Getting to Know You Thread

[mara232]

Thought I'd put together a "get to know you" thread. We all chat but do not really know much about each other. Feel free to share as much or as little as you want.

1.Birthday:
2.Siblings:
3.Where did you grow up?
4.Schooling:
5.What do you do for work?
6.How long have you been with your partner?
7.Where did you meet?
8.What is your favourite food?
9.What is your favourite place you have visted?
10.Tell us about your personality
11.What kind of dreams do you have for yourself?
12.Happiest moment in your life?
13.Saddest moment in your life?

[mara232]

here is mine:

1.Nov 28, 1972
2. Two sisters. A twin and a 5 years younger sister who had a baby girl 5 days after I had A. It has been awesome to have our kids grow up togetehr and experience mommyhood together.
3. I grew up in Windsor, Ontario (borders Detroit Michigan)
4. Went to U of Windsor. Have a MAsters in Engineering
5. Work at headquarters for an automotive manfacturer in the USA and commute daily
6. Have been with Dh dince Aug 98 (married since June 2000)
7. We met at my friends wedding.
8. I would have to say Pizza - anytime any place
9. I loved Cuba as well as Mallorca (Spain) - two most favorite places
10. Generally happy can get moody
11. Right now - just to be the best mom ever
12. Having Anthony
13 Thinking I would never have kids.

[Leanna]

Great idea, Mara! I had no idea you have a twin!


1.Birthday: April 15 1978
2.Siblings: 1 sis and 2 bros
3.Where did you grow up? Kentucky. Ten miles from where I live now.
4.Schooling: BA in English
5.What do you do for work? Secret Spy
6.How long have you been with your partner? Total 12 years. Married 9.
7.Where did you meet? Winn-Dixie parking lot.
8.What is your favourite food? PIZZA!
9.What is your favourite place you have visted? Natural Bridge/Red River Gorge in Eastern Ky... love to go there again and again.
10.Tell us about your personality Sarcastic, smart ass, loud.
11.What kind of dreams do you have for yourself? Want to travel more and get my Masters so I can teach after my own kiddos are all in school.
12.Happiest moments in your life? Meeting my babies!
13.Saddest moment in your life? Miscarriage 4 years ago, and finding out about my dad is a lying cheat.

[mara232]

Okay - tell us about the Winn-Dixie parking lot meeting...

[Brooke1980]

Oh fun...

1.Birthday: June 20, 1980
2.Siblings: I have two younger brothers. Matt who is 24, and Cole who is 17
3.Where did you grow up? Well, I spent half of my childhood in Dayton Ohio, and the other half in Wabash Indiana
4.Schooling: I have a General Associates Degree
5.What do you do for work? I was in the Air Force and hated it, so when I got pregnant I got out
6.How long have you been with your partner? Almost 4 years
7.Where did you meet? We met at a pub during a Pearl Jam cover band concert (both of ours favorite band) he is military also, so we met here in Italy at that pub
8.What is your favourite food? probably pizza, anything Italian, real Italian food is soooo good.
9.What is your favourite place you have visted? Lake Como was AWESOME (Gorgeous), but so is Spain, Germany is right up there as well as Switzerland (the Alps). I have alot of favorite places !! haha
10.Tell us about your personality I am very quiet, but super loyal and loving. I have a HUGE heart and tend to get hurt very easily
11.What kind of dreams do you have for yourself? I just want to watch my children grow into successful adults with big hearts.
12.Happiest moment in your life? By far the birth of Lillian
13.Saddest moment in your life? Leaving home

[starferry]

Great idea

1.Birthday: January 28th 1980

2.Siblings: One sister who is 30, she lives in Canada

3.Where did you grow up? First 12 years of my life in Poland, next 9 in Canada and have been in UK since I was 21

4.Schooling: I have a High School Diploma

5.What do you do for work? For a bank dealing with mortgages

6.How long have you been with your partner? Known in person for 7 and a half years, Married for 7 years,

7.Where did you meet? We actually met through the internet in a forum (it was called the Posting Place), we used to email eachother once in a while for about 9 months, then I came backpacking through UK with a friend and we met up and fell for eachother. We were married 4 months later!

8.What is your favourite food? I must say I LOVE PIZZA and PASTA!

9.What is your favourite place you have visted? Hong Kong. I love it and Sydney was conceived there! :) :) :)

10.Tell us about your personality Shy, caring and outgoing

11.What kind of dreams do you have for yourself? To live life to the fullest and make sure my daughter gets the best in life

12.Happiest moment in your life? Giving birth to Sydney

13.Saddest moment in your life? When my mother in law passed away last year. :cry:

[mara232]

Brooke - Have you been to Neuschwenstein (sp?) The Disney castle there at the border of Germany-Switzerland!? That to me is a magical place - sooo beautiful!!!

Paulina - Where in Canada did you live? Jak se majs? (sorry spelling!!) :D

[Leanna]

Brooke- Pearl Jam was playing on a classic rock station the other day here. Wow that made me feel old and wierd!

Paulina- How fun living in all those places.

Mara- Nothing too exciting with the meeting... when I was in high school, the Winn-Dixie parking lot was the place to BE. Small town, not much going on here. When I was a teen I couldn't wait to get out of here... hehe then I had Bonnie I realized I wanted to move back here to raise my kids.

Looks like Pizza/Italian food is everybody's fav so far. Yum!

[ceskow]

1.Birthday: 12/09/1981
2.Siblings: Two brothers 19 & 16
3.Where did you grow up? Crescent City, FL (Jacksonville, FL as well)
4.Schooling: Still working on that whole college degree thing...
5.What do you do for work? Business analyst...
6.How long have you been with your partner? since 11/98
7.Where did you meet? High school band
8.What is your favourite food? Green beans
9.What is your favourite place you have visted? Ireland
10.Tell us about your personality Outgoing, outspoken, happy go lucky, spontaneous, dreamer, and a huge worrier
11.What kind of dreams do you have for yourself? Have at least one more child and give them a much happier and fulfilling childhood than I had (parents divorced and always felt like a ping pong ball)
12.Happiest moment in your life? 4 - Engagement, Wedding, Finding out Pregnancy with DS was viable, Birth of David
13.Saddest moment in your life? Day I found out that I wouldn't carry my first pregnancy to term

[starferry]

Mara: I lived in Edmonton...talked to my sis last night and she was telling me about the -32 weather...I don't miss it at ALL!! (just miss my family like mad)

[ANNIEW]

1.Birthday: 1/11/77 (yesterday!)
2.Siblings: 35yr old sister, and 32 yr old brother
3.Where did you grow up? NJ (Keyport and Yardville)
4.Schooling: BS in Business Administration with Specialization in Accounting
5.What do you do for work? now SAHM; was Accountant/Auditor for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee
6.How long have you been with your partner? dating since 2/11/95; married since 8/11/01
7.Where did you meet? thru friend who was dating DH's brother. Happened to meet up w/friend outside a Sally Beauty Shop and DH and the brother were in the car. I was actually showing friend a tape of a guy I liked-his music was on the tape. wanted to let her hear him sing. in any event, the guy i liked couldn't sing, and dh started asking friend about me.................
8.What is your favourite food? chinese
9.What is your favourite place you have visted? bermuda
10.Tell us about your personality quiet, conservative, organized (much of an accountant attitude!)
11.What kind of dreams do you have for yourself? much like the others-be a good mom and a good wife
12.Happiest moment in your life? birth of all 5 of my babies (older DS was so cool b/c he was the first-so amazing!) (and these 4-wow, how many people have 4 babies at once?)
13.Saddest moment in your life? i'd have to say when katie just about died on us. right in front of us. i've never cried like that before. we've always been healthy-no death in our immediate family............definitely when katie coded and needed cpr and ventilation

[tracyrhymer1979]

good idea Mara, and I had no idea you were a twin either!!! Both you and Lisa are twins!!

.Birthday: July 30, 1979

2.Siblings: One brother, Chris, younger

3.Where did you grow up? Memphis Tennessee

4.Schooling: Drury Univeristy, BA in Theatre, Minor in Global Studies, pursuing Masters Degree from Southern Christian University in Professional Counseling

5.What do you do for work? Lead Therapeutic Foster Care Specialist

6.How long have you been with your partner? met January 2002, married December 2002.

7.Where did you meet? Barnes & Noble

8.What is your favourite food? Chinese, Japanese, Sushi, Mexican

9.What is your favourite place you have visted? Alaska, London, NYC!!!

10.Tell us about your personality. Quiet at first, then get comfortable and become silly, love to be the center of attention, loyal, demanding...I am a true Leo!

11.What kind of dreams do you have for yourself? Finish grad school, raise my children to become faithful members of the church, change the world for all the hurt children

12.Happiest moment in your life? getting the phone call that we had been chosen as the adoptive parents for our kids

13.Saddest moment in your life? my child's death in 1998, my grandpa's death in 2000

[tracyrhymer1979]

Happy birthday Annie!!!

[ANNIEW]

tracy-your child's death in 1998? you had another child? i didn't know this..........what happened, if you don't mind me asking.......(sorry if i'm being too nosey.)

[tracyrhymer1979]

its really a dark story...i wont go into details, but had a very bad boyfriend who didn't want to be a dad and made sure that he wasn't going to be one. i lost the baby at about 10 weeks. i was a whole different person then, and emotionally okay now. It took a very long time, but i think thats what makes fight so hard against abuse now, domestic, child, elder, animal. Nobody deserves to go through what I went through.

[ANNIEW]

wow, tracy, i'm so, so sorry. i know it's been a long time, but i'm sure that is still a sore spot, especially with the pcos and TTC now. I can't even imagine...............i am glad i learned a bit more about you...........i think it's amazing you turned a horrible thing into something where you can change someone else's life. You are an amazing person!!!

[starferry]

Tracy, that brought tears to my eyes. Sorry that you had to go through that.

[starferry]

Happy Birthday Annie. Did you have a nice day?

[ANNIEW]

omg, can i be honest? now, we did celebrate it on tuesday (had cake, made stuffed shells, got presents, the works) b/c tom had to work on thurs., plus niece had dance.
anyway, yesterday came, dh left for work and didn't say anything about my bday! sis called, mom called and said happy bday, dh didn't say happy bday till he called like at 6pm! ugh! and thekids didn't even say happy bday! the older 2 should know! i dunno-maybe i'm just having a pity party!

[starferry]

I would have been upset/dissapointed as well. He had a reminder a few days before so he had no excuse!

[lisamarie]

1. Birthday: May17, 1979

2.Siblings: 1 twin sister, Shelly

3. Where did you grow up? Martinsville, Indiana

4.Schooling: Cosmetology

5.What do you do for work? Cook, clean, change diapers, feed animals, laundry, mow grass, garden, feed kids, whOre(for dh), comforter to kids/dh, supporter for kids/dh...whew..I think I'll just stop there...theres too much...lol :wink:

6.How long have you been with your partner? Met Sept 2000..Married May 19th 2001

7.Where did you meet? Internet

8.What is your favourite food? Pizza

9.What is your favourite place you have visted? Gatlinburg..but I know Scotland would be my fav if I could go there.

10.Tell us about your personality. Gets along with most folks. Love to laugh. Like to talk. Very BLUNT. Moody..just call me Sybil. When I care I care with every oz of myself..when I hate I hate with every oz of myself.

11.What kind of dreams do you have for yourself? To move from where we live now and have at least one more child...and just live to see my children raised.

12.Happiest moment in your life? Girls being born.

13.Saddest moment in your life? Finding out friends 7 yr old son was killed. Finding out nephew was molested. Its a toss up.

[mara232]

Tracy (((hugs)))

Lisa - What happened to the 7yr old? :(

[Leslie]

Great idea Mara. I too had no idea you were a twin.

Happy Birthday Annie.

Tracy I didn't know you had a child either. Sorry to hear of your loss.

1.Birthday: April 11, 1970

2.Siblings: Hold on tight... two brothers and six sisters ranging from 27 to 4 years old (all adopted). I'm the oldest of all of us.

3.Where did you grow up? Poca, WV

4.Schooling: Some college

5.What do you do for work? Lead Accountant for five companies that deal in coal/oil & gas/commercial real estate.

6.How long have you been with your partner? Started dating in September 1998 and married in May 2000.

7.Where did you meet? Internet chat room (funny thing is we only lived eight blocks away from each other).

8.What is your favourite food? Pizza

9.What is your favourite place you have visted? Unfortunately haven't travel much. Love the beach. Also liked NY but wouldn't want to live there.

10.Tell us about your personality: quiet/backward until I get to know you. Loyal, honest and giving to those I am close to. Hot headed if you tick me off.

11.What kind of dreams do you have for yourself? What I want most right now is to eventually be a SAHM. If that doesn't work, I'd like to only work part-time. I would also like to be the BEST possible mom I can be.

12.Happiest moment in your life? Finding out I was pregnant, finding out the pregnancy was viable, Arianna's birth

13.Saddest moment in your life? Losing two pregnancies and coming back to work after maternity leave

[esarah]

1.Birthday: October 14, 1979

2.Siblings: 3 sisters and 1 brother. Sisters- Kendall (25), Adrienne (23), Ann (17) Brother- Collin (21)

3.Where did you grow up? My dad was in the Air Force. I was born in Seattle, WA, Lived in Denver, CO, Alexandria, VA, Ann Arbor, MI, Beale, AFB, CA, St. Neots, England, Brampton, England, Neunkirschen, Germany, Landstuhl, Germany, Provo, UT, Dallas TX, PRovo again, Springville , UT and finally, Provo where we are now.

4.Schooling: BS in Marriage, Family and Human Development from Brigham Young University.

5.What do you do for work? Mommy, housekeeper, I think Lisa sums it up well.

6.How long have you been with your partner? I met Dh in August 1999 and we got married May 20, 2000.

7.Where did you meet? A mutual friend at BYU introduced us.

8.What is your favourite food? Oh wow. That is a hard one! I love food! I love fish and chips from Bramptomn, I love Cadburys chocolate.

9.What is your favourite place you have visted? I love, love., love Englan. Of course Il live here. I have only visited Cambridge though and that has to be my favorite place in the world. Loads of good memories.

10.Tell us about your personality- Hmmmmm... I am usually very thoughtful. I can be shy but not really. I am a little bossy (first child syndrome). I am kind of a stressy person as well.

11.What kind of dreams do you have for yourself? I would love to have several more children. I would also love to ba able to live a long healthy life and see my grandchildren grow up.

12.Happiest moment in your life? Getting married and holding my percious little girl for the first time!

13.Saddest moment in your life? I have had my fair share. My miscarriages over and over again ahve been a huge struggle. Thinking that I may never have children just tore me apart though.

[ceskow]

Sarah ~ I see the British influence coming out in you...."Loads" of good memories... :D

[lisamarie]

Mara-Log rolled on him.

Leslie-OMG..how werid your dh lived only 8 blocks.

Sarah-Ditto on Cadburys. hehe

[Shelli]

1.Birthday: December 7, 1976
2.Siblings: Peggy (34), Janise (28 ), Chris (23 ), TJ (18 ), Michael~forever newborn (died 12/7/76), Kayla~forever 7 (died 5/12/95)
3.Where did you grow up? Wisconsin
4.Schooling: Private grade school, private high school, college graduate
5.What do you do for work? church secretary
6.How long have you been with your partner? 9 years
7.Where did you meet? work
8.What is your favourite food? chocolate
9.What is your favourite place you have visted? North Carolina
10.Tell us about your personality outgoing, bold, fun
11.What kind of dreams do you have for yourself? to be a SAHM
12.Happiest moment in your life? toss up, getting married, each of my kids' births
13.Saddest moment in your life? losing my baby sister

[ahacker]

1.Birthday: November 28 1979
2.Siblings: One brother, two sisters. John (36), Johanna (32) Sarah (29)
3.Where did you grow up? Southern Illinois, Central Illinois
4.Schooling: High School Diploma
5.What do you do for work? SAHM, previously a patient food cook at a local hospital.
6.How long have you been with your partner? Known him my whole life, married since March 1998
7.Where did you meet? church
8.What is your favourite food? Chinese/Thai
9.What is your favourite place you have visted? Tennessee/North Carolina
10.Tell us about your personality. Quiet, shy until you get to know me, sensitive, honest and loyal. Can be very silly.
11.What kind of dreams do you have for yourself? To eventually go to school and of course to be the best mom I can be.
12.Happiest moment in your life? When Willow was born healthy and happy.
13.Saddest moment in your life? Finding out that my dad commited suicide in the family car and watching my mother frantically flipping through the phone book looking for the police phone number.

[mara232]

Shelli - ((hugs))
Amy - ((hugs))

[kelli3384]

1.Birthday: March 3, 1984
2.Siblings: 1 brother and 1 sister
3.Where did you grow up? Outside of Philadelphia
4.Schooling: I have my associates in social science and working on my bachelors...I should have it by now but I cant make up my mind on what i want to do.
5.What do you do for work? I used to work for a mortgage company but I stopped shortly after Gavin was born now I am a SAHM(best job ever)
6.How long have you been with your partner? 4 1/2yrs
7.Where did you meet? In a gas station of all places!
8.What is your favourite food? pasta
9.What is your favourite place you have visted? yellowstone
10.Tell us about your personality I can be outgoing when I want to but I like to keep to myself a lot.
11.What kind of dreams do you have for yourself? I want another baby and want a nice house! When my kids are in school i want to pursue a fullfilling career.
12.Happiest moment in your life? I would say when Gavin was born but that was traumatizing so I will say when I found out I was pregnant.
13.Saddest moment in your life? When we lost our first baby.

[texasred1]

Mara - what a cool thread. I will have to chime in when I get home!

Annie - HAPPY B-DAY!!!

TracyR - (((((hugs))))) I told you before, I'll say it again - you really do inspire me with how passionate you are about children in the world.

Amy- (((((hugs)))))

[ANNIEW]

oh amy, so sorry.

[karenh]

Oh my, the saddest moments are soo very sad, I am sorry for everybodys pain and grief.

1.Birthday: July 20 1972
2.Siblings: 3 brothers, Bruce 37, Derek 35 and Daniel 16
3.Where did you grow up? mostly Northern Virginia
4.Schooling: some
5.What do you do for work? Mental Health Residential Counselor
6.How long have you been with your partner? almost 8 years (wow)
7.Where did you meet? personal add in paper, blind date at Don Pablos
8.What is your favourite food? chocolate
9.What is your favourite place you have visted? I dont know really
10.Tell us about your personality I have tenacity (when its in dh's favor) and stubborn (when its against dh), I am strong willed and stand up for what I believe in, I like to play and enjoy a good pixar movie, I like to laugh and make others laugh
11.What kind of dreams do you have for yourself? to raise my children to live for and love the LORD, and make a difference with their lives.
12.Happiest moment in your life? realizing that even though it may be short term I am a mother, marrrying dh
13.Saddest moment in your life? losing my grandfather who was the only one to love me unconditionally (until dh), finding aobut my health problems (pcos, thyriod, dermatomyositis)

[imjlo]

1.Birthday: 07/14
2.Siblings: 1, Sister, Becky
3.Where did you grow up? Wichita, KS
4.Schooling: Some College
5.What do you do for work? Customer service for T-Mobile {I HATE IT :) }
6.How long have you been with your partner? DH an I together 9 years married for 5
7.Where did you meet? Through my ex-boyfriend LOL
8.What is your favourite food? My dads Steaks
9.What is your favourite place you have visted? Las Vegas
10.Tell us about your personality... :lol: 8) :lol: Fun and Outgoing

[imjlo]

I LOVE this thread I have learned so much about all of you over the years but there is so much that I still do not know so let me just say that all of you are so wonderful and I feel so privliged to know you all!!!

[Leanna]

We've all been through so much... wonderful that we have this community of strong women! Go us!!

[ahacker]

I too agree that we all have been through so much in our lives. I am a strong believer that what comes our way only makes us stronger. Thank you all for the hugs. It has been 21 years, but sometimes it hurts like yesterday. Everything can only get better, right?? :D

Amy

[bays mom]

1.Birthday: November 26, 1979

2.Siblings: Half Older Bro, Half Older Sis, full younger brother

3.Where did you grow up? Born, Joliet- Raised-Du Quoin, Il-Live now...get this Joliet...hehe

4.Schooling: High School Grad...I actually wish I had more to answer

5.What do you do for work? SAHM

6.How long have you been with your partner? Been Married for 5 years, will be six on Sept. 1st

7.Where did you meet? Hubby worked at Walmart with one on my best friends

8.What is your favourite food? Pizza

9.What is your favourite place you have visted? The Ocean over at Gulf Shores. We went over the summer and it was the 1st time I had seen the ocean!

10.Tell us about your personality: I am quiet, thoughtful and nice to strangers. Very moody to my own family, trying to change that!

11.What kind of dreams do you have for yourself? This one made me cry. I have so many dreams, but because I am shy I can't bring myself to get things done. Would love to go to College, Get a job and actually help out with the bills, travel (but because of only one income, not gonna happen). But dreams or goals that I do have is to be nicer to my family and have more children, and teach them to be loving, smart, people! Ohh how I could go on.

12.Happiest moment in your life? Every time I found out I was pregnant, and becoming a mommy

13.Saddest moment in your life? Having two miscarriages, and crying while having to watch my hubby cry too!
_________________

[elsie]

1. June 27, 1974
2. Siblings: 2 older bros
3. Born and raised: upstate NY ; Live: western MA
4. School: B.A. in social thought and political economy
5. Work: substitute h.s. teacher; mom/chauffeur/cheerleader
6. Married: 12 years
7. Met dh: at work (supermarket)
8. Fave Food: black bean burritos and salad
9. Fave Place: Montreal
10. Personality: opinionated; caring; sensitive; a little bit lazy :oops:
11. Dreams: published writer; happy kids; close marriage; clean house; career of value to society; optimum health.
12. Good times: births of sons; falling in love with dh; growing stuff in my garden; feeling proud of everything I've been thru to get here today.
13. Bad times: scary medical issues when ds1 was a newborn; when sons are sad; breaking my leg and back when I was 15; when mom had cancer when I was little (she's alive!); when I doubt myself as a mother; being dx'd with pcos and ir.

[Kelansma]

1.Birthday: Dec 17th

2.Siblings: Two sisters, both older

3.Where did you grow up? Sydney, AUSTRALIA

4.Schooling: BA - Literature and Communication Majors, B-Teach (English and History methods), MA - Communication, Culture and Media

5.What do you do for work? High School English and History Teacher

6.How long have you been with your partner? Was with him from Dec 99 til end of 2005, start of 2006...his coming out process was very long

7.Where did you meet? We were both working through Uni at Hardol Park Trots

8.What is your favourite food? Hmmmmmmm...Steak and Ribs, YUM! I love a really nice fruit salad too...oh and Strawberry Shortcake! YUMMMMMMY!

9.What is your favourite place you have visted? Chicago - I love Gurnee Mills!

10.Tell us about your personality outgoing, funny, shy, witty, weary, fun, serious, complicated, don't suffer fools, sarcastic (people say I'm like Elaine on "Seinfeld") confident yet self concious...complex and full of inconsistancies

11.What kind of dreams do you have for yourself? To remarry and have an authentic life that isn't based upon lies. I also want to complete my Ph.D. Being successful as a career woman, mum and person in general - the best revenge is living well, no?

12.Happiest moment in your life? Giving birth to my boys and every dya I get to see them grow and experience life.

13.Saddest moment in your life? When my husband came out of the closet and the daily struggle since. Coming to terms with the fact my marriage was gone and I had somehow failed my kids. The next saddest day will be having to explain to them when theya re old enough the whole thing. I now wish the person I think was probably my true lvoe of my life had got his act together before...we are trying to rectify this but it is now very complicated!

[proud2Bamommy]

LOVE THIS IDEA, I FEEL LIKE I KNOW YOU ALL ALREADY!

1.Birthday: MARCH 4, 1980

2.Siblings: 1 OLDER SISTER APRIL (29)

3.Where did you grow up? DAD WAS IN THE ARMY SO.... COLORADO, PENNSYLVANIA, KOREA, LOUISIANA, AND HAWAII (MAINLY HAWAII THOUGH)

4.Schooling: HIGH SCHOOL

5.What do you do for work? SAHM, AND PROUD OF IT! I USED TO BE AN EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT

6.How long have you been with your partner? MET SEPT OF 02, MARRIED MAR OF 03.

7.Where did you meet? WE MET ON A LITTLE ISLAND IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE, JOHNSTON ATOLL. WE BOTH WORKED THERE AND MET IN A BOWLING TOURNAMENT. TO THINK IF MY FRIEND WOULDN'T HAVE GONE ON VACATION AND NEEDED ME TO MANAGE THE TEAM, I WOULD HAVE NEVER EVEN BEEN THERE!

8.What is your favourite food? KOREAN

9.What is your favourite place you have visted? YOU KNOW, I JUST DON'T KNOW. EVERYWHERE HAS IT PROS AND CONS. I LIKE VISITING EVERYWHERE, I JUST LIKE SEEING NEW THINGS

10.Tell us about your personality... THIS IS A HARD ONE. AT FIRST I AM A LITTLE SHY, UNLESS THE NEW PEOPLE ARE SHY TO THEN I JUST TAKE OVER. THEN I BECOME A LITTLE WACKY. I THINK I'M PRETTY FUNNY AND OUTGOING. I'M A DO IT ALL MYSELF TYPE OF PERSON AND CAN SOMETIMES BE QUITE BOSSY (I KNOW, BAD) I HAVE A BIG HEART THOUGH. I CRY ALL THE TIME. I'M ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO BEFRIENDS PEOPLE WHO LOOK LIKE THEY DON'T HAVE FRIENDS CAUSE I DON'T THINK ITS FAIR TO GO THROUGH LIFE WITHOUT FRIENDS. MY FAMILY TELLS ME I CAN BE A .... WELL YOU KNOW, BUT TRUST ME, THERE ARE WORE THEN ME. I JUST LIKE MY SLEEP AND WILL DO ANYTHING TO GET IT. OK, I'LL SHUT UP NOW.

11.What kind of dreams do you have for yourself? JUST TO BE HAPPY AND HELP OTHERS AROUND ME ACHIEVE THEIR DREAMS. I HOPE I CAN BE A GREAT MOM FOR DYLAN, I DON'T WANT TO BE SOMEONE THAT HE IS EMBARRASSED OF OR WHATEVER.

12.Happiest moment in your life? HONESTLY, IT WASN'T THE BIRTH OF DYLAN BUT IT WAS FINDING OUT I WAS FINALLY PREGGO AND WHEN HE FIRST SMILED AT ME. I LOVE HIS LAUGHING TOO. CRAP... MY HAPPIEST MOMENT IS DYLAN PERIOD!!!

13.Saddest moment in your life? TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH I HAVE BEEN PRETTY BLESSED IN MY LIFE... THE SADDEST THING WOULD HAVE TO BE WHN I FOUND OUT I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO GET PREGGO WITHOUT MED INTERVENTION AND WHEN MY PARENTS GOT DIVORCED. OH... AND WHEN MY MOM TOLD ME I COULDN'T LIVE WITH HER CAUSE SHE HAD HER OWN LIFE NOW (I WAS ONLY 16 AND MY DAD WAS MOVING TO THAT ISLAND I MENTIONED EARLIER, YOU COULD ONLY GO THERE TO WORK NO SCHOOL OR ANYTHING.) SHE SAID SHE'D FIND ME AN APARTMENT THOUGH.

ANYWAY... THAT'S ME!

[texasred1]

1.Birthday: January 27, 1969

2.Siblings: 1 adopted sister (Cinda, 35) my parents adopted her when I was 8, she was 6. Long story short she's been out of the picture for 10 years now - I have no idea where she is or what's she's doing.
When most people ask me this question I usually say I'm an only child.

3.Where did you grow up? in the suburbs (Clear Lake) on the southside of Houston, Texas

4.Schooling: BA in media studies

5.What do you do for work? retail copywriter (I write ads)

6.How long have you been with your partner? 3.5 years

7.Where did you meet? At a bar

8.What is your favourite food? there are so many... sushi, crawfish, mexican, veitnamese oh and of course CHOCOLATE

9.What is your favourite place you have visted? This is hard, because I haven't been many places. I'll have to say France (I was 16 and went to school there) and Jamaica (was in my 30's)

10.Tell us about your personality Uh, I'll start by saying I have red hair (yes, I have most of those personality traits) I am very loyal, outgoing, motherhood has calmed me down, believe it or not

11.What kind of dreams do you have for yourself? to be the best mom I can be and provide all that I can for my children. Aside from that I would love to open up my own business - there is ONE here in Houston I'd like to copy - a store for pregnant/nursing moms that not only had all the latest products but also helpful employees and courses/classes like bf, child birth.

12.Happiest moment in your life? It wasn't until the 2nd night I was in the hospital with my son alone for the first time. It around 2-3am and it was just the 2 of us in my hospital bed. I looked down at him and realized for the first time what a precious gift from God I had been given. (I am crying now as I type this.)

13.Saddest moment in your life? I don't know, I've been really blessed. Sure I've had my share of deaths, and I've gone through 2 divorces before I married dh#3, but I guess the saddest thing would have to be knowing the hurt and sadness my dh goes through knowing that he lost his own father 3 years ago and how he misses him terribly and misses the chance that our son will never know his grandfather.

[texasred1]

6.How long have you been with your partner? Met Sept 2000..Married May 19th 2001

7.Where did you meet? Internet



I had no idea y'all met on the internet! I want to be nosey and hear the story :)

[lisamarie]

I'll pm it to you.

[texasred1]

:D :D

[Preemienurse]

1.Birthday: February 26, 1976

2.Siblings: Older brother - adopted before me because my parents had infertility issues themselves. Boy was I a surprise! My mom didn't realize she was even pregnant for five months - she worked for a surgeon and was terrified that I was a tumor or something!

3.Where did you grow up? Chicago suburbs

4.Schooling: Bachelor's degree in nursing

5.What do you do for work? Neonatal ICU nurse for almost 9 years - full-time night shift

6.How long have you been with your partner? 11 years in May, married in November of 2005

7.Where did you meet? What's funny is that we grew up in the same town, went to junior high and high school together, and shared many friends - but we never met until college.

8.What is your favourite food? Kraft Macaroni and Cheese, spiral shape

9.What is your favourite place you have visted? Maui on our honeymoon!

10.Tell us about your personality: I'm sensitive, talkative, pessamistic, friendly, a bit of a control freak, and the worst procrastinator you'll ever meet.

11.What kind of dreams do you have for yourself? Just want to be a good wife, mother, daughter, friend, and nurse. Hope to be able to go down to part time at work someday so I can spend more time at home.

12.Happiest moment in your life? Toss up between seeing tears in my husband's eyes as I walked down the aisle at our wedding and hearing my baby cry in the delivery room - FINALLY was able to accept that she was okay and REAL! It was rough being a NICU nurse and having a high risk pregnancy...

13.Saddest moment in your life? When my grandmother died - it was such a shock.

[Bella923]

Good idea!

1.Birthday: November 20, 1974
2.Siblings: 1 brother - George age 23
3.Where did you grow up? Brockton, MA
4.Schooling: BS in Management Science
5.What do you do for work? I was a Finance/HR Manager until I went on maternity leave. Now I work part time as a Purchasing Agent
6.How long have you been with your partner? First date 1/11/97 Married 9/23/2000 Wow it's been 10 yrs since our first date!
7.Where did you meet? Online
8.What is your favourite food? Cuban Food!!
9.What is your favourite place you have visted? Walt Disney World!!!
10.Tell us about your personality: I am very loyal friend once I you get past my trust issues. I am very generous to the ones I love. I am a bit reserved and quiet when I first meet people.
11.What kind of dreams do you have for yourself? I love my family and just want to spend as much time with them and grow old watching my children grow into happy adults.
12.Happiest moment in your life? When Gabriella was born and the day I married DH.
13.Saddest moment in your life? When I found out my dad had cancer.

[prinny]

Beautiful thread.

What a bunch of wild, strong she women we have here.

Hats off to all of you!!!!!!!!!

--

1.Birthday: Sept 13th. (it was a Wednesday, not Friday.)

2.Siblings: Older brother, died 4 hrs after birth. Younger brother and sister.

3.Where did you grow up? Melbourne Australia

4.Schooling: Bachelor of Science, Genetics. RN Grade 4A

5.What do you do for work? Used to be a NICU nurse while I started my stand-up/writing career. Now - have my own production company. I write, produce scripts. Still do stand up from time to time and am one half of a comedy duo.

6.How long have you been with your partner? Not long enough! Met May 17 01, married June 16 02.

7.Where did you meet? Scotland - at a bar. After my friend Tom insisted he had a guy he wanted me to meet. I was working at the time and said, I had NO time nor interest in meeting any one. I just had enough time to see Tom before I had to go to London.Tom agrees and names a bar off Cowgate and we planned to meet. I got there early and saw Bonsor Fancy Pants at the bar. Tall, dark n handsome. My first words to him, "Oh how disappointing, you're American." We were inseperable from that moment. I DID meet Tom there that night, he arrived while BFPants was at the bar getting me a drink. Tom says, "That guy I want you to meet is here." I said, "Frig off Gopher, this isnt the Love Boat and anyway.. I just met the love of my life at the bar." Tom looks past me and says, "Hey Bonsoir Fancy Pants!" and BFPants says, "Hey Tom!" - yes, he was the guy Tom wanted me to meet.

8.What is your favourite food? Vietnamese. And anything my Mum, Dad or Brother cook.

9.What is your favourite place you have visted? Scotland, naturally! And Paris and San Francisco and New York and London's SoHo and..... Melbourne friggen rocks too!

10.Tell us about your personality: Loud. Funny. Loyal. Loud. Quick and did I mention, loud?

11.What kind of dreams do you have for yourself? Being successful with my work life. Being happy in my home life. Having my parents and siblings around me for ever...

12.Happiest moment in your life? Finding BFPants at that bar! Finding out I wasnt having an alergic reaction to codeine but was PREGNANT with Spike - the baby we were never supposed to be able to have on our own. Winning a prestigious award for work my comedy duo had done. Hearing my Mum get the ALL CLEAR from her breast cancer. Watching my Dad care for my Mum when she was ill. He's brilliant. Hilarious and loving.

13.Saddest moment in your life? When I discovered my ex-husband was a lying bastard (a story I can not even go into. The WORST possible mooment of my life that hurt not only me but sooooooooooooo many people. I wish him virulent arse cancer, every day!) When my grandmother died - we were VERY close. I was overseas and unable to go home. I think she almost waited until I was away so she COULD go. I still miss her. Finding out my Mum had breast cancer.

Great thread. I love reading everyone's stories. Life fascinates me, every day.

Prinny xxxx

[lisamarie]

OH my lands Prinny....hehe you were married two days before me! How cool! That is so AWESOME about Scotland..yumm...thats my past life home I beleive! hehehhehe Im obsessed with it.

[Asi]

1.Birthday: 10/10/1974
2.Siblings: one sister, three years older.
3.Where did you grow up? Vienna, Austria
4.Schooling: Masters degree in psychology
5.What do you do for work? Manager of Data Analysis and Reporting
6.How long have you been with your partner? 10 years, married since 1999
7.Where did you meet? in a bar
8.What is your favourite food? chocolate
9.What is your favourite place you have visted? the countryside of Austria
10.Tell us about your personality. hard to say. I think I am never satisfied. I am always comparing my life with others and thinking about ways to make things better. I always think I should be more focused with what I have instead of what I dont have. I am working on it.
11.What kind of dreams do you have for yourself? I dream of happiness in my marriage and with my son and that I will have enough time for both. I dream that I enjoy my work. I hope to spend enough time with my parents and sister and that I will never look back and regret that I left my hometown.
12.Happiest moment in your life? my wedding and the birth of my son
13.Saddest moment in your life? leaving my country and starting over again.

[prinny]

OH my lands Prinny....hehe you were married two days before me! How cool! That is so AWESOME about Scotland..yumm...thats my past life home I beleive! hehehhehe Im obsessed with it. -

Scotland is fab. We were in Edinburgh, they have a GIANT comedy/arts festival each year. The town turns itself inside out. We're keen to go back there around Xmas time and enjoy a little Scottish winter.

I picture you with bagpipes.

:lol:

Prinn xxxx

[prinny]

13.Saddest moment in your life? leaving my country and starting over again.

Oh yes, I need to add that to my list.

Leaving my parents in Australia as I stepped through the airport gates with their 8 week old grand son. Owch. It's a raw pain.

What made you leave, Asi?

Prinn xxxx

[lisamarie]

Well if ya ever want a fat Hoosier to go with ya and ya are willin to foot the bill Id be mroe than happy to go wiht ya! LOL!

Hmm....I can see me with a pair of bagpipes too...but Id like a big ol' Scotsman to go with it..hehehe

[joluke4]

1.Birthday: August 26
2.Siblings: 3 brothers - Jay, Jon and Jesse
3.Where did you grow up? rural Northwestern PA
4.Schooling: Just high school
5.What do you do for work? overnight cashier at Wally World
6.How long have you been with your partner? 8 long years
7.Where did you meet? church
8.What is your favorite food? chocolate! though I also like Pineapple and ham pizza
9.What is your favorite place you have visited? my favorite place when I was a child is where I live now. Since I've been an adult, not sure I have a favorite place. It takes a LOT to impress me.
10.Tell us about your personality - tempermental, I've got a temper and I'm mental
11.What kind of dreams do you have for yourself? I always dreamed of undying love and a great career, I'm 0 for 2.
12.Happiest moment in your life? there are 2, the moments my little girls were born
13.Saddest moment in your life? the moment my step-dad passed away. He was a great father and so good to my mom!

[lisamarie]

awww....I like the undying love part...

[joluke4]

ahacker - I can't believe you have a sister that has the same name as me (you may have told me this before).

wow, everyone that had sad events they were REALLY sad. I didn't think of some similar stuff that was sad for me that others mentioned, but my Pops' death was truly the saddest day of my life (but tomorrow night will be right up there too, I DON'T want to return to work).

preemienurse - I didn't even know you had your baby, Congrats!!

Prinny - I have to admit your post was the most interesting. I think it's all in how you put things and YOU, sister, have a way with words (perhaps that's why you're a writer, lol). I didn't know you'd been a nurse before though.

Asi - I also missed the fact you had your little boy! Congrats!!

lisa - I'm being a bit cynical today, so I feel like our love is dying a slow, painful death. Like I said I'm 0 for 2. I guess there's still time for me to go to school and study for a great career, after the kids are older, or at least once Ira is in school.

Forgot to mention all my brothers are older than I am (other mentioned their siblings' ages).

God bless, Johanna

[Lovebug]

This is such a wonderful idea! I am suppose to be doing homework right now. This is much more fun. lol

1.Birthday: 7/12/80
2.Siblings: none living. My mom had 2 M/C after me. 1 single, 1 Twins
3.Where did you grow up? Cumberland and Lexington KY
4.Schooling: College grad, and back in college again
5.What do you do for work? student, wife and super mommy :D
6.How long have you been with your partner? Together since 8/2/98, married on 11/2/01
7.Where did you meet? Gas station parking lot. He had a hot car. lol
8.What is your favourite food? Pizza and Chocolate
9.What is your favourite place you have visted? I have traveled a lot, but my favorite was Myrtle Beach cause that is the first big vacation that DH and I took. It was very Romantic. :wink:
10.Tell us about your personality Quirky, sweet, loyal, passionate and occasionaly moody.
11.What kind of dreams do you have for yourself? I would love to finish nursing school and provide a happy home for DH and Emily.
12.Happiest moment in your life? The day we found out Emily was coming, and the day she arrived
13.Saddest moment in your life? Watching my FIL take his last breath and seeing MIL react to it. They were a couple to be envied. Also, seeing my Dad at his father's funeral. He had a breakdown.

After reading everyones story, I have to say that we are a bunch of AWESOME LADIES!! Ok, back to my homework. Take care you fabulous chickies!!! GOD BLESS!

[nopey]

Mara - great idea! Love reading everyone's info!!!!!

1.Birthday: 6/11/68 - I'm an oldie in this group!!!!
2.Siblings: one younger sister (who has 5 kids - no fert issues for her!!)
3.Where did you grow up? Northwest suburbs of Chicago
4.Schooling: College grad & 3 classes away from finishing my MBA (which I won't be doing for a variety of reasons),
5.What do you do for work? REALTOR, Business owner, Mom & Personal assistant to my DH
6.How long have you been with your partner? Together since 2/15/96, married on 12/8/03
7.Where did you meet? My best friend (at the time) was dating DH's brother and that's when I met his family. We started dating 6 years later (LONG STORY)
8.What is your favourite food? strawberries and blueberries
9.What is your favourite place you have visted? The ski slopes of Colorado or Utah or Montana or California, etc.... Any place that I can ski is my favorite. We usually do winter vacations so we can ski. Luckily my dh likes to ski too!!!!!!
10.Tell us about your personality Very shy at first, then a jabberjaw when you get me started! Very loyal, hurt easily, sensitive, very protective and caring.
11.What kind of dreams do you have for yourself? Quit working and move out west to ski as often as humanly possible.
12.Happiest moment in your life? Marrying DH, Audrey being born and finding out I was pg with #2
13.Saddest moment in your life? Losing my best friend Max (the dalmatian) to bone cancer and something that I don't want to talk about.

[mara232]

I'll pm it to you.

Me too...:D

Red - what is the story with your adopted sister...you dont have to shae if it is too personal.

[mara232]

8.What is your favourite food? Cuban Food!!

Really!?!? I have been to Cuba and thought the food was bland. :?

[Terra]

Here comes a young one :D

1.Birthday: 4/29/83
2.Siblings: younger brother Daniel (22), baby sister Sidney (6) and 2 new step sisters ages 2 and 3.
3.Where did you grow up? Muncie, Indiana
4.Schooling: Equivalence of an associates degree in Sociology & Criminal Justice--just didn't apply for one
5.What do you do for work? SAHM and work part time at a daycare
6.How long have you been with your partner? Together since 12/11/97, married on 8/3/02. We dated for 5 years before we married--was too young before that LOL Married at 19 :)
7.Where did you meet? High school band class! :D He was a drummer and I played alto sax.
8.What is your favourite food? Pizza and tacos
9.What is your favourite place you have visted? Grand Canyon--I LOVE Arizona
10.Tell us about your personality: A midget with an attitude! LOL Very opinionated...maybe quiet at 1st, but not after I get to know you
11.What kind of dreams do you have for yourself? I just want to be happily married forever and raise a big, happy family.
12.Happiest moment in your life? Giving birth to Piper....and wedding day comes in a close 2nd
13.Saddest moment in your life? My best male friend died of skin cancer when I was a freshman in high school. And I lost several other friends to either cancer or car wrecks in those 4 years of high school as well. It was a time of great fun and sorrow all at the same time. High school was supposed to be happy and carefree...but not where we were.

[texasred1]

I'll pm it to you.

Me too...:D

Red - what is the story with your adopted sister...you dont have to shae if it is too personal.

Oh, I don't mind sharing. Sad to say I consider it so old news, like it didn't even happen to me. WARNING this is such a long story. Please skip over if it's too much.

I was an oops baby, hence the reason my parents got married. (They are still married today 37.5 years later :D :D :D ) When I was around 5 I remember the talk about having a sibling. My parents (I think mainly my mom) didn't want another baby, but did want another child, preferably school age. That's how I remember the story. The process was long, I can remember a social worker coming to our house for visits while they looked for (me) a little sister. At one point there were no "little sisters" how about a little brother? No way! I was a very big part of the process, or so I thought.

The summer before my third grade year They found Cinda, she was 6 years old. She had already been through 5 different foster homes. She had been pulled from the biological mother, because the mother couldn't care for her and her 2 siblings. I think there was also major alcohol abuse as well, from the stories Cinda would tell. She had been back and forth between foster family to the "real" mom for her entire life. When she was 3 a foster mom stuck her in a tub of scalding hot water up to her ankles and burned all the skin off her feet and ankles. She spent (probably) the next year in the Shrine Burn Center. She had skin graphs from the back of her thighs to replace the skin.

We had about 3 visits with Cinda before she actually came to live with us. Then my parents adopted her. Back in the 70's when you were adopted it was a shut case, your records sealed. It was very trying for my parents and my sister. There had been so many trust issues with her, she (obviously) was terified of a bath, she lied horribly about anything and everything, no one had ever enrolled her in public school, so she started a year behind and also was already developmentally behind as well. Those were just a few of the problems.

As much as I wanted so bad to have a little sister and the relationship that went along with it, it never happened, and there is only a 2 year age difference. When I was a senior in high school and she was going to start her freshman year, my parents moved to a little small town. I didn't go, it was my senior year. My sister pulled some incredible "stunts" when they moved there. It was a little town, she started telling people lies, it got back to my parents :roll: Not your typical teenage crap. They all wound up in therapy. My mom blamed herself because for all the love she tried to give her, my sister was "damaged" (I know that sounds harsh, but can't explain any other way?) She did some really stupid stuff. And she had already had 1 abortion.

My sister joined the army reserve the summer between her jr. & sr. year in high school. Her sr. year I got married that Dec. She quit high school and moved away. Desert Storm happened she served (stateside) then decided she didn't want to do that anymore and just left the army (a -wall?) It was during this time I really began to lose contact with her. Maybe I'd hear from her 2-3 times a year. Then when she was 21 she basically showed up on my doorstep 5 months pregnant :shock: . She had already decided to go through an open adoption. That was the best thing that could've happened. We still remained in close contact.

Back when she had been in therapy the therapist hinted to my parents there may be a multiple person disorder. Well about a year or so after the birth of her child I truly believe I witnessed her multiple personality. Yep, just call her Sybil. It was freaking bizarre! I can't explain it. Freaked me out. Our contact with one another basically started to decline.

I hadn't seen her in about a year or so. I worked in the cosmetics dept. at Macy's and she just showed up one day - 6 months pregnant. :roll: (btw: when she delivered #1 I found out that was the 3rd time she had been pregnant, 1st 2 she had abortions, dr. told her if she had any more abortions, she'd never carry a baby to term.) Then I didn't see her for about 6 months. Ran into her at a bar, she was working there and she told me baby was fine, etc.

Here is the last time I ever heard anything about her: About 4 months after I had seen her at the bar, my mom calls and tells me the police had called their house looking for my sister. (My parents at this point have no relationship with her what so ever) They say no, but want to know why. Apparantly my sister's truck was found on the side of the interstate, abandoned, purse, baby stuff, clothes, etc. But she or baby were no where to be found. They traced my sister to my parents via the loan on the truck, she listed my parents as next of kin. I did some investigating, fearing what had happened to this baby. She decided this baby was cramping her style and there was some guy who moved off to Arizona, she wanted to be with him, so she called the couple who adopted her first baby and basically said, "Do you want the other one?" They were thrilled. She gave them the baby, took off to Arizona, her truck broke down, she hitched a ride the rest of the way and was sitting poolside sipping a margarita last we spoke. That was Sept. 1997.

[MommyX3]

What Fun!

1.Birthday: 8-18-74
2.Siblings: 1 Brother (my mom had 4 miscarrages before me one was another boy)
3.Where did you grow up? Kenosha WI
4.Schooling: Ihave a diploma as a Medical Assistant
5.What do you do for work? House Wife, At Home Mom... And me and DH run a home base business
6.How long have you been with your partner? meet in 94 married in 97
7.Where did you meet? A Water Park (I was a nanny and he thought the kids were mine ha ha)
8.What is your favourite food? Most anything.... hmm explains the wt.
9.What is your favourite place you have visted? Hawaii
10.Tell us about your personality - Laid back, sarcasitic
11.What kind of dreams do you have for yourself? To be the best wife and mom I can... And I love to lose @100lbs. so I can grow old
12.Happiest moment in your life? All the postive pregnacy tests!
13.Saddest moment in your life? Having a c-setion with #3. Realizeing we all get old and die...

[ahacker]

Johanna: Where did your parents get your name? My sis is named after the Bob Dylan song "Visions of Johanna". I think that is so cool.

[medic_632]

1.Birthday: 9-18-81
2.Siblings: 20 including fosters...5 sisters and 2 brothers (biological)
3.Where did you grow up? Eastern Shore of Virginia
4.Schooling: Degree in Electronics Enigineering/COmputer Specialities and and currenlty in Emergency Services Managemnt and in school for HAZ-MAT Technician and also Nationally Certified as a Paramedic and Firefighter...enrolling to bridge Pramedic to RN
5.What do you do for work? Paramedic/Firefighter
6.How long have you been with your partner? 3 years this year
7.Where did you meet? at work )he was a security officer and i was a firefighter)
8.What is your favourite food? watermelon
9.What is your favourite place you have visted? Mountains anywhere
10.Tell us about your personality - i am retarded (LOL joking) i am funny and sometimes wound too tight, but i function
11.What kind of dreams do you have for yourself? give my kids everything their dreams want them to have....
12.Happiest moment in your life? my childrenand wonderful DH being forever
13.Saddest moment in your life? losing my parents

[want2bemama]

1.Birthday: December 14th, every year!! :wink:
2.Siblings: One big bro(33 yrs old)
3.Where did you grow up? Chennai, India
4.Schooling: Private Dental school in India
5.What do you do for work? Worked as a dentist for 4 yrs @ a pvt dental office in India, right now a SAHM.
6.How long have you been with your partner? Almost 3yrs.
7.Where did you meet? Internet matrimonial website(funny thing is, after he contacted me, we realised his aunt was my neighbour!)
8.What is your favourite food? North Indian, Indo-chinese & Mediterrenean...of course, all time favs r Pizza & Icecream!!
9.What is your favourite place you have visted? Indonesia, Kerala(India), The Taj Mahal,Riverwalk(San Antonio)
10.Tell us about your personality Very Loyal, Caring,Sometimes Reserved & sometimes Outgoing(depends on who I am with),Ambitious , Stubborn when I really believe in something or someone.
11.What kind of dreams do you have for yourself? Career wise, its to do DDS here(My Indian degree is not valid ), start working and be financially independent.
Family wise, Have a long ,happy married life & be the best mommy to my baby.
12.Happiest moment in your life? When i found out I was pregnant. When I felt my baby move for the first time,When I saw him smile for the first time.
13.Saddest moment in your life? When my grandma passed away suddenly.When Dh & I argued during our ttc struggle.

[joluke4]

terra - there is something about those drummers isn't there? My biggest crush in the marching band was my brother's best friend, who played the drums. My biggest crush in high school was my science/band teacher while I attended a Christian school. He was so hot and the sweetest guy you'd ever meet. Way too old, but you know how teenage girls are, lol.

texasred - that is sad that no matter how much love you all tried to give her it was rejected. I'm glad those babies ended up in a good home! I was just watching CNN last night about the woman that had IVF to get pregnant, had twins, gave them up for adoption and then took them when they were nearly 1. I guess she's in jail and the kids are back to their adoptive parents, but it was horrible.

ahacker - well, my brothers names are actually James, Jonathan, and Jesse, so they were all biblical names. The only biblical female name that had a J (I was #4, so it was a given by then) was Joanna. Mom didn't like the sound of that and someone suggested putting the H in there and she adored it. I like it too because it's so different, yet not weird. I was the only Johanna in any class I ever had, whereas Jessicas, Heathers, and Megans where plentious. I kind of picked my girls names the same way. Ira is named after my great-grandmother on my mom's mother's side and Ava is somewhat named after my great-grandmother on my mom's father's side. Her name was Evalou. I was going to go with that, but figured it would be mispronounced with a long E sound, which sounds too much like evil. My mom and I were brain-storming on our options and came up with Ava, which was close to Eva (what they actually called her) and then the middle name was debated. Since she was due in December (the Christmas season) we chose Noelle. I'm really glad I like her middle name so much because Ira won't call her Ava, she has to say Ava Noelle, lol.

want2bemama - Dhruv is SO adorable! I love that pic with your ticker! I didn't know you'd been a dentist. What do you have to do to be able to practice in America?

Well, I have my 6 week check-up in a bit, better run.

God bless, Johanna

[tracyrhymer1979]

Arti, India is one of my top three places I have to visit. I have been fascinated by the Indian culture for as long as I can remember. One of my favorite authors is Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni. Thats amazing that DH's aunt was your neighbor.

[MonicaPC]

1.Birthday: 12*13*83
2.Siblings: justin13, megan 7
3.Where did you grow up? bronx ny
4.Schooling: h.s...now going 4 my rn
5.What do you do for work? was a store manager but now FT school
6.How long have you been with your partner? 5 years
7.Where did you meet? through my cousin at his house
8.What is your favorite food? too many
9.What is your favorite place you have visited? PR
10.Tell us about your personality - i get called a ***** alot if that helps.....
11.What kind of dreams do you have for yourself? health for all i love
12.Happiest moment in your life? when i had my ju ju bee...
13.Saddest moment in your life? when i lost my grandpa.

[lisamarie]

10.Tell us about your personality - i get called a [fluffy puppy] alot if that helps.....

LMAO! That is funny!

[want2bemama]

Johanna...I have to do 2 yrs of study here in the US to qualify working as a dentist. I will be applying this yr and hopefully start school 2008 May!

Tracy...You know..Dh's aunt actually told Dh 2 yrs before he contacted me that there was a nice sweet girl (me!) next door and if he wanted, she would introduce him to me!She also had my picture and asked him if he wanted to see it before meeting me...and Dh was so focussed on finishing his masters that he said he wasnt interested in seeing or meeting any girl!!
And 2 yrs later..he goes to the same website my profile was listed and of all the profiles, he liked mine and contacted me without knowing I was the same girl!!!And we clicked right away!! Thats wat i call Destiny!!!!!!
..India is a lovely place(of course, I am biased!) :) It has a lot of culture & color and even if it looks chaotic from outside, there is a kind of energy among the people which is unbeatable.U should definitely visit the place.


I love this thread , I feel I know u women so well!!

[tracyrhymer1979]

Arti, I am dying to see all the rich color and lifestyles of the people in India. When we go, you will have to give me some good places to see and things to do....

[elsie]

"Nectar in a Sieve" by Karmala Markandaya is one of my fave, changed-my-life kind of books .... and Indian food is my love ...

[ceskow]

Terra ~ That's funny...I met my husband in the band at school...He was a drummer and I was a member of the color guard and eventually had to learn an instrument (concert bass) so that I could take the band class my senior year.

[Asi]

prinny, I moved to the States because of DH. He was in the Marines and guarding the Empassy in Vienna. He wanted to go back to America and I went with him out of love and the urge for adventure. I have learned a lot from being away, but the main lesson was that the grass is never greener on the other side. Its just a different type of green.

[Asi]

nopey, I love skiing too. I only really know the Alps and New England skiing. Off course the Alps are a million times better and New England, but I heard Colorado should be even better. I hope I will make it ther one day.

texasred1, what a storry. Thanks for sharing.

[want2bemama]

Arti, I am dying to see all the rich color and lifestyles of the people in India. When we go, you will have to give me some good places to see and things to do....

definitely!!!!

[texasred1]

texasred1, what a storry. Thanks for sharing.

I re-read what I posted. You know I guess it's because I now have a child of my own and I see things in a much different light, but to read about what actually happened to my sister prior to my parents adopting her, just made me sad, made me cry. I've known this story for 30 years, told it countless times, however I don't think I've thought about it or told it since being a mom - wow.

[lisamarie]

Aww Red....its so true though how we change when we become moms. Our outlook on things are so much more meaninful.
It still amazes how its changed me somuch.

[prinny]

Asi - I moved for love too. I was in the middle of moving to London when we met... here I am in LA! heh And you're right about the grass... ever been to Amsterdam? :wink:

Red - Hell of a story.

Joluke - bless ya. heh I ilke the story of Hubbalicious and I meeting too. :lol:

Prinn xxxx

[proud2Bamommy]

Red... that is quite a story. It's so sad! I'm sorry. I hope for your sister all the best. I hope she will find you again someday and that she's all better. That story is so sad!!!!

[ANNIEW]

Red.........fascinating story. Hope she gets the help she needs...............

[kelli3384]

"Nectar in a Sieve" by Karmala Markandaya is one of my fave, changed-my-life kind of books .... and Indian food is my love ...

I love that book!

[dasmith1128]

Okay well I am not here a ton but probably more now.

1.Birthday: 7/2/1981

2.Siblings: 2 younger brothers

3.Where did you grow up? Missouri till 5, then Phoenix,AZ

4.Schooling: Have 2yrs left for teaching degree, which I will do when youngest child begins school

5.What do you do for work? I work a few hours from home but I am a sahm

6.How long have you been with your partner? almost 9 years, married almost 4

7.Where did you meet? Through a mutual friend, we went to a bar and they let me in because we said I was 18.

8.What is your favourite food?

9.What is your favourite place you have visted? I love snow skiing, but Bahamas were awesome

10.Tell us about your personality: Quiet if you dont know me, loud if you do. Difficult to live with but loving and honest

11.What kind of dreams do you have for yourself? I am living mine already

12.Happiest moment in your life? My wedding, birth of both of my children, thought of having more children

13.Saddest moment in your life? Losing a close friend last year and watching his wife, one of my best friends having to live through it and be okay for her daughter. Losing my grandpa.

[Asi]

Red, it is sad how much early childhood can influence someones life at a time where the person has zero control or understanding of what is happening. I often think about the things I am doing and how it will impact my son. I am scared to go back to work and leave him at day care and how that could impact his life, but than I think that I don't have a choice and all I can do is try to be the best mom possible when I am with him and maybe the time we have together will be even more special, because it is not 24/7. I am sure your working moms can relate.

[texasred1]

Thank you for all who have chimed in on the story of my sister. Yes it is a sad story and although I look back and see it as very sad, I see the tragedy of what happened to HER age 0-6 as what makes me sad today telling the story. Like I said there was never that "bond" between us as siblings have, and I wanted it so bad, just never happened. Eventually I saw her as just someone who lived in our house, kwim?

Unfortunately she is so "lost" I don't even know if she is alive or dead, I know NOTHING about her life, she doesn't contact my parents either. She made a random 2am phone call to them about 7 years or so ago where she basically just called to tell my mom that every problem in her life was my mom's fault :cry: You have to realize how bizarre this behavior was, because my sister is soooo NOT confrontational. She would NEVER be the one to start something like that or to just call, especially at 2am. Yet another reason why I think she suffers from multiple personality disorder. I wish her well and hope that she has found happiness, but I doubt she'll find her way back into my life now. It has been far to many years this time.

Asi - Please don't think by putting your son in daycare when you return to work that he will wind up like my sister. Her case is EXTREME. And because it happened over 30 years ago, we will never know what happened in all those foster homes and what not. Plus then we didn't know what we now know about early childhood development and such.

[tracyrhymer1979]

michelle, i think you are an amazing person, that throughout all the emotional turmoil your sister put you and your parents through, for you to actually feel empathy for what she survived during her early years before your family is amazing. Its things like this that lead me to beleive that mental illness is not only genetic but environmental. Nature vs. nurture argument, it cannot be one or the other, but both simultaneusly.

what i try to teach my new adoptive/foster parents is to prepare the mom's for being the center of all the anger and frustrations. Sounds like what your sister did. Kids in foster care tend to focus on the foster/adoptive mom as their punching bag. Birth Moms are supposed to be the one's who protect children, and when they dont, that anger is taken out on any potential mom for years to come. sad, but unfortunately true.

[texasred1]

Tracy - that is so true about what you said how adoptive kids lash out on th eadoptive mothers. I never thought of it that way, but how true. Classic example was my sister. She had a much better relationship with my dad, I always felt so sorry for my mom. The whole experience gave me a new perspective on adoption (as did my parents). But now days (I guess you can confirm this) we tend to know more about a child's past than we did 30 years ago. We also know more about what happens when the birth mom does drugs & alcohol while pregnant. I have to agree with you on the mental disorder and how our society can influence it, it is not just genetics. My sister went through hell during the first 6 years of her life, but once she came to live with us she was showered with love and nothing helped.

[tracyrhymer1979]

we do tend to know more, but it depends on the state or county DHS office. I work in MS, and when I work with MS DHS, they hardly give any information about children they place with us. For example, this one family adopted an 8 year old boy, and were told that there was a history of mental illness in the family....well, five years later, turns out he was severely sexually abused, which made him a sexual offender, preying on his younger cousins who were placed in the home as foster children. He molested the 8 year old girl, 4 year old boy and 2 year old girl for months before anyone found out.
BUT, with my children, from Oregon, I got everything they had in their file about my children's birth family. Also, we talk to the kids paternal aunt and uncle often. Adoption tends to be much more open now a days, which allows for better bonding with both the adoptive family and the birth family. Adopted children sometimes feel torn between their birth family and their adoptive family, and are most the times incapable of understanding that you can love more than one family at a time, so they feel that they have to chose, and if they chose their adoptive parents, then they are being unloyal to their birth family, and if they chose their birth family, they might be moved to another home, AGAIN. Thats why we try to teach adoptive families the importance of allowing the children to talk about their birth families, and maintain contact in some fashion, relatives, siblings, or even birth parents! Letters, cards, pictures, phone calls, and sometimes even face to face visits (if possible).
So alot of changes have happened. It wasn't until theearly 1960's that people became aware of child abuse, by the article written by Dr. H. Kempe in the American Medical Association about the battered child syndrome. 1962-2007, child abuse is still relatively new in our society.

[tracyrhymer1979]

oh yeah and alot of times adoptive families make the mistake of thinking they can "fix" a child from the child welfare system with love and care. But, these children aren't broken. They don't need to be fixed. All behavior is learned, and if bad behavior can be learned, than good behavior can be retaught. I have so many foster families come to me a month or two after a child is placed in their home, and say, "i must be a failure as a foster parent, because i have not fixed my child yet". But its not about fixing, its about reteaching. It took so many years for that child to learn that behavior, its going to take a lot of time to relearn better choices.
another mistake parents make with foster/adoptive children is feeling sorry for them when they are first placed and allowing the child to get away with certian behaviors that they shouldnt be getting away with. BAD IDEA!! LOL....These kids are so manipulative and "street smart". Start of by being tough and then after they get to know the rules, lighten up a bit. We had trouble with people thinking we were too tough on our kids when we got them, and people wanted us to feel sorry for them and be all pushover like. No way, I am doing a disservice to my child by doing that.

Ok, off my soap box. Gotta save my energy for class tonight!

[elsie]

Red == I agree with what TracyR said ... that for you to view your sis's life through a lens of empathy, really speaks to a level of selflessness on your part. Every situation is different but chances seem to be better than not that the adoptive mom will take the brunt of prior abuse ... I have a friend with 3 adopted kids and the one who was youngest (pre-school) age at adoption seems to be toughest in this respect. I really feel for your parents.

Asi == Red is right, her sis's situation and your dilemma about daycare aren't even in the same realm. I know how torn you must feel but believe me, there are benefits to both parent and child either way -- working or sahm (and I say that as one who was a sahm for 8 years). Just look at what a wonderful, caring, and knowledgable person Terra is, and remember that she works in a day care center!!!

Delia == just want to say that I love your dream ... that you're living it. Rock on momma!!!!

[Leslie]

Michelle I'm sorry to hear about your sister. I can totally relate.

Just wanted to jump in real quick about adopted children and nature vs nurture. All my siblings are adopted, but my soon to be 15 year old sister has been a real challenge for our family. My parents got her in foster care when she was 27 hours old. After being tied up in the system for close to three years, they adopted her when she was almost three. She had been in my parents care since they got her at 27 hours old, so there was no in and out of foster homes or being at home with her birth mother. She was never treated any different than any of us were. She is now out of the home and waiting to be moved to a facility in GA to try to help her learn to deal with her problems (this was court order because of some trouble she got into). If you go back and read documents her actions are EXACTLY like her birth mothers (who as I said she never knew). Her main goal in life is to find her birth mother (who is a worthless druggie). She blames my mom for everything. It breaks my heart to see my mom go through this with her, but mom won't give up on her. I completely expect that if she ever makes it back home before she turns 18 that once she does turn 18 she will be gone from our lives. Guess what I'm trying to say is that with her the problems have to be genetic, and it's a shame that people like her birth mother are allowed to do to her children what she has done to hers.

I guess I should mention that her birth mother has had either 8 or 9 kids and she has custody of NONE of them. One child died and the other have been adopted. My parents alone have adopted three of them. It's just a sad situation.

The good news is that out of the eight kids my parents have adopted, she is the only one who has turned out with all these problems. Her brother appears to have similar problems, but so far my parents have been able to handle them. Their yougest sister is as sweet as can be. The thing we can figure out that made a difference is that all three kids have different bio fathers. The two that have so many problems have bio fathers who also have problems, so they have bio mother and father with problems. The youngest ones bio father appears to not have all the problems. We assume that's why she has a different personality.

[tracyrhymer1979]

did your 15 year old sister's birth mom drink or do drugs while she was pregnant with her?

[Leslie]

She sure did (at least drink). My sister is fetal alcohol effect (not syndrome).

[tracyrhymer1979]

she more than likely has FASD, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder...one area of the spectrum, which is a huge area, if behavioral problems. Alcohol affects the brain during development of a fetus, which brings behavioral problems later in life, such as ADHD, ODD (oppositional defiance disorder). Such a shame that this is so preventable by not drinking during pregnancy. Some areas of FASD don't show up until ages 5 and above. Your parents are wonderful people to have adopted so many children!

[Leslie]

Her problems started early. I think it certainly has to do with the alcohol, but I think she has psycological problems too. She can be the sweetest person one minute and the next be going off like a mad person. The two combined cause real issues with even being able to get her treatment. The people who treat psychological problems say it's behavioral. The people who treat behavioral problems say it's psychological. Unfortunately no one in WV will even take her into a program, so she is going to be nine hours away from us. It will be very hard for my parents to visit, because they have to think of the other kids. It's just a sad, sad situation.

I've had to remove myself from the situation. She and I were very close even though there is a big age difference. My mom was in a bad car accident when Ash was very young. I had to move back home for a time period to help take care of Ash while mom was in the hospital and recooperating at home. In some ways we shared more of a mother child bond. Last time I saw her was in court back before Christmas. She cussed my mom and told us we were selfish because we wanted them to try to find a placement for her closer to home. You see she was saying she wanted to be far away. We believe it's because if she's far away there will be no family counseling, and that means she doesn't have to deal with those issues. Anyway after seeing her cuss my mom and act like she did, I've pretty much said I'm done. I love her and she will always be my sister, but I am not going to bust my butt to run and visit her all the time or run to court to be support for her. That's the way she wants it, so maybe she needs to have an eye opener as to what it means to not have family support.

We just wanted better for her in life than what her mother has/is. This is a child that has been in the gifted program at school, because she is so smart. She is going to throw it all away. :cry:

[elsie]

Awww Leslie == that's so sad. HUGS....for you and your folks. My bf took guardianship of her sis when she was a teen (bf's mom died when she was 19 and her sis was 11) and it didn't work out. The good news is that her sis (after opting to be homeless and worse) eventually pulled herself together, *didn't* ever get pg (thank goodness), got her g.e.d. (she's also extremely bright), and is now a gainfully employed 24 year old. But they did finally have to wash their hands of the situation ... for their own sanity. Actually it wasn't that hard since my bf (who is a social worker btw and accessed every service under the sun for her sis) was physically attacked by her sis. Anyway, I hope your parents can achieve some peace of mind with their decision -- there are professionals who know how to guide teens like your sis thru what is basically an impossible phase.

[Waitingfor1]

1.Birthday: 4/5/1980

2.Siblings: 1 brother (32) & 1 sister (31)

3.Where did you grow up? Born in Houston, TX, moved to Mexico when I was about 5 months old and then moved back to Houston (Galena Park) when I was 7 years old.

4.Schooling: Associates of Applied Science in Business Office Technology (fancy name for a secretary!)

5.What do you do for work? Secretary/Translator for a school district.

6.How long have you been with your partner? Met 12/25/96, started dating 5/97 and got married 12/13/03.

7.Where did you meet? At a dance in Mexico…….then we found out our families had known each other for years and that we lived just a couple of streets away from each other, here in Houston.

8.What is your favorite food? Italian, Mexican, and I love cheese cake!

9.What is your favorite place you have visited? I have not traveled anywhere outside of Texas, except Mexico :( But I will say I love San Antonio (Riverwalk)!

10.Tell us about your personality- I am very quiet, I keep to myself a lot, but once I get to know you I can be very talkative and silly…..I love to laugh! I am someone you can trust and when a friend needs me I am always there. I am also a big procrastinator.

11.What kind of dreams do you have for yourself? Be the best mom to Esteban, have 1 or 2 more babies and give them all my love. I want them to grow up seeing me as a friend as well and to trust me with any problems they have, which is something I don’t do with my own mother.

12.Happiest moment in your life? Getting married, finding out I was pregnant, and seeing Esteban for the first time.

13.Saddest moment in your life? The day my grandmother died, she had lived with us since I was born. Also, when my uncle passed away suddenly and then seeing my husband grieve for his father’s death and how much it hurt him to know that our kids would not have a grandfather to grow up with.

[joluke4]

TracyR - This may seem way out in left field, but what makes an abused person become an abuser?

Thanks, Johanna

[ANNIEW]

it is amazing to me that so many of our families have taken in family members to raise.................i never expected to hear so many stories...................

[nick's_mom]

This is a great idea!!!

1.Birthday: November 22, 1971

2.Siblings: One younger brother (32 yrs old)

3.Where did you grow up? Kentucky

4.Schooling: I need 12 more credit hours from the University of Kentucky to have a BS in Psychology.

5.What do you do for work? I am a compouding pharmacy technician. I work with raw chemicals to "make" medications such as bioidentical hormones, medications for children & animals that need special dosing or are not commerically available, etc...

6.How long have you been with your partner? Started dating in 1998 & married in 1999.

7.Where did you meet? We both worked at the same pharmacy & he "stalked" me for about 7 months before I finally decided to go on 1 date with him! :lol:

8.What is your favourite food? Italian!

9.What is your favourite place you have visted? I have never been off the continent so Florida or Niagara Falls, Canada.

10.Tell us about your personality: I can be quiet at first but I like to talk a lot. I've been told that I am brutally honest and "spunky".

11.What kind of dreams do you have for yourself? To be a good mother and wife and help my children reach all their goals in life.

12.Happiest moment in your life? The births of all my boys.

13.Saddest moment in your life? The death of grandparents.

[Patty12]

1.Birthday: April 12, 1971

2.Siblings: One younger sister

3.Where did you grow up? Upstate NY

4.Schooling: Masters in Education

5.What do you do for work? I'm a third grade teacher.

6.How long have you been with your partner? We started dating in '98 and got married in 2004.

7.Where did you meet? We had mutual friends. When one of them had a hernia operation we both went to visit him on the same day. Since we were both in the habit of staying for dinner whenever we visited, we had time to get to know each other! We've often thanked our friend for being willing to have surgery just to get us together!!

8.What is your favourite food? Good Italian, Good grilled cheese sandwich and fries

9.What is your favourite place you have visted? Australia, Australia, AUSTRALIA!!!

10.Tell us about your personality: I'm pretty outgoing and very optimistic. I am a very loyal friend. I'm secretly scared of large group events (like work parties), and I tend to worry a lot.

11.What kind of dreams do you have for yourself? To be a good person, a great mom, a great wife, and a great teacher... Maybe to write a book someday.

12.Happiest moment in your life? There are so many good ones - right now, getting to know my babies and see my husband as a dad may just take the cake!

13.Saddest moment in your life? When my 2 year-old Godson died (about 10 years ago). It changed my whole sense of security in the world. Now I know that nothing can be taken for granted.