Ellie has come a long way today.
She has been able to have cuddles with Mom and Dad and has been giving Sandy the giraffe cuddles non stop all day.
The morphine stopped early this morning and she has done really well off of it. She has been on Tylenol for the pain and low grade fever she has had off and on all day.
They have removed a bunch of her lines and there are only three things left on the screen. Heart rate, breathing rate and O2 levels. It is so weird seeing a once full screen almost empty.
As they stopped the sedatives last night and she became more awake, she was inconsolable. Ellie was crying and upset and there was nothing I could do to make it better. I was so scared she was going cause herself more pain or even “blow” something out. That was the hardest thing I have seen or had to deal with so far. I just wanted to make things better and I couldn’t.
It was such a relief to see her today, even going off the morphine, in such good sprits. She even gave us a few smiles and even tried to chat with us. Of course the lines that are still in are drving her crazy and her happy hands have inspected and picked at every one of them.
Yup, we are beginning to have our old Ellie back and that is the best thing we have seen so far.
-colleen
Friday, 27. October 2006
Welcome back Ellie. Colleen and Ken your strength is amazing. Looking forward to seeing you all back in New Haven.
Friday, 27. October 2006
most excellent! i am amazed at how strong the parents have been! kudos. i guess i should also be amazed at how strong Ellie has been! our thoughts are with you.
Saturday, 28. October 2006
So gllad to heear that things are going so well. It seems that things are really moving in the right direction and that is WONDERFUL! Keep it up Ellie!!! You are on your way home. Can’t blame her for being upset with what she has gone through but way to go Mom and Dad for seeing her through it! You will not forget this experience but lets hope she will. I know with David every day is a blessing and I am sure you will feel the same way going through this.
Much love,
Cynthia
Saturday, 28. October 2006
Curiosity? Picking at things she doesn’t like in her arms? Well, it sounds like a perfectly normal kid to me! I can just hear her little baby voice chatting with you and telling you all about it. What a joy to see her getting better. You guys aren’t just DOING an amazing job . . . you ARE amazing. Awake in Charlottesville, still praying for her continued recovery. Can’t wait to see you all again. xxx ooo Auntie Alice
Saturday, 28. October 2006
Yea! We’re so happy to hear things are progressing well! Our thoughts are still with you!
Katherine
Saturday, 28. October 2006
i love the ‘happy hands’ comment…. what a Blessed and Happy time it is reJoicing in Ellie’s progress.
lynn
Saturday, 28. October 2006
I am so happy for you all! Yay for Ellie and the emptying of the spaghetti! I can’t imagine how it must have felt to be helpless against Ellie’s frustration and fear. I am so happy though that she’s had a better day today. May each day and each moment show you joyful progress and hope for the end of this period and the day you can take Ellie home. We’re with you in spirit, wish I could give you a big hug, and a Krispy Kreme doughnut!
Saturday, 28. October 2006
Colleen and Ken, we are so happy for you and so happy for Ellie Beth! Unforturnatly I cannot imagine the joy but if we did have children I would think that it would be the singular most spectacular event to have her back to herself, chatting away and irritated at the tubes and wires. We are so happy for you all. We are so happy.
love,
us