Paul's Update - 12/25/06

Dear Friends:

Christmas has always been a special family time for us. This was extra special since we were able to all be together for the celebration. But first let's start with the update for Christmas Eve. Tabby was still gone to West Virginia having a Christmas celebration with her family (and picking up Max!). She stayed until almost 6pm. Paul didn't want to watch the football game so he and Dad stayed downstairs and watched the movie "King of Kings". Because Paul continues to mimic words that we say we try to encourage him to say new things a lot. Whenever we know (or he indicates) that he wants something we try to get him to say it. He has been able to say an amazing number of new words. I must tell you that this week has been an emotionally tough week for all. Christmas is a time when we focus on family and our family has been given trials that nobody should ever have to deal with. But God is so good ... and every time we need encouragement ... He gives it to us! Last night after Tabby got home she was encouraging Paul to say words and he said "I ... like" so she asked him ... "What do you like?". Without any prompting he said ... "Ice Milk". Tabby was so surprised so she asked "do you want ice milk?" and he said "I like ice milk". This is significant for a couple reasons ... 1) he said this without prompting ... 2) he said four words in a sentence and ... 3) prior to his accident he LOVED milk ... ICE COLD!! After that Dad said he was extremely talkative and said several new words and some that they couldn't understand. What a great Christmas gift!! Today all the kids came to our house. Paul was able to say "Merry Christmas" and it very clearly understandable!! At breakfast we had Bobby and his girlfriend Jen, Carolyn & her husband Billy and their daughter Alysa, Paul, Tabby & Max, Carl's brother Jimmy and Billy's dad Jim. It has been a tradition for several years that I make breakfast for us on Christmas morning (I don't do breakfast any other time!!) and we sit together for a meal prior to opening any gifts. This was particularly difficult for Alysa this year!! She is only 6. But she managed to make it through breakfast. Afterwards we go to the living room and someone gets to play "Santa" and hand out gifts. Carolyn helped in that realm this year! Paul had several gifts to open (as did we all!). At first he had trouble with the concept ... much like a young child would. He tried to eat the package and then he tried to open it with his teeth. After some help and several tries he seems to catch on and was able to open his gifts by himself. He got several movies on DVD and interestingly enough when he opened them if they were upside down he would turn them around so they were right-side up. It may mean nothing but it appears that he recognizes the way it looks and knows when they are right-side up! When someone got a gift from Paul they said "thank you" so we got him to say "your welcome"!! He seemed to be in good spirits and enjoyed being with the family. After we were done at home we piled in our cars and headed to Grandma Johnson's (Carl's Mother) house who lives with his sister and her family. Carl's brother and two sisters were there so Mom got to have all her children on Christmas as well. Paul did well on the trip and we had a wonderful day! I hope your family was blessed as much as we were on Christmas day.

--- New Pictures ---

Love, Lynne & Carl