Paul's Update - 03/27/06

Dear Friends:

Today started a little rocky. Dad arrived to find that the nurses had been very busy this morning and Paul hadn't been dressed or gotten up yet. OT was scheduled for 9:00 am so the therapist helped Dad get Paul ready. She got him in the bathroom and helped him get cleaned up. The therapist got him to take the lid off his deodorant and he (with help) applied it to his underarm. It appeared that his arm felt better today. Speech was at 11:00 am. He blew his whistle today. She attempted to get him to eat pudding but he wouldn't even try to eat it. She had to suction it back out of his mouth. She tried a popsicle and he bit off a chunk and chewed it a bit but wouldn't swallow it. She tried to get him to ring a bell, he could reach it but he couldn't push it fast enough to make it ring. She changed to the buzzer and told him to respond with one buzz for "yes" answers. She asked him "Is your name Paul?" he pushed the buzzer, "Is your dad here?". he pushed it, "are you married?" ... he pushed it. Then she asked him "Do you live in Texas?" he didn't push the button and then "Do you live in Virginia?" and he didn't push the button. This seemed disappointing but then she asked him again "Is your name Paul?" and he pushed the button. She said that she will continue to work on this activity. At 12:00, when speech was done, Dad got him back in the bed to rest before PT. Dad went to lunch and when he came back there were four Fairfax County Police officers at the nurses station. The motor squad had come to visit Paul (he used to do the setups on the Fairfax County Motorcycles). They brought him a ball cap from the Fairfax County Motormen. How cool is that? Dad got a chance to talk to them and told them Paul's story. PT was at 1:00 pm. They got him up to walk and he seemed to do a little better today!! Wednesday the wheelchair company will come to measure Paul for his wheelchair. It will take about 4-6 weeks for the wheelchair to be custom built. The doctor came in and said he will discontinue another medicine (it keeps the food flowing in the right direction to help prevent indigestion) since it causes drowsiness. The changes he has made so far seem to help Paul stay more alert. The remainder of the day was restful but he seemed alert. He spent time watching TV with Dad. He is exhibiting more sounds ... mostly moaning sounds but this is exercise for his vocal cords. The construction company came to the house today and poured the concrete for the ramp. Tabby seemed pleased with the work. Dad will go back to the house to do some more drywall work on Tuesday. I will spend the day with Paul.

Blessings, Lynne & Carl

P.S. I started my physical therapy for my shoulder today and will go a couple of time a week for a while. It seems to feel much better but therapy will loosen up the tendons in my shoulder.