First blog....

Ok....I am not one to blog....nor have I really ever done it. I have terrible grammar skills and a boring life. But one of best friends from Tennessee made one and I loved it so here goes......A little bit about Dana Latham....Well I was born on July 5th, 1984. There are 20 years difference between me and my siblings. So it was almost as if I were an only child growing up. I grew up in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. It is probably the only place I will ever consider home. I miss the mountains and trees....My mother and father were pretty strict growing up. I went to church 3 times a week. I wasn't always the best child.....but all in all I turned out ok. High school was rough, but I am sure it was for most people. But I was really lucky to have the friends that I had and still have! I had a posse of 4 girls.....Heather, Jessica, Shannon, and Teri! We had some really good times and really shared a lifetime of memories! After high school I went to Walters State Community College for a couple of semesters. My parents separated and I was devistated. Everything I ever believed in was crushed! My mother, sister, and I became really close through this time. Which was one good thing that came from it. I was failing all my classes and couldn't concentrate in class so I decided to drop out.....probably the only regret I have! After I dropped out, I was working 40 plus hours a week. So one day my friends decided to take me to the movies because I was so depressed.....It was April 2nd, 2004.....We went to see Walking Tall. I needed to go to the bathroom during the movie. As I am walking back to the theater a cute guy with a dog walks by me. I looked at him and I had no desire to watch the rest of my movie. I wanted to find out who this guy was and what it was about him that drew me to him. Well after the movie we were walking out to the car and he pulls up in his car with a beautiful German Shepherd hanging out the window. We stood there talking for what seemed like hours and I gave him my number......Well we went out on a date 2 days later and 7 days later he proposed to me! I said yes and I moved out of my mom's house and moved in with Shane. We were married on November 20th, 2004. Five years later I still feel the same about him. I know some people judged us because we moved in together, but they also don't know the situation that I was in before we moved in together. I don't wanna cry so I am not going into that! Well in April of 2005, my father decides to return home to my mother. Which has actually turned out pretty good. It took a toll on our family, but I think we are almost back to normal....At least the Barnes family is very good at pretending. We moved to Knoxville and started hanging out with Jym and Rachel. They are great people and we always have fun when we are with them. They always were there for me when times got tough and always offered a couch when I couldn't take it anymore! For which I will always be grateful for! My girls and I didn't really speak for about 2 years. But thanks to Myspace......I got in touch with all them again. Heather had moved to Knoxville during this time. So we started hanging out pretty much everyday. Shannon was still in Sevierville, but we talked on the phone quite frequently. Teri was in Athens, Tn, but we talked on the phone a lot too. I always tell Heather she is my fertility god because not 2 weeks of us hanging out again......I took a home pregnancy test and it came back positive.....That was September 26th, 2007. Shane and I had 2 dogs and always thought that was all we would ever have......God had another plan! Heather went with me to the doctor and yes I was pregnant! My baby girl Makayla Lynne Latham was born on April 4th, 2008 at 1:44 pm. She was born on Shane and my 4 year anniversary. It was amazing. Mom, Dad, Shane, Heather, and Shannon got to be there. I hated my sister couldn't be there, but I understood. Makayla was born 4 weeks early. Her lungs weren't exactly fully developed. Her chest was going up and down sooo fast. It was terrifying! They grabbed her and took her to the NICU where she spent 8 days. Now 14 months later you could never tell that anything was ever wrong with her. Makayla is amazing! I love her soooo much. Well Shane got a job opportunity here in Los Angeles, CA. We have been here for almost 7 months. There have been a few incidences that have made me really miss home. I hate being alone....but I am so shy when it comes to meeting new people that I will probably just talk to my friends back home on the phone and on twitter and facebook. Becky is only girl I hang out with out here. We like to talk Twilight! There isn't a day that goes by that I don't talk to my friends and family back home. Heather and I have to talk everyday. I love talking to her on the phone bc she always makes me feel better! Well ok....I am running out of things to say so I am finished......For those of you who actually read this thanks! Well expect more in the next couple of days!


dana latham