Long Overdue: Our Big Move

I am going to assume that anyone that actually reads this blog already knows that we have been through some big changes over the last few months. The number of changes and how fast it all happened is also the reason why I have not had any time to write about it. Its all a very long and complicated story but the bottom line is that Karl and I both accepted new jobs in Indianapolis and we moved our family back to Indiana all in a matter of weeks. 
This process actually started way back over the summer when I applied for a random job opening at the NCAA. I have always wanted to work there and felt that it was the right place for me both because of my skill set and because it would give me the career/family balance I want at this point in my life. I didn't really think much of it because hundreds of people apply for each opening and months went by with no movement on it. We had committed ourselves to staying put and growing our family but things at work were less than ideal for me and I got a call to interview at the NCAA before Thanksgiving.  Karl knew if something came of this, I would be very serious about it so he started looking in the Indy area just to see what his options might be. As luck would have it, a position was waiting for him at IU Health in Indianapolis and they called him within hours of receiving his application.
Karl received a formal offer from IU Health on Thanksgiving while I was still in the (very slow) process with the NCAA so we had some big decisions to make. Again, the help of our industry connections led to me reach out to a colleague who I didn't know had recently taken a position at the NCAA. He asked me if I would consider working for him rather than holding out for the position I was already waiting on. It was all getting too good to be true and our perfect storm started coming together. We thought hard and weighed a lot of issues- most important being that I was quickly approaching the "very pregnant" stage.  In the end we just felt like everything had aligned perfectly for a reason and we couldn't afford to pass these opportunities up. High risk but high reward for us as a family and for each as individual professionals.
Here is how it happened:
Thanksgiving- Karl offered job with IU Health
Christmas- Make official decision to move, put house on market. Both give notice to our jobs. Erin Accept position at NCAA.
New Years Eve- Close on new house in Brownsburg
Jan 7- Karl starts new job in Indy
Jan 18- Erin's last day at Bradley, Ally's last day of school in EP
MLK Day- NCAA pays for our entire relocation including packing, moving and unpacking
Jan. 28- Ally's first day at her new school at IUPUI and Erin's first day at NCAA

We are so very lucky that this has worked out and we know that a situation like this may never come again. The only detail left is to sell our house in Peoria. Ally loves her new big girl room and we have been getting things set up for the new baby. The house is great and jobs are better than we even expected. Thanks to everyone that has helped make this possible for us! There is a lot to get used to but we are beyond blessed with the opportunities we have to make a great life for ourselves in a place we can grow in more ways than one.