Even though I had been living in Pittsburgh, PA, for over a year, it had taken me longer than expected to get settled in. Just as I was finally getting comfortable, our country was beginning to change, especially when it came to something that was potentially going to become legal. It wasn't something I was going to be happy about, and I had a feeling it would throw our plans into a direction we hadn't properly prepared for.

It was the beginning of January 2014, and I was getting anxious to finish college. I spoke with the director of Everest College in Pittsburgh to see if it was possible to complete my externship. Luckily, they had a clinic willing to take me on so I could finish my remaining six weeks. The only problem was that I wouldn't be able to start until the end of the month.

While I was staying at his mom's house and the usual ruckus continued, I started feeling that something wasn't right. I had been keeping track of my menstrual cycle to the T. It had been going on for three weeks, and I was dreading the possibility that I might be pregnant. I decided to go to Family Dollar to buy a pregnancy test. While Jerk was out “running an errand,” I had the perfect opportunity to do my thing.

The timing couldn't have been more interesting, especially since I was finally getting close to finishing college and still didn't have a place of my own without relying on his mom. Those three minutes felt like forever, especially with all the anxiety and questions running through my head.

The results were in. Two lines meant that I was indeed pregnant!!

After losing my three kids, I was now expecting another baby later that year. I was determined to keep this baby. It wasn't going to replace what I had lost, but it felt as though God was blessing me with this baby for a reason.

I wasn't as excited as I thought I would be because of everything I had already been through: the move, the death of my dad, and now this. It was overwhelming.

Jerk came home and asked if I wanted anything. He could tell something was up. I closed our bedroom door so I could have a moment alone. I wasn't crying, but I was more disappointed and overwhelmed than anything else. I looked up at him and said, “I'm pregnant.”

He looked at me and then asked where I had put the test. I told him it was in the bathroom, in the trash can. He went to look at it and said, “I knew it!!”

There were no congratulations, no jumping for joy, and not even a hug. I think he was feeling the same effects I was. I told him that I needed to make an appointment with my primary care physician (PCP) and go from there.

My doctor's appointment was during the same week I was starting my externship. Of course, they had to do a urine sample, and the results came back quickly, confirming that I was indeed pregnant. She set me up with prenatal vitamins, and my due date was in September. To make things even more interesting, the baby had been conceived on Christmas Eve. As Homer Simpson would say, “D'oh!!”

The medical office where I was doing my externship was in Penn Hills, which was about 30–45 minutes from Sharpsburg by bus. I kept telling myself over and over to take things one day at a time.

I hadn't told my mom just yet because I didn't want to hear another disappointment, but sooner or later, I knew I needed to tell her.

My externship was in full swing, and I loved what I was doing. The manager was impressed with how quickly I was picking things up and how well I understood what needed to be done. I handled files and worked at the front desk, checking patients in.

Meanwhile, there were big discussions on the news about marijuana becoming legal. It was starting on the West Coast, and I prayed it wouldn't become legal in Pennsylvania just yet.

When I got back to his mom's house, I was exhausted from being on my feet all day. Between the first trimester and everything else going on, I was tired and just wanted to sleep.

Jerk, on the other hand, was so excited. I asked him what was going on, and he said, “How would you like to live in California?!”

I was taken aback by the question. I said, “I uprooted my life to come down to Pittsburgh, PA, for you and to start a new life. I'm so close to finishing my externship, and the manager said he wants to hire me when I'm all done. I'm pregnant as well, or did you forget about that? I can't just jump from state to state, especially if the reason you want to go out there is because of your addiction.”

He said, “I understand that, and I get what you're saying, but we don't have to worry about my mom being up our asses. We can make a life out there. I know a good friend of mine who might have a place where we can live. Plus, my Social Security will go up because of the cost of living.”

My world was spinning out of control, and this was way too much to absorb all at once. We had already had our share of experiences with the Greyhound bus, and we didn't even have a car!

His mom was totally against the idea. Jerk called JG himself so I could talk to him and get an idea of what living in California would be like. But everything I knew was in Pittsburgh. I had gotten so used to the customs, the culture, and the city life.

JG is a very nice man and had known Jerk for quite a few years, going back to the good old days when he lived in Pennsylvania before settling in California. He told me how cheap the produce was, but as far as rent went, he was willing to cut us some slack and let us pay $900 a month.

I told him to give me some time to think it over. I really needed to call my mom, and I knew it wasn't going to be easy.

I told Jerk that I needed some time alone while I talked to my mom on the phone. She was surprised by the news, but she told me, “It's your life. Do what is best for you.”

I also called Everest College to see if they could transfer my transcript so I could finish my externship in California. They were glad to help, and the Everest College campus I would be transferring to was in Ontario, CA.

Our friend Craig had been coming by a lot to see Jerk. He normally complained about how much he hated living in Pennsylvania and wanted a change. We asked him, “Would you ever consider moving to California with us if we helped you with gas and you paid rent as well?”

He said he would get back to us within 48 hours.

While I was researching places where we could potentially live, I came across San Bernardino. It looked nice, and one thing I noticed was that they didn't have snow! The weather was warm during the spring but very hot during the summer.

I loved the taste of Mexican food, and I knew it was going to be so good out there. I guess my baby was already craving something spicy!

Craig called the next day and said he was going to do it!

At just two months pregnant, I was about to embark on another strange adventure. Here we go again! I had no idea what was waiting for us in California, but I was about to find out.

Just as I was finally learning the rhythm of Pittsburgh—finding my favorite coffee spots, navigating the hills, and trading my North Dakota “uff da” for a local “yinz”—the compass was spinning again.

Life doesn't always wait for us to get comfortable before it hands us a new map. Packing up for California while expecting another little one felt like a whirlwind. Leaving behind the roots I had fought so hard to transplant was painful. But if my journey from the North Dakota plains to the Pennsylvania bridges had taught me anything, it was that roots aren't left behind; they're carried within us.

Here's to the next coast, the next baby, and learning how to bloom all over again.