Thursday, September 24, 2009

Melissa's Book

Please, everyone, join me in a moment of silence. My sewing machine is being repaired, but the woman at my quilting store isn't sure if it will make it. I'm already missing her.

What is your full name (maiden also)? Melissa Ann Robinson Stramel

What is your age? 32

Where were you born and raised? Born in Joplin, Missouri but raised all my life in Bogue, Kansas, population 100 until our family of 8 moved out!

When did you meet your husband? We were set up on a blind date by my mother (who used to babysit him) and my aunt (Marie’s mom). They asked me, during Thanksgiving break (I was in college) if I would go to a wedding dance with Marie’s sister. When I went to her house, my aunt said, “The bad news is there’s no dance, the good news is we set you up on a blind date!” I turned around to leave when he got there. We hit it off so well and he was so cute (still is.) I had said at one time that I would never marry a lawyer, ex-frat boy or republican, but I married all three. I don’t want to start a political thing AT ALL but I’m quite the republican myself these days. Isn’t it funny how you change? We were engaged after five months and married less than a year after we met. This December will be 9 years of marriage.

How many children do you have? 3, a son and two daughters. I had such problems with all of them. With Nathan, I was hospitalized at 26 weeks because of preterm labor. They asked me if I was having contractions, and I said no, I just get these horrible pains every few minutes! It seems funny now. I was in the hospital from October 1 until Thanksgiving. It was Wichita, five hours from our home and I was so lonely. I got to go home to bedrest and then we made frequent trips to Hays (one and ½ hours away) until Nathan was born on December 29. A c-section, no less.
Anna’s pregnancy was uneventful until she was born a full month early and flown to Denver because she couldn’t breathe right. Todd got to fly with her, but they made me stay behind and be driven there the next day. A four hour drive! It was a stressful week at the Ronald McDonald house, bless their hearts. She came home on oxygen but is good now.
Emilie’s pregnancy was about like Nathan’s, but my doctor was not concerned about the contractions (started at 16 weeks.) Went to the c-section a couple weeks before she was due and my uterus completely ruptured during the procedure. The doctor said it ripped to shreds. Unfortunately, our hospital is very small and they have no emergency surgeries. God was watching over me and Emilie. People told me later they were praying and didn’t even know anything was wrong. We both nearly died.
All three of my children are healthy and Todd says we are definitely done. I’ve always had a heart for four, but am grateful for those God has given me.

How many out of the house? none How many in the house? All!
How many grandchildren, if you have any? none

Do you do the cooking or does your husband? Oh it’s all me. My husband lived on ramen and mac and cheese before we met. The other day I thought maybe he just wasn’t trying and came home to a house full of smoke. He was trying to brown some ham!

Do you live in the city or in the country (farm)? A little farm outside of town.

If you could live anywhere other than where you live where would it be? Back in my little hometown of Bogue.

Do you dye your hair? Nope, but I used to be blond until I had kids and when I go gray, I’m going back.

What is your favorite past time? Reading, tennis, spending time with friends, sewing, sewing, sewing. Traveling when my husband lets me. Would LOVE to learn to design fabric.

What is your favorite color or color combinations? Pretty much any. I love bright colors, red, pink. Duller colors bore me after a short time, but I always like other people’s finished quilts out of these.

What kind of crafting do you like to do? Um sewing, quilting, painting, decorating (my husband and I designed and built our house ourselves. We started in 2003 and I finished the basement as a Christmas gift for him last year.) Photography, crocheting, I can’t think of any I don’t like. Haven’t tried stained glass. :)

What is a day like for you? I am not a morning person but try to get up at seven so I can make my little guy breakfast before he leaves with Todd for school. Then I get ready and get the girls ready. If it’s Monday or Wednesday, we try to be at preschool by nine. We either run errands or play until eleven which is Dora time. Emilie makes sure to remind me about Dora. Then everyone’s home at noon for lunch. Nathan only goes to half day kindergarten at our local Christian school. Then it’s nap time when I sew. After that play time, or baking time which I love to do. Then supper and evening activities. That’s on days we don’t have dance or gymnastics or Kids Klubhouse at church. Try to get the kids to bed at a decent time so we can do it all again. Oh and I do try to read my Bible when I wake up but usually it gets put off to Dora time. I’m doing an awesome study called Praying the Names of Jesus. You make a quilt block with each chapter!

If you could have something made for you what would it be? A beautiful dress that fits perfectly and make me look curvy in the right places.

What is your favorite season? Why? Spring. I love flowers. I love flower gardening. I love Easter. Plus my birthday is in the spring.

What was the best Christmas gift you have ever received? My sister gave me an awesome furry blanket for Christmas last year. It was exactly what I wanted without even realizing it.

Do you have some story that would make us all laugh? Okay I can’t think of anything about myself, but my brother Wyatt just started college. He happens to attend school in the same town where my other brother Kyle and his wife live. After about a month and a half of school, he showed up at Kyle’s house with five loads of laundry. He did a couple and then left one in the washer and one in the dryer. He told Kyle he needed to fold them and put the other ones in the dryer and fold those as well. He’d be back the next day to pick them up! He actually didn’t come back for several days but they were all folded and ready to go. I bet he’ll be back in a week or two with a few more loads too.

4 comments:

Becky said...

Okay, we have even more detail in similarity. Jeremy and I dated from April til July...got engaged 4th of July weekend...got married in Dec same year. Hannah, my second, the one with all the bedrest, was an emergency c-section b/c she didn't breathe enough times in the time period they watched for twice a week. Then she was in the NICU for a day and a half. I didn't get to see her until the next day, everytime I tried to sit up to go there, I puked...didn't know I was having surgery so I had eaten. They took a polaroid pic for me and I just held it laying down til I could get up and go into see her. Crazy, huh!
Sorry about your sewing machine. I can't let mine out of my sight either. When it attempted to die this summer I bawled. Luckily dad fixed it for me. Turns out there was a spot that was supposed to be oiled that I didn't know existed. After eight years of beautiful full-time almost sewing, it just couldn't go another stitch without sewing, made a horrible clanking noise and quit with the needle down in binding that only needed 12 more inches sewn on. Had to break the needle to get the quilt out and finish the binding by hand.

Linda Stubbs said...

Hey Melissa, wow how fun is this? Thank you for answering the questions. I think it will help all of get to know each other a little better. Love all I read. Wish I could make you a dress. Not sure where to put the curves. hehehe! Can't believe you did your house. I would love to know how to build a house!!!
Blessings, Linda

Patty said...

Melissa, you are so talented. Hope your sewing machine is alright. I have to get mine to the shop for a tune up too. Luckily I have another and my mother let me borrow one of hers.

quilt'n-mama said...

Melissa,
Both of our bio children were pre-termers too. Lenna was born in Wichita and spent 3 weeks in the NICU there! I how I relate to those early contractions and deliveries- Lenna's pregnancy was 5 months of bed rest, Eli's was also pre-term and delivery in my husband's truck trying to get to the hospital- then transferred to another city to NICU. THankfully both are healthy today and God has blessed us with 2 more little ones through adoption, no more bio kiddos though.

Hope your sewing machine gets better soon:)

I have the women of the Bible study and quilt but haven't done it- I have been looking at the Praying the Names of Jesus one or the Psalms one- do you like them? I'd really like to do them!

Blessings,
Gayly