Why Do You Have All These Kids?

  In case you don't know, I have three kids, and there's another one that will soon be joining us.  Since I was a little girl, I knew I wanted a big family. but I didn't realize how difficult it would be to do that! 
  I LOVE my kids.  I mean, there are times when I just have to sit and cry or laugh or squeal, because they're so sweet, so adorable, so kind, so special.  And there are times when I have to stand there and stare at my kid while the instant mashed potato flakes flutter around his head and he's saying, "Snowflakes!" and knowing there's another kid pouting in another room because he can't watch t.v. and the other kid is bellowing for me to come wipe their bottom. Those are the times when my brain feels like it's going to explode.
  So the question is, why do we keep having all these kids?  Here are some of the questions we've been asked, by friends and also complete strangers.

Q:  How do you afford all these kids? 
A:  We don't make a ton of money, but we make a decent living.  We live simply and try to teach our kids to find joy in little things.

Q:  Do you believe in birth control?
A:  Yes, we do.  We also believe in having kids.  So we do.

Q:  How many more are you going to have?
A:  I'll let you know when we do.  This may be the last, it may not be.  We're not sure.  We're just trying to do what's best for us and our family, so we're taking it day by day.

Q:  Don't you know what causes this?
A:  Ew.  Yes.  Don't be weird.

Q:  How do you stay sane?
A:  Sometimes we don't.  It helps that we were a little unhinged before having kids. ;)

Q:  Why do you have so many kids?
A:  There are times when having all these little kids around makes life difficult.  There are things I sometimes wish I could do- trips I could take, freedoms I no longer enjoy (like going to the bathroom without anyone yelling at me and pounding on the door), etc.  There are times when I remember the days of adult conversations as a distant memory.  But those times are nothing.  It doesn't matter that my house looks like a daycare center.  It doesn't matter that I've changed roughly a zillion diapers.  I miss sleeping through the night on a regular basis.  But I love seeing these kids grow more than anything else.  I cherish those tiny hugs.  I marvel at the little people they are becoming.  I can't wait to see what they do with their lives.  It has brought me closer to my husband, helped me to become a better person, and has given me a greater focus than any professional, social, or educational experience ever could.  Not everyone is going to have children.  Not everyone will have 4 (or more).  I realize that my wonderful life is not ideal for everyone.
  I guess the short answer to this question would just be:  Because...Andrew, Emily, Charlie, and the new one.  They're the reason we have these kids.