Day +72,73 and 74
Well, I have got a lot of catching up to do, to keep you all up to date. I’ve had a couple of days at home, but I know that the news has all been positive over the weekend.
On Saturday morning Ella was feeling well but sleepy, even though we had had a very good night with plenty of sleep. So that’s what we did….snooze. I knew that Sally Ann and Nick were coming to visit and that Daddy was expected during the afternoon, so whilst Ella rested I did the housework. They all arrived together, and it didn’t take long for Sally Ann to be ‘hands on’…..the massage cream was on and Ella’s toes had been partly painted. Sally Ann has been busy again, sewing a lovely dress ( with matching shorts and head band ) in the most beautiful material……check out the photo!!!! (I’m not quite sure that the slippers ‘go’, but Rachael was just about to take Ella out for a walk, yesterday.)
When I spoke to Damian on Sunday morning first thing , he said that Ella had had another good night, and that she was bright and happy. In fact I spoke to her and she was!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yesterday, Sunday, there was another change of face with Auntie Rachael coming along to take over from Daddy and to stay for a couple of nights. She came along in my car and left me the ‘bus’, in case we had time to take the rascals out somewhere. We didn’t, but we did sit out in the garden at Rachael’s and the children played all day. I must say that I have enjoyed my days at home. It has been great to see the rest of the gang and to play out in the garden with them. It’s been heart wrenching too….there is a great big space where a certain little person should be…….
I’ve heard that we weren’t the only ones outside yesterday. Ella had a trip out with Daddy and Auntie Rachael yesterday, to a grassy spot in the grounds. They took Ella’s ipod to listen to a few tracks etc and then when they got back in Ella sorted out ‘The Nail Box’ for Rachael. (about time too). Of course that was followed by a full manicure and pedicure…….gorgeous nails for the second time this weekend!
When we rang this morning Ella answered the phone, which was lovely, and then Rachael gave us the excellent news that they had both had another good night. The Drs today have been positive about Ella’s weekend and her treatment for the next few days will be based on that. We had a visit this afternoon from the immunology team, Dr Arkwright and the new Dr, I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, who has just started here. We had quite a long chat with them and they filled in a few gaps in our knowledge about Ella’s condition.
Grandma and Grandad came this afternoon too. Ella was pleased to see them, but she was sleepy and more content to listen rather than join in. Another lovely visit was from Lindsay, Simon and the children. You may remember that they have gone through all this themselves, and from our point of view it is very comforting to see two children who have been transplanted and show us a real light at the end of the tunnel. They had been into clinic to see Dr Arkwright themselves and called up onto the unit to see Ella. Unfortunately they can’t come into the cubicle so they didn’t actually see her today, because she was just out of sight on the bed/settee and didn’t feel up to moving around. Still we all had a good chat outside the room and the staff were delighted to see two of their old charges!
Anyway, I’m going to finish now and get this posted. Ella and Rachael are reclining on the bed and I’m blogging. It doesn’t take long to get back into harness does it?

Lots and lots of love and kisses to Mummy, Sam, Jack, Max, Sophie and Uncle Johnny who are holding the fort tonight.
Hope you enjoy the photos and as usual we send you lots of love and thanks for all your prayers and good wishes.
Night night, Ella, Rachael and Annette.xxx

PS love to Reg and Daisy who are enjoying each other's company again tonight.