Paul's Update - 08/29/06

Dear Friends:

This last couple of days have been a bit more encouraging. Paul seems even more alert. He is still tired a lot and has trouble walking but he seems to understand quite a bit. Monday was a busy day in which Tabby was gone most of the day. She visited the attorney who basically told her that her health insurance company is now looking for compensation from whatever she recovers from the other girl's insurance. By the time she pays the attorney and the insurance company ... she won't have much left to take care of Paul for what could be the rest of his life. The attorney will be exploring her options ... but this was disappointing news. She has been sending out applications for a job but nothing has really come out of that yet. Paul on the other hand has been able to respond to us very nicely. Tabby asked him yesterday if he remembers being married and he nodded "yes". He said he knew that they were married for 6 years, he knew Dad, Me, Carolyn, Bobby and Alysa. He still wants to be in charge of some things and becomes stubborn when he doesn't want to do something ... but we can handle that! He was up in the recliner for quite a while watching TV. Today he was not up much but we went out for dinner at the Japanese Steak house (one of his favorite things). Dad gave him a menu and asked him if he could read it. He shook his head "no" but then Dad asked if he could show him where the Teriyaki Chicken was and showed him which one it was. He then read down a line of menu options Chicken, Steak, Salmon, Filet Mignon & Vegetable and asked Paul if he could point to the Chicken dinner. Paul took his left hand and started to point to the middle of the page ... but then moved his finger to the top where the Chicken Dinner was!!! He picked it out!!! We aren't sure he can read it but he remembered where it was! After dinner we went to Lowes Hardware. It has been a very long time since Paul was at Lowes. He really seemed to enjoy shopping the tool isle! It was really good to get out of the house and do something "normal" for a change! We certainly enjoy the small blessings that we get!

Have a great day! Lynne & Carl