I know that it has been a while since my last entry, but Mallory and I have been crazy busy since we have been home. It was difficult for Mallory to adjust to the time change, but she is finally back on track. It is great to be home, but we do miss all of our new friends that we met in China. What an adventure! I would do it again in a heartbeat! It was difficult at times, but well worth it. We have seen some small improvements with Mallory. Her eyes do not “vibrate” any more and she is focusing better on objects. She tries so hard to keep her head up and she is making progress. She reaches for things, she can’t really grasp anything, but at least there is some effort! She is such a happy baby! Her smile just lights up the room!
I know people are expecting overnight results, but it takes time. We are going to therapy 4 days per week and working hard. Mallory doesn’t fuss too much. I think Ryan and I fuss more! There just doesn’t seem to be enough hours in the day to get everything done.
Anyway, I will keep you all posted.
February 18th, 2010
Well after 3 flights and many hours of travel, Mallory and I finally made it home safe and sound! No delays, no issues, no sleep…
Mallory did really well until the last leg of our journey. She was tired and done with travelling and I just let her fuss. Last night (Thursday) she slept over 12 hours…she was one tired girl. But she woke up smiling and with a huge appetite. She is just so cute I can’t stand it.
Overall I have to say that our adventure in China was pretty good. I learned a lot, met some great people and Mallory got stronger. Now we just have to be patient over the next couple of months and wait to see the true results. Of course I will keep you all posted.
Being home is awesome. I really missed Ryan and Bridget and all of our family and friends. I don’t miss the spitting in China or the stares. I do miss our new friends and the shopping!
Thank you for all of the prayers and well wishes. I loved all of the messages, they really helped me get through the 6 weeks away. I will post on Mallory’s progress and keep you all updated on her improvements!
January 2nd, 2010
Well, Mallory had her final injection today and did great. She is such a brave soul. Now we just have one day left of therapy and we are outta here! We are leaving on a jet plane early Wednesday morning. Gosh I can’t wait to get home and see everyone, especially Ryan and Bridget. Hopefully there won’t be any problems due to the terrorist guy in Detroit.
I will almost be a little sad to leave this place. I have made some really good friends and met some fantastic people who I will miss dearly. Everyone has been great. I have taken a lot of pictures and some video. Can’t wait to show them off. It has been an experience, that is for sure. An eye opener being the “foreigner” who doesn’t speak the language or know the customs. I have learned a lot and have appreciated my experience. I really don’t plan on eating any fried rice or noodles any time soon!
I will let you all know when we have made it home safe and sound. The other families are taking us out the dinner at the local Pizza Hut. All of the translators and our driver are joining us. I’m looking forward to our last night in Qindau and am a little nervous of the long flight home. But we will be fine! No worries, as my new Australian friends would say.
More to come….
Thanks again for all of the well wishes and encouragement along the way. They have all kept us going.
December 28th, 2009
Well I’ve just confirmed that Mallory and I will be on with Carolyn Clifford Wednesday 12/23 during the 5:30 pm news. I will be skyping with her and this time I will turn Mallory around so you all can see her, well if she is awake. It will be 6:30 am Thursday for us here in China!
Mallory gets her 7th injection on Wednesday at 2:00. We are anxiously counting down the days until we arrive home in Detroit. December 30th is just around the corner.
Mallory has been awesome through this entire ordeal. Although she has been a little lazy during her therapy the past couple of days, I think she is just tired. All she has to do is giver her therapist one of her million dollar smiles at her therapist and he becomes putty! She is just so darn cute!
I’ve got to say that she has grown a lot! Her appetite has tripled and her chewing has improved. She is sleeping better, too. She is still awfully stiff at times and clinches her bottle when she gets mad. Her hair has grown and gotten a little thicker and she has got 4 new teeth since being here. Molars are wonderful, right?! HA
Anyway, hope all of you have a wonderful Christmas. Mallory and I are headed to the Holiday Inn (it’s a 5 star hotel here and very beautiful). We will have a nice dinner and watch the carolers perform. I plan to tape some of the fa-ra-ra-ra-ra’s! A lovely mother and daughter from Australia are going with us, so we will have a good time!
Well more to come after Wednesdays treatment…….
December 22nd, 2009
Well, 6 down 2 to go. Mallory did awesome today. She slept for 2 hours after the injection, which is very helpful. Although today she was actually trying to lift herself up. She would put her elbows down on the bed and push. And when she grabbed my fingers, she tried to pull herself up. She is definitely getting stronger! I’m tired with her teething. She has gotten all 4 molars and her gums are all swollen, so it is tough getting her to eat without screaming. But other than that, things are good.
It has been a tough week, but we managed to get through it with help from family. I really miss everyone and can’t wait to get home. 12 more days. The light at the end of the tunnel is getting brighter!
There is a MacDonald’s opening tomorrow across the street. Never thought I would be excited about a MacDonalds, but I am. So tired of Chinese food!
We finally have hot water and the smell is just about gone. Mallory has been great and is sleeping like an angel. The translators and other families have been really helpful when I need a break. It snowed here today. Big flakes, but they didn’t stick. It has been really cold and there has been a wicked wind that just goes right through you.
We are going to the Holiday Inn Saturday night for a break and a nice bath. They also provide a nice american breakfast. Mallory has started eating broccoli, which is good. EXCEPT…whoever knows Mallory knows how she can clear a room, now times that by 10! Wow…it is true what they say about broccoli and gas! hee hee
Therapy is going great. Her therapist and doctor both said that they can see Mallory getting stronger. She is chewing now, but has bit her tongue a couple of times. I don’t think she is used to her new teeth just yet. She still gets really stiff, but we are working on that.
Obviously we are not sending out Christmas cards this year, so Merry Christmas everyone!
More to come. Thanks for the comments…I love reading them.
December 18th, 2009
Well Mallory received her 5th stem cell injection today. She did wonderful, again. She was given a little bit of valium to relax her b/c she was really stiff. It turned out ok, she slept afterwards for 2 hours which made the 6 hours on her back much easier.
16 days to go! but who is counting….
Very sad b/c all of my new friends here are leaving. There are some new families coming….have to wait and see what they are like.
The smell is back with a vengence! But some people replaced some of the pipe fittings and seals, so hopefully that will help for a while. Mallory and I stayed at the Holiday Inn last night. It is a 5 star hotel here with a wonderful big tub and comfortable bed. It was great to take a nice, warm bath and relax! We will be staying there on Christmas Eve, too. Can’t wait to hear the Christmas songs!
Other than that, it is pretty quiet. Tomorrow is a new day…more therapy. Miss everyone.
Bridget continues to do well at home. She is a very active 2 year old who is getting into everything. I can’t wait to see her! She gets very excited when we skype.
Haven’t figured out how to add pictures. Working on it.
December 14th, 2009
well, 4 down 4 to go! This last one was a breeze. Mallory was getting very impatient laying there for 6 hours, wouldn’t eat or drink anything and whined a lot, but we got through it. The translators are very helpful and the other families are just great! #5 is on Monday. Less than 3 weeks to go. And let me tell you that we are ready to come home. The weather has been crappy rainy so we haven’t been able to get out over the past couple of days.
There has been a lot of complaining about the conditions in this place. I didn’t have hot water for 2 days and really no water pressure all day Friday. I’ve got to say that I am very disappointed in the accomodations. This place wouldd be shut down in the US. But, the therapy is fantastic. Mallory’s therapist, Dr. Tom, thinks she is getting stronger. It is hard to tell for me.
I have had many questions from people whether I have seen any improvements yet. I don’t think I have. I have been told that we will see improvements as time progresses, just to be patient. I have noticed that Mallory is trying harder to lift her head up and her eyes don’t seem to shake as much. The doctors tell me that 2-6 months is usually the time frame to really see Mallory thrive. Ryan and I are already contemplating another round of stem cells, just not in China. Maybe the Phillipines or Panama. We’ll see. but for now, we all have to be patient and hope for the best. Thanks for all of your good thoughts….I need some pick-me-ups to get me through this! Mallory keeps me going and is such a little sweetie.
More to come
Almost forgot, the Christmas songs always put a smile on my face! Fa-ra-ra-ra-ra (hee hee)
December 11th, 2009
3 down and 5 to go! Mallory got through her 3rd injection like the champ she is! No issues, except she didn’t want to sleep after laying on her back for 6 hours. I think her back is a little sore where the injection went in, but other than that, she is in good spirits. Her next one is on Wednesday.
Ryan left to go home this morning. Mallory and I were sad to see him go. But we will be fine. I have met so many nice people who are very helpful and caring. No worries.
Sunday Mallory and I are getting out of this place for a little while. She loves to get outside and it is supposed to be nice. There are a couple other families headed down to Century Park and we are tagging along. It is supposed to be pretty nice with the sun out. Sunday is a free day for us..no therapy or injections.
Our tv interview went pretty good. Ryan and I were exhausted from being up with Mallory, but the feedback we have heard is pretty good. There will be another interview in a couple of weeks…I’ll keep you posted as to when it will be.
Well that is about it for now. Hope all is well with all of you. Miss everyone! And thanks for the comments….love to hear from everyone!
December 5th, 2009
Well, Mallory got through her 1st lumbar injection like a champ! No side effects, no fever, no crabbiness. Even though she had to lie flat on her back for 6 hours….she was still fantastic! Ryan and I were really relieved. Her next lumbar injection will be Friday afternoon.
Mallory’s blood sugar has been low. The nurses take her blood everyday to test it. Right now we just have to give her more bread and potatoes (weird, I know…but that is what Dr. Tony suggested)
It is funny to hear the staff here try to say Mallory’s name. It just doesn’t come out right. Her therapist, Tom, cannot say the LL part so it comes out like Marrory. Makes me laugh every time. hee hee
Well, Ryan is headed home on Saturday. His time here has gone by fast. I am hoping the rest of our time will do the same. December 30th cannot come soon enough!
Well that is about it. Just therapy, therapy, and more therapy during the day. Mallory is tolerating it really well. She really doesn’t enjoy the accupressure, but other than that, she is a trooper! And she is sleeping through the night finally. She gets up really early….between 5:30-6:30. This time change is hard.
I have to add that the smell is just about gone. It doesn’t smell like an animal died in the bathroom anymore. I have scrubbed the mold away the best I could. Chinese people don’t really have good cleaning supplies. We also have hot water now and we, well I am getting used to the box springs we sleep on. Complaining only makes it worse and doesn’t really help any. We are getting through this just fine!
The head doctor has high hopes for Mallory. He said that he thinks that she will be up and running around, but that it will take time. Her type of cp is a long road of recovery, but she will get better. It was very reassuring to hear that. He was a very nice man who made Mallory laugh, so of course he melted!
That is all for now. I’ll let you know how injection #3 goes on Friday.
Oh, I almost forgot. Channel 7 will be doing a live interview with us Friday during the 5:30 portion of their news. Carolyn Clifford will be conducting the interview over Skype. Which means Ryan and I have to up and ready for tv by 6 am Saturday morning. We have to call in by 6:15 AM!!!! ughhh We are excited!
December 2nd, 2009
Well tomorrow is a big day…Mallory’s 1st lumbar injection. She will be put under anesthesia prior to the injection. Then she will have to lie flat on her back or belly for 6 hours. I don’t think that will be a problem for her b/c she loves lying with her mom and dad. So the injection will take place at 2:30 pm China time (1:30 am US).
Ryan and I did a little site seeing on Saturday. We had 2 students from the university as our guides. We saw where the 2008 Olympic sailing took place and some other very cool sites. We were also treated to a very Chinese lunch that consisted of beef, pig lungs (very spicy), marinated peanuts, squid (still had its tentacles and very, very chewy), broccoli and the final dish was a fish. A whole fish–with bones, skin and all of its insides and head still attached. It freaked me out, but I was a trooper and tried it. It was actually pretty good, but I was afraid of choking on a bone, so I only took a small piece. Then we went shopping. I gotta tell you that I got pretty good at bartering. Can’t say what I bought….ryan doesn’t know all of it yet! hee hee
Mallory is sleeping better, but she misses Bridget a lot. Bridget is doing great with the grandparents…who I am sure are spoiling her rotten. She gets real excited when she sees us on skype. She doesn’t understand that we are far away, but she loves to wave and play peek-a-boo with us.
We have met some very special families here, everyone is so nice and friendly.
I’ll let you know how mallory tolerates her lumbar injection tomorrow. Hope all is well and thank you all for the positive thoughts and prayers. Miss you all!
November 29th, 2009
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