We finally made it back home !!!!!!!!!!! we did get stranded in Shanghai once we left Qingdao for home..since we flew out on buddy passes we passed up a few planes before we were able to get out of there…we got a hotel room in Shanghai near the airport & just waited & tried again..i met a couple of people that were also stranded that came back & shared the hotel room..I didnt even get their contact info or email to thank them for staying with Tyler & I until we made it on a flight !! so thank you Rebecca from Salt Lake City & to Dino from New York !! may or paths cross again ..but not in Shanghai !!!!
We have adjusted back to US time pretty well..but since Tyler never got adjusted to China time zone it wasnt to hard to sleep once we got back home…and sleep we have !!! Food has been another issue…after going nearly a month without eating much, it has been hard transitioning back into our american food. Tyler is eating like a horse though since being back home …I guess he is making up for all the lost food he wouldnt eat while in China !!!
Overall I would say the trip has been a success !! I have noticed Tyler’s eye contact with me becoming stronger & him “looking” as if he can see something !!! He is still practicing his walking too !!! I think in another month or so we should have some real vision improvement to report !! keep those prayers coming !!!
Tyler unfortunatley wasnt able to go back to his daycare this week, were not sure what happened there…being told they are full now when we know that they arent ?? well it is their loss to not get to be part of Tylers life now !!! And what goes around comes around….that is all I should say at this point !!! Life goes on & Tyler will find a much better fit for him in the end !!!
I am back at work & glad to be…glad to be back into our routine !!!! I will try and keep this updated as to Tylers progression & changes in his life after China !!! Thanks to everyone that made this trip possible for him & hopefully changing his life forever !!! I know that God has been on our side & continues to show us that he is with us through all of this…once again I thank all of you for your help !!! And stayed tune for good things to come !!!
Tami & Tyler
Also I need an email address for Judy Mauldin & Allen at Delta if you happen to read this please email me at tcosby08@comcast.net !!!!
September 3rd, 2008
Well guys were on the countdown to home !! stayed up packing up some stuff last night & I had sent my large suitcase home with my sis & kept the small one & its a tight squeeze !!! i may have to go to the RT Mart & buy another small bag to finish up packing. The weather here has been very rainy so we havent left the hospital at all this week & going a bit stir crazy. It is very overcast this morning so probably another rainy day in store for us !! Today being Friday, many of the kids get stem cell treatment today..so it will be a quite day inside too !!!
Tyler is doing great & i think he is as ready to gt home as I am!!! We are both tired of being roomates !!! At some point this afternoon I will sort through all my leftover cans of food we brought & other stuff that someone here can use & give it away..we only have a couple of new people here in the last 2 wks but eveyone here that still has time to go can use just about anything someone else is done with !!!
We have suggested a communtiy closet here to house things that others leave behind & when someone gets here & forgets shampoo or something from home, most likely another family left unused items they can use !!! I think eventually they will set one up. I feel excited & sad to be leaving..glad to get back the the USA, my own space, a washing machine.,..clean smells..good food !!! On the other hand leaving a newfound family here..people that have helped all of us get through the day and weeks of being so far from home. If i dont post for a few days it is just because we are busy getting ready for home !!! but i plan to keep ths updated as to tylers progress as much as possible !!!
Thanks for reading & keeping up with our incredible journey here in China !!
Tami & Tyler
August 22nd, 2008
Today we got up a little after 4 am again !!! Oh boy this is getting old !!! Tyler is feeling great today & letting me know it. Today many of our friends are getting their treatment today so doubt we will do much other than go for a walk close by. It is a gorgeous blue sky morning here !!!
Tyler ate yogurt for breakfast at about 5:30 & I enjoyed another grill cheese sandwich(yuck) there are a few things i probably wont eat for a long time after our stay here..one being grill cheese or any kind of pasta !!! & for tyler ..not sure if this will put a damper on his love of yogurt..probably not !!! although their yogurt here is in liquid form. I have to add baby cereal to it to make it thick enough to eat , or we just pour it in the sippy cup & drink it !!! in the store they dont sell milk by the gallon but instead yogurt by the gallon !!! Its way different from our yogurt !! I have wanted to take pictures in some of the stores here but they arent to friendly about that ! but may try before we end our journey here. Ive taken a good bit of video but cant remember of what !!! i will figure that out when we get back home, its so strange here with shel & macie gone home…i dont know if Tyler & I could have happened upon a better group of people to share this experience with !!! We will miss them dearly when we leave ..some things here I will never forget & hope to one day share the story of this great adventure with Tyler since he wont remember any of it other than through pictures & his scrap book that i am making !! I will print out this blog & all the comments made so that in his future he can enjoy some of the comical things his grandmother did here !!! Who knows, maybe when Tyler is older we will come back here & get more treatments if it is needed !!!
Its almost time for PT & he is fast asleep of course !!! not sure if i will make him do it today…id almost rather not hear him scream !!! back later
Tami & Tyler
August 20th, 2008
Today we got up at 4:45 ! Tyler felt we both had had enough sleep i guess…so now he is back asleep as I should be !!! He did okay with his spinal yesterday, he was a little more restless than the past one but still did fine. This morning though about 8 he started getting very agitated & crying so I figured something was up…as he continued to scream & throw himself around as I am watching him he starts pulling his hair !!! ah ha !!! he had a headache !! that is one of the side effects from the stem cell treatment & he hasnt had one until now..most of the other kids have already ……so t hey hook up the IV fluid again to bring even out the cranial pressure & give him some meds by mouth & he is sleeping peacefully !!
I dont think i will get out today again…not sure how long he will sleep & dont want to chance him not feeling well. Its very overcast & smoggy so far today so not much of a nice day to enjoy out anyway !!!
Today Shel & Macie left for home ! they were so excited yet hating to leave all the new found friends they have made ..she has of course offered an open invitation for any of us to come visit in Colorado so we all decided we will do it..all at the same time !!!!!! she would love it !!! well i think i may stretch out for bit as im really exhausted this morning..ive had another close call with vertigo ..which for no one that knows me well…i have it every so often & stress & lack of sleep seem to be a major trigger for it,..so you guessed it the stress & no sleep here has gotten to me..i take bonine & it knocks it out pretty well,.but im down to one pill & dont want to chance our go home day without one…lol….will write more later……
tami & tyler
August 19th, 2008
So far so good…he was a little wiggly but they gave him some more meds & he calmed down & fell asleep about 6 so now once he wakes up his down time should be over & he can get up & eat dinner too!!!! woooohoooo were so glad today is over !!!!!!!!
tami & Tyler
August 18th, 2008
She is 15 & here for the same treatment as Tyler along with another friend Bradley ..get your tissue out !!!! we love them !!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xF0AKf8zLIg
August 18th, 2008
This morning we are up & fed & already have our IV in for getting out fluids for our spinal ! Today it took 3 tries to find a good vein so he isnt real happy, but he got over it pretty quick. He is playing with toys & awaiting his fluid bag ..his spinal is scheduled for 3:30 but that can change if the stems arrive early !!!!
I think I should take some time this morning to clean our room as we have things scattered around a bit !!! Since I havent done any major shopping here I dont have to much to pack when the time comes. I do not know if i will make it back to any stores before we leave !!! everyone is so great in helping here & always ask if i need anything when they make trips out, so they usually bring milk back for Tyler which he can goe through fairly quick ! everything is sold here in quarts, everything here is small..from food to clothes !!!
It is overcast again here today but no rain yet, but since were room bound that is ok !!! I have gotten news that a hurricaine is expected to hit the keys in a few days so try and keep track of that …i know we can use the rain but we dont need the high winds and damage there. I am in depserte need of a diet coke !!! they are so hard to find here, and yesterday i gave in & drank a regular one & the taste was horrible…ive gotten so use to diet coke !!! cant wait to get home to have one with lots of ice..that is another thing you dont get here is ice !!! Macie our neighbor seems to be so much better & they have flights to go home on the 19th !!1 they are so excited & i dont blame them !!! I will post an update after tylers spinal as to how it all went !! we are anxious to get home and see what kinds of changes come in the following months…most kids see some changes between 3-6 !!! so we hope by Christmas that there are great changes for tyler !!!
Tami
August 18th, 2008
Today is a very rainy day 
here in Qingdao !!!! we are all staying in & visiting or doing laundry & napping !!! Our trip to the mountains wore
everyone out,
there must
have been a zillions stairs to the top. All along the path were little tables with local people selling all kinds of chinese items…also some other countries things !! I didnt shop as it was hard to see much since having to carry tyler since a stroller was out of the question !!! Im sure everyone lost a few pounds hiking up there carry kids !!! I put some new pics up on the flicker page from the trip. tomorrow is stem cell day for Tyler so probably a good thing to rest up today. His spinal last week went so well I can only pray for that tomorrow ! Macie, one of our new friends here that has been sick is doing much better today & out of her bed more. They hope to fly back home (Colorado) this coming week..please keep her in your prayers as she has been very sick here the past week and had to cancel their flights home. Today Tyler had more yogurt & cereal for breakfast, the only thing i can get him to eat here..and I had my usual grill cheese..think my bread is going bye bye though so doubt i will buy anymore this week !!! Not sure what dinner plans are unless we crack open a new ravioli for tonight !!!!!! I think Tyler may never eat that again once we get home !! well not much else to post from here..rain rain & more rain..if it lets up this afternoon we are going to try and go for a walk outside though. Were counting down the days til we get home !!! we miss everybody tons…& cant wait for real food !!! if i had to stay longer i would come back skinny that is for sure…well im going to find a dvd & stretch out a bit since there isnt anything else to do today !!!!!!!! BORING….lol will post after tomorrows spinal to let every one know how its going !!!
Tami & Tyler
August 17th, 2008
Sorry I havent posted the last couple of days, we have been out seeing China while Tyler didnt have any treatments planned !!! I will try and get a better update & post some more pics on Sunday. Were doing great here…
We did the mountains today & it was the best trip so far but very tiring. Tyler is a bit heavy to be carrying up a zillion rock stairs on the side of a mountain. night night everyone !!!!!!!!
Tami & Tyler
August 16th, 2008
Today we chose to stay in for the most part, we did make a trip to the RT Mart since Tyler has drank every form of liquid I had here !!!! So back to get milk & peach nectar ..we walked through and looked at clothes & all the other odd things they sale !!! We didnt end up with much other thanks drinks !! We had 3 cabs turn us down when trying to get back here..only thing we can figure is the fare is to short of a ride so they say NO NO NO..lol..Its overcast here again today..the mosquito’s are bad here so they have lit burners all over the unit since several have gotten bitten at night…one of our friends here got sick so they are staying over a few extra days…im off to visit while Tyler is napping, he has been so good here on our shopping adventures & all the places we have taken him out & about too…one day grandma is going to have such a story to tell him about all of this adventure !!!
Tami
August 13th, 2008
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