Monday of Week 6

Well the weekend went too fast, but it went very well I guess. Ryan worked at his dad's and I did the typical shopping for groceries, laundry, etc. Ellie met another couple 5 year olds at the Ronald McDonald house Sunday night. They enjoyed time together in the play room.

Today we got up and headed straight to radiation since it's at 9:30 now. We were told to see Dr. Bautti today instead of Wednesday so we stuck around to see him. Ellie pulled a fast one on the doctor today. She wanted to hide from him and he did a good job. She hid under the desk in the exam room, put a bag of her stuffed animals infront of her and hid. He walked in, looked around the room for Ellie, looked at the bag and just began talking to me. Part way through our conversation he saw Ellie move under the desk and was so surprised she was under there. He was even more surprised that she actually pulled that on him. He said he usually sees kids hiding but she did a good job he didn't realize she was under there. So Ellie thought that was fun.

He apologized for springing the extra days on us last minute. Kelly the nurse consulted him before she returned my call last week and she could tell I was crying on the phone when she heard my message, so I believe she told him I w as upset, so he apologized for springing that change on us. He said he believes it's safe for her to receive that little extra radiation to make it better chances she won't have a reoccurance. Especially since she is receiving the treatments so well and not having terrible side affects, he thinks it's the best. Before they were focusing on a golf ball size cavity in her brain where the tumor was and now they will focus on a dime size area. We noticed there are large patches of missing hair that has fallen out due to the radiation. One by the scar and another under her long hair.

Over the weekend Ellie picked out some old stuffed animals that she's not attached to anymore to give away to sick kids in PICU. The many new stuffed animals she received from her stay in the hospital are too precious to us still we couldn't part with those. So today after the appointment we made our way up to PICU hoping to see doctors and nurses that cared for Ellie when we were there. We did run into some people we knew but many we didn't. Ellie happily gave away some old stuffed animals to the sick kids. Some young, tiny babies, and some teenagers all the way to age 21. It was a neat experience. Ellie immediately had sympathy for them and was telling them to get better soon. I think she felt rewarded after seeing smiles on kids faces that she said she wants to give more to kids again. It was neat to see Ellie give back, have sympathy and ask what others were sick with. She has grown up a lot through this. She still of course has her "Ellie" moments.

Tomorrow we want to go to the Museum of Natural History in the Pentacrest at the old capital and then maybe take Ethan and Haley to the Children's Museum in Coralville sometime this week also. I'll keep yall updated as we go along this week. Have a good one!