Surprise!

About a year ago, Emma and I had a conversation about being the youngest.  She hates it.  She begged me to have a baby so that she could be a big sister and help take care of it.  She professed the greatest desire to hold her own baby and promised all kinds of sweet attentions to it.  When I told her that I was not going to have any more babies, her tears broke my heart.  Chance would have twelve more children if we could.  Every time he reads or hears a story of a child suffering from bad parents, he longs to rescue them and bring them home.  He's also like that with dogs, but I'll divorce him if he does that to me.

I was never supposed to be able to have children.  In college, I was diagnosed with a disorder that causes infertility.  When Chance proposed, he declared complete faith that we would one day have a houseful of little ones running circles around us.  He was so confident.  And right.  Six years ago, I found myself caring for three beautiful children, ages 4 and under.  It was a wild ride that Chance never doubted we would be on.

Although we adore our kids, I've had two terrible pregnancies in the past.  My first was especially frightening and difficult.  Without all the boring details, its dangerous for me to be pregnant because my body likes to try to kill me until the baby is out.  Because of that, we have been "retired" from the baby making industry since Emma was born.  Until now.

Drum roll please ......

We are pleased (and surprised, shocked, terrified) to announce that

Richardson Baby Number Four

will be arriving Christmas 2011! 

*Please send all cards/flowers/gifts  "c/o Completely Insane, Kinda Old Couple"

We finally shared the news with the kids last week.  How do you think Emma reacted?  Joy, hugs, clapping, dancing, bursting into song?  Nope.  Anger, tears, sadness and many statements like "I won't be able to sit in your lap anymore"  and "You won't love me anymore."  Nothing ever goes the way I expect with her.  She's a mystery.  The boys, however, are thrilled to have a baby.  Because we're idiots, we explained that it is still a little early and that sometimes babies just don't make it.  Now every prayer over dinner or at bedtime is full of "please bless that the baby will grow and not die in mommy's tummy" and stuff like that.  I cringe every time I hear it.

I am twelve weeks, tomorrow.  And everything I see or smell or think of makes me want to throw up.  Here we go!

PS - I should also mention that I have an amazing doctor who specializes in killer pregnancies like mine.  He is full of enthusiasm and has all kinds of plans for me should I start to go downhill.  I'm in good hands.


"Love is all fun and games until someone loses an eye or gets pregnant." 
~Jim Cole

"Life is always a rich and steady time when you are waiting for something to happen or to hatch."
~E.B. White, Charlotte's Web