So, if you haven't figured it out by now, I've been a little quiet the past few months. Don't worry. There's a good reason for the silence.
I decided to take a break from school this semester. The requirements to apply for the DPT program at UTC were recently changed to six completed science prerequisites as opposed to four. This makes it impossible for me to meet the requirements in November and still keep my beloved full-time job. Learning this fact means that I will be pushing back my application until November 2012 for Fall 2012 entry. My husband and I both felt at peace about this decision.
Since there was no way I would be applying this year, I also felt there wasn't much of an advantage of taking two classes this semester. Last semester, with an injury, a husband two states away, and holding down the homestead, really took a toll on me, and I was exhausted. A little break to regroup was a welcomed idea. Also, we recently had some car repairs that ended up costing about three semesters worth of classes, so we felt it was more important to take care of those instead of continuing classes this semester.
But wait! That's not all. A few weeks ago, we learned that come September, we will say hello to a new addition to our family. Yep, I'm pregnant! I am eight weeks today, and we couldn't be happier. So, not only have I decided to take this semester off, but I will also not be returning to school for the remainder of the year.
When he learned of the news, one of my coworkers commented, "I just thought you were more career-focused. I didn't know you wanted a family." This was a difficult decision for me to make, I'm not going to lie. Once I make my mind up to pursue something, I don't take too kindly to speedbumps. It is still my passion to become a physical therapist. And I don't think I have to choose whether I want a career or a family. I think it's more about timing. I already have one rewarding career. And school will always be there. But it's more important for me right now to maintain a low-stress, high level of health than it is for me to get some more classes out of the way.
So there it is. It's amazing to me how my "plan" can change in one instance. It's amazing how God has protected me and our child even before I knew I was pregnant. Having my car in the shop forced me to have more downtime at home. Not taking an A&P class this semester kept me away from dissecting a formaldehyde-soaked cat. There are countless ways that God has worked things out for our good when we had no clue what was going on behind the scenes. And we are more than thrilled at the start of this new chapter in our lives!
