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Go Buckeyes! |
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Dear all,
Bill would have been smiling today, in spite of the Ohio State Buckeye loss. Diane, Bill's sister, was able to teach Karl to say the first part of "Buckeyes!" after she said, "Go!" He was very proud, and said it as loudly as he could.
Cousin Kris is here, and has been a big help in looking at what needs to be done with fresh eyes. The car is fixed, but Else is sick with yet another cold, and so her extra pair of hands is a blessing. Her fresh eyes of Karl are also a blessing, as she saw him last four months ago--if you remember, she was the first one to hear Karl vocalize (http://homepage.mac.com/annabill/Personal30.html), and what a difference four months makes.
We are seeing a renewed verbal effort, and this time I think it is in addition to, rather than instead of, motor skill improvements. Today he was able to string two words together, "More bread." He "hoots and hollers" when he wants something, and I have taken to telling him that I don't hear hootin' and hollerin', but I do hear words. It is tricky to remember that I am dealing not only with a brain injured child, but also a three-year-old, and sometimes those two facets of Karl intersect, as, for example, when he hoots and hollers. Oh, I hate it, but as I have said on a number of occasions, I am so glad he is alive to annoy me.
He continues to assure me that he comprehends all that is said to him, and we are convinced that he just can't respond as quickly as he understands. His responses are generally very slow, although sometimes relatively quick, which gives me hope that he can continue to improve. "What is real-er," is my frequent question, his delay or his quickness. Time will tell.
In general, however, he is doing well--we are running into problems with his sleep schedule, perhaps due to his meds, perhaps due to the fact that he doesn't want to nap in the afternoon, and so falls asleep at the dinner table. When he closes his eyes at 6:00, it is no wonder that he wakes up at 1:00, and is ready to go. Diane, who is sleeping with Karl, is decidedly not ready to go at 1:00, and has taught him that night time is not for playing, but for sleeping. He can fill in that operative word, "sleeping," when Diane rhetorically asks him what night time is for, but thinks it is a cliche that doesn't apply to him. Again, brain injury or three-year old? Both, probably.
I hope that those of you who were able to link onto the KELO web site were pleased with the broadcast they did on Karl. I don't know how much longer it will remain on the site, but I think all who have seen it would agree that it was a well-done piece, and worth the watch. That link, one more time, is http://www.keloland.com/News/EyeonKELOLAND/NewsDetail4790.cfm?Id=22,35864 It is under "Eye on Keloland."
Thank you for your continued prayers, for your continued hope, and for your continued interest in our story. Your attention, again, reminds me that we are by no means alone.
Go communion of the saints!
God is good.
Anna
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