Podmom--I always went by Elizabeth too...until Roswell.
and in college, everyone started calling me liz. My husband has always called me Liz, and I still can't get used to him introducing me as Liz instead of Elizabeth.
Yes, the kids are a LOT of work. We didn't plan to have them so close together, but the last two were surprises.
I used to want at least five kids, but we're definitely done!