As I've written before, I lost many babies trying to get a family.  All were boys, plus I had three living boys.  What a SHOCK when..........................on April Fools Day (true!) I gave birth to a GIRL!

The shock was not only because she was a girl, but she was *glow in the dark* pale-skinned, bald (so I couldn't tell what color her hair might turn out to be), and she wouldn't open her eyes.  I was really afraid she was albino!

Of course, later we see she wasn't, that was a relief. She did end up with sort wheat colored hair, which darkened some as she got older, and eyes so light blue they looked silver.  In fact, we ended up having to get her glasses at a fairly young age that were *photo-gray* (The ones that darken or lighten depending on the light source) because her eyes are very light sensitive.

The "Big Brothers" were so thrilled to have a little sister!  They treated her like a Princess and spoiled her waaaay more than they should have!

When she started school, she went to the same one as her brother, Gabriel.  She was so bossy with him, making him carry her stuff, that he was almost always late for his first class, so we finally decided she needed to be in a different school.

She was always sweet and nice though, even with all her spoiling! Except when she got old enough for her brothers to tease!

Oh my gosh, the boys drove both her and me absolutely nuts with their teasing. (Except Gabe, he still was sweet with her).

So she would have crying and screaming fits when they pushed her too hard, then they would be her slaves, until they started in on her again! It was enough sometimes to make me want to pull my hair out!

Aaron would help with dinner sometimes, and pass out the plates like he was dealing cards, until he got to her, then he would ask if everything looked ok, was there anything else she might want? etc.

Joseph would play with her and let her walk all over him. One time though, he was so ornery to her, he had her totally hysterical with crying. She loved the "New Kids on the Block" singing group and had a doll of each one. They were *boyfriends* to her Barbies.  Well one day, one of their heads came off (I think it was Joe McIntyre), she went to Joseph to fix it and thats when it all started!

He had a hot glue gun, so first he put the doll's head on its butt (as in butthead), then he took it off and put it on front of the doll (dickhead), gads she was bright red from screaming and crying, and I was trying my darndest not to laugh! I couldn't let him get away with it though, as a good mom, so I made him put it on the right way and go to bed!  (That was the first of my nighttime visits to smack his knuckles with the wooden spoon!).

When she got old enough to notice boys.................they noticed her too!  I used to feel so sorry for the hopeful boyfriends, because when they came to the house to see her, they had to go through all the brothers first! She was really frustrated by that.

Since she had only brothers, she was sort of a tomboy, too, always wanting to do what they did, so she preferred pants to dresses.  I hardly knew what to do with a girl anyway because the only one I had tried to raise was my little sister, and times had really changed! I'm so glad she wanted her hair to be like mine (long and straight), because I never could fix hair!

At the time she started developing, she always had me get her sports bras.  I never thought anything about it, because I never had much in the way of breasts myself, (except during breastfeeding I wore a bra).  But when she was sixteen, my sister Layna asked her if she had ever worn a *real* bra.

OH MY GOD!  When she walked in the house in one of my sister's bras, I about had a heart attack and I'm NOT kidding!  She had really big breasts that looked like they were sitting on a shelf! I have to believe that comes from her father's side of the family, which is probably right because she looks so much like all of them and is tall and big boned too. I'm pretty small, with tiny bones!

When she graduated from High School, she started College, and one of the classes she had was a "service to others" class, I think part of a Sociology program.  Anyway, she got to go to England as her class project (paid for too) for a whole year!

I was sooo worried about her all the time she was gone, but I prayed I had given her enough that she would know right from wrong and to keep herself safe.  It did turn out to be a very good year for her, and helped build confidence in herself (as if she needed it!). Her first position was working in a  house that held teens who had been on Government aid.  She helped them to learn about making and keeping appointments, applying for work, making a budget, etc.

Her second position was working in a school with handicapped students, helping them learn to use a computer and other necessities to take care of themselves.  These positions each lasted 6 months, and while she was there, she got to visit lots of London sites, go to Cornwall, Scotland, Ireland and Wales on her off times. She loved it and I was so happy for that chance for her, one she wouldn't have had in most circumstances.

Finally, when she was 30, she decided to get married!  She had been with him for about 5 years anyway, and they seemed made for each other. He treats her like the Princess she thinks she is and loves her madly! They will be married two years this august.  He is a real sweetie and I love him to death!

Last July she suffered a miscarriage, which broke all our hearts, but they are ready to try again, and we are all hoping for them.  She really wants a baby, but has had some female problems, much like I did.  Just keeping our fingers crossed now.

Well, that's it for my family.  Finally got to tell a bit about each of them and why I feel they are all such amazing blessings to me.  I couldn't have been more fortunate!