enJOY it

an archived personal and craft blog from Elise Blaha Cripe.

Cahome2

Almost every December, it seems, I get to share details about our next move.

When Paul was in med school in Maryland, the hopeful plan was that he'd get assigned to the Naval Hospital in San Diego for his residency. In December 2009, we found out he had earned a spot there for internship. In December 2010, we learned he would have to spend two years completing a GMO (General Medical Officer) tour in Port Hueneme (where we are now) before he could move forward to residency.

Paul left for training in Mississippi in July 2011 and then deployed to Afghanistan in August. I stayed in San Diego until an amazing townhouse rental became available through a college friend and then with the help of military movers, got our stuff up to the new town. Paul came home in late February 2012 and we've had a really fantastic 10 months together living here.

In early February 2013, Paul will deploy again. Per usual, there are a million things that could change, but most likely, when he returns, I'll have our stuff back in San Diego (and hopefully a great little house to store it in). This time, Paul coming home will not mean gearing up for another deployment in eleven months. It will mean four years in one spot. To be fair, these are going to be four years of radiology residency with plenty of studying and 60 hour weeks at the hospital, but he'll be home. We'll have dinner together and put our kid to bed together almost every night.

After what will be four moves and two deployments, we are finally making what we talked about seven years ago in the middle of the night outside my parents' house a reality. Residency in San Diego. Four years in our favorite town. Paul, you did it! Hooray, hooray!

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66 responses to “next for e&p.”

  1. J3SS1C4 Avatar

    So sweet! Congratulations to you both for getting to move to your favourite town again! How exciting!! I wish you both the very, very best for you both… It really seems as is everything is coming together beautifully for you!

    Like

  2. Amanda Avatar

    Hooray is right! Congratulations!

    Like

  3. lisa fine Avatar

    Yay! Congrats to Paul, and I’m so happy for your both. I fondly remember when you were in San Diego the last time, and look forward to you posting about your adventures (with baby this time!).
    Will you live on the base, or find your own home?

    Like

  4. JayEssJay Avatar

    Congratulations! Isn’t it nice when things work out like you hope they will?!?! Enjoy every moment of it!

    Like

  5. Susan Avatar

    congratulations!! so excited for a dream coming true!

    Like

  6. Emily S Avatar
    Emily S

    Awesome news! Very happy for your growing family!

    Like

  7. kate Avatar
    kate

    Yahoo! Sounds like a wonderful new, yet similar, (yet, so, so different!) page you’ll be writing!

    Like

  8. Erin Avatar

    Congrats to e + p! We just completed a military move and we’ll only be here in Texas for eight months. Just like you, I’m looking forward to a multi-year assignment in one place. xo

    Like

  9. Alla Avatar
    Alla

    I’m SO happy for you and I don’t even “know” you. I’ve been reading your blog for years and always find you so honest and real, which is so refreshing. You paint a picture of how life really is, with challenges and successes, positives and negative, real life thoughts and feelings, unlike many other bloggers out there, especially in the scrapbooking industry! Congratulations on your exciting baby news and your new move and wishing you and Paul (and bump!)a wonderful year ahead. Thank you for inspiring us daily!!
    P.S. I’m committed to Project Life next year because of your kit. It’s amazing and exactly what I needed to get started.

    Like

  10. Jennifer D Avatar
    Jennifer D

    Congratulations! My brother-in-law is in the Air Force, so I know four years in ONE spot is kind of a miracle. Enjoy it! 🙂

    Like

  11. Chris Avatar
    Chris

    Yeah! Always so nice to have a plan! Even when/if it changes, still easier to face then the uncertain periods! So happy for you both and your growing family! My husband (Marine) is also deploying again the first of the year, the 4th in 5 years. Navy medicine always has a special place in our hearts. After these years of deployments I know how blessed you both will be with some normalcy (although crazy busy). I know you will take nothing or granted and cherish your togetherness too. And in America’s Finest City too! Many blessings!

    Like

  12. Shauna Geyer Avatar

    Congrats!! So beyond excited for you! That is our ultimate dream too! We’re both from Temecula and want to be in San Diego SO BAD! But we’re just beginning. My husband is only half way through his first year of med school. But maybe in 3 or so years I’ll be able to have a similar post on my blog!! 🙂

    Like

  13. Skye Avatar

    Congratulations! That is so exciting. I know it’s months away but I look forward to seeing you set up your new home there and start life with a baby! 🙂

    Like

  14. Jess Avatar
    Jess

    Congratulations, Elise! What great news!
    Thanks for inspiring me daily. Because of you, I’ve made two (!) quilts last month and am starting project life this week to coinicide with starting my 30th year.
    Question: how do I submit a picture of my quilts for your Quilts by Christmas challenge?
    Hope today is blessed!

    Like

  15. Caroline Avatar

    Congratulations, have your husband help you with dinner and bedtime will make a big difference in your lives. My husband works long hours and the one thing I miss is having him around at that time – and I’m sure my kiddos too. But life is what you make it right? Looking forward to following along as your path reveals itself.

    Like

  16. royela Avatar
    royela

    yay for you guys! and your family! a small part of me was hoping you’d end up back in moco (playdates for our babies!) but then i thought, nah, i’d rather they get to stay in CA to be closer to the grandparents. grandparents are the best!
    i bet you’ve already started looking at rental listings 😀
    does this mean you won’t be in your current place long enough to set up a baby room? we moved 6 weeks before aidan was born (and we knew we were moving) so it made “nesting” a little tricky (read: crying, panicking, “i don’t care”ing) but that made the move easier cause i was ready to be in the new place and get things shipshape in time for his arrival. though, i feel you do not need motivation in the shipshape department!

    Like

  17. Christa Avatar
    Christa

    Congratulations, Paul and Elise! I’m a San Diego native, and my parents still live there (I’m in LA now), and I agree with you that it is a pretty fantastic town 🙂 Look forward to reading all about your adventures!

    Like

  18. Michelle Avatar

    Hooray!! So great you’re going back to SD and that you go with the piece of mind that you’ll be there 4 whole years. Such happy news for your little family!

    Like

  19. Suzanne Avatar
    Suzanne

    Oh hurray Elise and Paul!! Back home to San Diego!! Are you hoping to be in little Italy again? A huge, excited congrats to you guys! And a perfect city for kiddies too 😉

    Like

  20. elizafitz Avatar
    elizafitz

    Congrats! Excited to wacth the Cripe family grow & live in SD 🙂

    Like

  21. heather Avatar

    congratulations! everything is coming together so nicely for you two (three) and the news keeps getting better. cheers!

    Like

  22. Elizabeth Avatar

    Yay! Love San Diego!

    Like

  23. Valerie Avatar
    Valerie

    Congrats to Paul on matching at his first choice!! How nerve wracking has this been for you? I match in a couple of months and just can’t wait to finally be able to plan the next few years of my life! Medicine alone requires a lot of patience to reach your goals, much less with added military service. Glad you guys are finally getting what you want!

    Like

  24. Jennifer Avatar
    Jennifer

    Yay for San Diego! We’re here now for about 3 more years. Maybe We’ll run into eachother!

    Like

  25. *Dream Weaver* Avatar

    Awesome news! Blessings for your new journeys.

    Like

  26. Heather Tarrant Avatar
    Heather Tarrant

    Yay, so happy for you guys! Such great news…love when a plan finally comes together! Especially when your plans include factoring the military in! Hopefully I’ll have equally great news when my husband gets his orders next year! Good luck on your new adventure.

    Like

  27. elise blaha Avatar

    thank you! We were surprisingly un-nervous. The military match is very different than civilian and Paul only had three choices. Based on interviews we were a little more than cautiously optimistic. 🙂 I wish you well on your match!!

    Like

  28. Christina C Avatar
    Christina C

    Congrats! So exciting! Is Paul training to become a radiologist? I work in the radiology field so facinating.

    Like

  29. Briana Avatar
    Briana

    Congratulations! San Diego is beautiful. We hope to settle there too within the next couple years. Everything there is amazing…especially farmers markets and the weather!
    Congrats to Paul! Great news! Thanks for sharing.

    Like

  30. Tara Avatar

    Congratulations to both of you!
    I loooove San Diego and it’s a great city to be in as a kid (the zoo! balboa park! the musicals that come through!). So so happy for all 3 of you!

    Like

  31. yours truly, melissa Avatar

    Great news! I lived in San Diego for about three years… I love it there. Fantastic beach “town.” I lived in Bankers Hill in a charming historic house divided into apartments – a block away from Balboa Park and an ocean view. Now I’m missing it… Enjoy!

    Like

  32. jessica o'brien | jessohbee Avatar

    yay!!!! how wonderful for you guys! scott & i keep toying with the idea of moving down there to be closer to my family once the baby arrives. such a great city for little ones and families.

    Like

  33. SKUnger Avatar
    SKUnger

    Congratulations! We also had many moves (13 so far) though non-military. We looked at each as an adventure and have great friends from every place we have lived. It also helps you sort through your cupboards and get rid of stuff you don’t use!! We also moved when I was 5 months pregnant with my first and it all worked out well 🙂

    Like

  34. Michelle Avatar
    Michelle

    I haven’t been up on my blogs lately as work has been insane due to the end of the year crunch. So I just caught up and found out that you’re expecting and moving back to SD!!! CONGRATS!!!!! WOW!!!! Oh how we miss living in San Diego… and yes it is a great city for families! 🙂

    Like

  35. elise blaha Avatar

    Thank you! Yes, he is. 🙂

    Like

  36. Leona Lane Avatar

    YAY!! Elise thats so so exciting! What awesome Christmas news:) So happy for both of you!
    Sarah
    http://www.leonalane.typepad.com

    Like

  37. Corey Avatar

    I live in San Diego! I can’t wait to see how you explore it, give me some more inspiration! And with a new babe. So awesome.

    Like

  38. Dianne Avatar
    Dianne

    Wonderful news for both of you!

    Like

  39. susi Avatar

    So happy for you and Paul! Isn’t it amazing to see your hard work bearing fruit? Looking forward to follow the continuing adventures of your beautiful little family.

    Like

  40. lauren Avatar

    yahoo!!! what an amazing place to spend the next four years…and i’ve never even been yet! 😉 *

    Like

  41. San Avatar

    Fantastic news, Elise! San Diego is such a lovely place!

    Like

  42. JillT Avatar
    JillT

    So happy you get to go back to S.D. Happy holidays and happy preparations for Baby Cripe!

    Like

  43. laura k Avatar

    So happy for you! I grew up in SD and it’s a wonderful city.

    Like

  44. Kim Avatar

    CONGRATS!!! I love how you take everything in stride! ❤

    Like

  45. krugthethinker Avatar

    Congratulations! Your blog has been a complete explosion of happy news in the past month or so: I love it! 🙂

    Like

  46. Katie Stilwater Avatar

    This made a little teary eyed for you! 🙂 Congrats!!

    Like

  47. Koko @ Koko Likes Avatar

    YAYAYAYYAYAAYYAYAYAAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Like

  48. Marissa Avatar

    Congratulations! Stability! A home! Baby! Seafoam edition! Holiday season! Plenty to be happy about 🙂 Excited to see what 2013 will bring your little family.

    Like

  49. sc Avatar
    sc

    yay congrats! i am in year 4/5 of my radiology residency – it is the best!! =)

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