June 6, 2012

Today started out as many of our mornings do, with getting breakfast ready for the girls and Jason, and then making sure everybody has the clothes they want for the day. That's where it got a little different. Jason has some compression shorts (that's what they're called because they kind of pull everything together). He wears them under his regular shorts, and he says they help greatly in making him more comfortable. Yesterday, I worked with Van (the wheelchair guy) and took apart Jason's seat, and then after a few photos, put it back together. When it was all back together Jason said that it was more comfortable, so with that, and the compression shorts it has helped to make him more comfortable. Having said that, he is still only able to stay in the chair for a few hours, and that's what the hyperbarric chamber is going to help... we hope. The getting ready this morning was also done with the idea that we were going to be having lunch with Gary Sinise. There were three appointments that Jason had to deal with, with one of them being PT, and then the luncheon. While at PT we talked with the therapist, Dawn, and asked her about obtaining more of the compression shorts, since the first ones come from PT at Bethesda. I mentioned we got them from a gentleman named Bob, and she said she knew who he was. She is going to check to see how to get some for Jason.

Anyway, the luncheon was great. Gary showed up and actually met us prior to going in to the Galley. We were able to talk with him, and as it turned out, we were able to introduce several other people to him, as they were walking by. There were also several other folks who came by, that recognized him, and the cameras kind of popped out, as well as requests for autographs, and then we finally were able to get inside to get our lunches. It was kind of humorous, the way some of the people and staff were acting, when they realized who he was. They were all using their iPhones and smart phones to take pictures of him at the salad bar or wherever he happened to be. Jason and I were just trying to get our food and make our way to the table. A special table had been set up for him, and for all the other Wounded Warriors that were having lunch with him. As it turned out, Jason was able to sit directly across from him and I was able to sit next to him. Because of the way the tables were laid out Jason was not able to maneuver in to sit next to him, and it seemed like the other guys were all afraid to sit next to him, as I was not the first person to get to the table. There were about 12 to 15 people already there. It worked out nice for the two of us. Larry was with us too, and he sat down just a little farther, at the next open space.

Tonight I picked up the girls after a nice bike ride. I would have like to have not had to pick up the girls but it was needed for me to do it. Once at home the girls were all excited to be able to sit with Grandpa and I read a couple of books to them, then I had to start dinner. I grilled some hamburgers and made some zucchini that Tom Lightner  gave me earlier today. He grows it in his garden and I love fresh zucchini. He also brought me some string beans and I'll work on them either tomorrow or Friday. I just might wait until Friday since that is when Linda gets here. Over all , the day today was very good. I'm getting to bed at a reasonable hour and should be refreshed for all the stuff going on tomorrow.

Thank you, for all the continued support and prayers. This journey is far from over, though we have come a long way. Jason is here because there is something planned for him, we just don't know what it is yet. God will no doubt continue to guide us along, even down some of the paths we don't like, and still ultimately good for Jason, and his family.