Terve! Miita kuuluu? Kiitos hyvaa!

Nik is very proud of me.  I have succeeded in becoming pregnant yet again; this will mean Child #5 for us ... and it is a boy.  That much has been established.  He is due in December, around Christmastime.

So that means that our four older children (Ilsa, Fia, Erik, and Birtta Aurora) are going to be the older sisters and brother to Baby Boy #2 (and Baby #5).  

I don't know what to think.  I didn't plan on becoming pregnant yet again, but it ... just happened, and now I will be staring at more diapers, more baby clothes, more baby food, and more toys.  *Sigh!*

Not that I mind though: I love being a Mamma to my children.  I have four beautiful, healthy children.  God has been very good to me, my husband, and especially our children.  I couldn't ask for anything more.

I am grateful that Nik helps me out on my bad days, when my MS and/or fibormyalgia are acting at their very worst.  In addition, I have the help of Birtta, who has started kindergarten this year (and absolutely loves it!), not to mention, loving and caring neighbors who check up on me, which I greatly appreciate.

I have been perusing the baby name books, in the hopes of coming up for a name for a boy; so far, I have five names picked out:

1.) Karl Edvard,

2.) Soren Nikolas,

3.) Bjorn Mikael,

4.) Aleksandros Anton,

and 5.) Dmitri Neils.

Nik likes #2 and #3; I like #1 and #5.

Of course, our minds could change, but right now, this is what we have to work with at the present time.

The weather here in Finland has been alternating between sunny and cloudy; we've had periods of rain as well; and the leaves are already changing here in the Far North.  Winter promises to be harsh and exceedingly cold, as is usually the norm here in this part of the world.  Might as well enjoy the nice weather while I am still able to get out and not worry so much about falling and/or injuring myself.

I have not written to my e-pals lately; the children keep me busy, and when my health is acting up, I don't feel like communicating with anybody.  I just stay in my nice, warm bed, wrapped up like a cocoon, and feel sorry for myself, asking God to end this pain that I'm constantly in, or to quiet my MS symptoms (the shakiness/trembling, spasticity in my legs, hip and back pain, blurry or double vision, which, in kind, makes me horrendously dizzy).  I have been battling with the doctors to find me some medication that will actually work or quiet the worst of the symptoms; it's been a major trial!

I am sure that Lousiana Sandusky or my other friends must have thought that I have died .... I am not dead; I am very much alive, just hurting and tired of dealing with my MS and fibromyalgia!

Nikolas has been an absolute saint through all my health problems; I frankly don't understand how he can put up with somebody who is as "high-maintanance" as yours truly!  LOL  I do thank God that I have Nik; I don't know what I would ever do without him ... or the children, as a matter of fact!

We were going to go to Greece for the winter; we hadn't done it for the past several years, and this year looked like it could have been the year, but my pregnancy scrubbed our plans; now Greece has been put on hold until at least the summertime of 2013.  Oh well ... I'm just grateful that I am able to bear children, even in light of my own difficult circumstances!

Well, the baby inside my belly is putting on a concert (he is bouncing all over, as if at a rock show) and it's making me hurt, so I must leave and lie down to rest.  I do hope baby stops his gymnastics; I hate having to deal with more pain on top of pain or feeling like I have to use the restroom every time!  I will wrte in here again soon; if not, Nikolas will.  Hopefully you will hear from one of us before the baby arrives!  Take care and God bless; until later, this is Sari saying Nakemiin!

~Love, your friend in Finland, Sari Annike.  :)