Paul's Update - 09/09/06

Dear Friends:

Paul has had a pretty good week. He has been more alert and able to do things he hasn't done for weeks. Friday morning started with a trip to the clinic to get his blood drawn. After they got home Dad and Paul sat outside for a bit. Later in the day Tabby worked with him to make sounds and exercise his facial muscles again. We've always heard that it takes more muscles to frown than it does to smile ... well Tabby was able to get Paul to frown. This is a first!! He would do it and hold his mouth that way while Tabby counted to five. He did that three times. He was also able to make an "oo" shape with his mouth and then make that sound. He also exercised his tongue by moving it all around in his mouth, putting it to the roof of his mouth & sticking it out. Dad was able to walk Paul to the bathroom a few times (with Dad holding him of course). The evening was spent watching movies. Saturday was another good day. Dad arrived with Starbucks coffee ... Paul always enjoys his Starbucks ... Tabby does too!! Dad took Paul outside for about three hours. It was warm and nice in the shade with a bit of a breeze. This afternoon Dad worked to get Paul to stand up at his bedside. He stood up and sat down about four times. He was able to sit up and balance himself at the bedside. He fell over in the bed and Dad held out his hands for Paul to grab and pull himself back up. This doesn't seem like much but he hasn't done that since the last seizure. He actually WANTS to get up. Dad tried to get Paul to use his button to ask for Kool-Aid this evening. This is the programmable button that the speech therapist brought for Paul to use to communicate with. Paul would have nothing to do with it. Dad told him if he wanted the Kool-Aid he just needed to push the button and Paul shook his head "no" ... then dad asked "do you want Kool-Aid?" and Paul shook his head "No". I guess it wasn't worth it enough for him to do that!! LOL Tonight ... I got a gift ... I went in to say goodnight to Paul before I was going to leave. I walked in and he was dozing off. He heard me and looked up ... and then ... he SMILED at me! What a blessing ... my son was glad to see me! We don't get spontaneous emotion much ... it was beautiful! We have lots to be thankful for!

Have a blessed day!! Lynne & Carl