I haven't posted in a while so for all those of you who don't know me I am Amy~moderators hubby Mike. To everyone else how the heck have you all been? A lot has happened since the last time I posted. The unit I was with moved to Washington but I re-enlisted to stay close to my moms (bubbels ;}) and my new unit is getting prepared to deploy to Afganistan. Its been really hecktic. I figured I would pop in and say hi to Fiona, Karen , Ginny, Bobby, Seth, And every one else.

By Brandy on Tuesday, May 10, 2005 - 11:04 am:

Hey there i don't think Seth posts anymore but he might read? You aren't going to have to go are you?Best wishes to you and Amy and your cutie pie boys = )

By Rayanne on Tuesday, May 10, 2005 - 11:18 am:

Are you gooing to have to go?
I have a friend there right now.
He has been there for 14 months now.
Good luck with everything.

By Insaneusmcwife on Tuesday, May 10, 2005 - 01:29 pm:

Hello, Don't have too much fun over in Afganistan (eyes rolling in the back of my head). My dh is gearing up to go back to Iraq in January. This will be deployment #3 for us. Be safe and thank you for everything that you do.

By Reeciecup on Tuesday, May 10, 2005 - 02:36 pm:

Thank you for being a TRUE hero. God bless you and keep you. You'll be in my family's prayers.

By Emily7 on Tuesday, May 10, 2005 - 03:31 pm:

Mike thank you for all you do. It is true hero's like you that make this world a better place. You &your family will be in my thoughts and prayers.
Amy & the boys I want to thank you as well, for being a supportive family & allowing Mike to do his job.

By Jann on Tuesday, May 10, 2005 - 03:35 pm:

When do you ship out? Thinking of you and Amy and the boys!

By Colette on Tuesday, May 10, 2005 - 04:06 pm:

Good luck! We'll be thinking of you and of your family.

By Kay on Tuesday, May 10, 2005 - 09:05 pm:

All of you will continue to be in my thoughts and prayers - we are a free country today because of brave men like you! I appreciate what you do immensely.

By Bobbie~moderatr on Tuesday, May 10, 2005 - 11:37 pm:

E mailing you........

By Trina~moderator on Wednesday, May 11, 2005 - 06:39 am:

Hey Mike, thanks for popping in. We've missed you. {{{HUGS}}} and prayers for you, Amy and the boys.

By Mrsheidi on Wednesday, May 11, 2005 - 07:28 am:

Hi Mike,
I guess I've been new here and don't really know you! But, welcome back!
How is Washington?? My DH was at Fort Lewis for a short stint before he went to ADA in El Paso. Big difference between the two, for sure!
DH's brother is in Iraq, at Camp Anaconda.
Here is his website (blog) that he writes in from time to time:
blog

It's SO nice to hear from him while he's over there.

By Feona on Wednesday, May 11, 2005 - 07:30 am:

Hello. Best Wishes in Afganistan... Is Afganistan quiet now?

By Kernkate on Wednesday, May 11, 2005 - 08:09 am:

Hi Mike, nice to see you postingSo will you be going to Afganistan?

By Daddyof3 on Wednesday, May 11, 2005 - 11:05 am:

I may go if I am healed from the fusion, we are supposed to be going around the end of the year. I dont know if I'll be healed enough to go but I will feel horrible for not going if thats the case. On the other hand I would feel horrible for leaving Amy and the boys. Fighting for the country isn't the hard part, leaving your family behind not knowing if youll ever see their faces, hear their laughter, and help with that eggonaut project at school that is what kills you.

By Jann on Wednesday, May 11, 2005 - 11:06 am:

Have you had your back surgery yet? If so, how did it go?

By Daddyof3 on Wednesday, May 11, 2005 - 11:09 am:

Feona, I am not sure how Afganistan is. I never hear that much about it. We won't be breifed on anything till we are about to get on the plane for security reasons.

By Daddyof3 on Wednesday, May 11, 2005 - 11:11 am:

Jann, I am going on friday to take my new MRI to my doc. in Texas. He will decide on a surgery date after that.

By Palmbchprincess on Wednesday, May 11, 2005 - 11:52 am:

Hey Mike. Are you going to BAMC for the surgery? (I had thought Amy said you were having it done last year) Good luck with that and Afghanistan, and congrats on the re-enlistment.

By Boxzgrl on Wednesday, May 11, 2005 - 12:07 pm:

Good Luck! Thank you for your continued sacrifices to our country (from one military family to another ).

By Daddyof3 on Wednesday, May 11, 2005 - 12:23 pm:

Crystal,
Iam using a civilian doc. in pasadena.
I was gonna have it done a year ago buy the fire...

By Tonya on Wednesday, May 11, 2005 - 12:33 pm:

Good luck to you, Amy and the boys it must be very tough to make the decisions you have to make.

Thank you and God bless you for the things that you do. We wouldn't be the country we are today if it weren't for men and women like you.

By Daddyof3 on Wednesday, May 11, 2005 - 12:58 pm:

Thanks Tonya. It is tough to make the decision to be a soldier, but it is because I don't want to my kids to face the same perils we face just for being born in America. I was already a soldier when 9/11 happened. The instant I saw the footage of what happened that day there was no doubt in my mind that I would be a soldier the rest of my life. One day in the not too distant future I see a world where my kids may work in a world trade center and I could never forgive myself if they were to suffer the same horrible fate that so many suffered on that grim day. I must do what ever I can to ensure the safety of those whom I love.

By Bellajoe on Wednesday, May 11, 2005 - 02:28 pm:

You seem like a great guy Mike! Thanks for all that you do.

Do you know Lieutenant Colonel Chris Ballard? He is the commander of the 316th Military Intelligence batallion. He is stationed at Fort Hood. I thought you were also at Fort Hood but that could be someone else on here. Anyway, Chirs Ballard is my Sister in Law's cousin.

Thanks for stopping by to say hello! I hope your surgery goes well.

By Daddyof3 on Wednesday, May 11, 2005 - 03:17 pm:

Bellajoe I was as Ft. Hood in 03 I wouldnt know many officers though. I am only an enlisted but I did know 319 MI's supply SGT. lol

By Jann on Wednesday, May 11, 2005 - 03:44 pm:

Good luck with your surgery! How did you pick Pasadena? Doesn't Houston have a pretty large medical center?

By Daddyof3 on Wednesday, May 11, 2005 - 06:26 pm:

The Army picked the doc. I had been going to Ft. Sam Houston but the doc there made the mistake of cursing at Amy, so I wont be going back there.

By Jann on Wednesday, May 11, 2005 - 06:30 pm:

I would think not!!! ;)
good luck!

By Ginny~moderator on Wednesday, May 11, 2005 - 06:48 pm:

Mike, have you gotten a second opinion on the fusion surgery. Yes, it is often necessary, and yes, most people who have fusion surgery benefit from it. But a second opinion never hurts. And, whichever doctor does it, s/he should be an orthopedic surgeon who has done lots of fusions.

I have mixed feelings. I hope your back gets better, but I don't want to "see" you going off to Afghanistan. Still, you knew what you were doing when you re-upped, and without guys like you we'd be in deep trouble, so God bless you, either way.

By Daddyof3 on Wednesday, May 11, 2005 - 11:59 pm:

Thanks Ginny
Yes I have actually had 4 oppinions. The guy that is doing the surgery has 277 under his belt. He sent me for a new set of mri's se he could tell if I still needed the surgery. the ones I had were from november 2003 I trust him and will go with what he says unless its totally off the wall.

By Kaye on Thursday, May 12, 2005 - 02:11 am:

Mike..pasadena, TEXAS?? I live very very close, If you want a non biased opinion of the doc, give me more info and I can do some checking!

By Daddyof3 on Thursday, May 12, 2005 - 08:58 am:

Thanks! Kaye

Its Edward Murphy. He has 2 offices one in Pasadena and one in Houston.

By Rayanne on Thursday, May 12, 2005 - 09:07 am:

Good luck with your surgery Mike.
We will all be thinking of you and praying for a speedy recovery.

By Daddyof3 on Thursday, May 12, 2005 - 09:09 am:

Thanks Rayanne.

By Karen~moderator on Thursday, May 12, 2005 - 11:38 am:

Mike, how many vertebrae are you having fused? Wasn't your rupture around L4/L5? I have menopause brain, so I don't remember. I've had surgery at L4/L5, and at L5/S1. Mine were completely necessary as I had free floating pieces of disc from the ruptures that were pressing against my spinal cord. Had I not had the surgeries, I would have risked paralysis, and incontinence. I don't have fusions, however I was told that if I reinjure either of those disks, I am facing fusion.

If you want to talk, you guys have my number. Believe me, I know what you are going through. Good luck!!!

By Daddyof3 on Thursday, May 12, 2005 - 12:59 pm:

KAREN HEY!!!!!! Yeah its l4/5 I am experiencing numbness in the right leg and pain sometimes so extreme I can not get up off the couch. The disk is pressing against the nerves in my spine.