2007 Year in Review!

OK...Christmas has come and gone once again. What a year...it was fast and full of ups and downs (I am referring to all the events that happened). Last winter we had illness after illness that went into the spring. My wife got hurt in February and carried pain all this year. I lost my incentive payout at work and now make allot less now. That was to doom and gloom...here is the good stuff. I lost weight, went fishing in May, I have my health back, grown spiritually, went on another mission's trip, met new people at church, shared fun times with the family. That is a brief year in review for me.
The photo - I think that it sums up my life. I doubt that "Moe" beat and won a battle with anorexia. If anything he won....maybe a free pizza or a hot dog eating contest. I really want you to look at the picture and realize that no matter how overwhelmed you may feel, or how tired you are of keeping up with life, you will always have to battle the small things in order to cross the finish line. My finish line will be Heaven. I know it sounds odd...but I truly think we are put here on this earth for a special and specific reason - and that is to serve and praise the Lord Jesus Christ. I see everyday religion and honesty taken away from us. Look at the moral values society puts up with, look at the corruption happening all around us locally and worldwide.
I am getting myself wound up....I will get back to the basics. 2008 I would like to look back at this blog entry and make sure word for word that I am holding myself accountable for what I am about to write. I would like to get back underneath 200 pounds and ween myself off the computer at home more. I would also like to include my kids in my hobbies such as geocaching and going for rides and exploring more of what Maine has to offer. I would like my wife to heal her back and stay energetic and healthy. Walk, Walk, Walk everyday possible together. Those are objectives that I think I can complete and accomplish.

Merry CHRISTmas Everyone!

Just hours away....my kids by this time tomorrow will already be exhausted, there will be paper, bows and ribbons to gather and throw away. The smell of turkey (once again) will loom in the air. I will be preparing for a Christmas dinner and then before you know it. It will be "nappy" time for some of us. The best thing I enjoy in the afternoon is watching "A Christmas Story" over and over again. That is the movie about "Ralphie" who wants a pellet gun sooooooo bad that he visions himself as an outlaw and then as a blind man. When I was a kid I actually went to the movie theaters to see this movie when it came out (shows my age).

Wife Update - She is still in pain, alot of pain. She is still taking her meds every few hours. She has been getting up and walking a little bit and she is starting to sit down. Sitting down puts alot of pressure on her back and stitches. She is slowly getting better. The drugs make her sick and dizzy alot so she seems to be in bed while the meds take affect. Last night we all crowded onto the bed with her and watched "ELF" again. No matter how many times I watch the movie....I still laugh like it was the first time. It broke up the quietness in the house. Tomorrow I am trying to figure out how to get her into the van....I live on a hill and there is still some ice and snow that makes it slippery. Last night we had alot of heavy wind and rain. Thank you God for making the roads better. I have been traveling alot with bad road conditions. I will post more soon!

Laurie's Back Update

10 months ago my wife slipped while cleaning and felt her back give out. She eventually went to get xray's done on her back. She was told she had injured a nerve in her lower back and it would take weeks, months to heal. Over the past several weeks the pain was only getting worse and more intense. Last week Laurie went in for a MRI and the results came back that she had a hemorrhage disk that was pushing against her nerve cord in her back. We went to a specialist in Portland this past Monday and they scheduled back surgery for this Friday (just 4 days) and yesterday Laurie had her back operated on (L5 and S1 in her back corrected). Dr. Guay was the doctor performing the surgery and he came out to let me know that Laurie's pain was intense when she woke up and she needed more time to recover. I was told that they had to remove bone fragments around the disk and shave away to bone from the nerve cord. I got Laurie home around 7pm and she has been in bed since then. This morning she got up on her own and ate a lite breakfast and then she had fainted. She is now back in bed and regaining her strength. Please pray for her and a speedy recovery. She is optimistic and is looking forward to having her life back and without prior limitations and flexibility. Thank You for those who have been already praying for her and I will keep this blog updated over the next week.

just for the records

This is a better view of the dinosaur costume. This was given to my son when he was allot younger....and now he is out growing almost everything he owns. I luckily..have some clothes he can grow into someday. "J" is pictured here in her winter fashion costume...it is this years "gotta have" outfit. I love the built in pot belly and the nasty row of teeth. I wish I had this type of costume...I mean who wouldn't want to walk around the house with a neat "something" to wear that is unusual. When I was a kid I wanted to own and wear a storm troop uniform from Star Wars. To be honest...I would still like to own one, and yes I would wear it. I am a geek and always will have a memory of my childhood imagination and toy box of ideas. I was the kid who would go outside after a snowstorm and set up all my figures and re-enact the Hoth Scene from Empire Strikes Back (yes, another Star Wars reference). I would always loose a few on the lawn until the snow would melt and then I would pick up faded figure and throw it back in the box for a rainy day.

nEVeR TrUSt a DInOsaUR wIth a DeMEntEd SMiLE

I was cleaning out my sons closet and found several play costumes that he used to wear about 5 years ago. I thought it was funny to see small costumes such as Power Rangers, Star Wars Jedi Garb and a dinosaur suit. The dinosaur suit is larger that the others and my daughter could still fit into it. I thought it was a precious moment to snap a few pictures of her before she too grows up and out of her childhood innocence. Now....I did not notice her facial expression when this photo was taken. I look at this picture and cannot fathom the horrid look on her face when this was taken. Also, check out the fat belly pouch of the costume....it is so funny to see.

Tis the Season for.....

My daughter made this snowman after our first real snow storm....looks fake!
wow...Christmas is almost here. I cannot believe the recent weather we have been getting over the last week and there seems to be a possible large nor'easter coming in Sunday night. I do not like driving in this weather....but living in Maine has it's beauty in the summer and fall, then it shows it's ugly cold side. I have been busy enough to see a month flash by my eyes before I realized that I have a "to do" list that needs some attention. This year I need to make time to learn basic spanish and get back into shape (I know that a circle "round" is a shape), I need to eat more fruits and veggies daily. I am feeling that any food eaten outside my house eventually makes me ill and regret that "doughnut" at the gas station. This is not a diet....a lifestyle change for the better is what I consider it.



Wife Update- for the past 10 months my wife has had an injured back and was told that she had some nerve damage in her lower back. The pain has only increased vs. slowly going away. This past Monday she went in for a MRI and got the results back last night....she has a herniated disk along with nerve damage. The next step is to see a specialist and get it fixed. Please keep her in your prayers and I will update you blog-heads soon.