The middle

Six Months......

Six months ago, I was in the ICU at St. Mary's, eating a microwave dinner (because the cafeteria had closed) and nursing the worst headache EVER.

Six months ago, it was spring and I had a newborn and my breasts were painfully engorged because I hadn't pumped in hours.

Six months ago, I learned (the hard way!) that heart disease is the #1 killer of women (and men) in the United States.  More than the next four killers combined.  Heart disease will kill 1 in 3 women.... breast cancer? kills 1 in 10.  In my circle, there are two other women I know who've been personally affected by cardiovascular disease.... but I know that many, many more will be affected as I turn 30, 40, 50 and beyond.

Six months ago, every doctor I saw told me that I needed to make it a year without having another heart attack - after all, one of the biggest risk factors of having a heart attacks is having had a heart attack.  And for better or for worse, that was pretty much the only risk factor I had.

And now I'm half way.

The best parts of the last six months?  LIVING.

• Watching my son learn, grow, babble, smile, laugh, cry. Every minute of my time with him.
• Realizing that I have the strongest, most supportive husband a woman could ask for.
• Knowing that I can (and will) make a difference in the world by sharing my experience.
• Having the best family and friends who've brought us meals,watch Cam, kept us company, made us laugh and added a heart healthy component to their life.
• Wine.  Seriously, red wine has never tasted so good :)

So... put 4/13/2012 on your calendar.  It's a Friday night.  And there's gonna be a party!

“It is good to have an end to journey towards; but it is the journey that matters, not the end.”― Ursula K. LeGuin