29 January, 2011, Ivalo, Finland~

Dear Journal~

Terve! Mitta kuuluu? Kiitos hyvaa!

It's just me, Sari Annike, writing.  Sorry I haven't written in a long time; hope you understand ... family obligations, working at university, taking care of four babies ... my children, and the overgrown one, my husband ... LOL  Also, we have our kitties.

The weather is cold and snowy.  Such as the norm here in the Arctic, where we live.  If it isn't snowy, it's clear, and then we see the aurora borealis dancing in our skies.  Very spectacular light shows, but it sure messes up with the communications and our computer!  

Hard to believe, but little Ila Magdalena, our youngest child, is over a year old.  She will be two in August.  She's talking and walking, and getting into everything!!  Help!!  LOL  And this year, Birtta will start kindergarten whilest Erick will start pre-school.  Kids are sure growing up quicker than I'd like! I wish I could keep them all babies forever and ever ...

Nikolas is still working at his same job; he got a raise from his employers.  So that means more money for us, which will make things easier in the long run (I hope ...).  Life is good for us, the Constantinos family.  

I pray it continues.

My own health is stable for now ... at least, the multiple sclerosis is.  Using my scooter for longer trips, crutches for shorter ones, but on the days where my fibromylagia (muscle pain; it's akin to having arthritis in the muscles instead of in the joints) rears its ugly head, it's all I can do to keep from getting out of bed! Some days I hurt so bad I want nothing more than to have Nik shoot me, so as to put me out of my misery!  (NOT really, but it does throw me into a deep, dark depressive mood!)

Christmas was good: the children got bunches of toys; I'm surprised they've lasted this long.  Erick, our son, is especially hard on toys, as is the baby.  Birtta  takes very good care of her dollies; she reminds me of myself when I was a small child.  I was the same way.  My toys were very precious to me; still have some of my dolls from when I was little.

I'm just glad Christmas is overwith for another year.  Christmas is always hectic, especially when one has small children, like I do!

I'm sorry my life isn't more exciting.  My journal entries must be some of the dullest reading material out there in blog land!  Please do forgive me for my mawkish journal entries; I'm trying my best ... (Sari rolls her eyes)

Hard to think when my muscles are screaming in pain (and they are): feels like someone used me as a soccer ball ... OW!!  My shoulders, my neck, my back, my hips, my wrists ... nothing but pure agony!!  

I also have what is known as "fibro fog":  can't remember anything even five minutes after someone's told me.  It's like I'm getting dementia or something; it's really maddening!  I am on medication to try to keep it to a dull roar, but it doesn't usually always work.  Very frustrating!!

Well, I am going to try to lie down (off from work today) and get some sleep, so I will run along now.  I will write in here another time, hopefully when I am in not as much pain.  Say some prayers for me; I would greatly appreciate it!  Until later, this is Sari Constantinos saying Nakemiin!  Take care and God bless!

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