Saturday, Feb. 11, 2006, 11:12 a.m., C.S.T.~

Dear Jerilyn~

I am sitting here at the computer, watching the Olympics going on outside my bedroom window. The kids are staging their own Olympic competition in the wintery outdoors--replete with makeshift ski jumps (O, Lord, I hope they don't KILL themselves! Gemini just did a spectacular jump--whew, she landed safely!--), and Johnny, Ronee', and Jodie are handing out "medals" to the winners. I can hear music blasting through the window; I will have to get to them before the neighbors start to complain about all the noise that is going on--the kids have wanted to do this ever since watching the opening ceremonies in Torino, Italy, last night, and now Olympic fever has taken a firm grip on the Sandusky household.

Now I hear Michelle Kwan may bow out of the Olympics if she isn't healthy. That is a wise decision on her part, but I feel sorry for her; she so wanted to try out for the gold medal, and --Good, GOD, what was THAT?? Anh just did a spectacular aerial stunt on his ski! He is going to break his only remaining leg (or one--or both--of his arms if he isn't careful!! What IS he thinking?? That he is INDESTRUCTABLE or something?? MON DIEU!!)! *WAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHH!!!!* ANYway, back to what I was saying, Michelle Kwan wanted to try for Gold (she has yet to win one), but she may bow out. Such a shame. But now we have Sasha Cohen and that Weissner girl (I can't, for the life of me, think of her first name! LOL) to hope for a chance for gold. All one can do is wait and see what will happen. I feel so sorry for Michelle Kwan!

The ground is covered with snow, and of course, kids. There is a plethora of kids watching our version of the Olympics, and the kids are having a ball. I just hope that none of them hurts themselves; I don't NEED to take them to the ER or call for an ambulance on their part! SHEESH!! I hope the weather is good where you are at!

I am sorry to learn that the baby (Miles) had croup. How well I remember croup. Some of my own kids have had it when they were small, but they outgrew it. But some of them have asthma and sometimes trips to the ER are commonplace. My youngest, Arjun, is in the hospital, recovering from respiratory syncytial virus, he should be released by sometime next week. He gave us quite a scare the other day; we had to call for an ambulance and everything, but now he is doing much better, thank the Lord!! :)

Well, I am going to go out and tell the kids to stop doing daredevil stunts on that ski jump before one or all end up damaged! There has GOT to be a limit to all this insanity that has gripped their young minds! CRAZY kids!! AAAHH!! No WONDER I am totally grey now--and I am not EVEN in my forties yet! MON DIEU!!

Write back when you can!

(((HUGS))) and love, your *stressed out* Tennessee friend, Louie May Sandusky. :0 (Screaming at the sight of my kids doing tricks on skis! LOL)