Brayden’s CP Blog

THANK YOU!!

Our blog is finally up and running, so we can read the comments you all have posted.  We cannot thank you enough for your kindness and support.  I was really very humbled to see all of the messages we had waiting for us!  Thank you, Thank you! 

Brayden had PT, accupuncture in his head,  and electro-therapy on his arms and legs today.  He was such a trooper.  I took pics of the accupunture, but will have to post them tomorrow.  It was a little painful for him, but heck, when your a stud, you can get through anything!  You should see these Chinese guys who do his therapy.  They are like monkeys!  The climb all over the bed and bend Brayden into positions he hasn’t seen since he was in the womb!  We ventured out of the hospital today to a place called the RT Mart.  It is like a Wal-Mart and mall all in one.  They have two levels, and you can get to each level by a flat escalator thing.  Let me tell you though, the bottom floor was the stinkin’est place I have ever been to- and remember, I work at a landfill!  They have live turtles in bags for you to buy.  They also have tanks of big fish you can dip out and take home.  They don’t package any of their meat.  It is cut up and laid out for the locals to dig through- and I do mean dig through!  It was like us going to the store looking for a good baking potatoe.  That is how they do their meat.  We couldn’t get the heck out of that section fast enough!  Jason and I have been living on dry Cheerio’s and whatever the kids don’t finish, so we were happy to find Skippy peanut butter and Oreo cookies at RT.  Guess we will live on those next week!  We have ordered pizza twice, and it was okay.  They serve sweet pickles on the side w/ pizza here.  Not a combination I would have ever dreamed of.  We would both kill for a cheeseburger right now!  A guy down the hall brought us a sample of the beer they brew here locally.  It was really pretty good.  Kind of a scary thought- Chinese people driving under the influence when they dang sure can’t drive sober!  I am trying upload some video of how they drive and what they drive.  I’m pretty sure these vehicles wouldn’t even be allowed in Southeast Kansas!!

 Again, thank you all so much for posting comments! It is so great to hear from you at home.  Our love to all!

19 comments April 17th, 2008

First one down!

Knee-how from China!  Brayden made it through his first spinal injection with flying colors!  I must say it was a very scary process.  I guess bc they do things so differently here.  He had to be put to sleep for the injection bc the dr. was afraid he wouldn’t cooperate- imagine that!  When we took him down to the operating room, not a soul spoke English!  They had Jason sign a paper that was totally in Chinese.  They were doing a few things to him, and we had no clue what they were saying.  Then they came out with a shot for him.  I asked what it was, and they showed me sleepy.  A few seconds later, Brayden was sleepy, and they took him away.  Wow was that hard.  We doubted ourselves big time.  All I could think was “What in the hell was I thinking!”  Very scary!  About thirty minutes later, they wheeled him out, completely covered up.  No monitors, no oxygen, no recovery room- nothing like at home.  That freaked us out a bit.  We came back to the room, and he slept for about 7 hours.  Thank goodness!  He had to lay flat for 6 hours, so that part was a breeze.  The doctors and nurses are very kind.  A team of 5+ come in every morning to check on us.  We have pictures of the family all around the room, and they always ask about you guys.  I guess some of the doctors were playing UNO w/ another family from the US last night!  Certainly wouldn’t get this treatment in the US- well unless they charged you of course!  Funny story, 2 little nurses came in to take out Brayden’s IV this morning.  I had to hold him down so he would be still.  Apparently Brylie didn’t like that too much bc she started hollering at them and kind of hitting at them to leave him alone.  Very cute!  She loves her big brother!  Brayden had his first physical therapy session this morning.  That too is very different.  They really worked him over.  We get to do that everyday.  Sure wish we could pack these great Chinese therapists in our suit cases and take them home with us!  He gets accupunture and some other therapy this afternoon.  I hope to send some pics later.  I am trying to find out why I can’t view your comments yet.  Please keep posting, and hopefully we will get to read them soon!

 Love to all!

11 comments April 17th, 2008