Paul's Update - 04/06/06

Dear Friends:

Paul came home today. He worked with the speech & Occupational therapists this morning before going home. The speech therapist gave him about 1/2 a popsicle and worked to exercise his mouth and tongue. His swallowing was a little better today but she wasn't absolutely sure he was swallowing all of it since he wouldn't make vocal sounds to show his throat was clear. He wouldn't work with the buzzer today. He shook his head "no" and pulled his hand away when she asked him if he wanted to work with it!! She talked to him a bit and told him he needed to work on exercising his vocal cords. He had occupational therapy after that. He went into the bathroom and she tried to get him to take a washcloth to his face using his left hand. He couldn't reach it but he tried. He washed his right arm with it since he could reach that. She put the deodorant in his right hand and asked him to take the lid off ... he shook his head "no". She finally got him to take the lid off she put the deodorant in his left hand and he applied it. Then they got him dressed. When it got closer to time to go home it appeared he had a little anxiety attack about leaving. The handicapped cab came at 2pm but the paperwork to release him wasn't ready until 2:30pm. The cab driver followed Tabby back to the house. While driving home there was a Harley Motorcycle went by and he looked over and watched it go by. They got almost home but he got sick in the cab. It was just a long trip. When they got home Paul was very upset. It took a little bit to get him calmed. I suppose the trip or being back home could be enough to be upsetting. When Dad & Tabby got him in the hospital bed they realized that the bed wasn't working. The electrical cords of the bed were not working. Apparently they were crushed while it was being stored. Someone from the company that owns the bed came to repair it. Dad took Paul outside to watch his cousin and a friend work on a walkway up to the house. Paul's friend is working to see if they can get a discount or donation on the concrete. What a blessing that would be!! Friday we will have the nurse, the CNA & all the therapists at the house to meet Paul and see the house. We will have more information about when they will be coming to do therapy. The CNA will come everyday from 6am to 6pm. The therapists will come every day Monday through Friday for each regimen (Speech, Occupational and Physical therapy). Paul was making lots of vocal sounds today. It seems like he is trying to say words. This is the most he has made vocal sounds. The work on the house is mostly complete now. The bathtub fixtures are still being worked on but most everything else is done!! We are so thankful for all the helpers that have come. We couldn't have been ready for today without all the help!

Have a great day (TGIF), Lynne & Carl