Oct. 20, 2009,  Fairbanks, Alaska, 1:24 a.m., Alaska Time~

Dear Journal~

Frank Hammer here.  (Thought I was going to say "Katrina", huh?  Well, I'm not her--last time I checked, anyway!  LOL)

I see my wife writing in her journal just about every chance she gets; now it's my turn to join the ranks of journalism. 

My wife is sick in bed.  She got sick on Sunday morning; got concerned, so I took her to the E.R.  Diagnosis: swine flu.  Doctor gave me some medication for her to take; told me to give her plenty of liquids and let her rest, let the flu run its course (about a week).  She feels awful.  Spent the past few days with diarrhea and vomiting; thank God that's gone by the wayside:  she just now feels like chit.  LOL

I have been keeping our son away from mamma; don't want him getting it.  Our neighbor's wife has been coming over to take care of Frank, Jr.; he's being good for her, but he sure does miss his mamma!

Experts say the swine flu has really been hitting the young hard.  Over 80 children (and Lord knows how many adults)  have perished as a result of this flu; scary stuff!  I don't want that to happen to Frank, Jr., so I am doing everything in my power to keep him well!  (He got the H1N1 vaccine last week, but still:  you can't be too careful.) 

I got the vaccine, too, so I'm protected.  If I do get it, it will be a milder case (hopefully!).  My wife got the vaccine herself, but she got it anyway. 

Dumb doctors, they don't know everything!!

The weather is cold here:  highs in the forties, lows in the teens to lower twenties at night.  Had some decent snows already, enough to fool the animals into thinking it's winter.  The flowers have since gone, and the leaves are just about gone from the trees:  nothing but a few stragglers hanging on for dear life!

I have been working, but while my wife is sick,  I'm taking a few days off until she's over the worst of her flu.  The big boss understands; I'm grateful to have a guy who knows my wife's situation with her health.  If she needs help, he lets me take the time off, so I can be with her when she needs it.  (Like now.)

Paycheck will be a little smaller next payday, but we'll make it, with the Lord's help!  I'm not worried ... :)

Boss also understands we have a little baby that needs care, so there you go.  Plus we have our neighbors to help; we're not left stranded on our own!

I am sure Kat has been keeping y'all abreast of Frank, Jr.'s progress.  He's now talking, welking, getting into everything.  You can't leave him alone for a minute!  I just feel sorry for my wife when he's in one of his "Let's-see-what-kind-of-mischief-I-can-get-into" moods!  Some days he wears her plumb out it's all she can do to keep from falling over when we eat our evening meal together!!

We have our two kitties:  "Obie" (Ragdoll) and "Aurora Borealis of the Far North" (Norwegian Forest cat); they're the best of friends!  They love cuddling next to each other when they go to sleep, and they never fail to amuse us with their kitty antics! 

We love them to pieces; I wish at times I could have their life!  Nothing to do but purr, meow ("Obie" more than "Aurora"; "Aurora's" just not much of a meower!), eat, and sleep!  Ahhh, they have the life of Riley!!

I know Kat loves it when the little hairballs snuggle up to her; she's always complaining about the cold!  LOL  Even with two fat kitties and two heated blankets, she still says it's too cold!

Never satisfied!  *Siggh*

That's what I get for marrying a Louisiana Cajun girl!  LOL

Temp dips below sixty, and she's acting like it's 20 below!  LOL

Meanwhile, here I go:  don't put on a coat until it's below freezing.  LOL  And then it's a light jacket; anything under 20 is pushing it, so I pull out the heavy stuff.  LOL

Well, Katrina is calling me, so I'd best see what she needs.  I will write in here again soon; until then, take care and God bless!  Pray for my wife; pray she gets over this flu!  It hit her like a ton of bricks!  I'd appreciate it!

~Frank, Kat's husband.  (Almost put wife!!  Aaahhh!  LOL)