Marcus and I made the move to Davenport in August of 2009. He has just graduated from Grandview College in Des Moines, where I was also attending nursing school. We had been dating approximately one short year before we decided on this move and that what we had was a forever kind of thing, and not another simple college romance. So we packed, we moved, and I could feel the hesitation from our families, I on the other hand, had none. Although there was hesitation, which was an obvious and usual reaction from parents, they never once told us it was a bad idea, it was wrong, that we were rushing things. My parents asked the typical questions, "are you sure?" "Is this what you really want, will it make you happy.." etc. My dad in fact actually said his typical line when I approached them with this proposal to uproot my entire life for a boy, "Are you asking me, or telling me? Because you are going to do what you want to do." And he was so.right. I was, I was head over heels, ready to move, ready for something more.
After about 7 months of living together, Marcus and I sat on the couch together starring at 2 pink lines. (6 actually, since I took 3 tests "just to be sure") Yup, we were going to be parents, we didn't cry, we didn't jump for joy, we just sat there repeated things likes, "O my gosh.. seriously?? Seriously?? O my gosh.." But guess what, I didn't know it then, but looking back that was such an amazing moment in my life. I am so happy that I went through that terrifying, gut wrenching experience and was blessed 9 months later with our beautiful baby girl.
Marcus proposed to be on April 8th, one month after finding out we were going to have a baby. We had been talking marriage for quite some time, knew we wanted to be together forever, but those vows came a tad earlier than expected. 6 weeks later......
Yup, we planned a fantabulous wedding in 6 weeks. I was sick as a dog through most of the planning but the end result was amazing. We had so many people there, everything was perfect. If I could do it over again, I'd say no way. There is no way on God's green earth things could have panned out more perfectly than it did on May 22, 2010.
 |
| Adley in my belly.. when we found out baby was a GIRL! |
So, life goes on as we are waiting for our princess to grace us with her presence. And approximately 5 months after saying our vows....
 |
| 7lbs5oz, 20inches long |
Now, I promise I'm going somewhere with this that relates to graduation and my support etc. I was in nursing school through every.single.moment of what I just talked about. Sick as a dog? In school. Planning a wedding in 6 weeks? In school. Doctors appointments, painting a baby room, swollen feet? In school. I never missed a beat. I had Adley on a Tuesday and I was back in classes the following Thursday. 9 days is what I took off from school. You're thinking, babies can't even go to daycare until they are 6 weeks? (you were thinking that, correct?) Yup, that's where my support comes in. My mom and my mother-in-law, being the down right most amazing women on earth swooped in to help. The took turns by week babysitting Adley so Marcus and I could go to class as well as helping with baths, laundry, cooking etc. As for the rest of my support, financially our parents really went above and beyond. They know how important education is and found it from somewhere within their amazing hearts to assure that I was going to stick with this pursuit of an education. I am so incredibly grateful, and will forever be in debt to them. (Emotionally and financially ;) )
Nursing school was hard. Really hard. There were papers, tests, long hours studying. Not one single piece of my puzzle would have been put together if it weren't for our parents, aunts, uncles, grandma's, grandpa's and friends. They were selfless. And today, I can officially say I am a college graduate. I made it, WE made it. Adley will be able to say that her mom graduated college and became a nurse, and that's what makes me most proud. As I said, many people have none of the opportunities I had, that I am an exception to the rule, and it makes my heart hurt. I will never know why I was so blessed to be born into and then married into two of the greatest families on the planet, but I was and I am forever great full. You can assure I am going to put my heart and soul into the nursing profession. I will do my best to see every day as a good one, even with blood on my shoes, and in moments with a heavy heart, I will thank God for putting so much support in my life to allow me the opportunity to fulfill my dreams.
 |
| Me and the reason I am where I am today (my hubby): I didn't give him enough credit in this post, but even more so than any other piece of my puzzle; without him, my life, my journey, my goals would be incomplete. |
