First I will start off with mine and Adam's background before we get to the good stuff - our baby girl, Karley!
We met at a friend's party when I was 16 and Adam was 18. Well, we didn't officially meet, but I noticed him. Close enough. He was dating another girl that ironically went to the same school that I did. Now, I'm not a believer in love at first sight, but somehow I knew he was special and I was jealous! I never had such strange feelings before and especially over a guy I didn't even know. Shortly after that he signed up to join the military. Flash forward one year - I was with some of my girlfriends at a local rock band concert that the firehouse held every Friday night. He showed up with one of his friends. We ran into each other and hung out for awhile. He was pretty awesome and both of us were single. We exchanged Myspace information and found each other on there, but beyond that there wasn't any communication. I ended up dating a guy from my high school shortly after our meeting. Flash forward yet another year - high school guy I was dating broke up with me. I was devastated and Adam was there to help me pick up the pieces. We were messaging over Myspace and he noticed that I was very sad. He invited me out to a dinner and a movie as just friends to try to cheer me up. He picked me up in his car and we went to Uno's then went to see this incredibly stupid movie (The Hill's Have Eyes). Now, whether I am in a movie theater or just sitting on the couch relaxing, I have a tendency to lean toward my right. He was sitting on my right. When I leaned, he took that as a cue to put his arm around me and he did. And that is when it all began! Seven months later we were married. I was barely 19 and literally just graduated high school five months prior. He was 21 and incredibly handsome in his dress greens. Best day of my life. I truly believe we were meant to be together. He is my best friend and my soul mate. In less than 2 weeks we will be celebrating our 6 year wedding anniversary.
Our life together hasn't always been rainbows and butterflies. We've had our fair share of trials. He almost deployed to Iraq, but he was injured and subsequently medically discharged from the military. I was beyond elated that he wasn't deployed into a war zone, but because of that plus the downward spiraling economy, he has faced multiple job losses. We also went through multiple unexplained pregnancy losses. Five to be exact. That was never easy. We also had to "grow up" together and made for some not so fun times, but everything we've been through has made us STRONGER and our love so much deeper. I will never regret my decision in marrying my best friend, no matter what, and I truly believe that it is our unrelenting faith in God and making God the center of our marriage and lives that make us so compatible and makes everything work for the better. We are NOTHING without Christ!
SOOOO, now more about our family.
Shortly after our first miscarriage, we brought home little Chip, who was a 7 week old yorkie. We didn't know much about buying dogs at the time and were truly duped. We bought him from a broker after he was born and raised in an Amish puppy mill in Lancaster, PA. They lied about his age and told us he was 9 weeks old. Hindsight is 20/20 and it is apparent that he was not once handled (or at least properly) by humans nor that he was properly weaned from his mother. The poor pup didn't even know how to chew his own food. We had to actually teach him. And he was absolutely petrified of any person. I'm talking beyond normal scared puppy on his first day home. I'm talking truly, honestly, petrified. It was really sad. I will spare you the details. He is now almost 6 years old and is an awesome little dog with a BIG attitude. He truly has a napoleon complex. I love that dog!
Next, there is Smokey. He came to us October 30, 2007, just seven months after Chip came to stay with us. Smokey is a yorkie as well. He was a semi-rescue pup. A friend of mine called me saying that she knew of a yorkie that really needed a home and knew I would be a good fit. She gave me the number to a woman that had him. I called her the next day and the next day after that Smokey was being brought into my home. The poor thing has been transferred from home to home to home to home. He was also a puppy mill dog and it showed. He had such terrible separation anxiety - we couldn't even baby gate him in the bathroom or crate him in our bedroom and go to bed without him get seriously ill. He had lost so much weight from getting sick every time he was separated. It took me a good week or two to figure out what was causing him to be sick. Everyone prior thought it was a potty training issue, but I decided to experiment. I left the house and left both the dogs together by themselves and voila! Problem solved (mostly)! He started beginning to relax and he started gaining weight again. He still has some pretty rough anxiety issues, but nothing like before. We've spent a long time working with him and making him feel comfortable. He is the sweetest dog though. He truly is just this big love bug and the complete opposite of Chip. He is my baby and my little shadow. He follows me everywhere he can! It is such a blessing to have two amazing dogs that have both been through so much!
(Smokey left and Chip right)
Last but not least is our beautiful daughter, Karley. She was born by c-section January 20, 2012 after five pregnancy losses. She is a true miracle baby and our absolute pride and joy! We thank God everyday for such a wonderful blessing that He has added into our lives. "For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him" 1 Samuel 1:27. I will add MUCH more about her in the subsequent posts. I'm mostly starting this blog for her so you will get to hear a lot about her!
