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Juggling her work, fast-growing family
Hectic pace doesn't dampen love
By 6:35 a.m., Tonya Ratcliff already looks professional and composed.
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Tonya Ratcliff dresses her daughter Elliott, 2, on April 23. Tonya's foster children are still asleep.
BY SARAH PHIPPS, THE OKLAHOMAN
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Her hair is done. Her lipstick matches her fingernails. Each piece of her jewelry complements the rest, and she is wearing the strapless heels that will propel her through the next 16 hours of her day.
Under the circumstances, it's hard to believe she can look this put-together — ever.
At 26, Tonya works for Integris Health as the Director of Homebound Services for Metro Hospitals. Basically, she helps patients go home quickly.
That's the easy part.
The challenging part is juggling a career with a growing family, especially one that's grown as rapidly as hers.
Last year, she and her husband, Travis, had only one child: a daughter, Elliott, who is now 2. That changed in late July, when they agreed to foster a baby boy who was born with drugs in his system. His name is Coy.
Nine days later, they were asked to take in another drug baby, just for a few days. Those days turned into weeks, then into months, and now the Ratcliffs are in the final stages of adopting both Coy and J.
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