Paul's Update - 03/08/07

Dear Friends:

Mom, Ann & I started out the day in Murfreesboro and headed out for Kentucky around 10am on Wednesday. We drove to Horse Cave Kentucky. Mom had an Uncle that lived there a long time ago. We stopped in a bookstore in town (well ... a strip of stores along the road!) and spoke to a man who lived there. He had heard of Mom's family and told us a lot of information. He suggested we go to Munfordville and visit the Historical Society. We drove to Rowletts Kentucky where my mother's grandmother lived and saw the family land where my mother was born. Then on to Munfordville. At the Historical Society we were talking to the lady that runs the place and my mother told her that her maiden name was Waddell...and a lady that was there doing research came over and said "I hate to interrupt you but ... my name is WADDELL!!" It turns out that she was a second cousin of my mother's!!! It was amazing to talk to her and we got some stories about the family. After we visited for a bit we headed o ff to Louisville and found the Seelbach Hilton Hotel. It is right across the street from where Mom use to work in 1955. We stayed there. Mom is amazed how much Louisville has changed. We went to dinner at the hotel and didn't finish until around 11pm. I called and talked to Dad after we got into the room and he said Paul had another great day. He sat up most of the day. It turns out every time he goes to the bathroom he stops at the futon to sit. He really likes the new futon. Dad said this morning Paul was having a snack of apples and oranges. He was eating the oranges and Dad said "why don't you eat some of the apples" and Paul put an orange back into the bowl and picked out an apple!! He also said that Paul was walking better today than he has been! He may try to work more with the walker soon. Unfortunately I wasn't able to get a lot of information about Paul's day since I woke Dad up around 11:30pm when I called home! We started out the day on Thursday by walking around the street nearby the hotel in Louisville and then we boarded the trolley that drives around town and saw some of the city. We went to the Brown Hotel and had lunch. We were told at the Kentucky Visitor's Center that we needed to try the "Hot Brown" for lunch. It is the hotel specialty and it was GREAT. Afterwards we took a drive around town and found Mom's old high school and then went to Churchill Downs. We were able to get a guided tour of the racetrack and facility. By then it was after 7pm so we headed out of Louisville and got a hotel in Shelbyville Kentucky for the night. I spoke with Dad and he said that Paul spent a good part of the day on the futon. He fell asleep on it this afternoon so after Dad took him to the bathroom he asked Paul "Do you want to get back in bed for a while?" and he nodded "yes". He didn't go back to sleep but he watched TV there for a while. Later he sat on the futon again. Dad asked Paul if he remembered who he is and he nodded "yes". He asked "do you know my name?" and Paul said "I don't know". Dad said his name and Paul repeated it. Then Dad said "do you know your name?" and Paul said "I don't know". Tabby tried "What's your name?" and Paul said "I DON'T KNOW". He doesn't even hesitate to say this now. It is nice that he can say it instead of just shaking his head "no". This evening Tabby was standing Max up and she let go ... he actually stood by himself for a few seconds ... it isn't going to be long before he is trying to walk!! He will be 9 months old in a few days!! He is feeling better and has not had any more crying spells. Dad thinks that Max may have eaten something that disagreed with him. Friday Paul has an appointment with the neurologist. It will be interesting to see what his doctor thinks of his progress. Tabby plans to call the speech therapist to see when she can come to visit with Paul. Hopefully that will be in the next few days!!

Have a great day! Lynne & Carl