Paul's Update - 04/04/06

Dear Friends:

Today was a little slower day. Speech was suppose to be at 2pm but the therapist's 10am patient couldn't be woken so she switched Paul's time to 10am. She tried to talk to Paul about the many ways to communicate. He needs three signals "yes", "no" and "doesn't matter". Thumbs up for yes, thumbs down for no and open hand or no thumb for doesn't matter or has no answer. If he answers a yes question he has to be answer a no question consistently right after as a "control" question to know he understood the question. She worked open his hand, close his hand, put his thumb up and put his thumb down. She told him how important it is to be consistent. He didn't do well, but she will keep working on it. She also exercised his face and tongue. PT was at 11am. They walked with the walker and he kept his head up. He went about 1/2 the length of the gym before taking a rest. Then he walked another 1/2 of the gym. OT was at 1pm. The therapist worked on getting Paul to pick up things and put them in a bowl after she stretched his arms. He did OK but he wouldn't open his hand for her some of the time. She gave him a 2lb weight and he was supposed to give it to Dad. He took it and moved it toward Dad but then he just stood it on one end but wouldn't give it to Dad. It was cold outside so he wasn't able to go out. He stayed up in the wheelchair for a couple of hours. The doctor told Dad that he increased Paul's meds again last night. Tonight he seemed pretty tired and wasn't moving much. The doctor told Dad that he suspects that Paul's stiffness in the left arm may not be something he cannot control ... rather he purposely stops people from moving the arm. The doctor doesn't know for sure and doesn't know what he plans to do about it yet. At the house Tabby had the hospital bed delivered. They also delivered a walker, a suction machine (for the saliva) and some of the liquid food. It appears that Paul will be coming home sometime between 11-2pm on Thursday! Wednesday is court day. Bobby, Tabby, Tabby's attorney, Dad & I are all planning to be there. It will be the first time that any of us have seen the girl that hit Paul. We won't really have any part of this proceeding but we want to be there and impress upon the District Attorney how serious her "failure to yield" was! Pray for us as we are all at another anxious part of this long ordeal. We know God is in charge of this and we hope for the appropriate justice will be done.

Have a great day! Lynne & Carl