Big Changes Looming Ahead

1. IVF Consult scheduled for April 13th.
2. Hopefully beginning IVF #1 in May/June.
3. Putting new house (bought in August) on the market.
4. Possible/probable move out of state within two years.

The first two were expected, and have been in the radar for several months. The last two came as a total surprise this past weekend when Mo proposed that we move back "home" to be closer to my family.

I was in such shock that I didn't' know what to say.

It's not that I don't love my family -- my mom is my best friend (aside from Mo) and the only person IRL who even knows about this blog. I wish I could spend more time with my sister. And now there's Miss A. I'd love to be able to watch her grow up, to be involved in her life so much more.

It's just that, well, Mo is a homegrown boy and I never thought he'd ever want to leave the state we currently live in. He moved quite a bit as a kid (as did I), but he's basically lived in the same area since he was 14 (that's about 24 years). The longest I've ever lived anywhere has been here (nine years this summer). I moved here during college, and stayed because I met and married Mo. I never, ever dreamed we would move back to my "home" state -- ever. It's just not really a place people move TO, ya know?

But Mo has some very convincing arguments. Better schools, better pay. We would both make at least $10,000 more a year -- and that's without all the coaching supplements that Mo would receive. Even when you factor in that "home" has a state income tax and our current state does not, you are still looking at a significant pay raise.

The cost of living there is very comparable to here. We can get the same house for the same price we paid last summer. Since we've made some low-cost, high-yield improvements on our home since we bought it, we may even make a bit of a profit (if we can find a buyer!).

Even better? "Home" is one of just a handful of states with a mandate to cover infertility treatments. While it has stipulations and lifetime caps, it still beats the NO COVERAGE we currently have. And after 7 years of unsuccessful attempts to get pregnant on our own (with and without assistance), I know that we are going to have to do this IVF thing more than once. Even if our first one works, we want several kids. So this would mean MAJOR savings for us.

And finally, there's family there. Since Mo's father passed last summer, and my mother-in-law took Mo's niece and returned to Miami, we have no family here. Mo's grandparents are gone. His uncles/stepfamily are not close. We really have no reason to stay here. Well, my reason is Mo. But his reason? He claims to have none.

I am trying to be realistic about all of this. We are taking a trip home this weekend to visit A. and my family, scout out potential areas to live, etc. I need to give Mo the space to make this decision on his own, as it will be the biggest change for him. I am trying to realize that grief may be motivating him right now, and that he may change his mind. But I've also been praying about this since Sunday and I feel really good about it. Really, really, really good.

Big changes up ahead. Buckle up -- let's hope it's not too bumpy of a ride.