Paul's Update - 10/24/06

Dear Friends:

Paul is having really good days. He seems very alert and is gaining more function in the right side each day. He has been walking better the last couple of days. Dad still has to support him in case he loses balance but he is controlling his steps better. Today Paul was able to help Tabby take his shoes off. He used his right hand to try to push the shoe off his left foot. He wasn't able to do it without help but he sure tried. He was able to take the right shoe off by using his left hand. Tabby helped a bit but he got the heel of the shoe off his foot by himself!! Tabby tries to encourage him to try new things all the time and he seems alert and willing to try lately. Dad said that when he takes Paul to the bathroom he sits him on the toilet and covers his lap with a towel. Paul is very picky and tries to straighten the towel so that it doesn't have any wrinkles in it. The funny thing is ... he was like that before the accident. He even held the towel with his right hand so he could use the left hand to straighten it out! Tonight Tabby made Tortellini with homemade tomato sauce for dinner. It was great. Paul loved it. She made breakfast this morning too ... bacon and eggs. I think she is enjoying her role as a homemaker!! She does like to cook but it hasn't been something she has had a lot of time to plan or do! Wednesday is the doctor appointment to have Paul's blood drawn. We are hopeful that the Trileptol is now at the therapeutic level so we can decrease the Dilantin. We will know in about a week. After they get done at the doctor's office they will go for breakfast (Paul has to be fasting) and then run some errands.

Have a great day! Lynne & Carl