Day + 147
Hi everyone, it’s Monday evening now and all is peace and quiet. It hasn’t been like this all day, so we are enjoying the calm after the storm.
Yesterday Sally and Reg arrived back with all the bits and pieces we needed, including the chariot, which is now stabled in the bathroom. Ella and I had a good day, quiet and very peaceful. Ella had a good start with a wash and then nurse Rachel chose her an outfit for the day….shorts and t shirt! I know Sally was really pleased to see her dressed. After Reg had left for home Sally settled down to spend the night with Ella in her room and I had the night ‘off’, in the dormitory. I needn’t have worried about having company….no other ladies appeared…..which worried me then, because I was on my own. The room
isn’t really off a main corridor, and while it is nice to have a bit of ‘me time’ for a while, it is a little bit strange being in there, too. (Come back Birmingham Parents Accom.) Anyway I did sleep. When I got back to the cubicle at 6.30 they were both fast asleep and stayed that way until 9.00!
Ella had a slow start today and didn’t really want a ‘wash and brush up’ today. We tried to persuade her that she would enjoy sitting in the bath, which is really cute, with a little seat just the right height. We were almost there….. when nurse Kirsty pointed out that there isn’t a plug….apparently for health and safety reasons! I’m speechless. We had a chat with Dr Wynn this morning, about our concerns that Ella is not motivated to do anything much, so he said he would get straight on to it today, and he has organised a meeting for everyone on Thurs. to discuss how to tackle it better. She needs her self esteem boosting and special understanding, by experienced key workers, to help her to gain her confidence back again.
We had told Kirsty that Ella had been given a cumfy chair last week, so she got on to the physios here and before we could turn around they were at the door with a super deluxe model….a water chair….for her to try. Sally and I bowed out of this one and after some cajoling they got her into it, if only for a short time. All the BMU windows over look the main atrium and out patients d’part, and we would really like Ella to be able to look out and see what is going on down there. Maybe tomorrow we can aspire to that…the physios are coming twice a day from now on, and Muriel, the play specialist too. Dr Wynn told us that Ella can go out into the rest of the hospital to have a look round ( with a nurse of course to sort out the lines) any time she wants to, so we are looking forwards to that one day.
Grandma and Grandad have been to visit this afternoon. They brought Ella some really nice pressies from their holidays, and she enjoyed looking at those. Unfortunately she’s had tummy ache today and hasn’t felt much like joining in.
When Chris and John got here Sally decided it was a good time to start her new hobby….running, well jogging. There is a lovely park not far from the hospital, so fair doooo’s, she got changed into all the gear, and off she set. She must have sprinted there and back, because she was back really quickly. Sally has challenged me to buy some trainers too….maybe, maybe not. We have decided, though, that we are going to have at least half an hour each day outside the hospital walls. So tomorrow could see Sally jogging and I power walking round the park, ( can you power walk in flip flops?) maybe while Muriel is here with Ella.
We have got a big day coming up on Friday. Someone we know is going to be 8yrs old!!! We are organising a special day for her and we have asked if we could use the bigger meeting room, at the end of the corridor, to have a party in. We have got John, the clown from Southport, to come and Rachael is bringing the boys. Grace, Ella’s friend from school is coming and of course Daddy. I guess she will have some VIP’S visiting in the morning too. I think there will be lots of noise up here that day….blow the rules eh? Then we start again on Saturday….because someone, else not very far away, has a birthday on that day!! Talk about expense………………….
When I asked Sally what she wanted she muttered something about ‘Take That’ coming to sing for her. I can do lots of things, but that is one miracle too many, even for me. Unless anyone has got any contacts out there?
Well, we are going to finish now and get this posted off. I am still so ‘made up’ that we can actually keep in touch again, I hardly dare try out the dongle, just in case I have to go to sleep sulking. It’s my turn to stay up with the princess…so far so good. I am sat beside her and she knows I’m here. She keeps doing a quick peep! I just know that the moment I switch off and head for the bed she will wake up. Fingers crossed that she will have another settled night, although at the rate the bleeping bleepers are going off, I think both of us will be bleeping fed up by morning. ( I think one of them has got an air lock or something.)
Night night anyway, and lots of love to everyone, with all our thanks for your loving support and prayers.
Ella. Sally and Annette.xxx
PS Who thinks Sally will be stiff in the morning?
PPS Who thinks Nanna will be stiff on Weds, morning?
PPPS Rumour has it that some TV’s have appeared in the unit! MAYBE there is some light at the end of the tunnel and we will have something else to look at, other than the bare walls soon?
PPPPS I promise some photos soon of the new room etc