Archive for January, 2010
Therapy went really went well the last to days, walking backwards is more fluid.
Took video today, Bob and I are expecting a royalty check by the time we get home.
The final lumbar injection got switched back to the original date of Feb 1, instead of Jan 29. I guess Bob and I will have to go outside shopping this afternoon instead.
Bought gifts for the nurses last nite, still have to pick out gifts for the therapists and doctors.
Found out want we actually ate yesterday, Bob had spicy pig snout and I had spicy chicken gizzards. We are amazed that the staff thought it was funny. We let them order lunch for us again today, PORK (not sure what parts). All of the meals they have ordered for us, which is every meal, have been really good. Our favorite meat has been sheep meat (lamb). So far the only American food we have eaten is Hooter’s. Might have to go to Hooter’s one more time, since the sign for you when you leave the country, and happy hour last from 3 – 6.
The doctors told us we might want to let off fireworks when we leave, might look into that.
January 29th, 2010
Not to eventful today, rained all day.
Just therapy this morning and this afternoon.
Walking backwards went a lot better. The most improvement is in walking a straight line and going up and down steps.
I guess I will spend this afternoon teaching Bob how to type, (maybe hunt & peck).
January 27th, 2010
Lumbar injection yesterday, it went good. I must be getting the whole procedure down pat, because the whole process takes less than 15 minutes. By far the worst part is laying flat and still for six hours. Last night I was able to sleep for an hour and a half, so that helps. Last night Bob even tried to pass the time by singing to me, greatly appreciated but way out of tune.
Therapy was a little more intense yesterday and today, started on walking backward. Going good, Bobs there to guide me.
Anna, one of my therapist might be leaving me this weekend, she told me she wants to see me to the end,but its up to Beike.
Now that Bob and I are so familiar with the streets of Shanghai, we are taking all of the patients, that want to go, out to Hooters. The manager is from Philadelphia and the girls are friendlier than they are in the states.
Nine days to go, until we return home. Shanghai is so big you would not be able to see all of it in a month. Sunday when we went out to People’s Square we ran into to guys from St. Louise, one of the men said he lived in Coralville for two years.
One of the doctors is taking us to his church this sunday, the service is in english.
On our way to the airport we are riding Shanghai’s magnetic train. From the hospital to the airport is suppose to take five minutes, thirty by car.
Only have one weekend left, want to go to the Bund and the World Expo center.
January 26th, 2010
More therapy, acupuncture, and massage.
The doctors changed my injections from the 25th and 1st to the 25th and the 29th.
They informed me that they have put me under no restrictions for food, I guess I am a good patient.
Balancing and playing catch is a lot easier, and every day time duration increases.
The staff here has not grown tired of Bob and I yet, we all get along so well. They will miss us when we’re gone.
Bob is so spoiled, not only has he gotten the staff to bring a coffee machine to our floor, he is the only one to use it, but now he has the therapist working on his sore muscles.
Went out to Hooters, Jade Budda Temple, and the Silk Factory yesterday. Drove half way across Shanghai in search of Hard Rock Cafe just to find out it left Shanghai 2 years ago.
Today we went to People’s Square, the Chinese really value their history, and the JinMao Tower. It is 88 stories tall and only takes 40 seconds to get to the top. In 1999 when it was completed it was the tallest in the world. They are working on a tower right now that will be the second tallest in the world, just behind the new tower in Dubi.
Will not be to active this week, since monday and friday I will be spending half of the day in bed, fun, fun, but it will all be worth it.
January 24th, 2010
My forth spinal injection went well, I can testify that it is to your own benefit to lay perfectly flat. After my third injection I did raise my head occasionally, that was on a friday, the following monday, tuesday, and wednesday my neck muscles were in such spasm that it was painful to raise my head. After three hours of massage and shock therapy my neck muscles were still in spasm, but this morning after laying perfectly flat for six hours, my neck was just like nothing was ever wrong. So now everything is good!
Physical therapy was the best it has been yet.
Dr. Peter, who does my acupuncture and massage, threw in something new today, after massage he did a Chinese thing with glass globes that at like little vacuums and are suppose to suck the tension out of you.
Tomorrow is just therapy. My next injection is not until monday, and now I know how important it is to lay flat and still. Only two to go.
Shanghai is really getting busy, not only are they putting the final touches on the World Expo district, but the residents are really anxious for the New Year’s holiday.
January 21st, 2010
More therapy, acupuncture, ultra-sound, and massage the last two days.
Meet with the doctors now on a daily basis, so they can evaluate my progress. Not up to running yet, but up to balancing on one leg for one minute.
I have my third spinal injection tomorrow, nothing to it, the hardest part is laying flat for six hours after. The doctors told me that the more I lay flat the better the results, so far it’s working so I’ll keep doing as they say.
Now that they keep me busy on a regular basis time is going by pretty fast, in fact only sixteen days to go.
The staff here is so friendly and talkative toward Bob and I, that they all want to know about our lives back in the states. In fact they all think that Bob’s boys are some of the handsomest they have seen. They really love the blonde hair, but Jared is the pick of the litter.
Pretty well gave up on learning Chinese, now our focus is on teaching the staff english.
January 19th, 2010
Started every day with therapy, good news is that the doctors, after examining me agreed that I am making noticeable improvement.
Met the intern for the hospital yesterday, very nice girl, her name is Jessica. She is from Korea, doing her pre-med work in Iowa at Buena Vista University. She left last night for Korea to visit her parents for two days, then back to Iowa. Bob and I both had our picture taken with her, so maybe we will be in her term paper. We will be keeping in touch once I get back to Iowa. So Betty get ready for a trip across the state.
My lumbar injection went fine, only tree more to go.
Not even half way through our journey in China, so the countdown of days has not started yet. That’s OK because Bob and I get along so well that time goes by fast.
We lost one of our English speaking families. The man here from Oklahoma was here for optic never damage, due to a stroke. After his initial evaluation, Beike decided to transfer him to Quindao.
Plans are to go to the zoo this weekend, they are suppose to have five pandas there. After one and a half weeks we finally found post cards, still working on finding a post office. Found out that we are in the expensive neighborhood of Shanghai, we we’re told yesterday how to get to the markets for the common people.
January 16th, 2010
Everything went like usual today, more therapy.
Met the man and his wife that just came in last night. They are from a small rural town in Oklahoma. He surfers from optic nerve damage due to a stoke.
My next lumbar injection is friday, hopefully it goes as smoothly as the first one did.
The staff here is lining up some serious sightseeing for this weekend, so Bob and I will be taking lots of pictures.
After eight days we are finally getting accustomed to the time change, in fact I almost overslept this morning.
Tomorrow is going to be a busy day, starts out with therapy, then acupuncture and massage.
The staff here is not going to know what to do when Bob and I leave, they’re going to want to come back to the states with us.
Language lesson with the staff is going well, in fact they gave us two new words for tomorrow.
January 13th, 2010
Feeling good today after lumbar injection last night.
Met with the doctors this morning, they were all very pleased.
Lots of therapy today, all went good. Both the therapist and Bob say they can see a noticeable difference, so that’s good.
All of the doctors and therapists have caught on to Bob and I’s not so serious humor, and it agree with them. One of my therapist, Anna, is teaching Bob and I how to speak Chinese, in fact she has already given us homework. She tried to teach us how to use chopsticks, but we both gave up.
Went out and around the neighbor-hood this afternoon, good exercise. With my schedule it’s hard to go out for more than two hours.
Tomorrow is more therapy and massage.
January 12th, 2010
Actually this is day 7, but day 7 was a Sunday. It rained all day so we will just skip it.
Met with more doctors and specialists this morning, going over my treatment since my first lumbar puncture is this afternoon. Lots of therapy today and then acupuncture.
My first lumbar was today, the procedure on took about 20 minutes. No pain after, just lying flat for six fours was a little difficult.
Met with the people from New Zealand today, she suffers from MS. They are both very friendly and outgoing. Besides having her caregiver her father is coming to visit for five days.
The hospital receives two for patients this week, both from the United States. By the end of the week the doctors thought all of the rooms would be full.
Hopefully it stops raining this week and they let us outside, because we are getting way behind on our sightseeing.
Growing very accustomed to the food here, only had one meal that Bob and I will not order again. Bob and I went out to a traditional Chinese restaurant and tried ordering by ourselves, big mistake! Domestic meals here are very cheap, finacialy, a person would never get a meal good meal in the states for $2.00 US.
We found out that it is very easy to bargain with the store owners.
Well, I do not have another treatment until Friday, just therapy, so I will talk tomorrow.
January 12th, 2010
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