Getting to know you, Getting to know all about you!

Casey and I have know each other all our lives. Our parents are close friends, in fact when Casey's mom, Shelley, went back to school when Casey was 3 my mom baby sat him. I was only 2 weeks old at the time. Casey was born one year to the day before my older sister so everyone naturally thought they would make a great couple. We are LDS so Casey served a mission in the Philippians for the standard 2 years. While he was gone Larrie, my older sister, got married, dashing every one's hopes of joining our two families.
I went over to see Casey the day after he got home from his mission. It was October 30th of 1998. I remember walking into his parents home and seeing him sitting on the couch and something about him had changed. I had never been the least bit attracted to him before but before now I had never seen a man look so appealing. I wanted to be with him forever and I needed to make him feel the same. Lucky for me it didn't take much convincing. We got married about 6 months later on his birthday April 24th 1999. I graduated from High School one month later and we found out we were pregnant one month after that. It may sound like I rushed in with out much thought. NOT TRUE.
I wrestled and wrestled with the decision to marrie so young. I prayed every chance I got for weeks. You see, at some point in our dating Casey sat me down and said, "I love you." I was shocked and only said, "Oh ok." Poor guy. I realized at that moment that if I didn't feel that he was the man for me than I was just leading him on and needed to end our relationship. So I began praying and fasting and soul searching. It was one of the hardest times in my life. It had to be right for me to continue. I couldn't marrie him and later decided it was all wrong and then divorce him. I needed to be fully committed or not at all. No half heartedness.
Well it was right. It was the smartest thing I have ever done. After that decision I have never had to look back, I have never had to question. It is right and everything is perfect. Or as perfect as a real relationship can be.
My wedding day is such a blur. I had already made the decision and I was so scared. I just decided to stop thinking and let everyone else take care of me. This was a wise choice. I felt secure knowing that Casey would take care of me for the rest of my life and clear through eternity.
Getting pregnant with Perrin was a little alarming. I was surprised that it was that easy. I kept thinking, "Wow it worked?" This feeling soon gave way to panic. How could I be a mom I was only barely 19 and really immature. Casey was my comfort. He told me Heavenly Father would never send a child to a family if he new that this family couldn't give him the tools needed to return and live with him again. I often reflected on this especially when I could feel the panic begin to rise.
Soon I panic was the least of my concerns. Morning sickness had begun. Man was I sick. I went in for countless IV's and one over night stay. I lost nearly 20lbs in just a few months. I just couldn't keep anything down. In the middle of all this Casey and I moved to Bremerton Washington. Casey was going to school in Seattle. Some how I survived the pregnancy and Perry was born March 27th at 4:58 PM.
The day before was Sunday and Casey and I decided to skip church. I was not feeling well and we wanted to spend time together before the baby was born. That night I could tell Labor had began. It was so exciting. Casey read to me while we lay in bed. He would stop and help me through each contraction. When I was no longer smiling then he decided it was time to go.
We arrive at the hospital already dialated to a three. Barely enough to stay. But stay we did. They gave me something so I could sleep but it just about stopped labor. Any way Perry was born the next day.
I was so tired after he arrived that I went to sleep. I remember the rushed him out because he was so blue and not breathing well. I knew he would be fine and I knew Casey would take care of him. I woke up and Casey was holding him. Casey got to hold him first. I think that is appropriate considering that is his only boy. Soon he handed him to me and I fed him and he loved it. He took to breast feeding really well. We were like a couple of old pros.
Soon after he was born we moved back to the other side of the state to recover form our financial mess up while Casey was attending school. It didn't take long to realize that we couldn't go to school the way we were trying to. We had to come up with a new game plan. Casey is such a good man. He took several odd jobs trying to keep us a float. Next Casey joined the Air Force.