The Miracle of Life

We went to the doctor again this past Tuesday, and I have to admit, I almost cried. That's kind of hard for a man of my stature to admit, but in all honesty....I'm not ashamed to admit it. For the first time during my wife's pregnancy I was able to hear my unborn child's heart beat.

Hearing that heart beat for me made everything that much more real for me. At the same time, it made me question how anyone, male or female, could ever abandon their child, a part of themselves? Who could ever actually do that? The creation of a baby is one of the most beautiful things in the world, and for anyone to NOT be touched by that is beyond me.

Being a man who grew up without his father's presence in the home, without receiving so much as a single phone call in the 26 years I've been alive, it amazes and appauls me even more than ever that someone can turn their back on their own flesh and blood! I've always vowed to be there for my child regardless of whatever possibly happens between their mother and me, but now after hearing that heartbeat, and seeing what I've helped create, how could I ever turn my back on my child? Turning my back on my child would be like not caring about myself, because that's me growing inside my wife's stomach right now. I have no doubt in my mind, that even though I didn't have even a mediocre example of what it takes to be a father in my life, that I'm always going to be there for my child.....NO MATTER HOW DIFFICULT THINGS MAY GET!!!

This is the newest sonogram of my unborn little one.

Remember.....You're Worth It!

J. Earl Smith

@JSmith2523 on Twitter

Florida Classic Weekend

This weekend marks a very popular weekend around the city of Orlando....It's Florida Classic Weekend. That means that the clubs and bars will be packed out this weekend. There's nothing wrong with going out and having a good time. But, (and this is to the fellas out there).....let's be respectful toward the women of Orlando and the surrounding area. This is not a pitch for guys to show respect for this particular weekend....this is just the weekend that many guys can start to change their ways toward the ladies.

It irritates and frustrates me as a young black man to see so many other young black men treating black women like they aren't one of the most beautiful creatures that God ever created! Try starting a conversation with a woman, listen to what she's saying, look into her eyes and not at her cleavage. I can say from personal experience that starting a conversation with a woman and actually listening to what she's saying is far more appealing from a females standpoint than you come up behind her and grinding on her.

Try ASKING her if she wants to dance!!!! And if she says "NO"....move on....there's no need to be ignorant or disrespectful. I've never understood why a dude would feel the need to scream on a girl, or disrespect her if she didn't want to dance with you.....that's laughable and shows how really INSECURE a lot of these "so called" players really are!!!!

So I'll end this little rant with this.....

REAL MEN don't disrespect women! Little boys do! And anyone who disagrees with what I've stated here.....I really DON'T CARE!!!! I'm voicing my opinion, and you don't have to like it!!!! I've just come to realize that we'll never stop being portrayed as ignorantly as a people until we decide to change things for ourselves....NO ONE is going to do it for us!!!!!

Try starting this weekend. Go out....enjoy yourself, treat each woman that you interact with respectfully....and see if things don't end up better!!!!

Remember......You're Worth It!

J. Earl Smith
@JSmith2523 on Twitter
knourworth@hotmail.com
www.smashwords.com/books/view/24495

Knee Feeling Better

For all of those who've wished me well....I sincerely appreciate it.

My knee is feeling much better over the last few days. Got a new smaller brace for my knee that still provides stability and support....but isn't as bulky as the one I got at the emergency room. My doctor told me that full recovery will take about 8-10 weeks...because of the severity of the ligament sprain....but I don't think it'll take that long. I should be back to at least 90% in the next 4-6 weeks.

I'll keep you all informed as my progress continues to improve.

Remember....You're Worth It!

J. Earl Smith
@JSmith2523 on Twitter
knourworth@hotmail.com

Knee News

Finally received a diagnosis this morning regarding the injury to my left knee. I'm happy to say that there is NO TEAR in any ligament in my knee. I have 2 severe bone bruises surrounding my knee, a little bit of cartilidge damage, and a severe sprain to the medial collateral ligament (MCL). The bruises are shown by the lightened areas pointed out by the arrows.

So that means......sore to the touch and moderate pain.....but NO SURGERY REQUIRED!!!! This was quite a scare for me, especially since, I can barely put full weight on the knee still. But I'm relieved that I won't need to have surgery, and I won't even need to go through any kind of rehab for it. Although, I'm planning on doing my own rehab starting in the next few weeks. The doctor said about 6-8 weeks before my knee starts to feel normal again, so I'm going to give it another two weeks or so, before I start trying to exercise my knee to strengthen it again.

Even once the knee is strong again, and I feel no pain or discomfort.....my tackle football days are over! I'm switching full time to golf....besides....I'm getting too old for this stuff!!! In the same game where I hurt my knee, a few other people got hurt too....one friend of mine had a severe high ankle sprain....the other tore his rotator cuff. So I think it's VERY appropriate to end my football career now....before another more serious injury can happen.....next time I won't be as fortunate to get off without needing surgery.

Remember.........You're Worth It.

J. Earl Smith
knourworth@hotmail.com
@JSmith2523 on Twitter

Football Days Over????

It's unfortunate, but yes.....my days of playing football are now OVER! Saturday I had a game with my boys and everything was going well until I rolled out of the pocket and attempted to shake an oncoming defender....I planted my left foot to cut left and my left knee went right....with a LOUD POP!!!! I don't know what the official diagnosis is yet, but the first doctor after seeing no structural damage to my knee, said it's more likely ligament damage. She thinks I've either torn my MCL, PCL, or Meniscus.






So I'm seeing an orthopedic surgeon tomorrow morning and he'll be able to give me a conclusive answer after the mri as to what's happened.





I always said that I'd have to have a serious injury in order to stop playing, but I never thought the injury would actually happen. Well now it has and I must hang up my jersey and my cleats and retire. I'll just take the knowledge I have to the sidelines and impart it to others. That's right.....I'm trading in my cleats for a whistle. Besides.....I have a child on the way....and I can't be all broken down by the time they're old enough to want to play outside with dad....so now is the best time to hang it up. Besides....I'm not getting paid for this....and the pain I'm in....is NOT worth it!!!!

BE SMART!!!!

TAKE CARE OF YOURSELVES!!!!

I'll post the diagnosis once I finish at the doctor tomorrow morning.

Remember............."You're Worth It".



J. Earl Smith
knourworth@hotmail.com
@JSmith2523 on Twitter