The Intro

My Marriage-

Chad and I have been happily married for almost 5 years. Yes, we have had struggles and difficult times but we work together to triumph over the challenges of marriage.
When I was almost 22 years old I agreed to go to the Monster Jam in Portland Oregon with Chad. We hit it off and had a blast! There was hardly a day that went by that we were not together. We met each other’s families and friends and over time we fell in love.  About a year after our first date he pulled me outside so we could be alone, got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. I cried and said yes! Six months of planning, stress and a couple thousand dollars later, we were married. Everything was perfect! We moved in together, got a puppy named Wally, and enjoyed being newlyweds. Just 2 months later we found out we were going to have our first baby. Different challenges came our way once we added kids to the mix.
Chad and I do our best to meet each other’s needs. We took the online Love Language test and that has helped us tremendously in our marriage. Daily I have to remind myself to take time for Chad, that’s my biggest challenge. I’m so focused on the kids all day that when Chad and I do get alone time all I can think about is relaxing or cleaning. He has helped me realize that our kids are important but so is our marriage. We work together daily to make our marriage stronger. I know I couldn’t live without my hubby. He is my best friend!

My kids-

In June 2009 we welcomed our first born son, Michael, into the world. My water broke (two weeks early) and 24 hours later he arrived by an unplanned C-section. It was love at first sight. Finally holding his little body in my arms was an amazing feeling. Michael was a wonderful baby. He only cried when he needed something and even then it was a “quiet” cry. A VERY short four months later we found out baby number two was on the way. I cried. I didn’t know what to do. I was scared. My husband saw I was upset and one night he took my hand and said “I know you don’t feel ready. But this is a gift from God. He will take care of us.” Hearing this changed my view on this unexpected pregnancy.
In June 2010 my daughter, Emily, arrived (via C-section) announcing her coming for all to hear. With her heart beat and breathing irregular, she had to be rushed to the nursery. Six hours later Chad brought her to me. She suffered from a type of shock. Sometimes the transition from the womb to the cool air of the world can send a baby into shock. All babies react differently to their arrival, she simply liked the womb better. When we brought her home I quickly realized, even though her and Michael share the same blood, they were nothing alike. Emily was colic. She screamed and screamed. Most days I would just lie on the floor and cry with her. I would go to bed every night with a migraine. If it wasn’t for my amazing, God-given husband I strongly believe I would have “lost it”. Once he got home from work he helped with Michael and Emily, cooking, cleaning, and he put the kids to bed so I could get some sleep. I don’t know what I would do without him.
In April 2012 my baby boy, Samuel, (at a whoppin’ nine pounds) joined our family by yet another C-section. He was my only child I successfully breastfed. It was a remarkable feeling. Even though I am not breastfeeding anymore I still feel this incredible bond between us that I don’t have with my other two. Plus he’s my baby, my last baby. When I was pregnant with Sam, my husband and I agreed this would be our last baby. Right before Sam was born Chad went “under the knife”, no more kids for us.
Now, Michael is almost four, Emily is almost three and Sam is almost fourteen months and we couldn’t be happier. Yes we have our ups and downs just like everyone else. Yes my house is never clean but friends and family understand. Yes I’m the one with the screaming kid at the grocery store because I said “no” to candy or a toy, but I’m teaching my kids you don’t always get what you want. Yes I never get time alone but I don’t need it to be happy. We have a very normal, happy family.