anymore; more and more grownups are getting into the holiday nowadays, it seems.

Seems that the holidays are coming up fast. Seems that the older we get, the quicker they come. When we were just kids, the holidays just seemed to DRAG; now they come upon us like GANGBUSTERS!! We are going to go to my mom's for Thanksgiving, and we are also going to go to her place for Christmas. She lives near Orlando.

How is the weather there? It is warm and sunny, but not too bad...at least the hot stuff is overwith and done. Now if the same thing could only be said about those stupid tropical storms or hurricanes...seems that there is yet another storm (Beta) scheduled to visit Nicaragua and the Honduras...just as long as she does NOT come here OR to the Gulf, I will be happy! I will be happier still when hurricane season 2005 is FINALLY overwith and done!!

It sounds like you had a wonderful time at the Grand Ole Opry's Birthday Celebration. I would love to go to the Opry, but have never been there. When my wife was alive, we'd always wanted to go, but then we started adopting, and we never even got there. Then my wife got sick and then died, and we still haven't been to the Opry. Maybe one of these years we will get there once the kids are older...I have seen a few of the Opry stars at the state fair here in Florida, but I would much rather see them AT the Opry! Sounds like you go to a lot of concerts; just WHO have you SEEN in person?? You must make TONS of money to be able to raise an army of kids AND go to concerts, let alone CRUISES!!! *Sighhhhh*

Well, the washer just sounded; time to put the clothes into the dryer. Yup. You guessed it. I am playing househusband today; today is cleaning and laundry day, and I am glad that I am NOT doing it by myself! I have some of the kids helping me out!! I will write again soon; take care, and God bless you and your lovely family always! Have a happy and safe Hallowe'en!! Don't let the warlocks or the witches get ya! LOL

Love, your friend in Florida, Eddie Galen-Greene. :)

p.s.: *BOO*!!