Things about me on my 40th birthday!

Lots of things about me on my 40th birthday! I tried to do 40, but went a little bit over~ * My big sister had prayed for a baby sister, when she was in 2nd grade. * I was a preemie weighing in at at 4 Lbs. * I had to stay in the hospital for weeks after my birth. * My brother broke my leg getting me out of my crib when I was 9 months old. * I had an open heart catherization in January 1968. * I grew up in Clearfield, PA. * When I was 3, my older brother prayed for a baby brother. * My baby brother was born in September 1970. * My parents said no more prayers for babies. * I remember going to work with my Dad when the baby was born. * The next day I went to my Mom's friend's house instead. * I went to half day kindergarten in the afternoon for half the school year, then morning. * I started taking dance classes when I was 5, oh how I loved to dance. * In first grade I had to get glasses. I had to bring a note home to my parents that I failed the eye test in school, I cried all the way home, I hated that I had failed something. * I had a another catherization done when I was 11, I was in the hospital for a week. * I had to walk to school 1st through 8th grade. * I started taking baton lessons at about at 8. * I was a majorette in 8th through 12th grade. * My Dad died of heart and lung failure when I was 15. * I thought it was cool to get to finally ride a bus in high school, until I got my license then it was way cooler to drive everyday. * McDonald's was my first job. * Graduated high school in 1984 * Moved to Arizona after graduation. * Worked at McDonald's then Jack in the Box * Moved out of my Mother's house and got an apartment on my own when I was 22. * My baby brother died May 30th 1990 * Started to attend this weird church Hosanna Christian Fellowship in September 1990 * Met my future husband November 2000, I didn't have great first thoughts about him, too tall, all arms and legs, and I hated that he worked at Smitty's since that were my brother had worked. * Became very good friends with him anyway. * My sister and Frank another close friend gave me a surprise 25th birthday party, with all my friend's from the weird church LOL, the church wasn't so weird after all! * October 2001, I was having some money problems, Pat lent me some money. * November 9, 1991 Pat first kissed me outside of Frank's house.. * Pat asked me to marry him on January 9, 1992. * We were married on June 20, 1992 at Hosanna Christian Fellowship. * We honeymooned in Sedona. * Our first child, Joseph was born on March 25, 1993. * I stopped working at Jack in the Box when our son was 1, I had several jobs in a few months but then ended up at Drug Emporium for almost a year, before being laid off. * I was out of work for 6 weeks, before I started to work at Macy's customer service. * Then I transferred to accounts payable, and worked a specialty department for setting up computerized invoices. * I found out I was pregnant with our second baby in June 1996. * I left Macy's to start a child care business at home in June 1996 * Sarah was born January 30, 1997. * I had surgery in July 1998, to remove a lemon sized tumor near my adrenal glands. After the surgery pain felt worse than any contraction ever did. * My 32nd birthday was not much fun. * After trying for 2 years to get pregnant again following Sarah's birth, we went to a fertility doctor. He gave me Clomid to try. * I got pregnant! * November 1999, I became the children's director at Hosanna Community Church. * Rachel was born by C-section on February 5, 2000. I nearly died after her birth, it was pretty scary. * My Mom had a stoke in March 2000, followed by a heart attack in July 2000. * She had by-pass surgery in July 2000, she never recovered, she died on August 28. 2000. * Rachel's first year of life seemed to go by with out me noticing it much, oh how I wish I could get that time back. * April 2001, I found out that my heart aneurysm needed to be repaired, it was large now. I freaked out, and felt like a time bomb, because if I didn't have the surgery soon enough, it could have killed me instantly. * July 2001, Pat. My sister and I flew to Houston for my surgery. My in-laws met us there. * After the surgery I was in the hospital for 9 days. Pat and I left the hospital and went directly to the airport, it was a very hard trip home. * The recovery took months, at first I couldn't even sleep in my bed, and slept sleeping in my in-laws borrowed recliner. * My 35th birthday was not much fun. * January 2002, Hosanna closed it doors. * April 2002 we started attending Desert Breeze Community Church. * Spring of 2003 Pat and I started leading a life group. * Every birthday since my 35th we've gone away on vacation, Grand Canyon, Flagstaff, Universal Studios, Disneyland. * This year I want a party at home. * I'm leaving for the day and will be doing some things I've never done, pampering myself, (facial, pedicure, massage) and letting Pat and the kids get the house ready for the party.