We are here!!!
April 15th, 2008
Well, we made it! Wow- I could write a novel, but I will try to keep it short. We did great to Chicago. Brylie slept and Brayden listened to his IPOD. Chicago Airport was quite a treat! After a good ole American breakfast, we decided we better do diaper duty. Brylie decided she was going to give me a treat- a diaper full of diareah. FANTASTIC! Thank god it only got a little on her pants, so after a quick rinse and dry- she was good to go! I proceeded to take Brayden in for a quick change. Poor kid- you would have thought I was beating him. You can’t change him on the counter, and I wasn’t about to put him on the floor, so I held him up with one arm and changed him with the other and my knees. Oh if you could have seen the looks I got when we walked out of that stall! I can’t imagine what they thought I was doing to him! So we are now into the flight to Shanghai. Brylie is sleeping, Brayden and Jason are munching down on what looked like roast. I reach down to wipe off Brayden’s shirt and about died! He has the diareah too! I mean it has leaked out of his diaper, down his leg, up his back, up to his chest! I’m thinking- what in the hell are we gonna do now. After about 10 minutes of waiting on a bathroom to open up, we just decided to change him right there. Those poor, poor souls sitting around us! Thank god I had packed extra shirts, so we just threw his shirt away and washed out his pants as best we could. Brayden was w/o pants for the remaining 10 hours!! Thankfully, the rest of that flight went great! The kids were AMAZING!!! Trying to figure out what to do when we got off the plane was quite a treat! I knew the bus that we needed to take to the other airport, but had quite a time explaining it. These Chinese people go a mile a minute! Remember 8 bags, 2 kids, stroller, wheelchair! We find the bus route, and get in line. Well, lines don’t really exist in China. You push your way through. So basically we got trompled. We get all of our bags on the bus, and are ready to board, only to find out that this bus line is not handicapped accessible. In order to accomodate us, they put Brayden’s chair in the stairway on the bus. Off we go-crammed in like sardines! Now remember, we are all smelling like diarreah and 16 hours of staleness! I’m sure the Chinese are convinced that American’s really smell! Well, I have it in my notes that this bus ride should take 15-25 minutes. An hour into this trip I am panic city!!! Apparently the 15-25 minutes was the interval bt the buses! Okay no sweat- WRONG!!! We get to the other airport, and the driver opens the door. Out goes Brayden’s chair into about 100 people! We try to find our check-in gate now to catch Chinese flight to Qingdao. Obivioulsy noticing our family could not say/read much Chinese, a lady (we will call her Ms. Golden Teeth) offered to help us. She carried our bags, pushed the kids, was really helpful. I’m thinking, “Man, these Chinese people are great!” So we find our check-in counter, wait in line, and start to put our backs on the checked luggage belt. The airline lady says “Wait! Go by ticket for baby, then come back!” She did not care that I had been told by her airline that Brylie didn’t need a ticket- she demanded differently. So I leave Jason and the kids with Ms. Golden Teeth so I can get a ticket for Brylie. After trying to explain what we needed, I was having NO LUCK. They were not going to let me buy one for her. Thankfully Ms. Golden Teeth came over and explained it all to the ticket guy. While I am waiting for them to run my credit card, Ms. Golden Teeth says “I leave you now.” So I thanked her and waved goodbye. She stood there and finally pointed to Jason’s billfold. I smiled and waved again. With a stern look, she pointed to it again. All I had were American $100 bills, so guess what- Ms. Golden Teeth got $100 from Lorie. I finally meet up with Jason and the kids- only to find out that he had already given Ms. Golden Teeth $20. What suckers!!! We get our bags checked, and they tell us that Brayden’s wheelchair and Brylie’s stroller has to be checked there. So they bring us another chair for Brayden to use. Off we go through security. The nice Chinese man pushed Brayden on through. Jason and I are still trying to get through, and I hear Brayden laughing. He had slid himself out of the chair and fell between the footrests and under the chair, and the nice Chinese man was trying to get him out from under it. Oh my gosh- what a sight! Brayden thought that was damn funny! We finally made it to Qingdao at about 9:30 p.m. The staff was very nice that picked us up. They all loved on both of the kids. Funny little thing though. We were SOOO looking forward to showers, but in China, no hot water from 10:00 pm to 8:00 am! So we hurried up and showered the kids, but Jason and I are still stinking it up!!! There is also no operating heat during this time of year, so we all froze last night. I tell you, we American’s sure do take things for granted!!
We met the doctors and staff this morning. Brayden got poked for the first time, but he did great! We found out that he will be getting his first spinal treatment tomorrow. As you all know, we are VERY nervous about that part. Please continue to keep us in your prayers. We love you all and miss you so much! I will post after Brayden’s injection tomorrow.
Entry Filed under: Uncategorized
15 Comments Add your own
1. Bonnie Hawkins | April 15th, 2008 at 8:37 pm
I am so glad you are there, was just thinking about you guys this morning 7:30, Tues. April 15th, thought I would check the website did not realize it was already up, even before you left. Sounds like quite a trip, hopefully now that you are there, you can reach out to what they are offering you, and I pray there will be successful resullts, you guys have been so strong dealing with all of Brayden’s problems, you deserve some positive outcome. I will continue to pray, and anxious to continue reading the website, this is great to be able to know what is going on and communicate. Love you guys, Bonnie
2. Aunt TT | April 15th, 2008 at 8:59 pm
I am so thankful you all made it and had such an adventurous time! Did you think that it would be any other way? You guys always make traveling fun!!! I am praying for Brayden as he goes through his first procedure. I love and miss you all so much. Take care.
Love,
Aunt TT
PS. Uncle KK says you guys need to make sure and get some ones for the next time you adventure away from the hospital! If you need help around the KC Airport, he knows someone that would help you around for $120.!!!! Love ya.
3. Momma Sue | April 15th, 2008 at 9:30 pm
Doesn’t sound like a Hallmark moment!!!!! Your Mom called me last night to let me know that Carrie had talked to you and that you were there. I was really glad she did, I have been calulating the time all day.
Love to all
Momma Sue
4. Amy Soper | April 15th, 2008 at 10:37 pm
Hey Johson Family just wanted to let you know I’m thinking of you guys and hope everything goes well for you in China.Take care and keep us all posted.
5. Aunt TT | April 16th, 2008 at 12:13 am
I am so thankful you all made it and such an adventurous time! Did you think that it would be any other way? You guys always make traveling fun!! I am praying for Brayden as he goes through his first procedure. I love and miss you all so much. Take Care.
Love,
Aunt TT
PS. Uncle KK says you guys need to make sure and get some ones for the next time you adventure away from the hospital! If you need help around the KC airport, he knows someone that would help you around for $120!!!!! Love ya.
6. Lisa | April 16th, 2008 at 2:10 am
What a wonderful way to communicate. I read it out loud to Mom and we were laughing and swelling up with tears at the same time. I remember a plane ride with baby poop everywhere but it certainly was not for 16 hours. So glad to hear your doing ok. We have been thinking and praying for you lots.
Love to all,
Lisa
7. Nana | April 16th, 2008 at 3:42 am
Hi guys! We were so happy to hear from you. We love and miss you all. We are all fine and everything is going o.k. Brylie you give bubby a lot of hugs and kisses today for all of us. Good Luck Brayden. Be a good boy and it will be over before you know it. Remember Nana & Papa love you.
8. Kitten Gilmore | April 16th, 2008 at 3:46 am
Bless your guys hearts. I hope that the kids are doing okay now. I wish everyone the best.I will keep all of you in my prayers. Please let me (us) know how Brayden is doing? I hope you snd Jason get showers. Again I miss him, hope all is well.
Kitten Gilmore
9. Bryan Wyckoff | April 16th, 2008 at 6:14 am
I’m glad that you all made it there ok. Hopefully, the rest of your stay will go a little bit better than the plane rides did. We’ll continue to keep all of you in our prayers – especially Brayden.
Love,
Bryan, Trish and the boys.
10. Marta Brown | April 16th, 2008 at 7:51 am
So glad to hear everything is going okay. I just can’t imagine going somewhere that no one spoke english. I feel in my heart that you are doing the right thing and this is going to have agood outcome for Braden and your whole family. Remember, you are not alone there as you are in our thoughts constantly. Lots of love and good wishes are coming your way every minute of every day.
Keep us posted. Marta B.
11. becky | April 16th, 2008 at 10:20 am
Lorie and jason, Your story is so funny. I hope all goes well for you. Everyone at school is wishing you the best and they are reading your story as well. We love you. Becky and family
12. Amy Johnson | April 16th, 2008 at 10:51 am
Hey Johnson Gang!!
So glad to hear that you all made is safely!! You have been in our thoughts & prayers!! We love you guys so much & we will be thinking & praying for you constantly!! Brayden we love you & be strong
Take Care ~ LOVE YOU GUYS!!
Love,
Aunt Amy, Uncle Chris, Kaitlyn, Tyler & Seth
13. angie | April 16th, 2008 at 11:03 pm
OGM!! None of that surprises me! Only you guys! Hope things have settled down and you get some rest. You are all in my thoughts.
Love and Miss you~
Ang
14. Erica | April 17th, 2008 at 9:36 am
Hey guys! Sounds like you’ve had quite the adventure!!! Glad to hear you made it safely…even if you did get screwed by a gold toothed lady! I know Sophie had diahrrea on the flight back from Thailand…I think it was a pretty rough flight for Wyndee and Fred…I’m praying for you all and hope Brayden did well with his first treatment. Can’t wait to read the next blog!
15. Kitty McCulley | April 17th, 2008 at 9:58 am
I’m so relieved to hear you all got there safe and sound!!! Besides a few speed bumps of course!
You should write a book!!! My mom and I read it tonight while setting with dad in hospital!! We needed to smile!!
You and your family are in our prayers!! We love you very much!!
Leave a Comment
Some HTML allowed:
<a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>
Trackback this post | Subscribe to the comments via RSS Feed