I can't believe it's the last day of April! This month has flown by so quickly.

On the 15th, I made my way to Royal Oak, MI for my latest health adventure: a week-long retreat for women who suffer from chronic pelvic pain related to IC and pelvic floor dysfunction. The experience was incredible. In between unpleasantries such as pelvic exams, physical therapy and steriod injections into a trigger point in my pelvic floor (just use your imagination on how that works), I was treated to daily massage, guided imagery, Reiki, yoga and group and individual psychotherapy. The urology center was closed to all other patients for the whole week, so I got to enjoy the treatments in my fuzzy socks, Juicy tracksuits and no makeup.

The week was challenging, emotional and healing. I left with a much better grasp of the way this condition has impacted my life, what I want my life to look like in the future and how to cope. The retreat only had space for ten women, so I got to meet several amazing ladies who had a good grasp on living with this and a couple who didn't. I learned from both.

I acknowledged that this has drastically changed my life and I do still grieve from time to time, but I believe I am going to continue to get better. The trigger point injections have already made an improvement in my daily pain level and I'm supposed to repeat them in one month. I am also going to start seeing a pain management doctor. BUT, this is not my whole life, not my full time job, only one small part of me.

The rest of me is super excited for May and the beginning of the summer. Bryan is headed off to Orlando this week for work. At my job, we are wrapping up the spring semester with our awards banquet on Friday evening. In three weeks, we're making a trip down to Corpus Christi with my brother so the guys can run in the Beach to Bay marathon relay along with the Texas Baucoms. I will be cheering from the sidelines, sunning in my new bathing suits and drinking pina coladas.

See, I'll be practicing for the next week when Bryan and I leave for PUNTA CANA! Our 5th anniversary trip to the Dominican Republic is only five weeks away! I have imagined relaxing on a white sand beach so many times over the last two months. I'm so ready for that week in paradise with my hubby.

So, happy May day tomorrow!