25 Random Things

The "25 Random Things" posts are going around Facebook and I posted this a week or so ago there. I thought I would add it to my blog as well.

1. I am adopted and I do not have a desire to find my birth parents.

2. I became a Christian when I was 11 on September 9, 1981. I remember the date because 9x9=81. I was watching a Billy Graham revival on TV.

3. My sister died on January 28, 1978 when I was almost 8 years old. She was 16 months and in hindsight, I think it was probably RSV. My brother died on February 13, 1997 in a car wreck when he was 18. I hate being the only one left.

4. I married Michael George Gehlbach on December 2, 2000. We got engaged on December 11, 1999. We had our first real date on December 5, 1998. All our big dates are in December, including the birth of our first child!

5. Mike and I tried for 3 years before conceiving Reed with IUI, Clomid and an Ovidryl trigger. We used the same protocol to conceive the twins. I highly recommend Dr. Sam Chantilis and Dr. Karen Lee.

6. I am a mom to Reed Garrett, 25 months, Caroline Rose, 3 months and Culp Connelly, 3 months.

7. I have been a stay at home wife / mom for the last 3 years.

8. I thank God every day for my husband and 3 children.

9. My family lives within 20 miles of me or closer and I hope it stays that way.

10. I wish I could take a family vacation every summer or even a Mike and Tracy only vacation to somewhere tropical. ;)

11. I attended the University of North Texas but never graduated. Somedays I am ashamed of this and somedays I don't care.

12. I have lived in 7 states --- LA, AR, MD, TX, FL, NM, CA. I've lived in TX multiple times.

13. I am so proud of my husband. He has a very strong work ethic and is an extremely hard worker. He is so much smarter than he gives himself credit for. He works so hard to provide for our family and allow me to stay home.

14. I have reconnected with old high school friends, elementary school teachers and old coworkers over Facebook. I love FB!

15. I worked in the Technical Support / Help Desk industry for 16.5 years! WOW... I started as a co-op at IBM when I was only 19 and ended up doing Project Management at Accenture. I never felt completely fulfilled though until I became a Mommy.

16. I joined the Army when I was 23 and planned to be a Linguist and work in Counter-Intelligence. I took the DLAB (Defense Language Aptitude Battery) and qualified for Arabic - the hardest language to qualify for. My "dream" was to eventually work for the CIA as a Political Research Analyst. I ended up not shipping out to Basic because I couldn't get my Top Secret clearance due to having bad credit. If I could pass one thing on to my children, it's that every action you take has consequences and bad actions can stand in the way of something that you really, really want.

17. I'm excited to start volunteering with the Faith 'N Fertility ministry at Fellowship Church.

18. I gained 120 pounds due to having Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. I have lost about 80 of that and am trying to lose the rest. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome contributed to our infertility issues. Do not be afraid to see a Reproductive Endocrinologist if you are having these issues!

19. I have a hard time making new friends because I often feel intimidated by other women. I hate the whole "Mommy Wars" thing.

20. I love having little boys and am really having to adjust to having a girl. This is the complete opposite of how I thought i would be before we had kids!

21. I am a big Texas Longhorn fan even though I didn't go there. Mike went there, my father went there and my mother-in-law and father-in-law went there. I am a Longhorn by proxy. ;)

22. I love to cook and experiment with new recipes and I miss having the time to really do it.

23. I love to go antique shopping.

24. Mike and I collect antique phonographs. I think we have 16 of them now. We also have an antique organ and an antique piano. The piano only cost us $99 and Reed loves to play it!

25. I am grateful for all the blessings in my life. God has blessed me so much.