By Leisa Zigman
St. Louis (KSDK) - Saying, "Five is our lucky number," Dee Dee Pujols shared that she was four months pregnant and that she and her slugger husband, Albert, were expecting baby number five this fall.
She spoke exclusively with NewsChannel 5's Leisa Zigman Monday afternoon from the West Port Office of the Pujols Family Foundation.
Dee Dee announced that the foundation was not only staying in St. Louis but was expanding nationally to include Southern California, Kansas City, Missouri and Nashville, Tennessee by the end of 2012. Pujols beamed about the national effort to have a positive impact on the lives of thousands of children and adults living with Down syndrome.
Seven years ago Dee Dee and Albert started the foundation in honor of their daughter Bella who is 14-years-old and living with Down syndrome. The couple has helped raise awareness about Down syndrome and provide hope to hundreds of families in St. Louis and the Dominican Republic.
In December, Albert signed a 10-year, $254 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels. The signing broke the hearts of many in Cardinal Nation and some reacted with hateful comments.
Dee Dee reflected back on that time by saying, "It certainly doesn't feel good when someone doesn't say nice things about you. But Albert and I really have the heart to serve people. We hope that through our foundation we have a ministry. And, we want this community to know our hearts are still here."
In fact, Dee Dee plans to stay in St. Louis and raise the couple's children while continuing to focus on growing the foundation.
As for that infamous comment she made when she said the Cardinals initial five year $130 million offer was an insult? Dee Dee said, "It (the offer) was something I can't quite understand, not just the offer part but the whole experience in itself. I can't wait for years to pass by so I can reflect. When you go through something you are bound to feel a certain way that maybe later on when you reflect you're like, well, you know that didn't really happen."
So far this year Albert hasn't hit a home run and he has just four RBIs. Dee Dee said, "There is a knot in your stomach and you are asking yourself what is going on? But he's shown consistency in history, there is just an adjustment period."
Dee Dee says her husband's work off the field is just as important as on and together they hope to continue growing the foundation and making a difference in the lives of others.
PFF also announced Monday that Matt Holliday will host the Celebrity Golf Classic in St. Louis. Money raised supports the foundation's mission.
For more information on the Pujols Family Foundation:
111 Westport Plaza, Suite 255
St. Louis, Missouri 63146
Phone: 314-878-2105
Fax: 314-878-2118
info@pujolsfamilyfoundation.org
KSDK