Day 231 ( Sept 25th Frid )
Well, here we are again, at last, at the end of a difficult week. I think I left you with Ella having a cold? Ummmmmm! What a cold. She developed pneumonia, an ear infection and other ‘ nasties’ …..all of which complicated her little life. We are here anyway, and I can tell you that she is much, much better and is beginning to sit up and take notice again.
We have had a very busy week for visitors too, as you could expect. Little brothers, Aunties, Uncles, cousins and friends have all been, to help cheer Ella up. Mummy, Daddy and I have been here all week too. At least 2 of us staying, sometimes 3….it was just easier than traipsing all the way home, only to turn around and come back the next day. Although having said that, we have each made a flying visit for the night, to ‘refresh’ suitcases and Sally went home last night, to see Sam, and is coming back tomorrow. We have decided, that for the time being, we need to have 2 of us here again. What would we do without Rachael and Reg to hold the fort at home?
There have been lots of bright moments this week, as well as serious ones. Naturally, a lot of them have been involved with food….you know us. Like the time Sally and I went along to McDonalds for breakfast, with a list as long as your arm, and then ‘sneaked’ it into the unit. Of course there isn’t much sneaking! Ella’s angels are in and out of the room all the time, and you can’t exactly disguise that McD’s smell, can you? Ella had a tiny taste of everything on the menu, so it was worth every moment. In fact, there have been quite a number of McD’s visits, now that we have found the way, through the hospital. This complete site is so huge, that you can walk along a central corridor, going through all the different departments, both children’s and adults, and end up half a mile later at McD’s on Oxford Rd!
What else have we done? Oh yes….had a ‘heated debate’ with the Head Teacher, of the school here, about the provision for Ella. It is difficult, we know that, working within the constraints of a tight budget, but there are ways of saying that without causing offence! Oh, and Ella made cakes yesterday, with Liz (teacher), who has turned out to be good friends with Ann ( cookery teacher from Pendlebury? ) and between them they have come up with some recipes to make in the microwave. So, that was a first for us all….microwaved fairy cakes. They were good, too.
I shared the dormitory with Jackson’s Mum last night. Both families are long stay, and we are next door neighbours on the unit, so it seems very sensible for us to share the dorm just between us. We watched the dancing, then it was a quick read and lights out. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.
It’s 6.30am right now, on Sat morning. I took over from Damian at 4.00am and since then Ella has been quite settled. The lockout time on the button has been put back to 30mins, for the time being, so she is more wakeful at times, waiting for it to be pushed!
Anyway, lots of love from us all here. Thanks, as ever, for your support and loving prayers.
Ella, Damian and Annette.xxx
PS My flowers are so beautiful Kate and Stephen. They really have cheered me up….not to mention the dorm!xx
PPS Hi to Martin and all our friends at AMC. Sorry I didn’t get back to you, Martin, I’ll definitely catch up with you this week. What’s it like to be back in harness?x
PPPS Big thanks to Auntie Andrea for taking ‘Bumbs’ for his hairdo. Did the lady stuff a cushion with his fleece? xx