I talked to Aaron again. He was just getting ready to go to sleep after what sounds like a very eventful day. After the visit from the commandant of the Marines, he had several tests done including having two ophthalmologists take a look at his eye, which we thought had shrapnel in it. There is good news to report there in that they did not find any debris lodged in his eye, only a place where he had some abrasions. Those appear to have healed well and the doctors told him his double vision should go away soon without any surgery. One less surgery is always good news!
I had a chance to visit with Aaron for a half hour or so, and he is in really good spirits. He said today a Marine who was injured in Afghanistan and lost his leg in almost the same place as Aaron came to see him. Aaron said that when the guy walked in the room, he couldn't tell there was anything wrong with him because he walked so naturally. Aaron and this guy talked for a while, and he told Aaron that once he learns to use a prosthesis, he will be able to do anything he wants from playing football to swimming to running a marathon if that interests him. It sounds like it was very encouraging to Aaron. Plus, Aaron said the prosthetic leg the guy had was "awesome looking."
Aaron is already making steps towards being able to be somewhat indepedent. He told me that today he took himself off of the pain-regulation system that allows him to hit a button for morphine anytime he wants. Now he has to request pain medication, which will be freely given to him. But he said he wants to start moving away from being drugged all the time and doesn't want to become dependent on the medication. He also said he has been figuring out how to move himself short distances such as from a bed to a gurney or a wheelchair, and that is encouraging to him because he said he figures the sooner he can move on his own, the sooner he can start rehabilitation. His insistence on doing that today had put him in a little bit of pain tonight, but he said he had requested and received medicine for it and wasn't hurting too badly.
So, on a good note, we come to the end of the first full week since the attack. It is hard to believe that it has only been one week. Time has taken on a very distorted quality since this happened, and it has certainly been the longest week of my life. I'm sure the rest of the family feels the same way. But we are thankful for the many mercies we have seen unfold even in the midst of this dark and difficult time. Aaron is with family, alive and awake and optimistic, and for that we thank God.
Again, we cannot thank you all enough for your love and prayers for us. Please continue to pray tonight for Aaron to have as little pain as possible, for the family to be able to rest, and for a good day tomorrow.
For tonight, I wanted to leave y'all with the words of a hymn that has always been very dear to me. In fact, it was sung at mine and Dan's wedding. Lately, it has come to take on even deeper meaning for me than it had before, especially the second and third verses.

Like a river glorious is God's perfect peace
Over all victorious in its bright increase.
Perfect, yet it floweth fuller every day.
Perfect, yet it groweth deeper all the way.

Stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are fully blessed
Finding, as He promised, perfect peace and rest.

Hidden in the hollow of His blessed hand
Never foe can follow, never traitor stand.
Not a surge of worry, not a shade of care,
Not a blast of hurry touch the spirit there.

Stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are fully blessed,
Finding, as He promised, perfect peace and rest.

Every joy or trial falleth from above,
traced upon our dial by the Sun of love.
We may trust him fully, all for us to do.
They who trust Him wholly find him wholly true.

Stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are fully blessed,
Finding, as He promised, perfect peace and rest.

And all of God's people can say AMEN!
Goodnight, dear ones.