The majority of this blog is about Oliver and the obstacles he has overcome.  There has been mention of my other two kiddos and a smidgen about me.  For you to be able better understand our story, I thought I would share a little about myself.

I am a 35 year old with three children: Ethan (10), Charlie (8), Oliver (22 mo.), wife of 11 years to Luke, and a nurse for 5 years.  Growing up I always wanted to be a wife and a mother to four children.  And I have to say that being a mother is the sweetest and hardest job ever.  Being a nurse is something I never thought I would do!

How I became a nurse-
I had actually accepted a job in 2003 as a tech at Riverside on a post-partum unit to see if nursing was something that interested me.  After working there for four years, I decided I didn’t want to be a nurse.  I actually ended up hating the thought of being a nurse.  I resigned from my position and stayed home to take care of my only child at the time, Ethan.

A year later, my dad was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer and was given 2 years if he underwent treatment, weeks to a month with no treatment.  Of course, my father took the treatment and fought like hell!  He lost his battle exactly 2 years after his diagnosis.  During those 2 years, I became pregnant with Charlie (dad named her!), went to doctor appointments, chemo treatments, scans, hospitalizations, and cared for him in his final days.  One of the hospice nurses asked if I worked in the medical field and I said “no”.  She then told me I should consider nursing because I was a “natural”.  After dad passed, I took heart to those words.  I obtained my nursing degree two years later.  It was one of the hardest things I have ever done in my life.  Nursing school with two littles was rough!

I love nursing!  I get to serve others when they are either at their highest point or lowest point in their life.  Currently, I am working in labor and delivery.  My goal everyday is to care for my patient and her family as though they are the most important people in the world.  I want them to feel special and loved and to know that their nurse would do anything for them!  Having a baby is such a high point in their life and I want them to always look back and think of what a wonderful experience it was!  Working in labor and delivery is such a wonderful reminder of the miracle of life.  I get to witness miracles everyday when I go to work!  I watch mothers hold their babies for the first time.  I watch babies take their first breath of life.  I watch fathers cry tears of joy.  My favorite part is when I get to see all of the family meeting the baby for the first time.  The excitement and the tears are beautiful.  I seriously cannot imagine doing anything else for a living!

Will I have more children-
No.  After Oliver, I had to have a hysterectomy.  I will never again carry my another child.  Adoption has always been in my heart, but I want to make sure that I am able to provide my kids with everything they need and Oliver is very EXPENSIVE!  I don’t think a fourth child is in our future (at least not anytime soon).

My life seems to revolve around my little people.  I know this is only for a season.  There is going to be a time when I miss having slobber marks all over our windows and dirty hand prints all over the walls.  I get irritated with the ridiculously loud noise levels, but I know I will hate it when our house is constantly silent and there is no longer the sound of laughter and baby giggles!  For now, I will sit back and continue enjoying my tiny people as they are growing into big people!