Monday 4th Injection
So far so good… I’ll post more after he gets up.
The doctor went very slow and more fluids were given 
5 comments June 21st, 2010
Our Weekend
This weekend Jeff had Friday and Sunday off. On Friday we went to the beach. It was a lot of fun. The coastline is very rocky and the girls and I climbed out on the rocks. Hannah said that is something she has seen in pictures and always wanted to do.
While we were there we saw about 12 brides, all in their white gowns, having pictures made on the rocks. It was a beautiful sight to see.
On Saturday, Jeff had all his therapies and the girls and I stayed in the room and watched Percy Jackson the Lightning Thief. We then went to hang out on the orange couches with the other families. We decided to have a party and serve spaghetti. It was very good and fun to get to socialize outside of the room! We then played numerous rounds of the card game “speed”. It was a nice relaxing time!
On Sunday we went shopping to the Jimo Market which is downtown. Jeff feels great now and was able to go. It was very hot and it made it a long day. We stopped at Pizza Hut first and ate lunch. Matthew, a patient rep for Beike, came and met us for lunch. He was trying to teach Emily a litttle Chinese-she didn’t really seem to catch on. We went shopping and found some great deals. I can mark everyone off my list except my brothers red elephant…I’m not sure one really exists. It may just be a test
We stopped by Subway, yes Subway, on the way back to the hospital. It looked just like home. Same menu and the meat looked the same. It tasted OK… for me it is partly psychological- the food makes me nervous here–maybe more than partly I just like to eat food out of one of our 7 suitcases. It makes me feel better. I’m always afraid someone will get sick—of course no one has but I a little bit of a worrier!
Tomorrow is Jeff’s next spinal treatment. Please say a prayer for things to go as well as they did last time. The doctor went much slower and she ordered more fluids for him afterwards. We are going to ask for the same doctor, but I’m not sure if it will do any good- it may be just who is on duty. He is going to ask whoever to go slow and hopefully the fluids will be a no brainer from now on!
Jeff is feeling stronger each day. His speech is improved and his vision is better. He is much more steady on his feet, but not as steady as we had hoped…yet. He still has 5 more treatments to go:)
4 comments June 20th, 2010
No Headache
Jeff’s headache seems to be gone! Thank you for all the prayers! The doctor who did his procedure yesterday went much slower than they did last time and also gave him fluids. This seemed to be a winning combination! he says he feels great.
We have the day off tomorrow. If we can still arrange a car, we are going to go down to the beach area and walk around. I had been hesitant to schedule anything because I did not know how we would feel. The girls are getting a little bit of cabin fever and need to “do something” !
Thank you for all the Facebook Birthday wishes. It made Jeff smile this morning as he read them!
His next spinal is scheduled for Monday. Let’s start praying now for the same doctor to perform the procedure and NO headache
10 comments June 17th, 2010
2nd Spinal Injection
Jeff had a spinal injection today at 3:00 pm. He is still laying on his back, but seems to be ok. He can get up and move around at 930 tonight, but he is planning to stay flat longer to try to help the headache. They did say that he has less spinal fluid because of his atrophy in his brain…or something to that effect… so they went ahead and gave him additional fluids to try to help keep the headaches away.
Jeff said the spinal was no big deal. It does not hurt at all. That is always good to hear. I am just going to pray that this time he will feel better afterwards!!
I will post again later once He gets up and moving. It will probably be tomorrow morning for us, Wednesday night for you all.
Say an extra prayer for NO HEADACHE or other complications. Thanks!!!
5 comments June 16th, 2010
Tuesday
Today Jeff felt better most of the morning, so we decided to go to an open air market with 4 other families here. It was fun. There was a lot of junk to look at. Emily found lots of things that she thought were beautiful and wanted to buy. Hannah just looked. Emily bought a dress for about $5 US and shoes for $3 US—can’t beat the prices. Both girls bought a fleece blanket-they get cold at night in the hospital–not sure how with NO AC!!! Hannah’s is perfect, it matches her room exactly! Emily’s is just pretty. The blankets cost about 2.50 each!!
Unfortunately once the cabs arrived to take us home, Jeff’s head began to hurt again. He is now asleep–praying the pain will stop. I am not sure what we will do tomorrow. he is supposed to get another spinal treatment. He has been reluctant to tell the doctors about the headache for fear they may not let him have the spinal tomorrow. Jeff and I are trying to decide what to do. I am afraid another spinal will add more pressure, making his head hurt worse–or will it??? He could get an IV treatment tomorrow instead….please say a prayer that it will be clear what we need to do in the morning. It is tough to try to make the decisions!
Also, if any of you see my sister…please tell her to answer her phone. I have been really needing to talk to her and have not been able to get her for 2 days 
I have stress only a sister can make better!!!
9 comments June 15th, 2010
the positive effects of coffee!
Jeff woke up this morning and still had a headache..going on 3 days…not good. If it continued he would not be able to have another round of stem cells on Wednesday. It hit us all of a sudden…he has not had coffee and was having caffeine withdrawals. After 2 cups, he was feeling much better and the headaches are less intense than they were.
Therapy is going good and he is getting stronger each day. His speech is 100 times better!! He is able to speak more clearer and faster, less labored than before. His head has been hurting and he has felt bad so I have not pushed him too hard to look for physical improvements.
We hand washed about 15 pieces of laundry and my hands are raw from wringing out the water. How did people wash all their clothes by hand??? I am missing my washing machine!!! Oh well, maybe I can call it “working out” since it is not fun and it makes my arms sore—?? Maybe?? Emily and Hannah both helped, they seem to enjoy hand washing.
Please pray that Jeff’s head continues to feel better and that he is able to get his therapy on Wednesday as planned.
3 comments June 14th, 2010
Sunday
Today we were all supposed to go to the Jimo Mart with 2 other families, but Jeff still did not not feel 100%. His head hurt a little and he did not want to go and be out and it get worse. so the girls and I went out with out him. It was sad…if we had not already arranged for the car, we would not have went with out him! He needed the rest and the girls needed to get out of this hospital.
The girls seemed to enjoy the experience. Both of them were natural negotiators. They would give me a price on something and either Hannah or Emily would immediately say “NO” “Too much” and go lower they were brutal!! Hannah picked out a new purse and wallet for next year–middle school. She also got a new pair of black Nike shoes with purple swooshes (for around 15 American dollars!) Emily found a small hot pink purse she wanted. Emily also bought a couple of hair clips…they are beautiful in her blond hair!
Thankfully when we returned, Jeff was felling better, still not normal, but closer. He will resume his therapies tomorrow and receive another Stem Cell treatment on Wednesday of this week.
Say a prayer that the rest of the headache goes away and we can begin to see the wonderful benefits of these treatments
3 comments June 13th, 2010
FIRST TREATMENT!!!!!!!
heyyy! it’s hannah. Daddy had his 1st lumbar treatment yesterday.
all went well yesterday. The only thing that is hurting is his back where they put the needles in. He was talking to his mom just a minute ago and my mom noticed that he was talking faster and not as slurred. we are all still tired so maybe later we will have more good news.
hannah
june 12
Jeff is feeling well. He woke up with a little bit of a headache, but once we realized he had not eaten in almost 24 hours, we decided it was a hunger headache. He had breakfast and thankfully felt much better. He took a short nap and is now up and eating lunch. He says he feels better!
I can tell that his speech has already improved. He is less slurred and it seems easier for his to talk. My dad said he looks better when he saw him on the web cam (isn’t technology great!)
In our very unscientific tests we perform after each treatment, he seems to be improving. He is able to stand with his feet together and his eyes closed. He was able to stand on one leg-still need help, but Emily was able to steady him-so he didn’t need much help his legs are still spread apart when he walks. That has not really changed yet.
I am so thankful for even the smallest improvements! It simply confirms that we are supposed to be here and that these treatments will help give him a fuller, better quality life !!!!
Please keep the prayers coming… have 6 more treatments and 35 more days to go…
2 comments June 12th, 2010
Thursday
Things have been kinda boring around here. Not much to report. Jeff is continuing his therapy each day and each day is feeling a little more steady.
Tomorrow is the big day. He will get his first spinal injection. Please say a prayer Friday (Thursday night for you) that he will not have any side effects. I am praying that he will begin to feel the positive effects as soon as Saturday:)
We received the results of his MRI today. We were not surprised by the results, Jeff’s brain has large slits where his cerebellum is. I am hoping that when we return we can get another MRI and compare the results to see in black and white what changes have occurred.
Thanks for all the prayers and comments! It feels good to read them each day!
Hopefully I will have great news to post tomorrow after Jeff’s Injection!!
13 comments June 10th, 2010
The roller coaster(s)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
hey!!! it’s hannah.
okay, two days ago we finally to ride the roller coaster!!!!!! we bought something so we can ride four things. we rode the roller coaster, swings, a pirate boat that rocks back and forth, and a ride that has a metal frame that is like a streched-out ‘u’ and a big cirle thing that u sit on, facing outward. so then u spin around on the circle thing and slowly go up to the top of each side og the ‘u’.
but we met some1 named Shayle(?) who wanted some1 to ride with, so we went with her yesterday. we again got the four ride ticket thing. we all rode the roller coaster and the ‘u’ spiny thing, but then me and Shayle rode something like the tower of terror that went up and then down over and over again and one of those flippy things that spins the seats around and around forward and backward. emily rode the swings again and after much thought rode the merry-go-’round. she didn’t want to ride by herself, so we talked them into letting me ride for free.
we will probably go back but i wanted to let everyone know that we did ride it (and others).
hananh
june 9th
Add comment June 10th, 2010
