Wednesday, June 22, 2011, Dr. Emmons' Office, Nashville, Tennessee~

Dear Journal~

Johnathon here.  Hope this finds you well.  I am doing okay, but I am waiting to see Dr. Emmons, who is my primary care doctor.  He's been my doctor as long as he can remember; he and I go a very long way back.

I am seeing him to make sure the medication I'd gotten while I was in the hospital about two weeks ago is doing its job.  I had a seizure at church on June 12th (Sunday); it was very embarrassing.  I have been back to church since, but people look at me with pitying looks on their faces, and it really bugs the knots out of me!

I have to get some blood tests; then they'll check 'em out at the lab to make sure the meds aren't messing up my system and to make sure it is doing its job.  It should; I haven't had any seizures since then (D'oh!!).

I do know one thing: I am really looking forward to the Fourth of July.  My family and msyelf are going to the annual "Red, White, and BOOM!" Festival, which is in about two weeks.  There will be fireworks, tons of food, military flyovers, continuous live music, contests galore, a special appearance by Dana Bowman, who will fly the American flag in (he's an amputee; lost both legs in a deadly parachuting accident during a practice session with the Army Golden Knights; the other guy was killed), a patriotic tribute prior to the mammoth fireworks display, and so much more.  I just hope the weather co-operates, like it did last year! 

And on Sunday, I will officially be 18 1/2.  My birthday will then occur on December 26th; I will be a whopping 19 years old!  Hopefully there will be a party in the plans! :)

Too bad I am too young to go out drinking/partying with my friends! LOL (NOT that I actually DO it ... and I DON'T! ... , but the thought of being old enough TO do either IS nice to think about! :) )

I just wish my sister, Ronee', was here with me.  I miss her so bad it isn't a BIT funny!  Ronee' does call me every week (more than once), and she e-mails me constantly, telling me all about her college life in Louisiana and spending time with her friends when she isn't working or studying.  I'm happy for her; I just wish I could do more besides going to doctor's appointments or staying in the house 'cause the heat is bothering me again.  I love summer, but the older I get, the more the heat bothers me.  And the heat just makes my breathing worse, so I stay in, under the air conditioning, drinking gobs and gobs of water or lemonade!

In addition to that, I also have to worry about sunstroke or heat exhaustion.  I burn like a match: can't get a decent tan to save my life!  Even when I put sunscreen on, I end up looking like a boiled crawfish; it's beyond annoying!!

I hope Rebekka comes for the Fourth; that would be too cool to have her here!  Hard to believe that in just a few months Rebekka and I will be an old married couple!  Our wedding is coming up fast: we only have three and a half months before the wedding commences!!  I miss her so much it is all I can do to keep from crying: I have such a huge hole in my heart when Rebekka isn't with me!!

Well, Dr. Emmons wants to see me now, so I'd best hang this up and sign out.  I will write in here again soon; pray that I don't have any more unexpected seizures or hospitalizations! I was doing so good until the 12th of June; then I had to go back to square one!  GRRR!!!  Take care and may God bless you; have a very happy, safe, and fun Fourth of July full of fireworks, food, and family!

~Love, your friend, Johnathon.  :)