Paul's Update - 02/11/06

Dear Friends:

It seems that every day now we have more improvements. Saturday & Sunday Paul doesn't have therapy but that doesn't mean he doesn't have to work hard! We try to work with him everyday. Dad & I got there around 11 am today and Bobby was still there. Once his ride came he headed home. Tabby spent Friday night with friends and wasn't there yet. Carolyn came after Bobby left. It has become regular that Paul can answer yes and no questions by nodding his head. When asked if he wants to do things we can get an answer!! It's wonderful!! Dad asked him twice if he wanted to work with the trach cap ... he said "no" both times. Can't blame him ... I bet it is difficult to breathe with it when you aren't use to it. Today's activity was mostly working with the mouth sponge which is a sponge on a stick about 6 inches long. The speech therapist wants him to be able to take the sponge in his mouth and move it around with his tongue. This will prepare him for foods later. Dad and Carolyn started with water on the sponge. He worked hard with it in his mouth, but when he was done with it he tried to reach it with his left hand and remove it! Then Dad worked with him to get him to take the stick and put the sponge into his mouth by himself. At first he didn't try but after some coaxing from Dad & Carolyn he worked to do it. After a couple of tries that came short of his mouth he finally got it into his mouth all by himself. He worked at it about 6 times, he was only successful by himself one time even though he was trying very hard. After Tabby came we got him into his wheelchair. It was time for a haircut. The staples from the shunt surgery were taken out yesterday so it was time to shave off the excess hair that didn't match the part that had been shaved for surgery. After the haircut Tabby used a washcloth and shampoo to wash his hair & scalp. I'm sure it must feel better. It was snowing outside so we didn't try to go out at all. Dad & I left around 5pm (Carolyn had already left around 4pm). Tabby was staying the night with Paul. Sunday will be the one hundredth day since the accident. Hard to believe isn't it? I praise God for all the miracles we have seen over this time! I know God is answering our prayers!!

Love, Lynne & Carl