Paul's Update - 06/16/06

Dear Friends:

Today was the first day that Dad went to Paul's house at 4am. It makes for a long & tiring day. Dad took Tabby & Max to the pediatrician this morning. Dora stayed at the house with Paul. Everything is going well ... the doctor wanted to check Max's weight since he'd lost a little just after the birth. The Physical Therapist & the Occupational therapist came while they were gone. Dora said he did well in OT. Steve (the therapist) worked with him to stretch him. He asked him to write on a piece of paper. He managed to write a "P". Dora said it wasn't great but it did look like the letter P. Paul had a little trouble moving around but he was trying very hard to get his balance. Dad & Tabby stopped in the neurologist's office while they were out taking Max to the doctor to get some forms to have his blood drawn again soon. The doctor poked his head out of the office and said he wanted to talk to Dad. Evidently he looked at the CT scans that were done at Fairfax Hospital. He was horrified at how much damage was done to Paul's brain. Dad stopped him mid-sentence to let the doctor know that we already know that Paul had a "severe head injury" but we already see Paul doing things that the doctors said he would never be able to do. It really perplexes us when doctors remind us of how much damage was done .... what do they think we are going to do at this point?? I guess some people choose to institutionalize someone that they believe will never recover enough to have a normal life. Being in this position I can see how some could not be strong enough to continue on ... but we believe that Paul will recover ... we know it is NOT beyond God's power. We cannot know how much he will recover or when that will happen ... we know that God has done mighty works already and must have a purpose for what has happened. The neurologist said it would take 10 days before he will have enough of the Dilantin in his body to do another blood test and see if he is getting a therapeutic amount. Then he will start eliminating the Depacote. Paul spent some time watching TV today and was able to go outside for a while. He doesn't do well in heat so he didn't stay out long. He seems very sensitive to temperature ... he use to really like his room to be COLD ... now he wants a blanket most of the time. Tabby is doing well with Max. She is still trying to nurse him as much as possible. He seems to be a very normal baby ... he eats, she changes him, he goes to sleep ... then they start over again in a couple of hours. He likes being in his swing!! What a joy he is! God has blessed us so well! Saturday night is the Father-Son banquet at the church. Dad will bring Bobby & Paul for dinner. This is Paul's first "father's day"!! How timely Max's birth is! Happy Father's day to all you dads!

Love & Hugs, Lynne & Carl