Broken Spokes

Photo Contest

2010-12-30T09:44:00.002-05:00

Now is one of those times I wish I had kept up on my blog and had thousands of readers to encourage to vote for Janay's photo on Facebook. I wish it were a true photo contest, but unfortunately it isn't because the winner will be based on popular vote and not the actual quality of the photo. You do need a Facebook account to vote. Voting runs through January 3rd and you can vote once every 24 hours. Below is the photo we entered.

Facebook Photo Contest

Writer's Block

2010-11-01T16:39:00.001-04:00

It appears the case of writer's block I developed lasted over one year. Maybe it's time to come out of hiding and speak what's on my mind....nah....no one wants to listen to that.

Cruise Life

2009-10-27T12:22:00.004-04:00

I could really get used to the cruise life. We had an awesome time floating in the Caribbean. We met some wonderful people, saw some beautiful places and ate some wonderful food. I could go on and on about everything we did, but I won't bore you. A cruise vacation allows us to literally forget about all of our responsibilites and enjoy the moment. That's what vacation is all about. I love being on deck to see the sun rise. Seeing other parts of the world makes you realize just what a big God we serve. He created all of this and yet He still cares about even the smallest detail in my life? Simply amazing. We are once again refreshed and ready for the real world. Time to start planning the next one!

Sunrise Over St. Thomas

Janay Pondering Life

Our Ship - MS Eurodam

Vacation Time

2009-10-12T20:34:00.002-04:00

Once again the blog has been ignored. The photography business has kept me very busy and now it's time for a little break. Janay and I will be cruising the beautiful waters of the Eastern Caribbean next week. Some think we've become cruise junkies; maybe so. It has more to do with the fact that cruises just "work" for us. Vacations in a wheelchair can be difficult. Wheelchairs and sand don't mix. Wheelchairs and mountains don't work. Cruises allow us to escape the real world and forget about our responsibilties. Janay knows that anywhere I go on the ship there will be someone to help me if I need it. I feel completely independent again, even if I'm really not. I don't really care where the ship goes. Just put me on it and raise the anchor!

My Crazy Wife

2009-10-12T07:50:00.001-04:00

Janay went skydiving on October 4th. I think she's crazier than I am! Just one more thing she can check off her "Things To Do" list.

July

2009-08-06T19:43:00.005-04:00

Looks like I completely missed blogging in the month of July. I'm happy to report that everyone in the crash in my last entry is healing well. Kyle got his jaw unwired a couple weeks ago. He lost around 30lbs from his liquid diet. Mom's arm and head have healed well. She's still having some short-term memory issues, but I believe she will continue to improve with time. The accident was only two months ago and it's amazing to see how well she's doing. I thank God she is still with us and know He will continue to see her through. She returns to work part-time next week. Kayla is doing well too. She just recently got behind the wheel for the first time since the accident and did a great job. I'm proud of the way she has rebounded.

Janay got a new car on July 11th. I traded my Vette in on a Kia Soul. It's a cool little car that Janay picked out all by herself. I never thought I would own a Kia and I tried to find every reason not to buy it, but it met every requirement I threw at it, so we bought it. I enjoyed the Vette for the short time I had it, but in the end it just wasn't me. Seeing Janay so happy with her new car brought me more joy than the Vette ever did.

Accident

2009-06-21T21:13:00.003-04:00

As most of you know, my mom, my niece Kayla and my nephew Kyle were in a terrible car accident on June 6th. My niece was driving my mom's car with my mom in the passnger seat and my nephew in the back seat behind the passenger. According to the police report, my niece got onto the shoulder of the road and overcorrected three times before hitting a telephone pole on the passenger side.

I'm not going to go into long details, but it is only by the grace of God no one was hurt any worse than they were. The thought of losing any or all of them turns my stomach. Accidents can happen so fast to anyone. You hear daily reports on the news about serious accidents and I have to admit that many times I don't give it a second thought. Everything changes when you get a phone call that your family is in the accident.

The short ending to this is, everyone is going to heal. I appreciate all of my family a little more now than before the accident. That might be hard to understand unless you've been through something like this. Please continue to pray for total healing for everyone.

The link below is to some photos of the car, Kyle's injuries and mom's injuries. I will warn you that some of the photos are graphic.

Crash Photos

The Joys of a Long-Haired Cat

2009-05-28T21:47:00.005-04:00

Sprockett hates getting brushed. I swear he has a split personality that kicks in when the brush comes out. As you can see, he needed it. Blood was shed during this session too....my blood, not his.

Sara Lee watching the madness. I think she's laughing inside.

Rainy Day Post

2009-05-08T17:10:00.001-04:00

The rainy weather has forced us to postpone our trip to King's Island, so I thought I would post a few photos from a couple of late season senior photography sessions. The photography business has been very slow so far this year. The first quarter is always a slow time, but this has been even more so. Is it a result of a slow economy? I don't know. Business will pick up before long and I will be wishing my weekends weren't so hectic, so I'll enjoy the quiet while it lasts.

Steven

2009-05-08T17:03:00.002-04:00

Kyle

2009-05-08T17:00:00.003-04:00

They Made It!

2009-05-05T12:45:00.004-04:00

On Saturday, May 2nd, Janay and her sister Stacey completed the 33rd running of the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon. They walked and ran the 13.1 mile course that starts in downtown Indy, winds through the west side of town, makes a lap around the historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and finally ends back in downtown. I'm proud of them both for doing so well. Great job and I love you both!!

Thanks Don for taking photos while I was still sleeping!

Stimulating the Economy

2009-04-28T14:49:00.003-04:00

Janay and I are doing our part to pull this country out of the recession. October can't get here soon enough! Anyone else want to join us? After all, it is for the good of our country.

March Results

2009-03-29T21:24:00.006-04:00

The weight didn't come off as fast this month as it did last month, but I expected that. The important thing is that it did continue to come off. The proof is in the numbers. The purpose of these posts are to keep myself encouraged and stay focused. My trainer hasn't pushed me hard enough to stick with the workout routine. I think I can count the number of workout sessions for the month on one hand. Maybe this month my trainer will push me more :)

Monday of Week 5

Thursday of Week 5

Monday of Week 6 (Ouch....eating Mexican twice showed!!)

Thursday of Week 6

Monday of Week 7

Thursday of Week 7

Monday of Week 8

Thursday of Week 8

March Plan

2009-03-04T20:45:00.003-05:00

So the plan for March is to incorporate some excercise into my routine. I've got the diet working, down 16lbs for February, so let's see what kind of results I can get adding excercise in. I've fired up the treadmill and cranked it to a blazing 0.5 mph to get the heart pumping. I wore the wrong shoes the first time on it and only lasted 5 minutes. The comfy shoes were slipped on the next time and the 10 minute mark was reached. Baby steps, people.....baby steps.

Janay pulled the weight bench into my "studio" along with various weights for my lifting pleasure. My arms are aching as I type this. My trainer pushed me to limits I never thought was possible. With his help, the transformation has begun. The best part is.....he only accepts treats as payment. The photo below was taken during our initial consultation.

Proud and Inspired

2009-03-02T20:34:00.003-05:00

Watching Janay and her dad compete in a fitness competition recently left me with a sense of pride and inspiration that I haven't felt in quite a while. I'm always proud to tell others that Janay is my wife, but this was different. This was the first time Janay had ever competed in any sporting event. I knew she was well prepared, but I was still nervous for her. Regardless of how she finished I would have been proud of her, but she kicked the competition to the curb and finished second.....second in her first competition. Rock on!

Her dad, Jerry, was competing against guys 35 years younger than him. Watching what he can do at 58 inspired me to make myself better at 37. It was neat to watch others watch him compete because you could see the same feelings of inspiration come over them. No one will ever know how many people he has inspired, either by watching him at the competition or seeing the hours he puts in at the gym, but I would be willing to bet you would need to do a whole lot more than take off your shoes to count them all. One thing I do know is that he can add me to the list of those he has inspired. Thank you Jerry!

I'm Fat

2009-02-27T19:44:00.005-05:00

Sound harsh? Well, maybe it is, but maybe that's what I need. I've gained about 20lbs. since I was burned in April of '06. I spent much of 2006 and 2007 sitting or laying with my foot elevated dealing with the injury.....waiting for the healing. The doctors told me to keep eating because my body needed the vitamins and nutrients to heal itself. I forget a lot of stuff, but I clearly remembered those words from the doctor and reminded Janay often. The healing finally arrived in December of '07.....the weight arrived before that. 2008 was a year of celebration....celebrating the healing of my leg and having those days behind us. 2008 brought us two cruises......with them came lots of great memories and.....some more pounds. 2009 is here and it's time to get serious. I passed on the typical January 1st resolution. I've never been a believer in them. I had my eye on February.

Last fall before our cruise my mom told me about a diet a coworker told her about, the 3 Day Cardiac Diet. I tried the diet, and it worked as promised, but I didn't stick with it. I decided to stick with it through all of February and see what kind of results I could get. I thought photos of the scale showing my weight on weigh-in day would be a good way to track my weight. Then I thought about blogging about it telling my friends and family to hold me accountable, but I chickened out, most likely from fear of failure. The photos below tell the story. I suppose you've figured out by now the diet was successful for me or you wouldn't be reading this. I'm down sixteen pounds through diet only. My original plan was to get some weight off first, then incorporate some exercise in. I'm anxious to see what the scales say at the end of March.

Monday of Week 1

Thursday of Week 1

Monday of Week 2

Thursday of Week 2

Monday of Week 3

Thursday of Week 3

Monday of Week 4

Thursday of Week 4

Correction......

2009-01-19T21:01:00.003-05:00

......someone very dear to me is not happy about my previous post, so please disregard the previous post consider it to be false rumors. Do not, I repeat, do not harass to postee about all of the goofy stuff she said/did on vacation :)

Love you Mom!!

Return from Vacation

2008-12-30T19:39:00.011-05:00

I wish I just returned from vacation, but the truth is the blog has been ignored lately. I had someone tell me yesterday to put something....ANYTHING....new on my blog, so here I am. I guess a little vacation recap is in order.

We had a wonderful time on the cruise. There are so many funny stories that I don't know where to start. Maybe I'll start with when we got off the plane in Tampa and mom's pants are covered with coffee. Mom pointed at Aunt Cindy as the spiller. Aunt Cindy pointed at mom. Whoever spilled it, there was no doubt where it landed. Or maybe the true story of mom collecting aluminum cans to bring home while walking at the hotel in Tampa. Seriously....no lie! How about mom telling the waiter on the cruise ship she would like her check separate from ours. I'm starting to see a pattern here in my stories.

There are many, many more, but most of them are those "you had to be there" type of laughs. I am truly blesses to be able to go on vacation with family and enjoy every moment together.

Almost Time

2008-10-27T15:51:00.003-04:00

I had a friend tell me he noticed my Corvette had taken over my blog. I couldn't argue too much since the last two entries were about Janay's new car, but my blog hasn't been getting much attention period. Life has been keeping me busy, but that will change in thre weeks. Oh yeah!! It's almost time for the cruise. Buffet time, baby!

Some New Photos

2008-10-19T21:49:00.004-04:00

The blog has been on the backburner lately. The busy season for my photography business is in full swing. I did manage to take some good photos of the new toy. A week ago I spent about 12 hours polishing and sealing the paint. It sounds like a lot of work, but I enjoyed every minute of it.

I'll Be In The Garage

2008-09-23T06:33:00.001-04:00

I finally bought something to play with. When I had motorcycles, I spent hours in the garage tinkering on them. Whether it was actually something that needed to be repaired or just a little cleaning, I enjoyed being out there. Now I have something that's once again pulling me out there. I have delayed blogging about this until I had time to take some good photos of it, but I haven't had time to take the type of photos I want so these will have to do for now.

Two Wheels Broke Me, Three Wheels Burned Me......

2008-09-02T20:57:00.006-04:00

......four wheels is the perfect fit! Janay and I traveled with her parents to her brother Bryan's house in Haubstadt over the Labor Day weekend. Bryan pulled out his four-wheeler for me to take a spin on. Trust me, I learned from my mistakes and made sure the quad wouldn't burn my legs. Sure, it could have spit me off and cracked my head, but I took it easy.....and it was fun. Janay had fun on it too. Turns out she was the crazy one on it, speeding down the county roads at almost 60 mph. We had a great visit and wish they lived closer so we could visit more often. The Tucker's are wonderful hosts at the Haubstadt Hacienda.

I Am Thankful For.......

2008-08-26T20:38:00.005-04:00

.....this family. There are people in all of our lives that we are thankful for. The problem is we often don't tell them. I am so thankful for the Williams family. I know that if I/we need something, they will be there to extend a helping hand. Each one of them offers their own unique talents at just the right time. James is quick to step in with his construction skills and strength, filling in where I'm physically unable. Heck, even if I was able, I have no idea how to do most of the stuff he does. Stacey helps with work as well, but her strength is her tender heart. Compassion and love flow from her like a mighty river. Corbin is the athlete who pulls the entire family together through his sports. He is a naturally gifted athlete, but when you really get to know him, he has his mom's tender heart. Corbin's quick to give you a hug and flash his toothy smile your way. Finally there's Carly....the family Princess. In public, she'll hide behind her dad or mom. Get her alone and look out.....she'll talk your ear off and keep you entertained for hours. She sings, she dances.....and she'll often say what she's thinking, whether you like it or not. Janay and I often repeat things she said years ago and still laugh about them. I doubt anyone is repeating anything I said years ago. I see Carly as a natural leader....fearless and willing to go against the grain.

I am thankful God put these individuals in my life. I love you all!

Senior Photography

2008-08-05T22:16:00.004-04:00

I recently had the opportunity to do a senior photo session with Ben. Ben's a handsome, athletic young man who was a pleasure to work with. He was quiet, but personable. He answered intellegently when spoken to. He followed directions perfectly. I tried some new lighting techniques with him and he was patient while I adjusted equipment. Ben has a bright future ahead of him. It was a pleasure meeting and working with him.

My Beautiful Assistant

2008-08-04T21:28:00.002-04:00

I am so blessed to be married to this woman. She impresses me each and every day with the way she lives her life. As cliche as it may sound, she is more beautiful on the inside than she is on the outside. I love you, Janay!

Fair Photography Success

2008-08-03T19:23:00.003-04:00

With the exception of last year, I always enter the photography contest at the Morgan County Fair. It's fun to see how others view your work. Some years I have had success and others I have not. This year I entered four photos in the photography contest at the Morgan County Fair and each one earned a ribbon in it's respective category. The photos got a third, two seconds and a first. The first place photo also received a special merit award, which means it was in the top three of all of the photos entered. Cool!

The above photo shows me with my prize-winning photos and my awards, including my $3 prize money crumpled in my crotch area. I must have subconciously stuffed it there knowing that if Janay tried to take it, it would be $3 dollars well spent! :)

Massive Dead Snake

2008-07-25T15:57:00.001-04:00

I have never seen a snake this long before.

Chicago.......in 6 1/2 Hours

2008-07-21T20:57:00.018-04:00

Janay has always wanted to take a day trip to Chicago on the Amtrak train. Me......not so much. But being the wonderful husband I am, I agreed to go. Janay made the arrangements and even got our friends from Cincinnati, Greg and Susan, to go with us. Janay and Susan went to college together and the four of us have become great friends. Greg and Susan are world travelers and have been to Chicago several times, so going with them was a great idea. This entry started out with me typing everything that took place on the trip, but I soon realized it was going to take FOREVER if I continued on. You are now reading the condensed version.

The decision was made to stay in a hotel the night before. Greg offered to use some of his six gadzillion travel miles (I told you they were world travelers) to pay for our room. Thanks, Greg!! We ended up staying at the Hilton Garden Inn on the circle in Indy. The hotel was wonderful....we only wish we could have spent more time there since we had to get up at 4 am the next morning. We were trying to decide where to eat at, but Janay and Susan were too busy chatting so Greg and I made a decision to go to the Weber Grill. It was just a few blocks away and the short walk (roll) was enjoyable because it was such a nice evening. One thing we forgot when we planned our downtown stay was that it was Black Expo weekend. I'll just say it made for some interesting people watching.

4 am came very quickly. We had to be at the train station around 5:45. The train ride was fun because you get to see the landscape from a different perspective. Our conductor, Roby, was very helpful. He made people move to other seats so the boarding VIP's....I mean, the disabled guy....could have the seats at the back of the car. This allowed me to keep my wheelchair close and also put us close to the bathrooms. The train is a non-smoking train, but a couple of people must have been sleeping during the announcement. We could smell the nasty smoke as could other passengers around us. Everyone was commenting on how rude it was. When one guy finally emerged, Greg shouted out "we worried you might have caught on fire!" The man answered "oh no, no" and looked rather shocked someone called him out. He knew what Greg meant. Everyone around us erupted in laughter......I guess you had to be there.

I watched the weather forecast for Chicago the entire week prior to our trip. On Thursday the forecast was 2 to 3 inches of rain for Chicago on Saturday. I didn't tell anyone because I didn't want to believe it and prayed against it. I guess should have told more people to join me in prayer because the rain started while still on the train around Lafayette. When the train pulled into the station in Chicago it was pouring. Joy....

We all bought 24 hour bus passes and planned to use the city buses to navigate the city. We got a map that showed bus routes on one side and the free trolley routes on the other. Apparently you need to be a genius to understand the bus route map. The free trolley route map was color coded showing where each colored trolley went. Let's take the trolley!

We ventured outside and were greeted by masses of people under the awning at Union Station seeking shelter from the rain. We said the heck with it.....let's go! Armed with one umbrella for four people we were off. The trolley stop was easy to find.....just look for the larger mass of people who also had the bright idea to take the free trolley. Greg somehow managed to work his way to the front of the line and let the bus driver know there was someone in a wheelchair wanting to board. The three of them get on while I was told to head towards the rear of the bus while they lower the wheelchair lift. I must have looked extra pitiful at this point because a kind woman came over and shared her umbrella with me. So here I am, enjoying my Chicago trip, sitting in the rain watching the driver try to work the lift. He finally gets the door opened and everything in place and hits the button to lower it....but nothing moves. He says to hang on (like I'm going to go anywhere) while he flips the power switch in an effort to get the electrical system to respond.....nothing. The driver throws his hands in the air and says were just going to have to try to catch the next trolley. So my three friends, who all the while have been sitting high and dry, have to exit the bus (which Janay said was extra stinky and sour smelling) and join me in the rain amongst the crowd of people growing ever impatient with this minor hurdle. Maybe we need to fall back on Greg's engineering degree and figure out that bus map.

At this point we just wanted to go anywhere that was dry. Greg figured out the map and found the bus we needed to head to the shopping district, also known as the Magnificent Mile. I give two thumbs up for the accessibility of the bus system in Chicago. When the driver realizes he has a passenger in a wheelchair wanting to board, he stops everyone else from boarding, hits a switch that lowers the bus and flips out a ramp that allows me to roll right on. It couldn't be any smoother! I slide my bus pass through the system and I'm on. Where the driver failed was in showing me where to go once on the bus. There is an open area in the front of the bus for wheelchairs, so I take a spot. The problem was as soon as the driver hit the gas, I went rolling through the bus! I tried sitting facing sideways and the driver turned a corner and I once again went bouncing around the inside like a human pinball. The driver noticed me flailing around at some point and stopped the bus in the middle of the street. He then showed me how to properly us the equipment on the bus to secure myself. Now we are set! The photo below is when I was rolling around inside the bus and my three travel compadres were laughing. The driver didn't think it was too funny.

By the time the we get off the bus in the shopping district the rain has let up. It's more of a mist now which doesn't soak us like the steady rain did. Now we are all hungry and we have a wonderful lunch at the Grand Lux Cafe. With our bellies full, we head out for shopping. I couldn't begin to tell you which stores we hit except for the Nike store. One place had a pair of dress shoes for a couple grand. The hand bags didn't even show the price, so I assumed if you have to ask, you can't afford it. At one point I noticed an old building that said Chicago Waterworks. We didn't go in and find out more info, but it looked like and old water tower. The picture below shows it in the foreground, dwarfed by the surrounding skyscrapers.

Our final tourist stop was the Navy Pier. The are all kinds of rides, shops and restaurants. Our stop was brief.....hop off the bus, take a quick look, snap a couple of photos and head back to the bus to get to the train station. The below photo is probably a familiar scene from our trip....Greg scouring the bus route map looking for our next destination while Matt silently sits thinking about how much Janay is going to owe him for agreeing to go on the trip. Actually, I think Janay caught me keeping a close eye out for terrorist suspects. My wheelchair is the perfect cover for my secret undercover agent job. Good thing no one reads this blog or my cover would be blown.

So we catch the bus to Union Station to wait for our train. On the way back, Susan spots a Garrett's Popcorn, which was one of our planned stops, but the one we found in the shopping district was closed. The bus arrived at Union Station and we depart. The original plan was to order a couple of pizzas from Giordano's for the train ride back to Indy. I poo-pooed the idea because the train says you can't carry food on, but I'm thankful everyone else ignored me because the pizzas were awesome! Greg the Navigator did all of the final leg work while we waited at the train station. While picking up the pizzas, he also made a stop at Garrett's Popcorn. The cashew caramel corn is to die for. I think it was gone before the train reached the Indiana border. Thanks for the extra effort Greg!

The train ride home took longer than expected. The conductor informed us that the signal lights along the tracks were all red due to a storm passing through. The train engineer relies on the signals to determine the speed at which the train can safely travel. Since the signals were red, our speed topped out at a whopping 15 mph. The delay put our arrival into Indianapolis at about 12:30 am. Black Expo was in full swing at this hour so the downtown area was once again full.

My condensed version of our trip turned out to not be so condensed after all. Overall, we had a fun trip. We always have fun with Greg and Susan no matter what we do. Chicago can not be seen in the short amount of time we were there. It appears to be a wonderful city with endless things to do. Maybe some time we will go back when we can spend a few days there. I wonder if we could do a day trip to New York City.......

Mother Nature

2008-07-09T20:35:00.003-04:00

Monday night after work I checked on the duck's nest and found the majority of the eggs broken and empty. I hoped they ducklings hatched and they were swimming on the lake, but I had a bad feeling. Not enough time had passed for them eggs to hatch. I found two eggs still intact and put them back in the nest. I checked Tuesday morning before work and Tuesday night after work and mama wasn't on the nest.

To our human eyes, nature can sometimes seem like a cruel world, but if every duck egg hatched we would be inundated with ducks.....sort of like we are with Canadian Geese. Don't even get me started on those annoying creatures!

Matt.....MATT.....

2008-06-26T21:11:00.003-04:00

......this is how I was awakened today. The voice was Janay calling me from her bathroom and I could hear the distress in her voice. "There's a Brown Recluse spider in my bathroom.....come help me please!" Long story short, I am Janay's hero and it was a Wolf spider. It was much larger than my photo shows and saving my damsel in distress made me a little nervous. This is how he looked once I smashed him. I took two photos because I was in a hurry to flush him before he came back to life and jumped on my face. Once the toilet bowl refilled....I flushed again to make sure!

Almost Famous

2008-06-26T12:14:00.004-04:00

After our cruise, I found a website dedicated to cruising. I uploaded a few of our cruise photos to their gallery to show others that were on the same cruise as us. When I went to the website this morning I noticed they had posted one of my photos on their front page. How cool!! Then I realized.....Janay took that photo, not me. Way to go Janay! You must have a wonderful photography teacher :)

Janay's photo is the small one of the ship in the middle of the page.

Mama Duck

2008-06-25T21:52:00.003-04:00

I caught mama duck returning to the nest this morning while leaving for work. This photo shows her impersonating a yard ornament.

Mama Ducks Morning Return

2008-06-22T20:24:00.004-04:00

As I was leaving for church this morning I decided to check and see if mama duck returned. Rounding the corner to her nest I noticed a trail in the morning dew crossing the yard. I laughed while envisioning her waddling though the yard to the nest. Sure enough, she was there.

June 18th, 1995

2008-06-18T04:00:00.001-04:00

It is a date I will never forget....the anniversary of my spinal cord injury. Though my life is better in many ways because of it, I still grieve at times for the things I've lost. Approximately 11,000 people in the USA will sustain a spinal cord injury this year. The majority of those injured will be young males between the ages of 16 and 30. The video below flooded my mind with memories and took me right back to the rehab hospital. Except for a few minor details, it could be a video of my recovery process. I am very blessed to have recovered as much as I have, but I pray for a full recovery for those 11,000 people injured this year.

Spencer Flooding

2008-06-13T13:00:00.002-04:00

Spencer has had significant flooding recently with all of the rain. My mom and dad both are from Spencer, so I figured family members that keep up with my blog but live out of state would be interested in seeing some photos.

This first photo shows the fairgrounds in the middle-left and in the background you can see the bridge we crossed to go out to the country to Grandma and Grandpa Woodcock's house.

The second photo is from the opposite angle of the first photo. The bridge is to the left and the fairgrounds are at the top.

The last photo is looking towards the east with 46 comes into town from the bottom. The high school is the buidling at the bottom of the photo. In the upper-right portion of the photo you can see where the river normally flows in the channel between the trees.

The Flood of 2008

2008-06-10T12:56:00.005-04:00

Our county, as well as several other throughout Indiana, have been flooded by extremely heavy rains. Martinsville is one of the communities that was hit particularly hard. Janay and I were not affected since we live in a high area of town. Thank God none of our families homes were destroyed either. Janay's sister's house and her brother's house (they live down the street from each other) were very close to taking on water. Their crawlspaces were filled with water, but compared to many residents they are very fortunate. Janay's parents and her Grandma live in the same neighborhood as her sister and brother, but they live a couple streets down and apparently are on higher ground because they weren't affected. Mom lives across the highway from them and the water came up her street a little, but never reached her house. The bank branch she works at didn't fare as well and had about 6" of water throughout.

This first photo shows mom's bank and the surrounding area. The large building to the right is K-mart which had the same water damage as the bank.

This aerial view is from the opposite angle the previous photo showed. It shows the bank as well as the approximate location of mom's house. In the center-right of the photo is the local Chevrolet dealership. Every vehicle there is under water.

This photo shows the road to the neighborhood where Janay's family lives. The building in the lower-right with the blue roof is South Elementary School.

This last photo shows the same area as the previous photo, but from a different angle. The elementary school is just out of the picture to the lower-left. The neighborhood at the bottom left is where Janay's family lives.

Maybe My Motocross Career Isn't Over

2008-06-09T12:31:00.002-04:00

The heck with being able to walk 100%.......gimme my bike back!!

Six Degrees of Separation

2008-06-04T10:37:00.004-04:00

Most of you probably know about the theory of Six Degrees of Separation. In short, it basically says that we are only six people away from knowing everyone on the earth. I've always wondered how true it could possibly be. A recent life experience has me thinking it could be possible.

Janay and I met a wonderful couple on our recent cruise, Rick and Cindy. We first encountered Rick and Cindy at the hotel during our precruise stay. Our paths crosses a couple of times getting on and off the elevators. At that time we only exchanged smiles and polite "hellos".

The first day on the ship Janay and I were relaxing at a table by the pool when we saw familiar faces walk by. They glanced our way and came over and introduced themselves as Rcik and Cindy. Turns out they lived south of Bloomington which isn't very far from us. We are on a ship with over 2,000 people and the first couple we meet are our "neighbors". What are the chances of that? Then we find out they are both Christians as well. I soon realized we didn't meet these people by chance. God is not into coincidences.

We spoke to Rick and Cindy several times throughout the cruise. Janay and I talked about having dinner with them one night, but we never finalized plans with them. The last day came and we never saw them again. We thought maybe they would be on the same flight home, but they weren't. The only things we knew about them were their first names, they lived south of Bloomington, he was a counselor at a church in Bloomington and Cindy worked for a hospital in Bedford. Janay and I were kicking ourselves for not getting their contact info. Once we were home I tried searching the internet with the little info that I had, but my search came up empty.

Little did we know that Rick and Cindy were thinking the same thing. Rick was talking to the secretary at his church about us, telling her about this fabulous couple (ok, maybe I like to embellish) from Martinsville they met on the cruise. Rick's advantage over me was that he remembered the name of our church. When he told the secretary the name of the church she said her sister attended our church as well as a friend of hers. She e-mailed her friend who soon replied back that she did know us, confirmed that we are indeed a fabulous couple :) and told them our last name. Armed with my first and last name, Rick searched the internet and struck gold.

Janay and I met Rick and Cindy for lunch in Bloomington and renewed our friendship. I have no doubt we will be friends and maintain contact for a long time. I believe God brings people in and out of our lives for a purpose. Sometimes that purpose is obvious, other times it isn't. Rick and Cindy are a wonderful couple and we both look forward to getting to know them better.

Yes, this is a tiny example of Six Degrees of Seperation, but I think you see the correlation. I think the internet has made this theory even more believable. It has made this big world a little smaller. Thanks for finding us Rick!

10,000 Visitors

2008-05-28T21:52:00.002-04:00

Today the photo gallery with my burn photos had it's 10,000th hit. I have had everything from burn victims and physical therapy students to teachers and doctors contact me about my photos. Some have asked for permission to use the photos in presentations, while others have let me know they found them searching the internet for information because a friend or family member was burned. By simply documenting my burn journey through photography I have been able to help others. The internet is a powerful tool that makes this huge world a little smaller. We all go through difficult things in life, but even in those difficult things we can find some good if we look hard enough.

Burn Photos

Making Up for Lost Time

2008-05-28T16:33:00.003-04:00

We had so much fun on our last cruise, we said what the heck and decided to do it again! I even managed to talk my mom and my aunt into going with us.

November 16th we will be leaving Tampa for a 7-day tour of the Western Carribean aboard the MS Veendam. We chose Holland America again because of the wonderful experience we had on the last cruise. The ship visits the ports on the map below.

We went back and forth deciding whether we should go or not and I finally said we are going. The funny thing is that I was the one who was hesitant about going on the first one and now I'm the one wanting to go again! I can't wait to get back on a ship and relax. Going with my mom and aunt will only add to the fun. Neither of them have been on a long cruise before, so it will be enjoyable watching them take it all in.

Let the countdown begin!

May 2008

2008-05-19T20:36:00.003-04:00

Quiet around here, huh? Maybe I'm suffering a little bit of post vacation blues. It's tough to come back to the real world after the wonderful vacation we had. I see another cruise in our near future.

The photography business has been slow, but that is typical for this time of the year. Last week I did two sessions, a newborn session (one of my favorite types of photography) and a session with a two year old. Both sessions went well and the parents were pleased. Having parents love the photos of their children is often as rewarding as any monetary gains. I suppose that's what got me into photography to begin with....having others enjoy what I see. The attached photos are examples from both sessions.

It's easy to bogged down in the business aspect of photography. I received a letter from the Indiana Department of Revenue in March stating that I owed over $5000 in past due sales tax. I wish I owed that much in sale tax because that would mean I had of $80,000 in sales. To be honest, it soured me to the whole idea of continuing my photography business. Here I am, trying to run my business honestly, collecting and paying all taxes owed and they send me this letter. I literally felt ill when I read it. Janay reminded me that God is in control and not to worry about it. As usual, she was right. To make a long story short, my sales tax was payed in full but they never received the sales tax form I mailed in. Fortunately I had a copy of the form I mailed and it was resolved. Of course it took two months to get an official answer from IN Dept of Rev. The joys of small business. Anyone know a good accountant?

Two Years Ago.....

2008-04-23T22:02:00.002-04:00

Mowing season is upon us, so it's time for my deep thinking to begin. While doing laps around the yard this evening I realized that today is the two year anniversary of my burn. On one hand it seems like it was yesterday, on the other it seems like it has been much longer. At that time I had no idea what a long recovery I was in store for. It has been a journey filled with tears, both tears of joy and tears of pain.

I suppose it is appropriate that last week Janay and I went on our "healing cruise". Our original plan was to go on a cruise to celebrate our 10 year anniversary in August of 2006. Dealing with the burn put a stop to those plans, so we planned on vacationing once my leg healed. The cruise was awesome....so much so that we are ready to go again. It was so nice to float away with my best friend, not having a care in the world. For one week, our world outside of that boat didn't exist. That's the first time in quite a while either of us have been able to experience that feeling. We are back in the real world now, but we are refreshed and ready for what's ahead.

Texas Traffic Stop

2008-03-14T12:37:00.001-04:00

I got a good laugh watching this so I thought I would share. The "Benny Hill" music is perfect.

So.......

2008-03-13T21:24:00.002-04:00

......I've been on vacation from the blog for a month now. No reason....just felt like being quiet. My nephew Jesse has been on my mind quite a bit lately. March 10th was the two-year anniversary of his death. Death is never easy, but when it happens to someone so young and under such tragic circumstances it makes it that much harder.

Jesse had just turned one when Janay and I started dating. For some reason he was petrified of my black Reebok shoes. Needless to say, I exploited that fear every chance I got. He even went through a phase where he would scream if he saw my picture at Janay's parents house. They would have to put my picture face down when he was there. At some point he got over the fear of my shoes and my picture and actually came to like "Uncle Matt". Good ol' Uncle Matt even taught him how to make "face prints" in the sandbox. I still remember the smile on his face when he came up spitting sand after his first face print....and the scowl on Janay's mom's face when she found out :)

Jesse.....thanks for the memories.....I hope you are making face prints in Heaven.

Surely.....Surely.....

2008-02-10T22:06:00.000-05:00

My blogging has been limited lately. I'll blame it on the winter weather that has kept me inside and my job that has had me working long hours.

The title of this entry will make sense once you watch this video. I know many of you have seen it, but it makes me smile every time I watch it.

Formal Sprockett

2008-02-06T21:44:00.000-05:00

I stumbled upon this photo of Sprockett sporting his new tie. Surprisingly, he didn't mind it too much.

Calm After the Storm

2008-02-02T13:35:00.000-05:00

The storm was gone almost as soon as it arrived. I doubt if it lasted 10 minutes. Hail, rain and high winds pounded the house. I had just arrived home and was fixing something to eat. The lights flickered so I thought I should find a flashlight. As soon as I found the flashlight, the microwave beeped signaling that my baked potato was done and then everything went dark. Little did I know that we wouldn't have power again for 32 hours. Janay called me the next day at work to let me know our fence was damaged and a large spruce tree was uprooted. The fence is easily repairable. Loosing an old tree stinks :( It could have been worse.

We take electricity for granted. Flip a switch and the light comes on. Turn up the thermostat and get more heat. We are spoiled.....and I'm thankful for it.

Drug Problem

2008-01-25T12:44:00.000-05:00

I had a good friend (thanks Dave!) send me this the other day. Though I can't honestly say I experienced all of these things as a child, I certainly agree the point it makes.

Speechless.....and Smiling

2008-01-22T22:21:00.000-05:00

If you are like me, you go through life trying to do the right thing and often wonder if you make a difference or even if people notice. I've never been good at receiving compliments, so the blog entry at the link below left me speechless.

Blog

Mug Shots.....with a Purpose.

2008-01-20T21:53:00.001-05:00

You are probably wondering why I would post such somber looking photos of us. The photos you see above will be used for our passports we need for the cruise we are planning! That's right.....Matt and Janay finally get a vacation. On Saturday, April 12th we will be flying to Ft. Lauderdale. We will stay in a hotel one night before boarding the ms Westerdam and sailing off to the Carribean for six days. I don't know exactly where all it will take us, but I don't really care. I'm looking forward to going, but I get more joy seeing how excited Janay is. The last couple years have not been easy. Saying she deserves this vacation is an understatement. Let the countdown begin!

I hope we don't encounter any natives in the Carribean and return with shrunken heads. It might be an improvement on this melon head of mine.

The Roller Coaster Called Life

2008-01-13T22:14:00.000-05:00

My busy life has returned. That partially explains the lack of new entries on the blog, but I'll also blame it on lack of inspiration. I've been feeling a little funky lately. I have no real reason to feel down because everything is going great. My leg has healed. I got a promotion at work. I'm married to the best woman in the world. So what's the problem?

Since my spinal cord injury, spring has always been a difficult season. Nice weather arrives only for me to once again come to the realization that I can't do the outdoor activities that I enjoyed pre-injury. I have my short pity party and move on. It doesn't last long, but it comes every spring.

I've had those same feelings and I think I know why. I've been battling this burn for so long and now it's finally healed, but that same realization that I'm still disabled kicks in. I don't know if I expected to make headline news and fireworks to go off once I was healed or what. It's difficult to explain.

I hope this post doesn't sound like I'm ungrateful or have sunken into some deep, dark depression. I'm just pouring out what's in my heart and believe it will help shake off the funk. Life is full of ups and downs, physically and emotionally. As long as God continues riding with me, I'm cool.

Office Woes

2007-12-24T22:05:00.000-05:00

Fellow office workers.....we've all felt like this.

glumbert - Bad Day at the Office

Merry Christmas everyone!

Small but Mighty

2007-12-22T09:29:00.000-05:00

I wish I had the determination of this turtle.

It's Still Healed!

2007-12-18T21:25:00.000-05:00

I had to shout that out once again. I liked logging on to my blog and seeing "It's Healed!!" posted at the top.

I wish I had something fun to post, but there's nothing too new to report. I suppose I need to carry a pen and paper with me because several times I've had a thought pop into my head that would make a good blog entry, only to forget what it was when I had the opportunity to write a new entry.

Christmas has once again snuck up on me. It's time to visit with family, reflect on the past year and share some good laughs. This past year has been challenging, but through it all Janay and I have had some great laughs. Laughter helped us get through. Don't get me wrong, we've both cried many tears too, but God has put a joy in our hearts that only He is capable of. Have Fun this Christmas season and laugh with those you love.

This photo is from Christmas with Janay's family in 1994. I'm not sure anyone else laughed when this photo was developed, but I sure did.

It's Healed!!

2007-12-11T15:49:00.000-05:00

The blog entry you've all been waiting for and the one I've been wanting to post for a long time.....my leg has finally healed! I had a visit with the doctor yesterday and he confirmed what we already knew and said he didn't want to see me for 6 months.

It has been a long 20 months, but God has been with us all along and has finally seen this to completion like we have believed He would all along. Simply saying thank you to everyone for all of the prayers and support doesn't seem like enough, but it's all I can do....Thank You!

Though we may never know exactly why God has allowed Janay and I to go through this, we trust Him have stood on Romans 8:28, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." We've been presented with opportunities to witness to others, not always with our words, but many times with our actions. We pray that we've been able to make a difference along the way.

Finally, thank you to my wife, Janay, for always encouraging me and helping me to see the end when it seemed like there was no end in sight.

The burn journey is over.......the end.

Christmas Card Photos

2007-12-07T19:49:00.000-05:00

Since I have an entry with the outtakes I thought I should show the photo that made the final cut. Then the brilliant idea popped into my head to show all the photos from past Christmas'. That forced me to think back to when we did our first one (the only one with the cats) and then actually find a copy of it. Janay managed to find it and we think the year was 1998. We didn't take a Christmas picture again until 2004. We sent two cards that year, one with a picture we took in the summer and one with a picture we took in the fall. That was the year I discovered Photoshop, hence the heavily edited photos. You might want to put your sunglasses on to view the photos because our white teeth might blind you.

1998

2004 - Summer Photo

2004 - Fall Photo

2005

2006

2007

Christmas Card Outtakes

2007-12-06T21:47:00.000-05:00

Our annual Christmas photo is always interesting. Not the final product, but the actual production and effort involved to get one good picture of us. It's an interesting combination of fun, tension, laughter, frustration and love. Since we don't have children, we always want to get our cats in the picture. We've been successful once out of six years trying......and that was because my mom took the picture. Enjoy the 2007 outtakes.

I'm behind the camera setting things up. Sara, the boss of the house, decides to join the fun and show her best side.

Sara decides to behave and pose with Janay.....

Ummm.....nice focus

Try again.....

.....and again.....

.....maybe that bottle of wine would have been better after the shoot....

.....definitely should have waited.....

.....falling off the stool and unintentionally flipping the bird.....next.....

.....Sprockett's ready to go back in for treats.....

.....maybe a new location will help.....note Sara still wanting to join the party.....

.....make up your own caption for this one because I don't have a clue what was happening.....

.....that's one painful looking pucker.....

.....looks like Janay is begging for treats.....

.....and finally, this one just missed the final cut.....

So there you have it.....Christmas Photo 2007 Outtakes. No people or animals were harmed and no wine was consumed. I can't wait to see what 2008 brings.

Are We There yet?

2007-12-04T22:39:00.000-05:00

I'm not talking about arriving at our vacation destination. I'm talking about my leg being healed. It's sooo close, but it's still a little crusty so I can't say it's healed yet. I go to see the doctor at Wishard next Monday and I'm actually looking forward to going so he can see it. I think my leg has been almost as frustrating for him as it has Janay and I......almost.

Kelli Pickler

2007-12-03T12:53:00.000-05:00

When Kelli Pickler was on American Idol I remember thinking this girl sure is "playing dumb" to fit the blonde sterotype. After watching this video, you decide if it's an act.

Thanksgiving Weekend

2007-11-26T18:43:00.000-05:00

My long, holiday weekend has been tainted by the flu. It kicked in at 4am Saturday morning and it's now Monday evening and I'm still feeling the affects. It's been a long time since I've been visited by the flu bug and I hope it's even longer before we meet again.

My leg continues to heal and look good. I'm looking forward to that blog entry when I can shout "IT'S HEALED!" Look for that entry before 2007 ends.

Soon and Very Soon......

2007-11-18T22:24:00.000-05:00

The healing continues. My guess is two or three more weeks and my leg will be totally healed!! Praise God! The pictures have been updated and can be seen here.

We've been dealing with this for almost nineteen months now and to see that the end is near is almost hard to believe. As difficult as things have been, throughout it all Janay and I have been reminded of two words.....but God. God is omniscient, omnipresent. He allows us to go through things for a reason. Sometimes those reasons are obvious. Other times we may never know why. During times of bad news, we chose to believe the Truth, not the facts. It's a third degree burn and we need to do surgery....but God. It's burned worse than I thought and we need more surgery....but God. It's not healing properly....but God. It's infected....but God. We need to do more surgery....but God. The tests show it's infected again....but God. We need more surgery....but God. It is healed....Praise God! Throughout it all, God was and continues to be there. Thank you Janay for reminding me when I needed it.

Generics

2007-11-11T21:52:00.000-05:00

Generics items are a wonderful concept. Products are touted as being the same as name brand items at discount prices. Sometimes they are, sometimes they aren't. Tonight I was reminded of a generic item that I can't stand.....q-tips. When I need to clean my ears, I want name brand, Q-Tip brand. Thick, fluffy cotton tips attached to a firm shaft helps get the job done. A couple other "can't stand" generic items.....peanut butter and coffee. Sorry mom, there is a difference.

The Healing Continues

2007-11-09T20:41:00.001-05:00

As the title says, my leg is healing very well. The hole on the graft site that was draining heavily has almost completely stopped. The hole is still there, but since the drainage has stopped I think we will start seeing progress there too. The other side continues to heal well. New tissue continues to fill in where needed. I've done my best not to get too excited until it completely heals, but I'm shouting for joy on the inside. I truly believe it will be completely healed by the end of the year.

I've been slacking once again on my blog. Between being back to work full time and keeping up with my photography business, I've been very busy. This is the busy time of the year for people wanting photos. If I could be this busy year round I could quit my day job. You never know....... :) I sure would miss that 80 mile a day commute.

Our Feline Friends

2007-11-06T18:53:00.000-05:00

I love all animals, but I'm a cat fan.....I'll admit it. Sprockett and Sara have been the subject of many of my blog entries. I'm sure those of you who have cats can relate to this video. I got a good laugh out of it and hope you do too.

October Progress

2007-11-01T21:56:00.000-04:00

October has been a good month for healing. The collage shows the healing that took place during the month. I'm glad we took pictures because it's so easy to forgot how for it has come.

For those of you with a weak stomach....sorry about your luck :)

Blacklight Drama set to Casting Crowns

2007-10-31T21:24:00.000-04:00

This is an inspiring video set to "Who Am I" by Casting Crowns. It's a drama made with white gloves and a blacklight. It sounds simple, but obviously lots of time was put into this.

Time Management

2007-10-30T20:31:00.000-04:00

This daily thing called "work" has got me slacking on my blog. I leave the house at 7:15 in the morning and get back home at 6:00. My mind still thinks I have all of this free time, yet my body and the clock tells me otherwise. My evenings seem to fly by. It's real easy to get out of the "work groove".....getting back into it isn't. On to more important stuff.

My leg is still doing well. One of the two areas we've been keeping an eye on is healing very well. It's been amazing to see the tissue fill in over the past couple of weeks. The hole on the graft site still exists and is still draining. I continue to believe it is going to come around in time too.

One of Janay's co-workers gave her some magnets from Nikken to try. I've heard of the various ailments cured using these magnets before and I'll admit to being a skeptic. After using the magnets for a few days I could see a difference in the amount of new, healthy granulation tissue. I'm still waiting to see the same dramatic improvement around the hole on the graft site. Is it just a coincidence that it improved once we started using the magnets? I don't know. I do know I'm not quite as skeptical as I was before.

If this doesn't make you smile......

2007-10-26T16:37:00.000-04:00

......then your smile must be broken.

Back to Work

2007-10-25T21:20:00.000-04:00

My first week back has been good. My co-workers had a pitch-in breakfast for me, even though I specifically asked for a quiet return. I don't like being the center of attention. I guess I've harassed them all enough that they have learned to ignore most of what I say. It's nice to be welcomed back.

Janay says.......

2007-10-21T18:12:00.000-04:00

......if I'm well enough to go back to work tomorrow, I'm well enough to resume my laundry duties. Once she made sure I was doing it properly, she went back to her usual Sunday afternoon activity.

The Joys of Being a Man

2007-10-18T08:07:00.000-04:00

Sometimes you just have to take a break. This little guy took one during a recent shoot.

All Good Things Must Come To An End

2007-10-17T13:01:00.000-04:00

"Vacation time" is almost over. I return to work next Monday. No more Little House on the Prairie reruns. I saw all of them last summer during my "vacation time", but for some reason I'm drawn back to the struggles in Walnut Grover once again. My plan this week was to get up at 6 am in an attempt to get my body prepaired. My plan failed today.....slept in until 9, but as always, I prefer to focus on the positive and celebrate my successes on Monday and Tuesday. Maybe it would help if I could go to bed before midnight....but what's the fun in that?

Back to work....I'm anxious. By the end of the week I'll be wishing for Little House reruns.

What's that I see.......

2007-10-12T17:21:00.000-04:00

.......is that the light at the end of the tunnel? I think it is!!

What a week it has been. I posted last week about reaching milestones while recovering and how I was anxious to see what this week would bring. Several have indeed been reached, but more importantly I can see the end of what I've been calling my burn journey. Today I got in my car and went for a drive. A week and a half ago I was still sleeping in a rented hospital bed in our living room wondering what my leg was going to feel like when I could use it again. Did you hear me? I said I drove today!!!

This recovery period has cut into my fall photography season. Everyone wants photos in the fall. I have a list of about 15 people wanting pictures and my phone is still ringing. I was able to schedule my first appointment last Sunday....a newborn session with 11 day-old Paige. Photographing a new life was quite fitting for my first photo session in this new chapter of my own life.

Janay had the day off from work on Wednesday. We went out to lunch and then scouted out some new shooting locations for some upcoming high school senior photo sessions. Janay makes a wonderful model and I can only hope the seniors are half as pretty as her. I posted a couple of the photos on an internet photography forum I participate at and someone commented on how lucky I am that I have a wife who will pose for me. He's right, but it's not luck, it's love. I told him how much I love her, how beautiful I think she is and that I tell her both of those things often. Janay supports me in everything I do, including my fledgling photography business, and will do whatever it takes to help me succeed. I also told him the real reason she poses might be because she hopes my photography business will someday let her quit her job :) All I know is her beauty sure makes it hard to take a bad picture. During our outing I actually had a few hours that I forgot about my leg. Another milestone reached, but this one came unintentionally.

God continues to pour His favor out on us everyday. He has provided for our every need throughout this and will continue to do so no matter where life takes us. I can't stress enough how much the support we have received from family and friends has helped us through. God has big plans for Janay and I. We are excited to see what's around the corner.

10/09 Update

2007-10-09T08:08:00.000-04:00

I went to the doctor on Monday and the report was very good. The doc is pleased with the healing and still isn't concerned about the drainage. He wants me to progressively put weight on it this week. I haven't stood on it yet because when we got home from the doctor my foot was very swollen. Obviously my feeling in that leg and foot isn't the greatest to begin with, but when it swells it's even worse. The best way I can describe it is, if you have ever been snow skiing, my foot feels like it does when you put those big ski boots on. Not a good time to try to stand. The good news is I managed to get my compression stocking (my man pantyhose) on before I went to bed and the swelling was 100% better when I got up this morning. I'll stand up today and put some weight it. Another step in the healing process!

The hydrotherapy has been discontinued because it wasn't effective in cleaning up the wound. We are now using a cream (thanks Dave Hubbard for the suggestion!) that is a little more aggressive in getting the dead skin to loosen up and let the new skin fill in. After two treatments we already see progress. The area on the graft site is getting better as well. It's the area where it is draining from and it had formed a little pocket. Before it got any deeper, nurse Janay put her skills to use and started packing the area with a moist dressing. It's still draining, but the pocket is not as deep, filling in with new, healthy tissue.

Overall, things are looking great! Please pray that the drainage dries up and that my leg handles taking weight. Pray that the strength to my legs, and entire body returns quickly. We are continuing to stand on God's promises and believing for a complete healing. Thank you for your continued prayers and support!

Another Milestone

2007-10-03T20:30:00.000-04:00

Recovery is often tracked by reaching little milestones. Several milestones have been reached in the past few days.

Saturday I got to take a shower. Aaahhhhhhhhh! And that was just Janay's reaction to finally having me clean.

Sunday I went to church. It's been four weeks since I've been able to go. Seeing all of my supportive friends was so uplifting. Seeing my sister-in-law make her singing debut was priceless!

Today, Wednesday, the home health care company picked up their hospital bed. The only one crying as it left was Sprockett. He liked the bed because he was able to lay on it and look out the back doors to the yard. I told him either he cough up $150 to pay for another month or give up treats for the next several years to cover the cost, or the bed was going back. He had no cash stashed in his long fur and laughed at giving up treats, so the bed was loaded on the van.

Three milestones in five days. I can't wait to see what happens next week!

Another Inspiring Guitar Player

2007-10-01T19:43:00.000-04:00

The five year old was impressive.....this guy is inspiring.

I Quit.....Not Really, but.....

2007-09-30T20:49:00.000-04:00

I've been playing guitar for a little over 10 years now and I would rate myself as very average. I took a few lessons, but for the most part I'm self taught. I have always been envious of musicians that are blessed with natural ability because I'm not. I am thankful for the ability I have because playing guitar has brought me much joy and helped me through difficult times in my life. But when I see a five year old kid playing like the one in the video below, all I can say is.....anyone want to buy my guitar?

Guitar Virtuoso

It's All About Perspective

2007-09-27T13:10:00.000-04:00

The above photo has been my view for the last two and a half weeks. Saying that I'm tired of the view is an understatement. It has been mentally challenging. Too much time to think. Too much time to dwell on the unknown. My mind is not going there anymore.

I serve a God who knows no limits.....a God who has no boundaries. I am blessed and highly favored. He has blessed me with a wife who loves me unconditionally. He has surrounded me with family, friends and co-workers who support me. He has provided for my every need. He wants nothing but the best for me. Right now He is molding and shaping me for the blessings He has in store for my future.

This chapter is coming to an end and I can't wait to see what's next.

ps - You can click on the above photo (and any others on my blog) to enlarge it. I assumed people knew this, but Janay didn't so I'm sure there are others who didn't.

9/24 Doctor Appointment

2007-09-24T13:21:00.000-04:00

Todays doctor visit went well. He said everything looks great. I can now start to dangle my foot starting with just a few minutes a couple of times a day and slowly increasing the amount of time each day. Hopefully after my appointment next Monday I can keep it down as long as I want. I still can't bear weight on it, but I can put enough on it to lightly pivot on it to allow me to get in and out of the car.

I pressed the doctor for answers to when we can say this is definitely going to heal it. His answer was whenever he tells me not to come back. I explained to him that I needed more than that so I can figure out when I can start working from home. He said what he is watching for is the infection I've been fighting. He said in 3 to 4 weeks he should know if the infection is gone. Keep praying the infection is gone and the healing continues!

9/19 Doctor Appointment

2007-09-19T14:50:00.000-04:00

Janay and I made the trip to Wishard today to see the doctor. Overall the visit went well....once he finally graced us with his presence after waiting for almost 2 hours. The doctor said everything looked very good. He wasn't overly concerned about the drainage. He wants us to keep and eye on it and try a new dressing where it is draining. He basically ignored the cultures they took on Monday because once the drainage reaches the outside of the body it will test positive for staph because we all have that on our skin. He said the flap looks good, but we are not out of the woods yet. He still doesn't want me to dangle my foot until I see him again next Monday.

So I will take all of this as good news. Continue to pray against infection and for it to continue to heal well.

Sprockett reminds me everyday that he's glad I'm home :)

Update

2007-09-17T22:20:00.000-04:00

Janay and I went to Wishard today because they wanted to see my leg since it is draining. Except for the drainage, they thought everything looked great, which is what we have been telling them. They did culture the drainage and should have the results back for my Wednesday appointment with the doctor.

Transportation is a challenge with the limitations they have placed on me. I still can't dangle my foot or put weight on it. My left leg (the injured one) is my strong leg and I didn't realize how much I depend on it until it was taken away. I can't get into the back seat of our car without using my left leg. We tried and quickly gave up. Fortunately Janay's sister and brother-in-law loaned us their minivan (much to the dismay of their 6 year old daughter Carly) and solved the transportation problem. What a blessing it has been! They removed the rear seat and one of the middle seats allowing me to slide into the back and lay down. This allows me to concentrate on praying for Janay's driving :) Just kidding sweetie! :)

Since I can't dangle my foot, we had to come up with a different wheelchair. Imagine that....a guy already in a wheelchair having to borrow a wheelchair....just doesn't seem right. Fortunately my boss (and good friend) at work, Don, had a wheelchair for me to use. It's a little small for me, but it's only temporary and is good enough to haul my big carcass around. The wheelchair did a nice body slam on me in the back of the van today when Janay turned a corner. She got quite a laugh out of it. I wasn't laughing, but I was glad to hear her laugh. Laughter helps get us through :)

The above are just a couple examples of the help we have received from our friends and family. Ultimately, God will see us through this. He has surrounded us with people to be His hands and feet. Thanks to all of our friends, family and even strangers for praying for us and supporting us. May the Lord bless you all ten fold!

Prayer Request

2007-09-15T10:02:00.000-04:00

I've had a new area on my leg start draining recently that's caused us to be a little concerned. Please join us in praying against any possible infection. Also pray for physical and mental strength for both Janay and myself.

“With Faith, all things are possible”- Matthew 17:20

Daily Reminder

2007-09-12T09:32:00.000-04:00

My circumstances will not determine my attitude.

Photo Link to Updated Burn Photos

2007-09-10T22:37:00.000-04:00

The link below will take you to the entire gallery of photos from my burn journey. As always, these are somewhat graphic, so proceed with caution. If you do find these interesting, the newest photos are at the bottom of the page and start after the photo of Janay modeling the hospital gowns. Click on the picture to enlarge it and get a description of what you are looking at. I did my best to describe them, but this is my first time looking at what they did to my leg, so I could have made some mistakes in describing them. I can look at the pictures fine, but it's still too fresh for me to look at in person. Give me two or three weeks and I will be fine :)

Burn Photos

Home Sweet Home

2007-09-10T16:56:00.000-04:00

I got home this afternoon at 2. Saying that it is nice to be home is an understatement. Five days in the hospital seemed like an enternity. Janay was able to stay with me the entire time and that helped my mental well-being soooo much.

The doctors are pleased with the progress of the flap. I can not dangle my foot at all until I see my doctor again on September 19th. That makes things a little difficult, but if that is what it takes for proper healing I will do it.

Continue to pray for good blood flow. Pray against infection and blood clots. Pray for good rest for Janay and I both. You prayers are appreciated!

Rule Breaker

2007-09-05T13:21:00.000-04:00

So I was bad today. Doctor's orders are made to be broken, right? Plus, I have them on a minor technicality....no one ever told me I couldn't put any weight on my leg this time. I suppose the nursing and physcial therapy staff assume after seven surgeries and showing me x-rays where they took a chunk of bone out down to the marrow I should know what to do. But I HAD to take a shower this morning. Washing at the sink just doesn't cut it. That works fine for a few days, but there is just nothing like a good soaking.

Fortunately I still have a shower chair that I acquired in 1995 when I had my spinal cord injury. Janay pulled it out of the attic last summer after I was first injured. The shower chair allowed me to hang the leg with the wound vac attached out of the shower while I soaked and scrubbed the rest of my body. All I can say is......Aaahhhhhh! Plus, I gotta smell good for surgery tomorrow :)

More Surgery.......

2007-09-04T12:27:00.000-04:00

Janay and I went to the doctor today and I am having more surgery this Thursday (9/6). The doctor is performing the the simpler flap surgery that will only take 1 1/2 to 2 hours. I can come home after 2 or 3 days.

The doctor initially wasn't convinced to go this route, but after discussing it with us he was. He was hesitant because the tests came back positive for staph infection on the bone. The orthopedic doctor spoke with us last Thursday and said in his opinion the staph was nothing to worry about because it appeared to only be on the surface of the bone. He wasn't surprised by this because my wound was open all the way down to the bone and since we all have staph on our skin, he would expect to see it on the bone as well. As far as the ortho doctor was concerned, whatever surgery Dr. Sood (my burn doctor) decided to do, ortho did not need to be involved in. Dr. Sood would clean up the exposed bone area during surgery and cover it. The oral antibiotics I am on will take care of the infection.

Please pray that the flap takes and that all signs of infection are gone. God has been with us through all of this and He will see this to the end! I am healed....I'm claiming it!

Update for August 30th

2007-08-30T20:14:00.000-04:00

This is another one of those "where do I start?" type of messages. I will try to keep it simple. I went in Tuesday to have the free flap surgery. The doctor started and thought the wound looked much better since he saw it last (it had not changed and you all know I have pictures to prove it) and decides the free flap surgery isn't needed. He thinks it can be healed with a much simpler procedure (pedicle flap surgery). He goes out to the waiting area and tells my family that he is going to do this other surgery. He returns to the operating room and starts but soon runs into a pocket of puss which indicates the presence of infection. All the doctor can do at this point is clean up the wound, take tissue and bone samples to determine where the infection is. The doc then heads back out to the waiting area to break the latest news to my family.

As I'm waking from surgery, I can see the clock says 9:45. This confused me because I knew that I went into surgery at 7:30 for a six hour procedure. I then overheard some of the staff saying they didn't perform the free flap but I couldn't hear why. Still groggy from the anesthesia, I didn't feel like asking questions and waited for Janay to fill me in.

As it stands now, I am home with a wound vac on my leg. So far, all of the tests show that the infection is in the tissue and not in the bone, which is very good. I will see the doctor next Tuesday and he will decide the next step. If all test show there is no bone infection, the doctor most likely will perform the pedicle flap surgery the following week. The pedicle flap will only require a hospital stay of a couple days and a much quicker return to work. I've added a couple photos that shows the new whole the doctor punched in my tibia. Click here to view the pictures.

Though it has been a frustrating three days, God's hand was in it the whole time. He opened doors when we needed Him to and the end result is going to be a simpler surgery. Janay stayed with me every night and I can't tell you how comforting that was. We even managed a few laughs during our stay. Laughter is wonderful medicine.

Twas the Night Before Surgery........

2007-08-27T20:13:00.000-04:00

I miss home already....and I haven't left yet. Two weeks in the hospital sounds like an eternity. Tomorrow morning will be the last shower for a couple months. I already miss my shower....and I haven't taken that last one yet. In the midst of what many people would see as a difficult time, I see it as a positive step towards completion.

Today someone noted that my surgery date of 8/28 reminded them of their favorite verse in the bible, Romans 8:28 - "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." God's timing is perfect and He will see this to completion.

Furry Frustration

2007-08-21T21:37:00.000-04:00

My sweet, loveable cat.....where does he go when the clippers and scissors come out? The tension starts as soon as he sees the tools and it doesn't stop until we finally give in and let him go. Blood is typically spilled, but it's never been his. Grooming time at our house is always a fun occasion.

Surgery.....Postponed.....Maybe

2007-08-16T21:05:00.000-04:00

The doctors office called Wednesday morning and said they need to postpone the surgery one week. The burn unit receive a new patient that is burned over 65% of her body and they need my surgery date for her. They then told me that the patient may not survive and if that's the case, my surgery will go on as scheduled on the 21st. Of course I'm ready to have this surgery to get past this season in my life, but I'll gladly postpone it so this lady can get help.

In the past 16 months I've seen many people who have suffered horrific, disfiguring burns. Some seem to have adapted to the challenge, some have not. Though my injuries have been a serious bump in the road of my life's journey, they look like a scratch compared to what others have delt with. I don't know this new burn patient.....I don't even know her name. I do know that burns over 65% of your body will be a major challenge. God knows this woman's heart and He knows what she can handle. All I can do is pray for God's perfect will to be upon her life and know that He is in control. He will take care of her, just as He will me, in His perfect time.

Football......with Pads!

2007-08-12T21:56:00.000-04:00

That's right.....Corbin's graduated to full contact football for 2007. No more flag stuff.....that's for little kids! Saturday was the first game and it was soooo hot, but the kids hardly noticed. Corbin (#88) did a great job and had three tackles on defense in spite of being blocked by a kid who looked bigger than me (#77 in the picture below).
Despite the heat it was fun and the team won.I'm not sure who had more fun.....the kids playing or the parents cheering. The photo below is of a proud dad and an excellent coach. Good job Corbin and James! I'm sure you'll see many more victories in 2007 and beyond!

Janay - Happy Anniversary!

2007-08-10T00:01:00.000-04:00

It all started on August 19, 1991.....my 20th birthday. I would have never guessed that the 17 year old hostess at the Waverly Inn would be the greatest birthday gift of my life. Though our versions of who was making eyes at the other the most may vary, the instant attraction was obvious. Being the suave, smooth talking charmer I was, I sauntered up to her and confidently introduced myself and told her she was the most beautiful person I had ever seen. Ok...ok....so that's what I envisioned in my head. Truth be told, I asked her if she was having a good evening while on my way to the bathroom. I didn't have the nerve to say much else to her the rest of the evening.

Fast forward to August 10, 2007....our 11 year wedding anniversary. You continue to get more beautiful by the day. What makes you special is that you are more beautiful inside than you are on the outside. I never imagined being married to my best friend, but that's exactly what you are. Life has had it's ups and downs for us and our marriage is stronger because of it. Thank you for 11 wonderful years of marriage and 16 years of happiness. I look forward to growing old with you. Happy Anniversary!

Hometown Hero

2007-08-01T22:40:00.000-04:00

I've never met him, but he gave his life so I could continue to live free. Ryan Fritsche was killed in Afghanistan when his squad was ambushed during a night patrol. The link below is to a well written tribute published in the local paper.

Tribute

William Ryan Fritsche, you are a hero in my eyes. To Ryan's family and to those currently serving in the military, thank you and know that you are in my prayers.

August 5th Update: The photos added were taken as Ryan made his final trip home to Martinsville.

Finally.......a Surgery Date!

2007-07-30T22:13:00.000-04:00

I don't know why I put an exclaimation point because I'm sure not excited. I guess it's because it has been a long, somewhat unexpected two month wait to get it scheduled and I'm happy to have a date. The surgery is scheduled for August 21st. It actually works out well because I get to celebrate our anniversary (10th) and my birthday (19th) before the surgery.

Reality starts to set in now that the plan is actually in motion. I'm not fearful, I just don't want to go through all of the hassle that comes along with it. I am still praying that God will allow it to heal before that surgery date arrives. But I also know that sometimes God works miracles through the hands of surgeons. God's in control. His plan is perfect. He will see this to the end.

Thank you for your continued prayers and support.

Furry Friend

2007-07-26T12:44:00.000-04:00

Sprockett......where does one begin trying to describe a cat like him? Some friends and family have even questioned his existence since he hides when most people come over. That meow.....how sweet it was when he was a kitten......how utterly annoying it can be on mornings you just want to sleep past 6:00 am and he demands to be fed so he can be back to sleep by 6:30 am. His favorite call in the middle of the night......urp, urp, Urp, Urp, URP, URP...YACK! The sweet sound signaling another gift of Sprockett's famous fur ball graciously left on the carpet. I know Janay hears it, but she usually does a wonderful job of pretending to be sound asleep. He's a pig. I think he would eat until he popped. If he and his sister Sara Lee are fed at the same time, he gulps his down and proceeds to sit with his face so close to her bowl that she eventually gets so annoyed she leaves. Since she is the boss, he doesn't dare try to take it from her. Instead he has figured out that being the annoying "little bother" will earn him at least four or five bites of her food. And finally, that breath. His nickname isn't carcass mouth for nothing....phew!

With all of these "faults" one might wonder how he's managed to stay in our household for ten years. Plain and simple.....love. The crazy cat captured our hearts the first time we saw him at Petsmart in Greenwood. He was there from the Southside Animal Shelter......and he had poop all over his rear end! Janay still wanted him in spite of his "faults". I wasn't so sure. After a few days under our bed, he started to get comfortable in his new surroundings and that wonderful personality emerged. He acts more like a dog than a cat. He watches me leave in the morning from the front window. He greets me at the door with his loud meow when I get home. His favorite place is on my lap, whether that be relaxing in the recliner or rolling around the house with me in my wheelchair. If I'm home, he's typically close by.
What is it about pets that allow us to become so attached to them? We haven't been able to have children because of my spinal cord injury, so maybe our cats somewhat fill that role. But I don't think that is the only reason. I just love animals. I can't watch "Emergency Vets" on the Animal Planet channel without getting choked up. I guess I'm just a sucker for animals. Sprockett's my pal and always makes me smile.

Still No Date

2007-07-19T12:31:00.001-04:00

No surgery date yet. I'm not sure how long I can continue to be "nice" when I call them. I have learned in life that not being "nice" typically doesn't help, so I will probably just continue waiting.

Photography has kept me very busy lately. People that Janay works with have had my phone ringing often. She told me a while back that if I do good work, the word will spread quickly among her co-workers. I'll assume the ringing phone means I've done good work and people are happy. Truthfully, I get as much satisfaction out of someone telling me how much they love their pictures as I do making a little money. A mom recently e-mailed me and said that a slideshow I made from the photos of her one year old daughter made her and her husband cry. I'm sure I had a huge smile on my face as I read that. Heck, my eyes even watered a little when I watched the slideshow (I told Janay my contact lenses were bothering me).

As much as I enjoy taking pictures of people, I still enjoy just going into the backyard and taking pictures of whatever pops up. The other day I chased this butterfly back and forth while it inspected each purple coneflower next to our house. The butterfly would make its way down the entire row and then turn around and go back over the flowers it had just visited. After doing this several times, I decided I had bothered enough and let the butterfly eat in peace.

It's a Big World

2007-07-16T20:44:00.000-04:00

This past weekend we finished up Phase II of the wood floor project at our house (more on that later). Janay's family was doing the work while I supervised.....ok......I checked in on occasion to see if anyone needed anything and then got out of the way.

Corbin and Carly were over so I got to play with them and have fun while everyone else worked. Isn't that what a good supervisor does? It's fun to watch them explore the backyard. They like to roam around, check out the flowers and see what else they can find. When I saw them standing below the enormous blue spruces, I was awed by just how large they are. I couldn't fit half the tree in my camera viewfinder when I took the picture. To the kids, they are just another stand of trees. To me, they are just another one of God's miracles that we overlook day after day. What does it take for us to truly open our eyes and see the small miracles that surround us everyday?

Enough with the serious stuff. Corbin and Carly had fun. I had fun. I know eveyone else had fun too.......even though I worked them all like a dog!

I thought I had heard it all..........

2007-07-12T12:42:00.000-04:00

After 12 years in a wheelchair, I am use to people curiously staring. Some occasionally work up enough nerve to ask what happened. People have posed some crazy questions and made silly comments before, but someone topped them all the other day.

A man in line behind me at Lowe's comments on my lightweight wheelchair and how he's spent his share of time in one and blah, blah, blah. He the asks why I was in one. I tell him it was a motocross accident and how I'm blessed to be able to walk some. That's when he comes back with, "Well I noticed you hadn't lost much meat on them legs." Janay didn't hear him, but we rolled with laughter in the parking lot.