Guess what we did tonight?

Sean's best friend, Taylor.

Sean and Taylor

(l-r) Sean, Taylor, Erin and Brian

My three kiddos and four of their friends.

Brendan!

Part II

On Friday morning we drove from Jacksonville to Deltona (just outside of Orlando) to spend the day with my family there. We had another Thanksgiving feast, the kids played outside all day, and we got to talk and enjoy each others company.

Nana, the 88 year old matriarch of the Harper family, and Sean.

Thanksgiving 2009

We arrived in Jacksonville at Grandma B's on Wednesday evening. On Thanksgiving day she prepared a feast fit for an army, and by mid-afternoon we were all too stuffed to move. We spent the day watching football and playing out in the back yard. There was a lot of playing, and even Anah enjoyed it (and the Thanksgiving feast).

I am...

Thankful

Happy Thanksgiving to you all. I have so much to be thankful for this year, and every year, but most importantly are my family, friends, and health.

22nd Annual Hillsborough River clean up

Sean, Erin and I participated in the 22nd Annual Hillsborough River clean up today with others from my PAMSA group at USF (Pre-medical American Medical Student Association). There were over 1,000 participants in the event this year, and our group alone picked up 8 HUGE bags of trash along the section that we were assigned.

While we were waiting for everyone else to arrive Erin posed for a couple pictures.

Sean tried to hide from me.

Stephanie and Erin...ready to get started.

Sean and Stephanie being silly. They were huge bags.

Trust me, I didn't let them touch her face. You wouldn't believe some of the junk we found today.

A cell phone, anyone?

The trash truck came around to all of the sites to pick up our bags.

Erin was attached to Stephanie all day.

After the clean up was done they had a huge BBQ for everyone.

Challah

This was my first time attempting to make Challah. I made the round braided version, and added thyme, rosemary, garlic and basil (inside the dough and on top). I've got a couple other variations to try, and I cannot wait.

Looking good

I met with Dr. P today (my back surgeon), and he said that everything looks great. He is actually quite impressed that everything looks as good as it does. I have absolutely no pain, and haven't since the surgery. Not in my back, hips, legs or even at the site of the incision. He made sure that I have no permanent nerve damage (I don't), and even pressed firmly on the actual incision, and I had no pain when he did that. He couldn't believe it. I thanked him over and over for not just doing such a great job with the surgery, but for essentially giving me my life back. I was in so much pain, and it was absolutely taking its toll on me. Emotionally I do not think I could have handled much more of it, and I made sure he knew that what he did made a huge difference in my life.

I go back in three months for the "all clear". Until then I cannot exercise (with the exception of walking), and am clear to "have sex as long as you keep it missionary-stay on your back!!" Yes, that's exactly what he said. I have a high chance of re-rupture over the course of the next 6-8 weeks since the surgery was so invasive, and that is why I have to be so careful. You can be assured that I will be even more careful than he asks, because I do not ever want to have that kind of pain again.

I feel great!

Sleepy head

After a nice walk with Aunt Michelle and Anah Belle, Maddox was exhausted, and ready for a nap. So I gave him his "blankie", got him settled in my bed, and within three minutes he was out!

End of the season party

The fall baseball season is over. The Angels hosted their end of season pizza party this afternoon, and each player received a medal (they placed first in the league), and a set of dog tags with their personal information on it. No more baseball now until late January.

American Heart Association "Heart Walk"

Sean, Erin and I walked the three mile American Heart Association "Heart Walk" this morning at 9am. The walk started just outside the main gate of Raymond James Stadium (home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers), and followed a path around the stadium, and then back through, and onto the field. Thank you to those of you that donated on my behalf!

Just after starting the walk.

Coming back towards Raymond James Stadium.

Inside the stadium (we were crammed).

Erin (on Sean's shoulders) in the very far right top corner of the jumbo-tron inside of the stadium.

Erin and two of the Buccaneers cheerleaders. She was so excited to get her picture taken with them as we walked past.

From Tony

Tony bought me these the day after I got home from the hospital. I was having a particularly rough day, and when he walked in with these in his hands he said, "This should make you feel a little bit better."

It did.

Justice

After waiting way too long, Sean and I will finally be meeting with the State Attorney's Office on November 19! For those of you who know what I'm talking about, there you have it. We should be rolling now.

2009 Fantasy of Flight "Roar and Soar"

For the second year in a row Tony has been a participant in the Color Guard for the annual "Roar and Soar" at Fantasy of Flight. Here are a "few" pictures from the day. It always makes me so proud to watch him.

The two best flags in the world!

After the presentation of the colors, a few older veterans approached the guys and asked to have their pictures taken with them. It was so sweet.

Erin was all about saluting every time I took her picture. If you ask her why she will tell you that it is because she wants to honor the military (her words).

Uncle Tony and Erin (saluting again)

Taking this picture was her favorite part of the day. When I asked her why she told me that it was because she loves our soldiers, and is proud of them.

Hand over the heart and saluting for this one.