The first few days...

The idea was that I would post a little bit each day but since we didn't have the blog set up before leaving I guess this first one will be a catch up of the first few days.  Let me go back....

Wednesday

Departure time from house was 7pm - made for a long day!  We've been preparing for this for quite sometime so we only had a few little things to do.  Everyone kept asking me how I was feeling but I couldn't explain, maybe I was blocking it out so I didn't feel anything too soon.  I often think I find I keep things in as I don't want others around me to worry and I especially didn't want to upset the kids at all.  Not that they were bothered as they had distractions.  My brother, his wife and their children had arrived on Sunday night so the kids had been playing with their cousins all week so hardly noticed we were in the house, so very grateful that they came to stay as it made leaving so much easier for the kids.  Two of our closest friends, and their children, arrived at 5.30pm to say goodbye and also help with the distraction of the kids.  We wanted to make sure the house was a happy place as we left so they didn't feel it too much.  One of the kids, yes you know who you are, had us all in stitches!!  

The Emirites driver arrived on time at 7pm and I was really not looking forward to this goodbye.  Paul and I are rarely away from the kids.  We love spending time with them and holidaying with them, it's going to be far to soon that they will be more interested in spending time with others that I don't want to miss out on the time we have together.  Seb was keen to come to Russia, he said "do you know Mum, they have one of the most diverse environments in the world" or something profound to that effect!  Anyway I digress as you will find I will do often!  (oh and I like exclamation marks!!)..  Saying goodbye wasn't easy, I held each of them as long as I could and squeezed them as hard as I could (without causing any injury) and told them how much I loved them.  They will be fine, I know.. Mum and Dad are flying home from Europe the following night to spend the next few weeks with them and they will be so well looked after, I have no doubts about that, only that I will miss them terribly.

So the pain of leaving the children was definitely bearable once we were on the plane in our Emirates business class seats.  WOW is probably the best way to describe it, I'm really not sure that I'll ever be able to fly economy again!  The food was amazing and the Moet was a flowing so I was a very happy camper or should I say a very happy business class flyer!!  14 hours flying time to Dubai, with some sleep achieved which was great.

Thursday

Arrive Dubai about 5.30am local time.  Not such a great exit from the plane as we parked on the tarmac and I had to go down some steep stairs - I had been offered a lift but thought I'd be okay, hindsight I should have taken the lift.  I had wheelchair assistance which was great although the wheelchair drivers are fast, I had to only hope that Paul was keeping up behind.  A very comfortable stay in the Emirites lounge for 4 hours with a couple of glasses of Moet to get me through...  I know it was 6am but that was lunchtime at home so well why not!!  Oh and remember I will be giving it up on Monday for maybe 3-6 months - don't forget that promise of Cristal, Owen!!

Another speedy ride in the wheelchair to get back on to the bus and out to the plane for the next leg to MOSCOW - really can't believe it..  I think I ate and drank my way to Moscow, there was an Arabic Mezze plate on this flight that was to die for, best dips I have ever eaten, oh and on this flight uh oh no Moet, but it was okay there was Veuve, oh yes I'm enjoying this!.  I was so excited when the Captain said he was beginning his descent to Moscow - I looked at Paul and said "we are about to land in Moscow, we are here!!", he yawned!! Nice... but to be fair he had just woken up.  And then...  another speedy ride in the wheelchair through back doors and into passport control - held my breath as the customs guy looked at me, actually got a smile, no questions and through to pick up our bags.  I think I always had this slight fear that I would get all the way here and turned back at the last minute.  I want this so much that I get scared that I won't get there.

Our driver wasn't waiting for us but after a panic message to Anastasia, the young Russian lady who is Dr Fedorenko's assistant, Anastasia was quick to let us know he was only 10 minutes away and had just got stuck in traffic.  Anastasia is often referred to as an Angel in the ways she cares for everyone, she also went through HSCT just a couple of years ago so understands MS completely!  An hour drive to the Vega hotel and settled in at what will be Paul's home for the next few weeks.

Tried to stay up so we could catch up with Samantha, our new friend and "Warrior Wife", who's husband, Aaron, began treatment on Monday but couldn't do it.  Room Service and lights out by 8.30pm..

Friday

I really will need to do this each day if I'm going to remember things as even though this was only yesterday, so much seems to have happened in these last few days!

Got to catch up with Samantha this morning before she headed of to hospital and it was great to see her.  We had met once briefly at Kristy's meeting in Brisbane back in April (I think it was) and have chatted a lot on Facebook, but it was like seeing an old friend.  We also met another couple, Neil & Marilyn, who are here as carer to their friends son, Troy, and Libby & Jenny who are here for Emma.  They gave us lots of tips and updates on the three patients, feels like we have this amazing Aussie family who will also support us in the coming weeks as I'm sure we will them.

Breakfast in the hotel was lovely and then we decided to go and check out the local area.  We found about 4 24hr little supermarkets in the local area, food is pretty cheap and easy places for Paul to be able to eat and buy snacks while here.  We ventured off to find the markets but found ourselves in what seemed to be the old Vodka Museum, lots of stretch hummers out the front, overly decorated and lots of brides around, must be a registry office there maybe, very interesting - even a statue of our own Hugh out the front dressed as "Wolverine".

Came out of there to move on to the markets and Paul said "I really don't think it's a good idea, you're tired", me "I'm fine, lets find markets", Paul "I can hear you leg dragging", me "You are right, let's go back"..  And yes he was, by the time we got back I was exhausted!

Rested for a bit then managed to test our skills at buying things at the supermarket.  Not a lot of English spoken outside of hotel.  Through pointing and Google translate we managed to buy tea, cereal and milk and Kebab's for $3.50 each!  Even managed to get a smile from the shop assistant, not an easy feat.. 

Dinner out with Samantha, Neil and Marilyn at an Italian restaurant nearby.  Really nice Pizza and wine and a lovely evening of chatting and getting to know each other with the main topic obviously being HSCT..  Note to self..  Stop being obsessed with talking HSCT and get to know these lovely people as well!!

I guess that's about it for those 3 days..  Now I hate to disappoint but I'm not sure my Sex and the City quotes are going to live up to expectations.  They will happen but may not be the ones you expected...  You see the funny ones, the really funny ones that make me laugh until it hurts seem to be a tad inappropriate, especially since I may have a PG audience!!  I reeled off a few to Paul last night, and although we laughed he said "You can't post that"!! You'll just have to imagine which ones!!