Getting my life back,, slowly

There are milestones in this year that mark for me evidence that I am getting my life back, the stages that are measured by changes in routine, abilities, or capabilities. When I first came home, I couldn't talk but a few words , nor could I spell!!! Which made is so hard, like explaining to Sam what I wanted was a BROWNIE!!!! After charade like game he could get the picture, almost anything he could guess. I couldn't walk, at all so I couldn't go to the kitchen and point out what it was that I wanted. Now I can say anything , there are some words like " Williamsburg" I had to practice for a couple hours, but I eventually got it, its retraining your mind and mouth not to mention the tongue , to work together.
My world was the bedroom and that's all. I was stuck going on to the bathroom on a " porta potty" in my room. Talk about humbling!!!
I was dizzy constantly, I used to pray 'God I will settle for not being able to walk if just you will take away the dizziness" That's how bad it was. Last month the dizziness left, just like that!
We used to take the wheelchair everywhere, but its gone now. I started walking around the house with a walker, then a 4 prong walker, then a cane, after Upledger, I could walk around the house without even a cane. I remember that when I got to walk to the bathroom, AT NIGHT , IN MY BARE FEET , NOW , " THIS IS PROGRESS!!! Walking in my bare feet is still hard but, at least now my toes relax and don't curl up and make it nearly impossible to take a step!
I still need a cane outside, for balance..... I can even walk to the barn now without a cane, but it takes to long!
The biggest thing is driving, now that a milestone! I tried about 2 months ago, I was sadly disappointed, I didn't have a enough control of my right foot to do the gas evenly, and switch to the brake fast enough. After trying a couple of times I realized it was a no go. Wait! Who says I have to use my right foot? The left will do the job , just as easily. So a week later I tried it. It took some practice, like everything else.... but the important thing was.... I WAS DRIVING!!!! I drove the first time with Michael, crying the whole time, it had been 9 months since I drove. I was free!!!! No more waiting for Michael to take me shopping or any where else for that matter.
AAHHH the simple joys!
The only thing that's still not progressing to the point of being useful is my hand and arm, but I'm not losing hope.
Looking back I see how far I've come, its been almost a year, I'm just grateful for what I have, and look forward to seeing the progress I will see in the next year.