Countdown to going home!

I had just a few weeks to go. I was quickly progressing through all my therapies. I had another swallow test, which I passed. I was now allowed soft foods, with no thickeners. Cereals, eggs, mashed potatoes. I still had the protein shakes 3 times a day. I ordered coffee for every meal.

My parents would take turns coming to visit. One time my dad came to visit, I was laying on my bed, watching television. He is a quiet man, who loves to read. He came in, gave me hugs, asked how I was doing. And then, he comensed to reading a book he'd brought with him. So, I commensed to watching the television. After 30 minutes or so, he gave me hugs again, said that mom would be there tomorrow, and left. Such a quiet, peaceful man.

One day, my brother, my sister-in-law Brandy, Jade, and my son came to visit. Jade and Robert did their usual "brother/sister" stories, while the adults talked to me.

"Do you remember Brandy and I staying one night with you at Aultman?" my brother asked me.

"Vaguely. I remember bugging you for a cigarette, but thats it," I answered, kinda laughing at myself.

"Ok," he answered back laughing also. He looked at Brandy, who was also chuckling. "Do you remember anything else that happened that night?"

"No," I answered, kind of confused now. "Am I supposed to remember anything?"

"Oh my God!" Brandy laughed out loud! "You were such a wreck that night! You were a mean monster! And thats being nice about it!" She continued.

"You'd yell at me, you'd yell at your brother! And none of the nurses bothered to help us! We got ZERO sleep that night!"

We were all laughing at that point. The kids were off in their own la-la-lands.


 "Okay," catching his breath "do you remember anything else from that night?"

"No I told you," I answered back. "Why? Should I? I have a brain injury for God sakes!"
"Okay," Rob said, trying to control himself. "Let me remind you and see if anything stands out. You asked me, quite directly, might I add, 'what'd you do and go get your wife pregnant?' "

"WHAT!?" I nearly yelled! "How on earth would I know that! Besides, I was drugged! Wasn't I just out of a coma?"

Everyone was quiet for a few minutes, looking at each other. The silence was starting to bother me, so I had to say something first.

"So??? What happened with all of that?" No answer. I was getting irritated with no answers."Hello? Is anyone going to answer me? Or, do I have to read minds?"

Everyone started to laugh out loud! "Oh my God! Will one of you guys tell me what is so funny?"

"I just found out that I'm pregnant! Here's the home pregnancy test." Brandy took it out of her purse and gave it to me.

Sure enough, the test proved she was pregnant. I jumped the best I could to give her great hugs, then hugs to my brother! What an awesome time when we had so little to start with!

After the hugs, I calmed down a bit and gave the test back to Brandy. Robert and Jade were still off in their own worlds, imaginations going to work. Brandy sat in her own happiness, but she had a questionable expression on her face. It was the same look that my brother Rob had.

"So..." Rob said matter-of-factly..."how did you know it was coming?"

"How did I know WHAT was coming?" God was I confused now!

"How did you know Brandy would get pregnant? Why did you yell the questions at me?"

"I honestly don't know what you mean Rob, but I'm very thrilled for the both of you. I mean, you both tried for years....and now here's the time." More hugs to them both, "I'm so proud of all of you."

Rob and Brandy came to share their news, and came to get answers as to how I already knew. But, I never really knew the answers they were looking for.

Days later, I was doing good with my walker. I still had to stay in my wheelchair most of the day. But, during physical therapy, I could use my walker. Speech therapy went good also. Laurie Ann had started Electric Stimulation on my face, in an effort to awaken the nerves that were asleep then.

On another day, my mom brought to me a CD player, and a CD book from John Grisham.

"We know  how much you love reading your books," she said one day. "Until you can focus your eyes better, you can hear the stories. You may have read this book before." She handed me the cover to the book on CD package.

"I'll check it out later this evening, after therapy," I told her.

The rest of the day went uneventful. Mom shared with me how Robert was doing with Brandy and Rob. She told me how Brandy's first doctor appointment went. Wow, I thought, Brandy's having a baby. It was just amazing to me. Mom said I'd be home to see this one grow up. I just was starting to be happy I survived the fall.

When it got later that evening, I washed up and got into bed. I got my CD player with me, along with my books, and my earphones. At first, I didnt notice anything wrong. I was happy to hears books, to hear different voices speaking. I slowly went to sleep that evening.

The next morning, I was informed by a nurse that I didnt have to get ready early, that my first therapy wasn't until 10:30. So, with my cup of coffee, I sat up in bed and grabbed my CD player, got the headphones on again, and turned on the sound.

I turned the book sounds up to hear them, but I struggled to hear. Maybe the headphones were on the wrong way? I switched them to the other ears. But still, I heard the same thing, nothing. Hmmm, I thought alone. Maybe I'll try another day.