Once again this week I asked Lisa to give her personal summary of Noah’s forward movements. In addition I have done my own without reviewing hers. Ladies before gentlemen as I was taught as a youth. Here’s Lisa’s:

“I continue to tell Noah that he has all he needs to talk. His mouth and tongue move and he can make sounds. He simply needs to figure out how to put all those things together to form words and sentences... only not so simple, for him. I mention Noah’s speech, for his movement is similar.  Noah can move, it’s just that I’m not sure he always knows how to do it. This week, David and I were playing catch with Noah and a ball.  David would throw the ball to Noah; I had Noah’s hand/arm, and would help him “catch” the ball. Noah’s hand, in its natural position, is tightly closed; his arm is difficult to bend. Noah laughed hysterically when I would throw the ball back at David, and hit David in the chest.  But the treasure of this week, was, that as I held Noah’s hand, to hold it “open” (as open as I could get it), I felt his hand, and his arm greatly relax. It was as if, catching the ball was so important, his body responded by moving in its natural way.  His hand opened up, to catch the ball, his arm relaxed, in an attempt to throw. Noah is on the move!”

My turn:

It seems like things that change with Noah usually come my way via Lisa, Hannah, Emma or a therapist. This week however I had the privilege of seeing first hand another measure of progress in a most unexpected moment.

Picture a baseball made of a soft sponge material yet having all of the characteristics of the “real deal.” I was hanging out with Noah in his room, and while he was sitting in his chair I picked up that ball and proceeded to tell Noah I was going to toss it to him and expected him to do a “Derrick Jeter” (he is the all star shortstop for the NY Yankees) when I tossed it. Lisa joined in by taking Noah’s arm and assisting him in trying to catch the ball against his chest. Smiles and sounds immediately erupt.

Lisa then proceeded to place the ball in Noah’s hand and attempt to toss it back to me.  It proved to be more fun than practical as Noah’s grip is still somewhat rigid. What I didn’t realize is that apparently that provoked something in Noah which produced an unexpected action.

You see after a few of these reps, Lisa and I decided to pause for a moment to take a break while the ball was still sitting on Noah’s lap. I then noticed that he was not looking at me anymore but had fixed his gaze upon that elusive ball sitting on his lap. In a much unexpected move Noah began to move his hand across his body and with great effort made an attempt to extend his finger outward to try and grab the ball on his own.

I watched in amazement at this unassisted gesture and as Noah glanced up and saw my amazement… he proceeded to let out one of his classic laughs/yell that can be heard throughout the house. Lisa and I joined in the chorus of “hooting.”

There you have it. Mom’s perspective and Dad’s observations. Hope it blesses you as much to read it as it did to experience. Thanks for praying for Noah. The journey continues. Love… david

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Last Updated: February 6, 2009
Next update will be posted February 13, 2009 by 6:00pm

Pastor David advised us that he will not be submitting an update for Noah due to a rehab evaluation Noah has today. He hopes to be in touch with you all next week. He sends his love and appreciation.

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Last Updated: February 13, 2009
Next update will be posted February 20, 2009 by 6:00pm

We will be looking to post an update on Monday. Pastor David is attending a local Catch the Fire conference and will be addressing the update over the weekend. He sends his appreciation for your grace and love.

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Last Updated: February 20, 2009
Next update will be posted February 27, 2009 by 6:00pm

For these many months it has been my passion to covey to those who still follow our journey with Noah a weekly update. Recently Lisa has jumped on board with her insights. I enjoy them immensely…I hope you do as well:

"Progress for Noah continues, but, as I often tell people, sometimes the changes are small, and often hard to describe and might be hard for others to appreciate as I do.  Some weeks, when I don’t see “big changes”, God is quick to remind me of all that has changed with Noah since his injury, some “big” changes, but so many countless “little ones.  I am excited, big or small, to share Noah’s improvements with anyone that will listen, or, in this case, read. 

Asking things of Noah has been challenging.  We have been told the problem with giving Noah commands, or asking him to do something, is that it takes incredible coordination to: “take in” the idea of a request, the thought of “how to” implement the request, and then the motor ability to actually “do” the request...all together.  How we take our amazingly created bodies for granted! 

Two Fridays ago, Noah went for a speech evaluation.  The therapist gave me a list of things to work on with Noah, until our next session.  One thing was to put my hand to Noah’s voice box, and his to mine, using my vocal cords to make sounds.I was to ask him to make sounds with his vocal cords.  The therapist told me it would be good for Noah to see, feel, and hear sound, how it all works together.  I put my hand on my voice box, and then made a sound.  I then put my hand on Noah’s throat, and told him to make a sound.  HE DID!  Again, and again, we went back and forth, both making sounds!  He is starting to be able to put it all together! 

Another “putting it all together” moment occurred while brushing Noah’s teeth this week.  We have a suction machine that works much like the ones at the dentist’s office.  You close your lips around a tube, and the machine extracts all the dental debris from your mouth.  I can sufficiently brush Noah’s teeth, but it has been difficult to clear all the toothpaste and water from his mouth because Noah could not close his lips around the tube when asked...until this week.  I usually take the tube and attempt to remove all that I can, but this week, I put the tube in between his front teeth and asked him to close his lips around the tube.  I showed him what I wanted by sticking the handle end of his toothbrush in my mouth and closing my lips around it (you do what you got to do!),

and HE DID IT!  Not once, but twice!!  He’s putting it together, little-by-little......keep going, Noah!!"

Isaiah 28:10 says… “For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little.” 

It’s clear to me that Lisa has tapped into a living revelation of Kingdom realities. Until next… our love to you all… david

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Last Updated: February 27, 2009
Next update will be posted March 6, 2009 by 6:00pm