Barbara’s MJD Blog

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

October 8th, 2008

I had a great day today!  When the team of doctors that come around on morning rounds came in, I showed them my newly discovered ability!  I can squat fully down (like when you’re shopping for shoes and you want to see pair on the bottom shelf before you decide to pull it all the way out & up), and then come back up again, without falling (or rolling) backwards!  I also walked a bit (don’t get excited), then turned around kind of pirouette style (now you can get excited- I am).  I am still not walking without my walker, however, I pretty much made it clear this morning to the doctors that is my goal.  They all were excited (for me & their treatments).  They filmed me at this morning’s performance.  Apparently, they have a before, during, and after treatment video that they show you.  As for the walking, we’ve changed my PT exercises a bit – I still need to improve my balance, then, the walking can be re-learned. 

Accupuncture was accupuncture this morning, poor Brandon was inconsolable.  Can you blame him?? 

 We went to the market, it was actually peaceful (we’ve been here entirely too long).  Well, another first for me today.   We were getting a little light on RMB (Chinese $$), but enough to be fine at the market.  (We had given an interpreter USD to exchange earlier in the day- but he hadn’t come back yet).  Well, when you go to the food market, it’s also a shopping mall.  So, Deena and I just started looking around, basically I’m convinced that there are 4 types of stores: 1.Jeans stores  2. Shoe stores  3. bag stores (leather) and 4.  Jewelry stores.  Well #3 got us this time.  We picked out what we wanted, got to the register, and realized we didn’t have enough  Chinese money!  So, I tried to pay with my VISA card and the girl said it had to be ‘Chinese card’ (wait until I contact VISA).  Thank God for my electronic translator.  They’re going to hold the bags until 5:00 tomorrow for us. 

Wait a minute…I’m not done yet.  So, we go into the food market, bought a few souvenirs ( for about 1/3 of the money that I had on me- you have to pay at a different register right away).  Get our food items, go to checkout, and I start counting how much RMB I have.  I’m watching the register total, and the items left to be scanned, then I had to play charades to get the girl to stop, and put back a few items.  I have never had to do that.  The cashier smiled and obviously understood, and we got it done.  I apologized profusely (in English AND Chinese).  And we were off!  You’ll be happy to know that the interpreter gave us our RMB (and he got a great rate).  So, we’re all set !

PT went well today, stairs, walking over obstacles (not as good as yesterday), and a fun new exercise where I stand feet wide on a rolly, polly board (it’s kinda like a board with 1/2 a ball on the bottom) between PT bars that I can grab onto if I need to, and Tom (my therapist today)  threw a large stuffed ball at me to catch it.  It was fun, and I was good at it! 

Electrocution doesn’t phase me anymore.  Sara said they use it at Spa,s to get rid of cellulite.  Okay, okay, why can’t they strap it to my *ss!

We ordered dinner tonight, Chicken and Rice (not spicy), we got Fried Rice – Try talking to a chinese delivery man about ordering something different than what you got.  We got Chicken and Rice across, Deena just laughed and said,”it’ll be hot (spicy)”.  Oh well, there’s always PB&J!

Next (and final) Spinal Treatment is Friday – BRING IT ON!

Can’t knock me down!

Entry Filed under: mjd,Uncategorized