We went to visit DH's son and family, planning to stay 2-3 days. DH collapsed, ended up in the hospital for two weeks with heart valve replacement surgery. We stayed another week after release from hospital, and finally we are home.

I cannot tell you how stressful this has been. I don't drink, smoke or do drugs, so my only comfort besides admittedly wonderful support from medical personnel and family/friends, is food.

I have gained 13 pounds from my lowest weight. About five pounds was from careless eating before this even happened, so eight pounds from DH's surgery is about right, I guess.

The good news is that it isn't even more than that! I have been afraid to weigh myself, but this morning I "bit the bullet" and did it.

DH has better eating habits than I do, but I need to get my stuff together and get us back to healthy eating. DH needs to cut back on salt.

I can't say how I will do now, but at least I am back and talking to you all. I appreciate your continued support.

Glad to hear from you and glad you are back! I'm sorry to hear about your husband's health problems - hope his recovery from surgery proceeds well. He is lucky to have you.

Good on you for not losing sight of your own health, at the same time. Hope the healthy eating returns easily and is good for both your bodies.

welcome back. It is so easy to put on pounds when stress spikes. I am glad to see you back. I wish you the best of luck with your goals. We are here for you if you ever want a shoulder or ear, or just someone to laugh with as a distraction. Best of luck to your husband, as well.

Welcome back, Gail! With support from your friends here, you'll be back on track in no time!

I'm sorry to hear about your hubby.
Good luck on making healthy changes!

Hey, you know what? You made the first step which is most important!! Take it day by day and you will do GREAT! You have a big motivating factor that may not have been there before...which will also help to keep you on track and motivated. You CAN do it...never dought it for a second! Also, don't worry too much about the weight that you gained...I'm sure a couple pounds of that is just water weight that will come off with drinking lots of water!

Keep your head held high...YOU CAN DO IT!!!

Very sorry to hear about your husband. My own husband had a heart attack requiring 3 stents in 2010, and has made a full recovery. He was always very slim and, like your husband, had good eating habits even before the heart attack. There's every chance your husband will do very well from this point on. Best of luck to you both.

Freelance

Thanks ladies. I think he will be fine; I just worry anyway.

gail!! so glad to see you back again!! I was just thinking about you the other day....I need to get back into my family history now that my insanely busy summer is over....so good to hear from you!

Sometimes things suddenly become clearer after you take a break. I recently came across a lady in France who was working on a brother of my great grandfather. Until I contacted her, no one knew what had happened to my ancestor. She sent me a copy of his birth certificate - quite a thrill for me!

WOW cool!!! I have to start digging into the Czech state archives again and rooting around the Chicago area genealogy etc...I was just utterly swamped with work over the summer and had no access to a printer so I just put it on hold