Ch. 116 - Jimmy Arrives

 
Today is the day that Judy and Jimmy have been waiting an eternity for. They are finally going to meet face-to-face after their long online and telephone courtship. Judy has been a nervous wreck, fretting about everything. She's worried that Jimmy will reject her for some reason, despite Pete's assurances that it won't happen.

 
Luckily, there are two new things in Judy's life to distract her a bit. The first thing is that she got glasses on Monday. Judy had an eye test a few weeks ago and found out she needed glasses. She chose a pair with rectangular black frames that look quite stylish on her. As with her orthodontic and orthopedic braces, she really likes her glasses and, like me, considers them a fashion accessory. Judy plans to order several more pairs when Jimmy arrives; she wants him to help her choose.

 
The second thing is her new wheelchair, a very sporty red metallic number. About a month ago, Jimmy asked her if she ever used a wheelchair. Judy replied that she uses my old one or her sister's but has always wanted one of her own. Jimmy had seen an online ad for an almost new wheelchair and purchased it for Judy. He shipped it to her, and it arrived the other day. Judy really likes using it, and she even went out to dinner with Joel and me last night in it without her leg braces or even shoes. I was worried about her transferring to a public toilet without shoes, with her feet touching the dirty floor. However, Judy said she had Rebekah put a catheter in for her the other day and that she quite likes the convenience.

 
After Judy had breakfast with us, I went with her to her cottage to choose her outfit. Rebekah soon joined us to do her makeup and hair. Judy wanted to look ravishing for Jimmy, but she was so excited and nervous that she couldn't make up her mind about anything. She was in and out of her various colored Milwaukee braces and KAFOs, swapping shoes and sandals, too. Clothes were spread out on her bed, and she kept trying on different outfits. Judy simply couldn't make up her mind as to what she wanted to wear, and she hadn't even thought about her hair and makeup yet.

 
The fashion show went on for several hours, and I told Judy she better pick an outfit since Emme and Pete would be here soon to take her to the airport to get Jimmy. Time got away from her, and we heard Pete and Emme pull up outside. Emme came in to get Judy, who was standing there in only her brown Milwaukee brace and KAFOs, high wedge boots on her feet, with her catheter bag lying on the floor; she was definitely not ready to go. Emme said they were running late, and there was no way Judy would be ready in time; they would be back with Jimmy in a few hours. Judy began to tear up as Emme and Pete drove away.

 
Getting left behind motivated Judy to finally pick an outfit. She decided on her black braces and black, high-heeled Mary Janes. She removed the braces she was wearing, placed her black KAFOs on her flaccid legs, and tightened all the buckles before putting on her matching Milwaukee brace. Rebekah strapped Judy's catheter bag to her leg before helping her put on a dark purple sleeveless dress that was cut extremely low in the back, exposing much of her Milwaukee brace. Judy took off her glasses and had Rebekah do her makeup, with a hint of purple around her eyes. Her ponytail and curly bangs looked great with her glasses and metallic smile.

 
Judy got in her wheelchair,I placed her crutches in the holder on the back, and we all went to my house. There is something very alluring about a beautiful young woman in braces using a manual wheelchair. I know Jimmy will be blown away when he sees Judy; she looks absolutely stunning. When we got to my place, we just waited quietly, with Judy playing with her phone and fidgeting in her wheelchair.

 
The silence was broken when Judy's phone rang; it was Jimmy. After an emotional reunion with his best friend Pete, they were on their way and would arrive in an hour. Judy was so excited but also extremely apprehensive. We tried to calm her, but it was no use; only meeting Jimmy would relieve her anxiety.

 
When we heard Pete's car pull up, Judy wheeled to the front door and opened it. Jimmy saw her and came running over, scooped Judy out of her wheelchair, and hugged her. They clung to each other for several minutes, crying with joy. Then they stood facing each other, holding hands to support Judy, and looked dreamily into each other's eyes. Slowly, they leaned towards each other, their lips met, and a passionate kiss ensued, followed by another long hug. Not a word had been spoken yet.

 
Jimmy finally said, "Oh, Judy, you are a million times more beautiful in person than in any of the pictures. This is so emotional for me; it's like we have been together for years, despite this being the first time we ever met. I love you, Judy, and I hope this is the beginning of a long and happy life together."

 
Judy emotionally replied, "I hope so, too, Jimmy. This has been such a strange way to start a relationship, but I have strong feelings for you, and I know we will have a happy life together. I'm so thankful that Pete introduced us and that you accept me as I am. I love you, Jimmy."

 
The two young lovers embraced and kissed once again.

 
Rebekah then suggested that we all talk and get to know each other better. Jimmy and Judy were still standing face-to-face, holding on to each other, and he asked how she gets around in her braces. Judy said she normally uses crutches or the wheelchair he gifted her, but she could walk arm in arm with him. The couple walked to the den, where they sat down on the couch next to each other.
 

Jimmy got the conversation started by saying to Judy, "Before we ever spoke, Pete told me all about your unique lifestyle. He also told me about why Emme wears her braces and about all your friends, too. I fully accept and understand your desires, and I share some of them myself. I know that Leigh is wearing her cast to do the same thing you have done, Judy. It's really cool, and, as you know, I have a bit of a thing for girls that wear braces."
 

It was then that Paul and Joel got home, and they joined us. With Jimmy expressing not only acceptance but also understanding of our lifestyles, the conversation turned to other topics. Jimmy never talked much to Judy about Army life, just that he worked in the motor pool, and Judy wanted to know exactly what her soldier boyfriend did. Joel and Paul wanted to know if Jimmy had seen combat and what it was like.
 

Jimmy replied, "Well, the only combat I saw was in the mess hall, fighting the so-called food, plus a few troublesome injection pumps in the shop. My work simply kept the fighting man in the fight. The only time I ever shot a gun was during basic training and at the trap club. Army life was almost like civilian life for me; I went to school for about six months, then worked in a shop that rebuilt injection pumps and fuel injectors. It's been a great life, and I have learned a lot of skills, but now I want to settle down with someone special like Judy. I even saved almost all my pay to start a business, too."
 

We talked for a while longer, then Rebekah suggested that we go down to her place for dinner. The prospect of a home-cooked meal got Jimmy really excited. He said that the only time he got a good meal was when he would visit his friends Scott and Lori. We all headed down to Rebekah's house, with Judy and Jimmy stopping at her cottage. They spent about an hour together at Judy's place before arriving at Rebekah's, where Jimmy enjoyed a home-cooked dinner.
 

After dinner, we talked a lot more. Joel told Jimmy about our bus repair business and asked what his plans were. Jimmy said he wanted to start a Diesel injection shop, and Joel said there was definitely a need in our area. Joel and Jimmy agreed to meet and talk business in the near future after he gets settled in.
 

With the topic of getting settled in brought up, Pete said that their guest room was Jimmy's for as long as he needed it. Judy said that Jimmy could stay with her, but she understood if he wanted to spend some time with Pete too. Emme suggested they have two guest rooms and that it would be great if Judy stayed the weekend with them. That way, Judy and Jimmy could get to know each other better in a neutral environment. Jimmy and Judy thought that was a great idea, and they went back to her place to pack her bag.
 

Jimmy and Judy had a wonderful weekend together with Pete and Emme. There is definitely a spark between them, and I know they are right for each other. After their stay with Pete and Emme, Jimmy moved into Judy's cottage right away. She has a spare room, but I don't think that's where Jimmy is staying.
 

Judy finished school a few weeks ago and has been working full-time. She took the week off from work to spend time with Jimmy and get him settled in with her. Jimmy doesn't have much when it comes to personal possessions—just some clothes, his shotguns, and several trophies from competitions he has won. He and Judy went clothes shopping on Monday, and they had a great time. Judy said that Jimmy is very caring and offers her assistance without making her feel helpless. She also said he has a great sense of style, which is important to her.
 

There's something happening this week that Judy had almost forgotten about: she has an orthodontic appointment. It's not just a visit to get her archwires and ligatures changed; she is getting her expanders, tongue crib, and headgear, too. Jimmy knew she would be getting these appliances and has been very supportive. He even told Judy that he always wanted to get braces because his teeth were a bit crooked but never had the opportunity.

 
On Friday morning, the young couple came up to our house for breakfast, like Judy always does. Joel cooked, as he has been doing since I have been in my cast. Jimmy seems to really enjoy home-cooked meals after all the mess hall food he has eaten over the years. He said that Judy is a great cook, and he loves helping her in the kitchen and learning to cook. Over breakfast, I reminded both of them that Judy's teeth would be quite sore after she got her expanders and to plan for soft foods for the next few days. They were both excited about Judy's orthodontic upgrades and were off to the orthodontist.

 
The next morning, Jimmy and Judy once again came to our place for breakfast. Judy now had quite the lisp, a shiny facebow protruding from her lips, and a black cervical strap around her neck. Her tongue crib and expanders could clearly be seen when she spoke. But Judy wasn't the only one with a lisp and headgear; Jimmy was now sporting braces and headgear, too. Joel and I were both taken aback and asked what had happened at Dr. Joe's yesterday. Judy, barely understandable with her severe lisp, said:

 
"When we went to see Joe yesterday, he had everything ready for me. It didn't take too long for him to remove my archwires and the bands where my expanders and tongue crib would go. Next thing I knew, he had me biting down on that little tool to place the bands of my new appliances, and boy do I have a mouthful of metal now. He then put on new archwires, and they are pretty tight but not painful. My facebow and cervical headgear were fitted, and I got several different colors like you have, Leigh."

 
"Once Joe was done with me, Jimmy asked if Joe would look at his teeth. He did, and he said that Jimmy could benefit from orthodontic treatment, and if he wanted, he could get braces right away. Jimmy asked me what I thought, and I told him to go for it; both of us having braces would be fun. 3D scans and X-rays of Jimmy's teeth were taken, and Sally cleaned and polished his teeth while Joe went to the lab to make Jimmy's appliances."

 
"When Joe returned with Jimmy's appliances, he took a seat in the chair, and Joe got to work. Luckily, there was enough space for the bands on Jimmy's appliances, and soon his expanders and tongue crib were in place. They were a tight fit, and his teeth are sore; that is why he's so quiet this morning."

 
"Once his brackets were cemented in place, Jimmy's archwires were placed and secured with purple ligature bands that match mine. His facebow and cervical headgear were then fitted. He looks so sexy with his braces and headgear, and his lisp sounds so dreamy. I love how he looks, and he loves my new appliances, don't you Jimmy?"

 
Jimmy, with his mouthful of metal, replied, "Ah ove or aces, Oody. You ook o eksy if em, an ah ove i aces, oo." (I love your braces, Judy. You look so sexy in them, and I love my braces, too).

 
Boy, does Jimmy have a lisp! It's worse than Kathy or I ever had.

 
Breakfast was ready, and the couple began to slowly eat their meal of scrambled eggs, sausage, and hash browns. Over breakfast, Joel said he wanted to talk to Jimmy this afternoon about his idea for a business. Joel also asked Jimmy and Judy if they wanted to go to the military vehicle meet this evening at Pee Dee's and Jimmy could drive his WWII Jeep. They thought that sounded like fun, and Jimmy even has a WWII uniform to wear. Judy said she wanted to go shopping at the vintage clothing store and get a 1940s-style outfit to wear to the meet. The couple went and brushed their teeth before going off to do a little shopping.

 
We'll have a lot of fun tonight, and Jimmy will get to meet Sam, Millie, Kathy, and Lydia, too.

I really enjoy this story. I’ve read up to chapter 170 on a different site and it is really well written. I know you don’t think that the first bits are, but I have seen way worse things written online. Now it is outstanding.

Thank you for the kind words! With time and suggestions from other authors, I have become a much better writer This has been a lot of fun, especially working in ideas from readers and even creating characters for them.

If you remember Sarah from the gang's visit to the mountain resort, she and her girlfriend will be appearing in several chapters starting at 177. As when we met Sarah in my story, JotaBSP is my co-author for these chapters. They were a lot of work, but a lot of fun, especially seeing my characters in scenes that I didn't write; they really came to life.

Ch. 118 - My New Cast


With all the excitement surrounding Jimmy's arrival and his whirlwind romance with Judy, I had put off getting my cast changed. I've now been in my double hip spica-Minerva cast for eight weeks, and it's been wonderful. Joel is loving it since my cast is getting really smelly and dirty, and that is something he's really into. This weekend, Jimmy and Judy are on a weekend trip with Billy and Collene, so Joel and I have the weekend alone for a little fun.
 

When I got home Thursday afternoon, Joel decided to spice things up a bit. He wired my jaw shut and put both my arms in LATS, which he then incorporated into my existing cast. I was now in a full-body cast, with only my fingers free.
 

I didn't know what to think at first. I felt very claustrophobic and panicked a bit, like the first time I had my jaw wired shut. After a few minutes, I calmed down and really enjoyed having my body completely immobilized, and I just completely relaxed my body inside its fiberglass shell. We stayed home and didn't have any guests all weekend, with Joel taking great care of all my needs.
 

I really enjoyed being completely helpless and having Joel feed me blended food. It reminded me of the time we went out with my jaw wired shut and 3D-printed casts on all my limbs. It was a very pleasurable weekend with much romance. On Sunday evening, the fun came to an end, and Joel removed my arm casts and wires. I wish the fun could have lasted for weeks; being completely helpless and dependent on Joel for everything was extremely intense.
 

It's Monday, and we have taken the week off, as has Kathy; her adventure starts Wednesday. I'm not only getting a new cast; I'm also getting casts and scans done to make all the new braces I'll be wearing for the rest of my life. The plan for today is for my current cast to be removed, then I can get cleaned up before my new one is applied. Lately, my cast has acquired a very strong aroma that Joel greatly enjoys, but I do not. It will feel great to feel fresh and clean again and to be in a snug-fitting cast once more; this one is getting quite loose as my legs atrophy.
With Jimmy and Judy back from their weekend away, Judy can take me to my appointment today. They were at our place for breakfast, as usual. With Jimmy in her life, we thought we wouldn't see much of Judy anymore, but that's not the case. We see them almost every day, and Jimmy really enjoys home-cooked meals. It's a joy to have them in our lives.
 

Joel got me and my wheelchair loaded up in the van, and Judy and I were off to Jameson Orthotics. We're meeting Rebekah there; she is getting scans and molds for new braces done today, too. When we arrived, Billy and Collene had just opened up for the day, and Rebekah soon arrived. Rebekah would get her procedures done first, and then it would be my turn when Gary and Rita arrived. After a cup of coffee and some conversation, it was time for Rebekah's scans and molds to be done.
We went to the traction room, where Rebekah stripped down to just her braces and panties. Billy, out of habit, explained the 3D scanning process, despite Rebekah being very familiar with it. She removed her Milwaukee brace, and Billy got her situated with traction applied to her spine. The scan only took a moment, and Rebekah was soon putting her Milwaukee brace back on.
 

Now, it was on to casting her legs. Billy helped her up onto the casting table and removed her KAFOs with their attached winter boots. The casting procedure went quickly. I noticed that, for some reason, Billy very carefully molded the casts around her feet and toes, which is not the usual process.
 
As we waited for her casts to harden, Billy asked me what sort of braces I wished to have made to wear once I'm out of my casts. I told him that I didn't really know but that my hips would now need support, too. Billy agreed and said he and Gary would discuss my needs, and we would talk on Christmas when we get together. Rebekah said that along with her usual braces, she wanted braces like whatever I would be wearing, too.
 
 
Rebekah's casts were now hard enough to remove, and then Billy carefully cleaned her legs and toes before helping her back into her KAFOs. As she stood up, Billy said, "Rebekah, there is one more thing we need to do, and something you will have done too, Leigh. Your husband's asked that I get molds of your hands and arms today, too. I hope you don't mind."
 

Rebekah said, "Ooo, that sounds exciting, Billy. I wonder what the guys have in store for us, Leigh. I replied, "I have no idea, Rebekah. Joel never mentioned anything to me. I guess we'll just have to let Billy do his thing, and we'll find out later. I'm sure we will enjoy whatever it is they have planned for us, and they'll probably take us on a vacation to show us off, too."
 
 
Billy now began to cast Rebekah's arms in LATS casts. After they hardened enough, Billy removed them and began applying a second pair. These casts also came to her armpits and completely covered her hands and thumbs, with her fingers spread apart. As these casts were drying, Rebekah looked at me with a quizzical look on her face, and I just grinned my metallic smile. I think we have quite the adventure in our future.
 

After the casts of Rebekah's arms had been made, Billy got her cleaned up, and she got dressed. Judy just silently watched the entire procedure. I think she's curious about what the guys have planned for us and a little jealous, too. With Rebekah taken care of, it was on to me and my cast. The plan is for my cast to be removed, and then I will get a bath. After a bath, scans and molds will be done as they were for Rebekah, and then I'll get the hip spica cast I will wear for another six weeks.


Like Joel, Billy could pick me up in my cast with no problem. He took me out of my wheelchair and put me on a rolling metal table. Rebekah removed my catheter since Billy wasn't familiar with the procedure. I was worried I would have a lot of leakage since I had been catheterized for so long. Luckily, things seemed fine for now, and Billy got to work cutting me out of my cast. The vibrations from the saw resonated through my cast; it was very pleasurable, and I was becoming quite aroused. After my cast had been cut in two, Billy carefully cut the padding and stockinette apart with scissors. He then removed the front part of my cast, and I was just lying there completely naked on the bottom half of my fiberglass shell. My skin was a mess, and I smelled terrible.
 

I tried to sit up to look at my legs but couldn't; my spine was too weak. I really wanted to look at my legs and see how atrophied they were, so I tried to lift my right leg. When my brain told my leg to move, it just quivered painfully; I no longer had the strength to move it. I asked Billy to lift my leg up so I could see it. When he did, the pain in my hip was excruciating, and he gently placed my leg back into my cast. I was extremely stiff after two months of immobilization; any movement was painful.
 

It was then that Gary and Rita arrived, and my situation was explained. Rita suggested that I be wheeled into the shower while still in the bottom half of my cast. She would massage my hips and legs with warm water flowing over them. Gary was quite concerned about my pain and weakness in my spine, so he went to call Dr. Ben Northridge to ask how to proceed. He didn't want me to have an outcome I did not desire.


Rita said to give her a moment; she left the room and returned a few minutes later wearing her raincoat and rubber overshoes to protect her braces from splashing water. She said, "I'm ready now, Leigh. Let's get you cleaned up. Billy, wheel Leigh, cast and all, into the shower." Billy did so, and Rita got the warm water flowing.

 
Rita set the hand-held shower to a gentle pulse and began to play it around my legs and body, letting the water flow between me and my very loose cast. Oh, it felt wonderful, with my cast becoming a custom-molded bathtub. As Rita let the water flow on and around my body, she gently massaged and moved my legs and hips. It was very sensual and arousing, despite being painful. I almost became too aroused.


Rita could move my legs and hips; it was still painful, but not nearly as bad as before. Rita called for Billy to lift me out of my cast so she could get me all cleaned up. Billy carefully picked me up, and Rita set the back half of my cast aside. When Billy laid me down flat, it was quite uncomfortable. My hips and knees hurt quite a bit since I had been in a semi-sitting position for the last eight weeks. Rita then finished washing my body and hair; it felt great to be clean again!


Just as Rita was finishing bathing me, Gary came in and said he had spoken to Ben and had a plan. He and Billy needed to fabricate a few things in the shop for the special cast I would wear for the next six weeks. He suggested that I spend some time in the hydrotherapy tub while they worked. The overhead lift was used to set me in the tub of hot, swirling water, and it felt great. As I enjoyed my soak in the tub, I wondered what my new cast would be like.
 

Rita and Billy soon came in with my wheelchair and said Gary was ready to apply my cast. They got me out of the tub and dried me off. My wheelchair was reclined, and Billy carefully placed me in it and used the attendant control to wheel me into the cast room. I noticed my bladder was leaking, and I asked Rita to place a new catheter for me. A catheter might be a part of my new life, too.


Gary then explained, "After consulting with Ben, we have several concerns, but none are serious. What we decided is best for you, Leigh, is a combination of a hip spica cast with a removable Milwaukee brace superstructure. This way, you can begin an exercise regime to build upper-body strength while you're in your hip spica cast. You have lost a lot of strength in the last two months—strength you'll need to spend the rest of your life on crutches."


"Your hip spica cast will have no bend at your hips, and your knees will be almost straight—it will be as if you are standing in double LLCs. Your legs won't be spread as far apart either. This cast might be a bit more awkward in some ways but easier in others; it will allow you to use crutches. I think you will enjoy this cast, Leigh, and it will provide for the outcome you desire."
 

I said that it sounded like it would be an enjoyable cast to wear, and I'm excited to have it applied, but I wanted to see my legs first; I had yet to get a good look at them. Billy leaned me forward while Rita and Rebekah picked up my legs. They looked so thin and withered, just like Collene's paralyzed legs. I was overjoyed—my dream of being truly handicapped is coming true.
 

As was done for Rebekah, Rita and Billy made casts on my arms and legs for my new braces, paying close attention to my hands and feet. Then I was put in traction for a 3D scan for my new Milwaukee brace. I was totally dependent on the traction to hold my body upright; my spine is now so weak.


After the casts and scan were made, my black hip spica was applied. It was a bit painful to have my hips and legs positioned for my new cast, but it wasn't too bad. There was nothing remarkable about it except for two details. First, Billy placed walking heels on my feet. Second, there were threaded metal plates embedded into the fiberglass at my waist, front and back. This is where the Milwaukee superstructure would be attached.


Once my cast had fully hardened, the Milwaukee superstructure was fitted. Billy and Gary stood me up, with Rita steadying me. I felt lightheaded standing up for the first time in two months. Gary began to fit the Milwaukee superstructure to my cast. It was simply held in place with several twist-lock fittings. The uprights were adjusted until the neck ring sat perfectly around my neck, and the screws were tightened. It fit just right—not too tight or too loose—and supported my spine and neck very comfortably.


Ben and Billy then laid me on my reclined wheelchair, strapped me in place, and raised me to a standing position. Gary said he wanted to see me walk using the parallel bars in the therapy room. Once there, Billy helped me out of my wheelchair, and I grabbed the parallel bars. Billy explained that my new braces will feel very similar to my cast and, in fact, will even be a bit heavier.
 

Since my body is rigid from my neck to my feet, I needed to learn how to swing my body as one unit to be able to move forward. It was really hard; my arms are weak, but I was able to manage. I walked on my own for only ten feet, and I was exhausted. Gary said to have Joel and Jimmy help me walk with crutches every day to gain strength in my arms and upper body and to remove my Milwaukee superstructure for spinal exercises, too.
 

I was in the cast and brace combination I would be wearing for the next six weeks, and I had to learn how to live in it. Rita helped me with my skirt, but there was a problem: I didn't have a top because my old cast covered my chest. Judy gave me her jacket and buttoned it up for me. I thanked everyone and said I would see them all at Rebekah's Christmas party.

Ch. 120 - Kathy's Casts

 
On the way to the shop, Judy asked Kathy a myriad of questions about her newly applied halo brace. Kathy patiently answered all of Judy's questions and finally said, "Judy, if you are so damn curious, why don't you wear a halo brace someday? You would really enjoy it, especially a halo CTLSO like Leigh and Rebekah wore since your back is weak." Judy defiantly replied, "I will wear one someday! Maybe I can even talk Jimmy into wearing one, too."
 
 
Kathy, as always when doing something extreme, couldn't wait to be seen in public. On the way to the shop, she wanted to stop and get coffee so she could interact with people despite her discomfort. Judy found a place, and Kathy went inside to get us all coffee while we waited in the van. It was her first time in public in her brace, and she loved it. We could see her talking to people and touching her halo ring and the rods that attached it to her vest, sort of like Emme always did. Kathy returned with our coffee, but I couldn't drink mine while reclined in my wheelchair; I would have to wait until we got to the shop.
 
 
When we arrived at the shop, Kathy and Judy went to the office, and I went to get Lydia. When Lydia saw Kathy in her halo, you should have seen the look on her face. It was one of shock and excitement, and she said, "You actually did it, Kathy! I thought you would back out at the last minute. You look great in that thing. How does it feel?"
 
 
Judy and I left Lydia and Kathy alone in the office, with Lydia locking the door behind us. Lydia was definitely going to explore Kathy's brace. We went out and told the guys that Kathy was in her halo and that she was really enjoying it despite the pain and pressure. Lydia and Kathy joined us in the shop about thirty minutes later, looking quite satisfied. Everyone thought Kathy looked great in her halo and would look even better with her casts and in her wheelchair.
 
 
Emme had gone to get the guys lunch, and when she returned, she was really impressed with Kathy's halo and also with my new cast. She said Kathy would have a lot of fun wearing her halo, especially after the initial pain faded away in a week or two. Kathy told Lydia she was anxious to get her casts applied and wasn't going to wait a few days like she originally planned. I called Rebekah and asked if she was free to help apply Kathy's casts right away. She was, and she said to call when we got home.
 
 
As we were preparing to leave, Jose and Rose, the young couple that works for us, approached. Rose said, "We don't understand why you all enjoy wearing casts and braces so much, but they seem to bring you a lot of pleasure and happiness. Jose and I hope you both enjoy your cast and brace adventures. Best wishes, and have a Merry Christmas."

 
This was the first time either of them had said anything about our casts or braces, and Kathy thanked them for their kind words. Joel then helped get me and my wheelchair loaded up into the van, and Judy, Kathy, and I headed to my house.
 
 
When we got to my place, I called Rebekah, and she soon arrived in the wheelchair that Kathy was going to use. We went to the casting room, where Judy would assist Rebekah with applying Kathy's casts. In a blink of an eye, Kathy had stripped down to just her halo brace and panties, and then she sat upon the casting table.

 
Rebekah asked what cast Kathy wanted first. She replied, "I want my LATS first, a red one, and I want black stockinette for all my casts, please," as she removed the SATS brace on her left arm. Rebekah got to work applying the cast to Kathy's left arm, and soon she was in her LATS. Kathy laid down on the table, and Rebekah asked, "What's next, Kathy?"

 
Kathy replied, "My LLC, dark green, please" . This cast was quickly applied, and now Kathy's right leg was cast from the base of her toes to high on her thigh with a slight bend at the knee, a picture-perfect LLC. Kathy then said, "For my SLC, I want a blue one with a toeplate. I have a badly broken foot, you know." Rebekah and Judy soon had Kathy's left leg in a cast. With all of Kathy's casts now applied, she just laid there silently with her eyes closed, enjoying the immobilization of her halo brace and the warmth of her fiberglass casts as they cured.
 
 
Rebekah and Judy began to clean up the wrappers from the many rolls of fiberglass that now covered Kathy's limbs. The banging of the lid of the trash can brought Kathy out of her dreamlike state, and I asked her how her casts and halo felt. She replied, "Oh, Leigh, this is great. I love how all my casts feel, and for some reason I find the pain and pressure from my halo pins to be very arousing. I love wearing casts, and combined with my halo and orthodontics, I'm in heaven!"
 
 
Judy asked Kathy if she wanted a catheter since she would be confined to her wheelchair or bed. Kathy replied, "Yes, that would be great. It will make things much easier and even more intense." Rebekah got a catheter kit from the supply cabinet and soon had it placed inside Kathy, who seemed to very much enjoy the procedure in her aroused state. Once that detail was taken care of, the collection bag was strapped to Kathy's left leg. Now, Rebekah began to help Kathy get dressed.
 
 
There was one problem with getting Kathy dressed: she had worn a pair of jeans that would not fit over her casts. Kathy said to just cut off the right leg at the thigh and the left leg at the knee. Judy did so and helped Kathy into her jeans. Her loose sweatshirt fit fine over her LATS and concealed how high the cast went on her left arm. Then I suggested that Kathy wear cast shoes so she could stand and not slip when getting into her wheelchair.

 
Kathy resisted at first, saying she wanted to be non-weight-bearing, but realized that with Judy and Rebekah in their braces and me confined to my wheelchair, we couldn't provide her much assistance. I wheeled over to the supply cabinet and got a pair of canvas cast shoes and handed them to Judy, who strapped them onto Kathy's casted feet.

 
Kathy carefully sat on the edge of the cast table, then stood up. She looked really cute with her jeans cut off at the tops of her casts. She supported herself by holding on to the table with her right hand in its SATS brace. All that could be seen of her LATS was her casted thumb and hand poking out of the loose sleeve of her sweatshirt. Unless you looked closely and noticed her stiff elbow, you would think she was only in a SATS. Kathy looked so sexy in her casts and halo brace; I know Lydia will go wild when she sees her. Kathy then carefully sat down in Rebekah's wheelchair, which was adjusted to comfortably support her casted legs.
 
 
With Kathy in her casts and the cast room cleaned up, Kathy and I wheeled and Judy crutched outside to get some fresh air while Rebekah went home to freshen up. Kathy looked so relaxed and serene in her casts and halo brace, and it brought back many memories of my time in a halo and how I enjoyed every minute of it.
 
 
I began to wish I had done more with casts when I was in my halo, and I also wished I had spent more time in halo gravity traction. I loved how it felt—pulling my spine straight but still letting me move and look around. I told Kathy all about the traction devices we have that can be used with her halo ring and said that my favorites were the setup for use in bed and the one that attached to my wheelchair. She was very curious about being placed in traction, and I told her that she had to try it before her halo was removed. Kathy was now even more excited about her adventure and had something else to look forward to trying.
 
 
After about an hour outside, it suddenly got chilly; the rain was coming, so we went inside. Judy built a nice, warm fire and began to ask Kathy some questions:

 
J - So, Kathy, what are your plans for the immediate future and the many weeks you will be in your halo and casts?

 
K - Well, Judy, until Leigh mentioned the traction devices, I thought I had things planned out. I've been thinking and have a new plan that I think Lydia and I will very much enjoy. For now, we plan to stay with Leigh and Joel since their guest suite is handicapped accessible. We all love spending time together, and it will be fun having you and Jimmy around, too. He seems to have a lot in common with all of us.
 

In a week or so, Lydia and I are going to a handicap-accessible resort for a week. You know, Kings Mountain Retreat—the place Dolores recommended on my casted business trip. If we like it, then all of us can take a vacation there, wearing all sorts of casts and braces. That will give me time to get used to being in my casts and halo. Once I'm comfortable with my situation, I'll go back to work.

 
L - Kathy, what do you want me to tell people at work? All people know is that you were going on a difficult bike ride this week.

 
K - I'll let you make up a story, Leigh. Maybe first thing Monday, send an email to everyone saying that I was in an 'accident' and you are still getting the details. Then later in the day, maybe right before it's time to go home, send another detailing my 'injuries'.

 
L - OK, that sounds good, and it will distract from my new cast, too.

 
J - Then what happens after you get back from your vacation and go back to work?

 
K - I'll go six weeks in these casts, then take a day or two break like I did last time, staying here with Leigh and Joel. I want to try being in traction and also get the liner of my halo vest changed, too. I'll get walking casts then, too: a SLC on my left leg and a PTB cast on my right leg. I'll also replace my LATS with a Muenster thumb spica cast. That's about when Leigh will get her cast off and start wearing her new braces and living her new life.

 
I'll wear those casts for another six weeks, then have them removed and spend another weekend in traction. I'll then remain in my halo for a few more months, and if I really like being in traction, I'll spend a few months in traction, too. I have already had two pairs of KAFOs and two Milwaukee braces made, and Billy is working on my Kuehnegger brace, too. I might start wearing KAFOs when I get my casts off. I really don't know yet.

 
J - Wow, that sounds great, Kathy. I hope you enjoy every minute of it.

 
L - That's quite an ambitious plan, and it will be fun for our adventures to overlap. My retirement party will be fun with both of us in wheelchairs.

 
K - Oh, it will be fun, Leigh. Lots of fun!

 
Judy and I were impressed with Kathy's ambitious plan. I think she and Lydia will have a great time, and I like the idea of us all going to an accessible resort. I wonder if Kathy will really wear KAFOs and a Milwaukee or Kuehnegger brace full-time after she retires and possibly let her legs go, too.

 
We now heard several vehicles coming down the driveway, and we wheeled and crutched around to the front of the house. Joel pulled up in his truck, Jimmy was driving Lydia in her M-715, and Pete and Emme were in their big old Lincoln Town Car. Lydia got out of her truck and came running up to Kathy in her wheelchair.

 
L - Oh, Kathy, you look so beautiful! You never told me exactly what sort of casts you would be wearing. You look so sexy in those cut-off jeans with your casts in full view!

 
Lydia then knelt down and gave Kathy a hug and a kiss. It was then that Lydia realized that Kathy's left arm was in a full-length cast when she felt it press against her body as they hugged.

 
L- I thought that was just a SATS on your left arm, but it's a LATS! Wow, you have really done it this time, Kathy. I love having you in so many casts, and you look so sexy in your halo brace.

 
K - I'm glad you like my casts and halo, Lydia. I love how they feel, and I know we will have a lot of fun over the next few months with me immobilized like this. This is a dream come true for me, and I get to share it with you.

 
L - I am so happy for you, Kathy, and I will take very good care of you while you are in your casts and halo brace. This is going to be so much fun for both of us.

 
Jimmy grabbed Lydia and Kathy's bags out of the old Army truck, and we all went inside. We sat around the fire and talked for a little while, then Joel, Jimmy, and Lydia went to get cleaned up from their day's work and get dressed for dinner. Kathy asked if Judy and I would help her find a cute outfit she could wear with her halo and casts.

 
We went to the guest suite where Jimmy had left their bags, and we found a long blue skirt and a white blouse that would fit fairly well with her halo brace. Soon, Lydia was out of the shower, and she and Kathy got dressed. Billy and Collene arrived, and we awaited Paul and Rebekah. We were all hungry, and it will sure be fun to go out to dinner and see how people react to Kathy's halo brace and casts, me in my hip-spica cast, and our heavily braced friends.

Ch. 122 – The Weekend Wraps Up

 
It felt wonderful to wake up on Christmas morning wearing my cast-brace combination with my double facebows between my lips and Joel at my side. Once again, I slept great in my cast and awoke well rested. As Joel was getting out of bed, I saw his casts and painted nails and became quite aroused. With me in my cast, we are like teenagers with raging hormones. We went at it as we had last night. After our extremely pleasurable encounter, Joel got me dressed and in my wheelchair for my exercise session with the girls.
 
 
On my way to Rebekah's, I met up with Rita, and when we arrived at Rebekah's, Collene and Judy were already there. They were both in their wheelchairs and were not wearing their KAFOs. Soon Millie and Sam emerged from their room, as did Emme. We all went out into the garage to do our exercises, with Pete joining us to help me. We all removed our Milwaukee braces and began to do stretching and strengthening exercises to keep our spines from getting too stiff and weak from constant immobilization.
 

Pete got me out of my wheelchair, and I walked back and forth using the parallel bars several times. It was hard, and my back hurt, but I know I need to build up my strength. Rebekah asked if I could walk using a walker or crutches, and I said that Billy gave me a walker to use, but it was at home. Rebekah said she has one and told Pete where it was. I just stood there with a firm grip on the bars so I didn't fall while awaiting Pete's return.

 
Rita demonstrated how I should walk by locking her knees, keeping her hips straight, and swinging her entire body forward. I tried doing the same, taking very small steps, and was able to "walk" on my own in my cast. I couldn't really call it walking, but it felt good to move on my own and gave me some idea of what getting around in my new braces will be like.

 
After our exercise session, we went into the house for coffee. I decided to use the walker to go back into the house, where Pete strapped me back into my wheelchair in a standing position. It felt good to be up and moving on my own after so many months of being wheelchair-bound.

 
When I got back home, Joel gave me a sponge bath, helped me brush my teeth, and then got me dressed. Just another simple outfit: a rather short skirt and a Christmas sweater. All the others that were staying with us were ready, and we headed to Rebekah's place. When we got to Rebekah's, there was once again the aroma of pies and cakes baking.

 
I soon noticed that Emme, Sam, Millie, Billy, and Gary were having a rather animated conversation. I heard Sam say, "Oh, that's great. I knew you guys would figure something out." Then Emme said, "It will be so much fun sharing an office with you, Sam, with us both in KAFOs and Milwaukee braces." A few minutes later, I heard Gary laugh as he hugged all three girls and said, "Don't worry, it will all be on the house. Merry Christmas, ladies!" I'll have to find out what their plan is.

 
It was then that the doorbell rang and everyone quieted down; we were not expecting anyone. Paul crutched over and answered the door. It was Jose and Rose, the last people any of us expected to see at a rec-ortho Christmas party. Paul ushered them inside and asked if everything was OK; they both looked quite upset.

 
Jose explained, "Yesterday, we were supposed to fly to spend the holiday with family, but the flight was delayed due to weather. Finally, early this morning, it was cancelled. On the way home, and with no place to go for the holiday, Rose remembered that Lydia had invited us to the gathering here, so here we are." Rebekah crutched over and gave Rose a hug, saying they were welcomed here and she was so sorry they couldn't make it home for Christmas. Lydia approached, put her arm around Jose, and said, "I'm sorry you two couldn't be with your family for the holiday, but you are part of our family. We're glad you came and hope you enjoy the holiday with us."

 
Lydia then introduced Jose and Rose to anyone they didn't already know. Paul offered their coach for them to stay in, and the offer was graciously accepted. Around noon, we all had snacks, and Paul opened up the bar. Rose and Jose seemed to be enjoying themselves and were fitting in quite well despite not wearing any casts or braces. 

 
After a few drinks, Rose got up from the couch, limped over to Paul, and said, "Oh, Paul, I think I hurt my ankle really badly; it might be broken. Can I get a cast so it can heal?" Paul, playing along, replied, "Why yes, Rose, Pete is an expert at applying casts and will be more than happy to cast your broken ankle. Hey, Pete, Rose needs your assistance." Pete and Rose then went to the cast room, and she emerged a few minutes later on crutches with a blue SLC on her left leg. It was the last thing I ever thought I would see.

 
Jose had not seen the little show his wife had put on and was shocked when he saw her on crutches with a cast on her leg. He said, "What the hell, Rosie? What did they talk you into, babe?" Rose replied, "No one talked me into anything, Jose! I asked to wear a cast just to see what it's like. I have never worn one before or even used crutches. It's fun; I really like it, and I see why others do too. You should get a cast, too, Jose. I think you will enjoy it."

 
Jose stared at Rose's casted leg; she wiggled her toes, and Jose said, "Well, your little toes do look cute sticking out of that cast, and it matches your nails, too. Hell, everyone here seems to like casts; I'll give it a try, but I want a girl to apply mine."

 
Rita heard the conversation and said to Jose, "I'll be more than happy to apply your cast, Jose. Despite wearing all these braces, I have no interest in other people's casts or braces, just mine; you can feel at ease around me. So, what sort of cast do you want to try wearing?" They headed to the cast room, with Rose following on crutches, suggesting that Jose get a cast on his left arm like the one Jimmy is wearing.

 
A little while later, Jose was sporting a black LATS on his left arm, and as he was flexing his fingers, he said to Rose, "You know, this is sort of neat. It felt great as the fiberglass got warm as it cured. I have never worn a cast before either, and I do sort of like it, but it will take some getting used to." Rose replied, "I knew you would like it, Jose! I love my cast."
 
 
Later, I got a chance to talk to Emme about what she and the girls discussed with Gary. Emme replied, "Oh, Sam and I just love wearing Rebekah's old KAFOs. Billy made them fit us pretty well, but they are not perfect. Rebekah said we could keep them, so we asked Billy if he could do more to make them fit better. He said it was just easier to custom-make us new ones."

 
"Millie wanted KAFOs, too, and asked if roller skates could be attached to a pair of braces, and Billy thought he could come up with something. When we asked what the cost would be, Gary said anything we wanted was on the house and to have a Merry Christmas. We're all getting casts made of our legs next week. It's going to be so much fun with even more of us wearing leg braces!"

 
I was happy for the girls to get braces and wondered how often they would actually wear them. It will be quite something to see Sam and Millie skate in KAFOs; I think it might just be possible if their knees and ankles are free to move.

 
Well, dinner is now being served, and I had Joel help me back into my wheelchair. I've been using my walker all day, and boy are my arms tired. He got me all strapped in and attached the tray to set my plate and drink on. Once again, we enjoyed a wonderful meal and dessert.

 
After dinner, we had a Secret Santa gift exchange; the rule was that nothing could cost more than five dollars. It looked like a lot of junk drawers got cleaned out, but whoever had drawn Joel's name knows him well. Joel couldn't hide his embarrassment when he opened his package, which contained a SLWC that appeared to have been worn by a woman and was dirty, smelly, and broken-down. I think it was probably one of Emme's casts; she had worn one like that last summer for eight weeks. Joel was really embarrassed that someone other than me knew of his love of dirty, well-worn, and smelly casts.

 
Saturday and Sunday were much like the previous two days. Lots of talking, game playing, eating, drinking, and, of course, our group exercises. The weather was clear on Sunday, and Pete ran to the butcher and got steaks to grill. We had yet another excellent meal, with Joel and Pete tending the grill and Rita making her special herb and cheese roasted potatoes.

 
After our meal, people started to get their casts removed and head home. Paul spread out a tarp in the living room and brought out a couple of cast saws. We got to work on each other's casts except for the ones that people were going to keep wearing. Kathy and I, of course, were keeping all our casts for some time, and Annie said she wanted to wear her shoulder spica for a six-week term. Rebekah told Emme and Sam they could have her old KAFOs, but she wanted her shoes back when they got their own braces; the pair that Emme was wearing are Rebekah's favorite shoes for an elegant night out.

 
Everyone else wanted their casts removed except for Jose and Rose. Despite Joel, Jimmy, and Paul going to the shop for winter cleanup, Jose and Rose had until after the new year off. They simply asked to borrow a cast saw to remove their casts on their own before coming back to work. Evidently, now they are cast lovers, too.

 
Tomorrow is back to work for me in my new cast, and I am looking forward to it. I think office life will be much easier in this cast, especially with my standing desk. I know I'll have lots of people asking questions, but they will be distracted by the news of Kathy's "accident".

 
Judy and Jimmy were at our place early Monday morning, along with Billy and Collene. We had breakfast, and Kathy and I discussed what I would tell people at work about her "accident", then Judy and I headed off to work. Once at the office, I sent the email that Kathy and I discussed:

 
Greetings,
 

This morning, I bring bad news. Kathy was involved in a bicycling accident on Christmas Eve and was quite badly injured. I do not have many details, except that it is expected that she will make a full recovery. There are no neurological deficits, and her multiple fractures will not require surgery. I hope to have more details before the end of the day.

 
Leigh

 
As soon as the email went out, I was inundated with replies and phone calls. I told everyone that what was in the email was all that I knew, but I expected to learn more from Kathy's partner, Lydia, later in the day. Several people came into my office to talk, and all that was ever said about my cast was that it must be nice for me to be able to stand again. I think with the Milwaukee attachment on my cast, people thought I was only wearing leg casts; they didn't realize my hips were also immobilized. While everyone was expressing concern for Kathy, little did they know that Kathy and Lydia were at my house, likely having the time of their lives.

 
Late in the afternoon, I called Kathy and asked how she was doing and told her about how everyone reacted to the news of her "accident". She said that she and Lydia were having a great time together and that it would really be fun to come to work in her casts and halo brace. We talked a little while more, and I said I had better get another email off to everyone before the day was out. I then heard Lydia in the background yell, "Tell Leigh that we made dinner for everyone and invite Judy to join us, too. We already told the others; we really love having the youngsters around."

 
I then sent another email to everyone about Kathy's condition:

 
Good Afternoon,
 

I just spoke to Kathy for a few minutes. She is doing well, all things considered, and is resting comfortably. She has multiple fractures; both her legs are in casts, as are her left arm and thumb. These fractures will only require casts and time to heal. However, Kathy re-fractured the vertebra in her spine that she fractured before, and like last time, there is no neurological deficit.
 

There was some concern that the previous fractures did not heal properly, and because of this, Kathy was placed in a halo brace. Overall, her spirits are high, and she is glad her injuries are not worse, especially her spinal injury. She asks that we respect her privacy and let her recover in the caring hands of her partner, Lydia.
 

Kathy did express a strong desire to come back to work as soon as possible, despite her casts and halo brace. I will pass on any news I get right away.
 

Leigh
 

The work day was now over, and I wheeled out to the parking lot to await Judy. As usual, she emerged from the elevator with her co-workers, and they were all laughing and smiling. Everything is going so well for us; we're all so happy. Judy got me loaded up in the van, and we headed home with our usual back-and-forth banter that makes our commute so much fun. I will sure miss our daily rides when I retire, and I'm sure Judy will, too.

Ch. 124 – Kings Mountain Retreat

 
Lydia and Kathy are both very excited to make their trip to Kings Mountain Retreat. On one of Lydia's visits to their home, she packed warm clothes for their trip to the mountains. Winter is well upon us. Lydia and Joel got the van loaded up Saturday evening, and the ladies were off early Sunday morning. Kathy said that if they enjoyed their visit, she would make preliminary arrangements for a group trip there. As promised, Kathy kept all of us updated on their adventure and sent group texts at least once a day.
 

Sunday Evening:

 
We made it! The traffic was light, and the weather was good. I got a little carsick on the curvy roads, sitting motionless in my halo brace, but it soon passed. The ride was beautiful, from what I could see of it. I looked straight ahead the entire time in the confines of my halo brace, and the bumpy road made my halo pins hurt a bit.

 
When we got to the resort, Lydia got us checked into our cabin, and my assistant is an older gentleman named Ron. If we need anything, we just call him on the special wireless phones they gave us since cell phones don't work well here. Once we got settled in and Ron was on his way, we explored the area around our cabin.

 
The lake is only about 20 yards from our wraparound porch, with a deck leading to an overlook. Everything is just so beautiful and quiet. I always thought Leigh's place was quiet, but it's nothing compared to here. Lydia says this place reminds her of her grandfather's old hunting cabin, but it's much more fancy, of course.

 
We're off to have dinner and figure out what activities we want to participate in this week. This is going to be so much fun, and to experience it in my casts and halo will be wonderful.
 

Monday Afternoon:

 
Hi everyone. We had a great dinner last night; the food here is excellent. We had a romantic evening by the fire in our cozy cabin last night, too. In bed, Lydia and I greatly enjoyed my halo and casts, and I reveled in my immobilization as Lydia pleasured me physically. I wish I could do more for her, but she knows she'll be in my position someday with me taking care of all her needs.

 
After breakfast, Lydia and I did something we have not done since we were little girls: we went fishing. Ron brought us sack lunches and got us all set up with tackle and bait. We fished off the overlook in front of our cabin. It was so much fun, and Lydia and I each caught a big lake trout that will be our dinner tonight. The chef will prepare the fish you catch any way you want.

 
We are having so much fun, and I completely forget about my casts and halo. Well, I say completely forget; that's not quite true. My casts and halo are front and center in the bedroom.

 
Well, we need to get ready for dinner and eat the fish we caught. Have a great evening!
 

Tuesday Morning:

  
It snowed last night! We woke up to find everything covered in a blanket of white. Lydia got me into a warm jacket and put thick wool socks on my casted feet and oversize mittens on my casted and braced hands. I then wheeled outside onto our large porch for a snowball fight.

 
I had trouble making snowballs with my SATS brace and my useless casted left arm, but Lydia made me plenty of snowballs, which I used to good effect on her. It brought back memories of college, when we had snowball fights all winter. It's a good thing that my casts were made with waterproof padding; Lydia got me a bit wet and cold. A few hours in front of the roaring fire and a few mugs of hot chocolate got me warmed up and dry.

 
I'll talk to you later. We're off to a late breakfast.
 
 
Tuesday Evening:

 
We made some new friends here today. After it stopped snowing this afternoon, we went for a walk. Well, Lydia walked, and I wheeled around the winter wonderland that surrounds us. Everything is so pretty covered in snow. However, Ron says it will probably be all gone soon; it is supposed to warm up tomorrow.

 
While we were out, we saw wheelchair tracks and footprints in the snow and decided to follow them. Lydia and I soon came upon a couple of guys taking in the sights. They were our age, and it was obvious they were a couple. We introduced ourselves to the strangers and learned their names were Pat and Terry. It was obvious right away that Pat is a DAK amputee, and he was in a really sporty-looking wheelchair like you all have.

 
We talked for a while and really enjoyed our conversation, but it was getting cold and late. Pat and Terry walked us back to our cabin, and before they went on their way, we agreed to meet for breakfast. Lydia and I both enjoy making friends with gay and lesbian couples that we happen to meet.
 

Wednesday Evening:

 
We met Pat and Terry for breakfast this morning, and we got to know each other better. Their story is much like Lydia's and mine. They met in college but went their separate ways, only to reunite years later and have been together ever since. The topic of my casts and halo brace, along with Pat's amputations, came up during breakfast.

 
When we checked in, the desk clerk told us that we should be honest if we are pretenders and that guests are asked to be accepting of all lifestyles. When Pat asked about my casts and halo, I said it was all just for fun, except for some of my orthodontic appliances. Lydia said that we both love wearing casts and that I always dreamed of wearing a halo brace. The opportunity to wear a halo arose, and now I'm living my dream.
 

I told them the story that Leigh told everyone at work, and we talked about her Petrie cast, the hip spica she is in now, and her desire to, as Judy puts it, let go of her legs. My extensive orthodontics were also of great interest to both men, and many questions were asked. At one point, Terry said to Pat, "See, Pat, I'm not the only one that likes to wear casts for fun. I told you we would meet another caster in person someday."
 

Pat then explained that he lost his legs in a childhood accident on his grandparents' farm. He was eight years old and riding with his grandfather on the tractor when they hit a bump. Pat was thrown from the machine, and his legs were crushed under the rear wheel of the tractor. He was rushed to a rural hospital that was not well equipped for trauma. The doctor on duty was an old Army surgeon, and to save Pat's life, he performed the procedure he knew best: amputation. Pat said he doesn't have any memories of when he still had his legs and that a wheelchair and prosthetic are all he knows.
 

We ended up spending the day and well into the evening together, talking about many different things. At one point, Pat admitted to Terry that he has a thing for guys wearing orthodontic braces and has always wanted them himself. Terry laughed and said the feeling was mutual, and, with a gentle smile, Lydia gave them Joe's business card and said he caters to people like them.
 

It's late, and Lydia and I are ready for bed. We are going to spend the day tomorrow with Pat and Terry again and go exploring the trails since it is warming up and the snow has melted.
 
 
Thursday Evening:
 
We had a great time with Pat and Terry today. We all got to know each other pretty well and found out that Pat is a bank executive and Terry imports rare and exotic vehicles from all around the world. They live in the same town as Ben and Jackie, so it will be no problem for us to visit.
 

Lydia was very curious about Pat's stumps—that's the term he uses—and let us see and even touch them. We were both extremely fascinated by his stumps and how they looked and moved. He also showed us how he puts on and walks with his prosthetic legs, too. If he were wearing long pants, you wouldn't know that his legs ended just above where his knees once were. Pat said that despite being able to walk well with his prosthetic legs, he prefers using his wheelchair.
 

Lydia and I showed the guys pictures of our past cast and brace adventures; they were impressed. In fact, I showed them all the pictures from the Christmas party, and they wished they had been there. Maybe next year.
 

Terry really liked the KAFOs you all wear, especially Paul's heavy-duty pair, and wants to get KAFOs for himself, so we gave him Gary's contact information. The guys had brought some casting supplies with them, and Pat placed both Terry and Lydia's left arms in white LATS, and Lydia is really loving her cast.
 

Both men asked a lot more questions about our orthodontics, and they took long looks in both of our mouths. I explained how my teeth shifted when I had my jaw wired shut, and I got braces again with a lot of extras just for fun. They had a lot of questions about what life was like with my jaw wired shut, and the byt admitted it was something they would like to try someday. Lydia said if they got braces, wiring their jaws would be really quick and easy with surgical hooks.
 

I think Pat and Terry are going to have some new and exciting adventures very soon.
 
 
Friday Morning:

 
We just finished breakfast with Pat and Terry in their cabin. Ron introduced us to our new assistant, Jerome, or Romy, as he prefers, this morning. He's a big black guy who formerly played professional football in Canada. I think Pat and Terry are attracted to him. Romy is a very sexy man, and guys are not my thing.

 
Today, Pat and I are going to explore some of the parts of the resort and check out the construction that's going on. Yesterday, we saw a young couple arrive, and the girl was wearing HKAFOs like Leigh will be getting. We're going to try and find her and ask about her braces; they looked very interesting. Terry and Lydia, with their thumb spica casts, are going horseback riding, which will likely be a challenge.
 

This place is wonderful, and we're having a great time. I'm absolutely in love with my halo brace, and I think I'll be wearing it for a long time to come.

 
Saturday Evening:
 

We had a great time yesterday and today. Lydia and Terry really enjoyed their horseback ride, and Pat and I had fun exploring the entire resort. We checked out the new construction that is going on. They are building clusters of cabins around a central communal lodge building. There are three of these complexes being built, and they are for groups to have their own cabins and a common shared area. It's the perfect thing for all of us to spend a week or two together here. There is a small wedding chapel under construction in the woods; Lydia and I think we'll get married there. We also made preliminary arrangements for a group trip here. We really love this place, and you all will, too.
 

We got a chance to talk with the young woman wearing HKAFOs that we saw the other day. Her name is Gina, and her husband is Rick. Gina has a degenerative neurological condition that requires her to wear HAKFO braces. She looks great in them, and you will too, Leigh, when you get yours.  When standing or walking, Gina's legs are fixed at the hips, knees, and ankles. She walks a lot like Leigh does in her hip-spica cast, swinging her entire lower body to take a step. When she unlocks her hips and knees, she can sit normally, but she can't bring her legs together or spread them apart.

 
Gina said that she had never seen someone in as many casts as I am wearing, except for a girl in a body cast she saw at a Halloween party. I asked if it was at the Hotel Marley a few years ago. With a look of bewilderment, Gina said, "Yes, in fact it was." I pulled out my phone and showed her a picture of Emme in her cast. Gina exclaimed, "That's her! The girl in the body cast." I said that her name is Emme, and she is a friend of mine.
 

Then I asked if she saw Leigh and Rebekah and showed her a picture of them. She had, and I am amazed you guys didn't notice her at the party. Rick really liked looking at all the pictures of us in our casts and braces. I do believe he is a devotee like Billy and Jimmy.
 

I then showed Gina a picture of Leigh, Rebekah, Judy, and Collene in their black Milwaukee braces and KAFOs wearing high heels and sexy dresses. Gina was really impressed with your braces, and I gave her Gary's number. I think that Gary and Joe will be getting some new clients after our visit here. We also told Gina about Collene and Judy and their rather interesting stories. We exchanged contact information and hope to see them again in the future, as well as Pat and Terry.
 

Well, it's getting late, and Lydia is starting to pack for our return home tomorrow. It will be nice to finally be back in our house after spending so much time away. I'm feeling really great and am excited to go to work in my halo and casts.
 

Sunday Morning:
 

We're on the road, heading home. We said our goodbyes to our new friends this morning over breakfast. It was great to meet new people, some of whom shared our interests and others who were accepting of them. Gina has no problem with pretenders, and Rick admitted he is a devotee.
 

Oh, Leigh, you mentioned wanting to get Joel something totally unexpected for his birthday? Lydia got an idea when we were talking to Terry; he can help.
 

See you all soon!

 
As you can tell, Kathy and Lydia had a great time on their vacation. We'll all be visiting Kings Mountain when the new cabins are finished; it will be great fun. Kathy will soon be going back to work, too. I wonder how people will react to her casts and halo brace.

Ch. 126 - Fully Braced
 

Time has really flown by, and the many months of my lower body being immobilized in casts are coming to an end. My legs have grown weaker and more atrophied by the day; my hip spica cast is very loose. Now, instead of being a leg brace pretender, I'll really need them. Today, I'm getting my hip spcia cast removed and my new braces fitted. I'm extremely excited to begin this new phase of my life!
 

After doing morning exercises, we had breakfast with Jimmy and Judy. Jimmy said his business is going like gangbusters, and Judy said she misses our daily car rides together. However, my contract work starts soon, and we'll once again be riding to work together on occasion. Judy has been stopping by every afternoon to chat before the guys get home, which is enjoyable for both of us.
 

It's time to head to Jameson Orthotics to get my cast removed and new braces fitted. Joel got me loaded up in the van, and we were on our way. When we arrived, Billy and Collene warmly greeted us. Collene is now wearing glasses with 1950's style frames, and they looked great on her. She feels that her glasses, like her braces, really enhance her appearance; she's glad she needs them. Like Judy did, she's going to pick out several more styles to order online.
 

Collene also said that she had been talking with Kathy, Judy, Millie, and Annie. When we all visit Kings Mountain, there will be several weddings, and everyone is hoping that Jimmy proposes to Judy so they can get married on the trip, too.
 

Billy was anxious to get me out of my cast and into my new braces, so we followed him to the cast room. Billy unstrapped me from my wheelchair and helped me stand. Joel took off my skirt and blouse, and then the Milwaukee brace attachment on my cast. Then they lifted me onto the table, and Billy cut my cast in half and removed the front part from my body. The cool air pricked at my sensitive skin.
 

I had enough strength in my back that I could lean forward and look at my legs. My cast had been feeling very loose lately, and my legs were now extremely atrophied and looked just like Collene's. I tried to move them, but my muscles only quivered. My goal had been achieved; my legs are now completely useless! I asked Billy if my new braces would fit properly since my legs have atrophied so much since he made the molds. He assured me that they would fit great; he had taken this into consideration.
 

Joel then removed my catheter, and Billy told him how Rita loosened my stiff and painful joints when I got my cast changed. Billy then helped Joel push the table I was on into the shower. Joel got the water temperature just right, and I told him to use the gentle pulsating setting. He began massaging my hips, legs, and feet. Joel gently picked up my legs and moved them, but only as far as my pain would allow. I was even stiffer than before. Finally, he called for Billy to come pull the bottom half of my cast out from under me, and Joel began to gently wash my entire body.
 

After Joel gently scrubbed away all the dead skin, he picked me up and placed me in the hydrotherapy tub that Billy had prepared. It felt wonderful, as it did last time, and Collene came in to keep me company. At one point, she came over to the tub, reached in, and held my left leg in her hands. Collene ran her hands up and down my leg and commented on how thin it was. She said there was no muscle tone at all anymore. It felt fantastic as her hands moved along my leg; I was starting to get very aroused. Luckily, Joel came in to get me so my braces could be fitted before things got out of control.
 

Collene went back to her office, and Joel got me out of the tub and carried me to the fitting room. He laid me on the table, which was covered with towels, and got me dried off, diapered, and into a sports bra. Billy then began explaining my new braces to me:
 
 
"Leigh, these are all your new braces. They are pretty much like your old ones, but with an addition: hinges that connect your KAFOs to your Milwaukee brace. These hinges can lock your hips straight, just like your hip spica positioned them. You will not be able to rotate your hip joints, nor will you be able to spread or close your legs."
 

"You'll notice these braces are built much more heavily than your old ones, with wide metal bars on the sides of your Milwaukee brace girdle. These are where the hinges on the KAFOs attach. Until you regain some flexibility in your hips, I would suggest that Joel remove the hinges when you don and doff your braces. It's easy with the twist lock fasteners."
 
 
Billy said he knew that moving my long immobilized joints would be painful, so he would only fit one set of braces today, the pink ones, with matching Doc Marten Mary Janes. He said I could try the others at my leisure at home and that I would need assistance donning and doffing my braces until I got used to doing it myself.
 

It was now the big moment! Billy used a special screwdriver to remove the hip hinges from the Milwaukee girdle. Joel then placed me in the Milwaukee portion of my brace, and it felt great to have the pelvic girdle tightly hug my hips. I laid back, and Billy and Joel placed my limp legs and feet into my KAFOs and shoes.
 

Billy then showed Joel how to attach the hinges to the Milwaukee portion of my brace. I was now braced from head to foot! Billy asked if everything felt OK, and I said that it did. The guys then helped me to my feet, and I could hear all four of the hinges lock; I was rigid from my neck to my toes. Billy handed me crutches, and I began to carefully crutch about the room. It was intoxicating to think about spending the rest of my life like this. I was ecstatic!
 

Billy again asked how everything felt, and I said, "It feels great, Billy. You did excellent work. My hips hurt a bit from being moved and from my legs not being spread as far apart as they were in my cast. What do you think, Joel? Do you like me being braced from head to toe and dependent on my braces?" Joel didn't need to say a word; the bulge in his trousers spoke for him. I crutched over to him and gave him a big hug and kiss, whereupon he had the same embarrassing experience as Billy had when Rebekah and I first met him. Joel excused himself to go clean up.
 

While Joel was freshening up, I noticed that my diaper was getting quite wet. I was having a lot of leakage from being catheterized for so long. I thought this would happen, so I brought a cath kit along. When Joel returned, he cleaned me up and placed my catheter before dressing me in a short purple skirt and pink blouse. Once I get used to my new braces, I'll try to wean myself off of my catheter.
 

As I was dressing, Collene came rolling into the room in a really sporty-looking purple wheelchair. I said, "What a great-looking chair, Collene. I've never seen you in it before; how long have you had it?" Collene replied, "It's not mine; it is a late Christmas gift for you from Billy and me. Thanks for everything you have done for us, Leigh." Billy helped Collene up, and I carefully unlocked my knees and hips to be able to sit. It hurt quite a bit to move my joints, but sitting in my new wheelchair gave me a sense of freedom and independence. It's so compact and sporty, and I absolutely adore the color.
 

I thanked Billy and Collene for my new wheelchair. Billy said it was a pleasure to make my braces and that he was expecting Sam, Millie, and Emme to pick up their KAFOs this week, too. Sam and Millie's roller skating KAFOs have come out really nice; they will look great wearing them and should have no problem skating in them.
 

Billy walked Collene to her desk, and she and I chatted while Joel and Billy loaded up all my new braces into the van. I invited her and Billy to go to the MV meet up at Pee Dee's on Friday evening, and she said it sounded like fun. Joel and Billy returned, and we thanked Billy and Collene once again, and we were on our way.
 

Since it was a nice day, I wanted to do a photo shoot at Millrun Park in my new braces and wheelchair. I also wanted to try driving again since I could now sit in the driver's seat. Joel thought that I should practice on our property first because I have not driven in so long, and I agreed.
 

We stopped at the deli to get a picnic lunch. It was my first time venturing into public in my new braces and wheelchair. At the deli, several people stared at me, and I decided to have fun with a few of them. I asked one man who was staring at me if he thought crippled girls were sexy, and he quickly made his exit. Then a woman about my age couldn't keep her eyes off me. I wheeled up to her and said, "Don't you wish you were in braces and a wheelchair? They attract sexy young men." Just as I said that, Joel came up and gave me a kiss. The woman turned red and hurried away.
 

After we enjoyed our lunch at the park, I wanted to crutch around and let Joel get some video of my unique gait. When I just had KAFOs, I walked fairly normally but with stiff knees. Now, with my hips braced, my body is rigid from my neck to my feet, so I have to swing both legs together to move forward; my body is almost like a pendulum swinging from my shoulders.
 

Joel took a ton of adorable action shots of me crutching along, and I looked amazing in my pink and purple ensemble. He also got some video of me sitting down on a bench, unlocking my hips and knees to do so. It's all very awkward and new to me right now, but it's fun. However, my hips and knees were getting really sore. These joints have not moved in months and are very stiff. We decided to go home, relax, and await Judy's arrival. I know she really wants to see my new braces and is thinking of getting HKAFOs, too.
 

When we got home, Joel went and laid all my new braces out on our bed. When Judy arrived, we went to check them out. When we got to my bedroom, I noticed several braces that Billy had not shown me at the office. There were new pairs of the light-weight braces I use when bathing. They looked to be much smaller than my old ones since my legs are so atrophied now.
 

There was also a large hip spica Minerva brace. It was purple with heavy metal latches between the front and back halves; the lining was thin, but very soft. I had no idea Billy was making this brace for me, and I assumed it was to sleep in. I can't wait until bedtime tonight!
 

Judy checked out all my new braces, then got on the phone to Billy. Their conversation was brief; she simply asked him to make her all the same braces when he had time.
 

When Jimmy arrived, Joel suggested that we all go out for dinner, and he went to get ready. Judy asked if I was going to use my wheelchair tonight, and I said I was; it would be easier for me that way. She said she would use hers, too, and she and Jimmy went home to get ready.
 

Judy and Jimmy soon returned, with Judy in her wheelchair. We looked really cute in our wheelchairs, and Jimmy took a picture to send to Collene. We got into Judy's car, the guys stowed our wheelchairs in the trunk, and we headed to Ranch Gordo.
 

On the way to the restaurant, I realized that no one could tell that my leg braces and back brace were connected. It's obvious when I am on crutches since my entire body moves as one unit, but in my wheelchair, no one can tell. I got a bit of a charge out of the notion that I was far more immobilized than anyone would ever realize.
 

Judy and I wheeled up to the entrance, and it was not busy. We were able to get a table right away, and as usual, Shelly made a point to wait on us. She said, "Well, it looks like you are pretty much back to your old normal, Leigh. It must feel great to be out of those big casts." I replied, "To tell the truth, Shelly, I really enjoyed wearing my casts. It was actually quite enjoyable." Shelly replied, "I think I have you and your friends figured out, and I understand." She then took our order, and we had a great dinner.
 

After we got home, Joel helped me bathe, and then he cleaned my teeth and appliances. He then asked me if I wanted to wear my new body brace to bed, and I said, of course. Joel picked me up and laid me on the back half of the brace, which cradled me from head to toe and held my legs spread apart. Joel placed the upper half over my body and secured the latches.
 

I was rigid from head to toe; only my arms were free. It felt great. It's impossible for me to remove this brace myself; I will be in it until Joel releases me. We made love, and it was amazing, like when I was in my big cast. Joel covered me with a light blanket and kissed me before lying down next to me. I drifted off to sleep, completely immobilized, with Joel holding my hand.

Ch. 128 - Our Weekend Away - Part 1
 

We were all up bright and early this morning, excited about our weekend getaway. Everyone decided to get dressed up a bit for our trip, too. Something I really like to see is a pretty girl in a wheelchair wearing very high heels—heels that are high enough that even able-bodied ladies would have trouble walking in them. I'm going to be that girl since I'll be spending the entire weekend in my sleek, sporty wheelchair.
 

I attached a pair of black platform knee-high boots with very high block heels to my black KAFOs. They fit my calves very tight, and the straps on my braces will buckle around them just fine. If necessary, I'm pretty sure I could crutch a short distance if I had to. I called for Joel to help me get into my Milwaukee-HKAFO brace, which takes a bit of effort, especially with my tall boots. This was the first time I had worn these boots, and they looked great.
 

A gray knee-length wool skirt that barely hid my urine bag, a matching sweater, black interlandi headgear with double facebows, and black framed glasses completed my look. I took a few minutes to do my makeup and hair, which now runs far down my back. I wheeled over to the mirror, and I looked amazing!
 

Joel then handed me a small package along with his pocket knife, and I opened the box. Inside were several pairs of fingerless wheelchair gloves in many different colors that would all match my braces. I took out the black pair, and Joel helped me slip my hands into them. They looked and felt great, and they didn't cover any of my rings. I thanked him for such a kind and useful gift and then wheeled around the room. They sure made maneuvering my wheelchair easier, and they'll be great in wet weather.
 

Joel then put on slacks, a sport coat, Cuban heel shoes, and his combination headgear, and we went to check on Kathy and Lydia. They were also looking really good, with Lydia dressed in a very feminine outfit, unlike her usual butch look. She looked great in her long black skirt, matching jacket, and white blouse, with knee-high stiletto boots on her feet. Kathy was in her wheelchair, hooked up to her gravity traction setup, and dressed in a similar outfit but in blue. Both ladies were wearing their cervical headgear, with straps matching their outfits. We all took a few minutes to enjoy a cup of coffee while we waited for Paul and Rebekah to call.
 

It was then that Kathy's phone beeped. It was a message from Rebekah that said she and Paul were ready anytime and suggested that we get breakfast on the road. We thought that sounded great, and Kathy replied that we would be down to pick them up shortly. Joel walked down to the shop and returned with our paratransit bus with the wheelchair lift.
 

Joel got our bags loaded, including the ones with my CTLSO and nighttime leg braces and the one with Kathy's halo vest; she wants to sleep fully immobilized instead of in traction. I wanted to take my full body brace, but it would be impossible to sneak into the hotel. Soon, Kathy and I in our wheelchairs were loaded up in our small bus and our chairs secured for the journey, then we drove down to Paul and Rebekah's place.
 

When we got there, Joel went to the door, and Rebekah answered. He went inside, returned with their bags, and stowed them away. Then we saw Rebekah and Paul come crutching out onto the front porch. Rebekah was, like me, wearing her black braces and a lovely knee-length dark green dress with a dark gray sweater, black wedge heel booties, and her green double-facebow interlandi headgear.
 

Rebekah was also wearing something I had never seen her wear before; she had on a pair of black, round-framed glasses, and she looked really cute wearing them. She had mentioned going to the eye doctor but never said she was getting glasses. It seems that pretty much all of us are wearing glasses these days, including Kathy and Lydia, who wear reading glasses. Despite her youth, even Emme has to wear glasses when doing office work. With her Milwaukee brace, bands on her misaligned teeth, headgear, and now KAFOs, she's adorable in a geeky kind of way. Pete absolutely loves her look, too.
 

Paul, who was following Rebekah out the door, was in his heavy brown Kuehnegger brace and KAFOs with sturdy boots attached. He was wearing a dark blue kilt, a dress shirt, and a sport coat. Paul looked hot as he crutched towards us in his KAFOs with his spine held rigid by his Kuehnegger brace. His metallic smile went well with Rebekah's and sparkled in the morning light.
 

Kathy reminded Lydia that the back brace that Paul is wearing is one of the kinds of braces she is getting, and Lydia said, "Oh, babe, you will look so hot wearing something like that; it's so restrictive and immobilizing. I'll take good care of you whenever you wear it, Kathy." Kathy replied, "I love you so much, Lydia. You are so accepting of my desires, and I love how you are so adventurous, trying things out for my pleasure, too."

 
As Paul and Rebekah crutched towards the bus, Paul seemed to be much more accustomed to wearing his braces compared to the first time we saw him in them. He must be spending a lot of time wearing his very restrictive braces, but I never saw him ever wearing them around the property. I would have loved to have watched him struggle to crutch along, but I guess he must have just stayed on the paths around his house. The couple climbed on board the bus, with Joel giving his friend a hand, and they got settled in, sitting across from Kathy.
 

Since Kathy and Paul didn't want to be seen by anyone they knew, we decided to get far away from home before stopping for breakfast. As we traveled, Kathy asked Paul a lot of questions about his braces and what it's like to wear them. He said his braces are extremely immobilizing, especially his Kuehnegger with its large chin cup and headpiece. He explained that he can't move his head at all in his brace and that a Milwaukee brace would be a whole lot easier to wear. However, his brace is very comfortable, and he greatly enjoys wearing it. Paul said his biggest difficulty was getting used to his KAFOs and using crutches, which proved to be quite the challenge for him, but he's very good at it now.
 

Once we were about an hour away from home, we stopped for breakfast. We must have been quite a sight in our various braces and with Kathy in traction. Rebekah and Paul looked so cute crutching side by side in their KAFOs and spinal braces. Joel would have looked amazing in braces like Paul's, especially as he adjusted to them, if only his braces had been ready for him to wear on this trip.
 

With Kathy and I in our wheelchairs, we needed a bit of space, so we were seated in a side room in the restaurant. It was right off the waiting area, and everyone coming and going could see all of us in our braces. We got a lot of strange looks as people walked by and saw Kathy with the rope and pulley system for her traction. For us, our braces were just part of our lives, and we simply enjoyed our meal, which was excellent. We finished our breakfast and were once again on our way to the Hotel Marly.
 

We were only back on the road for about twenty minutes when Rebekah announced she needed to pee. She asked Joel to find a place to stop; she didn't want to sit in a wet diaper for the next hour or so. Joel found a service station that looked well maintained, and Lydia assisted Rebekah in the restroom. While we waited, Kathy and I said we were thankful we had catheters and didn't have to worry about finding a place to pee.
 

Paul said that Rebekah had suggested he use a catheter while in his braces, but he was uncomfortable with the idea, so he, like Rebekah, was wearing a diaper. Lydia soon returned with Rebekah, who looked much relieved.
 

Once we were back on the road, Rebekah asked if we had a catheter kit in our bag of special items I carry when we travel. I said that we did, and she could have one when we got to the hotel. She said she wanted one, and then Paul asked if we had any that were for men. I replied that we did; I had ordered some for Joel, but he's scared to try using a catheter. Paul said that he wanted to try using one, as he has been curious about catheters ever since Rebekah first used one during one of her past adventures.
 

The rest of the trip was filled with quiet conversation and discussion about how we wanted to spend our time over the weekend. It was going to be a fun time, and it would be great to be away from home, if only for a couple of days.
 

When we arrived at the Hotel Marley, Joel and Rebekah went to get us checked in while the rest of us waited in the van. We were all anxious to relax in our rooms, which we knew would be well-appointed and luxurious. Luck was on our side, and we got two adjoining suites, the same ones we had for the Halloween party, and a third room right across the hall. Since Paul and Rebekah were just on crutches, they took the smaller room, leaving the suites for those of us in wheelchairs.
 

We made our way to our rooms, and soon the bellboy brought our bags, including the one with Kathy's halo vest and our large bag of supplies. After getting settled in our rooms, the least immobilized of each couple unpacked their bags. We decided to rest for a couple of hours, then all meet up in Kathy and Lydia's room to plan our evening.
 

When Joel and I made our way through the adjoining doors to Kathy and Lydia's room, Paul and Rebekah were already there. We decided to have dinner at the steakhouse in the hotel and then go our separate ways to explore the little shops and bars around the hotel. Before heading down to dinner, Rebekah asked for the catheters I had offered her and Paul. Joel got them from our bag of supplies and handed them to Rebekah.
 

Paul and Rebekah went back to their room to place their catheters, and we all could tell Paul was very nervous about what he would soon be experiencing. They returned in short order with their catheters in place. Paul told Joel that with Rebekah's gentle touch, getting his catheter was actually pleasurable and not painful or uncomfortable at all. Rebekah had placed her catheter herself, something she has become quite good at doing. Paul's only concern was that they wouldn't be able to make love, but Rebekah said it was possible and that she expected him to perform later in the evening.

 
With four of us now not having to worry about finding a restroom, we headed down for an early dinner. Once again, Paul and Rebekah look so adorable in their braces, crutching along side by side. They seem to really enjoy being a braced couple; it must be wonderful for them to share this experience. I know that Sam and Millie really like wearing their matching braces, and I can't wait to go out with Joel when he's finally fully braced, too. Rebekah and I felt that when we were in our halos together, it made going through the ups and downs a lot easier. Even when you want to wear these things, there are many challenges and difficulties.

 
When we arrived at the steakhouse, it was quite busy; we went to the lounge for a drink while awaiting our table. Our waitress was a very beautiful brunette about Rebekah's age, and she seemed curious about the braces most of us were wearing, especially Paul's Kuehnegger brace. Then, just as we were going to go eat, she said to Paul, "I wore a brace like yours for over 10 years, from middle school all the way through college. It was tough, but I got used to it, and I actually miss my old brace. It was extremely uncomfortable, and I can't imagine what it's like to have to wear leg braces with it, too. From the way you move, it looks like you only recently started wearing your braces. You'll get used to them and do just fine." Paul nervously thanked her for her kind words and said, "As you can see, I am not alone when it comes to wearing braces. My wife and friends are in similar situations, and we all provide each other with support and live very happy and full lives."

 
We had an excellent dinner, with Kathy and I taking forever to eat with our various orthodontic appliances. Sometimes I get tired of the struggles they bring and wish I still had just my bands and splint. But, at the same time, everything in my mouth and my headgear bring so much pleasure to Joel and me; we can't imagine me being without a mouthful of cumbersome orthodontic appliances.
 

We decided that after dinner, we would go our separate ways to enjoy the rest of the evening. It was still early, so we had plenty of time to go have some fun. We agreed to meet for brunch tomorrow morning at ten, and then we parted ways for the evening.
 

However, before we all split up, I asked a small favor of everyone. I know you most definitely want to know what we all end up doing. So I simply asked Lydia, Rebekah, and Joel to take a few minutes later on to write about their evenings for you. I could write about what Joel and I did, but I thought you might enjoy his angle on things instead of mine. Once I get their stories, I'll write the next chapter of our adventure.
 

So, now it's off to a fun, exciting evening that is hopefully full of romance, too.