The Big Day

So, this year for Valentines day we spent it like most others...apart.  It happens.  When you work on a rotating schedule and your gone for 24 hours at a time, you tend to miss some holidays, birthdays, etc.  We did have the opportunity the day before to go out to dinner and Doug got me a dozen beautiful red roses.  He can be thoughtful.  I was able to spend time with Zach at his Valentines party.  He was certainly the cutest boy at the party!  Despite being apart on Valentines day, Doug did receive some amazing news.  Remember how I've mentioned that he's applied to graduate schools?  HE GOT INTO THE UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER!!!  His first choice!!  It's an amazing school and is raked 3rd for his program!  He was beside himself when he called to tell me (he got an email from the school while he was at work).  I could barely understand him and I thought he was hurt!!  As if this wasn't amazing enough, he was offered a FULL scholarship (totally paid for for the next 5 years, HOLLA!!), plus he was awarded a fellowship, stipend, health insurance and the opportunity to work as a research assistant.  We just can't believe it!  I STILL can't wrap my head around all of this.  We have a lot to do before we can move.  We have to sell our house, find a new house and I have been scouring the internet looking for jobs in my free time.  We also have to find day care...not looking forward to interviewing for that.  The good news is, if we move up there before the school year begins, Doug can stay with Zach during the day and we would have time to look for day care options.
I am so incredibly excited, nervous and anxious all at the same time.  We won't know a soul when we move and we lose our support system here.  I think what I'm having the hardest time with is leaving Doug's parents. Zach loves his Moo Moo...he loves Clay, too, but he is IN LOVE with Charlene.  He asks for her on a daily basis.  She is the only grandmother he knows and I cringe and get emotional at the thought of them being that far apart from each other.  Hopefully they will come to visit... A LOT!!  (hint hint)
We are looking at homes with a lot of space, 2-3 bedrooms and a yard for the dogs.  The dog part is the hardest.  A lot of places don't want to rent to someone with animals and if they will, you have to pay a huge fee or they'll accept one animal.  We've had our dogs for about 6 years and I know finding them a new home would tear everyone up.
We EXPECT everyone to visit!!  We'll be so close to so many amazing things, cities, etc.  Niagara Falls comes to mind...
That's all for now, but we'll keep everyone updated once we know more details.  We're going up at the end of the month to tour the school and get a better idea of where we stand with everything.

xoxo,
Sarah