While I have not always liked going to the doctor, or been the most cooperative patient, I have always wanted to work in the medical field. I still clearly remember hiding behind the couch in my pediatrician’s office and having to be pulled out kicking and screaming! Coming from a family of nurses, I started playing with stethoscopes at a young age and everyone was my patient – family, friends, dogs, and even my pet duck!
In high school, I worked as a Volunteer Candy Striper in the local hospital. I loved being around kids so I babysat as often as I could. After high school, I attended nursing school at the University of Texas in Austin. Pediatrics was where I wanted to be. I worked as a floor nurse, then charge nurse in Austin before I got married and moved to Dallas. I began working at Children’s Medical Center in Dallas on a general peds floor, followed by liver transplant floor and ending up in Oncology. This was a very wonderful and satisfying job, but I wanted a little more autonomy. While working full time I went back to school at UT Arlington and got my Master’s degree and Nurse Practitioner license. And that brings me to where I am today.
I started working with Dr. Conger in 1996. My oldest daughter was 6 months old at the time. We were taking her to a pediatrician in Richardson and I did not move her to Kids First right away – what if I didn’t like the way they practiced? What if they had different beliefs than I did? After all, this little human was the most important thing in the world to me and it was my responsibility to protect her. Well it did not take long before I realized this was the place she belonged.
Kids First has allowed me to continually grow as a practitioner. I have learned so much working here, not only from the other providers but from the kids and parents. I have taken several classes and certifications in breastfeeding. This has allowed me to help new moms and their babies make breastfeeding an easy and rewarding experience. I am available to talk to new moms (or not so new moms!) on the phone or to do a breastfeeding consult in the office. It is so rewarding to watch patients grow through the years and to know that you have been privileged enough to help take care of them in sickness and in health. Although I am sure I am not getting any older, I have many patients that I am now seeing their babies!
Outside of work I keep quite busy. I have been married to my wonderful husband Brad, who is a teacher in LISD, for over 25 years. We have 2 awesome daughters, one in high school and one that has gone off to college. I have lived through many “firsts” with them. First illness, first day of daycare, first tooth, first day of kindergarten, first time riding a bike, first “friend drama”, first day of high school, first broken bone, first heartbreak, first day of college and I know there will be many more firsts, which I look forward to! All of these things have made me the person I am today. “We teach our children all about life, but they teach us what life is about”. Both my girls did competitive cheer for 9 years at Excite that was a big part of our lives. I volunteered in numerous positions at the gym. I also taught babysitting and first aid classes to Girl Scouts at Excite.
Living in Lantana offers lots of things to do in our “free” time from walking on the trails to concerts at the Gazebo. I love to read (my kids do not!) and enjoy getting together monthly for book club with good friends. This year I ventured to do an herb garden, which, I must say did pretty well! It is fun to go in your backyard and pick your seasonings! We are a family who loves animals! We currently have 2 dogs, 2 cats, 3 fish and 1 bird. The dogs and cats do not realize they are “animals” rather they think they are humans, therefore, should be able to eat and sleep where we do!
One of my favorite quotes is: “Enjoy the little things in life, because one day you will look back, and realize they were the big things”.
