Day+6
We are really getting the hang of this now. I arrived about 7.15am and Rachael and Ella were awake and taking notice. In fact they had the biscuit box out and ready for when their cups of tea arrived.
As usual we discussed 'the shower' and finally after much cajoling Ella agreed to go in there as long as she didn't get wet. So that's what we did. She sat on the chair wrapped in her big fluffy towel from neck to ankles with her feet in the little blue bath. Auntie Rachael, on the other hand ,was down to the buff ...behind the chair.... washing the royal hair. We prayed that the Dr. wouldn't arrive at that moment in case we had to explain why Ella was dry and Rachael was soaked! ( don't worry, she did emerge clean in the end ).
We had breakfast quite late today, in fact Janet had arrived. ICT skills were the order of the day, and after Ella had been shown around her hospital laptop, Janet introduced her to a programme working on fractions, which Ella's friends at school are working on too. I'm sure they weren't lucky enough to be snuggled up to Mrs Hodge though,as Ella was to Janet.
You can't wait to find out about today's project can you? I'll give you a clue......... P of P.
Yes! Plaster of paris! After a very organised, but very messy, making of the shapes, they were put to dry for later. After a quick nap over lunch then began the painting of the 24 perfectly formed hearts,mirror frames, flowers,ladybirds etc. Ella was enthralled and so were her nurses today. She concentrated on the job, none stop, for at least two hours whilst Reg and I shopped for more goodies in Swinton. I had to stop Rachael in the end....she was enthralled too....... I'm sure she has a few of them lined up as birthday presents for friends!
There is a problem with Ella's line at the moment, All her many treatments are going into the line, but the nurses are not able to draw any blood from it.........which is essential in order to monitor blood counts etc. Because of this, Ella has had blood taken from her arm for the last two days, which is not an ideal situation from any point of view. Therefore her lines were closed down for a couple of hours at bedtime, in order to put a warfarin based flush into them. Ella had the great joy of being snuggled on Rachael's knee with no lines and no beeps, and that's how she fell asleep.
Isn't children's sleep amazing ? Sometimes you only have to breathe in and they wake up. We have just watched the lovely, and extremely skillful, night staff reconnect all Ella's lines to her feeds and drugs without her knowing. We do appreciate their care and gentleness.
I have some distressing news to pass on. Unfortunately the first day of mine and Rachael's fitness regime has had to be postponed until tomorrow, we are still knitting our leg warmers . We have vowed to take as long as it needs through the night to get them finished. Needless to say the video is still in the box!
Night night, Annette, Rachael and Ella xx