Paul's Update - 02/07/06

Dear Friends:

Oh … where to start!! What an exciting day. The day started with Tabby & Carolyn off to the sonogram. Carolyn took a video of the event ... although she couldn't take the video into the actual sonogram procedure she did take video along the way and after it was over. Then they were off to tell Paul the exciting news!!! It's (going to be) a BOY! Tabby could hardly contain herself. She and Carolyn went out and got a balloon that said "It's a boy" and bought some very cute outfits. It is a day she will always remember. This afternoon the therapists came and took Paul to the therapy room downstairs in the nursing home. The speech therapist worked with him to get him to follow commands. She also applied an ice pack to Paul's leg to get him to kick his foot. He did that but he did something they DIDN'T expect. He reached out with his left hand and pulled his pants leg back down over his leg and then sat back with a smile on his face!!! It wasn't a large smile but the fact that it was a smile is great ... and he reasoned out how to cover his leg and prevent the ice pack from touching his skin. He did it twice!! Dad said he actually saw Paul give the therapist "the finger"! Remember ... anger is good!! LOL Then they worked with cones. He wasn't very interested in doing the cones but he cooperated a little. He was repositioning himself in his wheelchair a lot by himself and when they got him up and sat him on the side of a bench he sat completely by himself for several minutes. He seems to have great control and balance. The speech therapist also put the cap on the trach today and that stayed on for about an hour. He did great with it. Tonight when Tabby went to leave Paul actually tried to put his legs to the floor and was attempting to get up from the bed. Bobby and Dad had to stop him from getting himself out of the bed!! It seems he does more and more each day. We are so blessed with good things!
Have a great day!!

Love Lynne & Carl