Chapter 24 – New jobs, new house, new life

I started at Universal in February, and Jake started a few weeks earlier at Disney.  One of the perks to being employees of the respective parks is that we get free passes for our family, as long as they live in the same address, plus 2 for “non-family”; this meant that we all could go to the parks any time we wanted.

I spent much of February working during the week, Monday to Friday, either in a training or working on getting the new equipment working at the sign shop.  I had brought some of my own gear down with me so at night I could finish any work that I still had to do for my old clients.  Jackie and Sammy would come down on the weekends, sometimes flying, sometimes by train. I so missed my little boy and my wife when they were not there.  I saw them both during spring break, which was fun.  While I worked they went to the parks, and I would join them after work, or if they were at Universal I would do lunch with them.

With the sign shop I bought, I was buying on land contract, the old owner wanted to retire, him and his wife had been doing it for over 20 years and wanted to relax.  They had no employees, so it was a perfect fit for Jake and I to just come in and take over.

Much of April was spent looking for houses, as Jackie and Sammy would be moving down to Florida with us.  We had decided to keep the house in Ohio, as it was technically still mom and dads, and it was paid off.

Finally when I thought that we could not look anymore, we found a house that was in a housing development that was gated, and the place was wonderful.

It had 5 bedrooms, a guest house, huge backyard, detached workshop/shed, and best of all an in-ground pool and hot tub.  I also had room for my home gym in the garage.  Our lot was wooded on one side, and an open lot on the other.

The open lot had been up for sale for sometime and the realtor said that it was really too small for what most people wanted.

We took possession the weekend before memorial day weekend.  I signed the papers Friday morning, and was on a plane back to ohio that afternoon to meet with the movers and start packing up.  The move was to happen on Memorial Day weekend.

Jackie had already given notice of her quitting at the end of the school year, when it was determined that we would infact be moving to Orlando, after my first 60 days there.

Sammy was sad to leave his friends and school, but I promised him that he could continue to talk to his friends online and if they came down to the parks, he could see them. He had one more weekend sleepover with Justin, and Jackie said that she babied both of them.

That Friday of memorial day weekend rolled around, the movers had shown up Wednesday morning to get what we were taking to florida.  We left things like some beds there, for when we would come up to stay.

Sammy took his bed with him to florida, though with the big crib he has here, I doubt it will get used. We also moved Jake’s stuff too, more importantly his crib.

Jake moved into the guest house, which was perfect for him.  He had a private place to be little when he wanted to be, and nobody would be wiser to the comings and goings that Jake had.

Sammy wanted 2 rooms, as he had to have his “big boy” room and a baby room. We did a little remodel and made the house 6 bedrooms.  We took 1 bedroom and split it.  This room was inbetween the master bedroom and Sammy’s big boy room.  We basically walled it off from the hallway, and the room was entered from inside Sammy’s room, and the other side through ours.  We put a pocket door in between both halves as well.

Basically this let Sammy have his big boy room for when friends came over, and have a baby room for his crib and stuff when he wanted to be little or had aware friends over.  I had pretty much the same arrangement as well.

Jake’s place, well in the bedroom it was all baby. He got his crib setup and had the room decorated within 48 hours.  He had a living room with a large TV and entertainment center, typical apartment sized appliances (for if he ever learns to cook).

Jackie had gotten her resume out to several hospitals, home health care agencies, and doctor’s offices as well as the school districts.

She really did not want to start work till she had gotten everything settled in, found childcare (even though mom said she would watch Sammy) and got used to the area.

Typical life around our homestead was that Jake would get up in the morning, get ready at his place, and then come into the house for breakfast.

Jackie or myself usually cooked breakfast for all of us, and then Jake and I left for work.  This is how Jake and I had done it when it was just the two of us at the trailer.

This left Jackie home all day with Sammy, able to run errands, do job interviews, etc.  Jackie also came to the sign shop for a few hours a day to check the mail, get the financial stuff done, and sometimes she would complete some orders too.

After Jake had completed his training in the spring, he went to Monday & Tuesday on days, and Friday & Saturday on second shift at Disney; so Wednesday and Thursday, and Friday morning Jake would work the sign shop.

I would do much of the design work at night on Monday and Tuesday, when I worked days at Universal.  Wednesday was a half day and Thursday was a day off for me.  Fridays were always up in the air, I could be at my shop or get called into Universal, or be working at my shop on something for Universal.

We agreed to make this maddening schedule work till Sammy went  back to school, when Jackie would get a job.  One day she called me at work

“I got a job offer, I think I am going to take it” She said excited “It will work for our schedule, and not make us need a babysitter or daycare”

She had my interest “OK, where?”

“Well when I went to Sammy’s school and was going over the requirements for his accommodations like where his diapers would be kept, who would assist him, and talking with the teachers and office staff. I mentioned that I was a nurse as well.

They said that the school just lost their nurse to a sudden illness, and they were planning on using a temp agency.  I talked to the district office and was offered the job.  I would have to be there maybe 15 minutes before the students arrive, and 15 to 30 minutes after they leave.  I would get all the holidays off, and be off all summer too” Jackie said excitedly

“Well that is great, I know that you did not want to have to go back to working the ever-changing hospital hours again, so this will be the best solution for ya.  But what does it pay?” I asked

“Well, it pays more than what the hospitals in the area would have paid per hour, but with the summers off it would about even out.  I could always get a summer job, or something.”  Jackie said, sensing my apprehension to her taking the job and the loss of income, she continued “but when you take into account that we would not have to have childcare, it would be better.

I have to go the week before school to get my office setup and go to new staff orientation,  go over 504 plans for the students besides Sammy that I will need to provide care for. If your mom could watch Sammy that week, that would be great”

I checked the calendar, and told her that we should be able to find a solution. I had a light week scheduled for that week and mom & dad are always willing to have Sammy over.

Chapter 23 – Over the river and through the woods

The winter of 2005 was by far the worst one ever, we took Sammy out of school the week before Christmas and were going to head down to Orlando for the holiday break like we did every year since they semi-moved there.

On Decemebr 16, we got a massive amount of snow.  We had to have the able bodied folk shovel the drive out just to get out of the house.  This threw a wrench in the plans.  Normally we will drive to Washington DC and then take the auto-train down to Orlando.  That way the van is there with us.  This year the drive was going to be horrible, but Amtrak assured us that we would be able get the auto train in DC and that there was no interruptions to service from DC to Orlando. We delayed our departure by 2 days, and left out of town on late Sunday night, the 18^th .  Instead of putting Sammy to bed, we just put him in the back of the van in a captain’s chair.  I took the large bench seat in the back so I could be comfortable.  The drive should have taken a little over eight and a half hours, and we had to be there by 2 pm at the latest the next afternoon, but I wanted to take no chances.  This year, since Jake was out of college, we had an extra driver.  So it was Me, Jackie, Jake, and Sammy in the van. No driving for me this year

We do pack kinda light, as we got in the habit of shipping what we needed down ahead of time. Stuff like diapers, shorts, short sleeved shirts, etc… We had a tight fit with all the luggage inside the van, but we made it work.

We stopped once to get breakfast and diaper changes, then back on the road. One more stop for the bathroom and a quick bite to eat.  It was at this point Sammy asked me something we had never talked about before.

“Daddy, does uncle Jake wear diapers too?” He asked “cause he carries a backpack with him into the potty”

Think think think “ummm, Sammy, that would be something that you would need to ask him yourself”  I quickly texted Jake that he had been busted by a 8 year old

U ve been busted by Sammy.. he asked y u take bag n2 bathroom  heads up he will ask u if u wear wasn’t going to out u

 

Jake came back to the table a little red faced, and since it was on the top of his mind, no matter how much I tried to get him to think about something else before Jake came back, he asked….

“Uncle Jake do you wear diapers too” Sammy asked, without using his indoor voice, which caused some other people to kinda stop and turn.

Thank God for my wife, “Sammy that is rude of you to ask, if Jake wants to answer he can, but you have no right to ask him stuff like that in a public place.”

Sammy sunk down in his seat, defeated by his own mother. “I’m sorry”

“Sammy, yes I do wear diapers sometimes” Jake whispered, “but we will talk about that when we get back on the road, I will come sit back there with you”

As promised, Jake laid it all out for Sammy, that sometimes people who don’t need diapers wear them as well. Sammy asked Jake if that was why some of his friends tried diapers when they came over to our house for a sleepover.  Jake confirmed, yes, that probably was the case as well.

Sammy even asked Jake if he had a baby room too.  Which jake again replied that yes he did.  Sammy guessed that it was the room at Aunt Sharon’s that was always locked.

We made it to the train station about noon on Monday the 19^th , so we got all our stuff situated.  Stuff we were taking on the train with us, stuff that could be left in the van.

We all got out while Jake took the honors of loading the van on the train, with the strict instructions that if he scratched my van, I would kill him.

Normally when it was just Jackie and I we would have to have Sammy sleep with one of us in the sleeper berth, but since we had Jake this time, he would stay with Jake in his roomette down the hall.

The Red Caps showed up to get our bags, and tickets and said that they would get our luggage to our cars, and we could board whenever.

Sammy made it clear that he wanted to board the train ASAP, as he needed changed.  Jake said he would take Sammy aboard and get him changed, and we would get settled in our room and meet in the lounge car.

Come to find out the reason Jake was so anxious to get aboard is that he needed to change too.  When they came out of their sleeper, the car steward was there to see if they had any trash.  Sure enough two dirty diapers.

The steward kinda looked at the diapers, for Sammy one might not think anything of a diaper, but Jake was kind of the exception.

“Hello my name is James, I will be your cabin steward, if there is anything else you need.  Would you like me to leave you a few small trash bags for your… umm…”

“diapers!” Sammy spoke up

“Uh yes, diapers” James spoke, kind of taken aback

“Sorry he is just used to calling them what they are around the house.  Do you also have the handicapped room at the end of the car as well” Jake asked

“why yes sir I do, do you know them?” James asked

“Yes, that is my cousin and his wife.  This is their son.  They likely will need a few spare tash bags as well” Jake said

“I will see to that sir.  The conductor is having pre-trip reception in the lounge car, I think that is where the couple from up front went.  Now young man, don’t eat too much candy, cause dinner is at 6 pm in the dining car” James said to Sammy

We all met at the lounge car, had some drinks and snacks, we watched as the train slowly crept forward and we were on our way.  Sammy sat next to the window, totally mesmerized at the sights he was seeing.  We then went to dinner, which is always good food and service.  We then went back to the lounge car for a bit as the sun set.

James had found us in the lounge car and asked if we wanted our rooms made up for the night, we told him we did, he left and came back 20 minutes later to let us know that they were ready.  We then headed back to our sleeper cars, which James had made up.  I found my berth had a waterproof cover on it; Jake and Sammy found theirs the same way.  Jake got Sammy changed and in hi PJ’s.  I heard the door open down the way and somebody running down the hallway crinkling all the way.  Daddy this train ride is so cool, Mr. James left me a coloring book and some crayons, and some juice boxes.

I read Sammy a bedtime story and then told him to head back to his room where jake would tuck him in.  As he opened the door, James our car attendant asked if there was anything we needed, and said he would make sure that Sammy made it back to his room.

The Tuesday morning we woke at 7am, got changed and made our 7:30 am breakfast reservation and then it was back to the sleeper cars which had been converted back to normal seats and all the dirty diapers and trash gone.  As we de-trained, I slipped James $40 for taking such good care of us and let him know when we would be back again.  He said that he would likely be our cabin attendant.

We got off the train and out to the van, where it was pulled off the train for us and in a handicapped spot.  We called my mom and dad to tell them that we made it fine and would be there within the hour.

Sammy was excited to see his Grandma and Grandpa very much.  He was also excited for the trip that we had planned to Disney World, and all the other parks; and the chance to sleep in the new crib that Grandpa built for him, and the new clothes that Grandma always had for him.

Jake would be going to the park as well, but he was going for a job interview, which he hoped to get.  It was not a well paying job, just a entry level computer repair tech.  Which likely meant repairing PC’s and POS terminals, network lines and parts on the vast amount of technology that the park had, but it was a foot in the door.

The deal was that if Jake got the job, he was going to stay in our trailer and keep it maintained, which would infact save me the money of having to have the grass mowed and other things that must be done, or else we would be fined by the homeowners association.

Little did my wife know, but I had sent some portfolios to designers as well, including Disney, Universal Studios, and some other places in Orlando.  While I had not heard anything back, I was ever hopeful. I also had a bead on a small sign shop that was looking to sell.

Sammy was very surprised to see his room at the trailer. It had a large wooden crib, a boarder of little toddler boy items (bats, balls, rubber duckies, toy boats and trains), and the crib had a bumper rail with my favorite, and Sammy’s too,  Pooh.

Mom had told me he would be more surprised come Christmas, as she had been busy spoiling her only grandson.

“daddy can I get changed and can we go to Disney” he whined.

“we are going tomorrow, we need to unpack everything and I’m sure that your grandparents would like to visit with you, your mom and I” I said

“Aww ok dad, but I do need changed, I think I’m messy” Sammy said

Around this time Jackie caught the look on Jake’s face as well; just to embarrass him Jackie said “I bet I know some other little boy or boys he need a change as well”

Jake got red faced, but Jackie assured him she was only playing with him “It’s ok Jakey, babies mess their diapers all the time.  Go in the master bathroom and get changed, there are diapers in the closet in the bathroom”

She then pointed to me and Sammy “OK, sammy I will meet you in your room, I’m gonna take care of daddy first.” As she pointed to our bedroom and proceeded to diaper me up in one of my cloth diapers like I use at home.  Sammy was next on her list.

I was waiting in the living room when Jake came out of the bathroom in nothing but a diaper, with his clothes wadded up.  I knew he was not that proficient at changing messy diapers, so I knew what he had done…….

“you better have washed that poop out of them clothes before you put them in my washer” I said just to embarrass him a little more.

He quickly threw the clothes in the washer and crinkled towards the guest bedroom just as Sammy came out of his room in a onsie and shortalls.  “Jakey has baby prints on his diapers” Sammy said smiling

“And so do you too” Jake said as he reached down and tickled Sammy merciously

“Stooooppppp, you gonna make me pee” Sammy giggled

“You’ll still gonna pee yourself no matter if I tickle you or not” Jake giggled as well.

“OK you two, Jake go get some clothes on, Sammy, go take this to your grandma next door” Jackie raised her voice. After Sammy left, Jackie asked Jake “Are you planning on going to your job interview diapered”

“Do you think I should take it off?” Jake inquired

“That is up to you, just wear something that covers it, and be prepared to explain it if somebody notices” Jackie said.

Jake said that he understood, but if he was going to be moving down here, he wanted to be able to wear when he wants to. Jake got dressed in a short sleeve dress shirt, tie, and some dress pants. I could tell he was diapered, but that was because I knew he was. Soon he was off to his interview.

Jackie, Sammy and I hung out around the trailer park, Sammy went for a ride on the golf cart with grandpa as the rest of us sat on the patio drinking iced tea and talking about life in ohio, Sammy, Jake and how Mom and Aunt Sharon’s business was going.  Along with dad’s business.

An couple hours passed and Dad was not back yet.  Jackie was wondering where they were.  Mom assured her that they were fine and probably around the park somewhere visiting.

A few hours later I heard giggling and the golf cart horn…. Here they come!! Jake was soon to follow with news about his interview.

“I think it went good, they liked my resume and my eagerness.  They said that they don’t normally see people wanting to apply for work this close to college.

I took some tests on how to repair things and the physics stuff behind the robots and systems.  They said that they were impressed, and said they would probably call me back after Christmas with a decision.”

“That is awesome, I sure hope you get it.” I just finished saying it as my cell phone rang “Hello This Jayson Ross, uh huh, really, well I am down in the area for the holidays, sure I could find time for that.  Yep I got my portfolio and my files with me, ok, I will see you then”

As I hung up the phone all eyes were on me “Who was that?” Jackie asked

“It was Universal Studios, they are wanting to see some more of my work, and do an interview for a position for a freelance graphic designer.

They just bought a small waterpark in Sanford, and need to do all new signage. They also said that they would have more work for me at all their parks, and best of all I could be based out of here for 80% of the time” I said  “They want me to stop by tomorrow morning”

“Umm Honey, do they know about your limitations” Jackie asked, remembering the time when I had a client who got all awkward about me being in a wheelchair, they ultimately took my proofs and never called me back.

“Yes, when I sent my portfolio to them I included an About Me section.  I explained that I was a paraplegic, and that my limitations are physical, not creative or mental.

They also liked my experience with being able to do my own vinyl.  They have people who would be able to assist with the stuff I cannot do. I am mainly creating the artwork, and possibly installing it, but they have their own installers too”

That night I was a nervous wreck, I could not sleep.  I wanted to do good on my interview, and wanted to be a good dad and not drag my family across the country just on a whim.

Wednesday morning came way too early, an 8:00 am interview was a little too early for my taste, I got up, got myself changed on my own, got a few bottles of water and took my pills and loaded the van up with my stuff I needed for the interview.

The interview went great, I met the current shop that they had, much of the equipment needed to be updated, which I was promised would be done when they hire somebody.  I then showed them my work, and even showed them some technique on getting the best results when putting the vinyl onto sign material like painted wood.

We had to discuss what limitations I had and what accommodations I would need. They said that they had 2 more interviews, but would call before Christmas.

Two days later I got a call and great news; I had gotten the job.  I also had better news on the small sign shop that I was looking to buy out too, but I kept it quiet till Christmas.  Jake meanwhile got his news, he had been hired, but it was only 3 days a week, and the mood was less than cheerful.

Jake was worried, that with only working part-time, he would not be able to afford to live in Florida.  I had told him that it may be tough, but I bet he could get job doing design work down here, or work in a sign shop…. Little did he know.

Saturday night Aunt Sharon finally joined us, as she was not able to get away from her part time job till Christmas eve.

The whole family gathered in mom and dads lanai and dad read “The Night Before Christmas”, Jake and Sammy both were in their footed sleepers, almost like brothers, despite the age difference of Sammy being 8 and Jake being 23.

Next morning was great, Jake got some more clothes for his new job, which allowed his diapers to be concealed better, and were more suited for the climate of florida.  Sammy got some more diapers, onsies, and a few more plushies.

Then I dropped the bomb, and I don’t mean messing my diapers. “I got an announcement” I spoke up  “as you all know I want to get the heck out of Ohio in the winter….

Well I got a new job that starts the 1^st of February, I signed a deal to do freelance work for Universal Studios.  They bought the old WaterMania and are re-opening it up; they need all new signs, and I also bought out SignDesign in Sanford, and will be moving the business down here”

My wife about fell over, Jake was happy, and Sammy was estatic.

“When did you find out?” My wife asked me.

“Friday, I figured I would keep it hush hush.” I said sheepishly

“How are we going to do the housing situation.  With Jake living here, and us too, it is going to be cramped in this little trailer.  What are we going to do with the house in Ohio too?”  Jackie asked, kinda getting annoyed at me.

Now that I think about it, I might have made a rash choice and not thought this all out.

“I don’t know, but we have time to work it out.  February is when I start the job, but it will involve some traveling and training and such, and I don’t want to up-root Sammy till he is out of school for the year.” I said  “Also Jake, remember when I said that you could make it down here, and that a sign shop would probably need a designer, well I know a certain new business owner who needs some employees”

Chapter 22 – we’ve come a long way baby

I think it would be best to catch you up to what all had been happening in our lives besides tons of diaper changes. It is now summer 2005

I graduated with a Bachelors degree in Graphic Design and IT in 2004.  It took me some time, cause I would take a quarter off here and there.

Shortly before we adopted Sammy, I built a home office to work freelance for clients who wanted design work done.  I was working for myself.  I would do the design work, show it to the clients, who would then have me get the items created like signs, printed material or whatever.  I then had a little out-building built to become my shop which I used to venture into the sign business, mainly just doing vinyl lettering and artwork.  I still had to farm anything that was an installation too big out to other shops, and in turn, they sent some small sized jobs my way.  I also ventured out into doing AB prints for nurseries.  I would have the client sent the measurements and what they wanted and I would send them the vinyl and instructions to install it.  The work kept me busy, but lots of times I was just Mr. Mom.  Doing the laundry, dishes, room parent at school, chaperone for field trips and stuff.

Jackie by now had gotten her RN, and was finishing up her Masters of Nursing, while working at the hospital, as well as being mom to Sammy, and aide to me when she had the time.

Sammy was getting ready to head into the 4^th grade, and quite popular in his class cause he was so outgoing, never one to let his problems slow him down, even though they did.

Mom and Dad still traveled in the RV much of the winter in the south, and usually by spring time so they could get out of the tourist areas in the south, and see family.  We would go down to see them in the winter when Sammy was on break, but when you have to coordinate 2 adults and a child’s schedule, it can be very much. Mom and dad found a nice price on a park model camper, and had it right next to their’s at the RV park.

Forever a Toddler is still keeping Dad busy doing the woodworking for clients of all ages.  He rents a little industrial space where he had most of his operation.  He has several models of cribs and two sizes of each.  Basically he makes them, crates them and ships them out.  In-fact he did make Sammy a crib for the trailer in Florida.

When we’re in Florida, that is the one time when Sammy wants to just go toddler, cause nobody from up in ohio knows him down there.

Mom is still sewing up diapers for babies big and little, along with all the other items that her and Aunt Sharon make.  The orders come in through email and if we have them in Ohio, I pick and ship them.  If not, I message down to mom in Florida and she will take the order and ship from there.

Sadly my grandmother passed in late 2004 suddenly, but I can tell you she loved doing all that she did right up to the end.  Most of all she loved her grandkids and great grandson too along with all the kids that they sewed diapers for that would send thank you cards.

Aunt Sharon still lives across the street as well, when mom and dad fly up they stay there for the weekend.  Jake went off to college in 2001, and graduates this summer.  He will join the league of techno-nerds.  He majored in IT and graphic design.  He says that he is going to move to Florida with mom and dad and try to get on at one of the theme parks down there.

With the internet and all, business started booming, and soon enough I was getting jobs from all over the place.  Some wanted us to move to places like seattle, LA, Texas, New York City; all of which I turned down, I did not want to up-root my family, nor move to those places.

One night after we had put Sammy to bed,  Jackie asked me why I was turning down all those great offers?  “I Just don’t want to uproot you from your job, and Sammy from a school that he has friends at, plus those cities just don’t appeal to me.  I figure that if I am such demand, that I should be able to pick where I would like to be”

“And just where would that be baby Jay” She said.  Knowing that she called me baby Jay, she was trying to say I was being a big baby about not wanting to move. I think she also knew the answer too.

“Well I would love to be able to go south with mom and dad, ya know Orlando area” I said sheepishly.

“Well when the right offer comes along, we will talk, but keep in mind, that the longer you wait, the more chance you take of not getting a better offer.” She was right, I knew it.

I hoped that perfect offer would have came before the cold season of 2005, but it didn’t.

My original lift van took a crap in late October, so we had to buy a new one, and I made sure it had all the amenities that I needed, along with what the wife wanted as well.

With Christmas a few months away I had to get planning on our trip to mom and dad’s.

When you have to travel with your own vehicle, and on trains and planes, you have to plan ahead when you are handicapped.  I had already made sure that the new van was not too tall to take through the drive-thru, or on the Auto Train, we just made it too, good thing I am short and can use the stock roof, plus I got the van lowered a few inches as well.

Chapter 21 –  Making friends

Summer of 2004

Don’t get me wrong, I like having fun and playing with my son, but he needed to get some friends of his own too; he was also bored with hanging with dad all day while I worked.

Luckily one of his classmates in 3^rd grade, Justin became good friends with Sam, which none of the other kids in his class ever bothered to be-friend Sam.  They would play in the backyard, where I would look out the window in my office and be able to keep an eye on them.  Justin’s mom would come pick him up after a few hours.

One day Sam came running into my office “dad can I have a sleepover, I want Justin to spend the night, can he dad, huh can he, oh please daddy please”

“Ok son, just calm down, we will discuss it with your mother first, then we can discuss it with Justin’s mom and Dad.” I said, thinking of all the reasons why a sleepover could go bad.  Would Justin be comfortable with Sam being in diapers, did Samuel say something about the baby room, did he even ask Justin.

I called Jackie at lunch “Hey hun, Sam wants to have Justin over for a sleepover, what are your thoughts?”  Like any other good mother, she said that she would be fine with a sleepover, and told me to talk to Justin’s mom about it when she came by to pick him up.

That day when Justin’s mom came over to pick him up we talked and she seemed kinda off about the idea of a sleepover.  “Is there a problem with Justin sleeping over,  he is one of Sam’s only friends, and it would mean a lot for him to have friends”

“Well honestly Justin has never really stayed away from home before…. He kinda has a little problem at night….” She trailed off.

“So he is a bedwetter?” I asked

She blushed and nodded her head, “Yes, he is”

“If that’s the case, that is not a problem, we can handle that” I said

“He’s just so embarrassed about it, and I don’t know what to do about it, he refuses to wear anything, we bought him those goodnites things, but they are too big, and he refuses to wear pull-ups or diapers.  So he has a plastic sheet on the bed, and I am washing sheets daily.” She continued  “So, I wouldn’t want to make anybody else have to deal with that”

“It is not a problem, I do laundry daily, we use cloth diapers around here, and all the beds are protected, even mine” I gave a chuckle.  “If he has an accident, or wants to come home, I will be more than happy to take him home”

“Hey,  would you mind telling me where you get the diapers that Sammy uses, I’d like to see if Justin would try to wear something when he comes over” She asked sheepishly

“Sure, well the disposables we get from a place out west, we get them by the case.  The cloth diapers are made by my mom, aunt and grandma, they are great at making them.  I would be more than happy to give you some of the disposables and loan you some of the cloth diapers.” I said as the boys kept playing on the swingset.  “Come inside and I’ll fix ya up with some supplies”

I took Justin’s mom inside to the laundry room and got her some diapers and showed her how the cloth diapers work, and then they were off.  The sleepover was set for that Friday night, Sammy was so excited that he barely slept Thursday night.

Friday came and around noon Justin’s mom dropped him off “OK, boys, go play in the backyard while I talk to Justin’s mom.” As the boys ran off I asked “So how did the diapers work I sent home?”

“Well the first night was a little rough, I had to tell him that he had to either try them, or he would not be able to sleep over, that worked!  He tried the disposables the first night, and the cloth ones the next night.  I need to get with your aunt to get some more made.  He honestly said that he was happy that the bed was not wet in the morning, so I think we have a solution”

Justin’s mom left shortly after our conversation and I ventured to the backyard to see what they boys were up to, just pure fun.

That night I sent the boys off to get showers and then back to Sammy’s room.  Justin walked in right as I got Sammy diapered up and was grabbing a onsie for him.  “give me just a moment Justin, and I will get you ready for bed too”

“Mr. Ross, are you going to diaper me too?” he asked, just now realizing that his mom was not there to get him ready.

“Yes, just hop up here” I patted the changing table, and quickly diapered him up for the night.

“mr ross what kind of shirt is Sammy wearing?” Justin asked inquisitively

“well Justin, that is a onsie, it is a shirt that does not come untucked, and it holds the diaper close to you.  Would you like to wear one too?”  He nodded yes, so I put one on him.  “OK, if you two want to come out to the living room, we can watch the Cars movie”

The boys got comfortable on the sofa and I started the movie and then went to the kitchen to pop some popcorn and get some drinks for the boys, me and the wife. Juice for me and the boys, and a glass of wine for my wife.  She can drink, I cannot.

“Here you go boys”, as I passed them bowls of popcorn, and then came around the couch and passed out the drinks.

As I transferred over to the couch. Sammy crawled up in my lap and raised his drink, I looked over at Justin and realized what I did.  I am so used to giving Sammy a sippy cup, and had given one to Justin as well.

“umm Mr Ross, what is this?” Justin asked as he looked at the sippy cup.

“It’s just juice, it tastes good, jut put it in your mouth like this and suck on it like a straw” Sammy said as he snuggled close to me and drank his juice.

“you can sit next to me on the other side if you want to Justin” I said and Justin climbed over towards me on the sofa and lay against me like Sammy.  There I sat with two little good boys on either side of me.  Neither made it to the end of the movie.  Jackie and I took the boys to bed and changed diapers.  Then it was off to bed for me too.

The next morning, I got up with Jackie and went to the kitchen and fixed breakfast for everyone.  Waffles, eggs, bacon and sausage, yummy.  Right about when everything was done, Jackie slipped off to Sammy’s bedroom and came back with two very sleepy and wet little boys, and we had breakfast.

About halfway through I saw Justin start squirming, knowing what this meant I told him “Justin, it is ok if you use the diaper when you are awake, that’s what they are for” A minute later I saw a distant look on Justin’s face and then smelled that somebody made a load in their diaper, with 3 of us in diapers it could have been any of us.  We just carried on like this was normal, which it was. Usually diapers are not changed till after breakfast.

After we all were done eating, Jackie and I ushered the boys into the bedroom for diaper changes.  We had two wet and messy boys.

Halfway through changing Justin, I went to grab him some clothes, he asked “can I wear another diaper” to which I replied “sure, it is no problem” and left it at that.

Justin would not be the first boy at our house that wore diapers.  After that weekend, Sammy had many other friends including Justin who spent the night. Suprizing enough, there were a good number of bedwetters in the group, some that were not bedwetters, and one kid that was incontinent like Sammy.  Many of the boys who were not incontinent also ended up in diapers “just to try them”

Chapter 20 – two babies in the house

Jackie now had 2 people to change each day.  The level of Sam’s spina bifida effected his bowels and bladder, and causes him to have problems walking long distances, and he does have a noticeable wobble when he walks.  He had asked early on if I too had to wear diapers, and I was honest with him that I did have to wear diapers too. I also told him how I ended up in a wheelchair.  We had decided to keep him in the school district that he was currently going to for that year, and then move him to the one near our house.

His first week of the new school in the the fall of 2003 was rough.  He has not yet mastered the art of changing himself, so he needed help; which the school had to find somebody, since they did not have a full-time nurse there.  We made sure a week before school started that they had somebody, and had taken a stock of diapers and supplies into them.

One day during the second week, I got a call from the school saying that Sam was in the nurses office and wanted to come home.  I got to the school and found Sam in the nurses’ office; he obviously had been crying.  “Hey bud, what’s wrong?”

“I had a accident, and it was stinky, everybody laughed at me.  Daddy, I don’t want to go back” He said crying again.

Obviously his teacher needed to do a better job of controlling the classroom.

“aww buddy, I’m sorry you had an accident, they do happen, but daddy and mommy will try to make them not happen much.  Maybe we could explain to your classmates why it happened, and that you don’t have control.” He just wanted to go home and be with daddy.

That day I gave in and let him go home for the day, after I talked to his teacher and the principal, and we both planned to go back the next day.  The next morning came and Sam did not want to go, but after plenty of re-assuring I got him ready for school.

The plan was to take him into school, and I was going to wait for awhile till his teacher was ready for me to come in.  As soon as I dropped him off at school, he went in.  I was a few minutes behind cause I had to get out of the drivers seat to my chair.

By the time I got to his class room, I could hear a few kids laughing and going “Sam wears diapers like a baby”  I could hear the teacher trying to quiet the class down.  I rolled into the room and the teasing stopped.  I guess some of these kids never saw somebody in a wheelchair before.

“Class, we have a special guest this morning. This is Mr. Ross, Sam’s dad.  He wants to talk to you all about how some people are different, and that it is not nice to tease them”  The teacher said

“Good morning, my name is Mr. Ross, but you can call be Jayson.  I bet you are wondering why I use this chair, well that is because my legs don’t work.  I got hurt really bad when I was younger and now my legs can’t work.  That makes me different, do any of you have anything that makes you different?”  A kid put his hand up and talked about his glasses “That’s right, glasses make you different.  But being different is not bad, or something to be ashamed of, or something to tease somebody for; that is not nice.”

One little kid put his hand up and said “Sam wears diapers, and my mom said that diapers are for babies. Does that mean that Sam is a baby since he wears diapers”

“Well yes, babies do wear diapers, but diapers come in all sizes, and not just babies have to wear diapers.  A baby wears a diaper cause they don’t know when they need to go to the bathroom; they have not learned what it feels like when they need to go.  Those feelings happen because of nerves, but sometimes, when we are born, or when we’ve gotten hurt, especially on our back, these nerves are broken and don’t work.  When that happens the person can’t feel things that happen.  Like I cannot feel when somebody touches my leg, or if I were to bang my knee on a table leg.  Sam was born with some nerves in his back broken, so he cannot feel when he needs to go to the bathroom, so that is why he has to wear a diaper.” I continued

“Differences come in many different ways, some people are blind and cannot see things, others are deaf, and cannot hear things, some people are born not able to walk, some cannot talk.  They all make the best of what they can do, not what they can’t”

I should have anticipated this next one, I really should have, this little kid Tyler had a question…. “Mr Jayson, since you can’t walk cause your back was hurt, do you wear diapers”  This kid must be on the fast track for the gifted program.

My face got a little red, but I answered honestly;  “yes, Tyler, I do have to wear diapers”

I think the teacher just spit coffee through her nose. “ok, class, are there any more questions? Mr Ross has to be going”

That was the last Sam told me about teasing.

During the first year or so that we had Sam, I had kept the baby room on the down-low. We had a lock on the door already.  I did not want him to know about it; it was rough enough him knowing that his dad was a diaper-wearer as well.

Eventually somehow he found out about the nursery; somebody left the door unlocked. I tried to explain it the best that I could to a 7-8 year old.

The baby room, was my undoing…  one day I took him to the office with me and he blurted out “my daddy sleeps in a crib in a baby room”  My clients looked at me.  I looked at Sam,  “well I guess somebody needs to learn what a secret is”  If looks could kill, he’d of been dead.

After explaining to my client that I was not some mentally deranged person, and coming clean about how I lived for the last 8+ years, they already knew I had to wear diapers, I mean it is hard to hide it sometimes.

That night when Jackie got home we had a laugh “well  it is your fault, you told him.  I said you should have stopped the crib and baby thing when we adopted him.  At least till he was older.” Jackie said

“I know, it is my fault. I am telling you the look on the boss’s face was amazing, where was the camera when I needed it”

Sam’s next question was not one I wanted to hear, but figured it would happen…

“dad, can I have a crib and a baby room too”  Granted he still had a toddler bed, cause he was small, with rails on it, so it was not far removed from a crib.

I mean what the hell am I supposed to say!!  “mommy and I will have to think about that”  well that shall buy me some time.  Jackie was none too keen on the idea, as neither was I.

I wanted him to grow up with as normal of a life as he could.  We mulled it over for the next two days.  Trying to figure out what to do.  We decided that if he really wanted a crib, we would allow him to use the one in the baby room; but his use of it would be limited, to the weekends, and special times. He already had other baby things like sippy cups, a changing table still, and my aunt and mom were still doing the clothing, so he always had onsies and sleepers.

I had not used the baby room that much in the last few years, because it would have been hard to explain why daddy and mommy didn’t share a room.

We left his bed still up the way it was, and hopefully using the crib in the baby room would hold his want for a crib of his own off for at least a year, maybe he will outgrow it. Thank God that he decided after a few times of sleeping in the baby room, that he did not like it.

After that summer, things changed.  We expanded the house a little more, and made a larger bedroom in the basement, and Jackie moved in with My Parents and I.  I was able to take care of myself in every way, though it was harder.  I could change my diapers, but it would take me 3 times as long as it would take mom or Jackie to do it.  I would have to roll side to side, and they would just roll my butt up on my back like you would change a regular baby.

On the times when Jackie was home, she would take care of me and other times it was mom or dad.  I got more into the baby life; mainly cause Jackie allowed me to.  At home with her, I was her little Jay.

Life went like that for about 3 years, when I was 23. At that time my parents were both to the point in their jobs that they could retire, and they wanted to get on with that.  I was used to mom being around the house along with either grandma (who had moved closer) or Aunt Sharon from across the street every day, but dad being around the house….  The first week I decided, He’s got to go!!

My mom decided that my Grandma and Aunt Sharon could handle the sewing business and they moved the workshop to Aunt Sharon’s across the street.  Mom and dad bought an RV (they got a wheelchair lift also, but would not let me drive), and their plan was to travel around the country stopping off at RV parks and campgrounds along the way.

Mom, dad and Jackie all took classes to learn how to drive that thing, but dad refused to get hand controls so I could drive, oh well.  Mom and dad went out for a month, calling and checking in about every other day.

I got my first cell phone, big ugly and clunky, but I was able to keep in touch with Jackie and mom and dad.  I got a job as a part time web designer and graphics layout person at a local tech company.  Jackie’s and my schedules worked out great too.

She would get me up and changed and cleaned up in the morning and then dressed for work,  while I was making breakfast she would get ready for work, then I would take her to work, and then go to my job.  We coordinated our lunches, so that I would meet her at the hospital for lunch.  The food is pretty good, as long as you are not a patient, LOL.  I always took a 2 hour lunch, since I only worked 6 hours a day anyways.  I worked 8 to 11 then 1 to 4, sometimes 5.

For Christmas that year I had saved up enough money to get some nice presents for Jackie and my parents and myself…  I got myself a new laptop, and got one for mom and dad too.  For Jackie I got her and I a vacation getaway in the great smoky mountains.  I had checked the place out and it was going to be great.  Mom and Dad pulled the van down behind the RV and we rode in the RV on the way down.

As a surprise after our trip mom and dad got us all a vacation to Disney world.  Mom and dad had gotten a place at a resort RV park where the Disney shuttle would pick us up at each day and we would go to the parks.  We got there early in the morning, after dad setup the RV we went to IHOP for breakfast.  When we came back there was a camper next to our’s  “oh just great, renters” dad said

“renters?” I asked

“yeah these people rent RV’s and think they know what they are doing and are usually not living the RV’ers code, like keeping quiet after certain hours.  Well let’s go welcome them”  We went to the RV next door and dad knocked on the door; and who should appear, but a 18 year old Jake in a onsie and diaper.

“ha ha surprised ya” Jake said while putting some shorts on. “that was all a surprise to you, we all had kept it hidden from you, happy 24^th  birthday jay”

“What do you mean you been keeping this all hidden?” I asked

“Well for the last month and a half, we  all have been planning behind your back.  I know that for the last year or two you wanted to go to Disney and the other parks.” Mom said

That week was so fun, Jake decided to go baby that week and used a large stroller, myself in my powered chariot.  The staff at Disney made sure that 2 diapered boys had all they needed.  They had nice special needs changing rooms, and we saw several other kids in diapers. We got to the front of lines for the rides.  I didn’t want that week to end.

Jackie and I went back home and I worked on my next surprise for her for Valentines day….  I got a ring and asked for her hand in marriage.  We were married that summer with just our families there.  Jake stood up with me as my Best Man.

Jake went off to college that fall, he decided to be a ‘big boy’ at college, but I still saw the diaper pail being emptied out into the outdoor garbage Sunday night from time to time.

Next stop, kids.  We tried for sometime, but I was not able to “get it up” so we tried the artificial insemination route, but that too failed.  In early 2002, we decided to not try anymore.   Instead we were going to try to adopt.  Hitting every road block due to my disability (that is why there is a problem with kids needing adopted).  We went back and forth for about 6 months, and it was causing my wife horrible torment, cause we both wanted a child very badly.

One day shortly after Halloween in 2002, I was watching the news and they were talking about older children needing a good home.  We had been trying to adopt an infant, but the thought of an older child was fine as well.  We contacted the agency, and met a 7 year old who had spina bifida.  Samuel  had been bounced around foster care for the last 5 years, his mother turned to drugs shortly after he was born, and had lost all parental rights.

He came to Thanksgiving that year, and shortly before Christmas, we got him as a foster kid.  It took about 6 months, but we did legally adopt Sam. I had used an old friend from high school, Matt to help with the legal legwork, in trade for my IT and web services.

I knew that Sam had a rough time so far in life, and he would have issues with other kids, due to his need of diapers, and being in a wheelchair sometimes too.  I was determined to make sure his life was the best I could do.  We got him into physical therapy, occupational therapy, and to get new  braces, crutches and a wheelchair custom made for him, and not hand-me-downs.

I helped him with his therapy, we would work out together when he did not have appointments, and there were a lot of appointments that we had to catch up on. We quickly made up for lost therapy time, and it allowed me to be able to grow a bond with him.

Chapter 18 – Free at last from that dang back brace!

One day in late September, Jackie came over right after work and Jake and I were in the basement playing Video games, which is what we usually do when he gets home from school, or is not at school “oh boy there Jay, you’re a stinky little boy”

“Not I, my shit don’t stink!” I said

“OK, then it must be Jake” Jackie said

Jake started blushing and trying to act all cool  “what”

“come on jake I’ll change your diaper.  We need to get packed up for going to Kings Island”  Jackie walked away guiding Jake with one hand and pinching her nose for dramatics with the other.

The kings island trip was kind of like a gift to me, I had finally been cleared by the doctors to take my big back brace off all the time. They said I could go to an amusement park, and that my back should handle most of the rides, but were not recommending it.  I was told to stay off rides that might jerk me hard side to side.

“how did you know I had a diaper on?”  Jake asked  “Jay told you didn’t he”  He was getting mad, cause the diaper thing was a private thing to him; me too to a lesser extent.

“No Jacob, I can tell” This worried Jake cause he thought nobody could tell he wore them  “mainly cause I am used to seeing kids and people in diapers and I know what to look for.  Plus I have been seeing different diapers in the diaper pail too”

“You don’t think it is wrong?  I mean I actually have a baby room like Jay does at my house”

“absolutely not, what you do that makes you happy is good.  You are not hurting anybody.  OK, All done, now go send Jay in”  she got me in her claws and diapered me up; we loaded the van and we were off. Jake was diapered up the whole way down, and Jackie informed him that he would wear to the park as well.  She would have let him be a big boy if he had protested (I think).

We stayed at the Great Wolf Lodge, they had a wonderful tree house suite, luckily I was able to get around the suite too.   The next morning we went to the park and had a blast.

“Hey I guess this chair does have some advantages after all” I commented after getting to the head of the line for a ride. I was really scared, cause with no ability to move my legs, would they just go flailing about?  I found out that they secure my legs to the ride if it is one where they might go flailing about, cause they can twist and turn directions they should not turn.

Jackie had fun changing diapers, though we did not care for where it was done at.  The only place where I could be changed that Jackie could go was the bathroom in the Daycare center at the park.

By about 7pm I was getting that BEEP BEEP BEEP from my chair. “dang it!”

“What?” Jackie asked

“Low battery” Jake said, “lets find a show and sit down, maybe he can get a jumpstart.  We found a ice show in the theater and Jackie got me plugged in for that hour.

“Ok that was a little bit better, that should buy us an hour or so.  Unless you want to go get my manual chair and push me.” I said to Jackie

“why don’t we just relax, see one of the night shows, you are not the one who has been walking around all day”

“Ok, I am getting tired too” I said as we stopped off along side the large fountain area and I plugged in at a light pole.  I was awoken from my little catnap by a large boom.  I am certain I jumped so much that I probably pissed and shit myself.

Jackie and Jake were laughing at me “aww did the boom scare the little baby” Jake said

“Hey watch who you call a baby, I seem to recall changing somebody’s poopy diaper today” Jackie said

“Hey, where did you get those at?” Pointing to the souvenirs

“we left you sleeping here and ran into the store.  Matt from town saw us here and said we could leave you and he would watch you” Jackie said “Matt goes to UC, he is a law student”

“that’s cool, what you get me?”

“Nothing” Jake said and stuck his tongue out

“No fair”, I said pouting; knowing full well they got me something.  They had gotten me a big teddy bear that said Kings Island  “OK, lets get going, I am tired, probably need to be changed too.

I barely remember much after I was laid on the bed and Jackie started changing my diaper.  That night I had a dream again about the crash, and woke up crying like a baby; but Jackie was there to comfort me.

The next day, Jackie took the lead and claimed herself “DRIVER”.  I mean how can I race her to the van, plus she hates me driving like a little ol lady.  We went to the outlet mall in Jeffersonville, she got some clothes for herself and jake and I went shopping, but did not find much.  It is hard for me to shop for clothes, I mean I can’t very well tell how something fits when I am sitting down.  I got some printed shirts, some sunglasses.  I thought Jake was going to die when I rolled to the underwear section and said “what are these?  They sure are not absorbent like our diapers.”   The girl behind the counter just about died laughing

“I’m so sorry, just having a little fun, hey sometimes ya gotta poke fun at yourself.  I’m a little wound up, too much sugar, not enough activity to burn it off”

She smiled and said “I guess so. So if I might ask, did you say you wear diapers?”

“yeah, I was in a car accident over a year ago, that is what landed me in this wonderful ride”

“I’m so sorry for laughing.  It must be tough for that to happen”

“eh, yeah it was tough to get used to, but as they say for every door that closes a new one opens up; you just gotta hope it is an automatic door.  I take each day as another gift, cause you never know when the giving stops.  If it were not for my accident, I would have never met my Girlfriend, or done a lot of things.”   Just about then Jackie found us, and we paid and left

“OK, where to next?” Jackie asked

“Yellow Springs”  I said  I wanted to go through some of the shops, if I could.  That town is not all the most accessible place, but most of it is.  I decided to go with the manual chair cause it is easier to get up over curbs.  The only store I could not go into was the one I wanted to.  So as Jackie and Jake were  coming to the door with stuff, the big burly guy who was running the shop came out.

“do you want to come in, you may be able to come in the back door”  He said.

I rolled around to the back and he had a stockroom door with a metal ramp.  Thank God I could get through the stock room.  I got a hemp necklace, some incense.  Jackie brought me a few air fresheners…. I smelled them, baby powder scent, LOL.

Soon enough we were off to the whole reason anybody goes to Yellow Springs, Youngs Dairy.  Jackie was gonna have a fun mess to clean up from this ice cream.  I got the largest sundae that they make and ate it all.  Good thing Jackie brought one of the huge baby bibs for me, cause I was a mess.

“Oh my god! How can you put all that ice cream away?” Jackie said disgusted at me

“it’s so yummy, want some?”  She declined.  After I finished, she came up behind me and was messing around in the bag….  She pulled out a baby wipe and reached around and was cleaning my face off like a toddler, then she did my hands.  Thank god we were not in the dining room inside!

“There ! Mommy’s little boy is all cleaned up now” and she kissed me on the cheek

That weekend started a new level in our relationship,  It was never a sexual relationship, cause sadly when the feeling went away, so did “mr happy” standing at attention.  The best way to describe it was Jackie was my mommy as the Adult baby community called it.  I think she liked it, being an only child, and never having little brothers and sisters to take care of, and now that she works at the hospital in the children’s ward.

Chapter 17 – I thought the hard times were over

I am going to speed things up here a bit, cause it all was a blur to me.

After the Christmas of 96, things got into a routine.  Around February of 97 my physical therapy ran out and my therapists no longer came around.  It was really a waste of their time, I could run through my exercises with ease.  My arms were getting very strong.  It was hilarious cause in high school, I had been a runner, and not very big up top; now my muscles in my legs had shrank a bit, not completely cause I did get on the exercise bike that moved them, but now my arms and trunk area were built.

We got the large settlement from the insurance companies, which pretty much set us securely in regards to my medical bills.  I was on total disability, as my doctors agreed that I would not be able to work a normal job due to my injuries.  I started taking college courses in graphic design and IT, which was going well.  With me not needing to juggle school and a job, I was able to devote time to my school work.

Mom, grandma and Aunt Sharon were working making cloth diapers, big baby clothes, or adaptive clothing as they like to call it.  It was onsies, sleepers, overalls with snaps in the crotch and such.

Dad got into woodworking, and had begun to build large baby furniture.  He was building highchairs, wood cribs, changing tables and whatnot; in addition to normal furniture.

They started a company called Forever a Toddler, which I created the website for, as the orders started pouring in.

Myself, I got into freelance graphic design, and game beta testing.  I re-learned how to drive.  Which is different when you cannot hit the gas or brake with your feet.  Dad says I got a lead hand (instead of a lead foot). LOL, one time I got pulled over and the cop asked me to step out of the vehicle.  “it’s going to take a few minutes, I got to transfer out of the seat into my chair”  Yeah that shut him up.  I mean I was seen driving away from a bar at 2AM.  I picked up some friends so they would not have to drive.  I cannot drink at all due to my medications.

We bought a little Honda for mom, and I took the lift van as my ride.

I saw my share of hospitals in 97.  In July, I got a bug bite on the back of my leg and I could not see it, and it was not noticed for a few days, cause when my pants were pulled down for diaper changes it was covered.  By the time it was noticed, I was going into shock and spiking a fever of 104.  The body does drastic things when it needs to communicate pain and you are not listening.  Yeah it was a little embarrassing.  I was at a client’s working showing artwork I had did for them, and I broke out in a sweat (no biggie, I was speaking in front of people), but the seizure that came with the fever sent me flailing around, fell out of my chair, put a knot on my head.  Got taken to the ER, even though I just wanted to go home.  They started to cut my pants and I screamed NO!!!!  pull the inseams.

“what sir” the nurse said

“pull on the inseams, they come apart” I said

“sir we need to get these pants off you, now. We don’t have time to roll you over and get them off without cutting them.”  I sat halfway up and yanked on the inseam and the snaps popped open

“there see, they come all open” I said as I collapsed back down on the gurney, mumbling “cut a $100 pair of pants off me, forget it”

Mom had arrived during that all, and was scared, cause she had never seen me like this before.  She was also trying not to laugh at me complaining about my favorite pants about to get cut off.

I don’t remember much after that, they got me moved to a regular room and were cooling me down and pumping me up on drugs. So there I lay in nothing but a soaked diaper ontop of ice packs to get the fever down; and in walks a former cheerleader from my high school days “hello Jay, heard you gave us a little scare”  It was Jackie Smith the former head cheerleader, she was a year older than I, but we knew each other from high school

“huh, yeah” I said awakening from my day dream and realizing that I was laying in the bed in a soaked diaper.  I tried to sit up to grab some covers but there were none. She saw the diaper and could tell I was embarrassed.

“Nothing to be embarrassed about, you need to wear them.  But it looks like the previous shift could have at least changed you and covered you up before they left.  I am your Nursing assistant for the night, just stopping in to get your vitals, and in your case, change you into something dry.”

She went about her work getting my temp and blood pressure and pulse in both arms and legs (which the doctor insists on when you have paralysis – to make sure you have circulation). Then she turned towards the shelf on the end of the room and grabbed a diaper, wipes, powder and gloves. “ok, lets get you changed”

I looked at the diaper she had in her hand, blushed a little bit at what was about to happen, and informed her “umm Jackie, what you are about to put on me is garbage, it won’t hold worth a darn.  Can you please get in my bag and get one from there, I would feel better with one of them” I said pointing to the backpack on my wheelchair, which my parents must have brought  to me”

She opened the bag and got out one of my diapers and marveled at how thick they were.  “now if we had these, I would not be changing people so often”

She got me changed in no time and since my fever had gone down, removed the ice packs from under me. “can I get some Pajama bottoms and maybe something to wear on top, I don’t really like laying around in just a diaper”  She soon came back with PJ bottoms that looked like they came off the children’s ward.

“these should fit you, you always were on the small size”

“yeah that’s me.  Though I must admit it probably makes it easier for people to care for me.”  We talked for a bit, she was always dating the jocks, when she went off to college for nursing she lost her boyfriend cause he was now a big jock on campus and wanted nothing to do with her.  “Well if you ever want to go out sometime to a movie or dinner, just call me up, here’s my number” I said.  I cannot believe I just tried to pickup the person who just changed my wet and messy diaper.  I have gotten brave in the last year.

“I would love to, I always thought you were nice in high school, just a little geeky, but since college, geeky is neat to me.  I got to get to my other patients, if you need anything hit the buzzer” She said as my parents walked in

“Son you gave us a scare there.  Seems that you got a nasty infection from a bug bite, got into your blood and all.  We are going to have to be more careful about checking your legs and such” dad said

“The client liked your work, and wants you to do more when you get better, which the doctor said should be in a few days.” Mom said

“ugh, I don’t want to be here now, let alone a few days from now” I whined

“oh quit it, you will survive, I got your laptop and a phone cord, and brought your discman and some CD’s also” Mom said, what a savior she was.

I ended up back in the hospital the middle of August, with a bad case of dehydration, I was trying to limit fluids so I did not have to change as much.  Bad Idea – another 2 days in the hospital.

I was seeing Jackie on a semi-regular basis, and it was getting more regular too.  Though she had changed me in the hospital and helped me one time in the van, she had not seen my bedroom.  One evening we had went out of town and I was really tired, so she drove home.   Normally I would drop her off at her house or she would meet me at mine and we would leave without going in the house too much.  Tonight was different.

When we got home, mom was still up, so she met Jackie outside getting me out of the van “he is sleeping like a rock, I think I wore him completely out.  We went shopping at that new mall at polaris and then ate at Red Lobster.  He was dozing off during the end of dinner, so I said I would drive and about 10 minutes after we left I heard him recline back”

“Thank you for taking care of him, let’s get him in the house, have you seen his room” mom asked.  Now if I had been awake I would have stopped that, but I was not and I couldn’t.

“no, he always tries to meet me in the driveway, why is there something he is hiding?”

“well with you two being steady, I think you should know…..” mom trailed off as she was lowering the lift  “isn’t this remote control for his chair awesome, I can just drive him anywhere” as she drove my chair up the ramp into the house and down the dim hallway.  “I am not sure when or if he was ever going to tell you about this side of his life, but it has helped him cope with his new challenges that he has faced.” Mom said as she opened the door and turned on the dimmed lights.

“Oh My!” Jackie smiled a bit at the babyish attire of my room, but was not disgusted about it “well if he is happy, who are we to judge, in fact in my medical books for psych class it says that sometimes patients will tend to regress or change their ways after a trauma like he was in”

That night mom and Jackie diapered me, and put me in a onsie and into my crib.  I vaguely remember Jackie putting my CPAP mask on and kissing my forhead “night night little one” and then she snuggled my pooh bear next to me and turned out the light.

After that night, I gained a steady girlfriend and a new caregiver.  We spent almost every day off together.  This kinda bummed out Jake, cause he was used to hanging around me a lot.  Jackie kinda took the lead, and invited Jake every now and then.  She said he was like a little brother.

Chapter 16 – Christmas time

Dad had told me as he was hauling the Christmas decorations down from the attic that I was “lucky” I did not have to climb up there and haul them down.  I am not too sure I would look at it that way, as I would much rather be able to walk again.

Even though I could not get the wondrous task of hauling boxes down, I got the fun task of untangling lights.  “that’s it !  you have got to put these damn things back properly, Jesus Christ  old man.  These look like you coiled them in a cement mixer” I yelled up into the attic opening.

He peeked out the opening, “hey butthole, I seem to recall YOU took them down last Christmas, smartass!”

“oh” Was all I could say, jeeze what else could I say, I mean I was speechless.  The way dad said it, made me actually feel good;  so many people had been sugar coating stuff and not treating me like they would have before my accident.

Things also got a bit easier for me too, I was learning how to do shopping, was getting a bit more flexible and able to help with my personal care too.

The tree was put up and soon presents began to fill under the tree; I knew mom and grandma were up to something, I just knew it! They both had that look, they would look me up and down like they were sizing me up.  By this time grandmas was staying at our house a few days out of the week to give mom a break.

It is family tradition for us all to go to church on Christmas Eve and then we all went back to whoever’s house that Christmas was being held at.  This year it was our house, again, mainly because of me.  We all went out to Bob Evan’s before church.

Dad had been gone all day, and I did not see him before we went to church, but he was at church when we left, he had came with Aunt Sharon.  Wonder what those two were doing?

Church was as boring as ever, but at least I don’t have to sit in the hard pews, I got my cushy wheelchair.

Jake was not at church, because he was at his dad’s house.  Aunt Sharon said that his dad would drop him off later.

When we got home, I was tired, I thought that I would stay up and wait for Jake to come; but it had been a long day.  Mom had ran me all around town doing shopping and stuff. She made me get a haircut too.  I fell asleep in no time in my chair.  Shortly before Jake arrived at 10:00, Mom sat me back up and wheeled me off to my bedroom and got me dressed for bed.  I don’t even think I woke up when she changed my diaper and put me in a footed sleeper.

I woke up to another body being put in my bed, mom was helping Jake into bed, he was obviously diapered and in a onsie too. I just drifted back off to sleep.

“good morning babies” I heard mom say as she softly caressed my face and took my mask off and put me in the overhead lift and moved me to the changing table.  Jake woke up halfway through my change

“Aunt Karen, I think I am messy, can you change me too” Jake said around the pacifier in his mouth

“sure sweetie, lemme get Jay changed and dressed”.  Mom got me into a plain blue onsie and a pair of knit overalls.  I looked like a toddler.  “OK, Jake, hop up”

Jake crawled out of the crib, diaper crinkling and smelling a little bit, and then crawled up on the changing table.

“hey jake, I see you still enjoying the diapers.” I said

“yep, mom gave me them for Christmas.  Just got them a little early”

“OK boys, why don’t you two go to the kitchen and get some cereal, then you can help us cook.”  Mom said

Christmas morning rolled around and much to my surprise we got a little snow, but not enough to keep me inside when I wanted to go out.

I got a lot of things for Christmas.  I got a laptop computer so I can start taking classes again.  I am probably just going to take them through the mail, or at the community college.  I got more cloth diapers, some more toddler clothes.  Jake got some too, but he got a much bigger surprise in a small package.

“here Jake, this one is for you”  Aunt Sharon said as she handed him a envelope

Jake opened up the envelope and removed several Polaroid pictures; he looked intrigued by them  and then his jaw dropped.  He passed them to me and I was surprised.  They were of the house across the street, I know cause I had been in that house before.  The final few pictures showed a room with a big crib like mine, changing table, and stacks of diapers. The room was painted baby blue, with baby print border trim on the walls, with the name JAKE in baby block lettering.

“The first ones look like the inside of the house across the street, I was in that house once or twice over the years.”  I said,  “but I don’t think I had ever seen pics of that bedroom”

Aunt Sharon spoke first “Jake, how would you like to live closer to Jay, and have your own baby room?”

Jake started to cry “mommy I love you so much. But how, when?”

“I know jake, and I love you too, that is why I did this for you.  I have been wanting to move closer to for a while, to help Aunt Karen and Uncle James and Jayson.  It was just in this last month that it became reality. Aunt Karen and Uncle James helped us get the house, and they have been slipping over when they can to help get the house ready.  The movers will be arriving Monday at our old house to help pack the big things like beds, refrigerator, stove, TV’s, clothes, dressers.  And the rest of the stuff we can move ourselves.”

“This is going to be so cool!”  Jake said his eyes lit up

“yeah man, it will be” I said

Jake’s face turned to worry, aunt Sharon knew what he was thinking about.  “Now honey, I know you are worried about what other people will think, so I am going to setup your ‘normal’ bedroom like you have at home now, in one of the spare rooms.  Until you decide you no longer want or need it.”

“oh, mom, thank you so much, this is the best Christmas ever” Jake said as his face turned a little red

Mom crinkled her nose “ok, somebody needs changed”

“I got them Karen, I got a feeling I need some practice” Aunt Sharon said as she got up “I’ll be right back, come on boys”

“Why me” I said

“You probably need one too.” She was right

You may have noticed that Aunt Rose and my other cousin Troy and his dad were not at Christmas, well they decided to not come.  Seems that they did not agree with the whole diapers and regression and baby stuff.  This caused a rift between the family for many years.

Mom, Aunt Sharon and Grandma were all fine and ok with me and Jake being in diapers and the baby related stuff; however aunt Rose thought of it as bordering on abuse.  She is crazy anyways, which is why Troy was always in trouble.

Years later he would end up in prison for starting a fire that burnt down a business.  After that, his mom and dad split up and moved away.  Mom still talks to Aunt Rose, but not often.

A few days after Christmas, my friend Matt that I e-mailed after thanksgiving finally called and came over, since he was off on winter break from college.  We hung out, but I think my condition was too awkward for him. We didn’t talk much more for a few months, just mainly e-mails; but then again he was in law school.

Jake and Sharon were pretty much regulars at our house , as we were at their house too.  Most people just thought Jake and I were brothers, since we hung out together so much.

Chapter  15 – the next morning

I think it was like 4:30 when mom and aunt Sharon came into my room to check on us.  I got changed, but Jake was fine.

Dad came in about 9am to get us up.  By now I needed changed again and Jake was on the verge of leaking.  We basically milled around the house and in the garage; mom wanted the Christmas decorations pulled out of storage at least, if not put up.

It was about 2PM and mom was still not home yet, dad was getting restless;  not wanting to setup the decorations, just to have to re-arrange them when she got home. “OK boys, lets get you both changed, then go for a ride.  We got a friend who I would like to see.”

Dad got us both changed in no time flat.  He was getting much better at this.  We got loaded up in the van, after dad had to run back into the house and get the “diaper bag”

I vaguely remember this road, then it dawned on me. This is the road to Ms. Jensen’s house, the lady I bought my mustang from.  When we pulled into the drive she came walking out of the house.

“Oh Jay, I am so sorry to hear about your accident, I know you loved that car like my Michael did” She said, wiping her eyes

Something clicked in my head, I had a flashback to the day of the accident “hey man, just lay still, the medics are on their way”  That was all I remembered.

We talked and his mother showed me his photo and his Purple Heart, sure enough that was the face I saw that night.  I started crying, could it really be….

“Mike was there, he was the one who got me out of the car.  After the crash there was a guy in fatigues above me telling me to just lay still.  Nobody knew who it was or where he came from or went to.  I am certain that Michael was part of that car that night”

We then left Ms. Jensen’s and headed back to town, “who wants Mexican” My dad said

“umm dad, based on the stench that Jake has been making in his diapers, I don’t recommend it”

“Well he just needs to take what you do, which reminds me, you need your meds, it’s 4 O’clock.  OK, how about Rax instead”

“SOLD!” I said as we turned into the lot.  I got a BBC and a chocolate chip shake, and a large glass of water to take my pills with.  I shared with jake my secret weapon to no stinky diapers and gave him 2 Nullo’s

We drove around a little bit more before heading back home.

When we got home mom and Aunt Sharon were waiting, and so dad let them deal with the diaper changes that we both were in need of.  Jake asked his mom “when are we going home?”

“as soon as I get your diaper changed” Sharon said

“but you said that I only had to wear them as long as I was here”  Jake said as his mom had already slid another one under him and pulled it up between his legs.

“Listen Jake I know that you don’t mind being in diapers, and it is cool if you want to keep wearing them too” Sharon said  “you can decide if you want to keep wearing them or not, and if you want to take some to your father’s or not too”

“I don’t mind wearing them, but I don’t want dad to know.  I will wear this one home, and can we take one for tonight, but after that I think I am done”

“Don’t worry about taking one home, I got you a whole case of them, and grandma is making you some cloth diapers too” Sharon said

Jake’s eyes got big, I don’t know if he was going to cry or smile with joy.

“Why did you get me diapers?” Jake asked, still not sure if this was punishment or gift.

“We’ll talk on the way home, lets go” Sharon said as she pulled Jake into a seated position and off the changing table and smacked his diapered rear.

That was all I had heard about Jake till Christmas.  Mom had said that aunt Sharon said he wore from time to time. Cause she had called mom and asked what she thought about Jake wearing diapers, and about things like rash creams and stuff.