Weds., September 16, 2009, Nashville, TN., 5:40 a.m., D.S.T.~

Dear Journal~

Howdy!  Good morning!  This is your friend, Louie Sandusky, writing. 

Thought I'd write in here; it's been a while (twelve days at least):  seems I don't write in here nearly as much; I'm always working or when home, taking care of my family.  I have been pulling a lot of double shifts; the nursing shortage has really hit NMH hard, and the nurses that are there have to cut the slack, work for those who didn't show up or called in because of illness or other matters.

Like yesterday and the day before, as an example:  yesterday, I worked from seven in the morning until 11 p.m.; the day before, I worked from 7 a.m. until 9 p.m..  I'm exhausted!!  (So what am I doing up this early in the morning, you ask?  Beats me; I don't know!  I just woke up!  LOL)

Add to that, church matters.  Choir rehearsals on Thursdays.  Services on Sunday (three) and Wednesday (one, plus Bible Study).  Royal Rangers and Missionettes activities for the kids.  Activities geared for the teen youth.  Play-practice for the "Heaven's Gates and Hell's Flames" cast several nights a week (Monday, Tuesdays, and Fridays).  I have missed some of the rehearsals because of my working, but they understand:  I told them I'd be there when I could.

After all, in case I can't be in HGHF, they do have a backup who can play my part, so all is not lost.  :)

In HGHF, I play the part of an old Christian lady who has a heart attack and dies; she ends up going to Heaven.

Then you have the Harvest Festival shortly after HGHF; it's two days this year.  It's gotten so big they had to expand it by another day.

AND, on top of that, Christmas Cantata practice, so we're already singing Christmas songs in the middle of September!  LOL

I think with all that going on in my life, I could sleep in for a YEAR!!!!   LOL

The family is well, thanks for asking.  Johnny is still plugging away as best as he can; thank God he hasn't had any problems.  We pray this continues; Johnny's health has gotten so fragile!  Anything could happen with him, especially since he's now dependent on a respirator to breathe and has a tracheostomy! 

Ronee' tried to flare the other day; we thought she would have to go into the hospital, but she didn't, thank goodness.  She just stayed in bed for the past two days; she feels a little better today, but not good enough to go to school, so she will probably sleep a better part of the day.  Won't see her much until she decides to get up.  LOL

Emir had his ear surgery; since having the tubes put in, he isn't having as much problems with infections, and he seems to hear a lot better.  He had his ear surgery on the sixth; he did beautifully!

Roberto may have to have another heart surgery; doctors still say his heart isn't quite where it should be.  The last EKG test he had showed some abnormal heartbeats.  So now we have that possibility looming over our heads.  The last time Roberto had heart surgery (at the age of ten), he nearly died; he arrested on the operating table.  It was a scary time for all of us; thank God he came through it, but it was rather iffy for a little while!

Since Jodie had her surgery a few months ago to release spastic muscles in her feet, she's done well.  No problems with pain or contractures; her feet are nice and straight.  Jodie also hasn't had any more problems with her G-tube leaking or her choking on saliva.  She is talking more and more, and she is proving to be a most delightful young lady!  (Hard to believe she is eighteen now!  WOW!  Seems like only yesterday when we brought her home from Korea at the age of three!)

Steffi called from Texas:  she scored high marks on her finals last quarter.  We are very proud of her.  And she and Tank, her boyfriend, are still seriously in love; in fact, there may be the talk of marriage before too long.  He's thinking of proposing to her on Christmas morning, when they come here to Tennessee to spend the holidays with us.

(Steffi doens't know that part yet, but we got wind of that straight from the horse's mouth:  Tank.  :) )

Lightning called the other day, to tell us that Daniel, her son, had to go to the E.R.; he had a seizure while playing a video game at the mall.  One minute, he was playing the game; the next, he was down on the floor, seizing uncontrollably.  He was rushed to the hospital via ambulance; he is going to be okay, but he does have epilepsy, so he's now on medication to control the seizures.  (His mother has epilepsy, too; she's had it ever since we've had her.)

Michael had a minor wreck the other day while going to school:  a lady rearended him; it was her fault.  Turns out the lady didn't have insurance, so you know she's going to get nailed.  Michael (or the lady) were not hurt, but Michael's car did sustain quite a bit of damage.  I'm just thankful it wasn't a lot worse than it was; God had His hand on my son!

Dwerlina and her family are moving to Baton Rouge:  Dwerlina got a job offer to work at the Mulate's in Baton Rouge; they said they'd pay her double what they did in Breaux Bridge.  She snagged the offer; she is excited about this new venture in her life.  She is doing very well; her kids are such sweethearts!  And her husband's law firm is flourishing!  No worries for them!

Janica got all A's on her schoolwork; she's now on the honor roll.  So is Sunshine; her twin brother, Andre', meanwhile, continues to struggle with learning difficulties.  He has to see a tutor several times a week.  We feel so sorry for him; he tries so hard!  (Johnny is like that too, but thank God Johnny got the help he needed, and now he scores high grades, which has been a huge difference in his [and our] lives!)

Jamie is running for freshman class president; she is very popular at her school.  She has tons of friends and is just a delightful child.  She has grown so much (as have all my kids)!

Enriquesa is using her wheelchair now:  her artificial legs cracked and are now at the shop for repairs.  This has been a huge setback for her; she loves the freedom her "arms" and "legs" have given her!  We tell her to try to be patient, but she's not doing very well, I'm afraid.  She wants her legs back.  NOW.  LOL

Well, as you can see, life is indeed good at Casa Sandusky.  I pray it continues.  When the kids are doing well, it seems life flows so much easier for us!  When they get sick or injured, however, our life STOPS, just like that.  And it will when Roberto has his heart surgery (probably around November or so).  Right now, we aren't going to worry about that; we are going to live in the here and now and take one day at a time!

Bill is still working, but he continues to grumble about the Hallowe'en stuff they have out.  He's more than ready for the Christmas decorations to come; he's always preferred Christmas over Hallowe'en, anyway.  He loves his job in security; they've managed to nab over fifty potential shoplifters, which, in kind, will save consumers a bundle.  When things get stolen, the prices go up, and everyone suffers, all because of a few bad apples who made poor choices.

Well, I am going to run, go back to bed.  Since I am off today, I do have that right.  Might as well take advantage of it, ya know??  LOL  I will write in here again another time; until then, this is Louisiana saying so long!  God bless you always!

Love, your friend in Tennessee, Louie May Sandusky.  :D