Thursday, February 24, 2011,  Nashville, Tennessee, 10:17 a.m., C.S.T.~

Dear Journal~

Howdy from Music City U.S.A.!  It's me, your friend, Louisiana Sandusky, writing.  Hope this finds y'all well and reasonably happy.

We are doing well; thanks for asking.  Bill is still off work, thanks to his recent fall of over three weeks ago; he still has at least a few more weeks before our doctor gives him the okay to return to work at Wal*Mart.  Bill broke his tailbone, but he's getting around a lot better than he was, thank goodness. 

Michael is off the walker.  He suffered a broken back after a car wreck just before the Christmas holidays.  He has to wear a back brace and is walking on a cane, but he is otherwise healing beautifully.  It's been an answer to prayer in both cases.

The weather might prove to be interesting later on: just west of the Nashville metro area there may be nasty storms with the possibility of large hail, damaging downburst winds in excess of 60+ miles an hour, dangerous, frequent cloud-to-ground lightning, and even tornadoes.  I pray and hope not; I might want spring to come, but I am NOT ready for the severe storms just yet!!

Right now, though, it's partly cloudy and rather muggy.  Not too bad, but later on this may not be the case.  Just say some prayers for us; we'd greatly appreciate it!

Ronee' is doing well.  She is enjoying her classes at college (she is attending the Univiersity of Louisiana-Lafayette) ... well, excepting for math, but that's a given: she has never liked math.  (She's not failing it, but math is harder than her other courses.  She also isn't fond of the Current Events class, especially when they talk about President Obama.  She has to do everything in her power not to say anything about him; she can't stand him! Don't blame her one bit: we don't like him either!)

Ronee' recently had a flareup of her JRA; she missed several days last week, but is feeling much better.  She just stayed in bed and slept on and off (mostly on).  Then Britnee Rowlett, her roommate, had the flu; it was a hard time for both of them for a while.  (Britnee is doing better too.)

Johnathon is doing okay: nothing really new with his health, and we would prefer that this continues.  Johnathon's health is so delicate; when he is feeling weaker than usual or even has as much as a minor sniffle or cough, we worry because he just isn't that strong anymore.  He is excited about getting married later this year, and when Rebekka has been here, they have both been spending a lot of time together.

Johnathon is still considering on becoming a meteorologist, or at least a storm chaser/spotter; that is his number one dream in life.  He may be chasing later, right here in our own backyard.  I still say he is insane, but he just loves storms: the wilder they are, the more he loves/enjoys them!

I took Ian and Isaiah, our two youngest, to the pediatrician (Jack Emmons; we've been going to him ever since we first adopted Johnathon and Ronee'; he's been the doctor to all of our kids when they joined our family) yesterday: both boys are going to be tall, just like their daddy.  They will both probably top out over six feet tall easily, according to Dr. Emmons.  Not surprising: they may be three, but they are as tall as typical six-year-olds: people are always assuming that they are older than what they really are.

Anh and Thu are going to become parents later this year: Thu is pregnant (two months).  So there will be a new Sandusky grandchild to get to know and love (and spoil)!  This will be their first child.  As you can imagine, they are both elated.  Well, the feeling is mutual: we are elated for them! 

And, of course, let's NOT forget the approaching wedding of our son Johnathon and his fiancee', Rebekka!  (They are thinking of getting married sometime in the fall.  They want to get married in our backyard.)

And Star and her husband, Ethan, will become parents as well, so we have TWO grandbabies to look forward to.  They are due sometime in November or early December.  Like Thu and Anh, this will be the first child for them.  More reason to be looking forward to Christmas this year!  New babies!!  :)

I am still working hard at the hospital: still averaging anywhere from 70 to 100 hours a week on average.  Have been working in the ER or in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) the most, but have also done some time on the Pediatrics wing and some time in the Oncology ward.  I have to work: gotta work, in order to support this ever growing brood of mine! LOL

Off today, work tomorrow, Saturday, Sunday (which means no church on Sunday in the morning), and Monday, off Tuesday, then work Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Been working lots of night (graveyard) shifts lately; no wonder I am so exhausted or sleep all day by the time I get home!  I'm thankful I have a job, but man, oh, man: they are working me to death!!

Well, Bill is up, so I'd better get him his breakfast ready.  I will write in here again soon; until later, this is Louisiana Sandusky signing off.  Pray we don't get any heavy weather later on today; I'd greatly appreciate it!  God bless and talk to you again!

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