We are happy to announce that we are moving! Eric has signed with....
We grew up in Bethalto, IL about 15 minutes from several of the IES locations. Eric will be the Glaucoma Specialist/Comprehensive Ophthalmologist out of 2 or 3 of their offices. We are very excited about the next phase in our life. But, I can't help to get all emotional and take a quick look back over the past thirteen years. Yes, thirteen. Well, I'll skip the undergraduate part. That is all a blur to me, anyway.
Our journey began back in 2003 just a few months before we got engaged. Eric finished Pre-Med (I don't think it's really called that) at Drury and moved to St. Louis to start his medical school career at St. Louis University. I remember being scared to death I was never going to see him. But lucky for me I was dating a very, very smart man who really didn't study as much as I thought he would need to. He still gave me and our dog Bailey plenty of attention.
It All Started: I'll quickly recap---We got married in 2004, He got interviews at over 30 places for Ophthalmology Residency and interviewed at maybe 15. Ranked Birmingham, AL as #1 (what? what is Birmingham, AL?? Never heard of a soul who had been there). Matched in this so-called "Birmingham" and drove down for the quickest weekend ever to buy a house (it poured down rain all weekend, looked at about 10 houses, put an offer in and it was accepted.). STILL hadn't seen much of Birmingham or knew anything about it. I had done some google research to learn they had some good malls. That's about all Google had to offer me about Birmingham. However, it was our new home. And I was thrilled. Seriously. I was.
Eric graduated medical school, we went on a cruise, and we officially made Birmingham our home in June 2007.
The City: Words cannot describe to y'all (yes, I'm a Southerner now) how much we have absolutely LOVED Birmingham. In fact, I have tears dripping down my face right now. This city has become our home. We have made so many lifelong friends and I will forever be grateful for this opportunity to live in Alabama. We have everything we need right down the street. We have the best school for Caroline and Cole. I have the best job in the ENTIRE WORLD ( no joke, people!).
Our House: We bought a 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom townhouse (anyone want to buy it??) in Hoover; a terrific suburb of Birmingham. When we bought it in 2007, it was brand new and it was the PERFECT home for us and our little dog Bailey. Five years later, we have TWO dogs and TWO children living in this townhouse with us. We might be outgrowing our townhome, but we still absolutely adore it. This home will forever be in my heart as it was the house we brought both babies home to. It was the house that we woke up a million times a night to pick up Cole and try to get him back to sleep. It was the house that Caroline calls "Caroline's house" and we see her run up and down the steps repeatedly. It was the house Caroline took her very first steps. It is the house that we have hosted several get-togethers with friends and many Supper Clubs with the best neighbors in the world (most definitely!). It is the house we had our babies First Birthday Parties (Cole's is coming up!). It is the house that we have grown as a family. The wonderful news is that whatever house we live in next will become the home that we will create a million more amazing memories.
*Seriously! This is the group of friends that we've made. Everyone here as moved on to another state, but I know we'll remain friends forever. *
The Residency: My dear, dear friend Nicole created a way better post than I am about this journey (Check it out
here). She talked about the million hours that her hubby worked. I have to gloat and say that Yes, the first year of Residency was rough. Eric would work 30 hours, come home in the evening, and get up and go back into work. That was the year that I was pregnant. He only had to do that for 3 months of Caroline's life. After that he was home by 5 pretty much everyday and RARELY had to go back into work. As far as Residency goes, Ophthalmology rocked! His "Call" was from home and we would answer questions on the phone and maybe go in to help or look at something once/month. Each year got better and better.
*When Eric was "On Call" First year, Caroline and I visisted. Luckily, that never had to happen again.*
The Fellowship: Right here at UAB. He LOVES his bosses and is learning a lot about Glaucoma. I feel like he works a little bit more than Residency, but surely that is to be expected. He moonlights several times a month to make us some extra money, but it's really not bad. I am very thankful that he has given up some of his family time to do it.
A "Real" Job: I think it's rude of me to call it a "real" job b/c these last five years he has been working his tail off and has brought home a real paycheck, but thinking about being done with residency/fellowship for some reason just makes me think that he will soon have a "real" job. I guess, a "Career" would be a better word choice. He has had recruiters contacting him since the Spring, but nothing too exciting was brought up. We went to Kansas City in September to interview with a group. They were terrific to us and wined and dined us, but we weren't quite sure if that was the right job for Eric and the right location for me/kids. Eric interviewed with a few other groups in St. Louis including Illinois Eye Surgeons (across the Mississippi River and 15 minutes from St. Louis) and concluded that would be a great opportunity for him/us (hopefully! fingers crossed!). He will begin August 1, 2012! The month of July will be spent moving, unpacking, and taking a cruise with Just. The. Two. Of. Us. OMG! I cannot wait! We will sail Royal Caribbean and go to 3 islands. I'm pretty sure we've been to the 3 islands before, but who cares. We are so excited and wanted to go back. If you haven't been on a cruise, go. Immediately!
*Reading, Reading, and More Reading. Eric did a lot of reading (but probably not as much as he should have) in our house. The 3-Ring Circus kept him a little pre-occupied.*
All in all, our experience in Alabama has been incredible. But, we are ready to live close to our families who we have missed dearly the past five years. We still have 6 months in Alabama, though! We will live them to the fullest!
Congratulations to my amazing, smart, handsome, and incredibly talented surgeon/doctor ERIC! I am so proud to call you my husband. I am looking forward to the next 60+ years on our new adventure. Maybe even another baby??!?
