Back to O-H!

The last 2 weeks have been spent moving to Scottsdale. Our new apartment is beautiful. Excellent location, we can walk to restaurants/shopping.. etc. Also, we live ON the 30 mile bike path that runs along the Green Belt. I'm really going to love it there and can't wait to be there with Sam permanently!

Our moving company took much longer than expected to deliver our stuff. It just arrived today and I had to fly back on friday. Unfortunately Sam will have to put everything away himself. Some may think I'm lucky but I honestly wanted to be there to help! Plus I am somewhat OCD and would really like to decide where everything belongs, so later this week iChat date. Because we did not get our stuff, we had a lot of downtime. It was very relaxing and we got to spend a lot of great quality time together!  We found our preferred grocery stores, went to Target about 10 times, tried out multiple restaurants, ran on the bike path, joined a gym (health club & spa), laid out by our resort-style pool, and went to a baseball game. The weather was perfect, 70's during the day, 50-60's at night. 

Now begins my one month separation from Sam. I already miss him and really wish I could be there to unpack and help him out. Tomorrow is his first day working in Scottsdale and I really wanted to be there to support him and to just share the day with him. We are really excited about his new position. He works so hard, and will do so great. :) I am now staying with the Gruber's until the wedding. Our very wonderful friends have graciously given me a bedroom in their basement. Their house is beautiful and I love this area. Sam and I have said that if we were to stay in Cincinnati we would buy a house here in Loveland. It's funny how our lives just took a huge turn. 

After a fabulous 12 days off work and 9 days in Arizona at our new apartment, I am back in Ohio and working.. {womp womp}. Jk, there's much to be excited about! My North Canton bridal shower is this weekend, and the following weekend is my Evansville shower. Can't wait!! Oh and our wedding is in 74 days!

Kaitlyn flew to Arizona! Ha! And now she's fearless! and a bit weird.. she likes the fireplace ;)

My new daily route! and my new pool (year round)

Back to Ohio I go!

Stress: the good kind and the bad

Time is flying by and the end of January and all of February have just been full of stress. Sam says I need to chill out but I can't lol. The idea of moving across the country finally settled and has now sent me into a new gear. A go-go, stressful gear. Wedding planning like a mad woman and trying to organize and pack for the next 3 months of my life. It's mostly been exciting, because I really enjoy most of the wedding planning, minus the invitation. Sam and I strongly agree the worst part of this whole wedding planning was the invitations, not fun picking them and spending the money on paper. "Paper they're just going to throw away", says Sam. So we have accomplished the 5 main goals I wanted before Sam left: finished wedding invitations, picked out our wedding bands :), met with caterer, met with DJ, and finished our registries!! It feels good!

The bad stress... At the end of January Sam's dad underwent triple bypass surgery on his heart. I can't remember the last time I have been that scared. We found out on wednesday afternoon (Jan 30) and surgery was 7:30 the next morning. It was a very long 2 days and there was a lot of crying, and every emotion under the sun. At first it was shock, disbelief, and scared. Then when we finally made it to the hospital and we could see Mark, it was a little relief and still scared. And confused because he looked like normal (which is not a typical pre-open heart patient.) Once we were all together, there was definitely that scared underlying feeling, but it still amazes me how the feeling of love was emanating through. Above all, love, so strong so supportive. I am so blessed to become a part of this family. I love them so much. When the family is together, we always have fun, we always hug and kiss and laugh a lot! So even in this time, in this situation we laughed through our tears. We all did the right things, we hugged, we prayed, we showed love for each other, we put our faith in God, and we trusted the health care providers.

Through this entire experience, I have really grown to love everyone so much more. It is amazing how strong and wonderful each of them are and how these strengths really beam through in a tough situation. From the first time I met Mark, I knew he was a true role model and I admired so many of his qualities. For the last 2 years, I have looked up to him and I have taken joy in seeing the same qualities developing in Sam. One of my favorite things about Mark is how appreciative he is of everything. He is full of life and really knows how to find the optimism in any situation. Sam was incredible throughout the entire experience. I am so proud and thankful that he's mine. :) From the moment we heard about the surgery, Sam immediately jumped into alpha male role. (I mean he's already in it usually, but this was super alpha.) Even though, he was also scared and crying at times, Sam was very calm and kept everyone else calm. His thought process is amazing to me, he was sensitive to the situation but looked at it from a positive and logical perspective. His words were that "it was better to be proactive in a controlled situation, than to be reactive to a traumatic situation." Sam stepped into a man of the house role and took care of everyone and truly was the rock for me, Lauri, Anna, and Joe. Not to mention I'm sure that he sent a lot of calming energy to Mark as well. I am so blessed to have this strong man by my side for the rest of my hardships.

As scary as open heart surgery sounds (and it still is) somehow Mark flew through it with flying colors. How do you do that? Well from the beginning it has gone as smooth as it gets. Like all great things, it's a combination of luck, blessings from God, being smart, and proactive. Upon minimal symptoms, he was diagnosed with blocked arteries earlier than most people would ever notice. He chose open heart surgery, as he is in otherwise great health and no co-morbidities. Surgery went smoothly. He was a textbook patient with an isolated problem. He was extubated 3 hours post-op. Transferred to the step-down unit and up in a chair the next morning. He was discharged monday morning, POD #4. Now he is doing great, and feeling better than before. A visit to AZ is planned for him the week we move out there in March!

You have to take control of your life. Live smart. Tell those you love that you love them. Show emotion. Live your life!

One last Hoorah in Ohio with great friends! We are all moving. Leah & Jerry to Nashville, TN, and Taryn  Scott to New Hampshire! Cheers!

Fat Cat Murphy

Because he makes me smile!!

Scottsdale, Arizona!!

You know when you're on a ride that keeps spinning and you know it's supposed to be exciting but it's spinning so fast you can't see or think and you can't decide if you're scared, excited, or you just want to jump off. Well that's how I've felt the last 4 weeks. Today is the first day IN 4 WEEKS that I feel like my head is clearing up, my feet are almost to the ground and I'm actually excited! Counting it out right now, I can't believe it's been 4 weeks, what a blur! So anyway today, I am excited! ECSTATIC!

So obviously I have BIG news! We are moving to Scottsdale, Arizona... yes Arizona! Sam was offered the opportunity on December 19. We spoke with his family and mine over our Christmas trips and then we went to Scottsdale to check it the 2nd week of January. Sam's final interviews were this past friday and now we are waiting... we already know he will be offered the position, but I am dying to know when he starts and details about the moving package. Because as timing would have it, they will prob want him there by March and oh yea we are getting married in May. Clearly this makes things difficult. BUT we are adaptable and have and always make the best of it! Either way I'm not being forced to move anywhere terrible like BFE Montana. I mean this is beautiful, southwestern, active, healthy, warm Scottsdale!

Well I'm not going to blabber much because I could for days, but just wanted to say that I have definitely had lots of negative reactions that have made this harder and less exciting, but also some amazing people that have made this easier for me and have helped me realize this is actually perfect for Sam and  me.

First of all, Sam has been extremely patient and supportive. I have selfishly taken a lot of his time to cry, complain, worry, and stress over this decision. I say selfishly because he is the one taking a huge job change and interviewing, all the while I know he is worried too, but he continues to be the rock that I need. We have talked and talked and talked about this. Sam has given me, without pressure, every opportunity to say how I feel and to ultimately say no if that's what I want. The last thing either of us wants is to feel regret or to feel like this was a lop-sided decision. We are a team and this is OUR decision. Good communication makes a great marriage. I really appreciate him in this situation as I always do.

Also, two of my best friends have been extremely supportive!! Andrea and Amy. They are the only 2 people that gave me a positive reaction. They understand and help me to further see that this is an excellent opportunity for me and Sam. Sam and I are our own family now and this will be a great decision for us and our future children. They have known me for years and we just "get" each other. I am blessed to have not one but 2 best friends that understand my heart in a way that some people never experience in a lifetime. I am grateful for their time, love and support in this matter.

There are a lot of other people that have been great throughout this as well, like my mom and Sam's parents! My dad took a little bit of time to come around but his approval and blessing has meant the absolute most to me. He spent this weekend here and I know that's why today is the first day I feel excited and SO relieved!! I am finally looking forward to it and I am so much less scared! Also, Scott, Sam's future manager, has been awesome. Many thanks to him for giving Sam this opportunity and for showing us around Scottsdale, easing some of my fears, flying me out there, giving lots of advice and doing all of this with no pressure. Could say a lot more but not much time. Our Scottsdale trip was a blast, here are some pics! Will back-blog about Christmas & NYE for sure!