Sorry I didn’t post anymore the last two days. Thursday I was so sore from carrying Dillon around the country I went to sleep without doing it and yesterday I couldn’t get on the internet.
We are leaving in just over an hour to go to the airport. It is 5 hours in the van, we will be there about 3 hours to get through security and check bags, then our plane leaves about 3:45pm (my time) and we should arrive about 5:30 pm (PA time). Then a 2 hours drive home. In all it should take about 23 hours to get home. Thank you for praying for us…please pray specificlly for
1. Safety
2. Dillon would do well on the plane, all his machine would function properly.
3. JayDonn would sleep
4. That we would be able to use extra seats like last time so we can lay Dillon down
5. Strength for all of us as this is going to be a LONG trip. 
)
We miss everyone here, thank you so much for all your help! The doctors, nurses, therapists, and translators were great! Jay is going to miss playing with everyone. We will keep you posted as to Dillon’s progress. I am praying for a miracle, that Dillon would make some huge progress. If however, he does not make progress this trip was still worth it. I know God wanted us in China with the miraculous way He brought in all the funds. I know He wanted us here because of the all the obsticles that where over turned in order to get here. I don’t know if Dillon will make progress or not. God’s Word – the Bible – does not promise me that Dillon will get better. I do have the promise from the Bible that Dillon’s eternal life issecure in the Lord’s hands because he is not capable of making the decision to trust the Lord Jesus Christ for eternal salvation. I, however, had to make that decision – which I did almost 6 years ago. So I know both Dillon and I will spend eternity in Heaven with God. But I know there are many people who do not know what Christ did for them on the cross and if our being in China has helped even one person understand that they need to trust Christ and Christ alone – IT WAS WORTH IT ALL!
August 29th, 2009
Today we went to see the country side! Wow! What an experience! I am so humbled by this experience. I feel like I have learned what it is like to live simple. I now know how rich we are in America. I have always been tired of hearing Americans complain about the ression and all, but now I am just disgusted by the Americans who think they don’t have enough. The Chinese people live in such humble accomodations. The countryside is beautiful. I just fell in love with the view. It was amazing how as you traveled everything changed so quickly. Every inch of land is used for vegetation. The houses are small brick squares. If I ever go to complain about my house I want to remember the people here and just be thankful for the amazing home God has blessed me with.
We stopped to walk around a village and see some of the homes, an old school (which says on the side something about no matter how poor we are our kids still need a place to learn). There is an old basketball hoop in the background of one of the pictures. After we were all tired from walking we got back in the van and went to a lake. We were skipping rocks, finding sea shells, and climbing trees. All the pictures are below with a small caption about each. I took over 200 pictures, not all are good though. I also need to get the pictures from Tessie that she took on her camera. Later I will make a movie with all the good ones, but for now here are several to give you an idea what it was like.
All of us in the van - Jason and the driver were up front
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Inside the old school there were still signs on the wall, there was even a black board
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See the basketball hoop in th background?
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An old abandoned house
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The beautiful mountains
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Scenery
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A house where someone has their laundry out to dry
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Dillon and I hiking along
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A beautiful temple that we could see on a mountain side
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skipping rocks at the lake – my best one was 5 jumps! Jay just had fun throwing them into the water
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Grandma, Jay and I at the lake (Dillon was resting in the van after his big adventure hiking)
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I climbed a tree to get a picture for Josiah! )
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Of course Jay wanted up with me!
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Being silly with Grandma
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Driving along...this is what all the stores looked like
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This was the newest apartment complex I saw.
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Jay was SO well behaved on this trip! He sat on Grandma's lap the whole time (except when he rode up front with Jason) He was WONDERFUL! If he is this good on Saturday when we come home - that would be GREAT!
Thank you Jason for taking your day off to go with us and teach us about China!! We learned a lot on this trip. It was something I don’t think I will ever forget. I am so glad while we were in China we got to see a big city as well as the country life.
August 27th, 2009
Dillon finished his last stem cells today!
Getting the IV
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Here come the stem cells!
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Pray they will help Dillon!
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Max is one of the translators and was playing with JayDonn today…
Max and Jay
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Pauline (on th left - head nurse) and Lili (on the right)
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One of the waitresses from upstairs
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Sweet and sour pork - it was pretty good!
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Our favorite food - fried rice with egg it is only about .50 for this whole bowl!
.I went out all by myself today after Dillon’s stem cells. I got a taxi and everything. They dropped me off on the side of the street and I had to walk in the tunnel that is under the road to get to the store I wanted. I shopped, negociated prices and everything, alone. Then I walked back under the tunnel and went to McDonald’s. It was the first beef we have had since we got here 27 days ago. It tasted so good! And I don’t normally think McD tastes good at all! I got a picture of it for my sister (who manages an McD)…. I didn’t take a picture inside but I did get a little video I will send you when I get home.
McDonald's
.Tomorrow we are leaving by 8 to go drive around the countryside. I can’t wait! I think it will be so neat to see some of China other than the small part of the city where we are. The doctor is going to do Dillon’s acupuncture before we go.
I know I am starting to understand life here a little more for a few reasons:
1. I can cross the streets without having a heart attack now.
2. I can ride in a taxi without having a heart attack and/or having to close my eyes.
3. I can go shopping and negotiate prices by myself (I use pen and paper but I think I know my numbers 1-99 IF they would say it slow enough).
4. I don’t care as much that people are staring at me. I know why I am here, I know where I am going, I know how to go where I want to go so I am more confident and it doesn’t bother me as much that they look at me.
5. When the lady from Romina – who speaks NO Chinese and very very very little english – was holding the door for me yesterday I said “Xie xie” Which is thank you in Chinese!
As much fun as I am having here, and even though I am going to miss everyone… I can’t wait to see you all soon!
August 25th, 2009
Some Mommy and Me photos with Dillon…
Mommy and Dillon
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Mommy and Dillon in black and white
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Snuggle time
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My favorite one
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Jay helping make pancakes
.Last night Dillon slept pretty good. However, I drank some ice coffee with dinner so I could NOT sleep! I didn’t sleep until 2am while Dillon was so peaceful. Thankfully he did pretty good the rest of the night and I was able to sleep some. I don’t think I will get ice coffee with dinner any more – just lunch. )
Resting before acupuncture
.This is how Grandma takes Jay to the store… in Dillon’s chair. It is easier to keep him close this way and we don’t have a stroller for Jay.
Going to the store
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Grace! (5 years old and has CP too)
.Some desserts we tried today. The thin things on the top were ok, they tasted like a sugary pretzel. The green block on the right had the consistancy of dry wall, it wasn’t too great. It was very dry and you had to drink something in order to get the food down your throat. The cookie in the middle was pretty good, it tasted like a normal cookie. The thing on the left was the best. It tasted like a good fruit cake. Both Mom and I liked it the best.
Desserts
Miss Celine left to go home to Ireland today to be with her daughter. Mr. Liam has a friend coming today to help him now. Mom and I both went shopping a few times with her. Have a good trip home Celine!
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Mr Lian and Miss Celine
August 24th, 2009
Foreword by Tiffany: I just want to let everyone know – the Mom I have seen in China is nothing like the Mom back home! Back home she doesn’t shop much at all, here she has spent money pretty much every day! (Either on gifts or on food at the market) Back home if anything might even be the least bit dirty, or even if Mom THINKS it is a little dirty she washes it. Due to the laundry being so expensive I have heard things like “oh it isn’t that bad, it can go for another day!” Anyone who knows Mom knows this is not like her! She even wants to take home dirty clothes! hahahaha China sure has changed Mom! Don’t worry I don’t think the changes will be permanent. 
By the way: I HATE shopping, I always have. But I LOVE it here, the prices are so much better than ours so I can’t tease her too much!
By Mom: I actually went shopping last Thursday (of course, I’ve been to the food market almost every day except Sunday) and this is now Monday morning. On this trip I went with a translator (thanks, Michelle) and Celine from Ireland. We left Liam, the fellow from Ireland, at a restaurant (while we shopped) so I got some photos from the second floor restaurant windows of the streets. People, bikes, 3 wheeled bike/carts and taxis everywhere! There is a lot of construction going on. The translator told me that three years ago the government said things needed to be remodeled so the whole city is “under construction” or so it seems. I was able know where I was going and to negotiate prices better with a translator.
I think I have figured out Proverbs 31:17b “and strengtheneth her arms”. Scrubbing clothes in the baby tub and wringing them out certainly helps to strengthen the arms! Dillon goes through an amazing number of towels. For those of you who don’t know, Dillon can’t swallow, so all of his secretions must be caught or suctioned. Please pray that the stem cells help his swallowing and also help to decrease his seizures. It is so hard to see him seizuring so many times a day (30-40).
The translators and cleaning ladies (who know no English) have been TRYING to teach me Chinese. Quite a task to make your mouth say words and sounds we have never said before. I can actually feel my jaw being tired after trying to get the tones and words correct!
I have greatly enjoyed my time here with the boys and Tiffany and have enjoyed getting to know the folks on this floor (workers and patients and patients’ families). I’ve had some time to cuddle our little Precious (he feels plenty heavy to me). Jay is great fun and a two year old challenge! Tiffany and I have had some time to talk. Dillon has actually slept five nights (not in a row) better which has been a great help to Tiffany and I. Thanks to those of you who have been praying about this. We still need more sleep! However, I do miss the hills of West Virginia and my dear husband and daughter. We have been able to watch church services (from Daniel’s church-online)which is a blessing but it is not the same as being with God’s people at church. Dillon has only one stem cell treatment left (Tuesday) and we are looking forward to our ride around and outside the city on Wednesday, Lord willing.
A photo from the restaurant window.
A 3 wheeled bike/cart (a common site).
Cooking on the side of the street.
Following Michelle through the streets. The sidewalks are under construction so we had to walk in the bike lane.
Mrs. Jung, one of our cleaning ladies (thank you).
Mrs. Fung, one of our cleaning ladies (thank you).
August 24th, 2009
Today was our last Sunday here in China! We leave next Saturday.
Grandma made pancakes again, this time she made Jay an elephant. He loved it. He had a great time eating the trunk, then the legs, and Grandma even told him he was eating the heart….yuck! But he thought it was pretty fun…
Grandma made pancakes again this morning - an elephant this time!
.We went out back behind our building to take some pictures. It was a beautiful day and there are some very beautiful areas, but right as we got there JayDonn fell and scraped his knee. It was all downhill from there. He kept crying and we had to go back in. We will try again another day.
Behind our building
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Cute Boy
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All four of us under a tree
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Jay and Grandma looking up into the tree
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Grandma and her boys
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Mommy and Jay pointing at the big rock in the middle of the pond
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Dillon by the pond
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Jay was not happy with his scrap on his leg...
.In the afternoon I went into town with a friend again. These are escalators that cris-cross up several flights. It was pretty neat to see.
escalators cris-crossing up several flights
. I would NOT want this man’s job. See the tiny black dot on the side of this huge building? That is someone washing the windows!
- The tiny black dot on the side of the building is someone washing the windows…how would you like HIS job?!?
This week should go by pretty fast. Monday Mom needs to go grocery shopping and I have therapies with Dillon. Tuesday is stem cells. Wednesday we are going with a couple and a translator to see some of the area outside the big city (yes I will get LOTS of pictures!) Thursday we will start packing. Friday we need to finish packing all but the last minute things, Saturday morning by 7:45am we will be on our way to the airport to start our 23 hours of traveling.
Dillon did sleep better last night, I am about to go to sleep now so I am praying he will sleep good again tonight (the rest of us need the sleep as well!!!)
Have a great Sunday evening at Church! And if you don’t get this on time have a great Monday!
August 24th, 2009
Today was a normal Saturday but without acupuncture.
JayDonn found a little comb and mirror of Grandma’s and was brushing his hair…
Jay Combing his hair while holding a mirror
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Erin and Dillon
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Tired after therapy
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JayDonn took this picture...he really likes taking pictures now!
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He loves to look at the wedding picture Josiah sent with me, he even kisses Daddy in it
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Grandma and her boys
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Today I got some pictures of some of the friends we have met here. I still need to get some other people, but these are a few of them…
This picture is Raveendran and his wife Bindu doing therapy for the last time. They are leaving for the airport in two hours…
Raveendran and Bindu
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Raveendran and Bindu - he has a spinal cord injury from an auto accident
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Miss Ana from Romania
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Mr Liam and Miss Celine from Ireland
Tomorrow is Sunday so we will watch a service online. I am missing church so much. I miss the preaching, the singing, the fellowship, all of it. I can’t wait to come home and get back to church! But for now, we will continue to listen to services online. Josiah sent me some music yesterday and that has been a big blessing to me. I listened to it as I went to sleep to comfort me and keep me from feeling homesick. Thank you Honey!
August 22nd, 2009
This morning Grandma made us pancakes with some mix we brought from home. We bought strawberry jam to go on them since they don’t sell syrup. They were a wonderful break from my usual granola bar for breakfast. Grandma made JayDonn a hippo pancake. At first he didn’t want to eat it, but then he ate all but 2 bites of it!
Hippo pancake
.Dillon went down about 12pm for his last spinal. It was raining again so we walked with umbrellas covering him. The ground is VERY slippery because they have beautiful polished stone designs in the ground. I was glad to be holding the umbrella and Dillon’s stretcher…I didn’t fall this way! Last time of one the translators asked me if it was easier the second time than the first. No, it isn’t. I am always nervous when Dillon goes in for a procedure like this, it never gets any easier. The only comfort I have is knowing that he is in God’s hands and that God is in control of everything. I can’t make the procedure go well, not matter how much I wish it to – I have no real control. My God, however, is in complete control and nothing will happen to Dillon without Him allowing it to. And I know that if God allows something to happen, He will be with me as I deal with whatever it may be. His Word promises to never leave me nor forsake me. I took comfort in these thoughts as we pushed him over to the building where the OR is.
walking in the rain - again!
.As we were walking over, JayDonn was playing in the water. Not a clue to the procedure his brother was about to undergo for the third time in two weeks. Right before they came to take us to the OR Grandma and Jay went to the food market for some veggies and Jay fell in the mud. So by this time he was already wet and dirty – what’s a little more? 
Playing in the water
.Here I am signing one of the papers to allow them to do the lumbar puncture on Dillon. It is the same types of forms that we sign in the USA before a procedure like this takes place.
Signing off for the procedure
Dillon came out of it just fine. They had to suction a few times during this one, which is the most they have had to suction for any of them. I am so thankful everything went well.
I was waiting in the OR waiting room with two of the translators for Dillon to finish up and come out. The room is very busy and therefore it is very loud. A lot of people, all talking away. The moment the doors opened and Dillon was pushed out into the room, the whole room fell completely silent. You could have heard a pin drop! I told the translators “Boy, we sure know how to silence a room!” Everyone was just curious about Dillon and was watching as we wheeled him out to the elevators. Then on the elevators, which are always packed with people, a lady was saying something about Dillon and then something about me. After exiting the elevators I asked the translators what she was saying. He said she was commenting on how white Dillon’s skin is and that he must belong to me!
I want to thank the doctors who took the extra time and expenses to protect Dillon by taking him to the OR for these procedures. This normally costs a lot more, but I believe they told me they are not charging me for it. I also want to Praise the Lord for giving these doctors the wisdom and skill that was needed to preform three lumbar punctures on Dillon without any complications!
.Jay was playing with the camera so a few people were helping him take pictures. Here is a picture of a couple of the nurses.
Nurses!
.This picture is Jay with Sid, one of the translators. When we go home in 9 days, I think Jay is going to miss all of his playmates here!
JayDonn and Sid
.Tonight we ordered Spicy chicken (NOT whole chicken!!!) with peanuts. Well, there were no peanuts so I am thinking maybe it was peanut sauce…? Anyways, it was spicy, but it was SO good! I loved it! Mom liked it, but it was too hot for her. Jay seemed to like the chicken. He only yelled the first bite he had when the spice “bit” him back. After that he was expecting it and liked it. (We didn’t eat those red peppers at the top of the plate)
Hot - but Yummy!
.Jay likes the fridge at home and he likes it here. We bought him yogurt, which is creamier than ours, and he loves it. Normally he has at least one a day back home and he hasn’t had any until a few days ago.
Playing in the fridge
.His other favorite food back home is cheese! The only cheese we have had since we came was the box of velveeta cheese that I brought with us. We are almost out of it though 
. I did buy him some cheese at the store and he just found it in the fridge tonight. I opened it up and gave him one. Before he even ate it he said “UMMM I like it!” heehee He did eat the whole piece then, so I guess he did like it.
He found the cheese I bought him
.JayDonn is a crazy boy who loves to play with anyone he can. Beware if you ever lay down near him! He thinks anyone laying down is there to be his jungle gym and trampoline. Here he is playing with Grandma…
Playing with Grandma
.Tomorrow will be therapy, but not acupuncture. The doctor isn’t going to be here tomorrow. Everything else should be a normal day as far as I know.
The people here are so great, it is fun being here and learning a new language, eating new food, experiencing a new culture….but I am really getting homesick. I can’t wait to go home and see my sweet husband! I can’t wait to go home and see all my friends! Please pray for strength for Mom and I both in this last week.
August 21st, 2009
The surprise pictures from yesterday are these…
My SWEET husby had flowers delivered to me for our anniversary!
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Aren't they beautiful?!
.Every day I open a letter from a friend back home, my husband sent along 4 with those notes. I took the four notes from him and randomly put them into the pile of letters. I made sure I would have one from him to open on our anniversary. When I opened it this morning – it “just so happened” to be a picture from our wedding! God always takes care of us and give us just what we need! Being away from Josiah for this day has been hard, but it helped to carry around our wedding picture with me the whole day. Thank you for the picture Honey!
God always does just what we need!
. Mom K bought me an anniversary present – candy made with real coffee! Yummy!
Anniversary present frm Mom K - made with real coffee!
.For dinner tonight we had our usual from KFC. I don’t know if I will ever want KFC again we have had it so many times while we have been here.
Anniversary dinner! (KFC) I am looking forward to going out to dinner with my Man when I get home!
. I wanted to take some pictures for you Josiah, to let you know that we were thinking of you. These are taken behind the building we stay in. I want to go back and get some more but we were being eaten by bugs!
We miss you Daddy!
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Being silly with the roses Daddy sent Mommy
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Daddy's little man - I'm protecting Mommy's flower for you Daddy!
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I LOVE YOU JOSIAH! I miss you! Happy 4th Anniversary!
I love you Josiah. You are a wonderful husband and father. I know it was hard for you to let us go to China without you for so long, but I know your love for Dillon is so great that you are willing to sacrifice what you want for what is best for him. Thank you for the beautiful flowers! And thank you for singing our wedding song to me online tonight. It was so special! I miss you so much! I can’t wait to come home!
(P.S. Around 10pm your time Dillon will be getting his last spinal. !0am on Friday our time. So please be praying for protection for Dillon, that all would go smoothy as it has for the last two. Thank you!!!)
August 20th, 2009
Today was one of our normal days. Only some family got on skype to watch acupuncture and then we didn’t have it until after physical therapy this time. Oh well, another day.
I got several pictures during occupational therapy today that I thought you would like to see.
This is the back of the first Hospital building, OT is in the second, our room is in the third.
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The walkway from the first build to the second is pretty
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Dillon and JayDonn both doing therapy or as Jay calls it - riding a horsey
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Erin works with Dillon everyday during OT. She is very good with him
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The director of the Therapy department gave JayDonn two little dessert sticks so Jay let Dillon have one...
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...of course he kept the other!
I have some pictures of something else that is very special, but I can’t post them till tomorrow! It is a surprise!
Tomorrow Mom is going shopping so there should be some cool pictures. Until then…
August 19th, 2009
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