{Karlton Bontrager}

Sunday started as a beautiful day. I was hoping to take Karlton for a drive as soon as his friends came to visit him but by noon, dark clouds had moved in and soon it was raining quite heavily. Nina and Sam and Karlton had plenty to talk about while I came to the computer room to type up some updates. I had made a bunch of “norimaki” (sushi) in the morning and when I got back to the room, they were all eaten up!

In the late afternoon, Helen came bearing a birthday gift for Karlton. She had gone to Port Chalmers a couple of times to get fresh fish for him but each time they had been sold out. This morning she was successful, and brought him some fresh fillet of sole. Helen gave him a reflexology session and promised Karlton that she would be back the next day.

ISIS Center arranged a movie outing for the evening. Karlton had been wanting to see “Rabbit Proof Fence” – a documentary on how Australians had treated aborigine children who were half white – so we decided to go. It was very well done and very educational for me. However, Karlton could not keep his eyes open even before the movie started so I told him to take a wee nap and I would wake him up. Although I kept trying to wake him, it turned out that he slept through the whole movie!!

Karlton told me that he weighs 70 kg (155 lb) now. He has gained 3 kg (6.6 lb). Just 10 kg (22 lb)to go! He also showed me he can take off his own shoes and socks. And he can stand up from a sitting position all by himself.

Thanks everyone for your encouragement, e-mails, prayers, cards, and presents. Special thanks go to Robyn, Nina & Sam, Vailoa, Jenni, Lee, Helen, Jenna, Chris, Nathan, Gabriella, Dave, Becci, and Aidan.