They say sometimes you need a scorecard to keep track of people, and this has to be one of them. Names are sure to come flying at you from all directions, so it's only fair to describe our family before I begin telling you a little about us. Don't worry, you'll get us straight after awhile. Michael is my husband of twenty-odd years, a big strapping guy who is a local contractor in our small town. We both came from squabbling, alcoholic families growing up and sort of dragged the dysfunction along with us into our current life together Our parents have managed to stay married (although we would've been better off if they'd divorced long ago), and Mike and I have sisters the same age. Our biological son is Jason, and he is 23. He was born a little ahead of our schedule- the five year family plan when we married didn't include a child, but for us, abortion was not a option due to our faith. And I guess it was lucky for us that I didn't get an abortion, because after having a miscarriage two years later, I was not able to conceive again. No problem. The church we belonged to was heavily into the adoption movement, and when Jason was six, a set of siblings was placed with us for adoption. Our oldest daughter is Ashley, and she is now 19. Following her was her brother, Ryan, age 17. I met some people from our church who were foster parents, and when I expressed a wish to adopt another child, one of them suggested I look into foster care. Both of these women had adopted foster children, and Mike and I, who were much happier together at the time, sat down and discussed this thoroughly. Our families were behind us all the way. Within a few years, Nicole and Andrew joined us. Both were premature babies from drug-abusing parents, and they were placed with us as foster children. Since their mothers were either unwilling or unable to set their minds to the task of making a healthy life for their children, we adopted them. Nicole is 13, and Andrew is 11. You would've thought we were finished, and basically we were. Except for one small problem. Through the grapevine we learned that Ashley and Ryan's mother was pregnant again. She did not wish to keep her baby, and she inquired if we'd be willing to adopt him or her. We whole-heartedly agreed, not wanting this young sibling to be separated from his/her older brother and sister. Only "him/her" turned into him and her; their mother was pregnant with twins. So almost eight years ago, Emily and Eric joined us, bringing the total number of children to seven. And no thank you, I do not want to adopt any more kids. I love my children, and they keep me very busy and highly entertained. But with all the marital problems which have cropped up in the past several years I wouldn't think of dragging more innocent beings into our chaotic lifestyle. I think I'd rather wait for grandchildren, and I hope even they don't come for awhle. By the way, my name is Julie.