Thursday, January 4, 2007, 3:20 p.m., C.S.T., Nashville, Tennessee~

Dear Louisa May and Family~

Thank you for the package from the girls; that was mighty sweet of them to make them gifts for us! They did a wonderful job! Thank you, too, for writing; it's been a long time!

How is the weather there in California? Hear y'all have been having a succession of storms; hope the weather calms down there soon! Here it is due to rain (again!) by tonight; it is already clouding up, and poor Bill is complaining about his arthritis. He says his back is really sore; he is walking around like a decrepit old man. His knees are also giving him fits; in fact, he said if he doesn't feel better soon, he may have to use his scooter when he goes to the grocery store later. (I just may have to go with him; I will have to carry the groceries and push the cart. Bill can't do it when he is on his crutches or is using his scooter.)

How are the kids? Glad to hear little Davey doesn't have muscular dystrophy; that is a blessing! :)  He sure is a cutie; he looks like his daddy! I have sent you a picture of our family; and speaking of family, you are already aware that we are adding four more to the clan.

We are adopting two boys from India and Iraq (Vijay and Emir) and two little girls from China and Vietnam (Mai Fong and Huong Vu). All but Emir are healthy; Emir lost his arms and legs to a roadside bomb last year, and he has PTS; he is relagated to frequent nightmares, according to the caseworker. We don't know when Vijay, Emir, Mai Fong, or Huong Vu are coming; but they should be here within the next six months to a year (we hope!). The kids are past excited; they are already counting the days to when their new brothers and sisters arrive! :)

Our kids made out like bandits too: they got toys upon toys, clothes, shoes, money, DVDs, M3P players, and much more. They are enjoying their new Christmas gifts very much. Bill and myself got a plasma television and a M3P player; we are enjoying them as well. (Been working lots of extra hours lately at the hospital; that is why we were able to spend more on the kids this Christmas. :) God has blessed us! :) Bill worked extra hours as well at Wal*Mart. He has been at his job for nearly four years now; seems hard to believe!)

Johnny and Ronee' are better; they have recovered from their recent hospitalization. Ronee' had a flare of her JRA (it affected the joints in her hands, elbows, fingers, wrists, shoulders, back, ankles, and neck; it also affected the lining around her lungs; as a result she had trouble witih her breathing), and Johnny had a spell with tachycardia (rapid heartbeat) and difficulty breathing. Johnny was in the hospital for three weeks, but Ronee' was only in for a week and a half; she wasn't nearly as sick as her brother. They are on new medications, and the meds seem to be helping them, thank goodness. They went to their doctor's appointments last week, and he gave them the "all-clear".

I will tell Johnny and Ronee' that you were asking about them; they will be glad to hear that! :)

I have been busy trying to catch up on my letters; this is proving to be an impossibility. But I am willing to try it. *Grins* I have so far written to my friend in Texas (Eileen Marie Weston), Kendra and Naomi in California, and Jerilyn Lotz in Kansas. I have yet to write to Sari and Nikolas Constantinos in Finland, Wyndi Piestala in Arizona, and Jenna and Michael Doucet in Alaska. I also have to write to Sikik Eegeesiak; she also lives in Alaska.

I have also been busy working on a sequel to my first nursing book; in the book are stories that I or some of my co-workers have experienced. I now have five to six books under my belt, and there will more than likely be more in the future. I will probably do another one about the family before long; seems that I never run out of story ideas when it comes to my family!

Well, Louisa, I will let you go. I am glad that you are getting around better since the surgery, but again, I am sorry that you lost the ability to walk. That had to be so frustrating! Just to let you know: you are ever in my thoughts and prayers, and I will again put you and the family on the prayer chain at my church!

Take care, dear friend, and God bless you all mightily! Love you!

~As always, your friend in Music City U.S.A., Louisiana Mayrah Sandusky (soon to be the Mamma to *59* Miracles!). :D