I am still with mom & dad.

I felt pretty good today & I even got to do my resistance training. I used free weights (dumbbells) for the first time since my attack.

I'll tell you these last couple of days have reminded me how much easier it is to run and lift when you are using machines. Running the hills here in PA has put much more of a strain on my leg muscles than my friend the treadmill ever did. Lifting weights without the steadying effect of pulleys and plates showed me just how much heavier 20 pounds can feel when you are lifting it all on your own.

But...I was still able to get my workouts in while I am here & that is a good thing. Not only did they help me recover physically, but going for a little run or to the fitness center helped take my mind of my dad and his time in the hospital.

I really think that the events of November 22 have helped me grow & have made me a better caretaker. Thanks to God for giving me that when I needed it most.

It has not been ALL sunshine and roses for me though.
Although I FEEL okay, my BP has seemed to jump today.

I took it after my workout & had someone repeat the process and both times my blood pressure came back 20-30 points higher than it has since starting rehab.

I'll be honest this is a bit concerning for me right now & it is coming at a really bad time. I need to take care of my dad & I am not home with MY doctors and MY support system.

I am hoping that somewhere along the line I have just allowed a temporary spike in sodium to sneak into my diet (I AM TRYING TO BE GOOD...I PROMISE), or that I am just experiencing a blip.

Either way, I'll let you know.....stay tuned.

Finally, dad is improving and is home. Thanks for all of the good thoughts and prayers. they seem to have been heard.

Good night & God bless.

Happy St. Patrick's Day, and I am sorry I have missed a day...again.


Do you remember a few posts back where I said I was done with people dying and going into the hospital around me? Well.....

Apparently, my father did not read that post. The reason I have been out of touch for a day (and the reason I had to travel the other day) was to come to be with my dad in the hospital. Yep, I am BACK in the hospital with a loved one. Fortunately, I am NOT at a funeral home, and it appears I will NOT be in one any time soon.

Basically, dad had trouble eating and was not clearing his waste. We are figuring it out & I am here till we do.

While I have not been WRITING  about my recovery, I have been working on it.
Yesterday, I did it. I ran; no elliptical trainer, no treadmill. I ran on the road with no mechanical help. And, I think I was able to do my full 5k goal. I have not measured my run yet (I'll drive it & check the trip odometer), but I really believe I got all 3 miles in in just over 1/2 hour.

Today, I tried for two in a row....um, not so sure I hit the 3 mile mark today. My muscles were hurting after the first 10 minutes and it started raining on me. So, I think I came up short.

But...I have run 2 days in a row & I am still here.
I will say this; the hills where my mom & dad live are pretty steep.

We know that my dad will need a low-fat, low-sodium diet. So, while I am here I plan on educating my dad on proper eating habits. When he gets home, he'll need a chef, so I went out & got some groceries.....he's gonna be a little surprised when he sees his menu.

Looks like maybe I found another reason for my situation. If I can somehow show my dad how to enjoy eating better, and give him better health....then I found something to make my situation more bearable and understandable.

Wish me luck...and if you don't mind...say a little prayer for my Pop.

Good night & God bless.

Well, yesterday really stunk.

I needed to decide which was less stressful, a drive up interstate 95 through DC and Philadelphia, or an airplane flight to Philadelphia.

Talk about the lesser of 2 evils; especially when it is raining in Philadelphia.

Most would consider the flight of less than 2 hours to be less stressful. However , for any number of reasons, I usually select the drive. I don't mind driving and I actually enjoy a little solitude in the car.

Unfortunately, I selected what probably SHOULD have been the lesser of 2 evils this time. Because of my choice, I am now sitting in the RDU airport almost 14 hours AFTER I was supposed to arrive in Philly.

My heart attack figured into the decision, and that is why I am including this ordeal in my blog.

My wife and I were discussing the options for my trip. She was VERY emphatic that she did not want me alone in the car for that long. She was concerned that the stress of going through some of the busiest traffic areas in the country would cause me a problem and that I might have another "episode". At least if I flew, I'd always have someone there to take care of me.

That is all true...of course you can't have a flight delay if you drive.
In fact, you can NOT have a flight delayed 3 times for a total of 4 hours. You also can NOT have a flight CANCELLED after a 4 hour delay.

Hmmmmmm, which mode of travel was the LESS stressful?

Okay, still not convinced? Okay, how about if I tell you I had to drive almost 2 hours to get to the airport in the first place, and that my hotel booking was almost messed up....does THAT make the call for you?

I am tired and a little cranky, so I am going to stop here. Suffice to say, this has been a lousy 24 hours, and while my heart didn't cause me any trouble, this was just another example of why my life will never be the same after November 22. Each decision I make will always be made with the knowledge that my heart has to be taken into account.

Fortunately, things seem to be running as they should thins morning. Hopefully tonight's post will be more light-hearted (no pun intended) and uplifting.

Ya know I said something the other day...and I am not really sure it made any sense.


Who wants to take a guess what THAT was...
...and no, you can't say that NOTHING I write makes any sense.


......................I'm waiting..................


Okay, well, if no one want to guess, I'll tell you.


I said two nights ago that "my heart felt good." Think about that for a few seconds.


<<Jeopardy Theme>>


Yeah, I KNOW....like a TOTALLY really silly thing to say huh?????
It's senseless since you don't FEEL a good heart, right?


Think about this....your heart beats all day...every day...60-80 times every minute of ev-er-y day.
Do you ever really FEEL it when it is just working like it should?


You feel your heart jump when you fall in love, you feel your heart pound when you are scared, you feel your heart beat when you try to run a marathon.


But during the day, when you are just doing what you do, do you feel your heart? Do you think about it being there? Do you realize it is the one muscle that just doesn't stop moving?


...well, unless you are in the back of an ambulance and need CPR...


No, if your heart is working like it should, it doesn't feel good. It doesn't feel normal. It just really doesn't FEEL anything. As hard as that little sucker works, you never know it is there.


So, two nights ago, my heart did NOT feel good. It felt like it was not even there and THAT was a good thing. Sorry for the confusion ;).


I have had a good 24 hours since realizing I did not skip my most important medicine. Yay, me!


Have a great night y'all and a great week to come.


Good night & God bless.

I scared myself today.
I thought I had forgotten to take my anti-platelet medicine tonight.

That is the important one now. It prevents a clot, or a scar from settling at the stent placement site.

Fortunately, I was wrong. I took it. But man was I freaking out there for a bit. The nurses and doctors really drove it home that missing even ONE dose was dangerous.

I am VERY glad we use that pill sorter as well. Looking at that saved my sanity. One glance at the pill pod for Saturday & I knew I was up to date. WHEW!

I felt a panic attack coming on until I saw that empty pod.

Well that is really all for tonight; back to my splitting headache.

Good night & God bless.

I've spent the last few hours on my daughter's floor...she's finally asleep.

My neck and back hurt, but my heart feels fine.

Very tired.

We start moving stuff to the new house tomorrow.

That's all I've got for you tonight.

Good night and God bless.

How far is a 5k in miles?


Do you know? I know. How do I know?
I have a VERY smart wife....who used to run....A LOT.


Who cares you say? Well, if YOU had had a heart attack and YOU wanted to participate in "Sprint Triathlons" next year....YOU would.


Since I have had a heart attack, and I am GOING to participate in a "Sprint Triathlon" next year (or this year, but don't tell Ashley), I do.


Why am I talking about this today? What happened today to make me tell you this?


Well, in my 30 minute workout, I just about finished a 5k.


Oh, yeah, how far IS that in miles? It is 3.1 miles & I hit 3.1 miles at 32 minutes. Then I finished rehab with my weight training.


I won't break any Ironman records at today's pace, but today I proved I can finish 1/3 of the sprint triathlon and still have gas left in the tank. Good news.


Now, the run is stage 3 of the race. Stage 3...check!


A bike ride is stage 2 of the race.
The bike ride is 12.4 miles. That shouldn't be a problem if my goal is just to survive the race.


Stage 1 is the killer (woops poor choice of words). The swim is between 300 and 750 meters. I will look for a race at the 300 meter distance. I couldn't do 750 meters in a pool when I was healthy. Forget swimming 750 meters now.


That is one of my goals in a nutshell. By next season, I want to finish a Sprint Triathlon and show my kids what hard work and perseverance can do. I want them to see that this heart attack is NOT going to beat me. Finally, I want to support them in training for the kid's triathlons they want to participate in.


Now, I was going to end there, but this just hit me....
If you travel form my house for 3.1 miles, you will be just at the end of the on-ramp for the interstate that takes you to the hospital. THAT is just about where the ambulance was when I seized and my heart stopped.


Today, I walked/ran (without stopping) just about the distance the ambulance traveled when I coded.
How's THAT for a "thing that makes you go, 'Hmmm.'"


Okay, long enough....thanks for reading.


Good night & God bless.