Come to the Water

(I apologize - the pictures posted in opposite order of occurrence)



Stepahine and Kelly showed great support the whole time





Paul started to do excercises on his own.




James helping Paul down the steps, making sure he didn't lose his balance.




Stephanie stood by Paul as he got used to the water




Paul put on sun screen as he was worried about burning
(hence the long sleeve shirt)




Taking a walk with Abby Dog













"For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land - a land with streams and pools of water, with springs flowing in the valleys and hills" (Deut 8:7)

James, Stephanie and Kelly took Paul swimming today after being invited by Dr. Dee Huggins to use her neighborhood pool. (Thank you so much Dee for your kind offer!) Paul spent 2 hours swimming and doing excercises. He had a really terrific time. In fact, when James asked him if he was ready to go, Paul asked, "Leave?" James then said, "Yeah, we are going to need to leave, mom's going to be home soon." Paul responded, "Now?" Stephanie said they were surprised that Paul did not want to go, since he is always the first one to say "I need to go home now." Kelly told me that Paul got active in the water early on and started to do arm and leg excercises on his own. He handled the brightness of the sun also. He had a headache when he got home, so he took some Tylenol and rested for about a half hour. We then went out to eat to celebrate the last night that Kelly and Stephanie would be with us. Joe and Bev (my sister) joined us, as did Jerry. It was a huge day for Paul........once again. Absolutely an incredible day for him. Also, it was the most beautiful summer day we have had. The humidity was very low, the sky was vivid blue with the most beautiful white clouds. When I came out of work, I literally stopped and stayed gazing up for a full 5 minutes. I called Bev to see if she was still at her desk, as I was going to tell her to come outside immediately to see how glorious the sky was. She was already on her way home, but she said she too had stood for awhile to enjoy the view. God's gifts to us are a constant wonderment for me.

Paul has shown amazing strength and endurance in the last 2 days. We have all been stunned at the amount of progress he has made and the level of activity he has engaged in. Stephanie and Kelly have truly brought the best out in him. He tries so hard to accomplish goals they have set with him. Jon and I have stood back and watched with great thankfulness to God!

There is one other wonderful occurrence and that happened on Tuesday night. I was changing the tape on Paul's eye and since he was not in a lot of pain, I tried to do some eye excercises with him. While covering his right eye (the good eye), he was able to read the words on the cover of a book. The print has to be about 1/2 inch, and then he can read it. I then asked him to try to close his eyelid on his left eye. He was able to do this 4 times, although it took about 30 mintues to accomplish this. I was so excited to see him open and close his eyelid - no matter how long it took! I ran downstairs and told the girls and we rejoiced that they were here for this big occasion. Today, I was working with Paul again, and called the girls upstairs. Paul not only read for them while blocking his right eye, he took it once step further and said he was going to test his ability to walk, using only his left eye. He was able to take about 5 -6 steps and not lose his balance! He tried it one more time and then explained that it was hard to do because his eye is not lined up exactly as his right eye. It sits a tiny bit lower and he said that affects his balance. He then took the patch off his good eye and we did excercises to help strenthen the muscles that move his eyes. He will need to have corrective surgery to have his left eye aligned correctly in the socket, but I have so much hope about his being able to someday gain back the ability to blink. Once he can do that, he won't need his eye patch. Also, there is research going on to replace the optic nerve and since Paul is so young, he would possibly be able to have the nerve replaced in the future. My motto - pray, wait and believe!

It has been an amazing week, filled with the love of Stephanie and Kelly and Jerry. The blessings have 'flowed abundantly'!

"All you who are thirsty, come to the water. All you who are hungry, come taste and see.
From me shall flow life giving water, quenching your thirst eternally.
I give my body, I pour my life-blood. Here is real food and drink; come taste and see." (Based on Isaiah 55:1-3 and John 7:37, 6:55-57)

Love,
Jon and Rebecca

(more pictures below)