the small things.

I am sure I've said this before, but with all the changes going on in our lives, I am going to try and update this blog more. I am realizing how quickly our time is passing -- and I just want to document some of our adventures and thoughts. Maybe one day, our boys will look back at this and be able to catch a glimpse of what their mommy was thinking.

Anyway, things around here have been hectic - boards, conferences, the upcoming move, and just the normal business of a household of three little boys under 4. The hubs had a conference in Chicago this past weekend, and I tagged along to get some studying done (and eat and see friends, of course). It was a gorgeous weekend -- perfect weather, outdoor concerts, meeting up with friends, yummy treats and sleep uninterrupted by the various cries of our boys.

But, as always, as awesome as it was to get away for short time, the best part was coming home. It's nice that they are still at an age when they actually miss us and are happy to have us home. Hugs, babbling, jumping, bear hugs -- yup, coming home is the best. I happily soaked up the extra snuggles and mixed-up stories...heck, we even celebrated with ice cream.

Now, this upcoming move is making me more nostalgic and emotional than usual. So this morning, before heading off to study, I decided to do preschool drop-off (I haven't been to school since summer session started). It was actually pretty wonderful to listen to my lil guy singing in the car, to see how excited he was to show me around school, and to hear about how the teachers are refusing to let him move with us because they'll miss him so much. To top it all off, a little girl in his class came up to me shyly and told me she liked my shoes (tangerine Tieks!) and dress. :)

Here's to taking pleasure in the small things. Have a great day!

7.12.2014

Whew! It’s been a while….and, well, we have been busy!

Quick recap: Our youngest son was born just 14 months after his older brother, during the longest/harshest winter that any of us in the Midwest can remember.  Thankfully, aside from some early concerns with jaundice/weight loss, he’s been a very healthy and relatively easy-going baby.  After 6 months, I’d say that we’ve (mostly) adjusted to being a family of 5. The older boys generally range from merely tolerating to absolutely adoring their baby brother. It’s been wonderful to see.

After many trials and long nights, our two older boys are (relatively) happily sharing a room. Most importantly, all three boys are sleeping through the night (at least for this week)!

With the warmer weather, we find ourselves busy with visits from family, trips to the farmer’s market, playgrounds/pools, tots’ soccer, Friday night concerts and all the various festivals. Sadly, I have not been as involved as I would like, since I am trying to study for my upcoming Critical Care boards this August.  We are thoroughly trying to enjoy summer in Iowa City, as we do every year (love that the students are gone!), but this year feels more special than usual, as it will be our last.

After many late-night discussions, pro-con lists, and prayers, we have decided to move to Tucson, Arizona this fall. While we have many reasons to make the move (being closer to family, career opportunities, and warmer weather to name a few), we have so many things we will miss about our life in Iowa City. It is where we started our married life together, completed our medical training and had all 3 of our beautiful babies. We’ve made wonderful friends, lived in a dream home and enjoyed a 5-minute commute to work! Our time here has been truly blessed….

Now, I don’t know if Tucson will end up being our “forever” home, and we may even end up back here, but it is time for us to move on. We are simultaneously excited, sad, scared, and joyful. Even with this jumble of bittersweet emotions, I know in my heart that it is the right choice for our family at this time in our lives. We will sincerely miss Iowa City (and all that it encompasses) more than I can express.

I know I haven’t talked to many of you recently, but I just want to thank everyone for your continued love, support and friendship throughout our lives. And come visit us in sunny, warm Arizona (in the winter)!!