UPDATE FROM RHEANNA

Rheanna sent this today so wanted to get it out to all of you .....thanks for your support of Adam, Rhe and Ryann...they so appreciate your prayers and positive thoughts....and now Rheanna....

I would like to thank everyone for the tremendous reponses and support that I have received since the previous posting. 

 

Abdul's wife is out of the hospital now and is recovering at home with relatives caring for her. Abdul came back to work one day after her release from the hospital with the same smile on his face that he always has, albeit looking a little tired.

 

I have been staying busy working out and earning my military driver's license.  We have several military bases in the Kabul area.  Our office has to complete missions at other installations and so we travel to the other installations via convoys every so often.  Driving in Afghanistan feels a little bit like I'm in a video-game or movie. (Mom, don't worry about me, I am safe! :)

 

I was able to eat lunch at an Afghan restaurant on Camp Phoenix today.  The Afghan dish palou.  The dish consists of a big pile of rice on top of pork (at least I thought it was pork).  The dish has a really tasty spice. The dish came with a big pile of Naan and a chutney type sauce. I ate until I was stuffed.  It was nice to eat something different than what our diniing facility has to offer.

 

I continue to miss Adam, Ryann, and Moose every day. Thanks again everyone for your support and prayers. The attached pics are of me earning my deployment patch. My boss told me to make a "big cheesey grin." Orders are orders. Another picture is a group photo of our office in our battle gear.  The small group picture is of myself and my office mates in front of an MRAP.

 

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 Ryann and Adam get to Face Time with Rhe daily and that helps everyone so much.  Ryann is making changes on a rapid pace.  She finally could roll from her stomach to her back much to her relief...she was getting a little frustrated with herself.  Her favorite game today is peek a boo with her blanket.  She always wakes up with a smile on her face and is ready to go.  Moose continues to be her buddy and is always helpful when we cannot find her pacifier...usually he has taken it!!!
Uncle Joey and Brad were here for a visit last weekend so Ryann put Joey "over the moon"!  He could not get enough of her and loved being with her except when diaper time came.  They are anxious to come back to be with her and spoil her more...
No problems with all of the rain here, but the area around us were  really a mess.  It has been a beautiful fall otherwise so lots of walks with Ryann and Moose.

Congrats to Rheanna's very dear,close friend Kelly, on the birth of her healthy baby girl, Brooklyn!  Her and Ryann will also be best of friends I am sure.

Uncle Joey and Ryann

It was love at first sight!

Mommy sent a car walker and she loves it!

Mommy also sent a bouncy swing which is so much fun!

QUICK ADDITION...

Sorry, I did not realize Rheanna's last couple lines were cut off so just want to quick add them....

Thank you all for the love and support! Happy bday to Grandpa Craig! I'm so thankful to have such a wonderful father-in-law.

NEWS FROM RHEANNA!

Thanks to all of you that sent such nice,

sweet notes to Adam and Rheanna for their anniversary.  Ryann got her dad an ice cream cake to celebrate so as Rhe knows he was happy with that!!!

The info for the blog is pretty much from Rhe with her latest news..sometimes I paraphrase and get the info out to you.  Today I am just going to post exactly what Rheanna said...I think it is truly from her heart and I want you all to know we could not be prouder of her.

This week we had a 9/11 ceremony where we had a moment of silence for those who had died fighting in oef/oif. I thought about our friend and ROTC classmate, Forrest Ewens who gave his life in Afghanistan at the beginning of OEF. I have met so many wonderful Afghan people whom are truly appreciative of the help the Soldiers are trying to give them. No matter how anyone feels about politics and the war, the undeniable thing I have learned being here is that the Afghan people

( at least the ones i've met) have huge hearts and they have hopes and dreams for their children like we do. A glaring example of this is that our office has an Afghan janitor named Abdul. He lives in Kabul and rides his bike through the crazy downtown traffic to work on our base. He works extremely hard everyday to clean our office. He always has a smile on his face and beams when he talks about his wife, twin 9 month old daughters, and 5 year old son. I try to speak a few words in Dari to him every morning. Luckily he speaks better english than my Dari. I know about 5-10 words. Out of the blue one day he brought me a scarf and some bracelets. He told me they were from his wife. He told me she wanted me to have a gift because I was  over here away from my baby to try to help them. I don't try to pretend that my job is actually helping the Afghan people. I'm just a lawyer doing lawyer stuff. However, I do see Soldiers leave the safety of our base every day to risk their lives to train the Afghan police and army. For people like Abdul and his wife, our presence here has helped his family. Or at the very least, they appreciate us for trying to help them. Again, this is not supposed to be about politics but rather about international human bonding. I couldn't help but feel bad accepting a gift from his family when I know he works so hard for every dime that they have. Also, recently Abdul's wife had to go to the hospital for an infection. So, many of you have asked my mom and Georgia if you could send me something. If you so send me something, please send baby toys or clothes (9 month old girl twins) or something for their 5 year old son. If you can think of anything unique to send for Abdul and his wife, that would be wonderful too. No pressure here. I am only throwing this out there because I'd rather you send them something instead of me.

 This week, I am thankful for Soldiers like Forrest and Adam's friend Luke Wullenwaber for paying the ultimate sacrifice for our country and for people like Abdul who has hope that one day his kids can live without the fear of the Taliban in Afghanistan.

Waking up...always happy!

Mongolian class...smaller than usual as they had a training many students had to attend

Ryann and Moose on Sept 10

Looking for Moose..always

Send those emails...

Just a reminder that Adam and Rheanna will be celebrating their 2nd wedding anniversary on Tuesday Sept. 10.  I know there is nothing that would make Rheanna happier if she heard from all of you.  Please send her your anniversary best wishes.  I saw for 2nd anniversary the recommended gift is cotton, so  see how creative you can be in your wishes.  Her email address again is

feltonrj@gmail.com

Thanks again for all the support of the blog...will send news out on Rheanna later this week. 

Wedding Day 9/10/11 McCall Idaho

Moose the babysitter

First attempt with sippy cup

Ryann is enjoying food!

NEWS FROM RHEANNA

SEPTEMBER 4 NEWS FROM RHEANNA!

It is always so good to hear from Rheanna and what she is doing.  Face Time has been wonderful for her and Adam and we hope this blog helps you in staying in touch with her also.  Always know emails, letters, notes are so important to her.  Just her knowing we are all thinking of her means so much and helps her get through her days.

She told us the highlight of her week was she was able to watch an Afghan soldier's trial at an Afghan Army installation.  The soldier was accused of stealing ammunition from the Afghan Army.  The legal system she says is much different than ours and that the judge did most of the questioning.  The soldier declined a defense counsel and she said he essentially confessed to the crime.  His sentence was 10 years in confinement as they take theft of weapon/ammo very serious.

Rheanna has been getting a 30 minute deep tissue massage every Friday morning for $10...she says it is great and wonders what the cost would be here in the states...She also has been telling me about the great shopping and how the little Afghan girls are very "suave" with their selling techniques.  She says it just breaks your heart hearing their stories...hard not to get too involved.  

Her good friends Kelly and Courtney are approaching their due dates, so she is excited for them....she asks all of us for our positive thoughts and prayers for healthy babies..more friends for Ryann

Rheanna continues to miss Ryann, Adam and of course Moose and is so excited to hear all about their day happenings....or in Moose's world, what trouble he got into...no really he has been so good..especially to Ryann Faith!

Kris and Steve left their assignment on Monday and Craig and I arrived Monday after noon...we all are busy reporting for duty!!  They had a great time with Ryann and we could not believe how much she changed in the 2 weeks we were gone.  She had her 6 month check up yesterday  14lbs, 10 oz...happy, healthy and in perfect condition...all went well until those darn shots, but she was tough just like her mommy.

I think I have the comment section figured out...so if you would like to add a comment at the end of the blog I am sure Rheanna would enjoy it...if you have problem yet leaving one let me know...I think I have it tho...

Have a great week everyone and pass it on to someone you talk to this week that we have many soldiers serving for us all over the world and to take a moment to think of their hardships being away from family.  Thanks Rheanna for all that you do!

Watching the Afghan soldier trial

Game night!

With the Afghan Attorney General

Date night with his girl!

Grandpa Steve

Grandma Kris

At the Dr, office...no idea what is to happen!

The day after the shots!  So much better