Physical therapy

Here are pictures from Ellie's last day of inpatient physical therapy

Ellie liked the turtle a lot. She pushes herself all around the gym floor on it. Sometimes she gets a ride if the therapist pulls her.

The trampoline is something Ellie has always liked.

The crab walk.

Playing hot potatoe with her feet kicking a "hot" ball was something Ellie loved.

"no ga ga"

Rejuvenated is the word for the week. I was looking forward to a nice relaxing weekend and that is what I got. We did a few fun things as a family then I got some rest and relaxation. Monday morning I felt good and Tuesday I still felt good. Wednesday morning at work I felt tired some but then as my day picked up it got better. We registered Ellie for kindergarten last night at Price Lab. I was excited about that. We are looking forward to this summer being over and starting a new chapter with Ellie. She was assigned to Mrs. Bromwich's class and we signed up for a first conference with her. Wow! I'm getting so excited to get her off to kindergarten. Now this morning I feel tired again and wiped out. Two days of resting made for two days of feeling good.

Something else Ryan and I have been having fun with is hearing Nathan talk. He's really got that language learning window open right now and has said some two word phrases which really floors me. He pointed to Ellie one day in the car, as she had her head down resting, and said, "sissy night night" in his own fashion. He has also pointed at Ryan's hat and said, "dada hat." He says what sounds like ga ga when he gives us things and when we give him things. We figured out it means thank you. He now says, "no ga ga" when he doesn't want something. No thank you is what we've taught Ellie to say, since she was young, when she didn't want something from someone or didn't want to do something other kids asked her to do. It caught on at daycare and now Hudson and Nate say it. Nate's "no ga ga" is so cute, I love it. Last night he saw a picture of himself and says baby. Ryan was pleasantly surprised at that. I don't remember Ellie doing this at this young age, but then again I don't remember much of anything anymore.

Hope everyone has a safe Sturgis Falls weekend, we are headed to the parade Saturday morning. Woo Hoo!

Much needed weekend.

Well it's been a nice weekend and we will end it with a fresh fish meal Ryan will cook. Yeah, it's father's day and I should cook for him but he and Ellie caught bass and bluegill at a friend's pond yesterday and Ryan cooks them up good. I'll make other stuff to go along with is. It was nice to see Emily and Ethan and Haley this weekend. They came up for a softball tournament and home run derby benefit the church league softball team, had for us. To get into the home run derby people paid $10 for a t-shirt and a chance to hit. They decided to give the procedes from the derby to us to help us with expenses this summer. We are touched they chose us. We are very grateful. After a horrible experience at therapy Friday this weekend was much needed. I got 9 hours of sleep Friday night. That was nice. Aparently I still look tired so I need more sleep. He he!! Getting back to daycare this week went very well. Ellie was happy to be there and her friends were happy she was back. The staff at SonRise are being very supportive and helpful in putting her eye drops in every two hours. This is so important to us. It's nice we can put our trust in a place to take such good care of our daughter after something like this happened. Ryan is off fishing by himself for a while, Ellie is playing at our neighbor DoLorases house and Nate is sleeping. I am enjoying time on the computer and I'll wrap things up now to get to some housework. HAPPY FATHER'S DAY! to all you fathers out there reading this. I'll catch up with pics later. Have a great week!!

adjusting

Well since we've had Elllie home we have all been happy to get back to somewhat normal routines. Ellie has been excited and not wanting to go to bed at 8 like usual. She wants to sit in her room and play with her toys. She begs for five more minutes. I can tell she really missed just playing in her own domain. Now we begin the process of unpacking all the gifts she received.

She went back to daycare at SonRise yesterday. She was excited and happily went to play. She reported she had a good day and even came home with braids in her hair! This morning she had trouble letting go of me. She wanted to come with me today. All of this change every few weeks is taking a lot of adjusting. This morning she complained about not wanting to wear sunglasses so I explained the importance of that to her again, she took them with her anyway. She said she just wants to be "regular again." So I asked her what she meant by regular, she said, "not have to wear sunglasses cause of her eye." She wants to be able to close her eye and smile again like "regular". Sweet pea. It's sad and hard to hear her say she doesn't have a pretty smile and see her cry because she wants to be regular again. It makes my heart ache for her. I cry with her sometimes. How do you explain to a child why she has to go through this?

Words to comfort...

This was given to me by a co-worker, I like it and read it often as it sits here on my desk, thought I'd share it:

"May today there be peace within. May you trust that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith in yourself and others. May you use the gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content with yourself just the way you are. Let this knowledge settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of us."

We get to take Ellie home!!

We found out we get to take Ellie home Tuesday, tomorrow!! It will be late afternoon by the time we make it home but we will be home!! Praise God! Kids bounce back quick.

Ellie loves visits from friends and family

Kim and Kalli Tiedt came to visit for a while Friday afternoon. This is Ellie and Kallie relaxin' in the bed. They didn't relax much though. They played hard.

Caeden, Ellie, Nate and Kalli taking a ride on the hospital bed way up high. Silly kids.

Ellie asked for peaches when she got her tube out and she was allowed to start eating. She has barely stopped eating since. ;)

First pic without her feeding tube.

Nate Ellie and Hudson rocking in the chair.

Ellie in the tall grass in the garden area outside rehab.

Ellie and Hudson walking around the garden.

The three in Tuggy the tug boat.

Ellie with Karen her speech therapist blowing.

Therapeutic Rec therapist Kim blowing bubbles with Ellie.

Ellie got another prayer shawl and wanted a picture wrapped in it. This one is from the ladies at First Presbyterian Church in Cedar Falls.

Ellie and the neighbor's grandson Caeden painting.

Ellie, Ethan and Haley coloring.

Nate shoved his cheeks full of food.