Sunday, 31 August, 2008, Ivalo, Finland~

Dear Journal~

Terve!  Miitu kuuluu?  Kiitos hyvaas!

Sari here.  Been busy trying to get our place ready for the new arrival due later this year.  As you already know from my past entry, I'm having a little girl.

We are excited.  We have wanted another baby.  Nik was hoping for a boy to carry on the Constantinos family name; but a little girl is okay, too--just as long as she's healthy.  That's all that matters.

Funny, but it seems since I became pregnant, my MS has been behaving itself.  Still using my crutches, but haven't had any problems with my eyes, added weakness, or balance problems, not like usual.  It's really strange!

It's like my MS has gotten stuck in a holding pattern.  I hope it lasts; I love this renewed period of good health!

Now, my fibro, that's another matter altogether.  I still feel like I've been worked over by a good sized piece of wood! LOL 

Nik and I have decided on a name for our new daughter.  We are going to call her Ilsa Magdalina.  Ilsa after my good friend Ilsa Rekkonen, and Magdalina, which is Nik's mother's middle name.  Ilsa Magdalina Constantinos.  Isn't that beautiful?? :)  The more I think of it, the better I like it!

That way, she will have both heritages of her Greek father and Finnish mother! 

Maybe next year when the kids are a little older, we will return to Greece for the summer, like we'd done prior to having kids.  I miss the warm Greek sunlight and the wonderful food; Nik misses partying with his friends at night.  :)  We've remained in Finland for the past few summers, and while it's been nice, we still miss Greece.

I will have to pray for the southern part of the United States of America.  There's a dangerous hurricane (Gustav) heading for Louisiana, the same area that was hit by Hurricane Katrina three years ago.  Parts of the area are still inhabitable; people are still displaced from that.  It's only going to make a bad situation worse.  I just pray the people affected get out in time before the hurricane comes roaring ashore!

This is when I'm glad I live in Finland, where the only storms we have to worry about are the auroral kind! LOL 

I've watched documentaries about hurricanes on television, and they are downright scary!!  I don't know how people can live in an area where hurricanes are common.  Same goes for tornadoes.  Tornadoes are a lot smaller than hurricnes, but the damage trail they leave behind can be just as deadly. 

Scary, scary storms!  More reason to be glad I live here! :)

The weather here is coolish, rainy, a good day for a fire in the fireplace, a good day for soup or stew.  Nik is taking a nap, me, I'm writing in my journal, while keeping an eye on my children, who sit at my feet.  Birgitta is reading a story to Erick, and the cat is sleeping, curled up, at the foot of the bed.  Happy, peaceful times! :)

Well, I am going to go; my belly is rumbling.  Time to start supper.  I will write in here another time.  Until later, this is Sari saying Nakemiin!

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