Sunday, November 14, 2010 at 1936

Hope You've All Had A Great Weekend,



I'll try to bring you up to date since Wednesday. This has really been a calm week. Thursday was a holiday for David as well as much of the U.S. for Veteran's Day. David did, however, do almost 9 hours or occupational therapy on his hand - yep, he bought the new X-box 360 Call To Duty and spent the entire day doing Black Ops and shooting Zombies. You'd think that, after being at war much like is depicted in these games, these guys would shy away from the "heat of the battle" but that is not the case at all. When they get together they talk war stories and compare scars. David now gives high fours since he is missing his pinky finger. He really brings a great deal of humor to this ordeal.

Friday was another day of the same OT and PT. David did walk another 150 yards or so. It is really a painful thing because, either the casting or the liner or the sock or the belt pinches or slips or rubs - there is just absolutely no ideal fit as of yet but we're both very optimistic that the time will come when everything just feels right. When we were in PT, Dr. Peo came in an put some acupuncture pins in David's right ear to see if it would help with the phantom pains - so far it hasn't really helped. While we are watching TV, which consists of Mythbusters, Overhaulin, Orange County Chopper, and Office, out of the blue will come the phantom pains. His latest pains just shoot down his legs and his feet feel like their being crushed. I know that when I have put in a hard day of exercise (preferably Golf or Hunting) I often get leg cramps that take me close to tears - my wife could testify of how hard they hit. David gets hit with that almost every day. We're trying to figure out how he is sitting or what he has or hasn't done to trigger the pain.

On Friday he tried a little more mirror therapy but it didn't work very well. I can't imagine it would work at all because this therapist is about 5 foot tall, has olive skin, and has dark red painted toe nails on a size 4 foot - David needs to be looking at a hairy, boot beaten size 11 in order to think it is his own. Plain and simple - sometimes nothing helps, he just has to wait for the wave of pain to pass by.

We spent a few hours with Stanley, the assist dog that David is looking for. He is really fun and he really seems to like David. From everything I have seen, it would be a great match.

The Lobster trapping we were planning did not happen but we'll give you a report when it does happen next time.

Dr. Peo told David that he could start walking with knees in 4 weeks - that is extremely exciting news. Try walking without knees or ankles and you'll soon realize why this is such great news.

Today we went to the Tattoo Expo - I was so tempted to get a tattoo (NOT).

Other than that, there isn't a great deal to tell you. David's friend, Dan came over on Saturday and I can't possibly tell you what an incredible boost that gives David. It's nice to hear the laughs, the concern for other soldiers and their families, the war stories - and boy do they have the war stories.

Today we were watching Mythbusters and they used 5000 pounds of explosives - I acted so impressed by the impact and David said, "Amateurs!" and showed me a clip where they use 20,000 pounds of old bombs in one blast. Ohhhhhh the joy of blowing something up!!!!!!

I sincerely thank all of you who have done so much for David through your friendships - you're a great part of the strength he has shown and continues to show. Thank YOU!

See you on the next post.

Gordon