2006-10-27

How I met my hubby...

In honor of our anniversary, which is today, and the fact we made it 5 years now and grown our family by 2.3 children, I thought I would regale you all in how I met my hubby...and how we became husband and wife.

How it all began: In the year of 1997, I decided that there was no way that I could return to my parents house for the summer after living by myself and on my own for the year at Michigan State University. So I attended a job fair, thinking I'd get myself a really cool job, make lots of money and live on my own. Well, some of that was true. What I found was a YMCA Camp close to my hometown and parents but where I could work, make money and LIVE for free. I visited the camp in May for a weekend to start running trail rides, as I was hired for a ranch counselor. Pretty fitting, considering my degree is in Equine Management. The first person I was introduced to was Chuck. I ate lunch with the staff and he was loud, rambunctious and funny. Oh, and did I mention perverted? That's when I thought..."cool, I'm gonna fit in here". We talked some more over a bummed cigarette with Charlie the horse down at the ranch and he seemed super cool.

Then we had staff training. He was obnoxious, conceited and annoying. I remember thinking "dude, just shut up. No one wants to hear you ramble." But he was one of 3 original smokers on camp. I was one of the other ones, and Jason (coincidentally the best man in our wedding) was the third. I got to know Chuck pretty well and my original thought of him came back.

However, I was not romantically interested in him in the least. I wanted CJ. The young Irishman who was an exchange counselor. *sigh* Apparently he spent a lot of time talking to Chuck about me, and Chuck told him to just make the move. CJ never did...and although Chuck informed me I should...I never did either. CJ ended up hooked up with the black widow.

CJ, Chuck, Matt and Jason....the original crew. Men who changed my life.

Then comes my 4th of July party, 1997. At my parents house. My first *real* party ever. And we had a few friends spending the night, some because they were too trashed, some for convenience. Chuck was one of them. Everybody had a bed but him. We were good friends. I offered him to sleep with me. He had other things in mind. Don't worry...I didn't give it up to him. I cried. Sobbed really because I was still a virgin. Chuck quieted me and held me and told me it was all ok and nothing would happen if I didn't want it to. Then we went to sleep...and he was still there in the morning. Waking me up with kisses.

After that we were kinda inseperable. He had his own room at camp, instead of sleeping with the kids, like I did. I spent A LOT of time there...hanging out, smoking, talking, making out. About one week after our initial "hook-up", I had a LONG week. It was the 2 week campers and we were with them non-stop...no breaks at all. I came back from the barn at about 9:30 pm one night and in the middle of our cabin was a dozen beautiful roses in a vase and a 3 wick blueberry candle (now my absolute favorite scent) burning. The girls of course were all abuzz about who it was for....it's so romantic you know! I started to cry and let my other counselor know I needed to run for a minute. I went and found Chuck with tears running down my cheeks. He informed me that he had already talked to Matt (who was my supervisor) and had gotten me some time off so that we could have an appropriate first date. He had it all set up.

We went to Don Pablos and a movie matinee (as I had to be back to camp after dinner). It was wonderful! For some reason, I was sooo nervous during that date. We'd been friends for some time, and we'd been making out, but this was so official. We learned a lot about each other during that date...like he learned that I was not yet 21!!! He seemed VERY nervous when I couldn't drink alcohol. I think he was concerned I wasn't of legal age yet (18, here in the States). Especially since he was 28!

Fast forward 8 months: We moved in together so I could finish my last year at MSU and he began school at the local college.

Fast forward 2 years: He proposed. May 20, 2000.

Fast forward 1 1/2 years: We were married. October 27, 2001. It was beautiful!! It rained a light mist during the ceremony but was nice after that. It was such a busy day but all so worth it when I saw him looking at me with such loving and endearing eyes as I walked down the aisle. I loved that man so much and here were all our friends and family watching us commit ourselves entirely to each other.

We were married in a VERY small historical chapel in a local park. It really did look like something from Little House on the Prarie. It was perfect for us and afterwards we had our pictures taken at the park and on the playground. I've been told by several different people that we had the most loving, caring and beautiful wedding they'd ever seen. We danced our first dance as husband and wife to "When you say it best, you say nothing at all" by Allison Krause and it fit us to a T. I have so many wonderful memories of that day but the one that sticks out the most is happiness!

We took our honeymoon in London 9 weeks after the wedding. We left right after Christmas and then enjoyed ringing in the New Year in London. It was fabulous! I cannot wait to go back again and share more rich culture with my husband. I guess that's what I love about him...our ability to balance each other. He's introduced me to museums and art galleries and fine dining and I introduced him to the Royal Mews (which was closed while we were there *poo*) and clubs and just strolling through the park. Even today we balance each other....when he seems to be down, I'm up and when I'm down, he brings me up. I love him for that. I love him for what he does to me. I love him for how he makes me a better person. Now, that's not to say that we don't have our struggles and our fights, but I think overall we are a pretty happy, balanced, and loving couple. 5 years of marriage later...don't you think we still look happy?

2006-10-24

Pregnancy dreams

I have had some of the weirdest dreams, but this one really made me a little scared.

I was only 18 weeks along and started having contractions. So I go into the ER. By myself. I guess Chuck must have been home with the boys.

I was in one of the ER rooms but people had forgotten about me. I started feeling the need to push and I was screaming for someone and pushing the nurses' button every second to try to get them in there....but no one was coming.

I pushed the baby out and he was still in the placenta and everything. All was still intact. I was seriously screaming bloody murder at this point...scared out of my mind and so afraid of what was going to happen to my baby.

After about an hour, a nurse came in and assured me that 18 weeks was an acceptable cooking time for the little peanut and his chance of survival was good. She came back in soon after to tell me that my peanut was dead. He had breathed in the amniotic fluid outside of my body and had suffocated.

I don't like dreams like that. Not in the least.

2006-10-20

This is gonna be a long pregnancy!

I'm 10 weeks.

And I feel like I'm about 37 weeks.

Seriously.

I don't know whether it's because this is our third child or whether it's because I'm overweight (but only about 20 lbs over where I was when I got preggo with Lucas) but this bebe already feels like s/he wants to fall out of my hoo-ha. No lie.

Walking around at work at night I feel sooo much pressure I'm dreading what it's going to be like at 40 weeks. I feel like I'm already doing the pregnancy waddle and I'm not even wearing maternity clothing!!

I also already have the ligament stretching. My midwife has recommended the prenatal cradle and I have to say I really honestly think I'm buying one this time around.

Already this pregnancy has been so different from the last two. It's weird. The cravings. The sleeplessness. The uncomfortableness. The pain. The moodyness. *sigh* Like I said....it's gonna be a long 30 more weeks.

On Monday (10-16-06) I went to my second midwife appt. Things went well! I'm down 9...yes, NINE...pounds. I think their scale is wrong, but Chuck says to take it for what it's worth! My blood pressure was a little high for me but still totally normal (132/82). We discussed my penchance for pickles and she said it's perfectly normal...and to eat what I can keep down during this point in time.

I also discussed caffeine with her. With the boys, I quit the stuff cold turkey. This time it's been sooo much harder. I'm not craving it per se...I'm just used to the Mt. Dew. The crack of all pops. However, there was a study done last year that linked caffeine (even at the 1-2 cups per day) with early miscarriage and preterm labor. I'm not willing to take that chance...so good-bye crack! Next appt..4 weeks!

2006-10-19

Okay, Okay...

So, I've been not blogging about something very important in my life. I have my reasons. But it's also kept me from blogging much at all because a big part of my life I couldn't share yet. There are still people in my life that do not know that yes, I amHaha!!! I've been leaving little hints here and there, but I wanted to tell my family first since my mom does occassionally read the blog and I really didn't want her to find out that way!

I'm currently 10 weeks along and I'm feeling pretty okay now. For the most part. Poopy diapers and well for that matter even mine make me want to throw up, but I think I'm starting to get past the morning sickness all day long thing. I am completely and utterly exhausted though. Hell, I feel asleep during my break tonight sitting at my pc. I'm sure I was quite the site! I am having all kinds of weirdo cravings that I never had with the boys. For example, pickles and bacon, pickles and ice cream, and most recently saurkraut and ice cream. I don't eat them TOGETHER but with each other...ya know...like both for one meal. Grosses Chuck out!

The questions before people ask:

#1 Yes, we are hoping for a little girl this time. We didn't want a girl when we were pregnant with the boys but now we are thinking a girl would round out our family nicely.

#2 No, this was not planned. Well, not totally. We weren't actively trying, but we weren't actively preventing either. This isn't a bad thing...just means a more crowded 3 bedroom home and a lot more baby toys.

So there. Now I'll be blogging all about my bloated belly, how my pants won't fit and how my hormones have me crying at work.

Amanda~I know you've known all along :) I'll be telling people at work next week, so HUSH HUSH till then!

2006-10-18

Wednesdays.

Huh. I just noticed that like my last 4 posts or so have all been on Wednesdays!

I wonder why?

Maybe because I'm trying to get over the "hump" day at work?

Maybe because that's when I'm feeling slumpy...coming down from the weekend and not quite to the next weekend?

I don't know...but I'm gonna try to blog more often. I find it helps me get my feelings out. And I know that my hubby happens to read the blog even though he never posts. So maybe, just maybe, he can understand me just a *little* bit better considering we work opposite shifts and never see each other :(

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On another note, Lucas was DRY all day long at school today! I'm freaking ecstatic. Then he went 3 more times at home after that. Albeit he did have 2 accidents...but still! He's 2 1/2 and well on his way now to being diaper free. And considering last Saturday he told me "NO MORE DIAPERS MOMMA!" he'll be happy to hear that too!

Tag...you're it!

1.Things that scare me:
- something happening to my boys (or them being taken from me)
- housefires
- someone breaking in and killing us all


2. People who make me laugh:
- Zachary
- Lucas
- Chuck

3. Things I hate the most:
- stupid/ignorant people
- people who say "that's not part of my job"
- how I lose my temper with Zachary

4. Things I don't understand:
- how ANYONE can find Paris Hilton attractive
- Politics. I don't even try to understand
- Why people bad mouth the US but then try desperately to get their green card.


5. Things I'm doing right now:
- working (shhh...:D)
- blogging
- freezing

6. Things I want to do before I die:
- see my boys be wonderful dads to their children
- travel the world with my husband
- lose my baby weight so I'm comfortable


7. Things I can do:
- BJ's (at least I think I'm pretty good)
- Make people laugh
- Bake

8. Ways to describe my personality:
- Stubborn (yes, it's #1)
- Outgoing
- Easy to get along with

9. Things I can't do:
- Do a cartwheel
- spend hours on the pc just "surfing"
- play RPG video games

10. Things I think you should listen to:
- Your children. They are small PEOPLE
- Your mother (mine usually has good advice)
- Your husband (his needs are important too!)

11. Things you should never listen to:
- IN-LAWS!
- Gossip (but it's so much fun!)
- Crappy music

12. Things I'd like to learn:
- Watercolors
- How to deal with Zachary more effectively
- How to be a contortionist. My hubby would love it!

13. Favorite foods:
- Mexican
- Pickles (well at least right now)
- Ben & Jerry's mint chocolate cookie ice cream

14. Beverages I drink regularly:
- Water
- Hot tea
- Mt. Dew (well, I'm trying not to)

15. Shows I watched as a kid:
- Growing Pains
- Cosby Show
- Family Ties

16. Persons I'm tagging:
- LO
Anybody else who wants to do it!

2006-10-11

CONGRATULATIONS!!

To Matt and Angela!!

They had a baby girl today named Emily Dian!! They already have two GORGEOUS boys and I'm so excited to hear that they have a healthy, happy little girl to counteract the boys' antics :)

Another friend of mine also found out they are having a little girl, after two boys.

I hope that trend can continue.

Sooooo tiiirreeeddd!

I'm exhausted. End of story.

The boys are on a new daycare/preschool schedule so they only go M/W/F but they go longer during the day. But this means I have them Tuesday and Thursday from the moment they wake up. Which is early.

Like 7:15 early.

I know, I know...some of you reading this are thinking "THAT's EARLY?" Well when you work nights that's dang early! Granted I'm getting out of work at 1 am now so that helps, but by time I get home and around and settle down enough to go to bed it's at least 2 am if not 2:30. *sigh* At least, so far (knock on wood), the boys have been chill in the morning...cuddling in bed with me, content to watch their PBS cartoons and let mommy sleep just a little bit more.

It amazes me at how much they've changed and grown in their short years. It wasn't too long ago that I had to do EVERYTHING for them and now, just this morning, Lucas got up into the cupboard (big no-no, but he does it anyway, little bugger) and got down a can of chicken noodle soup. Zachary then proceeded to use the manual can opener to open said can of soup, pour it into a pan-which he got out himself, pour in a can of water, and then put it on the stove. He then came to me and told me he was ready for me to turn the stove on.

I'm just marvel at the things my 4 year old can do. We give him a lot of leeway to do these things too...I think it's good for him to know how to do things like cook, bake, wash dishes, vacuum. :) Makes my job easier!

Tomorrow is gonna be a rough day at work. I'm dreading coming in and dealing with the backlash of the previous' posts issues. *sigh* At least I get to sleep in tomorrow!
 

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