Saving Grace: CH 30 (11/2/24)

[BabySofia]

😭🙂 So glad she's finally getting out of there! I definitely teared up with the scene of the medical team applauding her exit. Looking forward to more as you now have her a bit freer for your narrative! 🙂

[LGGrace]

32 minutes ago, BabySofia said:

😭🙂 So glad she's finally getting out of there! I definitely teared up with the scene of the medical team applauding her exit.

Thanks for the comment.  I knew she needed to leave the hospital with a bang.  Sometimes I wish I could pull back the curtains on others' perspectives to show what a miracle it is for her to leave the hospital, but this is her story and I didn't want to torture y'all (and myself) with her mother's perspective.  I would have had to write it with a box of tissues.

49 minutes ago, BabySofia said:

 Looking forward to more as you now have her a bit freer for your narrative! 🙂

Me too!  I going to have fun playing with how she sees herself, how she thinks others see her, and how they really see her.

[Kaiko-chan]

Now that she's cleared the tutorial it's time for the full game. I loved her time at the hospital and her release. She would end up being a medical celebrity. 

 

Also for the mechanism your body does dispose of cells into your gitract,and you'll just poop them out. Like for instance of you gwt laser tattoo removal. Maybe the illness super charged that mechanism.

[CCApril]

Great story! Home is better then endless hours sitting in a hospital bed. Still surprised they let her go before the shrinking has stopped.  You would think they would want to monitor the point were it stopped so it would be easier to tell if it was permanent or if she would start aging normally again. 

[kerry]

16 hours ago, LGGrace said:

blinder

oops...one L too many here 😉

[Craisler]

It’s going to interesting to see how Grace explains her appearance to Steve and how she gets him to believe that she is really Will.

One editorial item:  blinder -> binder

Looking forward to more of the story. 

[LGGrace]

10 hours ago, Kaiko-chan said:

Now that she's cleared the tutorial it's time for the full game. I loved her time at the hospital and her release. She would end up being a medical celebrity.

Yes, and hopefully, she paid attention to the tutorial and didn't skip it like I would do when I was a kid. 😆  She definitely is one-of-a-kind from a medical standpoint!

10 hours ago, Kaiko-chan said:

Also for the mechanism your body does dispose of cells into your gitract,and you'll just poop them out. Like for instance of you gwt laser tattoo removal. Maybe the illness super charged that mechanism.

That makes sense, I remember hearing that when you get tattoos removed, you poop out the ink.

3 hours ago, CCApril said:

Great story! Home is better then endless hours sitting in a hospital bed.

Thanks for the comment.  Home is definitely better,  I was starting to get burned out on writing chapter after chapter of her basically being in one room.

3 hours ago, CCApril said:

Still surprised they let her go before the shrinking has stopped.  You would think they would want to monitor the point were it stopped so it would be easier to tell if it was permanent or if she would start aging normally again. 

In my experience, usually, the hospital tries to kick you out as soon as they think you are not going to die anytime soon.  She will have to see a specialist regularly, in Atlanta, GA when she gets home to monitor her regression.

12 minutes ago, kerry said:

oops...one L too many here 😉

Thanks for the correction.

12 minutes ago, Craisler said:

It’s going to interesting to see how Grace explains her appearance to Steve and how she gets him to believe that she is really Will.

One editorial item:  blinder -> binder

Looking forward to more of the story. 

Yes, it going to really test the waters for people who don't know about all the changes like her family, but knew her beforehand as Will.

Thanks for the correction, looks like both you and Kerry caught it at the same time.

Thank you!

[LGGrace]

Chapter 22

My heart sank at the state of my apartment.  The only furniture left in the main area was the couch and coffee table.   The large TV that I had was gone and in its place on the floor was my TV from my bedroom.  There were a few boxes near the front door and on the kitchen island, was a box of diapers, along with other supplies and a stack of what I assume to be clothes for me.

My mom said to me, “Looks a lot different?”

In a dejected voice, I said, “Yeah.”

My mom bounced me a little in her arms and said, “I know this is a lot to take in and everything is moving fast for you, but hopefully, things will get better once you are home and settled in.”

“I hope so,” I stated.

She replied, “I’m sure it will.”  She then sat me down on my couch and said, “I know you've been stuck with just watching TV, but with it being so close to lunchtime, I figured that something other than basic cable may be more entertaining.  Your dad and I will get you some fresh air later today.”

As she was handing me the remote to the TV and a sippy cup of water, I said, “Well, I'm sure there is a lot of new stuff out on Netflix that I have not seen yet.”

I then heard my dad say to my mom, “I’m going to get the rest of the stuff out the back.”

I turned on the TV as my dad went out the front door and my mom went into the bedroom.  I started flipping through Netflix to see if anything new was worth watching.  I got excited when I saw that they made a series of the first book, The Three Body Problem, and immediately started it.  Before the intro was done playing, my dad walked back in carrying a few plastic bags and a long, slim cardboard box.  He sat the bags on the counter and then proceeded to open the box.  Shifting my eyes back and forth between the TV and what my dad was doing, I noticed that it was a simple I.V. pole that he was putting together.

After placing the newly assembled pole by the couch, he took a seat beside me and asked, “What are you watching?”

I replied, “It’s The Three Body Problem, it is the first of a sci-fi trilogy that inspired the Dark Forest Theory that is one of the answers to the Fermi Paradox.”

Deadpan, my dad said, “Nerd.”

I looked up, glared at him, and said, “Don’t come crying to me when someone tries making first contact and sells out humanity.”

Laughing he asked, “OK, OK, so what is it really about?”

“It’s about making first contact with a more advanced alien race and the dangers of what that could mean.  If human history is used as an example, then it does not look good for us,” I replied.

He responded, “So, one more thing to keep us up at night.”

“Yes and no, but it is something to think about,” I replied.

My dad said, “Well, I will leave you to your show, I got to go unload a trailer full of donations.”

“I was wondering what the trailer was for,” I replied.

He said, “Yeah after I drop you and your mother off at the airport tomorrow morning, I will load off the rest of your stuff that needs to be donated. Then, hopefully, be on the road and make it into New Mexico by tomorrow night.”

“I do not envy that cross-country drive,” I said.

Smiling, he said, “Neither do I, but I haven’t done it in over thirty years, so it should be nostalgic for me.”  He kissed me on the forehead, and then as he was getting up he yelled toward my bedroom, “Elania, I will be back in a little while, I’m going to drop off some donations.”

I then could hear my mom shout back, “OK, honey.”

As my dad left my apartment, I turned back to losing myself in the TV show.  At some point, my mom emerged from the bedroom and announced, “Arighty, we should be pretty much packed for our flight tomorrow.”

Feeling a little bad that I have not been able to help, I asked, “Is there anything that I need to do?”

“Nope, just a positive attitude.  Most people are just going to see a toddler and with the feeding tube and I.V., a sickly toddler tomorrow.  So, just let me do all the talking and ignore all the comments and questions from strangers, OK,” my mom said.

I responded, “OK.”

She then said, “Well, it is about time for your noon feeding, so let me get that started for you.”

I nodded my head as I watched her start rifling through the bags on the counter.  I saw what looked like one of the reusable feeding bags that the doctors talked about being pulled out of one of the bags.  I then saw what looked like a can of infant formula being opened and my mom putting a few scoops into the opening on the top of the bag.  She poured water into the top out of a jug, then closed it, and shook it up.  Grabbing a syringe out of a small box on the counter, she walked over and hung the feeding bag on the I.V. pole.  Sitting down beside me, she said, “This is your nausea medicine.”

She injected the medicine into my I.V. and then connected the feeding bag to my feeding tube.  She then asked, “Have you drank any of your water this morning?”

I sheepishly shook my head no, and then she said, “I know it's tough, but you need to try and drink a little for me.  I’m going to give you some I.V. fluids too.”

I sighed, and said, “OK,” as I looked at the infantile cup.  I grabbed it with both hands and put the spout in my mouth and turned it up to take a couple of swallows.  Once, satisfied that I got my mom off my back I tossed the cup to my side.  My mom then hung a bag of fluids on the I.V. pole then connected it to my I.V.

After getting a can of Diet Coke out of the refrigerator, she took a seat on the couch beside me as I continued to watch the TV.  At some point as the feeding bag was starting to empty, I felt myself starting to get tired.  My mom got up and grabbed another syringe, then disconnected my feeding bag and flushed my feeding tube.  After rinsing out the feeding bag, she walked back over, picked me up, and sat me in her lap on the couch.  I continued to get more and more sleepy, then found myself being repositioned and laying on top of my mom as she laid down with my head against her upper chest.  My eyes started getting heavy as she gently rubbed my back and patted my bottom.  The last thing I felt as I fell asleep was my diaper warming up as I wet myself.

I woke up to the sound of people talking.  I open my eyes and see that I am in my bed.  I look over and see that there is a pillow used as a barrier to keep from falling out of bed and the room is empty except for my nightstand, the I.V. I am still hooked up to, and a few luggage bags on the floor.  I groan as I feel my body ache and my diaper is positively soaked.  I feel around the back of my shorts and sigh in relief that only my diaper is wet.  Not a moment later, the bedroom door opens and my mom walks in.  With a smile, she said, “I’m glad you're awake.  Your friend, Steven, is here to see you.”

“OK, can I get some pain medicine … and a change,” I replied.

She said, “Sure, I’ll be right back.”

She turned around and was back in a minute with the diaper bag and a syringe. After closing the door, she said, “I’ll give you your medicine first, then I will change your diaper.”

I just nodded as she injected the syringe into my I.V. and disconnected my I.V. fluids.  She opened up the diaper bag, took out what looked like a changing pad, and placed it at the foot of the bed along with a diaper and wipes.  My mom then lifted me and laid me back down on the changing pad.  She pulled down my shorts and started changing my diaper.  At the same time, I was getting more and more nervous about how Steven was going to react to the new me.  I’m sure, my parents have already been talking to him about the changes, but hearing about it and seeing it has to be two different things.  Before I knew it, my shorts were being pulled back up over a fresh diaper.

Lifting me onto her hip, she said, “Are you ready?”

Not wanting to be carried and wanting to face my friend on my own two feet, I asked, “Can I walk?”

“Sure, sweety,” My mom replied.

She sat me down on the floor,  after grabbing one of my hands, we walked to the door.  She opened the door and we walked into the main area of my apartment.  I look up to see my dad and Steven standing near the front door talking.  As soon as they noticed that my mom and I were standing on the other side of the room, they stopped and turned to me.  I could see Steven’s eyes get big for a moment as I stood in my place, frozen.  He then said, “Will?”

I hesitated for a moment, then after my mom gave my hand a gentle squeeze, I replied, “Yeah, it’s me.”

He walked over, crouched down in front of me, and said, “Wow, your parents said you were a lot smaller, but I did not think that you could have been this small.”

My mom then said, “She is tiny.”

I looked down at my feet and replied, “Yeah.”

Steven stood back up and said, “Well, I’m glad you are alive.  You had the whole Math department worried sick.”

Looking up at Steven, I said, “Yeah, me too.”

My mom then said, “I’m going to let you two catch up, your father and I need to make some phone calls to make sure everything is ready tomorrow.”

My mom then picked me up under my armpits and sat me in the corner of one end of the couch.  I slightly blushed as she pulled my shirt down to cover the top of my diaper from it riding up.  My mom then turned to Steven and said, “We will be right outside if Grace needs anything, just holler for us.”

“Yes ma’am,” Steven replied.

Steven took a seat on the other end of the couch and both my parents walked out the door.  After a moment of awkward silence, and me just looking at my lap; Steven spoke up, “So, your parents told me that you changed your name to Grace.”

Looking over at him, I bit my lip and said, “Yeah, I felt like I needed to since I have a vagina now.”

“Dude, sorry to be blunt, but this is like a total mind fuck right now,” Steven responded.

Smirking, I said, “You ain’t lying.  I freaked the fuck out when I woke up in a body not much bigger than I am right now.  It’s like I went through the looking glass.”

“I bet.  If you don’t mind answering me, how weird does it feel not having your, let’s say, original equipment?” Steven asked.

Pausing for a moment, “It's more like I feel like I’m missing something.  But also, since I guess my nerve endings were just rearranged, so in some way some of the feelings are the same, but also different at the same time.  Honestly, my new body feels like my body, but at the same time it feels alien too.”

“Wow, that is crazy.  How does it feel alien?” Steven asked.

I replied, “Well, other than everything and everyone being giant now, the doctors told me that my coordination would be off.  In my mind, I have full control over my body, but my body feels like I had around four beers, if that makes sense.”

“Yeah, that makes sense.  It’s like your body is a little drunk all the time,” Steven said.

I replied, “Yeah,” then wanting to change the subject, I asked, “So, how has everything been going at school?”

“Not too bad, just about to wrap up the semester and everyone is getting ready for finals,” he said.

I replied, “That's good, the end is in sight.  How has abstract algebra been going?”

“Dude, it has been brute.  I’m still going to make a good grade, but it was a lot easier when we could work on homework together and bounce ideas on proofs off one another,” he responded.

I replied, “Yeah, it’s always easier when we can work together on assignments.  Does Dr. Simoroff still start writing in Russian randomly?”

“Yeah, you would think that he would be used to lecturing in English since he has not lived in Russia since before we were born.  He still says da instead of yes, too,” Steven said.

I said, “I think it is because he lived in Germany for ten years before moving to the States and has to translate from Russian to German, then to English all the time.”

“That is probably a good theory to go off of,” Steven responded.

We continued to talk about what had been going on at school.  I tried to keep the subject off myself, since I really did not want to talk about my only goals right now were getting off the feeding tube and trying to repotty train.  At one point, my bladder made itself known and I resigned to wetting myself, hopefully, without Steven noticing.  Looking at the box of diapers on the counter and the bugle between my legs, it's not like it took a rocket scientist to figure out I was in diapers.   For once, though, it felt like everything was normal and we were just talking about school and what was going on on campus lately.

After talking for a while, the first door opens, and my parents walk in.  My dad asked, “Y’all been doing OK in here?”

I nodded my head as Steven responded, “Yes sir, I probably should get going soon, I have to get some grading done tonight.”

“I do not miss that,” I said.

Steven looked at me and said, “Yeah, it does suck at times, especially since you should always grade an assignment in one sitting.”  Pausing, he then asked, “Do you mind if I get a selfie with you,  I don’t think anyone would ever believe this.”

“Only if you promise not to post it on social media.  You can even show the picture to people at school, I just don't want others finding out since I am the only known case in the world of anything like this happening, and don’t want to go viral over this,” I stated.

In a serious voice, Steven said, “I understand and I promise that this picture will only be on my phone.”

“OK,” I said.

Steven took his phone out of his pocket, and then my mom said, “Steven, I can take the picture.  If you can sit next to Grace and help her stand up beside you.”

Steven handed his phone to my mom, then slid over to me.  As I was leaning forward to try and push myself up, I felt two hands wrap around my torso, and then I was up on my feet, standing on the couch.  I looked over at Steven and he said, “Sorry buddy, it looked like you could use a hand.”

I just nodded as he left one arm wrapped around my lower half to keep me steady.  I then heard my mom say, “Steven can you pull Grace’s shirt down?”

I blushed as I looked down as Steven was pulling my shirt back down over the top of my exposed diaper.  My mom then said, “Alright, look at the camera and give me a smile.”

I gave the best smile I could, and then my mom said, “OK, I got a couple of good ones.”

The next thing I know, I am airborne, then on Steven’s hip.  I looked at him with questioning eyes as he said, “I couldn't help myself, it is not every day that you can easily pick up your friend, and I had to know how light you are.”

Before I could open my mouth, my dad said, “She is only twenty-six pounds.”

Steven replied, “Wow, that is light,” looking at me he said, “Don’t get too much smaller on me.”

Sarcastically, I said, “I will do my best,” as I rolled my eyes.

In a serious voice, Steven said, “Please take care of yourself, and let’s stay in touch, even if it is only texting every now and again.”

“I will,” I replied.

He then wrapped his other arm around me in a hug.  I was shocked at first since we were not the type to hug each other, but I decided to wrap my arms around his neck.  A moment later after I unwrapped my arms, he said, “I better get going, shoot me a text when you get home.”

I nodded my head, as my mom passed him back his phone, then took me and placed me on her hip.  My mom said, “It was nice meeting you, Steven.”

Steven replied, “It was nice meeting you too, Mrs. Gauss.  You two have a safe flight tomorrow.”

“Thank you,” my mom responded.

My dad started walking Steven to the door, then said, “Good luck on your finals,” and reached to shake his hand.

As they were shaking hands, Steven said, “Thanks, drive back home safely.”

My dad opened the door for him and right before he left, he looked back and gave me a small smile and waved.  I gave a small wave back and as he was walking out, the thought hit me that this would probably be the last time I would ever see him in person.

As the door shut behind him, my mom bounced me in her arms a little, then asked, “Are you ready to go outside and get some fresh air?”

Not wanting to dwell on what just happened, I said, “Sure.”

She squeezed the front of my diaper and said, “You shouldn’t need a change until we get back.”  My mom then walked over to the refrigerator and grabbed the same sippy cup of water then walked over to the couch and set me down and said, “Let’s get your shoes on.”

She quickly put my shoes on and tried the laces up.  I was picked back up on her hip and she grabbed the sippy cup with her other hand.  My dad was ready by the door and opened it for us.  As we stepped through, I could feel the heat of a late spring afternoon.  My dad quickly locked the door, then we were off and down the stairwell.

As I was being carried through the parking lot, my dad asked, “How does it feel to finally get some fresh air and sunshine?”

Feeling the sun rays hitting my skin, I said, “It does feel better than the hospital.”

My dad nodded and smiled as we made our way to the sidewalk outside the parking lot.  With this area being residential, other than my apartment complex, most of the nearby surrounding area are houses with sidewalks lining the streets.  My mom then said, “How about you try and get a little bit of exercise, and we will carry you if you get tired.”

“Sure,” I replied.

I was put down on the ground, then my mom held my right hand as my dad held my left.  I started taking steps as my parents walked slowly beside me.  I was making good progress, but my focus had to be on walking or I felt like I would lose my balance.  I made it somewhere between 50 and 100 feet but was starting to feel weak.  I stopped and looked up at my parents who were towering over me and said, “I’m starting to get tired.”

My dad smiled and said, “That’s OK, I will give you a lift.”

He picked me up with both hands under my armpits, then effortlessly held me over his head, then placed me on his shoulders.  Holding onto both my lower thighs with his hands he asked, “Are you conformable up there?”

I said, “Yes,” then I grabbed two tufts of his hair, “now forward,” as I gently pushed his hair forward with a smile.

With a chuckle, he said, “Alright, alright, I get it.  I’m just a pack mule for you now.”

I simply replied, “Yep.”

I quickly abandoned trying to control my dad through his hair and just started taking in the sights and smells of the neighborhood.  My parents were making small talk as they were walking and I would notice that anytime we placed someone walking their dog, they would look up at me on my dad’s shoulders and smile.  After passing what seemed like the fourth person walking a dog, I felt a sharp pressure building quickly in my lower abdomen.  The first thought I had was, ‘Not here’.

I called out, “Dad!?!”

My dad stopped, then as he was lifting me off his shoulders, my bowels started to erupt.  My dad asked, “What’s wrong…,” as I began to pass gas, then said, “It’s OK, Grace,” as he held me with one of his forearms supporting me by my upper thighs.

I buried my face into his upper chest and clung to his shirt as my body continued to push out wave after wave of poop.  I whimpered as I could feel it being forced up the front of my diaper and the back.  My dad started rubbing my back as my body was finally coming to a stop, but could feel it leaking around my legs.  I then felt my dad pull out the waistband of my diaper and said to my mom, “We better get back to the apartment, she just had a blowout.”

[BabySofia]

That was good closure with his friend, hopefully no one else snags that photo from him. Looking forward to the airport! 🙂

[LGGrace]

2 hours ago, BabySofia said:

That was good closure with his friend, hopefully no one else snags that photo from him. Looking forward to the airport! 🙂

Thanks for the comment.  We will just have to wait and see if Grace/Will's identity gets out or not.🤔

If the chapter breakdown in my head is correct (I'm not always the best at this since I like to keep chapters between 3.5k and 4k words), the trip home will take two chapters with some ups and downs along the way.

[kerry]

52 minutes ago, LGGrace said:

We will just have to wait and see if Grace/Will's identity gets out or not.🤔

 

By my own private rules of fiction, it most likely will. Things (and characters) don't tend to be introduced if they are not going to be used later. I find this to be especially true on episodic TV shows...

[Kaiko-chan]

4 hours ago, LGGrace said:

Thanks for the comment.  We will just have to wait and see if Grace/Will's identity gets out or not.🤔

If the chapter breakdown in my head is correct (I'm not always the best at this since I like to keep chapters between 3.5k and 4k words), the trip home will take two chapters with some ups and downs along the way.

Well, I mean, she is going into a plane, so up and downs are to be expected

[LGGrace]

6 hours ago, kerry said:

By my own private rules of fiction, it most likely will. Things (and characters) don't tend to be introduced if they are not going to be used later. I find this to be especially true on episodic TV shows...

That is usually a good rule to go by.  Without giving any spoilers away, I would say that the main reason that I wrote Steven in was so that Will had someone to say goodbye to before going home as Grace.  I didn't want to spend too much time with Will's back story before he got sick but I did float the idea of Grace visiting the university before leaving when I started writing this story.

3 hours ago, Kaiko-chan said:

Well, I mean, she is going into a plane, so up and downs are to be expected

🤣

[LGGrace]

Chapter 23

I had my face buried into my dad’s shoulder as he turned around and started walking back to my apartment at a brisk pace.  I then heard my mom  say to my dad, “That infant formula was most likely a little different than what they gave her at the hospital and it probably upset her digestive system.”

My dad replied, “That is probably true,” then he rubbed my back and said, “Sweety, we will be back at your apartment in about ten minutes and get you cleaned up.”

I just nodded my head into his shoulder as he continued to walk.  The whole time on the way back to the apartment, all I could think about was how unless things changed for me, I would always be at risk of humiliating myself in front of others at any moment.  Nobody has to know if I wet myself, but there is no way I could really hide if I poop myself.  As I was lightly bounced in his arms because of his walking pace, I could feel that my whole diapered area was coated in a thick paste, along with my upper thighs around the leg gathers of my diaper.

After the longest ten minutes of my life, I could feel that my dad was now walking up the stairwell to my apartment.  I lifted my head off his shoulder in time to see that he was stepping into my apartment.  My mom then said, “I’m going to take her shoes and socks off.”

My mom untied and took my shoes and socks off, as my dad was still holding me.  My dad then said, “Let's get her undressed in the bathroom.”

My dad carried me into the bathroom with my mom following him.  My mom pulled my shirt off, then as my dad was holding me with his hands under my armpits, my mom pulled my shorts off.  I could see brown stains on them, as she said, “I’m going to throw these clothes in the washer machine.”

My dad set me on my feet in the tub and since my diaper was so full, my legs were forced apart by the bulk.  I grimaced at the brown stains on my upper thighs when I looked down to assess the damage.  My dad looked at me and said, “Sweetheart, I’m going to take your diaper off and then rinse you off before starting a bath for you.”

I just nodded my head as he started ripping the tapes off that was barely holding my diaper up.  I gagged at the smell once my diaper was removed, and my mom walked back in holding a plastic grocery bag and plastic cup.  My dad threw the used diaper into the plastic bag that my mom was holding open and handed him the cup.  My mom walked back out as my dad started the water in the tub.  I looked down and immediately wanted to throw up at the sight.  From halfway below my belly button down to my upper thighs were coated in poop.

My dad said to me, “I’m going to hold you so your butt is under the faucet.”

I nodded my head as he moved me over to the faucet, held me so that my upper body was facing down, and placed my rear end under the water.  As the warm water was hitting my butt, I could see brown water with pieces of poop being rinsed off me.  After a while, he turned me over in his arm, then used the cup to start rinsing off my front half.  Once I was thoroughly rinsed off, he set me down on my butt on the other end of the tub and started making sure that the tub was clean before flipping the built-in drain stopper on.

He poured some baby body wash into the tub and said, “I’m going to let you soak for a bit while the tub fills up, then your mom will help wash you.”

I said, “OK,” as he washed his hands in the sink and then stepped out of the bathroom.  As the tub was slowly filling up, I couldn't help but be amazed at how big it was now.  Before all this happened, I had given up on trying to take baths, even when I was sick, in standard-sized tubs due to being so tall with long legs, but now, the tub is the size of a hot tub for me.  My mom walked in just as the water line was getting a couple of inches past my belly button and turned the water off.  She looked down at me and said, “Let’s get your bath out the way for the day and then we can relax for the rest of the evening.”

I nodded my head as she took the cup and started wetting my hair, then took some shampoo and washed my hair.  She rinsed the shampoo out of my hair with me only having to spit out a bit of soap that got in my mouth.  Turning her attention to the rest of my body, she took a soapy washcloth and scrubbed my whole body including my face.  I blushed when she spent extra time washing the area around my new parts and had me sit up to scrub my rear.  Luckily, the soap was quickly rinsed off and the tub was drained.  She picked me up out of the tub then placed me on the bathroom rug and started drying me from head to toe with a towel.  Dropping the towel on the floor, she said, “I will get you dressed in the bedroom.”

I was standing there buck naked for a moment, I finally took the hint that she wanted me to walk to the bedroom.  As I started making my way to the bedroom, the one thing that struck me was that it didn’t bother me too much being naked in front of my parents.  I guess, a part of me has no shame since this new body still does not feel like my body yet.

As I was walking into the bedroom, I heard my mom say from behind me, “You sure have a cute little booty.”

I turned around, placed my hands on my hips, and looked up at her with a glare.  She smiled and as she was picking me up to set me on the bed, said, “You're about as intimidating as an angry kitten.”

I just groaned as I was being laid onto the changing mat.  My mom rubbed baby lotion all over my body, then taped a diaper around my waist.  She then said, “Since it is already getting late, I got some pajamas for you to wear.”

I just nodded my head as she pulled out a two-piece set of pajamas.  She pulled the bottoms up my legs and over my diaper, then pulled me into a sitting position, pulled the top over my head, and helped feed my arms through the sleeves.  Looking down, the bottoms were dark blue with stars and moons on them and the top had dark blue sleeves with the same stars and moons pattern, while the body of the shirt was light gray with a cow jumping over the moon with stars in the background.  With the pajamas being form-fitting, it did little to hide my diapered bottom, but a part of me was glad that my mom didn’t try to put me in a footed sleeper.

Picking up, she said, “Let’s get your hair blow-dried,” as she placed me on her hip.

She carried me back into the bathroom and set me on the toilet with the lid down.  Taking the blow dryer that was sitting on the counter, she spent the next few minutes blasting my head with hot air and brushing my hair with a brush until it was dry.  She then picked me back up and carried me into the main room.  From my mom's hip, I could see that my dad was sitting on the couch watching TV.  She set me in my dad’s lap and said, “Your daughter is now fresh and clean.”

My dad pulled me closer into his lap and said, “Yeah, a big improvement from raw sewage.”

Ticking me off that he is making fun of me pooping myself, I gave him an elbow to the stomach.  With how small and weak I am, I’m sure it was just enough to get his attention.  The next thing I know I felt a thump to the top of my head.  I grabbed the top of my head and looked up to see my dad grinning down at me.  He said, “Two can play that game little missy.”

I just glared at him, then flopped back against him and began stewing that my dad was bringing back thumping the top of my head like he did up until my early teenage years.  I felt him kiss the top of my head and wrap his arms around me.  I just let my body relax as I started watching whatever he was watching on TV.  Out of the corner of my eye, I could see my mom busying herself packing stuff up for the flight tomorrow morning.

At one point, I could see her carrying the I.V. pole with the fluid bag over by the couch, and then preparing a feeding bag of infant formula for me.  With a syringe in hand, my mom said to me, “Last feeding of the day, sweetheart.”

I just responded by sticking my left arm out for her as she gave me my nausea medicine and then connected the I.V. fluids and feeding bag.  As she stood back up, she asked my dad, “George, I was thinking about just ordering a pizza for us, are you OK with supreme?”

“Sure, honey,” my dad replied.

I could feel my dad moving above me as he took the back couch cushions off and tossed them to the floor, and then he laid back with me lying on top of him.  At some point, my mom squeezed beside him on the couch.  I continued to watch TV and at one point my mom started playing with my hair.  Between my mom playing with my hair and the eventful day I had, I couldn't help but start to feel sleepy.

At some point, my mind became alert to a knock at the door and my mom got up to answer it.  I could hear her talking to someone for a bit then hear the sound of the door closing.  My mom came back into view a minute later with a syringe in hand and said, “I'm going to flush your feeding tube, sweety.”

I just sleepily nodded my head.  After flushing my feeding tube and taking the feeding bag away to be rinsed out, my dad turned me over in his arms so that I was lying with my head resting on his upper chest.  My dad started rubbing my back and patting my bottom and before too long I was hard and fast asleep.

I awoke the next morning to a cold wipe between my legs.  I open my eyes and see that my mom is changing my diaper as I am lying on the changing pad in my bed.  From the light coming from the window, I could tell it was early and the sun had not come up yet.  With a smile, she said, “Good morning, sweety.”

Still tried, I just groaned, and replied, “Too early,” and shut my eyes.

As she was taping a fresh diaper around my waist,  she said, “I know sweetheart, I’m going to get you dressed and fed, and then you can sleep on the way to the airport.”

With my eyes still closed, I could feel my mom pull off the pajama top, and then quickly dress me.  I was picked up in her arms and rested my head on her shoulder as she carried me into the main room.  She sat me down propped up in the corner of the couch and said, “Sweety, you are going to have to wake up a little for me so I can start your feeding tube.”

I flopped my head against the armrest and opened my eyes as my dad was setting the I.V. pole next to me.  My mom connected the feeding tube and fluids to me, then said, “Alright sweety, we will be leaving as soon as your feeding bag is empty.”

I just nodded my head and closed my eyes again.  I could hear my dad say to my mom, “I have everything in the car but the diaper bag.”

My mom replied, “Thanks, honey.  I just need to put the changing pad back in it and it will be ready to go.”

I opened my eyes again as my mom brushed my hair, but as soon as she was done, I closed my eyes again.

I drifted in and out of sleep until I was shaken awake again for my mom to flush my feeding tube and disconnect the I.V. fluid bag. She put the same white shoes on me from yesterday,  picked me up and I immediately laid my head on her shoulder again.  She said, “OK Grace, time to go.”

My dad then said, “I have the diaper bag.”

As I was being carried out, I got one last look at my apartment from over my mom’s shoulder.  I was too tired still to dwell on it, but knew that this was officially the end of this chapter of my life in Arizona.  I could see that the sun was just peeking up over the horizon as I was being carried down the stairwell and across the parking lot to my car.

My mom opened the back door and sat me in the car seat.  I helped feed my arms through the straps, then she buckled me in.  She looked down at me and said, “We should be at the airport in about twenty minutes.”

I said, “OK,” as she shut the door.  A moment later, I could hear the front two doors open and shut, then the sound of my dad starting the engine of my car.  I felt the car backing up then drove forward out the parking lot.  I shut my eyes again during the trip to the airport, but the closer we got there the more awake I became.

The car came to a stop, then my dad announced, “We’re here.”

Wide awake now, I looked down and finally noticed what clothes my mom dressed me in this morning.  I was wearing capri-style black leggings with white polka-dots and the shirt I was wearing was a plain peach-colored baby doll shirt with three-quarters-length sleeves.  The shirt was long enough to probably cover my diaper bulge for the most part, but I still sighed because my parents told me they were going to dress me gender-neutral at first.

The door opened and my dad greeted me with a smile, “You finally awake sleepy head.”

I simply replied, “Yeah,” as he unstrapped me from the car seat, lifted me out, and placed me on his hip.

Bouncing me a little in his arms, he asked, “Are you ready to go home?”

“Yes sir, but did mom have to dress me so girly this morning,” I stated.

He replied, “Probably not, but she figured the cuter you are, the less problems you would have getting home.”

I just nodded my head, as he rubbed my back.  Looking towards the back of my car, I could see that the back was open and my mom was taking something big out the back.  My eyes widened when I realized it was a stroller meant for a toddler.  I internally cursed at myself for not thinking that this would be the only option for me.  I can’t walk that far and my mom can’t carry me the whole time.  I watched as she loaded an overnight bag underneath it along with her purse hanging on the handle.

As my mom is pushing the stroller over, my dad hugs me tight and says, “Have a safe flight, sweetheart, and I will be home in a few days.”

I wrapped my arms around his neck and replied, “OK.”

He kissed me on top of my head, and said, “I love you, sweetheart.”

“I love you too, Dad,” I replied.

Breaking up our hug, he said with a grin, “Your chariot awaits you, princess.”

I roll my eyes as he lowers me into the stroller, and then starts strapping me in.  With one more kiss on my forehead, he said, “See you in a few days.”

I watched as he handed the diaper bag to my mom, then they hugged and kissed each other goodbye.  My mom grabbed the stroller and began pushing me into the entrance of the airport.  From above, I heard her say, “Hopefully, everything will run smoothly and we will be home by supper.”

As the automatic double doors slid open, I was met by the sight of hundreds of people going about their business.  The stroller paused for a moment, then started going in the direction of a sign that said ‘Security Screening’.

As we were making our way to TSA, I couldn't help but notice that everyone seemed to move out of the way of the stroller, but also it seemed like I was the center of attention to anyone passing nearby.  I sunk back as far as I could as strangers would look at me and most would smile and give little waves to me, but I still didn't like being on display.

After navigating the airport for about ten minutes, we made it to the line for TSA screening.  Luckily, the line was not too long, but I caught the eye of a middle-aged woman ahead of me and the entire time I was waiting, she would keep looking back at me.  One time, our eyes met, and she gave me a big smile, but I quickly looked down at my lap.

As we approached the first TSA agent, my mom handed him her driver’s license and ticket.  After briefly looking at her I.D. and handing it back, my mom handed him a folder.  I nervously waited as he then thumped through all the documents and looked at me from time to time.  He said something into his radio that I could not make out, handed the folder back to my mom, and said, “You're free to go, ma’am, please go to the next checkpoint for luggage and full body screening.”

I breathed a sigh of relief as the stroller was pushed forward.  At the next checkpoint, I could hear a TSA agent yell over and over again, “Shoes, hats, and belts off.  Empty your pockets. All electronics need to be taken out of your bags and scanned separately.”

My mom pushed me up to the conveyor belt with a stack of shallow plastic bins beside it.  She took the overnight bag from underneath the stroller and placed it into one of the bins, then opened the bag and took out what I assumed to be my laptop and placed it into a different bin along with her cell phone.  In the next bin, she put the diaper bag in.  In the final bin, she put her purse and flats that she was wearing, and then turned around and quickly took my shoes off.  As she was unbuckling me she said, “They are going to have to scan the stroller too.”

I just nodded my head as I was picked up and placed on the ground beside her.  She quickly collapsed the stroller and placed it on the conveyor belt before picking me back up and placing me on her hip.  She carried me over to the full-body scanner and then sat me down right in front of it.  I walked into it and stood with my arms raised, then heard the voice of a TSA agent say, “Sweety, can you come this way?”

I stepped out on the other side where a woman TSA agent was waiting and turned around to wait on my mom.  I could hear from behind, the TSA agent say, “Your grandma will be here soon.”

I blushed at her calling my mom my grandma.  My mom stepped out the scanner then picked me back up and placed me on her hip.  She walked over to the conveyor belt where everything was scanned and set me down.  She took the stroller off first and placed me in it, then put the overnight bag back underneath the stroller.  After getting everything else situated, she put her flats back on.  With the diaper bag over her shoulder, she put my shoe back on.

As she was tying my shoelaces, another TSA agent approached us and said, “Ma’am, will you please follow me? I have some questions to ask you about the child that you are accompanying.”

Fear gripped me as the thought of getting in trouble for identity fraud raced through my mind.  At that moment, my bladder released and I began to flood my diaper.

******************************************************************************************

Thanks for reading my story so far.  It looks like the story is right at or just below the 25% mark.

[Craisler]

The next chapter should be interesting.  I’m glad to see that the saga is continuing.  I imagine you have a lot going in your life right now with the upcoming exam and the events you talked about in another forum here.

Minor editorial correction:  tubes -> tubs

[BabySofia]

21 hours ago, LGGrace said:

It looks like the story is right at or just below the 25% mark.

🙂 I look forward to the other 75%!!! 💜

[LGGrace]

10 hours ago, Craisler said:

The next chapter should be interesting.

I think it will be too!

10 hours ago, Craisler said:

I’m glad to see that the saga is continuing.  I imagine you have a lot going in your life right now with the upcoming exam and the events you talked about in another forum here.

Minor editorial correction:  tubes -> tubs

Life is getting a little hectic, but the hardest thing when it comes to writing is having long, uninterrupted blocks of time to write. I have seen where other writers have the same problem on this site.  If I had no distractions, I could write a chapter in about 6 to 8 hours.

Thanks for the correction,  I went back and reread the chapter and made some more corrections too.  Probably should spend a little more time editing and not doing it late at night.😄

2 hours ago, BabySofia said:

🙂 I look forward to the other 75%!!! 💜

Me too! 🙂

[zzzz50]

Great chapter with the ending, I thought they made it through security a little too easy. As an aside, if they had TSA clearance you usually only have to go through the metal detector, they do pick out random passengers for the full body scan and the idiots that can’t get through the metal detector because they have $32 in change in six different pockets or my favorite when they “forgot” about the six inch knife they are carrying.

[LGGrace]

2 hours ago, zzzz50 said:

Great chapter with the ending, I thought they made it through security a little too easy. As an aside, if they had TSA clearance you usually only have to go through the metal detector, they do pick out random passengers for the full body scan and the idiots that can’t get through the metal detector because they have $32 in change in six different pockets or my favorite when they “forgot” about the six inch knife they are carrying.

Thanks for the comment.  I didn't know how I wanted to handle them getting 'caught' by TSA, so I just went the route I had seen on videos when people get stopped by TSA on the back end when trying to smuggle contraband.

I always wondered about having TSA clearance.  Most of the airports I have flew out of, general TSA screening is not bad and doesn't take long at all.  The only time I wish I had it was when I fly out of Atlanta, that airport is its own city with a subway system.

[CCApril]

I could see TSA being confused by the paperwork. It may be a matter of giving them too much paperwork. I don't remember showing much of anything taking my daughter through 25 years ago.  (Things might have changed a bit though  )

Planes can be a nightmare for parents and baby. We spent over an hour waiting to be deiced in Minneapolis. They wouldn't let my wife go to the restroom and change my daughter because "we might take off any minute".

Hope the flight goes well but betting on a diaper disaster!

 

[LGGrace]

2 hours ago, CCApril said:

I could see TSA being confused by the paperwork. It may be a matter of giving them too much paperwork. I don't remember showing much of anything taking my daughter through 25 years ago.  (Things might have changed a bit though  )

Planes can be a nightmare for parents and baby. We spent over an hour waiting to be deiced in Minneapolis. They wouldn't let my wife go to the restroom and change my daughter because "we might take off any minute".

Hope the flight goes well but betting on a diaper disaster!

 

As far as I know, I read that the minimum requirement for a child to fly is a birth certificate nowadays.  With her looking like a 24-month-old, but having a birth certificate, ID, and SS card for a 27-year-old male, but filing for the name change and sex change with letters from the hospital, I would imagine it raising a few red flags.  I remember seeing a news story about Chinese women having trouble flying home after having plastic surgery in South Korea. 

I always have sympathy for the parents when flying.  I have a hard enough time looking after my nieces and nephews when going out to restaurants or shopping, I couldn't imagine having to fly with a small child.

We will just have to wait and see on any diaper disasters!😁

[LGGrace]

This chapter is a little longer than usual, enjoy!

Chapter 24

As my mom was finishing tying my shoes, she said to the TSA agent calmly, “Certainly.”

My heart was starting to pound in my chest, my mom could see the worry written on my face.  She placed a hand on my cheek and said, “It’s going to be OK, Grace.”

She stood up and then started pushing the stroller next to the TSA agent.  My heart was still racing when we left the main security area, to a door that led to a small room with only a table and four chairs inside.  The agent said to my mom as he was closing the door, “You can take a seat, ma’am.”

My mom took a seat, pulled the stroller next to her, and started unbuckling me.  Out of the corner of my eye, I could see the agent round the table to the other side and take a seat.  As my mom was sitting me in her lap, the agent spoke up, “My name is Agent Hutchinson and I have a few questions about the identity of the little girl that was brought to my attention.”

My mom replied, “Certainly, Agent Hutchinson.  My name is Elaina Gauss, and this is my daughter, Grace Gauss.”

“One of my agents has told me that the paperwork on your daughter does not make sense.  I would like to see that paperwork,” he stated.

My mom leaned over with a hand on my chest, opened up the diaper bag that was beside her chair, and took out the folder.  She slid the folder across the table, then started rubbing my chest and said, “Sweety, everything is going to be OK.  You need to take some deep breaths with me so you get your heart rate down.”

I nodded my head and tried to match my breathing rhythm to my mom’s.  Agent Hutchinson asked, “Is she OK?”

My mom replied, “Yes, she is just having some anxiety issues.  She has had a few panic attacks since waking up from a coma.  She just got out of the hospital yesterday after being there for a little over a month and a half, we are just trying to fly home.”

“Oh, do I need to get her some medical assistants?” Agent Hutchinson asked.

My mom replied, “No, she should be fine.  If needed, I have some medicine to give her that will calm her down.”

“OK, let me know if that changes,” Agent Hutchinson stated.

I continued to take deep breaths in and out as I watched Agent Hutchinson look at my I.D.s and the paperwork from the hospital, and my mom rubbed my back.  Just when I was getting my heart rate back under control, Agent Hutchinson said, “Mrs. Gauss, if I am reading everything correctly,  the I.D.s for the twenty-seven-year-old male is the same person as the toddler in your lap.”

“Yes sir, she was living here and going to grad school at ASU when she got very sick back in March.  She has a very rare genetic disorder that caused her to physically regress and caused her sex to change.  She is the only known case in the world,” my mom replied.

Agent Hutchinson asked, “Can she understand me and can she talk?”

“Certainly, it affected her brain somewhat, but she is still very intelligent,” my mom responded.

Agent Hutchinson looked at me and asked, “Miss Gauss, can you answer a few questions for me?”

I was nervous but nodded my head yes.  With a smile, he asked, “Can you tell me what is your full birth name?”

I quietly replied, “William Charles Gauss.”

He said, “Good, and what is your date of birth?”

I replied, “May twelfth, nineteen ninety-six.”

He asked, “And your address on your driver's license and social security number?”

I proceeded to give him both my address for the apartment I lived at in Atlanta before moving and my social security number.

Agent Hutchinson paused for a moment, then said, “Well,  I never would have guessed in a million years that you are the same person in your driver's license, but I don’t think a real toddler would be able to answer any of those questions.  With the letter from the hospital, you are the person you claim to be.”

“Her father and I assumed that we may run into some trouble here at the airport.  I am just glad that the hospital helped us out with all the legal paperwork,” my mom replied.

Agent Hutchinson said, “The letter from the hospital can not be used for government identification, but it does help.  I apologize for holding you two up, but airports are a hot spot for human trafficking; especially children.”

My mom replied, “That is understandable.”

Agent Hutchinson said, “Well, you two are free to go, you should still have plenty of time to make your flight.”

My mom stood up with me in her arms and said, “Thank you.”

She sat me down in the stroller and buckled me up as Agent Hutchinson walked around the table and opened the door.  As my mom was pushing the stroller out of the room, Agent Hutchinson said, “You two have a safe flight home.”

I was pushed out into the main security area.  Passing the security, my mom took a turn down one of the massive main corridors to where I assumed our gate number was.  After a few minutes, my mom turned into one of the shops,  I could hear her say above me, “I'm just stopping to get us a few bottles of water.”

We made it to one of the coolers and my mom took out three bottles of water, then pushed the stroller up to the cashier.  As my mom was paying for the water bottles, I saw a mother with her young daughter walk into the store.  The daughter was probably only about six or seven years old.  As they were walking past me, the daughter stopped and smiled at me and said, “Oh, look at the baby,” and waved at me.

Embarrassed, but not wanting to be mean to the young girl, I waved back to her.  I then could hear the mother say, “Morgan, you have to stay with mommy.”

The girl skipped off and I could hear her say, “I was just saying hi to the baby.”

My mom finished paying for the water then I was pushed out of the store and back into the corridor.  My mom said, “That was sweet of you to wave to that girl.”

“Yeah, I guess so,” I replied.

After a few minutes of riding in silence, my bowels made themself known.  I called out, “Mom!”

The stroller stopped and as my mom stood in front of me, my body started to push.  My mom crouched down in front of me and asked, “What wrong sweetheart?”

All I could do was sit there red-faced as my body continued to push more poop into the seat of my diaper.  With realization on her face, she said, “Oh, it’s OK sweety, I will go find somewhere to change your diaper.”

My mom quickly stood back up and started pushing the stroller again, all I could do was sit there red-faced with poop smeared all over my butt inside my diaper.  It didn't take long until my mom found a women’s restroom and pushed the stroller in.  Inside the restroom, there was a long line of stalls to my left and a long line of sinks to my right.  I could see that there were a few women at the sinks washer their hands and a few of the stalls were occupied.  As my mom continued to push me further into the bathroom, I could see past the sinks, that there were three changing tables built into the wall.

My mom stopped at the first of the unoccupied changing tables and set the diaper bag down.  She pulled out the baby wipes and used one to wipe it down.  She then took the changing pad out and laid it out, along with a new diaper.  She bent down and as she was unbuckling me, she said, “Alright, sweety, I will get you cleaned up.”

I was hoisted up onto the changing table, my leggings were pulled down to my ankles, and my shirt was pushed up to my chest.  Despite already being in a smelly bathroom, my nostrils were assaulted when my mom untaped my diaper and pulled it down.  I could tell it wasn’t as bad as yesterday, but any amount of poop was bad enough.

My mom took a few wipes and wiped down my front, then grabbed my ankles and pushed my knees to my chest, and used a clean part of the diaper to wipe off some of the globs of poop stuck to my butt.  I stared at the ceiling as I could feel her use wipe after wipe on my rear.  But, then, out of the corner of my eye, I could see a woman and two teens walk by.  Both girls looked at me with a smile, then the last one locked eyes with me and I could hear her say to herself, “Aww, so cute.”

I blushed and turned my head to face the wall with the illogical thinking that if I couldn’t see them, then they couldn’t see me.  A few moments later, I could feel that my rear was clean and my mom replaced the dirty diaper with the clean one and lowered my butt down onto it.  She taped the diaper snuggly around my waist, pulled my leggings back up, and my shirt back down.  I could see her ball up the dirty diaper and toss it into one of the nearby trashcans.

She picked me up off the changing table and sat me down in the stroller and after buckling me up, she quickly put the changing pat and wipes back in the diaper bag.  After swinging the diaper over her shoulder, she pushed me over to the closest sink and washed her hands.  As luck would have, the two teens were washing their hands too, and kept looking over at me.  Luckily, they finished up and left.

When my mom was drying her hands off, she looked down at me and said, “I probably should go ahead and use the bathroom too before our flight.”

I just nodded my head as she pushed the stroller to the handicap stall at the end.  Then it clicked in my head, my mom is not going to leave me alone to go to the bathroom in an airport.  She pushed me into the stall, then said, “I’m going sit the diaper bag in your lap, sweety.”

I nodded my head as she sat it in my lap.  The bag was huge compared to me, but was not heavy enough to crush me.  On a positive note, it blocked my view so I didn’t have to see my mom going to the bathroom.

I could hear her relief herself, then shortly afterward, the toilet flushing.  A moment later, the diaper bag was lifted up and I could see again.  My mom pushed me out of the stall and made a pit stop by the sink to wash her hands again.

Back out in the main corridor, I was pushed along and kept looking up at the different gate numbers we passed to see which one went to Atlanta.  After about five minutes, I could see one of the gates ahead had PHX to ALT displayed.

My mom pushed the stroller up to the gate, took a seat in one of the rows of seats, and pushed the stroller beside her so that I was facing her and sat the diaper bag at her feet.  She said, “It should not be too long before they start boarding, I’m going to make lunch for you for the plane ride since you got up so early this morning and with the time change, you will not have another chance until we get home.”

I replied, “OK.”

I watched as she pulled out a feeding bag and a small can of infant formula, then added a few scopes to the. Putting the formula back in the bag, she took one of the bottles of water and poured over half of it into the bag.  After shaking it up, she put the feeding bag back into the diaper bag, then poured the rest of the water into a sippy cup and handed it to me. She stated, “You should try and drink some water since I won’t be able to give you I.V. fluids until we get home.”

I nodded my head and took a few swallows as she also took a few sips from her water bottle.  I just sat there in the stroller and watched people walk by and more and more people started taking seats near the gate.

I then heard over the intercom, “Priority boarding for first class, flyers with disabilities, and flyers with children five years old or under.”

My mom leaned down and said to me, “Well, you meet the second requirement and no one in their right mind would question that you are older than five.”

I just nodded my head as she stood up, slung the diaper bag over her shoulder, and started pushing the stroller to the gate.  With only about ten people in front of us at the gate, it did not take long until we were at the counter where my mom scanned her phone.  I heard a dink noise, and then the man standing at the counter said to my mom, “Enjoy your flight.”

I felt the stroller start moving again, as we followed the other passengers down the tunnel.  At the end where the tunnel turns ninety degrees to enter the plane, my mom stopped.  I saw my mom come into view and say, “We are going to have to leave the stroller here, they will check it for us.”

I nodded my head as she took the sippy cup from my hands and tucked it into the diaper bag.  She unbuckled me from the stroller, lifted me out, and set me on my feet beside her.  After collapsing the stroller, she slung both the overnight bag and her purse over her shoulder.  Looking at me, she bent down and lifted me in her arms. She whispered in my ear, “Hold onto me sweety, I can only hold you with one arm.”

I answered by wrapping one of my arms around the back of her neck.  Looking over, I could see that she was using her other arm to keep the overnight bag behind her so we could make it down the aisle. As she was stepping on the plane, we were greeted by two flight attendants, then she started walking down the aisle.  The plane wasn’t too big with only three seats per row on either side of the aisle.

At about halfway towards the back of the plane, she stopped and sat me down in the middle seat, then placed the overnight bag in the overhead bin.  Shen sat the diaper on the floor in front of the seat by the window, then moved me over to the window seat before taking a seat in the middle seat. Being so small, I couldn’t complain about the lack of leg space because of the diaper bag since; only my feet were hanging off the seat.   She leaned over and opened the diaper bag and handed me a blanket and the sippy cup from before.  She said to me, “The blanket is for if you get cold.  As soon as we get to cruising altitude, I will start your feeding.  I will probably have to hold you since we don’t have an I.V. pole to use.  Before I forget, do you think you will need any pain medicine before we land?”

I paused for a second, then said, “Probably, I haven't had any since yesterday.”

“OK, I will give you some before the feeding.  It will probably be best if you get some sleep during the flight,” my mom responded.

I nodded my head, then took the blanket, placed it on the armrest beside the window, and rested my head on it.  At some point, I saw a man who looked to be in his mid-sixties sit down in the aisle seat beside my mom.  After about ten more minutes of waiting and eyeing my mom scrolling on her phone, I heard the pilot make an announcement over the intercom.  Even when I am trying my best, I can never fully hear what the pilots say, so I decided to tune it out with the knowledge that we are about to take off soon.

My mom leaned over, buckled my seat belt for me, and said, “We are about to take off.”

I then heard the jet engines come to life and shortly after, the plane moved backward, then forward as it was taxied to the runway.  The plane paused in place for a moment, then the engines became louder and louder.  I was pushed back in my seat as the plane started accelerating down the runway.  My stomach dropped for a moment as the plane’s wheels left the ground, but then returned to normal as the plane climbed into the sky at a constant rate.

I would feel the plane slightly bank from time to time as we climbed higher and higher.  After a while, the plane leveled off, the engines quieted down some, and I could hear the pilot over the intercom again, most likely telling us we were at cruising altitude and could unfasten our seatbelts.

My mom leaned over and started rifling through the diaper bag and pulled out two syringes.  She looked at me and said, “I’m going to give you your pain and nausea medicine.”

I held out my left arm for her and she injected the two syringes into my I.V.  She tossed the two empty syringes in one of the pockets of the diaper bag.  She took the sippy cup that I was holding between my legs, tossed it in the diaper bag, and pulled out the feeding bag.  She pulled up the armrest between our seats and unbuckled my seat belt.  She then unfolded the blanket in her lap and lifted me over to her lap.  She slid over to my seat and slid the diaper bag over in front of her seat.

Taking the feeding bag, she connected it to my feeding tube and placed it on her shoulder where half of the formula was on one side and the rest of the other and pinned it between herself and the seat so that it did not fall.  She loosely wrapped the blanket around me, then turned me in her lap so that I was lying down with my head resting in the crook of her arm.  I looked up at my mom and she was looking down at me and brushed some of my hair out of my face.  With a small smile, she said, “Get some rest sweety, I will wake you when we land.”

I nodded my head, then looked and saw that I caught the attention of the older man.  He gave me a small smile, then looked at my mom and asked, “I didn’t notice that a small traveler was sitting on the other side of you, is that your granddaughter?”

My mom replied, “She is actually my daughter.  She has a rare genetic disorder and is older than she looks.  She just spent over a month at the Mayo Clinic and we are on our way home.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.  Regardless, she is adorable and reminds me of one of my granddaughters,” the man said.

My mom responded, “Thank you, she is a cutie pie.  I think we will all feel better once we are home though.”

“I’m sure y’all will.  Is she able to walk and talk?” the man asked.

My mom replied, “Walking, we are working on it.  She can walk a little bit but gets tired very easily.  She can talk, but I imagine she is getting very sleepy between the medication I just gave her and lunch going into her tummy right now.  She did not want to wake up early this morning and fell asleep on me when I was trying to get her dressed.”

The man chuckled a little bit and said, “Well, I guess it is a good thing that she is so cute when it comes to giving her momma a hard time.”

My mom giggled, began patting my bottom, and said, “Yes that is true.  Hopefully, she never figures out how much power she can hold over her father if she wants to.”

The man smiled and said, “Yes that is true.  Little girls have their fathers wrapped around their fingers and little boys have their mothers wrapped around their fingers, or at least that's how it was for me and my wife with our children.”

My eyes started to get heavy as my mom said, “That is the same with my husband and our other daughter and son.”

They continued to make small talk as I drifted off to sleep.

I woke up to the plane touching down and my mom tightening her hold on me as the pilot slammed on the brakes.  After taxiing to the terminal, the plane came to life as everyone was eagerly waiting their turn to exit the plane.

My mom asked me, “Did you sleep well?”

To which I nodded my head yes.

When it was getting closer to our turn, the man got out of his seat and gestured to my mom to go ahead of him.  My mom set me down in the aisle seat, then got up and gathered the diaper bag and her purse.  After getting the overnight bag from the overhead bin, she picked me up in her arms.  My diapered bottom rested on her forearm with a squish.  In response, my mom said, “You are going to need a diaper change before we leave the airport.”

I didn’t respond, but just wrapped one of my arms around her neck for support.  As I was being carried down the aisle of the plane, I looked over my mom’s shoulder and saw the older man.  He smiled at me and gave me a little wave. I decided to return the favor and wave back to him.  As we exited the plane, I could see that there were two strollers sitting against the wall where the tunnel made a turn.

I was set down on my feet and my mom quickly grabbed our stroller, put the overnight bag underneath, sat me in, and buckled me up.  She pushed me down the rest of the tunnel and past the gate.  Not too far away was a restroom that my mom pushed me into.

The restroom was bustling, but the two changing tables were empty.  My mom quickly got all the supplies ready to change my diaper and lifted me out of the stroller onto the changing table.  In record time, my mom had me in a dry diaper and was placing me back in the stroller.  She pushed me into the handicap stall and repeated the process this morning of me holding the diaper bag in my lap so she could use the bathroom.

After washing her hands, I was quickly pushed to the subway within the airport.  There were people crowded around waiting and within a minute, the tram pulled up and a good number of the people inside got off.  My mom was able to squeeze us into the tram.  With everyone standing, the view was not great. I was at eye level with a bunch of strangers' crotches and butts near my face.  Luckily, after a few stops, my mom pushed me off the tram.

Five minutes after following the crowd, I see a sign for pick-up.  A few moments later, I was being pushed through the exit and out into the warm, humid air of Georgia.  I couldn’t help but smile a little bit at the thought of finally, being back in my home state.

Past the sidewalk was a sea of cars coming and going picking up people who were also leaving the airport.  My mom pushed me to a relatively clear area along the pick-up zone.  She moved beside me, leaned down, and said, “We are getting picked up and the person picking us up is dying to see you.”

I replied, “OK,” as I wondered who was going to be picking us up.

We didn’t have to wait too long before I saw my mom’s white Honda pull up beside us.  I saw the trunk pop open, and then out of the driver’s seat, I saw Marley get out.  With a big smile on her face, she comes rushing over to me.  Without saying a word, she unbuckled me and yanked me out of the stroller into her arms.  With a crack in her voice, she said, “Don’t you ever scare me like that again,” as she held me in a tight embrace.

My mind returned to right before I was put in the coma where I thought I was never going to see her again.  My eyes started to water as I threw my arms around her neck.

**********************************************************************************************

Like in the story, I will be flying back to my home state next week, but plan on posting one more chapter before I leave.  I'm sure y'all will like that chapter since Grace will be seeing her brother, Stanley, sister-in-law, Katie, nephew, Charlie, and especially her two-year-old niece, Ellis.

It will probably be a little over two weeks after posting chapter 25, that I will be able to post chapter 26.  Unfortunately, I will be too busy when I am back in my home state to do any writing.  I will be tied up with putting my house on the market, celebrating my grandmother turning 90, and spending time with my two nieces that I based Ellis and Charlie off of who will soon be turning 3 and 1!

[BabySofia]

29 minutes ago, LGGrace said:

I will be tied up with putting my house on the market, celebrating my grandmother turning 90, and spending time with my two nieces that I based Ellis and Charlie off of who will soon be turning 3 and 1!

Enjoy the family time!

29 minutes ago, LGGrace said:

My mind returned to right before I was put in the coma where I thought I was never going to see her again.  My eyes started to water as I threw my arms around her neck.

Awww.... 😭

[LGGrace]

Chapter 25

We hugged each other tightly for a few moments, and then Marley loosened her grip on me as I pulled my arms back.  I looked up at her and saw that her eyes were welling with tears when she asked, “It really is you, isn’t it?”

I replied, “Yeah, it’s me, Marley.”

With a devilish grin, she said, “Good, I’m glad that this cute little baby that I’m holding is still my asshat of a brother.”

I could help but giggle at the levity that my sister can bring and said with a smile, “Well, I’m glad you’re still my bitchy little sister.”

With a giggle of her own, she replied, “I was your bitchy little sister, now, I’m your bitchy big sister that can spank that little tush of yours.”

I groaned as she continued, “I’m going to be the bestest big sister ever!”

I then heard my mom say, “Marley, you two can argue over who is the little sister in the car, we need to get going.”

I looked over and saw that my mom had the back door open and everything was already put away in the trunk.  I felt Marley bounce me in her arms a little bit, then said, “Well, you hear Mommy, time for us to go.”

I just rolled my eyes as she carried me to the back of the car.  She placed me in Ellis’ car seat which my mom has for her and buckled me up.  She looked at me and said, “You are sooo cute!” with a giddiness to her voice.  I just sat there stoned-faced as she stood back up and my mom leaned in and handed me the sippy cup.  She said to me, “We will be home soon, try and drink some water for me.”

I nodded my head and she closed the door.  I hear the two front doors open and close, and then my mom says, “Woo, I’m so glad that we are almost home.”

Marley replied, “I'm glad too, it’s been almost two months since you and Dad left.”

I felt the car pull off as my mom said, “Yes, it has been a while.  Can you stop by McDonald’s on the way?  I’m still on mountain time and it is lunchtime for me.”

Marley replied, “Sure, Mom.”  Then she asked, “You doing OK back there baby sis?”

I looked up and could see a mirror mounted on the back of the seat to where I could see my sister’s face in the rearview mirror.  I just shot her the bird in the mirror.  I saw a shocked look on her face as she said, “That wasn’t very nice of you.”

My mom asked, “What wasn’t very nice?”

“She flipped me off,” Marley responded.

My mom said, “Well, you brought it on yourself when you called her your baby sister.”

“Fine, I see who the favorite is now,” Marley replied sarcastically.

My mom responded, “I love each of my children equally but in a different way for each.”

“That is such a mom thing to say,” Marley stated.

My mom said, “Well, it’s the truth.”

I started to tune Marley and my mom out as they made small talk about what she has been up to lately.  I found myself being both excited and nervous that I was only two hours away from being back home in my hometown of Milledridge.

I looked over and could see in the middle seat was the infant car seat for Charlie.  With nothing else to do, I took a few sips from the sippy cup and sat it down between my legs.  At some point, I could see that Marley pulled into a drive-thru, but it didn’t take long until we were back on the highway.

I sighed to myself when my bladder filled up and just released a stream of urine into my diaper while thinking to myself that there was no way I was going to make the whole car ride home in a dry diaper.

After taking another couple of big gups from the sippy cup, I got a little nauseous and gave up on drinking anymore anytime soon.  With nothing simulating to keep me occupied, I was quickly drifting off to sleep.

I woke up to the car driving over the curb going into my parents’ driveway.  I could then hear the familiar sound of the garage door opening.  I could see out the window as Marley pulled my mom’s car into the garage beside my dad’s pickup truck.  I am home now.

I hear both front doors open and close, I stretch as my door is being opened.  My mom looked down at me and asked, “Did you have another nice nap?”

I replied, “I guess so,” as she unbuckled and lifted me out of the car seat onto her hip.   Looking out the garage, I could see that my Grammy’s car was parked in the driveway, and Katie’s SUV, along with Marley’s and my Aunt Sandy’s cars were parked on the street.

Marley was already walking up the steps to the side entrance to the house carrying the diaper bag and overnight bag.  I felt myself getting nervous since I was not expecting this much company at first when going home.  My mom looked down at me and asked, “Are you excited to be home and see everyone?”

As she was walking up the steps, I replied, “Yeah, I’m just nervous.”

My mom said, “You have nothing to be nervous about.  There is not a soul in this house that doesn’t love and can wait to see you.”

I just nodded my head as we crossed the threshold into the small mud room, past the laundry room, and into the kitchen.  I say Marley tosses the overnight bag and diaper bag on the floor by the kitchen table as she walks into the den and announces, “I picked up two desert geckos from the airport.”

As was being carried into the den, I saw Stanley hop out of the recliner, Katie and Aunt Sandy were both sitting on the couch while Aunt Sandy was holding Charlie.  I see Grammy sitting in one of the upholstery chairs and Ellis is looking up from the floor with toys surrounding her.

Stanley immediately bear hugs our mom with me in her arms.  He broke off the hug, looked down at me, and with a finger placed under my chin said with a smile, “So this little thing has been what all the fuss was about.”

He lifted me out of our mom’s arms into his own, I wrapped my arms around his neck, and as he was gently rubbing my back, he said, “I missed you, little brother, well, now, little sister.  I lose enough sleep because of Ellis and Charlie, how about you don’t cause me any more sleepless nights, up worrying.”

I tightened my grip and nodded my head into his chest as tears began to pool in my eyes.  We may have had our fights growing up and ripping on one another all the time, but at the end of the day, we do love each other.  We broke off our hug, he looked down and said, "You know, you are cute.  Maybe now you can dethrone our sister from being the spoiled brat that she is.”

Marley quickly interjects, “Hey, I’m not a spoiled brat.”

“Said the girl that could always run to daddy with puppy dog eyes when she did not get her way with us,” Stanley replied.

Marley responded, “Whatever.”

He then leaned down and whispered, “I will make it worth your while, to give her a taste of her own medicine.”

I looked up at my brother, wiped away a few tears that were threatening to spill down my cheek, and with a small smile, I said, “I think I can work something out.”

Katie then stepped beside us and said, “Alright, Stanley, stop hogging her.”

She lifted me out of Stanley’s arms and into hers.  Embracing me in her own hug, she said, “I’m glad you're home.”

I quietly replied, “Me too.”

A moment later, I was being passed to my Aunt Sandy.  My Aunt Sandy is one of the tallest women in my family, at just under six feet with black hair and brown eyes.  With a smile, she said, “Well, I never thought that I would be able to hold you in my arms again.”

“Me either,” I replied.

Hugging me, she said, “Let’s go say hi to Grammy.”

My Grammy was still waiting patiently in her seat.  With her being in her mid-eighties, she did not have the best mobility.  Aunt Sandy placed me standing in my Grammy’s lap.  Grammy had one arm around my rear for support and without warning, started attacking my face with kisses.  Once the attack was over, she smiled at me and said in a serious voice, “W.C., …, well, I guess it is G.C. now; I’m old, so it may take me some time to get used to it,” pausing for a moment, she said, “ Don’t you scare me like that ever again.  I spent so much time wringing my hands this past month worrying about you that they were almost worn down to the bone.”

I couldn’t help but smile back at the worrywart that is my grandmother and replied, “I’ll do my best, but no promises.”

Being so overwhelmed, a few tears ran down my cheek.  Grammy wiped them away with her thumb and said, “I’ll hold you to it, sweetpea.  Well, I think there is someone else that wants to welcome you home.”

Before I could respond, I was lifted out of her lap and placed standing on the floor.  She turned me around and with a pat on my diapered rear, said, “Go say hi to Ellis.”

Looking over, I could see that Ellis was standing with Stanley crouched down beside her.  As I was slowly walking over to them, I could hear Stanley say, “Do you remember us telling you about how Uncle Will got very sick?”

As I stopped in front of them, I saw Ellis nod her head.  Pointing to me, Stanley said, “This is the same person as Uncle Will, we just call her Aunty Grace now.  Can you go give her a hug?”

She looked at me with a questioning face as I waited with bated breath.  I wasn’t sure if she could understand what had happened to me or not.  I didn’t have to wait too long, as she rushed over to me and wrapped her arms around me.  I did the same and wrapped my arms around her in relief.  It was odd that now, she seemed to be slightly bigger than me.  As I gave her a kiss on the cheek, I said, “I missed you, Ellis.”

As we broke off our hug, she asked, “You sad?”

Not realizing that tears were streaming down my face, I wiped them away and with a smile, “No Ellis, I’m not sad, I'm just very happy to see you.”

She smiled back at me and said, “We play now.”

She grabbed my hand and started pulling me towards the toys scattered on the floor.  I was not expecting how strong she was, and started to lose my balance.  Luckily, a large hand caught me and I looked up to see that it was Stanley.  He said, “Ellis, Aunty Grace is still not well enough to play with you.  I’m sure she will be happy to play with you another day.”

Ellis let go of my hand and with a simple, “OK,” bolted towards the toys.

Stanley lifted me up into his arms and asked, “Do you want to hold Charlie?”

Smiling, I replied, “Sure.”

Stanley carried me over to the couch and sat me down in the corner.  Katie slid over next to me with Charlie in her arms.  She looked at me and said, “Well, Charlie is a lot bigger than the newborn he was at Christmas and you are a lot smaller, so he may be a handful for you.”

I replied, “Let’s give it a shot and see.”

Katie gently sat Charlie in my lap and true to her word, he was huge.  I was just glad he could sit up on his own now.  With him in my lap, we were almost seeing eye to eye.  He gave me a toothless grin and I said, “Well, hi butterball.  You definitely are a lapful for me now.”

He babbled some and as I was kissing him on the cheek, he grabbed the end of my feeding tube that was tucked behind my ear.  As he was about to pull it, Katie grabbed his hand and quickly got it out of his grip.  She picked him up out of my lap and said, “Sorry, Grace, it’s probably safer for you not to hold him until you get that feeding tube removed.”

I was a little dejected that a six-month-old could be unsafe for me at the moment, but said, “Yeah, it’s probably best.”

Like a predator waiting to pounce, Marley was over in a flash and picked me up and sat down with me in her lap.  I just internally sighed, knowing that I would probably end up in someone’s lap at any opportunity.  Looking around the room, I could see that Stanley was back in the recliner, my mom was at the other end of the couch, and Aunt Sandy was sitting in the other chair.  Aunt Sandy spoke up and asked, “So, now that y’all are home, what is on the itinerary?”

My mom replied, “Well, tomorrow we are just taking it easy and staying home.  Friday, Grace has a doctor's appointment with our family doctor.  We worked it out so that she only has to go to the specialist in Atlanta once a week.  Saturday we have the welcome home party at Kent’s and Sunday, we should probably go to church since we have not been in almost two months.  Then on Monday, Grace has an appointment with the specialist.  After that, other than doctor appointments, we are going to play it by ear.”

Hearing what’s planned for this weekend, I guess I will be seeing the rest of the family at my uncle’s farm.

Aunt Sandy responded, “Looks like y’all have a few busy days after tomorrow.”

“Yes we do, but I think both Grace and I will agree that it beats sitting in the hospital,” my mom said.  After a brief pause, my mom asked, “Katie, I have been meaning to ask, but with things being so hectic, how has Ellis’ potty training been going since y’all started about a month ago.”

Katie replied, “She did pretty good with making it to the potty the first week.  Then, YOUR SON, was busy with something when she asked to go to the potty and told her to just go in her diaper and since then, she had zero interest in going to the potty.”

“That can happen.  If they show signs that they are ready and you don’t jump on every opportunity, then they will choose to just go in their diaper,” my mom said.

Stanley interjected, “Yeah, that was my bad.  If I knew I could be out of having to change two diapers all the time, I would have not done that.”

“Well, hindsight is always twenty-twenty.  I promised Grace that starting tomorrow I would help her with re-potty training.  Maybe she could help motivate Ellis into starting to use the potty,” my mom said.

My face turned red at my mom telling everyone that I am technically not potty trained at the moment and could be a teaching tool for Ellis.  Thankfully, the conversation moved to different topics that did not involve me.  I just sat in my sister’s lap and listened to the conversations around me as I looked over at Ellis playing with her toys without a care in the world.

I felt my bladder fill up and just released it into my diaper knowing that tomorrow, I will have a chance to be free of having to wear my toilet.  Not realizing that Marley felt her lap warm up, she placed a hand on the front of my diaper and gave it a squeeze.  She leaned down and whispered, “Let’s go change your diaper.”

I blushed as she stood up and repositioned me on her hip.  As she was carrying me into the kitchen, my mom asked, “Marley, where are you two going.”

Marley replied back, “I’m going to change Grace.”

As if my face couldn’t get any redder, it did when Marley announced to the room that I needed a diaper change.  Marley grabbed the diaper bag and slung it over her shoulder and as she was turning back around, our mom stood up and said, “Let’s go up to her room, I want to see how everything turned out in person.”

Marley replied, “Sure, I saw it this morning and thought it was cute and turned out great.”

I was carried through the dining room and to the front of the house where the stairway was.  Up the stairs, we went and stopped at the top where the first bedroom, my bedroom, was.

Looking at my bedroom, you could hardly believe that it was for an adult.  The walls were painted sky blue but still had the light gray carpet that made up most of the second floor.  Along the wall to my right was a changing table made of solid oak that was stained dark brown with a large box of diapers and a large box of pull-ups beside it.  In the corner was the old rocking chair that was originally my great-grandmother’s with a floor lamp beside it.  On the opposite side of the room and under the large bay window, was a two-tier empty bookcase that was stained to match the changing table.  To my left, between the bedroom door and the closet door, was a matching dresser with a small lamp on top.

On the left wall, was my new bed if you can call it that.  It was a crib, but the railing that was facing out was replaced with a railing that was a foot high and ran three-quarters the length of the bed.  The ‘bed’ was also stained dark brown and had sheets on it that had stars and moons on it.

Looking at the center of the room, there was a me-sized table that was painted sky blue with two chairs that were painted white.  Near the bookcase, there was an off-white beanbag chair.

With my mouth hanging open, my mom asked, “What do you think?”

**************************************************************************************************

With me flying home for a week later this week, this will be the last chapter I post for about two weeks.  I may have some alone time at night to do some writing, but I doubt I will be able to post the next chapter any sooner.

[CCApril]

Grace should be happy. They went easy on her room. No pink, no princesses and no cartoons..

WELCOME HOME GRACE!!