10 Years and 10+ Life-Altering Events

2000: We decided to travel to Europe (nearly a month backpacking) and to begin trying to have a baby.

2001: We bought a house, got a kitten and finally, after one year trying, got pregnant!

2002: Our son Kelvin was born on March 9.

2003: Accidentally got pregnant again (we were very happy about it, though!).

2004: Our son Linton was born on May 30 (a week earlier I participated of my MA commencement). K finished his Ph.D. and we moved to the Philadelphia area. First nephew was born in September. I started blogging!

2005: Brother-in-law (+SIL & baby nephew) moved from Michigan to Maryland, less than 3 hours away. I spent two months with the boys in Brazil (away from K).

2006: Father- and mother-in-law came to live in the U.S. and my brother and sister-in-law moved to China from Brazil. What an international family! Second nephew was born in June.

2007: K got a "dream job" offer from Big Pharma. We sold our house, bought another, moved and two months later, he was laid off. Unforgettably awful. K was readmitted on the very day of our 13th wedding anniversary, December 18.

2008: We became permanent residents of the U.S. And finally, after "ten years and two sons," I finished my Ph.D. (dissertation defense: April 16). K decided to walk away from Big Pharma and go back to academia (starting his second "post-doc"). Crazy-intensive home renovations in the summer. Third nephew was born on my birthday!

2009: Worst year ever. In March we realized we couldn't keep on paying our mortgage and put the house on the market in April. In June the bank approved our request to renegotiate the mortgage and we were able to stay on the house. Phew! We began our "cyber-schooling" year (too hard).

2010: K had four job interviews (including his "Ivy-League Experience") and three job offers!! Too bad the last job offer was in October and messed up the first few months in our new location & K's new job as an assistant professor. We moved from PA to VA (our cat of nine years disappeared after we moved) and I went back to higher education as an adjunct. I saw my nephew N's birth in July and our niece -- the first girl in this family!! -- was born in August. A great year to close the decade!