Tuesday, December 30, 2008, 10:17 a.m., C.S.T., Nashville, TN~

Dear Journal~

Howdy!  It's your friend, Louie Sandusky, writing!  Hope y'all had a wonderful Christmas time; we sure did!  It is great having all of the children home; we've been catching up on old times, learning about what our children have been up to in their lives.

I've been spoiling the grandkids.  Hey, I have that right:  I'm their grandma!  They have been eating my cookies, and they love the new toys that Santa Claus has brought them for Christmas.  They love romping around in the snow, and they love playing with their many cousins.

Bill has been enjoying the grandbabies, too.  He tells them stories of when he was a little boy, back in his native North Carolina, and he lets them help out when he makes homemade ice cream or maple syrup.

The oldest kids have taken some of the burden off when it comes to my taking care of the more seriously disabled kids; it's been a godsend!  I now have more time to relax, enjoy my husband, do things I want, instead of worrying about who took what medications and when, if it's time for a diaper change or a tube feeding, worrying about their breathing patterns, etc.  

I know I'm a nurse:  I'm trained to handle emergencies; however, I'm also a mother, and when any of my kids are sick (particularly the more severely disabled ones, or kids like Johnathon, who have incurable diseases), then my whole world stops, even if the rest of it does not.

For Christmas, I got gift certificates to Bath and Body Works, 1/2 Price Books, Barnes&Noble Booksellers, Family Christian Booksellers, Olive Garden, Golden Corral, Appleby's, Ralph & Kacoo's, Popeye's Chicken, and Subway, new clothes (nightgowns, brassieres, underwear, nylons, pants/slacks, shirts/sweaters, new dresses for church, etc.), a new cover for my Bible, $500.00 from family and friends, and perfume (Red Door, magnolia, Lady Stetson, and Charlie).  

I made out like a bandit.  LOL

Now it is nearing the end of yet another year.  Soon it will be 2009, and there's no telling what the future may bring.  The world is in pretty sad shape now, what with the Hamas fighting the Isrealis, the ongoing economic troubles, people losing their homes, finances, jobs, etc., the growing state of immorality in this nation, and the ongoing health crisis; I fear for our world. 

It seems that the book of Revelation is coming to pass; I'm afraid we're in the last days before Christ comes back to take His children home with Him!

We have to pray now more than ever; we could really use some help from our God about our world's problems!!

I have been working hard:  worked all weekend, and yesterday; was supposed to work today, but a co-worker opted to work for me instead, which I appreciate.  I worked for her about two weeks ago; now it is her turn to repay the favor.  I work tomorrow, then am off on New Year's and the day after; then work the weekend again.  Then I should be back to my normal Monday-Friday routine after the holidays.

I am taking care of a little boy in the PICU who has all sorts of physical problems, among them, severe to profound mental retardation, stiff limbs, seizures, and reflux disease.  He has a rare condition known as lissencephaly, and doctors don't hold out much hope for the little guy.  It's really heartbreaking to see!  If he survives much longer, I'll be very surprised. 

I wouldn't put it past the nurses at work calling me to let me know that Timmy* has died.

Had been working in the adult neuro ICU, as well as Medical ICU; but the last two days have found me in the Pediatric ICU, working with the children there.  I love it, but it's heartrending to see all these sick little ones fighting for their very lives, or those who have been gravely injured, and there's no clue as to whether they are going to be okay or not.

Today, however, I needn't be thinking about work.  I need to be thinking about getting ready to take the family out.  We're going out to eat (Appleby's, using our gift certificates! :) ), then go ice skating (or playing in the snow).  It promises to be a fun, relaxing day, with nobody but us, having a good ol' wintery time!

Well, I am going to go now:  have to finish getting the vans packed, then get the kiddies loaded in and buckled, then we'll be on our way!  I will write in here again next year; until then, this is Louisiana Sandusky signing off!  Take care, and may God bless you in the coming year; may it be your best year EVER!

~Love, your friend in Tennessee, Louisiana Mayrah Sandusky.  :D

 *not child's real name.