Paul's Update - 11/01/07

Dear Friends:

Tuesday morning Paul had Physical Therapy. As I said before, this is such a good time for him to be doing PT since he is now walking and regaining his balance. The therapist had him do some balancing activities. He did some squatting, sitting and walking. She told Dad that he needs to encourage Paul to have some “chores” around the house so that he is doing exercise without much effort. Daily routine activities encourage normal movements. After finishing with the therapy Dad took Paul to the pool. Evidently the pool has been VERY cold lately but Paul seems to enjoy being in the water. He walks well in the water. Dad pulled him through the water on his back (grabbing his legs) and he had to keep himself above the water. He has a flotation belt on but he still had to use his trunk muscles to keep his head above the water.

Wednesday Paul had OT. She stretched him first then they worked with a puzzle to make patterns with the pieces. It has different colors that he had to sort them and match them on the board. He is a bit defiant some times but he eventually does what she wants. Dad said he did well with it once he was ready to cooperate!! Later in the day Paul was walking around and walked to the kitchen. Dad asked him if he wanted to help unload the dishwasher and he said “yes”!! Dad had him open the dishwasher and take out the dishes. He put them on the counter and Dad put them away. In order to do this he had to bend down to reach the dishes! After all the dishes were put away Dad got him to LOAD the dishwasher. Dad gave him the dishes and he loaded them. He would take the glasses and turn them upside down and put them in!! Dad said he did a really good job. At dinner we had Paul come to the table to eat. We’ve been a little lazy and let him eat with a tray table a lot. Since we’ve had lots of spills on the carpet we decided we really need to eat at the dinner table. He actually enjoys sitting with us. He always waits for us to pray ... and finishes with “amen”!! Trick or treaters started coming about 6:15pm. We didn’t have very many ... maybe a dozen or so all evening!! Not surprising ... we never get many kids to come to our house. Paul tired out early and went to bed about 10:30pm.

Thursday we were wakened by a call from Carolyn. She had been sick all night and was at the emergency room with the kids. I dressed and went to pick up Alysa & Chris and they stayed with me while she was getting checked out. It turns out she only has a virus. Paul had PT again. Dad, Dora & Paul headed out about 10am. The therapist had him catch a ball and throw it back to her. She had him practice sitting up straight and stretching his arms in front of a mirror. They did some walking with a full length mirror that had wheels. She had him push it across the floor. After they came home Dad went and got McDonald’s food for lunch. Paul likes the fish fillet. It was our bible study night but only Ronda showed up. She had a new dinner that she made from a cookbook that her Mom gave us when we were there last week. It was yummy ... Paul loved it. We visited and them had dessert ... Ronda feeds us really good!! She stayed until about 9pm. Dad & Paul watched a horror film ... The Headless Horseman ... I didn’t watch!!! Paul liked it.

Friday Paul has a doctor appointment with his General Practitioner. She is following up on the medicine he takes to encourage synaptic activity and brain tissue growth. Sunday is the 2nd anniversary since Paul’s accident. We will probably have a quiet day but we certainly have plenty to celebrate!! I cannot believe that two years have gone by. I sometimes look back at my old emails (I saved all of them!) and it is really hard to read the stuff from those early days. I’m so thankful that God has been by our side and that we have such wonderful friends and family that have supported us and prayed for us.

Have a great weekend, Lynne & Carl