Big Changes: Long Post

Tim and I are going through some big changes right now. One change being that we are going to be parents soon. Another change being that Tim's job transferred him to California, so we will be moving to California for the next two and a half years. The problem we have been having is all in the timing. Tim starts work in California the first week in February and I wouldn't be able to move out until the second week of February (due to prior commitments) which would have me moving at 8 and a half months pregnant. That wouldn't be too bad if my pregnancy was normal, but for those that know me well, nothing with me is ever quite normal! The pregnancy has been complicated from the beginning and it's a high-risk pregnancy. I see my doctor WAY more than normal (2 times every week) and one of their concerns is that our little girl is going to try to come early or stop growing altogether (which would mean the doctors would take her out immediately), hence the reason I see the doctor so much. Tim and I have struggled and struggled trying to figure out the best plan (moving at 8 1/2 months pregnant, high-risk, pre-term labor, finding new doctor to see me 2 times a week, etc...or staying here) and we don't like any plan we have come up with. However, we decided on a plan that we feel most comfortable with. (Neither of us loves it, but it's the best we could come up with, given the circumstances.) Tim is going to move to California at the end of this month and start work on his new project (and take all of our stuff because we have to be out of our place by Feb.) and I am going to move in with my sister, who lives in Surprise. I will drive the hour drive (one-way) two times a week for my doctor’s appointments. Then when I do go into labor, I'll call Tim and he will get to the airport as fast as he can (he is already instructed to have a bag packed for him in the back of the car at all times!), make the hour flight here and hopefully not miss the birth. So that is what our plan is. Not great, but it's the best we can come up with.
Anyways...About California...I'm not super thrilled about moving there. I am very grateful we have a job, but I'm still not excited about moving! (It could be the earthquakes, fires, moving to a place where I have never been where I know not a soul with a brand new baby, away from family and friends...etc!) But Tim is SUPER excited! Tim is great like that, always up for an adventure. So I am trying to be positive and look for the good things about Oxnard, California. So here are a few reasons why it will be okay to move:

(Oxnard is the big, pink dot.)


1. We will be living about an hour and a half away from Disneyland, three hours from SeaWorld, an hour from Six Flags, an hour from LA, and 35 minutes away from Santa Barbara. (We are looking for a place with a guest bedroom, so anytime you want to come and stay with us, we WANT visitors!)


2. Strawberry Festival: A huge festival in Oxnard in May. I like strawberries. I like festivals. It might be cool. (http://www.strawberry-fest.org/)

3. Tim’s job site will be about 2 whole miles from the ocean! We are looking for places a little further off from the ocean to live, but we will still be an easy drive to get to the ocean! (So we had to get our baby girl a few swimming suits! Thanks mom for the adorable butterfly one!)

Those are all the positives I can come up with for now, but I’ll let you know when I think of more!