Hunting Trip

Here is a picture of A.J. looking like he is throughly enjoying himself.  This is the buck he got.  I just talked to him and he signed out on leave today.  He will pretty much be on his own with the PT.  He said he is getting stronger, but still has some issues to deal with.  I guess if someone had opened me up and moved my stomach around, I would have issues too.  In three months time he has made incredible progress and I know he is very determined to get back to 100%.

Happy Thanksgiving!

We have taken the time today to be very thankful.  Although the last 3 months have been difficult  for all of us, we realize how blessed we are to have A.J.  alive and on the mend.  He is doing very well and this weekend is the big deer hunt.  I am sure he will have a wonderful time hunting and spending time with friends.  My heart breaks for all of the families who lost a soldier these past few months.  Let us all continue to pray for safety for all of the troops who are fighting a very dangerous war.

Check this out!

I got on facebook and this is what I saw first.  I am simply amazed at the sacrifices these families make.  What an awesome thing to do!

101st Airborne Division (Air Assault)

The Titans took a beating and Vince Young threw a fit.. but the REAL story at Sunday's game didn't get nearly the air time it deserved. Fort Campbell wife Jodi Foster won an essay contest and a weekend to Nashville, including great seats for the game - and a little surprise...

Soldier's return surprises family as 70,000 cheer at Nashville's LP Field | tennessean.com | The Ten

www.tennessean.com

She stood in the middle of LP Field. There were 70,000 people cheering around her, but they were all just a blur. The announcer's voice boomed something about a surprise. Jodi Foster spun her head around, scanning the sea of baby blue jerseys, not knowing what to expect.

The Best News Yet!!!!!!!

A.J. not only went back home yesterday, but the best news is that he has been released from the hospital!  He will be reporting to Fort Campbell tomorrow to see what he will doing.  I am sure he will continue with his therapy there.  Thank you to all of you have who offered words of support and prayer throughout these past three months.  You will never know how much it has meant to us.  I continue to pray daily for all of the troops who are in harms way.  I know our family has much to be thankful for.

Good News!

The latest update is that A.J. will be going on a 10 day leave starting on Sat.  There is a small airport close to the hospital and a pilot of a small plane has volunteered to fly him to Fort Campbell on Sat.  He is actually going to attempt to go on a hunting trip the day after Thanksgiving.  He is doing well and he thinks it will be fine.  Of course as his mom I am a little concerned.  He plans to drive his truck back to Augusta after his leave.  Hopefully on Friday he will find out how much longer he will been in hospital, as he has an ortho appt.  He is still shooting for the second week of Dec.  I know he will be very excited to be in his home again.  I am posting a link today so if anyone is interested you can take part in it.

Holiday Mail for Heroes

www.redcross.org

It’s that time of year again! The American Red Cross and Pitney Bowes have teamed up for the fourth annual Holiday Mail for Heroes program.

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Happy Veterans Day!

Let us all take some time to remember what all these people have done for all of us.  Even though we have a son who has spent the the last 15 years in the military, it is really hard to comprehend what they go through for us.  I know that I would have lasted in the Army for about five minutes!  And then to try to understand what a year long deployment must be like in temperatures that are over 100 degrees is simply  impossible.  It was quite an experience to visit with some of the soldiers at the VA.  A big thank you goes out to each and every one of them.  A.J. is doing well and continuing to make progress.  His target date for release is the second week in December.

No new pictures

I talked to A.J. last night but he hasn't gotten the pictures from Friday night from the banquet he was invited to.  An organization is taking he and three others deer hunting today in South Carolina.  They will be staying overnight and returning tomorrow.  I can not imagine him shooting a gun but he says he thinks he can and I knew better than to try to talk him out of it.  His middle name should have been strong willed! He did sound a little down so I know physically he is doing awesome but not so sure emotionally.  I can't begin to imagine what any of these soldiers go through, let alone getting severely injured.  Keep a Veteran in your mind on Thursday!

Nine Weeks

It has been nine weeks since the injury.  I haven't talked to him much this week but I know he is better.  He does 5 or 6 hours of PT daily so I think by the end of the day he is pretty worn out.  After Friday night I should have a good picture of him to post.  He has been invited to a special banquet so I will share more about it later.    

Happy Halloween!

I received this picture awhile ago from A.J.  He had visitors this weekend so of course she had to put on her costume for him.  He is now walking without a cane!  I am sure that Samantha was very excited to see his progress since the last visit.  I am also putting Macie's dress up picture too!

More pictures from the weekend

I have to say how a little time changes things.  The day that A.J. got settled in his room at the VA hospital, his roommate told him all the activities that were available.  He mentioned an arts and crafts room where they could go to work on things.  I wish you all could have seen the look on his face!  It was like "are you kidding me?  It is bad enough  that I am here at the VA let alone working on arts and crafts."  Well when Coni and I were there last weekend he has a picture hanging on the wall of labs.  Guess what?  He painted it with his left hand.  He also had a painting with ducks on it but hadn't started it yet.  Then I look up at the top of his light and there were soldiers which was a model that he put together.  Lo and behold on the floor were a pair of moccasins he had made!  I am so thrilled to see him make good use of his time and has accepted things so well.  He told us that they just go in the room and pick things out they want to make and they don't have to pay for anything.  Some organization supplies everything.  

Birthday Weekend

We arrived on Friday night and arrived in time to take A..J. out for dinner.  We were amazed at his progress since I was there last month.  He is using a cane to walk which was a hugh surprise to see.  He walked out to the parking lot and off we went.  Saturday was a beautiful day and couldn't of asked for nicer weather.  We took him to lunch at a seafood place and sat outside to enjoy the sun.  We went to a couple of outdoor stores and he walked the entire time.  We went back to the hospital and played games for hours and ordered pizza.  I am sure that Coni and I were as tired as he was by the end of the day.  On Sunday we went to downtown Augusta and had lunch.  You can see that he has mastered the steps against his moms wishes.  I pretty much knew better not to tell him that he couldn't do it!  His corner of the room is filled with a lot of things that have been sent to him, a lot from people that he has never met.  He has all the cards from the beginning and he appreciates each and every one.  It was awesome to see him doing so well and know that all of your prayers were a big part of that.  All the patients there are sad from time to time but you can see the friendships that have formed.  They are calling him Dr. Manley!

No news is Good News

I haven't talked to A.J. for a few days so I don't have any news.  I will take pictures over the weekend and I know we will all see a big improvement.  I know each day is better for him.  I can not believe our baby will be 34!

Video

I put this article on the other night but now you can see a video of it.  I met some of these soldiers when I was there.  I will be seeing them again next weekend when I go visit A.J. for his birthday.  It will be wonderful to all the progress they have all made.


http://wjbf.com/ar/935996/

Fishing Trip

I talked to A.J. a short time ago and he was telling me about the fishing trip they were taken on yesterday.  Someone owns a bus  so they  load up all the soldiers who have been cleared to go on a day long fishing trip about 90 miles away.  I am so impressed to see him standing in the boat!  He has come a long way in a short period of time, and I know it is due to all of the prayers for him.  Jeff and I saw all his injuries that first week and thought he would have a long road ahead.  Yesterday was the 6th week since it happened and we are thanking God for his progress.  They have taken off his cast and removed the pins from his hand so now is when the PT will move a little faster,which I am sure he is ready for.

Another great organization

www.fisherhouse.org/  Check out this web site and see what wonderful things the Fisher House does for wounded soldiers.  When we were at Fort Gordon the Fisher House on post was full so they put us in a different place.  There were three people that I met who had been staying there for months so they could be close to their wounded soldiers, with no expense to them.  Right now there is one being built right outside the VA hospital where A.J. is staying.  

NewsArticle

This was a news article that an Augusta television channel did.  A.J. said it was held in a different wing of the hospital and it was pretty fun.  I am sure anything they do is fun for them.  I was thinking about all that these soldiers go through.  While they were deployed they went through a lot of fire fights where I am sure the adrenalin pumps.  Then they  get injured and they are moved around three or four times before they are sent back to the US.  They fly home in an aircraft that looks like an ICU unit and after a few surgeries they end up in a rehab hospital with nothing but a lot of time on their hands which they are not used to.  I guess is a reminder to keep praying each day for all the troops still deployed and for the ones who are trying to heal.http://www2.wagt.com/news/2010/oct/08/wounded-veterans-learn-motor-skills-all-over-again-ar-935362/

Weekend pictures

I talked  with A.J. last night for quite a long time and he sounded really good.  Alan and Connie kept him quite busy all day and took him to see Secretariat.  He totally enjoys getting out but it does tire him out.  I don't know what the plans were for today.  Connie brought him a quilt she made in a week and a half for him.  She told me since he was given two quilts in Germany she was going to make two more and send them on to another injured soldier.  What a wonderful thing to do for someone.  I ask about all the cards he is getting  and how he is hanging them on his banner.  He told me he is using medical tape and we all know how sticky that stuff is!  He doesn't know who some of the people are who have sent cards but I am sure that he appreciates each and every one and Jeff and I thank all of for thinking of him.  His 34th birthday is October 23.  (And he is our baby)  Wow, how fast time goes!

Pictures from the past

I really don't have to write much about any of these because their faces say it all.  A.J. will have his Aunt and Uncle from Colorado visiting him this weekend so I will have some new pictures that I will share.  Please keep him in your prayers as he continues to heal.

The reality of War

If anyone is interested in seeing what goes on each and every day in Afghanistan search on You Tube and you will see the reality of war.  Just type in Outpost Nolen Afghanistan and there are lots of videos to watch.  Some are a little graphic but then again that is the reality of war.  Some of these soldiers look like babies but it will give you all a really good vision of what to pray for.  I can't imagine spending five minutes there let alone 12 months.  I challenge you to stop a soldier the next time you see one in uniform and slip them a little money and tell them to have lunch on you.  I have done it several times and the looks on their faces are incredible.  They are all HEROS for what they do for us.

Screaming Eagles

I talked to A.J. today so I have a little news.  They took him back to the hospital on Friday and removed all the stitches.  He said that his left leg broke open today so didn't know what they would do.  I never knew that stitches were left in that long, but with deep soft tissue wounds I guess they have to.  I am learning stuff I didn't know I would ever have to know about.  The picture is two guys that were real close to where A.J. was in Afghanistan and are also in the 101st but not his unit.  I met the one on his left.  He grew up in California and I didn't meet the other one.  I would just ask that you keep them all in your prayers because it is a tough place to be when you are used to being so active.  Hopefully with the stitches gone he will do more with the physical therapy.

No News is Good News

I haven't talked to A.J. since Tues so I don't have much to report.  Andi talked to him for a short time last night and they were taken out yesterday to the new Wall Street movie.  He said it was good to get out but was tired out.  I think when we are hurt our minds keep saying yes and our bodies keep saying no.  I was thinking about him growing up and believe it or not, he never had a broken bone and only had a few stitches in his knee one time after holding on to the back of Andi's bike while she rode down the gravel driveway.  So for him to be down like this I know it is very difficult but I am positive he will be fine.

One month has passed

Today marks one month since the day he was injured.  When we see the progress that has been made, I just have to thank God.  He has a ways to go but just look at his progress!  I am very impressed to see him in a vehicle.

I talked with A.J. today for a really short time.  Sounded like he was worn out.  I think the physical therapy is starting out slow and he wants to move faster, but I know that they know what is best for him. Please keep him in your prayers.

Best medicine Yet!

 A.J.'s in-laws, Ron and Sally took Samantha to see him this weekend.  Now what better medicine than for him to spend time with her.  It sounds like the weekend was packed, including restaurants, and shopping at Walmart and playing games!  Did I not mention earlier how strong willed he is?

 I am so impressed that he was able to get in a car and do all the things they did.  I talked to Samantha last night and she was pretty excited about seeing him again.  I know she saw a difference from the last visit.  I am sure that she was a great little helper.      

Now this is the A.J. that I know best.  He is sitting there thinking" just dare me not to come back 100%"

Inside the rehab hospital

I wanted everyone to see what A.J.'s home for the next few weeks looks like. His room has four beds in it, but only three were filled when I was there. They each have their own tv hanging from the ceiling. The dining area is very bright and cheery and they eat three meals a day there. The nurse station is in the middle of the floor and there are only 30 beds so they get incredible care. I know before I saw the place I pictured a VA hospital and I thought of dreary. There are pool tables, video games, Wii and big screen televisions and lots of books and board games so I am sure that a person can keep as busy as they want. I am positive that he will adjust to it.

Afghanistan August 2010

We had received these pictures a week before he was injured, and I emailed him back to tell him how handsome he is. It seems where ever he goes there is always a dog tagging along. I know that we all know, but it seems as though we take for granted that each day is just going to be another day, and how little we realize what a few seconds can change. I haven't talked to him today, but I know that he was excited to see Samantha. She will see a hugh difference in him from two weeks ago.

Focusing on the future

This picture was taken right before A.J. deployed to Afghanistan.  The shirt he has on is from the last weekend of April when he was invited to a bass fishing contest put on by Warriors on the Water.  These are the pictures I keep looking at over and over because I know that he will be back fishing and hunting soon.  Samantha caught this fish and he knew it was good size so he helped her bring it in.  I love that one!

New awakening

This has all been a new experience for me, and after having a son in the army for fifteen years without a scratch, I realize how a few seconds can change a life.  I spoke with A.J. today and although he is sounding a little down, I know what a strong willed person he is and I know he will move on and do fine.  The physical therapy sessions are going very slow because of the injuries, but I assured him that even little steps now will be hugh steps later.  I had heard about the Wounded Warriors Project but had never checked it out.  It is a wonderful program that helps them before they even return to the states.  I am going to check out how I can get involved locally.  

wounded warrior project

If anyone is interested this is a great organization that cares for soldiers after injuries.

http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org

Tuesday Sept. 21st

I arrived back home last night, and although it is great to be home, I can't stop thinking about everything that has happened in the last 20 days.  Thanks to all of you out there who have been praying for him.  I know now after hearing his story that God spared his life and he will have a full recovery.  It was hard to leave him because I know that he doesn't want to be there, but that is a very normal reaction at first.  He will be looking forward to spending time with Samantha this weekend so I know she will be the best medicine for him.  I will post a few pictures later so everyone can see the facility.  It is a very bright and cheerful place and it only has active duty soldiers on the floor.  This whole experience has helped me to realize how important the Wounded Warriors program is.

Hi all-

My mom is on her way home today and A.J. is continuing to make progress. He starts full physical therapy today and I'm sure will be pretty tired out this week.

I know my mom will have more info for you in days to come.

These are some quilts given to A.J. that he really loves,

Thanks for all the continued prayers!

Andi

Adjusting

Hi everyone,

I think A.J. is doing better at his new place, he is adjusting and liking it better. He has met some people and getting settled in.

He starts physical therapy tomorrow, then the real work begins.

My mom heads home tomorrow and he will get to see Samantha next weekend.

Thanks again for all of the support from everyone,

Andi

Hi everyone-

A.J. is still adjusting to his new place and settling in.

Continued thoughts and prayers are greatly appreciated as he is not loving being at this new facility yet. He was able to get outside for a while today and is now facing his long recovery.

Hopefully more news soon,

Andi

new facility

Hi everyone,

I just talked to my mom, and A.J. was moved to the physical therapy facility today. He has some adjusting to do but will be settled in soon. He will be back at the hospital tomorrow for some minor sinus treatments and if the swelling is down enough he will get a fiberglass cast put on his arm.

His phone number is- 706-733-0188 ext.4255

address- SFC Allen Manley

Charlie Norwood VA Hospital

#1 Freedom Way

3 E Active Duty Rehab

Agusta, GA 30904

thank you,

Andi

Jeff and A.J.

A.J. continues to make progress as he is up moving around more and more. He is still waiting to be moved to the physical therapy facility hopefully today or tomorrow.

I will post an address to send cards when I get one,

thanks for everyone's continued support,

Andi

purple heart

This is A.J. receiving his purple heart a few hours after he was wounded. General Campbell awarded it to him, he is the general of the 101st airborne, they are in Kandahar before he was moved to Germany.

He is continuing to make progress, he was up and moving around again today and may be moved to the physical therapy facility soon.

My dad arrived this morning, I know A.J. was really looking forward to seeing him.


Andi

Sunday

A.J. was able to get up and move around this morning. You can keep praying for him, he is still in a lot of pain from his surgery on Friday.

My dad gets there tomorrow, I know A.J. is anxious to see him.

Andi

A.j. and Molly

A.j. is in a lot of pain today from the surgery but was able to get up for the first time and sit in a chair. He is enjoying his time with Sara and Samantha.

A.J. and Samantha

Hi guys-

I just got off the phone with my mom and A.J. just got out of a 6 hour surgery. It went well, they worked on his shattered right hand and put some pins in it. He also has a broken ankle that is healing well and leg wounds that did not require the skin grafts they were planning on. An ENT worked on his sinuses and put a couple of stents in to help him breath through his nose.

He was still in recovery so I'm sure we'll know more later tonight.

He is really looking forward to spending time with Samantha this weekend, hopefully some pics will be sent soon,

thank you for all the prayers,

Andi

Wednesday

Hi all-

My mom was anxious to leave today and gets to see A.J. tonight! I'm sure she will have some news and maybe some more pics soon.

Thanks to everyone for their kindness and prayers,

Andi

Introduction to Molly's blog

Hey everyone, I have created a blog so you all can keep updated on A.J.'s progress.  I will try to post once a day so keep watching for updates.