I Can Breathe Again

This past year of my life has been a whirlwind. As looong as my pregnancy felt to me at the time, truth be told, it flew by. Our family has gone through so many changes, good and bad. We've rallied each other through sickness, depression, financial turmoil, sleep deprivation and more. We've celebrated a new life, a new car, three healthy and happy children, our son's first love, new friends and a stronger marriage.

I met Mr. JuJu in 2001, which feels like yesterday. We've been through more in those years than most couples go through in a lifetime together. We are still in love and more importantly, we still like each other. In that time, I have only seen my husband extremely happy on a few occasions including the day we got engaged, the day we married, and the birth of our babies.

He's been in the same profession (media relations/communications type job....college athletics) since we met. Because of the thousands of different roles he plays in his work, he is never off of the clock. It's like being a doctor, but without the paycheck that he deserves, more notable: without the recognition he deserves.

Not seeing him wasn't the only problem our family had. We moved here to Ohio in November of 2002 after having one week to find a living arrangement (2 bedroom rental). The morning of our move we awoke to find that the world had been blanketed in snow as we slept. We should have taken that as a sign to just stay put, keep warm, stay familiar. We pushed forward and made the move far away from any family or friends. Away from any sort of support system. It was hard enough with one child.

Fast forward to the present. Still no family, very few friends, same shitty living arrangement, THREE CHILDREN, no support network, overworked and underpaid husband, sad and lonely me.

I'm very happy and excited to tell you that life will change dramatically in the very near future. Mr. JuJu has decided to accept a job offer in New York. He is so very brave. The job is a completely new concept for him. No more sports, no more travel, no more 14 hour days on the weekend. The job is in the same area as his family, so right away we will have friends, family, babysitters (!!!) and most importantly, SUPPORT in helping to raise three strong and happy children.

There will be times over the next few weeks that I will want to curl up and die as I try to pack up my house and make arrangements for a big move out of state with the babies at home. LittleJuJu will have a huge adjustment leaving his friends and school. My family in Pennsylvania will have to travel even further to see us. The road ahead will be bumpy and scary, but when I see what is on the horizon? It will get me through. We deserve this. Mr. JuJu deserves this.

Now I better get my ass away from this computer!

Also? It's almost the end of De-Lurking week, so those of you who read here and never leave a comment (I know you are there, I see you on my stat counter) please leave a comment, even just to say "Hi". Better yet, say congrats to Mr. JuJu, who incidentally has not yet written his birth story for you all. Give him hell, people!

Comments

[Dana]

I am sooooo happy you guys will be finally close to at least one side of the family. Tell him congrats!!!

[Pamalamadingdong]

congrats!! ugh moving is such a pain in the butt. You'll need booze.
And possibly quaaludes.
did you find a place to live yet???

[Robin]

Yay! Congratulations! You might want to recruit some help with the move...

[Jamie]

I am so happy for all of you! It must be such a mix of a million different emotions, but how exciting!!

Congrats!!

[Natalie Murdick]

Ok you caught me even though I have outwardly admitted that I'm a lurker! I'm so excited for you all! Whatever you do just keep the horizon in sight. It will be so nice for you to be close to family. Congratulations Mr. JuJu! Good Luck!

Natalie

[Beth]

Hooray!

[Chris]

Congrats on the good news. And happy delurking week!!

[June]

Hi from a lurker! Congrats and good luck with the move!

[Shann]

Yay! I'm so happy for you! Finally, family and sitters and a chance for you to breathe a bit. When is the move?

Congrats Mr JuJu! And leave your story, will ya?

[heathabee]

YAY! Congratulations! That's wonderful news! Best of luck with packing (ugh, I'm going to be packing in a couple of months to move back home when I finish university... packing AND back with parents? Should be ... something :|), packing sucks.

But yay! New York!

:)

PS. Can't wait to hear Mr. Juju's birth story!

[tiffany]

congrats and good luck!

[Lori]

Yippy!!!!!!! I am so happy for you. While you are going throught the packing and all the hard stuff involved with a move, keep in mind, the light at the end of the tunnel. I am livivng with the in-laws right now while waiting for our new home to be built, so I know what it's like to always be waiting for the light. It's coming. March 22nd. Well, congrats to all of you. Mr. JuJu, write the birth story before it'as all a blurr.

[jo]

Very nice! Congrats and this sounds ever so exciting! Will you be moving to a big city or more small town NY? I hope you like it living so near the in-laws. :)

[Ali]

Good luck packing. Just remember, Baby Einstein DVD's are your best friend! Even Itty JuJu should be interested! I've heard drinking while packing helps! wink wink

[Mom]

I'm late getting here, never dreamed you'd find time to post so soon. I hope I've conveyed how very very happy I am for the JuJu Clan. And very proud of the Mr. but not at all surprised. You definitely earned this break. Love and Hugs!

[Jazzy]

I am so happy for you guys!!! I don't know how you do what you do with no support. So, like Manhattan, or outside the island? Good luck with the move!

[ctmommie]

Congrats...you guys needed this. Im in Connecticut...are you close? Whens the official move? Im sure you have a ton to do but stay positive and think about when it will all be done! Best of luck..Abby

[Melissa]

How exciting! Can't wait to read all about your new adventures!

[Kym]

Congrats to you and your family. I am a lurker who has been delurked. I came via Zoot I think. Best of luck.

[Michelle]

Hi! I'm a lurker. I've been reading your blog for more than I year, I guess. I'm so happy for you! I know what it's like to move away from friends and family and then move back to that support. Let's hope Mr. JuJu enjoys his new job. I'm sure he'll be fantastic! Good luck to you all!

[Simon]

Congrats on the move and the brass cojones to do it.

Now give Mr. JuJu a big slap on the ass from me as incentive to get tellin' his tale!

[Amy]

Wow! Congrats to Mr JuJu, on the new job! Moving is a pain in the butt to be sure, but I wish you all the best in your new job and new home.

[Mark]

Great news! So, when you say "New York" do you mean NYC, or somewhere else in the state?

We moved from middle of nowhere near family to be near family, and it makes a HUGE difference with just one kid. I can't imagine how wonderful it will seem with three.

Good luck packing, and get Mr. J. to type out his version of the birth.

[KtP]

Hi :)

[Suburban Mum]

Hi, a lurker here. We're doing the same thing here in the UK, moving to where my husband's family are, it's only a 200 mile move which is nothing compared to your move but it's a long way in the UK (my family are 100 miles from here in the other direction, but we can't afford to move where they are so I'll be 300 miles from my family but we can't have it both ways!). I'm looking forward to the babysitter element the best :) Good luck with the move!