I was reminded last night that you don’t really sleep when you have the flu. Instead, your body falls into an Advil induced numbness as your brain seems to hover just over the pillow. Needless to say, the flu train has arrived at our station and we’re feeling it in a big way.

This all comes in the midst of packing to move from Texas to Missouri. Most packing has come to a complete stop, but every now and then somebody feels good enough to pack a few more boxes before disappearing into a quiet spot to shiver and shake until the Advil kicks in again.

All this is hitting Amy a little harder than the rest. She is 5 months pregnant and every cough strains her already over stressed abdomen. Yesterday she visited the doctor because she’s been sick the longest and just can’t seem to kick it. While getting her blood pressure checked she almost passed out. Her blood pressure was extremely low and the doctor concluded that s ...

You wouldn't believe (or maybe you would) how many times our family is asked this question. It seems that everywhere we go people look at us and begin to count... one, two, three, four... How many are there? Nine!?! Are they all yours?

Sometimes being the novelty everywhere you go is kind of fun, but most of the time it is very weighty. We are always being watched. It seems everyone in the world feels that our lives are for public consumption. Perfect strangers walk up and ask very personal questions: Don't you know where kids come from? Are you planning to have any more? What religious belief are you?

Now how many times have you walked up to someone you've never seen before in your life and asked such questions? It's just not normal, that is, unless you have a lot of children. Then, it seems, everyone feels the liberty to investigate who you are and what you believe.

So, we've decided to start putting our thoughts here ...