Reflecting

So I sit here in the last 15 minutes of my 29th near looking back and thinking about the changes in my life over the last year. This past year has been pretty intense.

Our road trips in the past year:

• Charlotte - 3 times (i think)
• Georgia - ~4-5 times
• Raleigh - once 
• Myrtle Beach - once!
• Columbus, Ohio - once
• Asheville - once!
• Illinois - once (though that was a plane ride!)

I finally got my dream of being a stay at home mom, only to realize maybe it wasn't my dream after all. I felt really guilty about that but I hope I've found my happy medium with my part time job with an online high school.

I developed and strengthened some friendships with some wonderful women (and their families) here in Knoxville.

Medically this was an exhausting year. At the end of September last year I was diagnosed with interstitial cystitis. (after a renal ultrasound, an abdominal CT and a endoscopic check of my bladder lining). This was just the beginning as over the past year I've had 38 bladder instillations as part of my treatment. These were done in two different groups, twice a week for 8 weeks starting in October and twice a week for 6 weeks starting in May. A bladder instillation is when they dissolve my medicine in saline, put a catheter in me and put the medicine directly in my bladder. Let's just say I've gotten a whole lot less embarrassed about people poking around down there. I'm even seeing a male OB/GYN for the first time in my life!
I also FINALLY (after 3 tries here in Knoxville) found a neurosurgeon willing to DO SOMETHING to fix my spine and end my pain. We're closing in my 3 month post-op visit where I will hopefully have all my restrictions lifted (I cannot wait to pick up my girl again) and be allowed to toss the hated back brace. This surgery has been a miracle to me as I'm already in less pain than I was pre-surgery. Its a life changer.

And of course this big number, reaching my 30s, makes me reflect back on my 20s. I realize that the whole of my 20s have been centered around Daniel and I's life together, including our amazing daughter for the last quarter of it. I know I am lucky to have quickly found the person I'm meant to be with and I'm so blessed to have him in my life. Even though he drives me INSANE sometimes I doubt anyone else would put up with me. And damn did we make an awesome kid together. What two year old says "I noticed you helped me wash my hands twice tonight papa"? Almost every night we lay in bed talking about something amazing/wonderful/adorable she did that day. We're so in love with her. Despite our different views on some parenting issues I think we're doing a good job with our girl, and with each other.

I look at my life and my beautiful family and think...its a good life. Happy Birthday to Me! I hope the next decade is full of just as many beautiful friends, love, and laughter.