Anchorage, Alaska, May 2, 2009, 7:12 a.m.~

Dear Journal~

Jenna Aurora Doucet here.  Hope this finds y'all well;  I have been up since five; still trying to wake up, get my bearings together.

Michael is up; while he wrangles with two active toddlers, I am trying to decide what to wear, and am trying to think of what to pack, in terms of lunch.  We are going to a Native Alaskan Festival here in Anchorage; there will be special music, crafts, displays, and things for sale, among other things. 

I am trying to decide how much in the way of "cash" I should take; knowing me, it won't be nearly enough as I would like, and besides, it won't last all day; I'm sure of it.  Between buying souvenirs, getting food/drink for the kids (Michael and the boys), and so forth, the money will run out quickly, probably within an hour or two. 

I am doing okay; have my bad days and good days.  Still get frustrated at doing everything one handed or having to put up with people's stares or pitying glances when they look at me.  That's probably the hardest thing I have to deal with since becoming partially paralyzed on one side of my body; it's as if I have had a stroke.  Can't move my hand or leg at all; even with all the extra therapy I've had, they're both still dead, totally useless.

I can walk, but use a crutch and wear a brace on my affected leg.  It takes me so long to get around, so when there's extra walking or distance, I use the wheelchair; it's so much easier!

Michael has been very patient with me, even when I have been a total b****.  I know he doesn't have it easy either because besides taking care of me, he has Kenai and Mattaq to care for, and they are both rambling, extremely active little boys!

No rest for the weary, as they say!  I don't know what I am going to do if he collapses or gets sick; then I will be in a world of hurt!

The weather here is good:  not too cold, and not too hot.  Have had some sixty plus days, but on the other end of the coin, we've had days where the temperatures didn't climb out of the forties.  And at night it still gets pretty chilly, so we don't do without our winter gear just yet; weather in Alaska this time of year is still quite unpredictable!

We also have to deal with the mosquitoes; they're starting to come out, so I have to make sure we have our mosquito repellent (with Deet) with us, and plenty of it, too!

Now to add insult to injury, we have this flu going on around the world.  It originated in Mexico; it's since spread to over 14 countries, and quite a few people have died as a result, especially in Mexico.  There has been one confirmed death here in the United States, a little baby boy who was visiting from Mexico, and now more and more people are becoming sickened by it.  Scary stuff; I pray, hope we don't get it!!  I have been watching my little family like a hawk!

Now we are getting ready to go to a public function; I pray and hope that nobody there has this flu!  The last thing I need is a house full of sick people, especially since I have my own health issues to worry about!

Well, I am going to go, so take care; just keep us in your prayers!  God bless and I will write in here again soon!  So long for now!

~Love, your friend in Anchorage, Alaska, Jenna Aurora.  :)