The day has come for our return to America.

9.40 AM the staff of Beike came and we got a ride to the airport. I am so happy this day has come.

We went to the airport in Qingdao and everything went well with the first flight. Arriving in Beijing the chaos awaited us. The airport was packed with people arriving for the Olympics and we had to pick up our luggage and bring it from terminal 3 to terminal 2 which is about a 30 min bus ride. People were very helpful and we made it with 3 suitcases, a stroller and 2 carry on bags + Theo. More hands would have been nice to have.

Going through customs was a nightmare- they unpacked everything - I mean everything - the lines were crazy. We just made it to the airplane on time.

Thanks to our president and 200 other VIPs landing in Beijing we were delayed for 3 hrs- waiting on the runway. And then it  finally arrived our last part of the trip- the flight back to Newark. I had butterflies in my stomach- so excited to have completed this journey and Theo's Olympics- I was so proud of him.

Theo was fantastic- he was very chilled and happy and slept well.( oh what do I envy him:-)) Right behind us was a 4 yr old girl who got adopted and went for the first time in an airplane to the USA. She cried for 5 hrs straight- Theo was not phased by it and did not join the singing. GOOD BOY!

24 hrs after we left the hospital we finally arrived in Newark. I was never so happy to be back home again. I still can not believe it that we went across the world in the hope for a better life for our son. It was a miracle and we are so thankful to have gone there. It is just the beginning of his improvements and we can't wait to see what he will be able to do next.

Thank you all for making this trip possible and for having us in your paryers.

ONE WORLD - ONE DREAM is exactly on how we see it!

Love

Sonja, Frederic and Theo.

WE DID IT !! Theo had his last stem cell treatment today. Thanks to all your prayers it went well. Only 2 attempts to find a vein, and troubleshooting the one which finally went in. I stayed surprisingly calm during everything and when they told me he needed a third IV I just prayed and moved the exciting one around- loosened the tapes- and prayed some more and then it worked- the fluid went into the small vein and we were able to give the last treatment. YEAH. Theo slept finally through the stem cells and is still resting as I type this. He is such a good boy and he is done so well and we are ready to go home.

Two days to recover and to get ready for the long flight. He is more of a wiggle worm now and I am a little concerned on how well we manage to sit for that long- but I decided to hope for the best and deal with it as it comes.

We are so glad we made this journey!

Thanks to all of YOU!!

Love Sonja, Frederic & Theo

I am so excited today. Theo is doing so well and seemed fully recovered from Wednesday. He has been very alert today- lots of play since 5 AM, then it happened- A BIG SMILE- or better multiples- I was able to catch part on a photo. This is new and made my day.

I thought why not push him- I loaded a Baby Einstein Video on the computer and put Theo in front of it - HE WATCHED IT!!!! I could see his eyes scanning the screen and he was very excited. I think it is confirmed he can finally see!!!  I am in heaven!!

I hope soon he is responding to seeing us smile- I let you know when this happens.

Thank you all for making this possible- thank you, thank you !!!!!!

Love Sonja and Theo with a smile

Today was Theos'  fourth treatment. It took 4 nurses- 5 tries to get an IV into this boy. I was ready to quit. His feet are blue, and I think there are  no more veins left to work with. I am glad you  can't see the panic in my eyes about next weeks treatment. Please keep your fingers crossed that we are able to do it.

Otherwise everything went well. This time it took 3 hours to get the stem cells into him but we did it. He is such a strong boy- what a fighter- especially when they try to get the IV in. Just like mommy- my parents tell me stories on how I beet up the nurses who wanted to give me shots-gotta have something from me- right!

Now we are just resting from these events. 4 days of peace and then the last round of golden liquid on Monday. I keep you posted

Love    Sonja &  Theo

Today Theo is 8 month old. Time went so fast- he grew so much and what a journey it was. I never thought he would celebrate his 8 month Birthday in China. I guess God had different plans and the olympic slogan fits: one world - one dream.

Thank you for all the prayers!

Today Frederic went back home. I am not locking forward to spend the rest of the time here by myself. 2 more treatments without Fred by my side.

I am so thankful that he had the opportunity to be here for 2 weeks. It made a world of a difference. THANKS ANGELS OF MSKCC 

Theo had already his third stem cell treatment. Time is flying and he is doing so well. So much more alert and active - it feels like somebody changed his batteries- like the engergizer bunny. Its great!!!

He is also way more fussy about things which we have to get used to and on the other hand are thrilled about.

He is such a fighter and to see the changes is such a miracle.

Thank you all for keeping him in your prayers. We believe from the bottom of our hearts that he is going to be OK.

Frederic is leaving on Sunday (sniff)- it was so great to have him here with us and I feel comfortable to tackle the last two treatments by our selves.

The last couple of days were very much like a routine.Breakfast, party, Dr visit, nap, physical therapy, nap, lunch, nap, electric wave therapy, nap, play, nap, dinner, .... bedtime.

When ever he is awake we do : vision, sound, smell and touch stimulation.

One new thing - we decided with the doctors that Theo would benefit from an additional stem cell treatment. Time wise it works out and we rather do it now. God knows when we will be able to make such a trip again. We are not planning to visit China anytime soon.

We took some pictures during PT sessions and him doing a great push up- check it out!