Slowly, slowly the ice around his heart and soul are melting. This will be the hardest part of the journey for you and the children, for you are beginning to see the man he once was. Continue as you have been and understand, you cannot rush the process...he's still baking up and isn't completely done yet.
When lbs' start to see the thawing, they tend to get impatient and push and prod. Please, please do not do that...it will create a scare in him and he'll run right back up into the tunnel and it will add more time to the baking up process.
As I stated previously, continue as you have been doing and look at him as a friend for now. God is working on him and we need to allow him to take care of it.
Happy New Year to you and your family. May the new year bring you happiness and contentment and yes, some wonderful surprises along the way.
Sit quietly, the answers will reveal themselves when you least expect them to. The past is gone, the present is a gift and you need to focus on today, allow the future to reveal itself when it is ready.