August 20, 2006

• Lorena always better

  

  Rainey
  and Stephi:  two of my favorite Mexican/Americans.  Thank God
  these two have so much of their mother in them; they are so much
  tougher than I am.  This pic was taken before prom last
  spring.  Now Stephi will miss her senior prom because she will be
  staying with Lorena in Mexico.  I am incredibly proud of these two
  young ladies. 

  Michael in Stephenville on yet another HOT day.  We are forecast to hit 105F again today, and
  it has been almost a year since we had a real rain.  We have had a few showers with minimal
  rainfall, but, by and large, we have had no precipitation at all.  Most of our lawn is gone, and the huge
  sycamore tree in the back yard will probably not recover.  (All of our Stephenville water is supplied by
  wells, and sometimes it seems as if it would be cheaper just to buy barrels of
  crude oil and pour on our lawns than to irrigate.)  We are much drier now than we were last fall
  when so much of Texas and Oklahoma burned, so we are all collectively
  holding our breaths, praying that we get some rain before the fires begin
  again.  I am so ready for this heat to
  end.  Our lows at night have been in the
  80’s for the last few weeks, with high temperatures in the 100’s..

  I just got off the phone after a wonderful, powerful,
  emotional conversation with Lorena.  Roberto was our moderator, and he is an
  incredible nurse.  I will never be able
  to repay Lorena’s caregivers for what they have done for her.  (Poor Roberto is extremely discomfited being
  caught in the middle of our personal and emotional talks, so I get to tease him
  that nursing school never prepared him for this.  He just laughs and apologizes.  He truly is an angel working in Lorena’s
  life.)  Lorena is doing well, and
  obviously her therapy is rewarding her marvelously.  (Carlos will forever be one of my
  heroes.).  I was on the phone with Lorena
  for over an hour, and we communicated more (and cried more) than we have for a
  long, long time.  I desperately want to
  hear her talk again, and I would gladly forfeit my own life if it would restore
  her again.  But her improvement is
  continuing, so I am elated by, and profoundly thankful for, each small step of
  her progress. 

  I have complained on here quite often of the frustration of
  not receiving itemized bills for her care, so I asked her today if the status
  quo is better for us (not being able to deduct her care costs from our taxes),
  or if it would be better to deduct her costs. 
  Lorena indicated that it is best for us to continue as we have
  been.  She is the smartest person I know,
  so you will not see any more whining about this issue on this blog.  (Do not misunderstand me.  I am an American, so not only will I complain
  unceasingly on here about a myriad of things, but I will do so fervently
  because that is one of the primary obligations of being a US citizen…) 

  Communications with Lorena should improve remarkably.  Stephi is being tasked with reading this blog
  and your comments to Lorena daily – and responding.  Furthermore, I have requested that Lorena
  start communicating directly with you folks. 
  I know it will be difficult and tiring for her (and will require much of
  Steph), but it will be wonderful therapy for Lorena, and it would benefit both
  her and you, especially those friends and family out there who have been unable
  to maintain close contact with her.  [I
  mentioned several of you by name today and reminded Lorena of how important it
  is for both parties that YOU be able to communicate directly with HER – and she
  cried heartbreakingly.  I hope you are
  happy for making her cry, Jerome and Ruth and family, Bill and Kay and family, Nony
  and Duane, Holly and Wade, Marty and Jim, Ana and Terry, Alice
  and Sheila, Chanchai, Homer and Angel, Herb and Marion, and all the rest of you folks.  She loves you, and she needs that connection
  with you again.]

  I think it will be great to have Stephi down there with
  Lorena.  It will be difficult for Stephi,
  for me, and for Rainey and Lya because our girls are so close, but it will be
  best for all of us concerned. 

  I just want to thank all of you who travel on this arduous
  journey with us.  I was amazed at how
  many of you stuck with me during my hiatus from this forum.  Life has been hard this summer for many
  reasons.  I am continually amazed anew at
  how many WONDERFUL friends we have – and I am thankful for you beyond measure.  I am equally amazed at how many Xanga friends
  we have gained, with several of you becoming very dear to me.  I know that there are many others who follow
  our travails, and I would really like to welcome you.  This blog has hits worldwide, and I thank you
  all.  (Someone in the Ukraine has
  been a regular reader.  Please identify
  yourself so you can become one of us. 
  You are welcome anytime.) 

  [By the way, can anyone explain our counter???  Before my blogging hiatus, the huge number of
  hits this blog had amazed me and gave me incentive to plug on.  I now return to find a few hundred hits.  I am confused.  (Of course, I am ALWAYS confused, but you
  know what I mean…)  Can anyone explain
  this so that this idiot can understand?  ]

  Several of you have asked how I like my new teaching
  assignment.  I think it is going to prove
  to be a real blessing at just the right time. 
  I needed a change, and I think this was the change I needed.  I have great students.  The majority of them are young mothers who
  are ACUTELY aware of the importance of that high school diploma now that they
  are forced into the adult world – and they are intensely motivated.  It is going to be a good year. 

  Thank you all again. 
  Lorena’s miracle continues.  To
  God be the glory.  Please pray for us all.

  
  

  • 3:10 pm
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