22nd of June

8.15pm Monday evening. Camille and I just returned from Italy yesterday after a full week of unpacking and putting things in order for the summer. Our friends the Chiaritos have helped and arranged most of the things regarding the restoration, so it was only the furniture missing turning the Villa into a home. I showed Jaana some pictures I took and she is very much looking forward to and Italian holiday. Now she as only a few days left of therapy work and we leave.
As many of you have asked, our address is:

The Molens
Villa Lucrezia
Via Casali Amore 2
Cannobio
Piemonte
Tel: +39 0323 71263

We are all looking forward to meet all friends and family over the summer period. As things will take some time to put in order, I have told everyone that I will decline requests to stay at the house, even though we would love spending time with you all. There are plenty of hotels of all different price and qualities in Cannobio and neighbouring Cannero Riviera.

As soon as I have Internet up and running in the house (phone and Internet should be installed this week) I will post some pictures.

6th of June

7.07am Saturday morning. It is getting rather warm in Barbados and we are happy soon travel to Italy for the summer. Jaana has not seen the house at all since the renovation started and I know she is quite excited to have a good look. Her life is ticking along day by day with small steps forward. There has been a few doctors and psychiatrists over for visits in addition to her regular therapy, but as usual it is her own initiation and will to get better which is more important.
Yesterday was Ludwigs 14th birthday. We did not have any big party as such, as he is getting a bit older any prefer a quite day with friends and family. Today we are going to the cinema though with a bit of food before hand.
This week they have all been off school, as they have an assessment week after. This week carries no normal school lessons, but rather one week full of test. Therefore, this week "off" was not been as exciting as it could have been, due to my orders of 3h/day behind books. We shall see shortly how it all turns out.
In a week, I will go to Italy with Camille to receive 3 different containers with stuff from storage to be put in Villa Lucrezia. It will be 5 days of a massive amount of carrying sofas/tables etc, but all in preparation of the whole family arrival. When we get back to Barbados, it will only be 2-3 weeks before we all go.

17th of May

7.10pm Sunday evening. This weekend we had an old friend of ours here, Hakan Malmros. He guarded Jaana from the first our when she got ill in Singapore, but has not seen her since December 2007. It was great to hear his comments about Jaanas progress. When you only see one small step at a time, it is hard to see all the progress made. Anyway, Hakan was very happy to see Jaana and she to see him. Hakan was so glaf to see her smile, laugh and enjoy every day of life when he was here. It was a superb thing for all of us.
The kids have a few weeks left then there is a half term break and at the beginning of July they are off school. I might be traveling to Italy in the middle of June to prepare stuff. We are all very much looking forward to spend time in the "new" house.
Camille had a busy weekend with birthday parties and play dates. Jonathan went surfing and Ludwig had a lot of homework to do.

26th of April

9.11pm Sunday evening. As you can see from the picture Jaana was quite happy of our return home to Barbados. During the Easter trip the kids and I did, Jaana was very busy with her usual stuff, but also with extra yoga and different outings. She has slowly improved and is now very capable of holding her own weight when she is walking. Her balance is still not very good, but again improving. Verbal communication is still a tough spot and we have to get by with other means for the time being.
As it looks right now, we will be spending our entire summer vacation in Italy. The house is almost finished and I am working hard on the logistics to get it ready for end of June. This would allow us to spend all summer until beginning of September with our dear and very close friends, the Chiaritos.

30th of March

6.01am Monday morning. This weekend I had the two professors from Miami flown in to meet Jaana again. They were both quite pleased with her improved posture, her continued strength and glad to see that her mood had improved some what. They further concluded, as all the therapist and I have written before, that the major obstacle is the lack of initiation. There are some stimulating medication we will try, but it will take some time before we can certify any difference. Furthermore, Jaana got 300 units of Botox to ease up her left arm and shoulder. This should take full effect in a couple of weeks and last for 3 months again. This really does wonders for her as she can really work with her whole boddy during this time. Even Jaana's rehab has changed some what. She is now going to the therapist's office where they have special equipment twice a week. She seem to like to get out of the house a bit and see other views. Therapy is still on in her prepared room at home twice a week and then on Wednesdays she goes to a a 'Women Inspirational Groups' with the occupational therapist. In addition there is yoga and some other activities.
On Thursday I will travel with the children to Sweden. The boys will stay in Stockholm and Camille will go with me to Italy for 5 days to check out the house project. After that we shall return to Stockholm, pick up the boys and spend two days in London on our way back to Barbados. I think all the kids are looking forward to this.

10th of March

6.50pm Tuesday evening. As I just returned after a week in Europe, I can report that all is fine over here. Jaana has been working as usual and on Thursday, her neurophsycologist is coming in from the US. She is still on the same dose of Zoloft, which seem to help, even though she was noticeably more upset when I was gone. Anyway, all back to normal now until the kids to go Europe for a week around Easter.
My father left today after spending just under 2 weeks here when I was gone. He met many of our friends who all were very kind to pop by and make the period as short as possible for the Molen family. Jonathan had been surfing with one of his buddies and Ludwig joined in as well.
Finally, I have to as a proud father, express my delight that Ludwig has been doing extraordinarily good in school lately with some fantastic grades through superb attitude. I know if has nothing immediately to with Jaanas recovery, but most of you have written to me to get a family update. So there it is.

24th of February 2009

5.40pm Tuesday afternoon. It has been a month since the last post, and life in the Caribbean is going through a busy season. Jaana has been working on her therapy every day and has since she started with 100mg of Zoloft per day been less likely to cry. Saying that, she does have her bad moments, but in a more normal proportion. Her progress is still very slow, but small improvements can still be seen. She is much better in walking with someone supporting her and she is (another effect of the medication) initiating more actions.
Last week was mid term break, so the kids had the week of. The beginning of the week, we did some sports at home (golf, diving, tennis etc), Jonathan had a sleep over for a few days. On the Thursday we flew to Canouan with some friends and with their families. A fantastic, picture perfect paradise only 45 min away by plane. Some more sports and a trip with a catamaran in the Tabago Keys were all great. Jaana enjoyed the trip very much and so did Parmi and Anna, who neither of them had left Barbados for over a year. One can get a bit of island fever if one does not leave every so often.
Yesterday school started and things are getting back to normal. Next week I will be gone on a short trip, but my father is coming on Friday to stay during the week.
And for all of you following cricket, it is a big week starting Thursday. West Indies is hosting the England test cricket team and the Kensington Oval. After a huge win and a draw the WI are looking good.