wonderful May

Life has been really good in the past month or so.

I have been going to counseling for going on three years now, and in the past couple of months I have been going only once a month. I have been realizing that even that seems like it is more than necessary at this point. It's not that everything is perfect and that I don't have any worries, but I feel like I am generally pretty contented. I am happy with my relationships for the most part, and I think I am pretty self-aware at this point. I was just talking with my parents tonight about how much I have learned in the past three years, about life and about myself. It's ironic though; at the same time as I feel wiser and more self-confident and self-aware, I also feel like things are more confusing than ever and that life is so mysterious. I guess I am more at peace right now than I have been though.

The past month I have been more connected with a lot of different people, which has been great. I am happy when my social life is busy! I have been in touch with friends far away, as well as friends that are close by that I don't see as often as I would like. I have such wonderful friends! I got to spend time with a number of friends that I hadn't spent time with for at least a month or so, including some sweet babies/toddlers. It's so awesome to have a baby squeal with delight in your arms, or have a toddler give you a big hug and kiss. I so look forward to the day when I have my own! Until then I am really enjoying my friends' kids!

I have gotten to do lots of fun stuff too. Early in May I went on a hike with friends who I am excited to get to know better. It was a challenging hike on Mount Si, 30 miles outside of Seattle. It was 8 miles round trip and up to 4180 ft elevation. It was harder than I thought, but it felt great to accomplish that. It inspired me to do more hiking so it hopefully would get easier! Plus, it's great being out in the beautiful mountains. Another fun event was the Sasquatch Music Festival out at the Gorge in central Washington on the other side of the Cascade Mountains. It was a hot, sunny, fun time. I went Saturday with a few girls, then went back yesterday (Monday) with a friend from work. I had such a great time! It was amazing to just enjoy live music all day for two whole days in a gorgeous outdoor setting. The people watching is great too. Some people will do anything for attention. There were lots of "interesting" fashion statements.

The other great thing is that I have really been enjoying my new work schedule which started in April. I am full-time at one of the hospital campuses, doing 90% inpatient pediatrics (a little bit of outpatient work). I have more ownership over my floors than I had doing it only half time, and just know what's going on more, which is great. I enjoy being more busy in the inpatient setting versus the clinic where I was working two days a week before. It's really working out well, and I am really grateful for that. Last week was a little too hectic, but I know things will ebb and flow. I will soon be training to work with the pediatric neurologist to start a ketogenic diet program for kids with seizures. This diet is for kids for whom two seizure medications have failed. It is a VERY high fat, very low carbohydrate and protein diet, which puts the child into ketosis, which for some reason for many kids with seizures, helps them to be seizure-free, or at least having a lot less seizures. Kids on this diet are often on it for a couple of years. It will be really challenging to learn myself and to teach the families, and will take a lot of my time, but I am also excited to learn something new. The neurologist kept telling me in a meeting last week that a lot is on the dietitian in this program. A LOT. I am trying not to let that freak me out! I think it will be really interesting. I love that my job is never boring. There is always something new and different going on.

We have had lots of sunny days, which is always a big boost for my mood. I have enjoyed a number of weekend days reading and relaxing in the park by the lake near my apartment. Oh, how I love sunshine!