A Month in Ohio/Michigan

Ohio/Michigan October-November 2016

Near the middle of October, our stay in South Carolina was finished and we road tripped over to Columbus, Ohio for a short 2 week rotation. We actually ended up cutting our stay in Ohio short because, among many other reasons, the little apartment where we were staying had mice and was not in a safe area. Jon was beginning his 6-8 weeks of interviews at this time and I would have been alone in Columbus with the children for about about week while Jon left to go on an interview in Texas. We decided to pack up early and leave for Michigan where Jon's Uncle Don graciously took in our family and allowed us to take over his basement. These where the only photos I got in Columbus.

  Our stay in Michigan was WONDERFUL! Uncle Don (not truly an uncle, but a very close family friend) was so gracious to share his home with two rowdy and messy toddlers! 

Breakfast with Uncle Don every morning

 Michigan holds a lot of Jon's family as well, so the children got to meet their "Michigan Cousins" for the first time. We had an absolute blast. They were so kind to include the kids and I in much of their activities. Uncle Mike and Aunt Debbie were a God send at the end of a very long trip. They loved on our kids and were a huge blessing to me.

 Chris and Meghan invited us to go trick or treating with them, as we were in Michigan over Halloween. They live in a perfect neighborhood for the holiday and the kids had an absolute ball. Jonathan and Mia got along especially well, and Jonathan often speaks of his Michigan cousins with fondness.

The kids and I spent a lot of time walking to the park. The weather was cold and sunny and we had so much fun walking through the leaves.

We also made a very special visit to the Detroit Zoo. Our favorite exhibit was the brand new penguin home they built. It was spectacular!

The five month trip ended on a bit of a sour note as the children and I all came down with the stomach flu! The kids felt better by the time we got on the airplane, but I was still so sick. However, nothing was going to keep me from going home! I missed my bed and my sense of routine. I took all the different medications I could find, said a few prayers and flew home with both kids by myself. Phew! 

This time on the road stretched me in so many different ways. I learned how to navigate my way around new places and meet new people with my children in tow. I gained a new independence and confidence in my own abilities as a mother and a wife. I am proud of what we were able to accomplish as a family and I am so, so glad we decided to stay together for those long five months. 

A Month in South Carolina

Columbia, South Carolina: September-October 2017

This was such a special month for us! We stayed in a beautiful home in Columbia.  The city was so beautiful and there was a lot for us to enjoy.

One of the sweetest parts of South Carolina was the visit from my parents. It was SO refreshing to see them after being away from friends and family for so many months. We did a lot together! We went to a huge children's museum and the kids LOVED it.

We also visited the Columbia Zoo. This zoo was one of my FAVORITES because the animals were so close to us! We got some great videos and pictures. Jonathan loved seeing the crocodile. The birds were definitely my favorite! It was so fun to see my children bonding with their Nana and Papa again. We had a blast!

After my folks left, the kids and I explored the mall with a carousel, played at the park, and recovered from a bout of hand, foot and mouth disease. 

It should be noted that it was during this month that Jon started receiving interview invitations across the country for ophthalmology residency positions. We applied to 115 places and received 8 or 9 interviews. We spent much of the time scheduling interviews, booking flights and hotel stays, and processing rejection notices all month long.  This rotation seemed long and hard... Especially after the kids got sick. But the weather was beautiful and there was plenty for us to do to have fun. We made the best of it!

A Month in Georgia

Augusta, Georgia: September 2017

After our month in Arkansas, we road tripped over to Augusta, Georgia. Little did we know that this would be where we would "match" and live for three years in the future. Our very dear friends, Jennica and David Felsted live in Augusta, and introduced us to the ophthalmology program. I could write an entire post about how much the Felsteds mean to us... If it wasn't for their help, we would not have successfully matched. We thank the Lord for their wonderful family everyday!

This month included many life firsts! Jonathan potty trained in Georgia! With being on the road for five months, there was bound to be some growing. Since he was starting preschool when we returned, it was then or never.  He trained like a champ! It was a long month, but he got the hang of it and received the reward of a dart gun from Walmart.

Since we were stuck at home for much of the day with potty training, we got a bit creative in our play. The children's favorite activity was playing on the mattress on the floor of the living room. There were lots of giggles and sweet bonding moments between the children and I during those long hours.

A few un-pictured events include: Our first hurricane experience (Hurricane Irma knocked our power out for a day), the discovery of the trampoline park (The kids LOVED this place!), and the swimming pool. We also found an amazing church that we plan on attending when we move there. Praise God!

We discovered a State Park that overlooked a swamp. The kids loved looking at the wild life and we escaped the heat because much of it was in the shade.

There was also a great park and library in town that the kids and I frequented. What an awesome blessing it was to spend time in Georgia! We could not be more overjoyed to have matched there. We are truly blessed.