This year’s Christmas morning started earlier than previous years, getting underway by around 6:00a. Laura was having trouble sleeping last night so we woke up by 5:40a.

Before opening presents we made hot chocolate with whipped cream and hot cinnamon rolls. We also started a fire though it didn’t last too long since I’m terrible at building fires. 

It was fun to spend a couple of hours opening presents. I received a lot of fitness and mobility related equipment that I am excited to start working into my routines. I also received an Android smartwatch, clothes and several other pretty cool gifts. 

It is times like this that I feel fortunate for how far I’ve come, both recently and over my entire life. To come from growing up in a neighborhood riddled with violence and living in poverty to having an 11.5 foot Christmas tree filled with presents under it. Even more recently I feel fortunate for how far we’ve come in the last 4.5 months.  

Later in the morning we made cinnamon French toast, home fries and bacon which was delicious. We binge-watched Netflix while just hanging out and talking with family. 

Lunch was a bacon, tomato and jalapeño grilled cheese sandwich using the new Le Creuset cast iron panini press skillet that I bought for Laura. Like I said, the diet goes on pause over these few days so that we can thoroughly enjoy our holidays. 

We watched "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" while having lunch. It was the first time we had seen it since going to the theater to see it. 

The rest of the afternoon was spent relaxing and enjoying time just hanging out…something that may not have been possible had my recovery not gone so well over the last few months. 

We sat down to our new traditional Christmas dinner consisting of a roast prime rib with a horseradish crust  wild mushroom risotto, prosciutto-wrapped asparagus and buttermilk biscuits. Instead of talking through the last 4.5 months like we did last night, we just enjoyed the dinner. 

For those who celebrated Christmas today, I hope that it was a wonderful day spent with family and friends, exchanging gifts and enjoying delicious food. Cheers!