Can We Talk?

I never realized how hard it was to make words before. This is the process we've been watching slowly unfold: First, you have to want to communicate something; second, you must be able to move your facial muscles; third, you need to be able to control said muscles; fourth, you have to know what word you want to use to communicate your original thought; and then you must make your mouth muscles form the word that represents the thing you're trying to say. And that's as far as we've gotten so far. I know, I know...he still needs to add the sound so we can hear the word. Actually, it was very exciting to see Neil mouth the word "cup" with his speech therapist today. That was another first for him. Sound will come eventually. After watching this process develop over weeks, we're understanding how much is actually involved in the whole communication thing. Even when he is able to make sounds consistently, it will most likely be a long while before they actually sound like his voice again. In the mean time, we like to call his cell phone just to hear his voice mail recording.