Thursday, March 11, 2010, Nashville, Tennessee, 7:12 a.m., C.S.T.~
Dear Journal~
Louisiana Sandusky here. Sorry for not writing; when you are raising a village, you don't get much in the way of breaks! LOL Add to that working over 50 hours a week, just so I can keep the family fed/clothed, and the bills paid on time.
Kendra Williams-Kent, probably my dearest friend in the world, will probably surpass me, in relation to the number of children she and her husband, Michael, have adopted. They are in the pocess of adding yet another child to their burgeoning family: they are in process of adopting a child from Russia!!
She just had twin baby girls four and a half months ago; they are as cute as bugs. Both have brown hair that sticks straight up and big, bright brown eyes; everytime she brings them to church, people are practically falling all over themselves to say hi to the babies! LOL
Still haven't heard from Audrey Callaway or her family: it's as though they have disappeared off the face of the earth. I am getting rather worried; I have been keeping them in prayer, for the Lord to keep them safe.
I have gotten another raise at work, which will help with the bills. Bill got a raise at his job, too, so the extra money will come in very handy. With our brood, we need to make every penny count, especially with the ever-rising gas/food costs!
The kids are fine, but Roberto got into trouble again. Biting a teacher. He has been suspended for a week. I personally think the teacher/principal went way overboard, but their decision stands. I do wish he'd get over his biting habit; it is very annoying!
He is seventeen years old, way too old, to be doing such childish things! Yet he doesn't understand: he is mentally disabled, and he has autism, which only complicates matters.
Ronee' didn't make it to the American Idol competition: she got bumped during the first round of competition; it broke her heart, but she knows that there are plenty of other opportunities for stardom. She isn't a quitter, nor has she ever been. It just makes her all the more determined to make it in this dog-bite-dog world of music.
She is trying out for "America's Got Talent" again. Maybe this year will be HER year! :)
Johnathon broke his toe: he kicked it against the door while in his wheelchair. He did this last night; took him to the ER: got X-rays, doctor put a little splint on it, but he said that he couldn't do much for it, as it will have to heal on its own, probably in six weeks time. He is in pain; he will not go to school today because we didn't get back from the hospital until four this morning.
I haven't been to bed yet. :)
Then last night, right before the Johnny Drama began, Roberto went into a tizzy because he couldn't find one of his crutches. He started hitting himself and biting himself, and screaming; it was very bad. Only thing that would calm him down was to put on this one classical music CD he likes ("music calms the savage beast!"). The crutch was right where he left it: under his bed! LOL
Rani got accepted into her school's cheerleading squad: she is the first disabled student to join the team. That means at the football games this fall, she will be with the other cheerleaders, just cheering her heart out for the team. We are so proud of her; she really wanted to do this! (Rani has weak legs; she walks with a walker most of the time; for shorter trips, she uses crutches.)
Sergei has calmed down since his last infraction at school: he punched a kid when the other kid called him a Communist. I know Sergei had the right to defend himself, but violence doesn't solve matters any; if anything, violence only makes things worse. I do believe he's learned his lesson well; he hasn't caused any more trouble, thank goodness.
Enriquesa had to spend two days in the hospital: she had trouble breathing. Turns out she has asthma! She has to use an inhaler and take meds, just like my other children who have asthma/breathing problems. Turns out she's allergic to pollen and trees; this spring is going to be very hard on her. We will have to keep a close eye on her, to make sure she doesn't have any more problems.
Sun Hee is going to be getting a guide dog. She has been accepted into the training program for the blind/visually impaired, and in time, she will be matched up with a canine. So down the road another dog will be joining our family. More training, more getting used to and getting to know the new canine family member!
My little dog, "Cajun Gold", would probably lick everyone to death; she would not make a good guide dog. LOLOLOLOL
Speaking of pets, we had to take "Cajun", our Maine Coon cat (actually, Ronee' 's cat), to the vet: she got into something that made her violently sick: for a while there, we thought we were going to lose her; it was a scary time. She is happily doing much better, but now we keep her indoors. She got out and got into some garbage; guess she was hungry. Poor kitty! LOL
Work is going well: have been working the MICU (my usual "home" LOL) or the Emergency Room lately (nice change of pace; I prefer the action of the ER to the quietness of the MICU LOL). Love all my patients and my co-workers, although some of the doctors act like they're God; drives me nuts!! Have had a few interesting patients, but that's the way the ball bounces, ya know?? *grins*
Next week is our city's annual St. Patrick's Day celebration/parade. We will be on the church's float, and of course, all of us will be decked out in our St. Patrick's Day greenery. Johnny will be doing sign language for the people when the performers take to the stage and during the speeches, so that the deaf people who come can know what is going on. He is a very important part of the city's celebration, and especially to the deaf/hard of hearing community.
Well, I am getting bleary-eyed, so I am going to end this now and go to bed. Bill is off today, so he can handle the kids while I try to get some needed sleep. Until later, this is Louisiana saying so long and God bless; I will write in here again soon!
~Love, your friend in Tennessee, Louisiana May. :)
