Who we are and how we started...

How we started this family? Well, Tony and I have been together since Dec. 5, 1995. We were married on August 13, 2001 and no one thought we would make it this far.

Tony has shocked me in so many ways! He went from being the black sheep and class clown to one of the hardest working and dedicated people that I know. He helped start a company, which he has ownership in, from the ground up, EA Hunter Transportation. Within their first three years of business they went from rock bottom to straight to the top. We cashed in his inheritance and sacrificed his pay for nearly a year and now his company is doing so well. They won the Inc. 500 award for their category and were named as one of Cincinnati’s Fastest 55 companies. They have been featured in several Inc. 500 magazines and another article is due out this month!!!

Me, well I received my degree in June 2005 for Paralegal Technology from the University of Cincinnati. I have over 7 years experience in the legal field specializing in Federal Litigation (qui tam/ Whistleblower) and Foreclosures. Right now, because of my husband's success, I am able to stay home for a few years to watch Alexis finish her senior year and spread her wings; Zachary finish elementary school and this new baby come into this world and capture the milestones. I have had high paying jobs, but being a mother and wife is truly the best job I could ever have. I always imagined myself being career oriented and having it all; career and family. That's harder than you think....to truly be successful in career or life; I think you have to pick one.

So, Tony and I thought long and hard and we decided it would be best for our family for me to stay home for a few more years. I will be helping out with his company soon, but I have the luxury of doing that from home. I truly feel blessed to have all that we have within our family and home. I would pick the traditional lifestyle of home cooked meals and quality family time over a lifestyle of success and material things any day. Tony and I as a couple, well if you are reading this, you probably know us all too well. Have you ever watched The Notebook? If so, that's us. We are both stubborn, driven individuals but have enough love for one another not to step in each other’s way. Our life together has been a rollercoaster but I cherish each and every minute of it. Tony and I went to middle school together for one year and ten years later we met once again at work. He went to Anderson and I went to Glen Este. We both were in co-op classes our senior years to get out of school early. We worked at the same place, Deluxe Telemarketing... YUCK! We couldn’t' stand each other the first day we met (he wouldn't give up his seat to let me sit next to my friend on my first day.. ha ha!). That probably explains the fact that everything I think I hate about him, I actually love about him when he isn't with me. The next day we talked and got along so well. I told him I was going to my sister's to visit family and he volunteered to go. I didn't think he actually would, so I never called him... HA! He told me the next day that he waited for me the entire day! Finally, like the 4th day we talked again it was love at last. We spent every day together after that!! Everything happens for a reason and the past 13 years resulted in who we are today. For the most part, it has been amazing and hard. We have grown up together, literally. He is my best friend. I love him even when I hate him and I love to hear his opinion even when it is not really what I want to hear. Basically, I wouldn’t give him up for the world. We have been through so much together that now it is just time to grow old together. In 30 more years, I can’t imagine it being anyone else in the rocking chair beside me, watching the sunset and living the simple life. My only dream for us is to have the same relationship that my grandpa and grandma have, Roger and Dorothy Arnold. They are the biggest inspiration to me that a husband and wife could ever have. They are the perfect couple. One day, that will be us!

We had little Zachary Brennan Ross on July 9th, 2002. I know, I know... we didn't waste much time, but he has been the best thing that has ever happened to us. It's funny how kids change your life dramatically, but in a very positive way. Zachary is the most amazing person in the world. He has so much energy (I wish I could bottle it up and sell it...we would make a fortune. His energy would put a Phentermine company to shame). He shocks me almost daily with the things that he says. His analytical/logical thinking skills amaze me and scare me all at the same time. Recently the doctor's told us he was gifted, and it isn't too hard to believe. What in the world are we going to do when he figures out he is smarter than the two of us...LOL. He is the most particular person in this world with a touch of his Grandpa Fieler’s OCD (I dont' say he gets it from me because it started with my dad!!). Two days ago he asked me to iron his pants before school because he didn’t like the “bump by the knees that the hanger left”. He refuses to wear anything but collared shirts to school and puts on one squirt of cologne each morning because he likes to “smell handsome”. I hate to admit this, and don’t ever tell my father because I will deny it if you do, but he alternates his cologne! He won’t wear the same thing two days in a row!

Alexis is absolutely fabulous. We have watched her over the past 4 years and she has gone through so many phases, but I think she has finally figured out who she is; which is more than I can say for 95% of the teenagers out there. It is amazing to see her conquer all the obstacles that come her way. She has so much ability and strength; she just doesn't know it yet. Her passion for the arts and different cultures is astounding. I love to listen to her while she analyzes pictures and poems to find her true meaning of them/in them. She can be very real and deep sometimes. She is great at self-reflecting and facing her flaws to become a better person, which is an amazing trait to have. She is really going to be someone someday. She makes very sound and moral decisions and has her head on straight 99.9% of the time. Having her part of our life has changed all of our lives in many ways, but it was nothing short of positive and a blessing for all of us!

Now that you are done reading what made us who we are today…stay tuned for “A day in the life of the Ross/Schultz Family”. We will update this from time to time and let everyone know what is going on in our lives. :)