It's 3pm. I'm sitting at Reagan National Airport. And suddenly I'm really, really hot. Like burning up. I think now that I can finally sit down it is hitting me what an important day this was. I can't believe I got to stand up at the front of that press conference and speak alongside Carol Blocker, who experienced the ultimate sacrifice of losing her precious daughter to postpartum psychosis.

I have yet to eat anything other than a piece of delish cake provided by the gracious team at Senator Menendez' office in celebration of today's event and the passage of the MOTHERS Act, and I only have 30 minutes before my plane boards to head home, so I'm going to have to write more tomorrow so I can go grab a bite.

Suffice it to say today was a very important step. It provided official validation. We exist. These illnesses exist, in great numbers actually.This nation's officials are recognizing that. That means more than I even realized until I was standing there in full view of the U.S. Capitol with the trees swaying in theblustery wind and a photo of Melanie Blocker Stokes in my hands.

We have more to do, but today was a great step forward for all of those people who have labored so long to get to this point and for the mothers who have yet to experience perinatal mood or anxiety disorders.

Maybe Melanie was making the breeze blow to say thank you for remembering me.