Winter Storm 2009

So we've fallen off the blogging bandwagon thanks to Facebook but we've vowed to do better in the new year....and Heather may eventually agree to continue the blog while I am deployed.

We thought we'd post a few photos from the winter storm that blasted NC this week. I was in the hospital and operated most of the day and part of the following day thanks to 2 sledding injuries, one game of snow-football, and one snowboarding jump gone badly wrong (and where do you snowboard in southern NC?).

Zoe and Zachary "enjoyed" some forced fun in the front yard. Heather was determined to capture a few moments that everyone (besides the photo subjects) would enjoy. We got 4-5 inches over the course of the day and Zachary and Zoe's second trip outside later in the day was better!

In this picture, Zoe is assuming a statuesque posture and reluctant to move.

We have a home at last!

We wanted to let you know about our new home. After 5 years of marriage (as of Saturday), Heather and I are finally homeowners. We locked in our interest rate last night and faxed the final papers. We close on June 20. The movers will pick up our belongings on June 9th. We will live in a furnish-less apartment for about a week until Heather, Mendi, Zachary and Zoe set out on the 1310 mile cross country trek on June 17th. I'll stay behind for a month and study for my board exam and join them later in July. We'll post pictures and share more of the excitement soon. Zachary and Zoe give their approval of the new home and have had 2 opportunies to throw fits in the house during our recent trip to North Carolina.

You are all welcome to to visit once we get moved in.

Bataan Death March 2008

The 2008 Bataan Death March commemerating the 1942 march of 90,000 to 100,000 American and Phillipino soldiers took place 2 weekends ago (March 30, 2008) at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. Although we were not beat with bamboo canes, deprived of water, and left to die along the road, the episodes of blurry vision and loss of balance (signifying early heat exhaustion) as the 81 degree temperature and 35lb ruck sack beat down upon us was a sampling of what that terrible forced march across the Phillipines must have been like. (For more reading, try the following link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bataan_Death_March)

A team of 2 orthopaedic surgeons, 2 orthopaedic surgery residents, and one anesthesiologist from Brooke Army Medical Center trained together for just over 3 months in an attempt to defend the title of Men's Military Heavy Champions (having one the event in 2007). Four of the five team members returned for this years event. Our training consisted of 7 to 21 mile ruck-march/runs weekly for 15 weeks. We won last year by a margin of 4 minutes and were successful in fending off the next closest team (ROTC team from Wyoming) by 40 seconds this year. The entire event is 26.2 miles in full military gear with water stations every 2-3 miles throughout the course. There is over 1500 vertical feet of climbs throughout the course and most of it is sand or hard-packed dirt. Strangely enough, there seemed to be more sand this year and less packed dirt. There is a notoriously difficult section at mile 21 which is a 400 vertical foot climb over a one mile stretch in beach sand (affectionately known as the "Sand Box").

We were able to gain ground in the sand box late in the day and eventually passed the second place team less than 2 miles from the finish line. They mounted an attempt at passing us in the final mile, but were denied and eventually settled for finishing as the second fastest team. We finished this year's race in 5hr 50min which was seven minutes slower than the previous year. It was also more than 10 degrees warmer this year which made the race exceedingly more difficult.

The winning team consisted of (from left to right): CPT Todd Feathers (second year orthopaedic surgery resident), COL Jim Ficke (staff orthopaedic surgeon), MAJ Craig McFarland (staff anaesthesiologist), LTC Dave Brown (staff orthopaedic surgeon), and CPT Elliott Vann (fifth year orthopaedic surgery resident).

Here is a link to pictures taken during the day: http://www.brightroom.com/view_user_event.asp?EVENTID=32304&BIB=18&S=230&PWD=

Official race/event page: http://www.bataanmarch.com/

Results: http://www.arizonarunningeventsco.com/Bataan%20Teams%2008.htm

Future marchers in training as Mom insists that Zachary and Zoe begin pushing their own stroller at 17 months of age. Zoe was tireless. Zachary retired to his seat shortly after this picture was taken. Perhaps his uncle Aaron is rubbing off on him as he solicits every creature-comfort known to child and man.

Things every 1st born needs on vacation...tribute to an older brother

I heard today that my older brother left for Arkansas to begin vacation. I began pondering what a new father would bring with his family to entertain their 4 month old daughter on an out-of-state vacation.

Our packing lists were usually made by Heather...down to the very last detail. Noticeably absent was anything of mine. In general it seems like we took a pack and play, a stroller, a swing...a few toys. We probably took their high-chairs, too. In fact, there was rarely room for any of my stuff.

Then I spoke to my sister and learned of my older brother's packing list. I think the pictures will suffice. Needless to say, he was a bit reluctant to leave any of his things behind and pictured below are three of them. Not pictured are 4-6 sweaters, a kayak, a life-preserver, a pair of roller skates, an old skateboard, his old military uniform, a children's "pirate pistol" (which was not for McKennah), an expresso machine, his poker chips and gambling outfit, and some scuba equipment.

Below are three items that were in the car prior to their departure. I'll let you guess which one Kim insisted that he leave behind so that they could get their 4 month old daugther into the car. (It seems the car was overpacked and left her no room.)

And our new home will be....

North Carolina.

We just got word this week that North Carolina will be home for the next 4 years. I'm being assigned to Fort Bragg, NC. We're excited but a bit anxious. I'm leaving Texas after 15 good years. Heather is leaving after 29 years. Zachary and Zoe are a bit attached as well.

Fort Bragg is home to many of the army's elite forces and the hospital is a good one. I'll stay busy taking care of all of the fractures that each new set of airborne training missions brings.

We're planning a trip in April or May to look at houses and get an idea of our new home. We'll relocate in June/July later this year.

We'll keep you posted as the details unwind.

Zoe's mullet and Zachary's rooster hair

It seems like I'm a bit behind in posting family happenings. Perhaps these pictures will help everyone catch up.

It's only been about two months since our last post. I'm sure a lot has happened during that time, but I've been living in the hospital most of the better part of that time (80-110 hrs/week) and each 13-38 hr "shift" fades into the next one.

Heather continues to go about family business daily with few interruptions from her husband and Zachary and Zoe have the benefit of her undivided attention 24hrs per day. They have both finally grown a little bit of hair.

In fact, Zoe has the cutest mullet on the block. You'd hardly find a cuter redneck baby (dressed in Ralph Lauren Polo).

Zachary's hair has become a repository for unwanted food at every meal and finds it very funny to wipe his hands in his hair...mostly because mom makes a face and says "no-no" every time he performs this egregrious act.

Heather cut her hair recently. I was a bit skeptical when she told me she wanted to cut it very short, but she looks quite glamorous with her new short look.

I'm training for another Marathon (Bataan Death March--26.2 miles in full military gear + 35lb ruck sack) and the weight keeps dropping. Marathons are an excuse to eat just about anything. Heather does not appreciate this bad influence.

Hopefully the pictures help prove that we are doing well. Our five years in San Antonio is about to come to an end, and we'll pack up and move somewhere else in a few months. We'll keep you posted...in about 2 months.

Elliott, Heather, Zachary and Zoe

Vann Family Trivia, Installment #1

Vann family trivia:

1. Which "hardened" individual is now a district manager for a pharmaceutical company but had careers as a US Army officer and a Director of Admissions? Bonus: Is that a "Dead Kennedies" or "Sex Pistols/Johnnie Rotten" t-shirt. Perhaps it was the "Punks Not Dead" t-shirt he drew with a box sharpies. (Nice glove, Michael....)

2. Which individual sporting a "bowl" cut now plants churches in the North East? Hint: his shins are well-protected. Bonus: which one of his brothers knocked 2-3 of his teeth out when he missed with the padded part of a boxing glove and uppercut him with the flat, unpadded part of his palm?

3. Which cherub-faced kid could set up the VCR (which is just out of view is this picture) as a 2 year old? Hint: he had more nicknames as a child than he has melanocytes (and the ability to get a tan).

4. Which individual wearing white sweat pants is 6 months away from completing 9 years of medical training? (Bonus question: any hope of white sweat pants ever making a come back?)

5. Which innocent looking 8 year old would later pen a caustic look at her older brother's selfish ways and describe his saxaphone playing as "squeaking notes from a second hand saxaphone?" Bonus: Whose house was she living in at the time? Double bonus: why was it so hard to see that the Starbucks cup she was repeatedly claiming as her own had his birth year on it?

6. Which individual (wearing long-striped socks) once drove a worn-out Isuzu Rodeo painted like the Chic-Filet cow which had a sign on it that said, "Honk if you like chicken." Bonus: How many times as a high school junior did he admire his side-burns in the mirror?

Answers can be submitted to elliottvann@hotmail.com. The winner will receive an autographed copy of Richard Thomas Vann's discertation on Jonathan Maxie, the first president of USC. The runner-up will receive the Dallas Cowboys g-string I received for Christmas. Third place will receive the CD "Fabio after Dark."

Check back next month for the answers.