Bye Summer :(

Because today was the first day of classes, I essentially had to say "goodbye" to summer for this year. Honestly, it's bittersweet. I love summer, I love the long days, the carefree nights, being able to do whatever you want on your days off, driving around the lake and getting ice cream. I'm just going to miss it a little more this year, I think, because I haven't really been able to enjoy much of my summer. Energy crises, seizures, and work have pretty much taken over. This summer I also wasn't able to go on walks nearly as much as I wanted to, but at least I should be able to enjoy more walks in the autumn before winter comes.

Honestly, it will be nice to be back in the swing of things and have a set schedule. Between work and school, I will be plenty busy, but I am also hoping to get involved in some campus activities and maybe join the gym that the school helps us get a discount at. In addition, I have also decided I need to move back in with my grandparents. Living on my own simply is not safe anymore. That's a hard reality to swallow, and I'm definitely struggling with it but right now I have to accept this fact and what my "new normal" is going to be. I have to learn to adjust and get some more pain and seizure control. Once I go back to work, my hours will be cut down a little bit, and I will hopefully be able to devote enough time to school, work, and social activities. There is a part of me that is really excited to be back to school. It means I'm close to being ready to be in the nursing program and that much closer to having my degree and being a nurse! That's my ultimate goal, and the fact that I have Mitochondrial disease isn't going to change that. I've decided that while Mitochondrial disease has already altered my life and will likely continue to do so, it's not OK for me to let it change my dreams, at least for now. I feel that being a nurse is going to benefit me a lot in my own walk with Mitochondrial disease, and I will be able to make it possible. I will continue to pray about it, and pray that God is leading me in the right direction.

Today was the first day of classes for me and I'm still working on getting everything settled and worked out. I already have homework too, which in a way is good, because it will help keep me busy during my Leave of Absence from work. My hope and prayer is that this leave won't last very long and I will be back to working before I know it. I didn't realize how much I would actually miss work and my residents. Work is so much a part of my life that I feel lost not being there. I even had to go talk to Mama Mary after I was done with classes.

More bright sides to being on a leave of absence:
-More time to be lazy and sleep (my personal favorite)
-Time to get ahead in my classes
-Time to organize my schedule
-Time to get ready for my move
-Time to get ready for my neurology appointment
Obviously you see I'm trying to think positive here. It's difficult, I've been very upset about everything since Sunday. In fact, I still don't feel like I'm back to baseline and I'm not exactly sure whether that means I'm going to have another seizure in the near future or not.

Anyway, all that being said, here's to autumn, a new beginning and figuring everything out. I'm also hoping I will be able to do some things to make my room more comfortable for me and also more organized. Please continue any prayers that are being offered for me, again I really appreciate them.