House Hunting in AL

With a little over 2 weeks left to be moved out of our house here in Jackson, we finally were able to go down to Alabama Friday and do some house hunting. We met at our realtor’s office and went over what we were looking for and, of course, you know I made a few lists.

List #1 “Necessities”

1.      4 bedrooms

2.      2 bathrooms

3.      Nice size closets

4.      Centrally located to the 3 hospitals John David will be working at

5.      Somewhat updated Appliances

6.      Nice backyard

7.      NO – OLD – HOUSES !!!

List #2 “Things we would love to have, but we can live without if we have to”

1.      Fenced Backyard

2.      Garage

3.      Pool

4.      Stainless steel appliances

5.      Granite Countertops

We saw about 15 houses that were a wide range of our price list. We knew we wanted to be close to the hospitals, but for the great location you rarely get a lot for your money. A few things we didn’t like with most houses:

1. Tiny backyards – if any. This is one thing we’ve lived without for almost 3 years and Bella made the executive decision that she MUST have a back yard.

2.   Homes that were at the top of our price range and still needed work: removing wallpaper, painting, updating appliances, replacing carpet, etc. We just don’t have the time or patience to do these kinds of updates.

3.  Too small for our growing family. We’ll be here for 5 years. We want something we can grow into, not something that is the same size we have now.

While house hunting online, I noticed a house that didn’t look like much on the outside but the inside had completely been renovated - plus, it had a pool. I was real unsure about it, but went ahead and added it to my list of what we wanted to see.

After viewing at least 8 or 10 other houses and feeling like we would never find everything we were looking for, we finally stumbled on this particular house. We walked inside and immediately it was love at first sight for me. This house had everything we were looking for. Gorgeous wood floors, granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, brand new carpet in all FOUR bedrooms, updated bathrooms with tile-encased tubs, a great size backyard completely fenced in, a covered parking area in the back, AND a huge in-ground pool. The house is also in a great neighborhood centrally located to all 3 hospitals (and Walmart- HA). The ONLY problem was the curb appeal, but the wheels were already turning in me planning to fix that.

After a long (HOT) day of house hunting, we knew we had found what we were looking for. We made an offer on “the ugly house” as John David calls it. I spent the next 15 hours planning out where all our furniture would go in the house and biting my nails waiting to hear back from the seller. Finally we got the call and after some negotiating, he accepted our offer. Final sale, of course, is contingent on the home inspection, which will be done sometime this week.

Another perk to this house is we are able to close fast and will be able to move in on June 2, only one day after the closing on Whitworth.

I don’t think this moving process could have went any better for us. Things have really just fallen into place and God continues to keep opening doors for us. It’s been exciting, nerve-wracking, fun, and painful all at the same time. We couldn’t be any happier how everything has turned out and just continue to pray for a smooth transition.

We’ve got an extremely busy schedule over the next two weeks but like I have been saying, “we’re taking it one day at a time!” Stay posted for pictures of everything upcoming and I’ll get some pictures of the house on here soon.

Love you guys. Thanks for reading. : )

My First Mother's Day

One Day At a Time

The home inspection was today. Our realtor said it could be a couple days before we hear back from the buyers. The final sale is contingent on the home inspection. The buyer could decide to back out of the contract or come back and request some repairs be made. I met the buyers today and they seemed very sweet. They appeared to be excited about the house and even wanted to know if we would consider selling them our furniture.  

 

With only 25 days between now and then, we have A LOT going on.

May 20 / John David’s Long Coat Ceremony. His parents and sisters will be attending this very special and formal event. He will be presented with his “Doctor’s coat” that will read “John D. Tullos, M.D.” How exciting!

May 21 / Graduation from the University of Mississippi School of Medicine. We have ALL waited a long time for this!

May 22 / Our family and close friends will be celebrating with us DOCTOR John’s official graduation from Medical School. His parents and I have dreamt of what this day of celebration would feel like when we were finally able to say “He MADE it!!”

We heard the baby’s heart beating at 150 BPM last Wednesday. Who knew such a tiny “thump, thump, thump” could sound so heavenly to expectant Mommies and Daddies! Every time we hear it beating away, it just about takes my breath away. Our next appointment is the most exciting of all. May 26 we find out if  this little “tad-pole” is a GIRL or a BOY. John David and I both think it’s a boy for some reason, but everyone else thinks it’s a girl. Either way, we are super excited! Monograms here we come! : )

June 1 / Close on our house @ Whitworth

June 12 / Baby Shower in Jackson hosted by Kristi, Ruth, and Susan. I can’t wait!

June 29 / University of South Alabama Welcoming Party on the USS Battleship.

July 1 / John David begins the first day of the next five years of our lives. Orthopedic Surgery Residency at USA in Mobile.

For now, we are focusing on finishing the sale of this house. One day at a time. We will worry about packing, loading, unloading and unpacking next. We will be accepting ANY and ALL help we can get come moving day! : )

Stay posted, LOTS going on. Will try my best to keep everyone updated as much as I can!

Selling Whitworth

We always knew whether we stayed in Jackson or moved out of state for residency we were ready for a new house. The plan was to get everything finished on the house and get it put on the market early January 2010 which would give us plenty of time to get it sold. 

John David’s Residency interviews began in December and from mid November to early February we were in the car traveling more than we were at our house. Jd’s classes started back February-March and it seemed like every weekend we were supposed to work on the house, something came up and we couldn’t get to it.

We found out February 24 that we were having a baby and March 18 we found out we definitely were moving to Mobile, AL. By that time the morning sickness practically had me on bed rest. It wasn’t until mid April that we were able to finally finish up the final projects we had left on the house and by that time we were panicking. 

April 23, 2010

We met with a realtor that one of my friends recommended to me over a year ago. To our surprise, he acted really excited about the house and assured us that it shouldn’t take very long to sell. He went out and put up the “FOR SALE” sign in our front yard and Jd and I were practically jumping up and down! Due to the rain, he decided to wait and take pictures of the house Sunday to get maximum sunlight and said it would be listed online by Sunday night. Monday morning I already had two appointments scheduled to show the house and Tuesday a third appointment scheduled for Wednesday afternoon.  At 6pm Wednesday evening, we got a call from our realtor saying the agent that just showed the house said he was pretty sure he would have an offer for us the next morning. SERIOUSLY? Words cannot even describe how excited we were to hear that!! Thursday morning the offer came in and by 4 that afternoon we signed the contract and sent it back to our realtor and BAM the house was SOLD. Three full days it was on the market. Amazing!

We close on the house June 1^st. John David starts work in Mobile June 29^th. Our hope all along has been to move in early June. Now we have to BUY a house. And soon! We’ve found one that we really like but we want to look at a few more before we make a final decision. We’re planning on going to Mobile sometime next week to do some more house hunting and hopefully sign a contract VERY soon! : ) 

The only way to summarize this amazing year is Jeremiah 29:11-14 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the LORD.”

God has blessed us more than we deserve this year! I can’t begin to imagine where we would be without his love and mercy!

We are so excited for this year. What an amazing journey it’s already been and the JOURNEY doesn’t REALLY begin until we hear that little crying baby looking up at Mommy & Daddy! 

Stay tuned for more updates!! Love you all!

(If you’re in Jackson and you need a good realtor, call Don Potts with Nix-Tann & Associates. He is amazing!)

We're MOVING!

March 25, 2010

After interviewing in cities all across the Southeast, we finally found out March 18^th that John David matched into an Orthopedic Surgery Residency at the University of South Alabama in Mobile. We’ve been looking forward to this day since I can remember, still seems very surreal to me.

John David starts work July 1^st so we’re planning on moving sometime in June. We met with a realtor last night and we officially have a “FOR SALE” sign in the front yard. Every time I look at that sign it makes me smile!! We’ve already started house hunting in Mobile, and so far we’ve found one house that we really like. We’ll be in Mobile for the next five years and then we’ll move again for a year for Fellowship. We are so excited about our future and what this year will bring.  

I look back on the past four years of Medical School and I am so thankful for our wonderful family and friends. We are so blessed! Without your love and support, there’s no way we would’ve have made it this far! We couldn’t say “Thank You” enough!!

 We have waited a LONG time for this picture : )

 

Proud Family

 Ben & John David

 Bret, Colston & Sharon

 The Guys

First Baby Doctor Appointment

 March 10, 2010

We heard our little baby’s heart beat for the first time today. In that moment, it all became real. Oh my goodness, there’s a little baby growing in MY belly. It’s MY little baby. It was the most special moment of my life to date!

Estimated Due Date: October 26, 2010 - Our little Halloween Baby! : )  We couldn’t be more excited!!!

We're Having A BABY!

 

February 24, 2010

If you know me, you know I've always wanted four kids! Sometime around August of 2009 John David and I decided that we were finally ready to begin a new chapter in our lives and grow a little family. 

From that moment on, I took more pregnancy tests than I can remember! Month after month, my little heart broke a million times every time I read "NEGATIVE" on the test. In January I decided not to take any more pregnancy tests. "It will happen when it's supposed to happen," I told myself.

February rolled around "just one more test... just ONE more test." LOL Jd tried to talk me out of it, but I was just too impatient. I took the test and to no surprise, Negative. Seven days later, I knew something was going on but the test should have read positive, so I just knew I wasn't pregnant. Jd and I went to dinner and when we got home he convinced me into taking ONE more test. Reluctantly, I took the test expecting nothing to come of it. I sat it on the countertop and we both waited. 

All I remember is thinking I was having hallucinations and there was no way that double line was REALLY forming. My head kept getting closer and closer to the test. My eyes had to be the size of a softballs and I looked at JD with amazement. The first thing I said was "OH MY GOD!! OH MY GOD!! What do we do??" LOL. He picked me up and gave me the biggest bear hug. 

We knew we didn't want to tell our family over the phone and John David had to work the upcoming Saturday, so we decided we would surprise our families on the upcoming Wednesday before we left on vacation. We called a few of our very closest friends and SWORE them to secrecy!

The craziest thing that happened was two days later we found out John David's baby sister, Rebecca was expecting too! Her due date is only one WEEK from mine!! What are the chances!!?! We are very excited for her and Daniel and how fun will it be for our kids to be that close to each other as they grow up!

My very first doctor appointment is scheduled for March 10, which just so happens to be my and Jd's three year anniversary. How special! 

Check back regularly for updates. Pics to come soon!! : )