Through a Dad's Eyes

As we recognized Prematurity Awareness Day last weekend, it got me to thinking...why not share my story.  Many of you know our families story, but I wanted to share a different perspective of the roller coaster ride that has been the last two years of my life.  So I'm taking a break from sports (somewhat) to share Austin and Cole's story through their dad's eyes.

It all happened so fast and to be honest if I told you that I remembered all of it, I would be lying.  From getting the call at work to driving to the Central Vermont Medical Center and then to Dartmouth, it seemed like an hour when in reality it had already been a full day.  After a couple of days sleeping on a hospital recliner it was back to work for me and nightly trips from our home in Montpelier to Dartmouth.  Honestly, working was the hardest part for me, having to be away from my family.  I was miles away from where I wanted to be, always hoping for a good call, but expecting a bad one.  Those crazy solo trips lasted for a week until January 28th when Austin and Cole arrived at 31 weeks, both weighing under 4 lbs.

The first hour of their lives was one that I will cherish forever.  After meetings with various doctors whose faces I vaguely remember, I spent the next hour alone with my two boys for the first time.  I was the only one allowed in the room as they were placed into separate incubators. While all this was going on, I found myself praying for the first time in years.  It wasn't my finest hour, spending most of it scrambling around trying to make sense of it all and trying to be where I was supposed to be.  It is also a time that I always reflect on when I think times are rough on me, imagining what they were going through during that first hour.  Right then, I knew it was going to be a long road, but a road I was so happy to be on. 

When you deal with events like this, you learn to cheer for the small victories.  Days like leaving one NICU for another NICU closer to home.   Bigger events were celebrated louder like when the tubes disappeared, breathing on their own became easier and the alarms faded away.  Through the first couple of months there were countless tests and not to sound pessimistic but one of them had to turn up something right? Wrong.  The boys fought through and were finally able to come home after 41 days spent at the two different hospitals.

One thing I have learned over my first two years of being a dad is how you need to have a positive outlook for your kids no matter how stacked the odds seem to be against them.  There have been selfish moments don't get me wrong.  On trips to the hospital, many thoughts race through your head.  Thoughts like, are one of these tests going to turn up something that prevents my kids from playing sports? While this kind of thinking is shortsighted, especially for someone working in the Mental Health field, I think it only made me like any other person.

There have been plenty of athletes who have persevered through various disabilities.  You can't help but be inspired when you come across stories like All-American wrestler Anthony Robles who won an NCAA championship in 2011 despite being born without a right leg or the story of Jason McElwain who erased autism stereotypes a few years ago after scoring 20 points in a high school basketball game.  These types of stories helped me realize there could be a way for my kids to follow their dreams no matter what challenges they were dealt.  Thankfully though it has been so far so good.

With hopefully the toughest of times behind them, Austin and Cole are now  active and healthy 22 month year olds.  They were even up cheering for their first Red Sox World Series championship last month (it took me 17 years).  Like I mentioned earlier, we learn to cheer the small victories and celebrate the big ones.

Pigskin Picks- Week 12

Wow, week 12 already? It seemed like just yesterday I was picking the Jaguars to get slaughtered, and yet here I am about to write the same thing. Here are the week 12 predictions:

Tampa Bay @ Detroit

Don't look now, but the Buccaneers are on their first win streak of the year. The 2 wins matches the same total of the Texans, Vikings, and Falcons, all playoff teams last season. Those in Tampa shouldn't be getting too confident though. The Lions allowed the Steelers and Ben Roethlisberger to show up last week, something that hadn't happened in some time. The Lions are still a dangerous team though, watch out if they catch fire at the right time down the stretch. 

Prediction: Lions 31 Buccaneers 20

Jacksonville @ Houston

Well I've been calling for a Texans win for weeks now to no avail, but I'm sticking with them again this week. The Texans have been bad, but the Jaguars take bad to a whole different level.

Prediction: Texans 28 Jaguars 17

Minnesota @ Green Bay

This rivalry game could be an interesting one to watch. The Packers have been unable to find the winning column since superstar QB Aaron Rodgers went down.  In order to remain in the thick of the playoff hunt, the Packers need to win this game. As long as the Vikings continue to lack a reliable quarterback, they will be hard pressed to put together a few victories. The Packers should take care of business on the frozen tundra. 

Prediction: Packers 24 Vikings 20

San Diego @ Kansas City

The Chiefs faltered last week against the Broncos as predicted by most. They have the chance to bounce back with a win against the respectable Chargers. For San Diego on the other hand this is a chance at a win that could inject some life into their hopes of extending their season. 

Prediction: Chiefs 26 Chargers 21

Carolina @ Miami

Following the Chiefs loss last week the Panthers are now statistically the hottest team in the league. Coming off a nail biter victory against the Patriots, there isn't much that scares the Panthers at this point. A road trip to face off against a fledgling Dolphins team shouldn't be much of a hurdle.

Prediction : Panthers 23 Dolphins 17

Pittsburgh @ Cleveland

In an AFC where the final wild cars spot is anyone's for the taking at this point, this matchup has some significance. Both teams sit at 4-6 and look for a win to spark the team. The steelers finally looked decent last week, but there is no proof this team can do it again in consecutive weeks. 

Prediction: Browns 21 Steelers 20

Chicago @ St Louis

Despite losing their starting quarterback, the Rams have somehow remained a somewhat respectable football team. The Bears are a team that badly needs to rattl e off a couple wins to build some self confidence. If they can't pull one off this week, they suddenly find themselves in hot water headed down the home stretch.

Prediction: Bears 23 Rams 19

NY Jets @ Baltimore

The Jets showed last week why they shouldn't be in the playoffs, playing terribly against the Bills. The Ravens are a team that has the potential to take a step forward as a talented team capable of claiming a playoff position. This could be a statement game for the Ravens.

Prediction: Ravens 24 Jets 16

Tennessee @ Oakland

The Titans were once a team that looked like they had a chance to be successful. Two straight losses later and they're suddenly looking like a less than mediocre team. The good news for them is the competition this week isn't much different. This one could go either way but I think the Titans get back on the right path.

Prediction: Titans 23 Raiders 20

Indianapolis @ Arizona

This is a great test for a Cardinals team fighting to prove their legitimacy. If they can figure out a way to take down the Colts then there is no more questioning the Arizona squad. Andrew Luck will lead what we know is a dangerous Colts team.

Prediction: Colts 26 Cardinals 24

Dallas @ NY Giants 

An NFC east rivalry showdown with possible playoff implications. Who'd have thought the Giants would be in this position. As poorly as they played in the first meeting, the G Men still should have won. They won't make the same mistakes this time around. 

Prediction: Giants 28 Cowboys 24

Denver @ New England

A possible AFC championship preview? It will be interesting to see how these two matchup. My hunch is that the Pats can't cover all the dangerous targets Peyton Manning has at his disposal. While a road win in New England won't be easy, I think the Broncos can really prove they are an elite team this week. 

Prediction: Broncos 31 Patriots 24 

San Francisco @ Washington 

What better way to snap a losing streak than to face the faultering Redskins? This could be just what the 49ers need to right their ship. Although Washington could themselves wake up soon, San Fran should cruise to victory.

Prediction: 49ers 26 Redskins 21

MLB Blockbuster- Breaking It Down

There is nobody that could have predicted the trade consummated between the Texas Rangers and Detroit Tigers last night. This trade was a true rarity- An all star caliber one-for-one swap. The trade is one that benefits both teams. It's not often where you see two top clubs deal a top player to one another. We often see prospects swapped for a veteran, with one team keeping more of an eye on the future. Not exactly the case here. Let's break it down a little more.

Fielder is coming off a career low season in slugging, OPS, and home runs. He really struggled in the playoffs during the Tigers previous two October runs. But Fielder is still just 29 years of age and has been one of the most powerful hitters if thesst few years. It speaks to this fact that he has batted behind a league MVP in each of the past three years. His presence in the Rangers lineup will provide a great boost to those surrounding him. Prince will also find the confines of Arlington much more favorable to his big lefty stroke than the spacious right field and right center of Comerica.

Where the real bitterness in the deal for the Rangers is the contract remaining owed to Fielder. The burly first baseman is still due $168 million over the next seven years. So while Fielder should still have a few seasons left of his prime, the back end of this contract could get real ugly. Fielders ahem... large frame... doesn't seem to give confidence that he will age gracefully. It will be worth watching how his body holds up in the Texas heat during the dog days of summer. While this looks like an all out 'win now' approach by Jon Daniels and the Rangers front office, it acuay sets them up well for the future too. By moving Ian Kinsler, the Rangers can finally insert top prospect Jurickson Profar into the everyday lineup. The middle infield of Elvis Andrus and Profar could develop into one of the best. 

The move by the Rangers to trade Kinsler was by no means based on his skills or performance. Kinsler has been a main component of the successful teams Texas has been rolling out for years now. It was simply a matter of making pieces fit. As mentioned, Texas had Profar in waiting, and needed a power bat and 1st baseman. For the Tigers, they saw a chance to shed some payroll while still improving the team. One thing this deal succeeds in doing for the Tigers is to increase their defensive abilities in the infield. Miguel 

Cabrera can now shift from the hot corner where he was a bit of a liability, and return across the diamond to 1st base. The Tigers also free up room for a top prospect, as Nick Castellanos is expected to get a chance to be the every day 3rd baseman. Kinsler is not exactly a subpar offensive player anyhow. He is on the wrong side of 30, but in 2013 Kinsler still posted a solid .277/.344/.413 with 13 HR 72 RBI. Kinsler provides a lead off option for Detroit, which could allow Austin Jackson to move elsewhere in the lineup where he is more comfortable. The biggest advantage to this deal from the perspective of Detroit, is how much money they can save. Kinsler is due $62 million over the next four years. They did have to send $30 million to Texas to help cover a small portion of the amount of food Fielder will eat next year, I mean money he will earn, but that still leaves over $70 million saved. This will be helpful in going towards trying to sign Max Scherzer to a long term deal.

Overall, both teams get something they need out of this deal, and both teams will still be playoff contenders. In the long term the benefits will certainly favor the Tigers, but for now it will at least make for an intriguing matchup next year when these two meet.