Paul's Update - 08/05/07

Dear Friends:

Saturday morning Gradis showed up at just after 7am. She immediately begins working with Paul to get bathed and dressed. Dad slept in late so she and I worked with Paul to get breakfast. He was able to eat breakfast and have his coffee in bed while we watched TV. Gradis and I sat in there with him and watched Mission Impossible until 10am. Once the movie was over we were able to get Paul up and she helped him in the bathroom. He actually does most of the work himself now but someone still has to help so Gradis does that!! Dad had to go out and do some errands once he was up and dressed. Since Bill & Ronda were out of town we didn't go out to Warrenton for lunch. Instead we went out to visit Paul's old neighbors Tye, Laura, Nikki & Karen who lived across the street from him on Lomond Drive. We haven't seen them since Paul moved out and we had a really nice visit. He walked with the walker to the front porch and had to WALK up about ten steps to get to their front door. This is also something new. He has only done a couple of steps on our deck and garage and has managed well enough that Dad felt he could do more steps. He did GREAT! Of course ... once you go up ... you have to come down!! He also did well coming down. After our visit we went to lunch at Yorkshire Restaurant. This was also the first time he WALKED into the restaurant. All of the staff there knows us and were amazed ... almost to tears ... that he was doing so well. The waitress was so moved that she promised Paul a piece of pie to celebrate once he finished his lunch! Once he finished his open faced roast beef sandwich she got him a piece of cherry pie! The staff there really doesn't know Paul's story and as Dad was paying the bill he was able to tell them a lot about what has gone on over the last twenty months. Carolyn & Billy went out for the evening so we had Alysa & Chris for a few hours. It was really good Grandma & Pap Paw time! The got home around 10pm and took Chris home but Alysa spent the night with us.

Sunday morning we headed out for breakfast at Yorkshire Restaurant and once we returned home Tabby was waiting to drop Max with us for the day. He went to Sunday School with us and got to play with his friends in the nursery during worship. Paul walked to church with the new walker that Aunt Ann gave him. It was Grandma Johnson's walker. It has four wheels and hand brakes. It also has a piece that turns into a seat if he should get tired while walking. He had a little trouble controlling it when he was going downhill to the church. Dad said it got away from him a bit and he fell down but he got back up and continued all the way to the church. He was able to manage the brakes and we believe he will get better the more he uses it. After church we came home, got lunch and headed out to Louisa Virginia for Grandma's viewing. The family gathered from 5 to 7pm. There were many friends whose lives she touched over her 92+ years. Our family ... Bobby & Jen, Carolyn, Billy, Alysa & Chris, Paul & Max and Carl & I were there. The kids were able to play inside the lobby of the funeral home since we were the only family there. After the viewing we went to diner with two of our dear friends. Max ate most of Karen's french fries & croutons! He was so good and he is so cute. We didn't get home until almost 11pm and headed right to bed!

Monday was Grandma's funeral. We headed out at 8am. Dora had the day off since we were planning to be gone all day. We got to Louisa right at 10am which was when the funeral service was scheduled. The director was willing to hold the start of the service so that we could get Paul into the chapel. The service was a beautiful tribute to a wonderful Mom, Grandma, Sister, Aunt & Friend to many people. The graveside service was to be in Fairfax at 2pm so as soon as the funeral service was over in Louisa we got back in the car to drive the two hours back. We stopped for lunch along the way and got to the cemetery right at 2pm. We had a short service at the graveside. It was very hot and it drizzled a bit but we didn't get any rain. Many of the family was there ... and several friends also came. What a tribute to Mom! The ladies at St. Mark's church in Manassas (our church) made food for the family. We gathered, ate and visited with the family! It was a very busy day and Paul held up very well with all the driving and the heat (it was 97 degrees in the afternoon!). Paul had a quiet evening at home. I had a meeting at the church and when I returned Paul was still up and didn't want to go to bed even though he was falling asleep in his chair!! Tuesday will be a visit to Paul's General Practitioner. She wants to follow up on his progress ... she should be surprised!!

Have a great day! Lynne & Carl