Getting to know me: our many homes {via a top 10}

Perhaps it is sad that I am able to right about our homes in a top 10 list?  Because, people, we have only been married 10 years.  Sigh.

Oh twell, here we go:

1.  Our first home: Birch Street.  We bought it from my Mom.  A cute little rambler, a bit too far from the cities {think 3rd ring suburb}.  We lived there for two years.
then we went to stay at my Mom's house for two weeks until our next place was ready (but not counting that as one of the 10 homes, although it is considered a move to me)

2.  Next there was County Rd. F.  We lived there for five months.  It was literally a quarter mile from my office, but I never walked.  All kinds of failing there.  The place just wasn't for us.  It was a split-entry {just didn't work for us}, there were bats, it was on a busy road.  So, we moved after five months.  Five MONTHS people.

3.  Our first apartment.  We decided we were going to build, so we moved into an apartment.  Had a plan {created by my father-in-law}, a lot, but couldn't come to a final agreement.  So, we moved on {after 6 months}.  But the builder didn't.  Used our plan for the house he eventually built on the lot {grrr}.

4.  Owasso Street.   This is my favorite.  And the house we lived in the longest {4 years!}.

We put blood, sweat, and tears into this place.  Literally. 

And then we moved to... 

5.  New Jersey, Belle Mead.  A cute little townhome, perfect for the two of us.  And then we found out we were pregant with J#3.   So {after a year} we moved to... 

6.  Bridgewater, New Jersey.   Then we had J#3 and decided we wanted to be closer to family back in... 

7.  Minnesota.  First up, an apartment, while we find JUST the right place.  

8.  Then, our split level home with the most charming porch and on a great cul-de-sac.  We are renting it out, so it is likely what we will move back into when we are back in Minnesota.  

Our second kitchen remodel.  You should see the before {maybe some time I'll show you}.

9.  The Netherlands.  An entirely new experience {we were in different country}, being close to the centrum {downtown}, in what I would call a "row home".

10.  Scotland.  Where we are now.  Thankfully, a lot more like what we are used to in the United States.  Can't wait to show you more!

So, there you have it. Do you have a home that you wish you still lived in?

This week, I'm linking up {that is, if I can get internet once their posts are up- wink}, once again with:

Nicole@Miss Mommy {and make sure to check out her sidebar, I'm a sponsor!  yay!}

&

Amanda@Oh Amanda

Getting to know me: a love story {part 2}

At the end of part 1, J#1 had just tracked down my # at college and called me there.  {Remember, before there was Facebook?}  So, we chatted on the phone a few times, and then I was headed back to the Twin Cities for Thanksgiving break.  So we decided to head out for dinner.

For the Minnesota folks, we went to the Rock Bottom Brewery in Minneapolis the Wednesday night before Thanksgiving.  According to J#1, this was just "two friends going out to dinner".   To this day, I still consider it our first date.   Our other first date would have been that Saturday.  J#1 made me dinner {knew that day he was a keeper!} and we went to a pool hall.

From there on out, we have been together.  Although for those first seven months, he was in St. Paul and I was in Marshall, MN.  We would see each other every other weekend, and talk just about every other night.  That June?  We were engaged.

Not an overly romantic setting, but it was romantic enough for me.  And we were headed to a Minnesota Twins game that night.   Between my Mom, who had them put a message on the big screen saying congratulations, and a college friend who was an usher there that got them to play our song (Alison Kraus, "When You Say Nothing At All"), it was a pretty special night.

Fast forward 10 months later, April of 2001 and we were married.  Beautiful ceremony at my childhood Church (where I had been baptized, attended grade school, been part of youth group, buried my father, and more).  Fun and relaxing reception.  Our first song? That Alison Kraus song.

Funny story about our first dance song.  My mom had asked us if we had a song we knew we wanted for our first dance, and we told her the name.  She sort of gave us this skeptical look.  Then we played it for her.  By the end?  Tears in her eyes.  True story.

Very close 2nd place for first song?  "My Best Friend" by Tim McGraw.

A Caribbean cruise for a honeymoon and settling in at our first home.  The first of many...

Getting to know me: a love story {part 1}

Now this is when I wish that I:  #1) had a scanner.  #2) had my scrapbooks in the same country as me.  #3) had some way of transporting my memories into photos on the computer.

So, this will be a somewhat photoless post about the history of J#1 and me.

#   #   #

I LOVE to tell people that J#1 was the first man to ever buy me flowers.  And he will be the last (hopefully).

We met back in my sophomore year of high school (he is a year older), in journalism class.  I was intent on being on the school paper, and you could take "zero hour" to add an hour to class schedule which would allow for an elective course like that.  Wow.  I was determined, huh?

So anyways...J#1 asked me out.  Well, I think that was what he was doing.  And I said no.  Yup, it's true. See, my Mom wouldn't let me date until I was 16, so I knew asking her if I could go to dinner with J#1 wouldn't fly.  But, we remained pretty close friends that year.  At one point, in true high school fashion, I asked him, "Are you mad at me?"

That Saturday, a flower delivery guy comes to the door.   A dozen roses, with a note that says, "I'm sorry you thought I was mad at you."  Swoon.  And my Mom said, "Oh, he must have a very good mother, teaching him to do polite things like that."

But, alas, I introduced him to one of my best high school friends, and they dated for quite a while.  I ended up dating some other guy{at the age of 15...shame, Mom!  wink}, and life went on.

Fast forward four years post high school for J#1.  He was at a seminar for an audit group {fun, fun} that was at the office I was working at during the summer.  I saw him at lunch, and was flabbergasted.  Why, oh why, was he at our office {we didn't end high school on the best of terms}?  But,  a day later or so, one of my co-workers encouraged me to reach out to him.  And so we chatted.  That was August.

In November, a week or so before our American Thanskgiving, J#1 called my mom.  Asked for my number at college.  {WOW!} And people,  I had literally just been telling someone in my apartment about running into this dude from high school.  And the phone rings.  It was him...

[[[[TO BE CONTINUED]]]]

Getting to know me: my heart

So I mentioned in this post that I was born with a heart defect.

It's called Aortic Stenosis, and is actually fairly (I believe 1 in 100) common.  But, I think my defect was a bit more dramatic as most people live with a heart murmur or this condition throughout their whole lives with no issues.

My mom tells me that when I was born, she had to ask to see me after an hour or two, because they were still checking me out.  Which means she found out immediately that there was something "special" about my heart.

Source: childrensheartinstitute.org via Jenny on Pinterest

See how the aortic valve (almost right in the center of the heart) is sort of like a Mercedes logo?  Instead of having three "flaps", my valve only had two.

So, when I was six, just before Christmas, I headed into the hospital for open heart surgery to have the valve repaired.  My most clear memories from the experience:

• my dad giving me a "fake" cabbage patch doll before we went to the hospital.  I totally didn't understand that because it was his birthday. Shouldn't I have been giving him a gift?
• that night, a doctor or nurse showing me what was going to happen, and I think they used that doll (or a bear, that I still have to this day--and has also had open heart surgery {wink, what young kids do} ) to show me.  
• having to miss our 1st grade Christmas pageant because I was recovering at home.  They sang "The Little Drummer Boy".  That song still holds a special place in my heart.
  
  Source: crafts.kaboose.com via Kacie on Pinterest

When I was young {think pre-teen years} the doctors told me I would eventually have to get my Aortic valve replaced.  At that time, they told me {and this is what I remember, might not be exact}: "you'll probably be about 35 when it needs to be replaced, you'll have a choice between mechanical or a cow's valve, you'll have to take a blood thinner for the rest of your live, so you will want to try and have kids before that."

Wow, how things change. 

When I was 25, I started getting short of breath with not a ton of physical exertion{if you are from Minnesota, I couldn't walk around the Metrodome without stopping}.  I remember a specific time when we were pulling bushes out of our front yard that I actually got dizzy as I was doing it and had to stop.

During my yearly visit to the cardiologist, I learned that very soon I would have to get a replacement.  {Hmm, guess I should have brought J#1 with me to that appointment.}  I went straight out to my car, called him and my mom, and frankly, was in tears.  

But at least medical advancements were on my side.  I had more choices as to what to have as a replacement, and decided to have a cadaver's valve so that I wouldn't need to take blood thinners and would still be able to have children without the use of blood thinners.   

I have a few photos from when I was in the hospital.  Not gonna show the one from RIGHT after the surgery.  That one is dreadful. This one is from the day I headed home. 

I still wasn't exactly looking my best. 

I went home, spent six weeks at home, and then another six working part time before being back at work full-time. 

And the rest, as they say, is history.   I successfully gave birth to two {beautiful & precious} children via planned c-sections.

Will I have to have it replaced again?  Likely, yes.  

But, hopefully, not anytime soon. 

Getting to know me: the old days {via a top 10}

Hi friends!  This would be the 2nd in a series of posts "about me", digging in a bit more than my "about me" page does.  The first post was the 32 questions that are on my about me page.  I am still looking for a 33rd.  Any ideas??

So, I suppose any proper "getting to know me" series should include a post about childhood, right?

But that could be a pretty long post...so here, instead is a "top 10".  Top 10 facts about me from birth thru high schol.

1.  I was born two weeks late.  Due on July 11, but born on July 25.  {Perhaps that is why I try, with all my might, to NOT be late now?}  Sorry Mom!  Not really fair to make her be pregnant for two extra weeks, during July in Minnesota.  Ick.

Source: etsy.com via Jenny on Pinterest

2.  I have one brother {15 years old than me!} and a sister that passed away before I was born.  {Now being a mom, I can't even fathom the affect that had on my parents and brother.}
3.  I was born with a congenital heart defect, called Aortic Stenosis.  I had open heart surgery at the age of six to repair it.  {more to come on this in another post}
4.  I went to a public school for kindergarten, Catholic school for grades one thru eight, and then public high school.
5.  My parents were divorced when I was in 3rd grade.
6.  My first trip to Disney World was when I was about nine years old.  {just wanted to throw something fun in there.  although, who says eight years in Catholic grade school isn't fun?  ;-) }

Source: None via Hayley on Pinterest

7.  I had my first kiss when I was 14.
8.  First  real boyfriend at 15 {although I wasn't supposed to date until I was 16, more on that when it gets to life with J#1}.  I actually met J#1 when I was 15.  In journalism class.
9.  My first job?  Sandwich artist at Subway.  {Yes, an artist.  And I have to admit, I count how may pickles, olives and tomatoes they are putting on my sandwich to this day.}

Source: Uploaded by user via Sam on Pinterest

10.  Spent junior & senior year of high school working at Snyder's Drug Store {I think they have all disappeared now, right?}, along with a couple of other jobs post Subway {video store, tanning salon --I know, I know}.

Want to know the funny thing?  I was totally planning on this going thru college.  Who knew I could fill up 10 items just thru high school?

But college was college.  I was pretty much a goodie-goodie in high school.  Not so much in college.  I spent a lot of time in our Radio/TV station, and I was part of our Student Senate {which helped me get my first job out of college}.  The summer before my senior year I ran into J#1, and we started dating around Thanksgiving that year.  That's all about all you need to know about the college years.  The less you know, the better.  {wink}

Linking up again this week with:

Nicole @ Miss Mommy

Amanda @ Oh Amanda!

Getting to know me: the basics

I'm copping out a bit on this one.  I have a list of 32 questions on my 'about me' page.  I am looking for a 33rd, since I am now 33 {sigh}.

What should it be?  Let me know in the comments.

#  #  #
And now...here are the first 32:

1. What was your favorite food when you were a child?  Grilled Cheese Sandwich, although for the longest time I thought it was a "girl" cheese sandwich
2. What’s the #1 most played song on your iPod? It is a tie between "There Goes My Life" by Kenny Chesney and "You're Gonna Miss This" by Trace Adkins
3. What is one of your favorite quotes?  "People come into your life and people go. But it's comforting to know the ones you love are always in your heart. And if you are very lucky, a plane ride away." 
   
4. What chore do you absolutely hate doing?  Dusting.  What is the point???
5. What is your favorite time of day/day of the week/month of the year?  Time of day:  morning,  Day of the week: Saturday, Month of the year: April 
6. What sound do you love?  My son and daughter laughing.  
7. What sound do you loath?  Whistling
8. If you could choose to stay a certain age forever, what age would it be?  I wouldn't ever want to stay any age forever.  What would be the point? 
9. If you could choose anyone, who would you pick as your mentor?  Tom Brokaw
10. If you could witness any event past, present or future, what would it be?   President John F. Kennedy's inauguration
11. If you had to change your first name, what would you change it to?  Suzie.  That was almost my name.  The story I remember being told is that my Mom got to choose my name, but if my Dad would have gotten to it would have been Suzie. 
12. Are you named after anyone?   Nope.  Well, I take that back. My middle name is my Godmother's name: Marie. Did you know though, that Jennifer was the most common name being used for babies in NYC the year I was born?  That would help explain the 3 Jenny's in my grade school class of 50 students.
13. If you could meet anyone, living or dead, who would you meet?  Mary (as in Jesus's mother)
14. If you won the lottery, what is the first thing you would do?  Pay off the last of our debt.  Duh.  Oh, and--since we live thousands of miles from our family and most of our friends--buy a plane. 
15. What do you want to be when you grow up?  A writer.  And that is what I would have said 20 years ago too. 
16. When you have 30 minutes of free-time, how do you pass the time?  Reading or surfing the net. 
17. What would you name the autobiography of your life?  Not sure, any ideas out there? 
18. Have you ever had something happen to you that you thought was bad but it turned out to be for the best?  Too many things to list.  My mantra is:  "Everything happens for a reason".
19. What was the last experience that made you a stronger person?  Moving across the world; having a baby in a foreign {non-English speaking} country.
20. What did you do growing up that got you into trouble?  I was a bit of a goody-goody.  A few friends I hung out at my house and had a few drinks my senior(?) year in high school, and I totally wouldn't have gotten caught.  But, I told my Mom.  Yeah. I did that. 
21. What’s the best/worst gift you’ve ever given/received?  I've received kleenex as gifts twice.  That would be the worst.  'Nuff said.   The best?  The gold necklace J#1 gave us for our first Christmas with a hand written note (instead of a card).  That was when I knew he must REALLY like me.  
22. What do you miss most about being a kid?  I don't really miss being a kid.  But, if you twisted my arm I guess I would say it would have to be summers when there wasn't homework to worry about. 
23. What is your first memory of being really excited?  Getting a Nintendo for Christmas--think it was 1987
24. When was the last time you were nervous?  In my life as an expat, with my personality--this is pretty much a daily occurrence. 
25. What is something you learned in the last week?  How to make a blog header
26. What is the best invention during your lifetime?  So far, Ipad/Ipod touch/Iphone
    
27. How many phone numbers do you have committed to memory?  Thanks to cell phones, not many:  My Mom's,  my brother's, my in-laws, our U.S. cell phone (which are never on) numbers, our current home phone number, our old home phone number (sad to see that one go), and I just barely have my mobile number here in memorized--so, eight.  There are about four more numbers that I could identify on caller ID by the first 3 digits though...does that count for anything? 
    
28. If you had to act your age what behavior would you change?  Self pity. 
29. Do you have faith in the next generation? Why?  Of course I do, because we are raising them.  And I think I am part of one of the great generations.  I am right on the cusp of Gen X/Gen Y--so do with that what you will. 
    
30. How old where you when you had your first kiss?  14
    
31. Do you believe a long distance relationship can work?  Absolutely, the first seven months (pretty much our entire courtship) J#1 and I were three hours apart. 
    
32. Would you ever live in Los Angeles?  Oh, yeah.   In a New York minute.  But I would prefer New York City.