How did we end up in Arizona?
Well, a year ago, we had high hopes that D would get accepted to the University of Utah School of Medicine, which would mean in-state tuition and me continuing working ===> less debt. It was not meant to be, though, and D was accepted to several schools in other places, including one on a tiny Caribbean island, Saba, which is where we had decided to go. We found a place to live, purchased plane tickets, and made plans to store our stuff (except for four suitcases full of stuff which we'd take with us). Three days before school started in Arizona, we realized we'd made the wrong decision. Luckily, we had paid Arizona the money to hold D's spot, so that door was still open. D headed down to AZ the night before orientation and had to find us a place to live, buy a car, attend orientation and class, and study like a maniac before I joined him ten days later. I kept working until the day before I left, which contributed just a bit to my elevated stress level. I kind of skipped town without saying goodbye to anyone because things were so... frantic. Well, I was frantic, anyway. Frantic and frazzled by the time I arrived. So joining the stay-at-home moms club has actually been refreshing. Our little Squeak is a delight to be around. I will confess that I was pretty nervous about the prospect of not having a job (outside the home), because I've ALWAYS worked or gone to school or SOMETHING, but the interaction I enjoy with S here and now can't be made up down the road, while a career can. S sure likes having me around. She also likes to help me wash the dishes and vacuum (she hangs out in the front pack and sings while I work). I know she wanted to help me carve a pumpkin the other day, but I didn't want her to get near those sharp knives. Maybe when she's older...