My first tag

Ok, I've been tagged before, but this is the first one I'm actually getting around to doing. Here are 6 random things about me.

1. I didn't like chocolate for 10 years. Yep it's true. I ate it as a young child, then I think it was a big 'ol cheap chocolate Easter bunny that turned me off. My saving grace? A Klondike bar with Jer shortly after we were married. It's been downhill ever since :)

2. I carried the Olympic Torch in the 2002 Olympics. I still remember getting the packet in the mail saying that I had been nominated and to send them my size information for the uniform and whatnot. I couldn't figure out what was going on and then once it all came together I was so excited! A sweet family I babysat for for a long time nominated me because of all my athletics (I think). I also remember driving up Emigration canyon with a small van full of other people who would be participating and it was neat to hear their story, learn why they were there. It was a great time for my family too. My mom and dad and brothers were there as well as my grandparents and an aunt and uncle and their family all from Springville. I carried the torch starting at the zoo and ran about a mile I think.

3. I have a twin sister. She's so great. Her name is Stephanie. We are 11 minutes apart and she is older which is something she reveled in when we were kids. We switched classes once in 3rd grade and got in a little bit of trouble for it. I remember vividly my mom covering up the mole on my forehead with a small bandaid and drawing one on my sister. I think I had glasses then she had to wear too, how did that work out Sis? That's another thing, we call eachother Sis, always have. We went seperate ways and were very competive with one another in high school and attended seperate schools for that reason. Since we both got married though we've been such great friends. She is someone I can always talk with and she always understands me. There are many many times she knows what I'll say or what I'm thinking about before I bring it up.
4. My 3rd baby was born in the water...on purpose. It was an amazing experience. Before any of you freak out, babies born in the water do not take their first breath until they reach air, of which there isn't any in the water. The umbilical cord supplies their oxygen, although she was only under the water for 5-10 seconds once her head was out.
Without re-telling the whole birth story (I'd be happy to if you'd like though and plan to in her birthday post), my water broke at 6am and things progressed VERY quickly. By the time we got to the Birth Center I'd been pushing in the car for 20 minutes and told my midwife as we walked in "tell me the tub is full". Well it wasn't because she didn't expect me to be so far along, but I was. So I climbed in an empty tub (and this is no bath tub, it's a large triangular jetted tub) and we closed the drain and let it fill up while she sprayed my back and belly with the hand shower thing. It finally filled up about 10 minutes before she was born and it was so great. It was warm and took the weight off me and allowed me move around to get comfortable. She was born only 3 hours after the first sign of labor at 9:00am at 9lbs6oz without any tearing at all (which I absolutely attribute to the water) and was handed right to me. We spent the first 30 minutes of her life skin to skin in the warm tub. It was so perfect. No rubbing, cleaning, weighing, measuring, no nothing (not until she was 2 hours old actually). It was amazing.
*I have wonderful pictures in the tub, but I figured I probably shouldn't post them for cyber stalkers to see. If you'd like to see them email me and I'd be happy to show you, assuming I know you :) *

5. I went to the USA Triathlon Championships when I was 17. Most of you have figured out that I like to exercise now and again ;) I began swimming competitively at 12, and picked up triathlon at 15 from my swim coach. I then went on to run track and cross country in high school to support my triathlon habit. I must have raced almost every weekend those first 2 years because at the time there were a lot of pool tri's. Anyway, my second year I qualified to go to nationals. My sweet grandparents generously drove me to Couer d'Alene, Idaho. It was such an amazing time spent with them driving 12 hours each way. They were so excited to watch me race, although very nervous too. My grandma said my grandpa wouldn't sit down and stop fiddling with his hankerchief until I came out of the water from the swim. Anyway, I placed 7th in my age group and qualified for the USA Triathlon World Championship team. I was so excited to get a Team USA uniform. MUCH to my dismay they canceled my age group several weeks later claiming we were too young, or something.
6. I grew up on a bit of a farm but don't really have a desire for animals now. We grew up with ducks, chickens, geese, a turkey, goats, dogs, cats, reptiles, even an ostrich and we were responsible for their care, we being the kids. It taught me a lot of responsibility and I loved going out and talking to and watching the animals. However, now I really don't have a desire for a pet. We do have a beloved iherited goldfish, but I feel like I have my hands full as it is, and worry about the emotional commitment for myself and the kids. Maybe someday.
Oh and I also have a big fear of dogs now. I've been bitten several times now and just freeze in fear if I come within several hundred yards of dogs. While I'm running, I'll stop as soon as I see one if I don't see an obvious leash. If I find they aren't on a leash at all I'll turn around the way I came or move as far off a trail as I can and shake in fear and clench my fists till they pass by me. It's bad, I really need to get over it, I even carry mace. I mean if I had a dog I'd want to be able to run with it off leash, but I can't handle when other people do that around me, how am I supposed to know he's friendly?