Life Sketch Question #1 - Where were you born?

For this first question, I have relied heavily on a great conversation with my mother. I have heard many of these stories before, but it is so great to discuss childhood with your parents! If you have not done this in a while, I invite you to ask your parents about your childhood. It is a real treat! I hope to attach some photos of my youth to this blog as well.

I was born on February 7th, 1976 in Winston-Salem, NC in the Forsyth Memorial Hospital. I was born early in the morning (I was almost born on the sixth). My parents were very excited as I was the first boy (I had two older sisters). I was very long and skinny at birth.

At the time of my birth, my family lived in a small 2-bedroom apartment. My parents were actually breaking the law by having 3 kids in a two bedroom apartment. Winston-Salem was VERY hot in the summer and we had no AC. We were very poor, but didn't know it!

At birth, I was extremely allergic to cow's milk. My mom told me some great stories of projectile vomiting whenever I would drink cow's milk! So, I drank soy milk, but I had terrible gas and did not smell good (not much changes sometimes!) :)

My dad joined the LDS church when I was a little over 1-year old. This would prove to be a very big blessing in my life. At church, I was "allergic" to church pews. At the very sight of the pews, I would straighten up and scream until I was taken out of the chapel. My parents were in the foyer with me for years when I was little.

Speaking of allergies, in general, I was not a healthy little boy. I was allergic to most things. I couldn't gain weight and I was very skinny, but I did grow long. However, even through the health issues, Mom describes me as a very happy kid. I was very curious and loved to try new things. My parents called me destructo-boy and I would do lots of damage to things! Here are some stories that she told of me as a child:

Once, my parents answered the door and learned from the neighbors that I had literally thrown everything out of my 2nd story bedroom window, including all of the mattresses and linens! The next thing to go was my little sister and she was sitting on the window sill with me when my mom ran up the stairs to get me!

Another time, my parents were letting a friend stay in one of the bedrooms of our house in NC. At every opportunity, I would let myself into the bedroom and trash the place, throwing things everywhere.

When I was about 2, I took my little sister out of the house before church one morning, after we were both dressed in our Sunday best. We played in the street and got tar all over ourselves. I was literally a "tar-heel" that day, although I'm an avid blue-devil today!