It seems we get back much later now that David has moved over to Walter Reed. It usually takes about 35 minutes to get back to our lodging quarters, of course that can change when I keep making wrong turns = but us men don't ask for directions. One of the nice things about the drive is that once we hit the 495 Westbound we get a fantastic view of the Washington D.C. Temple for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is absolutely beautiful.
David really had a very relaxing day. The excitement was decorating his room with all his flags, postcards from many of you, photos of friends and family, his family quilt, and all the coins he has received from so many military leaders and organizations. His room really looks like home.
David won't let us help him eat any more. We are allowed to put the tray on his chest and then he does all the rest for himself. We are quickly reprimanded if we make a move to assist him. It is very good to see him eating everything on his tray and doing it all on his own.
Tonight Lynnette and I went shopping for a sleeping mask to cover his eyes. All night long the nurses come in to check this or do that or take some vital readings and each time requires them turning on the lights - at least with the a sleeping mask he has the chance to not be awakened by the light. Most of the nurses are very good not to disturb him but the light is a tough one to ignore. We also bought him a satin sleep cap. You can easily tell which soldiers are still sleeping on, and continually lying on their backs because they develop balding spots in several places on the back of the head. We felt that the satin sleep cap might act as a buffer between his head and the sheets and allow his hair to grow back.
When we were shopping for David's things, the strangest thing happened. We were walking past different sections in the store and I was just looking at things that David might want - I saw some really colorful socks that I thought David would really get a kick out of and it took about 10 steps before Lynnette reminded me that he didn't have feet. I couldn't believe I had really forgotten that he couldn't wear the socks. Needless to say, the tender moments haven't stopped.
They took David to X=ray today and got pictures of his pelvis again. As we were rolling him over, there was a fair amount of puss that came out near the X-fix on his left leg. David really showed some concern because he wants absolutely nothing to slow him down in getting his new legs. David asked if they were going to take an x-ray of his hand and they told him there was no order for it, so, about an hour after they took him back to his room, they took him back to X-ray and took pictures of his hand and arm like they were suppose to. I was looking on the computer when the x-ray of his hand and arm came through and I could see all of the pins and several bones that had been broken. The bone between his pointing finger and the wrist was broken pretty bad and you could still easily see the break in the bone with a pin through it - you could also see the new calcification so everything looks to be healing pretty good according to Dr. Lyon.
I don't know where he received this information, but he was told that one of the biggest problems with the new legs is stopping. He said a friend of his was feeling fantastic when he started running on his new legs and then he said, "Oh no, there's a wall." I guess we take more for granted than we think. Stopping will have a whole new technique.
David received a great fruit bouquet from Catherine's parents. It was beautiful and yummy with strawberries, bananas, grapes, pineapple, oranges and apples - all covered in chocolate and then there was a few pineapple flowers with cantaloupe centers. It was great and still is, we couldn't possibly eat all of it. David even had his friend, Carlos Evans, the one that was hurt right before David received his injuries, come in an sample a few. Catherine's parents made us all a little fatter and a little happier.
There was a gentleman that came in and autographed a book he had written about the Arlington Cemetery. He was the author and wanted to share this book with as many of these wounded soldiers as he could. I'm sorry I don't have his name right now because I would like to give him the recognition and Thanks he deserves. There are so many people who do so many acts of kindness for these warriors, it makes me wonder what my life is about and what I should be doing to give back for all my blessings.
It's past midnight again and it's time to call an end to this day - see you all tomorrow!
Love,
Gordon
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