After a lot of thinking and a few tears I have decided that the best route for me to take right now is moving. My brother, Don (Professionally James Stark PA-C) and his wife Valerie, have recently welcomed a beautiful baby girl named Audrey. I was planning on going to Richardson, TX(just outside of Dallas) for the summer to be Audrey's nanny. After a tough first half of the semester, which followed a year of only completing the Spring '08 semester, I started to think that maybe I should take time off. Knowing that Audrey would need a nanny after I would be coming back to Baton Rouge, I e-mailed a busy Don and Valerie and asked them if they could, or would, use me as her nanny past the summer. Although I love my friends in Baton Rouge, and I have had doubts about moving at all because everyone is here, I made my decision. I have been depressed watching my dad and his progression of his disease, and not being happy overall. Gosh, I find myself welling up even writing this... kleenex break...
So I find myself packing and sorting, because I am moving to Texas, permanently, the week after Easter. I am not going to be happy leaving, but I will be in touch online, and whomever wants to call me just ask and I will let you know when Audrey naps lol, or I can write letters. I also have a video camera, and will be getting a new camera(mine went plop) so I can send videos on here and myspace(those who aren't on myspace can add me... cstark2lsu) using youtube probably. I also may be watching a second infant who is due to be born next month. I think Don and Valerie also know more pregnant women but I think 2 infants at once in gonna be all I can handle. Audrey isn't even 2 months yet, and the other baby is due in a month, and the standard maternity leave is 6 weeks, so I will have 2 very young ones, though I probably will only have the other a few days a week.
For those who may contemplate coming to visit, I will tell you that I would like to make plans for a small group rather than have one or two people every other weekend(Valerie's on call some weekends, so I have to be home with her, or close to the house)because living with my brother and Valerie I don't want them feeling imposed, because of Valerie's schedule and Don working 12's, and also it's not my house. Also, it's a 7.5 to 8 hour drive, which is not small change! It's a days drive basically, and if you don't have cruise control(Heather) you may find it hard not to make multiple stops.
As for school, I will eventually go back. I will need to wait a year for residency status, and will probably go part time. I am thinking that I will go for something artistic, such as photography or graphic design. I know some of you have suggested medical, but with my autoimmune disease, my disagreement with biology, and the strenuousness of most medical fields that I would not be able to do with my back, I don't think medical would be my route. I am hoping maybe some of my classes from BRCC, LSU and UL will transfer. I've got over 170 credits, so starting over would SUCK! I have a year to think about it, to visit schools, to find out what transfers, and maybe even shadow some people who work in fields I am interested in.
I am sad to know how many birthdays, weddings, kids, etc, that I will be missing. I am trying to lure some people to Dallas, and I just bought a cool GPS system on overstock so we can find our way around the city if we so choose. There are a lot of preserves, lakes, nature things that can be done. We brought my brother's Weimeriener's to one to run and another father/daughter group came with about 15 dogs, mostly border collie's and they played fetch. Dogs are a big thing up there.
My parents will be looking to move there in 2 years, and if anyone wants to move there, my brother has a friend who is a realtor, and you'll be surprised how much more house you can afford up there than here!
I know I am ahead of myself, and I will be back to visit, but I will miss you all, and miss the things you are doing. Let me know if you have questions, comments, whatever. Love you all!