Well, in case any of you were worried, I am alive and well. I'm usually much better with blogging but I know it's been a while. That means this blog may take a while, so you might want to go get something to drink or some popcorn before you start... Ok now that I've warned you, here goes!

Last week was my last week of clinical rotations for a while! I was the only "dietitian" on the Pediatric ICU and the Intermediate Pediatric unit. And let me tell you, that is pressure! On most floors, nutrition can only help, but not really harm. But with critically ill infants who are often on ventilators, nutrition can be much more critical and of course most are on either tube feedings or IV feedings, or both. So last week was very challenging, but rewarding as well.

Then on Saturday I went to St. Louis to the American Dietetic Association convention until Tuesday. Saturday Katrina, Jeff, and I represented our internship at a "internship fair" for those who are about to graduate and apply to internships. We answered questions for about 2 hours and I got to see most of the Bluffton Seniors in the program and Deb and Kay as well. Also, I'm currently in the process of convincing Nicole Yoder to come to OSF. She's interested because Dan comes home in August and our internship can start in October, which gives them time to get married first. Anyways, after that fair we went to see the Key Note speaker which was Jane Seymore this year. She talked all about her life and it was very interesting. She has been through so much and overcome so much which is always encouraging. So often, we see celebrities on tv and think they have it all, and have it so easy, and have everything handed to them. To hear about her struggles and obstacles was really encouraging.

Then after that the Illinois Dietetic Association was having a "get together" at the Grand Bar at the Renaissance Hotel, which is a really fancy place. Because our internship director is the president elect of the IDA, she had asked us to go, so we went and hung out with her and her mom (who is very cool!) Then, they mentioned they were going to go and get dinner and Jeff who never knows what's appropriate, etc. basically just invited us out to eat with them. So they took us to a really fancy restaurant with a breathtaking view of St. Louis-the city, the arch, etc. She then ordered a bottle of wine and paid for all of our dinners. I felt just awful about it, especially since Jeff invited us and it cost over $150!

Then Sunday I went to a lot of really interesting sessions. I may have actually learned something! Then after the sessions, I took Katrina and Jeff with me to Abby's cookout, which was a lot of fun. (Cold, but fun!) Thanks again for inviting us Abby!!

Monday was more sessions and the expo. The expo is insane! It's just a huge convention center full of companies-mostly food and drug companies-that give away free stuff. I never made it through the entire place, but I left with bags full of free stuff-loaves of bread, drinks, books, vitamins, stress balls, and everything in between. Then Monday night I went to dinner with Deb, Kay, the Bluffton students, and other alumni. It was a lot of fun to talk to them and catch up!

Then on the way back to my hotel, I got kidnapped...this crazy woman pulled up along the side of the road, made me get in her car and took me to get "the best frozen custard in St. Louis." Thanks Abby, it was really good and it was good to see you again!

Then today (Tuesday) we slept in, skipped the convention, and went to the arch. It was my third time going up (and my 2nd in 4 months) but Katrina and Jeff had never been, so I went with them. Then we came home, and it is wonderful to be home. I enjoyed myself, but it is just nice to be home again! So tomorrow it's back to work for my community orientation and then this weekend my family is coming to visit! So it will be a great, short week!

P.S. I hope you all enjoy this super long blog, because I typed it twice. For some reason, after I was finished, I tried to do a spell check and the whole thing disappeared...so here it is, my 2nd draft, spelling errors and all-because I am not trying to spell check it again!