A Noah Update... and THANK A SOLDIER WEEK

I realized that I haven't given a Noah progress report in a while... so here goes.

Noah is doing great for a guy that was blown up 15 weeks ago. He recently received his medical release -- that is, returned to duty -- with a few restrictions including not returning to his unit for the balance of their deployment (whew for me!) His back & neck are better but he's not pain free nor completely healed yet. He has most of his hearing in one ear, but far less than normal hearing in the other. They're hopeful all that will be resolved with time. As long as he keeps up with the exercises for his back/neck he should continue to gain his strength back. He recently was ok'd to begin running again with a rucksack and he's working on improving his stamina... but it will take two days for every day he was away from his training to get his physical conditioning back, but he's determined to do it. It's very odd as a parent to celebrate that your child is now eligible to return to fighting the war -- oh, I know his Division is coming home (OUR GUYS ARE COMING HOME!!) and that Noah isn't going anywhere soon where people will be shooting at him or trying to blow him up (again)... Still, it's odd to have those Mom nerves cranked up that one little notch.

Right now, he's just anxious for the rest of the Guys to get home. That's been a whole adjustment in itself -- the being away from people you worked, trained and lived with for about two years... He just wants the brothers HOME (don't we all... and I'm sure not more than they want to get here!) In a short instant message from one of our Guys Saturday, they said so!

Mentally, I think Noah will be better once the Guys get home (we can only hope so.) He's trying to adjust to all that's happened in the past year (Lord! A Year???) Has been a hard, hard year for Noah... and all Our Guys. Hopefully, time will allow them all to heal...

(Stacy, I am keeping my fingers crossed and saying a prayer!!)

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THANK A SOLDIER WEEK

December 19-25, 2005 is THANK A SOLDIER WEEK. Go HERE to send a message of thanks and support to our soldiers. And pass the word... The men and women of our Armed Services can not be thanked enough.

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Please go over to this entry at The Mudville Gazette and read this father's tribute to his fallen son. God Bless you, Mr. Stokley.

And Michael Yon says TURN UP THE VOLUME !! Visit his site for the link to a terrific video relating to the Iraqi election... very cool.

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