Paul's Update - 02/09/06

Dear Friends:

Today was another great day. Paul was very responsive and did what the therapists asked him to do. He must have just been tired yesterday. This morning he had shifted to side of the bed and was laying sideways, Dad asked if he wanted to be straightened out and he shook his head "no". About 3pm the therapists came into Paul's room. The speech therapist asked him to open his mouth, he did that right away. She also asked him to try to sit up by himself. He was trying to do it but didn't have enough abdominal strength so she put out her hand to help him and he pulled himself up into a sitting position. He was able to sit on the side of the bed for a little by himself. Then it was time to go downstairs to the therapy room. The speech therapist put on the trach cap and he wore that for almost 1/2 hour. He couldn't make any noises with his voice but he seemed to try. She asked him to blow a Kleenex tissue that she had in front of him. He tried to do it a couple of times. He didn't have much breath but he at least tried. She also had him hold some dowel rods while she banged on a pot. She asked him to drop the dowel when she hit the pot. He did really good with that. This is suppose to encourage his brain to respond to noises more quickly. The physical therapist tried to get him to use a pulley with sandbags to work out his arms. He would do it as long as she held his hand on the bar but he wasn't interested doing it by himself. She asked him if he wanted to continue he shook his head "no". He allowed them to stretch and exercise his arms and worked on balancing himself on the side of the bench. We are definitely seeing more and more response to us. He tracks with his eyes better, he responds to our voices, he nods his head "yes" and "no". Kissing has become a regular occurrence now. Tabby really enjoys that. Carolyn was the recipient of a "blown kiss" today. He is still coughing a lot of fluids up but he seems to feel pretty good. He really doesn't like it when we say we are leaving. He keeps trying to sit up and get out of bed. This is also a really good thing ... it will motivate him to work hard!! Tabby will spend the night tonight then Friday night will be Bobby's turn to spend the night with Paul. I think he is really looking forward to time alone with his little brother!! Have a great Friday!! TGIF

Love, Lynne & Carl