In November, Ethan received an offer to move to Iowa and work for another Health care company as they started up Managed Care of the Medicaid program and population. Excitement overcame us as we had talked well before even having kids that we would want to someday move back to Iowa to raise our family. This was really going to happen. With a solid job offer and a stellar relocation package, we started house hunting in the Des Moines area immediately.
I remember waking up over Thanksgiving weekend and reading a headline in the QCTimes. It was about Ethan's new company and their legal struggles with the Iowa contract. We prayed feverishly that Iowa was still in our plans, that we were meant to move and that this was still best for our family. We continued to search for a house, I interviewed and landed a job as well and we coasted into December while preparing our townhouse in Villa Park to be put on the market.
In December, we found a house, put an offer in and had it accepted, and lost the house due to the seller not complying with the disclosure and repairs. Ethan started his position in Iowa on December 14th, in the middle of my panic about where we were going to live now and Christmas fast approaching. Again, we prayed - feverishly. For two weeks, Ethan worked in Iowa Monday through Friday while I worked in Chicago and had the kids. We would meet in Davenport on the weekends.
Just before Christmas, we put an offer in on another house and couldn't imagine another location that was more perfect for our family. Christmas day/weekend was a whirlwind. While trying to make it as normal as possible for the kids, we were hit with another blow about Ethan's work. The appeal for Ethan's work was not granted and now a court case ensued. Again - we prayed that this was in our plans. We talked about not moving, about me staying in Chicago with the kids as long as possible until this all played out. But in our hearts, we knew Iowa was the place and that we would make it work no matter what. I drove back to Chicago after Christmas, leaving the kids with my parents and finishing out my final week of work there.
The New Year brought on a new job for me in Des Moines. We are so thankful for Ethan's sister and brother-in-law, Erin and Chase, for allowing us to crash in their house for 3 weeks while we worked and waited on the closing of our dream home. The kids stayed in Davenport and got to spend some quality time with both sets of grandparents during the week. As hard as this was on us, we also really appreciate the willingness of our parents to step in and help out when we needed it the most.
On January 21st we closed on our house in Urbandale, IA. A dream house. One that I knew we could grow with and live a life we had hoped for. Jobs were steady and the kids joined us for the first time that weekend.
(New house!)
So, things slowed down after that....right?
Wrong.
Between new jobs, new daycare and unpacking - I don't really remember anything until mid February. That was when the court decision pertaining to Ethan's job was final and all employees were given a 30 day notice. Awesome. Luckily, I married a hustler and go-getter. One who doesn't sit on the sidelines and watch life pass by. Ethan had already secured another job (with the company I am working for - I guess we just like working together!) and was scheduled to start at the end of February. I admire Ethan for this because the new job in Iowa is not his dream job. It is not on the same level as the one we moved here for but it pays the bills and he still gains a ton of experience. It's not an easy task to give all of yourself for a job you only feel luke-warm about. The silver lining for this time period - we sold our town home in Villa Park. No double mortgage and no worrying about when or how we would unload that place.
So how did it become June already? We don't know. Easter was a blur again, Mothers day the same. I think Memorial Day weekend was the first time we were able to sit around and ENJOY the house and all it has to offer. We hosted my family and cousins and aunt that weekend and our house was filled with joy, food and laughter for 3 full days. Our hearts were bursting through this weekend. Slow days and good company. Just what we needed.
As we enter the dog days of summer, we find ourselves sitting back as the kids play in the yard. We couldn't help but think "THIS is what we have been waiting for". Waiting for them to be "old" enough to play on their own, waiting for a YARD to enjoy, waiting for neighbors who talked to us and had kids as well, waiting for parenting to feel a little less like a chore and more like "we got this" and waiting for Iowa...in all it's slowed down, fresh produce, room to grow glory.
We made it. It's all a blur (much like having twins)....but we made it.
