Friday, April 11, 2008, 10:11 a.m., D.S.T., Nashville, TN~

Dear Journal~

Louisiana Sandusky here.  Hope y'all weathered the storms as we have done.

We got through it with nothing more than some minor shingle damage, some tree limbs, branches littering our yard.

Not to mention, shattered nerves.  LOL

It could have been so much worse.  We thank the Lord we got through it with (relatively) few problems.

Three of my daughters (Ronee', Loueva, and Debby) all had to go to the E.R.   Ronee' was admitted overnight for observation (should be home within the hour, according to Bill; he just called).
 
Johnny had a seizure (he, too, was admitted overnight, again for observation; he'll be coming home with Ronee').
 
Other than that, we all got through the tornado event just fine.

Ronee' had a panic attack; Debby and Loueva had asthmatic attacks.   Debby and Loueva aren't crazy about storms, but Ronee'... oh, she has a deadly fear of them; she's phobic.

Every time there's even a mention of tornadoes or severe weather, Ronee' panics.  She can't (or won't) sleep at all until the storms have passed.  Sometimes the fear gets so bad she will work herself into a full blown panic attack and can't breathe, has chest pains.

Such was the case yesterday. 

I don't like storms any better than my kids, trust me.  I try to stay strong,  especially in front of them.  If Maman's panicking, it would only intensify their fear.  Outside, I'm all "mother hen", willing to protect my brood; on the inside...I'm shaking scared, praying for the storms to go.  Away.

A quivering mass of pure-T chicken.

Soon as Bill brings Johnny and Ronee' home from the hospital, we will have to clean up the mess in our yard.  Might take an hour or two at most.    Then we will probably go to the pharmacy and pick up refills.  Some of the kids getting low on their meds.  If the four who went to the hospital got new prescriptions, we'll pick them up, too. 

I am working later tonight; usually work days, but I am covering another nurse's shift; she had some damage to her place, temporarily displaced (she's staying with her folks until her house is repaired).  I hope I work the E.R. or Medical ICU; those are my two favorite places to work.  I also love Pediatrics or Orthopedics.

We'll see where I work once I get there tonight; work from 7 tonight until 7 tomorrow morning. 

The weather people said the more eastward the storms migrated, they got worse.  Must have because Little Rock, Arkansas (not to mention, Alabama, Georgia, and Mississippi) got smacked around pretty good.  A few deaths, but like I said, it could have very easily been so much worse.

This is when I'm glad we have the safe room built inside our basement.  Double protection.  With the way the storms are here in the south, one can't be too careful.  Have all these children to watch out for; must be vigilent.  If anything were to happen to them, I don't know what I'd do; I'd probably go crazy with grief!

Well, I hear the van pulling up in our drive; Bill must be getting home.  I will write in here again another time; just wanted to let y'all know that we got through the storms in fine shape!  Take care and God bless!

~Love, your friend in Tennessee, Louie May. :)