Day 972 – Grayson’s Journey

Dear family and friends

Today was a laid-back day after yesterday’s memorial service for Julie. We relaxed around the pool with Julie’s daughters and Howie, and I worked with my father-in-law Howard setting up his new computer. Later in the day Jimmy’s family showed up and joined us for a swim and dinner. Today included lots of sun and soak time and we also made a pretty big dent in the left-overs! Now that the memorial is over, the journey to healing begins.

Grayson enjoyed his time today – his favorite is always listening to stories. He pays rapt attention and smiles as the story is told. He laughs at the funny parts so he is quite engaged in the story. He also spent some time in the pool today cooling off. He finished his day there with two full plates of food – how does he stay so skinny!

We probably stayed too late as I am wheels-up for Houston at 11:30 AM tomorrow. I need to get packed and off to bed!

Pax!

Brant

Day 971 – Grayson’s Journey

Dear family and friends

Today we said Aloha to our sweet Julie. The day was a full one from morning until the end of the day. Grayson was a champ and as I predicted yesterday, he thoroughly enjoyed listening everyone’s stories.

It’s late and we are all headed off to bed.

Aloha!

Brant

Day 970 – Grayson’s Journey

Dear family and friends

Today was a very full day for all of us. In addition to work, Regina was focused on the final arrangements for the memorial service for our sister-in-law Julie. I joined her at church at 3:00 to rehearse music with the organist and to test the audio-visual equipment. She then finished the programs and had them printed while Grayson and I went to my physical therapy appointment at 5:00. After therapy I ran an errand for Regina then ran home to cook dinner. Regina completed her errands and arrived home just as dinner was ready.

Meanwhile, Lauren, who was en route home after living in Kentucky for the past 10 months, was stuck in the Las Vegas airport waiting for weather to clear. Her 8:00 PM arrival came and went while she was waiting for a plane for the final leg home.  Her chariot finally arrived and she was wheels-up at 9:30 for the short hop to BUR. She was home a little after 11:00. My little girl is home!

Grayson was a champ through it all today. Tomorrow will also be a challenging day for him as he will be with us through all of the preparations, the service and the reception. I know that he will enjoy seeing all of the people and listening to stories – one of his favorite things!

It was a day full of emotion and activity, of welcome and farewell, of love and family. Tomorrow will be even more so.

Pax!

Brant

Day 969 – Grayson’s Journey

Dear family and friends

Today was not a big day for Grayson, but he has come down with a cold. As a result we had him kept in the house and quiet and resting most of the day. That was probably a good thing because it was at least 94° here today. His caregiver also used a box of Kleenex on Grayson. While his nose was running away with his face, his spirits were still good and he still wanted to get up and out today.

We are all looking forward to Lauren relocating home tomorrow from Kentucky. It will be wonderful having her close to home once again!

Pax!

Brant

Day 968 – Grayson’s Journey

Dear family and friends

Grayson accompanied me to my physical therapy session today as he usually does. They really do like him there. All of us “regulars” do our exercises in a room that is not huge but very adequate for what we need. As a result the regular patients tend to get to know each other over time. Today the staff treated Grayson with cookies – he was thrilled! When he was asked if they were good he responded, “Yes!” A fellow patient commented that it was the first time she had heard him talk. I asked him a few questions to show that he does respond in one or two word responses. One of the questions I asked him was who was the headmaster of his high school. He responded “Mr. Bachmann.” Upon hearing the name, the patient said that her daughter went to Flintridge Prep also and it turns out that she graduated the year after Grayson. We then had a long chat as we were doing our exercises about Grayson’s experiences at prep. She was shocked and thrilled to learn that Grayson was one of the leads in My Fair Lady when her daughter was attending.

Isn’t it amazing when someone you assume is practically a stranger turns out to have traveled some of the same ground with you in life? It truly is a small world.
Pax!

Brant

Day 967 – Grayson’s Journey

Dear family and friends

Tonight Grayson walked up to Regina as she was washing dishes after dinner. She asked him if there was something he wanted, knowing full well that he was going to ask her to watch TV. He responded, “I want to kiss you”, then he planted a nice kiss on her cheek. He still knows how to get to a mother’s heart!

Thanks for all of the unexpected and special gifts we receive every day!

Pax!

Brant

Day 966 – Grayson’s Journey

 Dear family and friends

Yesterday we discovered a digital picture frame that we thought had stopped working months ago. This was the digital picture frame that we had with Grayson during his recovery in acute rehab in Burbank and at CNS in Bakersfield. By some miracle of the electronics deity, we plugged it in last night and it began working again. This device had a slide show on it that we had prepared specifically for Grayson during the early days of his injury so that he could look at it to remind himself of his family and some fun events in his past. This morning at breakfast Regina played the slide show for Grayson. She asked him to start identifying the pictures or the locations and he was spot on. The one that really blew her away was one of Lauren wearing a hard hat and posing with a large wrench – one as large as she was at the time. Grayson immediately identified the location as inside the Hoover Dam. This was a picture from the summer of 2000 – 12 years ago. Not only could he identify the location, but he was able to use words that Regina was able to understand easily.

What a great start to the day!

Pax!

Brant