Three things I'd change.

I got this idea from a couple of different people I've started reading in on. Thought it might be interesting and that I'd give it a try.


Three things I'd change. . .


1. I would not have been in such a hurry to grow up. A large majority of my teen years were spent dreaming, and talking about things I would do when I was on my own. And now, I look back, and i realize how good I had it. I could have slowed down a little, and enjoyed it more, rather than looking for what was next, and what might be. I wish I'd taken the time to live in the here and now, back then. I wouldn't change a thing about where my life headed, and how it is now. But I would have stopped to smell the roses a few more times before rushing out into the great big world we call adulthood.

Here's a couple of pictures from back in the day:

This is Todd and I in 1997, 6 months into our dating.
We always daydreamed about getting out on our own!
The time sure has flown since then!


And again at our wedding, November 25, 2000
The start of it all!

2. I would have NEVER purchased this house. We're stuck. 100% stuck. We tried for 2 years to sell and get out of here, all to no avail. It is nowhere NEAR big enough for my family. Unfortunately we were in such a rush to buy a house when we bought this place. I was 7 months pregnant with Gabe, we were so sick of the apartment living, and all the crime that was happening there. (think people being robbed at gun point one floor below, and people getting KILLED just 3 blocks away.) that we rushed. We could have slowed down a little, looked at a few more houses, and given some more thought to the end result. We bought this house because it was "the best that was available at the time." It was move in ready. Everything just freshly redone. Little did we know it was done VERY poorly. We also bought this house because with Todd's job we needed to be under 30 minutes away. So with needing something ready, needing to be close, this was what we came up with. Needless to say, 3 months, and one baby later, Todd had a new job, and we could have looked in a totally different area. We despise the area, we have a horrible neighbor who is just mean, and we have to squish all six of us into 1,000 sq feet. NOT a pretty thing as all the kids grow, and need to spread out a little bit.



3. As much as my husband wouldn't want to hear this, the third thing I regret is getting my tubes tied. I got them tied right after the twins were born, before they stitched me up from the c section. My mom and Todd were in the delivery room, and there were jokes going around about how they were going to watch the doctors do it, to make sure there was NO question that it was done. I went along with it, because I KNOW my husband was done having kids. He could have been done after the boys, but he knew that I always wanted four kids, and he'd happily have them knowing it would make my dreams come true. (that or he was just looking for a little fun! that is his favorite joke about having kids! "I was just looking to have a little fun, and you go and get pregnant!") I know that with how hard my pregnancies were, and how much I know it was the right decision medically, I had NO clue that after it was done that I'd be left with this ache in my heart for just one more. Who would have thought though? I'd always wanted FOUR, not five. I don't kn ow if it has anything to do with my getting four in three pregnancies, or what. But I find myself day dreaming when my period is late, dreaming of being in that 2% of people who get pregnant with a tubal. I know that that would be the ONLY way for us to have another child, and I can tell you 100% without a doubt that I wouldn't be upset AT ALL if that happened. The only stipulation being if it happened, I'd like it to happen while my kids are still young. I don't want a huge age gap in my kids so that one grows up without the benefit of siblings in close age range. That just wouldn't be fair in my mind. I have a feeling we'll wind up fostering some day, and I know that that will do a great deal towards helping the ache. B ut I can't help but day dream of having another little girl, so that Kendyl could have the sister that I never had! how perfect would that be. . .three boys, and two girls. Sigh. If only.

I am thankful for the kiddos I do have though. Here are a few pictures of them.

This is Dallas just a couple of hours after he was born. They took this picture because I was SO out of it I couldn't get to the level 2 nursery to see him. He was good sized for 34 weeks. But still had his premie issues.


This is my Gabey baby, just a few hours old! He was my biggest, and healthiest baby!!



This is my big 'ol baby belly with the twins. This was taken just a few days before they were born! It was my only pregnancy where I actually got a big belly like that!
Kaleb and Kendyl, just a couple of days old! This was one of the times Kaleb was able to be out of the level 2 and visit with his sister!
And of course, here they are today!!
Gabe-5, Kaleb and Kendyl-2, Dallas-6 3/4

So, there's my three. .. . what three things would YOU change?