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.