That's so Random

So Lauren tagged me to list 6 random facts about myself. I was tagged for this and did it awhile back, but I thought I would do it again....

1. I have a huge fear of trees. I am mostly afraid of tall pine trees. This phobia was particularly bad because the places we usually went to for vacation when I was little had an abundance of these types of trees - Utah, Pine Top, South Carolina. One time when we went to our family's cabin I would not get out of the car because I was so scared. My Mom had to carry me in. I was about 11 years old at the time! It is a good thing I live in the desert, huh?

By the way, as I have gotten older, the phobia has lessened in it's intensity. In fact, when I ran the marathon in Prescott, I was not afraid at all. And let me tell you, there were many, many tall pine trees on the race trail! I think my physical pain overtook my mental weakness there.

2. Between my two kiddos, I have had two very different pregnancies.

Harrison was diagnosed with gastroschisis while I was 4 months pregnant. Gastroschisis is a congenital birth defect where the intestines protrude through an opening in the abdominal wall. So, needless to say, I was at high risk. My regular OB sent me to a group of perinatologists - high risk OBs. I had to go to the doctors all the time to be monitored and all sorts of other fun stuff. Although the doctors were "cautiously optimistic" that Harrison would be fine, we were told that he would have to have surgery soon after birth, to repair the hole in the abdomen and to put the intestines in the abdominal cavity. Also, we were warned that he would stay in the NICU for up to 6 months. I WAS TERRIFIED! However, after the initial shock, that pregnancy was one of the sweetest times of my life. I really learned to rely on my Savior a whole lot more than I already did. Plus, my faith grew, and I knew Harrison would be fine. And he was. Born five and half weeks early - normal for gastroschisis babies - he was 5 pounds 15 oz and 19 inches long. He had surgery hours after birth and the surgery was a success! In fact, he came home 12 DAYS later. What a miracle.

My pregnancy with Alyssa was way different. Everything was perfectly normal, except for the fact that I was riddled with anxiety that something would go wrong - like with Harrison. One minor thing appeared in our routine ultrasound that made my OB send me to a perinatologist for a more indepth ultrasound. It turns out that she had three cists in or near her brain. The perinatologist said that they weren't a problem and that a lot of us probably have them and don't even know it. So, the rest of the pregnancy was normal, until...my due date came and went! Alyssa was born 5 days late and came ou weighing 9 pounds 2 oz and was 21 1/2 inches long. All I have to say about this is AHHHHHH! But, I really think that bigger babies are very attractive - or maybe that is just my little Lyssa. Plus, it was good she was "sturdy" she had a three year old brother that "loved" her a little to hard sometimes!


3. I am a quarter Japanese. Do I look like it? My Mom is half and her biological mother is full, her biological father was Irish (is that where Lyssa's red, curly hair comes from?). My Mom's favorite thing to say is, "Don't my grandkids look just like me?" Wouldn't it be cool, if we have another child, that he or she could look Japanese? I have a very pretty Japanese girl name all picked out!




4. Like I mentioned before, my Mom is adopted. So is my grandma (Dad's mom) and so are two of Todd's cousins. I really like the idea of adoption and Todd and I are interested in exploring some options down the road. We don't know if it is "ok" for people who can get pregnant to adopt though. However, I think that with all the children out there that need a family, it would be ok. I was sickened when I heard that the man who shot the people at the Omaha mall last week was "no longer in the (foster) system anymore" - meaning that he turned 18 and was out on his own. I can't help but wonder what a stable family could have done for him. It might have spared his victims' lives.

5. I want to go back to school and get my Post-Bac degree as a reading specialist. This way I can teach Special Reading and this job offers flexible hours. I have no idea when this is going to happen though!

6. I don't like eating meat. I am compleatly convinced that NOT eating meat is very heathful. Furthermore, I know that when I eat a diet that is free of meat, I feel way better. No, I am not a vegan or vegetarian. Both Todd and I have been vegetarians before, in fact it was about this time last year that we full-time veggies. Why the change? Many reasons:

1. Laziness. Sometimes it is just easier to make a "traditional" meal than a pure vegetarian one.


2. Dinner parties. I am not the type of person that will make a host change their menu just for me. It is rude!


3. Sometimes meat just tastes good.

I could go on and on, but I don't want to be provocative. Let me just add that scientific evidence has shown that people who don't drink and smoke (think Word of Wisdom here) live 10 years longer than those that do. Furthermore, adding lots of fruits and veggies and limiting a lot of meat intake make those 10 extra years healthier and can even add more years to your life. A lot of the prophets and apostles attribute(d) their longevity to the fact that they don't/didn't eat meat.