A note to having the kids, since it was asked I will go to the bait and answer....

My husband has a very good job. He is manager of North America for his company. He makes very good money and is under contract. That being said we thought his income was "safe". Then in Jan. the company (that makes home building products) started to have trouble. They are one of the largest (in the top 500) companies in the world. They started by saying he had earned and would be paid his 2007 bonus on the January check as we planned, then went to some of it will be paid then and we will pay the rest when we can to 5% will be paid in April, the rest when we get around to it (which I believe by contract could e up to 5 years). This is allowed by the contract if certain things happen, and they did. His bonus is 25-40% of his pay. That was all unpredictable to us.

Additionally it wasn't until recently we found out about my husbands desiese and only in January that the drug costs all skyrocketed when he was put on treatment.

So pay went down, drugs went up in January, all after we were very pregnant.

Other than high speed internet (which we need for DH's work) and very basic cable we don't have many luxuries. I don't have a cell phone, DH's is provided by his company. Our expenses come from nessisity...DH drives 1 hour to work and that eats gas (because we can not afford a million dollar house closer to his work). We have a baby on formula and two in diapers. I am not asking for "help" from anyone - simply ideas. I like alot of the ideas presented on this thread - and I think even if you have money to spare that there are ideas that will work for you.

We are making it on our own - we don't have much debt (I still have some student loans etc.). We own both of our cars in full. I am simply stating that with another blow like the ones that we have had (which is hard not to think might happen in this economy) we will have to make drastic changes. We are not living badly now. My kids are all well taken care of and love their lives. Not everything with them is materialistic...for fun there are times that we go to multi service and help out with community drives or meals on wheels. We are faithful to church and attend and help with activities there. I firmly belive if we had a million dollars I would still use hand me down or consignment clothing - when it is in good shape there is no reason not to - even if you look at it from a point of recycling.

So a short answer - I have had all of my kids because they were sent to me and I love them dearly. We have planned for them, saved for them, loved them and hopefully we are raising them to be good people who give back someday. Circumstances have changed some of our plans, but that does not make us bad people. I am not sitting on government resources having another kid to get more money...I am simply trying to have my dream, the American dream.