Here's to our health!

I've got something on my mind.  Today, I had some tissue taken from a thyroid nodule in my neck.  I want to post this, before I find out the results.  I know it's no big deal, thyroid nodules are quite common and it will be benign.  But it's still has kind of shaken me up, because for me, just the notion of having a biopsy is kind of scary.  I've always been pretty healthy, but I'm overweight and I'm not as active as I used to be.

What has been really scary is how tired I get, even when I'm doing a little work.  I come home and I just crash after work.  I play with Javy and it's all I can do to get him to bed and crash myself.  I really don't need or like this, because Javy needs me.  I should enjoy every minute with him and all my family and friends.

So this is what's on my mind.  Why does it take a health scare to start making me think about myself?  So when the doctor calls and tells me the samples are benign, tomorrow, I'm not gonna take this for granted.  I've already started eating more soy, and fruits and vegetables.  It's time for a change.

One of the most inspirational people that I ever met is a man named Herc Levine.  Back in 1997, pre-Javy, I was lucky enough to be assigned the task of driving Herc Levine from Birmingham to a conference in Florence, Alabama because he was the guest speaker.  I was overweight back then but I was working out and running, trying to prepare to become an FBI Agent.  Herc was a physical fitness expert and the founder of the Birmingham Track Club.  At the time, I met Herc, he was 69 years old and he was planning on running a mile backwards on his upcoming 70th birthday.  The amazing thing about Herc was that he started running when he was around 40 years old.  Before that he was an overweight, stressed out mess, who had heart problems.  Then he had his first and only child and that's all it took for him to realize his life needed to change.  He started walking and didn't give up until he was running and a picture of perfect health.  It's amazing that I can still remember all these details, but I had a fun night with Herc and I'm glad his words have come back to me.  I'm gonna be like Herc, for Javy's sake.  If anyone sees or know Herc, please tell him I said, Hello.

The New Year is off to a great start!

Wow!  We've been really busy since the 2011 began.  Last week, I was off from work, but seems like we had something going on everyday.  Javy had a renal ultrasound which was ordered by the geneticist.  His kidneys and bladder looked great and there were no deformities found.  Derek Ng came over from Oahu and completely rebuilt his wheelchair and expanded it.  Javy looks small in it, but if he grows much more, we'll just have to get him a new wheelchair.  Derek says there's not anymore room for expansion.

Last Saturday, Javy went surfing for his third time.  It was really cold, but all the diehard surfers went anyways.  Javy had so much fun and he got the longest wave of the day.  I posted the link for KORE so go look at all the really great pictures taken by Bill Crane.

Javy has had really good reports from his teacher, even for the short amount of time that he has been back at school.  She says that he has been really verbal and they hear him say, Yeah, a lot.  He seems to have mastered pushing his wheelchair by himself and purposely turns himself to get what he wants.  This is such a blessing because it's hard to believe that a few months ago, he wouldn't even try.  Also, the last two nights, I've gotten him to walk to the bathroom for his shower.  All I do is hold his elbows and he just goes.  This is really amazing because he actually initiated this.

The future is looking really bright, so put on your shades.