Paul's Update - 06/23/07

Dear Friends:

Friday was a great day. Dad took Paul for a walk around the block in his big wheelchair. They went to the park up the road from us. Paul didn't recognize it but Dad said he didn't recognize it either since they have all new equipment up there. They went all around the block. Several places that Paul should recognize he didn't. He seemed to recognize Tabby's parents old house but that was the only thing he recognized. After they got home Dad got Paul onto the floor in the living room. Dad got a pair of knee pads for Paul to wear. He was able to crawl across the floor to the couch. Dad had to tell him which arm and leg to move. He put his head and arms on the couch but couldn't get onto it. Dad had to help him get off the floor to the couch. He did so well!! This is another FIRST! He hasn't been able OR willing to crawl before when Dad tried to get him on his knees. Later in the day Dad took a ride to the Freedom Center. This is a fitness center that is at the George Mason College Annex here in Manassas. They have a pool there and Dad wanted to see if they had a program for the handicapped. He was impressed with the equipment that they have there. They have a lift that will put Paul into the pool and they also have a pool that you can roll a wheelchair down into. They have a specialist that can work with Paul but she wasn't there so Dad hasn't found out how much that would cost or when she would be available. Paul was pretty exhausted from his activities earlier in the day. He had a quiet evening. I went to the last night of Vacation Bible School. When it was bedtime Dad tried to give Paul his anti-depressant medicine. This is a new medicine for Paul. The first night Dad gave it to him was Wednesday night with his other medicines. He was so tired by bedtime that Dad couldn't get him to walk. The second night (Thursday) Dad waited until Paul was IN the bed before giving it to him. Friday night when Dad went to give it to him ... he shut his lips TIGHT ... he refused to take it! We suspect that he doesn't like the way it makes him feel ... so he doesn't want to take it. No amount of coaxing would get him to take it!! Who says he doesn't know what he is doing??? Saturday morning Ronda and I headed out as usual. Paul was up drinking his coffee in the living room when I left. Dad said after breakfast he attempted to get Paul on the floor again. He put his knee pads on and crawled to the recliner. He got his top half on the chair but couldn't get onto the chair. Dad laid him back onto the floor on his stomach. Dad asked him if he could get onto his elbows and he said "yes". He rolled over onto his right side and used his left hand to push himself up into a sitting position. Dad told him to crawl to the couch but he needed to turn around since he was facing the wrong way. He scooted around to face the right direction. Then he got back onto his hands and knees and crawled to the couch. Once he was at the couch he reached up with his arms and got his top half onto the couch. He shifted his legs to crawl to the middle section of the couch. He rolled the top half of his body onto the couch and was on his back then scooted himself onto the couch and into a sitting position. It was a LOT of work for him but he DID IT!! He was pretty exhausted after that!! WOW!! It is so nice that he WANTS to do these things. This afternoon Tabby brought Max over and we took him to El Agave for lunch with Bill & Ronda. I haven't been there for several weeks and we really enjoyed it. Tonight was the community picnic and movie night at the church. We were able to have our movie outside in the church yard ... always a fun activity. We got home about 10:30pm and Paul went right to bed. He had a pretty busy day!!

Have a great day! Lynne & Carl