Man I bet that Hurts!

So Thursday nite I got a lovely surprise. I was taking off my socks to get in the shower, and I was greeted by a lovely Black and Purple Big Toe. Somehow that day I had managed to break my big toe. I did notice that my foot/toe was kinda hurting that day but I figured it was just nerve pains. Most all of you are aware of my accident 10 yrs ago. Well it's really hard to explain what it "feels like to be paralyzed". The closest thing I can describe it as is when you have put your hand or arm totally to sleep and that tingling sensation that is almost painful when it is getting it's feeling back. That is how my feet have felt 24/7/365 for the last 10 yrs. That being said.... what a blessing it is to break a toe and hardly feel it at all. I have broken about 3-4 toes since my accident. This time and one other are the only times I wasn't aware I had probably broken it. I remember tripping and jamming my foot into a door facing... I assume that is when I did it. My neurological osteoporosis doesn't help the situation, but we are working on that.



(not my foot)

My New Years Resolution is to try not to break any bones this year and get these 3 screws out of my leg from the last break!

Wanna Race?

Last Saturday morning Dec 2nd.... It was about 26 degrees and I was sweating like crazy. I participated in the St Jude / Grizzly House 5K. I started training about 2 months prior since I haven't used my chair that much over the past few years, except around the house. I was pretty nervous getting down there since I have never been in a race before. I got a 5 min start on the runners, which didn't make that much of a difference. It was pretty cool they gave me my own count down and the Mascot for the Memphis Grizzlies was out there. I was the only wheelchair for the 5K race.
There where a few that did the Half Marathon, but they had the nice racing chairs.

About 5 mins into the course I picked up 2 motorcycle cops that flanked me the whole way. That was really neat. I shot the bull with them in between sucking in air. The hills of downtown Memphis gave me a good challenge... but catching those down hills were alot of fun. All in all it was tough... I was tired afterwards... sore the next day..... but I had such a blast. I would like to get a racing chair and someday build up to a full marathon, but that will be down the road if at all. I do think regardless of anything I would like to atleast do this 5K every year. It is for a GREAT cause.www.memphismarathon.com I am trying to decide if i would like to tackle the Little Rock 5K in March. I have a feeling the hills will be worse there!... I'll keep you updated.

Enjoy the pics.....

Approaching the finishline


Almost there....


Crossing the line.....


Cooling off and tired....


My GOLD medal.... ha ha


The chair I would like someday....

Do you really want to hurt me?

How can you not think of that song at a wedding after seeing the movie "The Wedding Singer". I love that movie.

So this past weekend we went to Michelle's good friend Melissa's wedding. Now by "we" I really mean me because Michelle was in the wedding. So I was outed to sit by myself and take pictures. I was sitting with family so not like I was really alone, just not with my better half. Although I enjoyed watching the wedding with her up there... I imagined what it was like sitting at my own wedding. I dont know about others but it made me reflect back on my own wedding. Revisiting those vows you promised to each other in front of everyone that day. Wondering if things will every really be as happy as that one day. Then you have days like we have been experiencing lately....Days of joy and worry as we are expecting our first child.

Then you realize no matter how happy you were on that 1st day of marriage... that is only the 1st part. It's like when you are on a rollercoaster and you are anticipating that first drop.... then the next turn and the loop....That first day is when you are just peaking the top of the first drop.... you spend the rest of your lives .. watching for the next turn.... and the next loop.... and there will be some low times.... but you will always have another turn or loop until the end of the ride.

Enjoy a few pics from the wedding... Congrats Tim and Melissa!



The 3 M's .............. Michelle, Melissa, Melissa(2)




Michelle lovely as usual... I clean up pretty good...



And the Happy Couple... Congrats!

Baby Time

It's......BABY Time!!!
So today I went to the Dr w/ Michelle for the first time. We went anticipating being able to hear the heart beat for the first time. The Dr. said they had new fetal heart "doppler" monitors. These new great gadgets sent the Doc out looking for one of the "old trustworthy" monitors which they couldn't put their hands on at that moment. Michelle was getting a little nervous that they couldn't find a heartbeat and me being the "techie guy" figured a problem w/ the device over the baby.

The Doc then decided to just do an ultrasound to check the heart beat. This was a great treat for us because we didnt expect one of these until next month or the Jan visit. The girl that does the ultrasounds even bumped us ahead of a woman because she said Michelle "looked nervous", which was very sweet. All in all... Everything was just fine. The heartbeat was good and strong and we got to see the little guy/girl. Still to soon to know the sex.... But we got pics!!! You can see some of the bone growth and the little hands and feet.... It was amazing.... He/She is approx 6 inches long. We have been truly blessed with this child. People try and try and can sometimes never have a child, and we could have been that couple easily from everything I have been thru. The joy overfills my heart.

Veteran's Day

Today is the day for Americans to remember the past and current veterans that have and are currently serving our country. Despite what you think about politics and the war we are in right now, these men and women have fought and are fighting and losing their lives for our freedoms.

It was a special day for many in the Bartlett area of Memphis. A few years back they started selling bricks for a memorial in one of their parks. They dedicated the memorial and unveiled the monuments and allowed loved ones to see the bricks with their family members names. Michelle's grandpa pasted away in 1999 and he served our country in the Air Force during WWII and her Great Grandpa served in WW1. They purchased a brick in their name.




The City of Bartlett did a great job with the ceremony. They had the Navy Band there to play and the mayor was there to speak along with some higher level Military. I just found out about all of this a week or so ago. Otherwise I would have gone about getting my grandpa a brick. He served in the Navy on an aircraft carrier in WWII.

More pics from the ceremony....




They even had a flyover from a military plane.....




They ended with a 21 gun salute... Sorry for the shaking I was cold and trying to hold the camera over my head and balance at the same time....

Our Chicago Trip

Ok so I am going to try the "REAL" blogging... since so many of you don't consider Myspace a real blog. I have been wanting to blog about our trip to Chicago / St Joseph, MI back in August.

So we went 800 miles for an engagement party back in August. Michelle's cousin Ashley got engaged a couple months prior and we thought if we could make the trip it would be a great getaway before I started back school at nite for the fall. We got to stay in a great place. Eddie is a member of the Chicago Athletic Association and got us a great rate in the hotel there. It is right on West Michigan Ave. (which is a big deal ..Especially to the ladies for all the shopping).

Let's take a small side trip to learn a bit of Chicago history that I learned while I was there. The "C" for the Chicago Cubs actually came from the CAA. Not the other way around that most people would think..... so we actually stayed in a big piece of Cubs history.



Now back to your regularly schedule blog.... oh and GO Cards! ha ha

So our first night we ate at a Tapas style restaurant, which was a new but GREAT experience. Tons of small portions so you get a little of everything... If you are ever in Chicago I would highly suggest this place:




Ok this is getting really long.... So I better wrap this up... We went to St Joseph, MI and had a great party on Lake Michigan. For all you people who spoil your pets like a child you need to stop in to Fuzzybutz if you are in the area. They have all natural doggie /cat treats and all the other things you need to spoil them from toys to clothes and what not.




We didn't get to do a lot of the tourist things. But hey.. now we have a excuse to go back!