Little Did I Know

Soon after I found out I was pregnant with Emma, I notified my supervisor that I was expecting. Some of the things that I was required to do as a Special Agent were not necessarily safe for a pregnant gal. I worked for an awesome agency that really considered the dangers of a pregnant woman out in the field and they put me on a special assignment during this time. The conversation that I had with my boss, "Mr. I", the day I decided to break the news still runs through my head now and then. After he congratulated Greg and me on our baby news, he asked me if I planned to return to the job (many women do not return after having babies). My response to him was that yes, I planned to come back to work unless we had a child that had special needs and would require extra care. Eerie huh? I think about that conversation and wonder why I would have even said that. We had no reason to believe such a thing would happen. Little did I know that exact scenario would happen and I would resign from my job as a Secret Service agent. Once I resigned from my job, I knew that I would most likely not return to a career in law enforcement, but I did know that I would like to return to work someday.

During Emma's stay in the NICU, I became extremely interested in watching the nurses around me and thinking about how rewarding their job must be. They were a much needed support system for us during a very difficult time, and their compassion towards the babies and their families was moving. I decided that when Emma was at healthy point in her life, I would return to school to become a nurse. I am happy to announce that starting in August I am doing just that!

I got my feet wet so to speak by taking Anatomy and Physiology I and II over this past year. It was very difficult getting back in the saddle and learning how to study again. I was the dorky old lady in the class that was actually interested in what the professor had to say. Hey, I got two A's out of it! I remember laughing at those people back in the day...

I got accepted into a competitive Nursing Program at a college in Nashville for Fall of 2010. I have to say that I am nervous, but oh so excited! I can't wait to be that nurse that can put my arms around a family that is going through a hard time and give them a great big ole hug, or laugh and smile with them when times are good! I know what it is like to be that family and I am looking forward to returning a dose of the compassion that was shown to us.

Little did I know that the conversation I had with my boss one day would not only become reality, but lead to a complete change in careers.