pokes and prods

Today when we got to Ellie we saw the doctors and nurse Amanda back on the floor. We are happy to have them back after the long weekend. Today Ellie talked for the nurse and doctors! She's talking much more. Something that wasn't good was that her IV hand was puffy so they had to take it out and try to put another one in. Well that's where the poking and proding comes in. They poked her once in her right hand to try to get a vein, that didn't work so they poked her in the right foot. Missed there also. Then they put cream on her wrist and foot to numb it so the next time they tried she wouldn't feel it as much. Well it came time to try again and Ellie wasn't thrilled so she tried fightin' some. Then they poked the wrist again and that one didn't work, then they poked the right foot and that one didn't work. So they decided to go for the big vein in her right inner elbow. Well that one hurt because there wasn't cream on it and it also means she can't bend her arm as well. So we are hoping she will only need this one for a couple more days.

This picture is Ellie taking her first sips of grape juice. This is the first time she's been allowed to drink besides the popcicle. She enjoyed it, didn't cough while drinking and didn't drool. So her swallowing is getting stronger! Today Ellie is wearing her hair down like she usually has it. It's nice to see her looking like we are used to seeing her. It's a little wild in the picture but we brushed it so it's more tame now.