Adding on to our home by two more feet

I felt like I should write this note to thank everyone for all of the kind well-wishes, and also to fill everyone in on a few minor details about why we kept this secret for so long. First, however, let me just say WOW!. I can still barely wrap my head around this.Aaron and I found out in early October that I was pregnant. I actually belive that the Lord let me know that another baby was to come to our family before we actually "tested" postive. My first reaction was to tell the Lord that " I was fine, thank-you very much and to leave it alone".

I had been seeing a doctor with minor female problems and trying diffrent birth control options to regulate menstral pain. We had discussed with the doctor tubligation and other options at that time as well. So you see, for me to become pregnant on birth control, was a long shot, but does happen. I know, I know!The week that I belive I concieved, was around the time of the Temple Trip. I really wanted to go to find peace and comfort. Aaron thought I was crazy! He said that there is no way that I was pregnant.

For many of you who don't know me very well, I suffer from a blood-clotting disorder that effects me when I am pregnant and should take blood thinners during my pre-pregnancy to prevent misscarriages. Yes, I have had 8 misscarriages and many during my second trimester. I also have horrible pregnancy where I am extremely sick and on medication to help, but the side effects are just as bad. I feel like I want to ride a broom! Not to mention most pregnancies, I dialate early and am usally on medicication/bed rest to prevent early labor.

Maybe you are now beginning to see the worries that I had about being able to handel this. Let alone, all of this was during the worst economomic time in our lifetime! We already had a huge family by many standards.I can remember kneeling in the temple and petitioning the Lord that if I was to have this baby, and belive me, I let him know that I was not happy about it, that I would do it willingly, but I needed help. I can remember asking for specific blessing that he help me mentally and physically carry this baby, that the baby would be healthy, and by having this child, it would not take from my other children, but would rather be a blessing to them.

We decided not to tell any family or friends until I was about to enter my third trimester. I can honestly say that life has been tought. I have be so sick that I could hardly see straight, but I can also say that I have felt the Lords presense daily. There is not a day that goes by, that I can't call on help from him, and I am somehow lifted and allowed to tend to my huge family. My husband and children have been wonderful. They knew something was wrong with mom, but thought is was "acid refux". LOL! I also have to say that I am grateful for modern technology, as it has been my lifeline keeping in touch with you all. I don't get out unless I have too!

As we were going to the ultra-sound, Payton asked me why I was going to see the dentist. I just let her belive that was where we were heading. We thought we would wait and tell as a family, once the kids got home from school. When she put the machine on my belly, Payton, who is 4, yelled "mom, you don't have teeth in your belly!" Not to much longer, she saw the movements in 4-D of the little baby on the flat screen TV and started clapping. She was so innocent and excited. When she found out it was to be a brother, she couldn't wait to tell her family and friends. Aaron is on cloud nine! We are not sure of a name, but one family member has already suggested that we call him Aaron Zackary Jones. It would be The Jones' from A-Z. Aaron is the beginning and Zack would be the end! We shall see. Can I just say...I just remindind myself, I have nothing boy! What are power ranger?

The bubble has busted!

Okay, so for those of you living outside of NW Arkansas, I hate to say it, but until yesterday, I felt somewhat insulated from the economy. Walmart was doing great, sales were up, full bonues and the list goes on in on. Not that I didn't have empathy or awareness for what was going on in other parts of the country, for I did. My father-and -law recently lost his job. Some of my family memebers have survivied serveral rounds of layoffs at their work, and my mother has had to let more than 100 people go for the company she works for. It is all over the news how bad the economy is, and I see it when I am trying to make a family budget stretch each month as grocery, gas, and energy prices climb higher. I guess I felt that as long as Walmart was doing great, it couldn't happen here. We were somehow protected. Crazy hugh?

Having said that, I take small comfort that Aaron survived the first rounds of layoffs at Walmart. I could barely rest last night for worry about my future and friends in the area and if they would wake up to a different world or reality today...wondering how they would be able to survive these hard times without a job. However, I think all of us here have woken up to a different world and reality, and it is important for us to remember that; regardless of job loss or not. And that reality is, it can happen here and it may happen again before this is over. The only thing that we can do is to live the teachings of the gospil and to prepare ourselves spiritually and financially.

The bisop's wife wrote on her Facebook that her older kids were actually excited by what the Lord had instore for their family, when faced with the loss of her husbands job. I thought what a great expample, to have prepared your family for this time and to know that he is guiding your ship! I find great comfort in the fact that I know we are paying an honest tithe, but what I am so nervous about is the fact that in the move from Utah, we had to leave behind our food storage and lost our savings in the Utah housing market. We literally had to pay to ride ourself from the house we only owned 6 weeks. I can honestly say, that I don't have the sense of ease that the Isabells have and I should. My wakeup call as we had a family council last night is to try deligently to have my year supply of food storage by June, pay down debt, , and to work on 3 months of savings. I really think I will find comfort in knowing my lamp will then be full instead of half empty, and I can reap all the blessings promised, should my husband lose his job. Thanks Sister Isabell for that great example!