Archive for February, 2010
Hello there,
Well, its a fantastic day here in Qingdao. Nice and sunny. I had my morning therapies with Jerry until around 11 and then we hung out on the couchs for a while. I had a video interview with the guys from beike today. That was fun!! We then chatted for hours with 2 families, which we really enjoyed. Done a little shopping and ate in the Holiday Inn. Nice!!
We have tomorrow and Sunday free so we trying to figure out whats left to do. Not long left here, cant wait to go home and see everyone. But of course we will miss all our new buddies!! Im nearly ready to start packing but Matthew wont let me yet. I suppose it is a bit early!!!! I have my last treatment this monday, a spinal so then were pretty much done by wednesday.
Anyway, no more news from me!! Only that, Im still happy!!!!!!!!!!
Toodles for now,
Valerie and Matthew
February 26th, 2010
Hello there,
Well, we have calmed down a little since all the excitement. Thats why I forgot to write last night!! Ooooppss! I had my 7th stem cell transfer last night via IV. It went really well. No hiccups! It was over in about an hour and temperature and blood pressure all normal. Only one more spinal to go!! I cant believe we are here 5 weeks today, it went so quickly. Except for today, went so slow. We didnt do much. Dr Tony came in this morning, he has arranged for the eye tests next tuesday and will give me a copy of all before we go home.To show the doctors at home. Prove them wrong!!! I told them I would do it!! I know its a little but if this is all i get I will be happy woman!! Its a great feeling.
Anyway, nothing else to report from Qingdao, hope everyone is super happy! Like me!!
Chat tomorrow,
Valerie and Matthew
February 25th, 2010
Hi there kids!!
Well, finally a bit of good news. I have been noticing a few improvements in the last week, sorry I couldnt tell ye until I knew for sure!! Dr Tony came around today and done the eye test and it showed noticable improvements. When I first arrived, the initial eye exam was done, on the eye chart. The top letter, in my left eye I could see at 1 meter now I can see it at 1.85 meters. My right eye has gone from 1.03 meters to 2.85 meters. He said me right eye is doing much better than my left. I have been noticing a small few things. I can see the colour red now, for the first time in almost 6 years!!! My supernova software, that I use on the laptop, is down by 1. I could see the white in Matthew’s eyes, the red dragon across the road. I know these are only tiny things but they are HUGE things for me.
I just hope and pray it will continue to improve. I am going to the eye hospital next week to do more tests so keep the fingers crossed. Dr Tony is very pleased with the progress so lets hope it continues to get better over the next few months. Needless to say Im ESTATIC!!!! Im about to dance around the place here!!Anyway, just wanted to let ye all know how much I apreciate yere messages, prayers and thoughts. It all helps!!
Lots of love
Valerie
February 23rd, 2010
Hi there,
Were here in a super sunny,blue sky, little chilly Qingdao! There hasn’t been much happening the past 2 days. I’m just waiting for my 7th stem cell, tomorrow evening, Wednesday. I have had my usual therapies with Jerry this week. Electric wave and accupuncture. My poor forehead is a little bruised from getting it done everyday but its going good so I’ll hang in there for another few days. I’m definitely going to continue them when I go home.
Matthew got his hair cut today, it took 40 minutes!!!Imagine daddy taking 40 minutes to cut one fellas hair!!! It turned out nice though. We starting doing a bit more pressie shopping today, its coming near the end!! Yey!! Im meeting Dr Tony later to go out to the eye chart so we’ll see what happens there.
Well, thats it for now, will be on again later. Thanks for keeping us company and sending us yere best wishes.
Lots of love,
Valerie and Matthew
February 23rd, 2010
Hello there from a nice and sunny Qingdao.
Hope everyone is keeping well. We had this weekend off so we didnt do too much yesterday. My back was a little sore after the spinal but not too bad. But we took it easy anyway. We done a little shopping across the road and made dinner. Other than that, we just chilled out . Today, we had a great day. Wendy brought us to downtown Qingdao at 9.30 this morning.We started out at the temples. Its amazing there. So peaceful and quiet. We watched people pray to the buddhas, we saw the monks , and we touched a good luck and health statue. It was a truely unique experience. After this, we went to Jusco shopping centre where we ate lunch, tasty! Myself and Wendy then went for a facial, while matthew walked around downtown.Oh the facial!!!!! Such bliss. My skin feels amazing after it. They use all natural products made from plants, herbs and oils! I love it!! I got a head, face, shoulder and neck massage with it all for just 8 euro!!This finished up around 3 so we headed back to matthew and got a taxi back to the hospital.We then went to the Holiday inn, later on, for dinner. They knew us tonight, so funny!
Anyway, tomorrow, I have my morning therapies, and free for the day. I have stem cell no 7 this wednesday.
Only 14 days till we take off!!!!!!! So excited, cant wait to go home. I miss everyone so much. Not long now!!!
Lots of love, till tomorrow,
Valerie and Matthew
February 22nd, 2010
Hi there,
Hope everyone is keeping well. Im writing this blog the morning after my 6th stem cell. So excited its near the end!!!!!! Only 2 more to go! One IV and one lumbar and home sweet home! Well friday started out with my usual therapies, we done a little shopping and then I got my nails done with wenday. they even took pictures of my hands for their website!! They have never seen small, white cute hands before!! It was a funny experience!1
Anyway, I got my Iv in my hand fairly easy this time, thank god!! Than had the fluids drip which lasted around 1 hour 20 mins, but it passed the time to 8!! Melody and Alice wheeled me up to the 9th floor, the part I hate! Reminds me of Greys anatomy! Anyway, Melody, the stem cell nurse, injected the anti allergy and valluim!! The doctor done the job and before I knew it was all done again. I love this hospital! The doctors are just amazing! My blood pressure, pulse and temperature were all normal again and off I went to lie down flat for 6 hrs! Matthew just laughs at me for about a half hour because I sound like im drunk!! It took me a while to fall asleep but I did around 1 am and slept through until 8.Luckily, this morning I have no headache! My lower back is sore but thats expected! So were gonna take it easy today and rela
So that is all for now, I will write again this evening with an update. Thank you all so much for lighting candles and praying for me yesterday. Cant wait to go home now and get back to normality!! The countdown is on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Talk to ye tonight, Love and kisses from Qingdao
Valerie and Matthew xxxxx
February 20th, 2010
Hello there folks,
Hope ye are all keeping well. Sorry for not updating sooner. Yesterday and today were fairly quiet days. I had my usual morning theraoies with Andy. Its going really well. My forehead is starting to get sore from the accupuncture needles . Today was a good day. Brian came back and the three of us headed out for a massage. FABULOUS!! I just love the chinese massage. We then met Wendy and went to pizza hut, tasty!! And after we went shopping! So it was a good day in all. Our new friends from Libya left today so we had cake before they left. Brian is leaving for Scotland tomorrow and were gonna miss having him around!
Its starting to get busy around here again. I have my next round of the good stuff tomorrow, friday, at 12 irish time through the spine so hopefully it will be easier than the last one.But as someone reminded me, pain is temporary quitting lasts forever!!!!
Well thats all for now, I best go and get some sleep. Lots of love, Vallie and Matt
February 19th, 2010
Hi guys,
Hope everyone is keeping well. Were just about out of the snow now. It was a really nice day here today, sun shining!! Its still fairly quiet around the town as its still holidays over here for most people. Yesterday and today, I had my usual therapies in the morning with Andy. My poor forehead is getting marks and bruises from all the accupuncture but hey, Im lovin it!!
We done a little shopping and more cooking of course. We are pros now at shopping in the supermarket. There is loads of new patients coming over the next week. We were very bored today so we went walking to Liquinn, about half hour away. I have no stem cells until friday evening so I just have my morning therapies this week so were kinda bored in the afternoons. So tomorrow, after therapy we might go to century park and maybe go to the carnival…..we’ll see!!
Anyway, I have nothing more to report on tonight, not long now til were coming home!!! Cant wait to see everyone and eat some decent spuds and gravy!!!!! Heaven!!!!!
So until tomorrow, goodnight from Qingdao.Love and kisses
Valerie and Matthew
February 16th, 2010
Hi there!
Hope everyone is keeping well. Im writing this post on Sunday 14th as we didnt do much today so I said Id put the 2 together!!
Well, yesterday was a great day. I have the weekend off so no needles or being a pin cushion! So we took it easy for the day. Everyone in the hospital was very excited and wishing us a happy new year. Felt so strange for us as we have already celebrated it! Alice, translator,Dr Lisa, Andy, Jason(therapists) and Nurse Paula, all made a dish each or even 2 for the patients. So we had a party in the kitchen around 6 pm. It was fantastic! Such flavors! We even had fireworks! All over the city, fireworks were going off for hours, still even at 9 am this morning!! We really enjoyed the evening and we cant thank the staff enough for staying with us on their chinese new year!
As for today, we havent done much either as there is very little shops open yet but we did get a few bits in the lottemart and made veggie soup and chicken sandwiches! So were just about to skype back home and watch movies for the evening! So until tomorrow, Zai jian!
Love and hugs,
Vallie and Matthew
February 14th, 2010
This is Matthew training for the olympics!
Century Park, Satues of Bejing 2008 Olympics
February 13th, 2010
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