Wednesday, February 1, 2011, Nashville, Tennessee, 11:30 a.m., C.S.T.~
Dear Journal~
Louisiana Sandusky here. Hope this finds y'all well and happy.
I am doing better. Got stopped for speeding last week; paid my fine to the (not-so-pretty) tune of $160.00. My fault; was done running errands (or so I thought), then realized I had to pick up some prescriptions, so I motored back to the store, only to be caught by a motorcycle cop that was hiding behind a sign. I was caught speeding 40 mph in a 25 MPH zone.
Whoops.
I wasn't happy about it (hurt my check big time), so last week we had to scrimp and save just about every penny, but by God's grace, we got through it and was able to pay the bills. Small blessings!
Bill and I are well (as are the children and grandchildren), so I am very thankful about that! Ronee' did have a bad cold about a week or so ago, but she's all over it and is back to her former self. Johnny also had a seizure but after a few hours at the hospital emergency room, doctors concluded that he would be okay, so they sent him home.
Johnny got a change in his medication. Sometimes this contributes to his having more seizures than usual until his boady gets used to the new drug; then it's smooth sailing until the meds wear out their welcome. (He needed a stronger medication to help with his seizures.)
The other children are doing well, too: taking care of little ones if they have children (or getting ready TO have kids; several of my daughters-in-law are becoming first time parents), working at their respective jobs, going to college, taking responsibilities and paying their bills, and the like. Bill and I are very proud of the children; they have all come a very long way.
Speaking of children, we have made the decision to adopt a little boy with austism from Japan (Akihiko Kenji; he will probably be called Aki for short) and a little girl from Haiti who has Down's syndrome; her name is Bastienne Camille, but we will probably call her Camille).
Akihiko is three and Camille is six. We have seen their pictures and we could not say no!
Our first home study is next week, a week from tomorrow, as a matter of fact. We have been getting the place ready and the papers gathered. We are rather nervous; we always are during these things. We also had our physicals; both of us passed; the doctor threw both of us out and told us not to come back for three months unless a problem crops up.
Most of the children are excited about the prospect of gaining a little brother and sister, but as for the two youngest (Ian and Isaiah, who just turned four in November) aren't so sure: they have been used to being the youngest members of our family (that's not counting the grandbabies, of course!). Bill and I have been giving the twins extra support and cuddle-time, so as to soothe their injured spirits.
Bill and I are excited as well. We get to hear the pitter-patter of little feet again on a regular basis and get to learn basic Japanese, so we can communicate with Akihiko. I do know Creole French, so speaking with Camille shouldn't be too much of a problem.
We did learn basic Japanese when Gemini was a little girl, but we've both forgotten a lot of it.
The weather here in Nashville is relatively mild, with temperatures in the forties and fifties. It is a pretty day today, bright wall-to-wall sunshine and rather breezy. It may only be the first of February, but it has been warmer than normal the past week, but by the end of next week, we may get a shot of significantly colder weather, including a chance of snow.
Well, I am about to throw in another load into the laundry and take the one that's in now and put it into the dryer; seems that laundry detail is one chore I'm never done with! *Sigh!* I will write in here again soon; until later, this is Luoisiana Sandusky saying so long! May God bless you always! Say a prayer that we pass the home study! I would greatly appreciate it!
~Love, your friend in Tennessee, Louie May. :)
