I’m not counting today or friday when we travel to beijing or Saturday because that’s the day we’ll be home and that means there’s only 3 days to go. Yeah!!
Not much going on here and not much to report. Yesterday was our day off and we went for a walk, it only took us 3 1/2 hours. We walked to the big shopping center and when we got there it was that busy we walked back. There was people everywhere and not even anywhere to stop for a coffee. There is no such thing as accessible china, everywhere has a minimum of 2 steps to get in and with all the food Grace is eating and the weight of her wheelchair i haven’t got the energy. I went to the bank on Thursday and saw there was a wheelchair ramp which was a pleasant surprise until you go up it and along the front of the building which then has a pillar sticking out that reduces the walkway to about a foot wide. So what i actually had to do was take the wheelchair down 3 steps then up three steps just because i used the ramp. The u.k is nowhere near as accessible as it needs to be but at least at home somebody will help you up the steps, here they just watch you.
Grace was tossing and turning most of the night and trying her best to jump out of bed. She’s in a hospital bed with the bed rails but somehow keeps on managing to get her head through the gap and threatening to jump off. I’d let her if i didn’t think she’d be up for the rest of the night then.
Friday night was pizza and movie night. Not sure what i watched but it was rubbish anyway. Pizza was nice, Grace allowed me to have 2 slices then polished the rest off herself. I’m lucky she doesn’t like salad so i had something to eat. Yesterday’s sunday lunch was KFC and she ate my burger bun! The 1st day she’s back in school i am going to sit down and eat a whole meal to myself and then tell her about it when she comes home.
With yesterday being our day off she got to relax and spent a llittle time on the floor. She was desperately trying to crawl but couldn’t get her big fat belly off the ground. If she keeps eating we might have to get her some wheels fitted like they do to tortoises.
She’s just had her i.v put in and we’re waiting for her turn for the spinal and then it’ll be a quiet day but hopefully not too quiet as i’ve only got 1 more book left.
Hi Leanne and Grace,
Good to hear that you got out and about. Pity about the inaccessability though. I know things aren’t great at home either but China is supposed to be trying to move with the times and I am sure they have as many people with disabilities as the rest of the world.
Grace sounds like she is ‘full of beans’ and your share of the meals. She has a great healthy appetite. It is good that it is one less thing to worry about.
I am sure you are both dying to get home and see all the family. They will be so happy to have you back too. Rose won’t let either of you out of her sight after this. I hope the next few days pass easily and your journey is a pleasent one.
Thinking of you both,
Lots of love,
Orla
Hey
good to hear ye are on the home straight!!! I hope the last 3 days just fly by!!
Back to school today and it was Kyle’s 1st day in big school! He looked gorgeous in his uniform and was dying to go in!!! It was very sad too but at least he was excited!!!
No news here!! sorry for the short message!!!
talk soon
xxxxx
Hiya
11.30am
Just thought I’d drop you a message as I was unable to call you earlier, but I expect you were busy with Grace and her spinal etc.
Rose was as good as gold yesterday and played happily with Connah for the afternoon. Unfortunately though it all got a bit much in the evening and I think Michael had a job on his hands.
Well, you are nearly at the end of your trip and you will be looking forward to seeing Michael and Rose, the time will soon pass now and you will have to practice slow reading!!
Ged is taking Jamie, Rachel and Connah home later to Bradford and staying over to go with Fiona to the hospital in the morning about a possible hip replacement. So it will be back to peace and quiet for me again till Ged gets back tomorrow evening.
Anyway, take care of yourselves and give Grace a bug hug from me and Grandad for trying to crawl. That is really fantastic!
love as always
Mum and Ged xx
todays word ‘paradigm’
Hi,
You sound very excited to be coming home. I am glad its coming to an end now. Its been a long trip for you this time. Just keep thinking about Rose’s cutie smile when she sees you….
Good on Grace trying to crawl, wow. But crawling with a belly full of dumplings cant be easy! Its terrible to hear that where you are is not wheelchair friendly, I guess we just take it for granted that most places will have ramps and easy access.
We went to Portsmouth for the bank holiday weekend. Got so badly sunburned. It was boiling down there. Had a lovely time though, spent all day saturday at Garys nephews football tournament.
I am thinking about looking for a new job soon…. Gary reckons I should stop thinking about it and start looking properly!!
Orla has pictures of her house on Facebook, its so gorgeous, we are really looking forward to seeing in ‘in the flesh’.
Not much news from here.
Chin up, ye will be home before ye know it.
Big kisses for Grace XXXX
Fatty Boom Boom X
Hi
Hope you are both keep well, not long now I bet you both cannot wait to come home and see Micheal and Rose, I saw Rose at the weekend and she is so big compared to Francesca, so god knows how big Grace will look.
I hear congratulations is in order, you managed to keep that one quite.
Well I have lots to tell you when I see you.
Have a safe journey home and we will see you both when you get home.
Take care
Pen, Alan and Fracesca
xxx
Hi again
I am logging in obsessively to check if there is an update. No pressure , I just like to know how you are getting on.
I have just noticed everyone has been sharing thier anti-spam words and I never do so……..my word for today is inculcate, which Merriam-Webster tells me means to teach and impress by frequent repetitions or admonitions.
So just to keep you posted on what is going on here, in case you are seriously bored and have time to read my ramblings. I worked at home yesterday morning because someone was coming to fix the oven. He came he fixed he left. I baked a tomato and herb bread for lunch which we had with speck and split pea soup. It was yummy and then I went into work. Then we had (from the freezer) calamari (yuck don’t try it) with salad and homemade garlic bread. Then I made chocolate muffins for the people I work with. I was giving the oven a good try to make sure it was all fixed. Of course the muffins were the last straw and the oven started to make a lot of noise again. So this means the oven doesn’t like when I bake treats or it wasn’t completely fixed in the first place! So we’ll have to get the technician out again
(
I have signed up for a 10km Fun Run on 13th September. Will all the packing and moving I haven’t really had a chance to train. So today Jamie (one of the team from work) and I went for a lunchtime run. %.6km and we were tired. We better get our act together or we won’t finish the 10 km
(
I think that is about all my news. I hope Grace is still enjoying the food and is enjoying the process of trying to crawl. It is probably fun for a bit before it becomes frustrating. She sounds like she is doing really well. I hope you are looking after yourself too. You are one day closer to going home which is great. It won’t be long now. Thinking of you.
Lots of love Orla xxx
Hi Hun
Sorry havent been on for a while but I have been away and now Im drowning under all the washing and ironing from it! I cant seem to make a dent at all.
Your on thw homestretch now and will be reunited with your family, you have done the hard part now all you need to do is start looking after yourself! I will have you here for lunch next week what would you like? And I will make sure the kids dont get any!!!!
Boys are fine, Owen goes back to school tomorrow, I dont want him to go to be honest Ive enjoyed having him home and thats saying something!
Thats wonderful news about Grace trying to crawl hun, you will have to move all your stuff off the floor again?!!
Your trip this time seems to have gone quick for me, probably not for you xxx Its all worth it in the end Im positive of that.
See you when you are home hun, chin up and you will soon be back in rainy cold wales!
Lots of love
Sian and the boys xxxxxxxxxx