18 August, 2008, Ivalo, Finland~

Dear Journal~

Terve!  Miitu kuuluu?  Kiitos hyvaa!

It's your friend in Finland, Sari, writing.  Hope this finds you well, happy.  Me, I have another appointment with my gynecologist today.  I see her in about three hours, am getting ready to go there.  Nikolas will take me. 

While I am at the doctor's, one of my brothers will watch the kids.  Then we'll pick them up, and go to the park afterwards, let Birtta and Erick run off some steam; they've been cooped up for far too long.  It will be nice to get some fresh air.

I am doing quite well, even with my MS, having to walk with my crutches.  The only thing I really have to watch is walking on uneven surfaces, so I don't accidentally lose my balance or (heaven forbid) fall.  The crutches have made it a lot easier for me to get around; I'm thankful I have them (as well as my wheelchair, which I use on weak days or if I have to go to the store or something that requires a lot of extra walking).

My crutches are pink.  Bright pink.  You can see me coming a mile off, thanks to my glowing pink crutches! LOL

My daughter thinks they're cool.  She wants a pair for herself; I told her she has two good working legs, she doesn't need a pair.  Now if she breaks her leg, that's one thing; otherwise, she doesn't need crutches.

Erick, meanwhile, could care less, but he likes to play with them.

Just as long as he doesn't use them on his sister, I'm okay with that. LOL

The weather here is spectacular:  bright, sunny days with clear nights (although last week, we had a surprise thunderstorm, which woke us up; the kids were not happy; they don't like thunder or lightning).  Got a lot of heavy rain out of the storm, too, thought for a minute we were going to have a flood; but thankfully the rains moved out.  Auroras are out some nights; not always, but in a few weeks, they'll start cranking up again; aurora season is just around the corner, and then there will be auroras just about every night.

It is nearing September:  soon, the older kids in my neighborhood will start school again, and buses will start rolling down our streets to pick the little urchins up.  My own kids are too young for school; they have a few years yet before they're old enough.  Let them be kids; that's my philosophy.  Don't rush things; let them enjoy their preschool  (or infant) years.

I'm getting worried about Louisiana Sandusky:  hear she's been battling fatigue/exhaustion.  Hope she isn't becoming sick; that's the last thing that family needs!  I will have to say a special prayer for her when I go to church on Wednesday night. 

And I hear a friend of hers is dying of MS, which bothers me because I have it; does that mean I am going to die too?  I pray and hope not; I have to be here for my family; my family needs me!

Well, Erick is crying again; think he fell.  Hope he is okay; will have to tend to him, kiss, hug his tears away.  I will then have to continue getting ready for my appointment; will let you know next time how it goes.  Until later, this is your Finnish friend, Sari, saying Nakemiin!

~Sari Annike. :)