Becoming a student!!

Turned in my Keys, Laptop, AV equipment, Blackberry and signed the papers.  It is official I am now a student.  Whoo hooo excited about the opportunity to learn and achieve a life objective.  I really appreciate the support from my friends and family in this decision.  Since the budget is gonna get a little tight Captain J and I are already playing a game with the groceries and expenses to see who can have the best savings or get the best deal.  It is kinda fun really.  We found a great deal at food lion where we got 4 chicken quarters for 4.00 and I picked up a book bag, and some clothes for the lil man at Kohl's using my gift card and some Kohl's cash for free. 

Game on!!

Birthday Fun

This weekend I celebrated a birthday and truly enjoyed the company of my family.  My lil man helped to open all my presents and then made sure everyone knew daddy needed cake and ice cream.  It was so good.  We enjoyed my favorite chocolate cake and vanilla ice cream.  My parents came to visit and spent the weekend. They were so nice to allow Captain J and I to have a dinner and movie date.  Now this is something I am sure the lil man enjoyed just as much as his parents as he loves his grandparents.  Captain J was a good sport, because the movie I picked, "The Expendables" was not her favorite type.  I thought it was great with lots of action.  It was a great evening, even though I had to listen to Captain J tell me how unrealistic my movie was for two days.  I am sure I will be able to pay her back when I am forced to sit through "Eat, Pray, Love".  Her picking at my movie was fun too, as I know she secretly enjoyed the movie.  If you like the old school shoot em up movies you will love this one.  Great cast and a fight scenes.  In truth kinda unreal, but still pretty cool.  Dinner at "On the Boarder" was ok, the service was kinda slack, the avacados were not ripe, but we had fun spending time together.  I love spending time with my family and anytime I get to take Captain J on a date it is a good night.   

P.H. 

Sick Lil Man

The Lil Man was sick last night.  Anyone who has kids knows, your heart really goes out to them when they are sick.  Lil man kept saying, "Daddy, I Feel Bad."  So, this morning he visited the Dr.  The diagnosis: The beginning of an ear infection.  Being that he is two years old, and this is his first ear infection, that's pretty good.  He has antibiotics and his parents have promised to take good care of him. 

The great thing is he is old enough to tell you what hurts.  This morning he told mom his ear hurts and then pointed to the one that hurt.  Wow, I do not have to play the guessing game anymore.  If you are a parent you will probably join me in saying this is a turning point.  Providing home medical aid changes at this point.  You do not have to guess with little information other than a temp, color of whats coming out, and crying.  The child just tells you.  This is so much more convenient.  Truly a gift from God.  Oh wait that means he is growing up.   

P.H.  

Shoulder update and Physical Therapy

At the beginning of the year I had surgery on my right shoulder. The surgery was a slap tear and a bankart repair. This was my first surgery ever and now I am the proud owner of six screws (or anchors) in my shoulder and three new scars.

Ladies and gentlemen, if you have to get this done let me warn you, this is not easy. Nor is it pain free. After the surgery I was in a sling for several weeks with my arm strapped to my side. Then I started Physical Therapy. I have been doing P.T. every day with a therapist or on my own. We started gradual, about a 30-45 minute session, but now the exercises take about 2 hours including ice time at the end. I have most of my range of motion back. Big thanks to my Physical Therapist. Not as much as before the surgery, but we are still working on it. Here is the change... I am now working to strengthen the shoulder. Whew, finally, some weights I can lift. OK, small lbs., but I am still able to work with some weight. When I said this is not easy, I was not kidding! The shoulder still has pain, but the Docs have said that towards the end of the year this should subside as the joint continues to strengthen.

I am looking forward to this, and being able to throw a ball with my son in the distant future. I have to say a special thank you to my family and especially my wife for playing nurse for so long. You can never truly realize what it is like to go an arm down until it happens to you.

Setting sail...

These Changes in Lattitudes is about the adventures that I share with my family and a little about our life. My family loves to travel, and we make sure to take a vacation at least once each year. Currently, we are into going on cruises, but we like Europe, the beach and anywhere else we can go. Every time we plan to do something we have an adventure. Many times our adventures are stories which we can sit back remember and laugh. There is lots of change happening in our family, so I figured I would let you all that is going on and hope that you can sit back enjoy and laugh a little too.



P.H.