Paul's Update - 11/03/06

Dear Friends:

Today was a pretty good day. Paul is doing well with the change in medicine and seems to be pretty alert. Tabby was able to get Paul to sit up and balance himself at the side of the bed. When he got tired he would lay back and then do a "sit-up" to get back into a sitting position. Tabby said he was doing this all by himself and did it so many times that she lost count. She told him if he got tired he could position himself in the bed and rest but he wouldn't do it. He sat at the edge of the bed for a couple of hours. Dad said that Paul used the electric razor this morning and shaved by himself. He moved it all around his face. Then when he was in the bathroom Dad put a towel on his lap and he proceeded to fold it. He took one corner and matched it up with the other corner and then straightened the towel until it was neatly folded in half. Dad had to go out for a bit today and Tabby was there with Dora. Max is doing real well. He finally has a tooth that we can see crowning through his gums. Ozzy (the new puppy) is going outside every couple of hours and is doing good. He likes his little crate and will go into it by himself. Tabby talked to the nursing agency today and it looks like we will not have a nurse again this weekend. They found a nurse but he lives in Herndon and feels that Manassas is too far for him to travel so we still have nobody! Tabby also found out today that Audrey (our first weekend nurse) is now pregnant and so she won't be able to come back. Saturday is the "one year" mark since Paul's accident. Although it is a sad day to remember we are grateful that we can "celebrate" his survival. So many things have happened in a year. Thank you for being part of our journey. The prayers of our friends & family have meant a lot to us. I would like to look at this day as Paul's "Life Day". This is something that I heard another survivor of a traumatic brain injury does each year on the anniversary of her injury. I think it is a great way to look at the blessing God gave us that day!

Have a great weekend! Lynne & Carl