June 18, 2008, Las Vegas, NV~

Dear Journal~

A very sleepy Bill Sandusky here.  Just woke up not even ten minutes ago. 

Last night, Ronee' had her audition at the studio where "America's Got Talent" is taped.  She did not make it.  Nerves again.  She was so disappointed; she really practiced hard.  I was sad for her too, but she has to work on overcoming her nerves when the big auditions come calling.

Oh, she did a great enough job playing her accordion, but her voice faltered at the end, and you could see it in her eyes that she was scared.  I felt so bad for her!

I will have to be there for Ronee' while she nurses her wounds of rejection.  She is really feeling vulnerable right now.  After all, giving hugs and comfort is what I do best:  I'm her daddy; I have to be there for her when she needs me.

I will have to call the family later, let them know about the bad news.  I hate these kinds of calls; they're the worst!!

I miss my wife, my other kids.  I wonder what they are doing right now while Ronee' and I are here in Las Vegas.  Louie is probably at work, and the kids are probably still sleeping, now that school's out for the summer.  When there's no school, the kids don't rise before nine o'clock; sometimes they don't get up until noon or even later.  Then I have to roll them out of their beds, call them lazy slugs. LOL

I hope Louie has a good day at work.  She's been having a string of rough ones lately:  been working the Emergency Room, have had some bad ones come rolling through the doors, she said.  I will have to say some special prayers for her today and in the days ahead.

It's not even summer yet, and already the kids are nut brown from the sun (excepting for Johnathon; he's a very bright pink; he's so pink he practically glows! LOL); swimming and being outdoors all the time will do that to you.  They all look healthy. 

The kids just love being outdoors; they can always find things to do.  I guess this is why they love summer the best because they can play to their heart's content, and they don't have to worry about us getting on their case most of the time about different things.

Louie and I try to make it a point to get enough playthings or equipment so the kids can play and not get bored; there's nothing worse than having bored kids around the house because that's when they are most apt to get into mischief.

The kids have enjoyed good health; nobody has been sick or has had to go to the hospital.  I pray this continues.  I wonder if the paramedics are even thinking of us, wondering what's going on since we haven't had to call on their services in over a month now.  LOL  They probably think we've either moved or died! LOLOLOL

Louie heard from a woman in California who has a daughter with Canavan's disease, or something like that.  It's similar to Tay Sach's. Anyway, her daughter is now nearly nine, and she's been rendered totally helpless by her condition.  It's really heartbreaking.  She says her daughter has been in and out of the hospital, and this last time, she nearly died.  She just got out and is recovering, but she is very weak and is on oxygen.

I will have to say a special prayer for young Nashi Ben Ami, pray for healing, and pray for strength for her family, as they cope with the severity of the girl's illness.

I know it's hard raising two children who have severe cerebral palsy on top of mental disabilities.  They can't do much for themselves either, and it's tough, really tough.  Somehow, though, God makes a way for us, and so far, Todd and Jodie have managed to stay healthy; we must be doing something right! :) 

I pray this continues; I pray all of our children remain healthy!

Well, the beast is stirring in the bed across from mine, so I will go now.  I will write in here again, probably after we get back from Las Vegas.  Might catch a show; maybe we can see Terry Fator, last year's winner of "America's Got Talent", live in person.  I think Ronee' might like that; she enjoyed watching him on "AGT" last year!

It might take her mind off her audition.

Until next time, take care, and may God bless you as much as he's been blessing our family as of late!

~Your friend, Bill. :)