GIVE ME A BREAK (or 4)

He said;

Well the scapula (shoulder blade) is the 2nd hardest bone in the human body with the hardest being the skull. As I tell you this I am demonstrating how well I can type utilizing only my left hand. As a lot of you that read our blog knows, I, Randy, partake in a type of extreme sports. My son-in-law, my best friend and I ride Cross Country (XC) bicycles. Most of you would know this as mountain biking, but in Florida we have no mountains so we ride fast among the trees and roots in swamps. It’s a blast, not a lot different from whatever gives you the rush that makes your life fun.

Around Mothers Day, Twila posted about my broken clavicle (collar bone). In short, I was riding and the front end locked up, I flew over the handle bars, landing on my left shoulder. Well, we blamed the low-end bike I had, Twila let me purchase a new Jamis Dakar XC Comp. (jamisbikes.com), man what a great machine. It helped, but in the owner’s manual was a warning.
Suspension can increase control and comfort by allowing the wheels to better follow the terrain. This enhanced capability may allow you to ride faster; but you must not confuse the enhanced capabilities of the bicycle with your own capabilities as a rider. Increasing your skill will take time and practice. Proceed carefully until you have learned to handle the full capabilities of your bike.
Well as you can guess, I may not have learned to handle the full capabilities of my bike.
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Wednesday morning I was riding by myself, which was probably not the best idea. The trails were fast and little bumpy, which would make for a great ride. Flatwoods, the name of the trail, is home to wild animals as stated before. We have seen deer, gators, armadillos, dogs, snakes, turkeys and wild pigs. It is their home so we are careful to respect it, I had already seen a wild sow with her 5 piglets but I didn’t heed the warning, I just kept flying along the trail. Well, I was on Squiggy and towards the end there is a hard right. Just before the right I encountered an area where the pigs had been rooting around. My front wheel went into a hole and I flew over the handle bars (yes I was wearing a helmet which I might add must be replaced now). I landed on my head and my right shoulder blade. It hurt but being a guy I figured if I just laid there for a few it would lighten up and I could finish the ride. Well after about 5 minutes it didn’t so I decided to leave. I walked to the paved trail and thought about riding out on the smoother surface but I couldn’t stand to lift my right arm. So I walked 2 miles to the car. It being the middle of the week nobody was there so I had to load my bike myself. The bike only weighs 2 pounds so it wasn’t bad. I drove home and painfully took off my Texas jersey (Twila would have killed me if I had cut it). I then cut off my under amour, its skin tight material that wicks moisture from the body (it’s cheap compared to the jersey). I showered still thinking the pain would pass, and then I headed to Twila’s office to get her for a trip to the emergency room. Britt (daughter that that goes with above mentioned son-in-law) called because I was suppose to meet her and the boys for lunch, well I canceled and when she asked what was wrong I said nothing. Yes later I got in trouble, but I figured it was better to tell Twila first.

While driving with my left hand Twila called, so I figured it was best if told her about the spill. We went to St. Joseph’s ER and saw a PA. It was kind of funny, after the X-ray she almost ran into the room to check my breathing. We asked what was going on and she told us my scapula was broken 4 times, she used the term shattered, not something I wanted to hear.

So I broke my collar bone in May and my shoulder blade in November. Many have said I should sell my bicycle and act my age of 45. Those are for the most part the ones that act their age. They have “safe” hobbies. The others, people that understand what makes me get up at 6:00 on a Saturday morning to ride through trees, down trails where I will see wildlife, and get the cardio exercise that is “fun”, ask when I can ride again. No it’s not safe and I may turn more toward road biking where I would be riding on a paved trail with no cars, but be sure, somewhere in 6 to 10 weeks I’ll be on 2 wheels again enjoying life.


She Said:



Okay - let me say that if I was his mother his bike would be 4-SALE! But since I am not the boss of him! I will say "Randy will not be riding his bike the day before a national holiday ever again not to mention alone!"

Actually - I know that this is something that he loves to do so I will be supporting him (or nursing him back to health) in everyway that I can.
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Things I've learned Recently

1: Andrew Ryan Crosby will be born sometime in late March early April. AC & Trace no longer say a BABY is in mommy's tummy - but say Andrew (Drew Ryan is how Trace say's it) is in there. AC walks up to where his mommy was sitting yesterday and leaned close to her belly and said "Andrew can you hear me". I laughed - it was so sweet.

2: Sarcasm is wasted on a 3 year old. AC was getting in his carseat yesterday and the top buckle part was twisted so he started whining and kicking - I said "Wow AC throwing a fit to get something done works everytime" He looks up with me and said in an awe filled voice "REALLY". So I got to explain to him I was trying to be sarcastic - when will I learn to just say "AC throwing a fit won't make it easier but asking for help would".

3. Nyki is due July 4th - I think it would be cool to have an independance day baby - but then again your birthday would be lost in all the "Holiday" stuff so......... Besides baby will come when baby is ready so. I'm still thinking a boy on this front - but hey I was wrong with the other one so..........

4. Nyki & Rylee were looking at this blog and Nyki was showing Rylee pictures of the boys and she got really excited and started kissing the boys. So a few miles (actually a whole bunch of miles) apart won't keep my grandbabies from knowing each other! - Weird thing is that I was looking at pictures on the computer with the boys and they kept talking about Rylee at about the same time.

5. I've learned that my baby turning 22 makes me feel REALLY REALLLY REALLY old! Also makes me wonder how the years went by so fast!

6. Ethan & Seth came to visit for a while Saturday while Mommy & Daddy went out for Mommy's birthday. Ethan blows me away with his ability to read. He was playing on the computer which is really fun to watch him drive in a Wacky Race. Seth is just too durn cute for his own good - when he's in trouble he puckers up his mouth (maybe I can get a picture of it sometime) and bats his eyes and I have to look away because I can't help but smile it is the cutest picture of "WHO ME?" I have ever seen.

7. I don't know if it's the holiday's or what but I have been feeling the miles between TEXAS & FLORIDA for a couple of weeks now - I've talked to the ones in Texas more often so maybe it's that but boy I wish the states were close enough for weekend visits every once in awhile!

Worried about the WRONG One!

Okay I have decided that I have been concerned about the wrong kid's career choice. Instead of being concerned about Shawn becoming a police officer - I should be concerned about Tasha becoming a Teacher!!! Another school shooting this week - this time it was the Principal & 2 APs. My brother-in-law is an AP all I can say is BE CAREFUL OUT THERE!

Thanksgiving is around the corner and we haven't made any plans yet. In fact we haven't even really thought about it. Randy's oldest brother was suppose to be here - but with GAS prices etc......they are not coming. But whatever is decided we will have a THANKFUL holiday I'm sure.

Tomorrow Tomorrow that's when we should know what Brittney is having. A Boy A Girl it doesn't really matter just as long as their healthy (I'm still hoping for a GIRL - RC is still NOT).

Nyki is doing fine - please join me in praying that God gives her the strength to quit smoking - I know that a lot of RYLEE's breathing problems were not related to the smoking but some of them were, and we don't want to repeat with THIS baby!

Eric & Julie opted not to find out what they're having at the Sono - so we will be SURPRISED in April when the Doctor says "It's a ????" But we do know the important part - it's healthy all chambers of the heart are pumping etc....... Praise God for that.

We don't get to go camping with the Church this weekend - we have a wedding WOW what a wedding. I'm more interested in finding out how it will work than I am stressing over it. We have a small stage "alter" area. Drums & piano do not get removed from it for weddings so it's even smaller. The Couple getting married have 8 attendants on each side, 3 preachers, a pianoist, oboist, celloist, 2 columnes with Flower arraingements, 2 candleabras and a kneeling bench. (Not to mention the full choir up in the balcony). Should be VERY VERY interesting!

Well besides work and recooperating from JH not much going on around our house.

Judgement House, Bike Ride, Bragging et all......

I’ve been sabotaged! I wrote a LONG posting and then went to post it and the system refused to work!!!!! So it’s GONE! So I will do my best to recreate what I told you (but warning I’m not feeling as WITTY as I was so it is just NOT going to be the same!)

RC rode his bike across the State (Good thing he doesn’t live in TEXAS!!!) this weekend. He and 3 others from FBC Lutz went with a group from Idlewild Baptist they started on the other coast and rode 60 Miles on Friday, 80 Miles on Saturday, and finished up in Tarpon Springs after riding another 60 miles on Sunday. He really seemed to enjoy it! (For some reason I don’t think I saw him SIT down at all Sunday night….hmmmm I wonder if there was a reason for that?) I love that he enjoyed it and then still (knowing he was exhausted) came to Judgement House to see his wife for a couple of minutes and take the boys home to spend time with them!

Judgement House – Wow what a blessing that was to be one of the Co-Directors, each of us, Randy, Herb, Linda and I have different areas of strength and God lined us up in each of them as ONLY HE CAN DO! Satan was working overtime to keep things from happening but he was NOT VICTORIOUS! He had silly little fights build in just about every room, he had Room Leaders quit on us and have to be replaced, he had World Series & Football games distract our Security team and some of the cast members to the point it almost created a stumbling block in getting everyone thru. He even had a Hurricane threat cause our numbers to be down the first weekend – but GOD was the WINNER no doubt. We had more people come thru than ever before – like over 1280 people. He added to His kingdom by at least 58 new family members and brought even more than that back to his arms! It was an amazing thing to be a part of! We’ve already started looking at and planning for next year!

Will be posting Trick or Treat Pictures of the grandkids soon!

Momma’s bragging rights – Tasha said that Shawn is 3rd in his police academy classes. Praise God! I also thank God for giving him a wife that supports his dreams and helps them to materialize! Overall I’m feeling VERY BLESSED indeed with my family!

My parents have been married 47 years TODAY!!!!! That's a BIG accomplishment in this day and AGE!!!! in 3 years we will have BIG PARTY 50 GOLDEN YEARS!

With examples like this and Randy's parents having been married for around 45 years when his Dad was called home to heaven, explains why it's been easier on Randy and I to stay married than on some of our friends who were taught by their parents examples that if the going gets rough you can always Bail instead of trying to make things better! THANKS parents and PRAISE be to God for the examples we were given therefore able to give to our kids! The TORCH is being passed thru the generations!