We have experienced more life changing events than most people I know. While some relationships would have been broken when faced with these challenges our relationship strengthened.
For those who don't know us well... here is a little trip down memory lane.
Chris and I met working for Yahoo! at the corporate headquarters in Sunnyvale. We both worked in the Customer Care division - me on the "Frontline Phone" team and him reviewing personal ads. When I started with Yahoo!, I also reviewed personal ads so when I moved to the phone team I was the only one with personals experience. Chris and I both ended up attending a weekly bug meeting. We ended up being "friends" on messenger to discuss, you know, bugs. That turned into innocent flirting. He peaked my interest so one night I invited him to come to a club with me and a group of friends. A few nights later he asked me to come over for dinner.
I drove out to his house that night not completely knowing how I felt about him. He made me grilled chicken, steamed broccoli and pasta. He served a white wine that he said he knew nothing about but got from his moms wine collection earlier that day.
When I was leaving he kissed me for the first time. He later told me that he knew at that moment he would marry me.
The next few months flew by and before we knew it we were spending every free moment together. We quickly moved in together and started discussing wedding plans. We toured several facilities but we were not in a huge rush. We were planning Summer 2004 we would be married.
In September we went to Vegas for Chris' birthday. Neither of us had ever been. Little did we know we would be coming home with a little something extra.
In late October, after peeing on 5 sticks, we found out I was pregnant.
We pushed our wedding date up a little bit and were married February 28, 2004.
June 15, 2004 Zachary was born. We had no idea he had Down syndrome and leaned on each other for support. I will never forget standing in the hallway of the NICU feeling Chris' arms around me as we cried. It was the most raw emotion we'd experienced together.
September 19, 2004 we received a call that my dad had committed suicide.
Spring 2005 Chris was called to a meeting about Yahoo!. We thought they were announcing layoffs and with him being the only bread winner we were pretty stressed. Come to find out the division he worked in was being relocated. Lots to think about and decide.
July 1, 2005 Chris reported to work in Hillsboro, OR.
After a weekend of partying with my girlfriends for the 4th of July I met the movers while they packed up our house into a moving truck. I then made the 672 mile drive to our new house in Beaverton, OR.
Never had I been so far away from everything and everyone I knew. We decided to put Zach in to daycare and I went back to work. Across the office from Chris, working at Yahoo! again.
This is us with Jerry Yang and Chris' old supervisor at the Grand Opening of the Hillsboro Yahoo! office:
Fall 2005 Zach was diagnosed with pneumonia and took his first ride in an ambulance when he had to be transferred to the children's hospital. Luckily his hospital stay was short.
January 2006 Zach spent 5 days at the children's hospital in total isolation with RSV.
June 2006 we packed up and moved back to California. We also bought our first home together.
September, 12 2007 Hannah was born.
July 12, 2010 Chris had a stroke.
I think we have had our share of up's and down's and I wouldn't trade our life for anything. I just really hope the next 8 years aren't quite so eventful!
1 comment:
I loved this post. You two really have been through so much, but anyone with eyes can see that it's made you stronger for it. Congratulations!
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