Monday, March 1, 2010 (can you believe it's a new month already??), 5:14 a.m., C.S.T., Nashville, TN.~

Dear Journal~

Sorry for not writing in quite a while; been incredibly busy:  if not at work, I'm busy with church affairs and caring for my burgeoning family.  Hope you understand.

Add to that, the demands of writing another book and running the adoption community.  *Sigh*  No wonder I'm so tired; I don't get a moment's rest!

NOT complaining, though:  I'm used to runnin' on all four cylinders.  Just call me the Energizer Bunny (just as long as they keep the java juice comin', and I'll be okay)!  LOL

At least I can run around:  before I had my back surgery over a year ago, I can do things I wouldn't have dreamed of doing:  lifting children, placing them in wheelchairs or in bed, taking care of my patients at work, raking the yard, scrubbing the floors, picking up after messy kids (or grownups) ...  it's been nothing but miraculous!  I am finally free of the crippling back troubles that's plagued me since I was nine years old!  (I do get twinges now and then, but nothing like I had!)

I'm also walking without any assistance:  no cane, no crutches, just under my own power!  It's been wonderful!!

Family is well, but poor Bill cried yesterday when the Canadian men's hockey team beat the USA men's hockey team in overtime, 3-2, to capture Olympic gold.  He was really rootin' for the USA.  It still was a good game, and I told him (and the kids) that even though we might have lost the game, we still got a medal; at least we walked away with something!

I was rooting for both:  I have a bit of Canadian in me:  my original ancestors, the Acadians (les Acadiens in French) came from what is now Nova Scotia in Canada.  Both sides.  :)  So Canada resides in my blood, and so does the U.S.A.

I was very happy how the game turned out; the Canadians deserved the gold medal!  They played their hearts out!

I was rather sad to see the Winter Olympics end; I always am.  Now it's back to the same ol' grind; we really won't have much tv to watch (unless you count "Parenthood", which premieres Tuesday night on NBC; we'll see how that goes).

Now the focus of the Olympics switches from Canada to Russia; the athletes meet again in four years, in 2014.

Ronee' is rather sore this morning:  she fell yesterday while coming out of church.  Ronee' didn't hurt herself, but she did scrape her hands and arms up pretty good.  She also dinged one of her knees.  She is going to feel the effects of the fall for a few days; she's moving as slow as a turtle!  She was mad at herself for being clutzy:  she hooked her foot on one of her canes; down she went.

Then Johnathon's respirator alarm went off.  Darn thing is so sensitive; it went off right in the middle of the sermon.  Everyone looked our way; he was mortified.  I told everybody he was okay; he wasn't having any difficulty breathing; I then told Bill that I would have to call the medical supply store to see if they can fix the problem.  It's been happening a lot lately, and it's really getting past the point of annoying!!

Sergei got into trouble at school:  he was suspended for three days last week for fighting.  He punched another kid in the mouth when the other kid called Sergei a "Communist".  Bill and I were not amused.  I don't know what came over him; he is usually not this way!  I just hope there aren't any kids there who are giving him trouble; if there are, Bill and I will have to speak to the principal about that!  Sad!

Megan and Michelle both got Students of the Week at their school; they get to get their picture made in the paper and have their names mentioned on the billboard outside the school grounds.  Their grades and exemplary behavior caused them to get this award; we are so proud of our twins!  (Now why can't Sergei or some of the others follow their example??  *rolling eyes*)

Roberto also got into trouble at school:  he bit another student!  I told him that this behavior was unacceptable, especially since he is seventeen years old!  I don't know what came over him! 

Great!  I have two juvies among the kids!  When are they ever going to learn that violence (or biting) is never the answer to solve conflicts??

I had to take Isaiah to the ER last week:  he fell and knocked out his two front teeth.  Blood went everywhere, and my heart nearly stopped.  It was terrifying!  The way he screamed, you would have thought he was getting killed!  Thankfully he wasn't seriously injured; however, he does have a bruised up face and is minus two teeth!  I'm just thankful it wasn't any more serious than it was!

I heard from my daughter in Louisiana:  she has been sick with pneumonia; she was even in the hospital for a few days.  She just got out yesterday; she still feels pretty bad, but she is starting to feel just a little bit better.  Poor Dwerlina; I will have to say some prayers of healing for her!

I also heard from Lightning in Colorado; she and Darnell are working hard to get along, and things are much calmer around the Williams abode.  Answered prayer!

The grandkids are fine; it's just some of my own kids who aren't!  (sighhh)

I have been working oodles and oodles of overtime; been working mostly in MICU or CVICU.  Even did a few days in the PICU.  Last night, one of my patients (Brigitte Duhon, who is in here with pneumonia; she's from British Columbia, Canada) kept me hopping; poor thing just couldn't get comfortable, and she was having so much trouble breathing!  I felt sorry for her!  She was depressed because she was supposed to go back home for the Closing Ceremonies, plus she was a volunteer for the Olympics; she is worried that her bosses are going to be mad at her for missing work!

I also had a patient the other day bleed out; it was disgusting, as these scenarios always are.  Poor fellow never had a chance.  Liver cancer; his liver ruptured, and that was that.  He was gone in less than ten minutes after the call went out; we worked on him for over an hour, but to no avail.  I felt horrible! 

I have been lifting the man's family in my prayers; I know they will need all the prqyers they can possibly get!

So that is what is new in my world.  I will try to write more soon (I have been bad at that lately, I know, and I am sorry).  I am going to go back to work and finish up my shift, so I can be on the way home before the traffic really gets bad.  I will write in here again another day; until then, this is Louisiana Sandusky saying so long!  Take care and God bless!

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