Thursday, February 22, 2007, 2:24 p.m., C.S.T.~

Dear Journal~

Hi! This is your friend, Johnny! I hope this finds you well. I am okay, but I am worried about Rebekkah; I wrote to her, but she hasn't written back. I hope she isn't in the hospital again! That would be terrible!

I am also busier than a centipede in a toe counting contest: I have been bogged down with homework like you won't believe, and I have homework again tonight (math, yechh!). (I'll do that after I get off the computer; wanted to write in my journal first.)

I also have been having a little more problems with weakness and shortness of breath, plus my heart has been pounding like a drum at the least little thing. I hate this muscular dystrophy; it's a pain! I am trying to be positive (I have lived longer than doctors predicted; that in itself is a huge miracle!), but it is getting harder every day, putting up with new weakness or more heart spells, and junk like that. I have just about lost all the ability to walk; my crutches will soon be history, and I will have to use my stupid wheelchair all of the time, grrr! I have to wear my oxygen more now because of my breathing, and it dries out my nose. Very annoying!

I am diong well in school, I just have mucho homework is all. I wish the teachers would give us kids a break; there's nothing worse than not being able to do things because of homework assignments! I haven't been outside much because of homework, plus a few weeks ago, we had a heavy snowfall that canceled school; it's now warmed up, and we may get some springtime thunderboomers by the weekend. Time to juice up my weather radio! Gotta' be informed whenever severe weather is afoot!

We have new brothers and sisters: mama and daddy adopted two boys (Emir and Habir) from India and Iraq (they are 1 1/2 and 5 years old), and two girls (Opal Lee and Emma-Ruth, ages 5 and 8) from China and Vietnam. The kids are pretty much healthy, but Emir has no arms or legs; he lost them when a bomb went off. He was an innocent victim of war; it makes me cry to think about it! I just hope it wasn't an American who did this! I'd really feel bad for him knowing it may have been one of our guys who did this to him! Such a shame!

Anyway, we all like the new kids, but they don't speak much English. They will learn, though; good thing mama knows basic Hindi, Iraqi, Chinese, and Vietnamese because I don't! I get stuck whenever they chatter at me; I have to get mama to translate! I'm not that good with languages (excepting for English and German)!

On Tuesday we went to a Mardi Gras celebration here in Nashville. The weather was beautiful: sunny and warm, very pretty outside. Ronee' performed before "Beausoleil" (the main attraction) took the stage; Ronee' was the warm up act. People seemed to like her. I love her singing, but I get jealous at times because she is way better at performing than I will ever be! I ate a lot of crawfish until I thought I was going to get sick, and I had an upset stomach later that night; threw up once or twice, then I was okay, thank goodness.

Guess that is what I get, hunh? Made an absolute >oink< of myself; I love Cajun food (almost as much as German!)! :P (Yummo!)

Well, next week I see the MD doctor at the MD clinic, will see how fast my MD is progressing. I am not looking forward to it; I have to have more electromyogram tests (shock my muscles to see how they respond; it's very uncomfortable, and they have to put me to sleep to do the test), more MRI scans, and more X-rays. UCH! I also have to have more needle pokes, for bloodwork; that isn't vrey fun either! I will probably have to be in the hospital for a day or so for these tests, so I have that to look forward to--not!!

I am going to get crackin' and do my homework; mama might get mad at me if she catches me not doing my homework. I will write in here again (probably after I get out of the hospital, o, joy!!). Take care, and God bless you!

~Love, your pal, Johnn-o. :)