Playtime

Playtime around our house tends to have a strong medical theme to it these days. I guess that's what happens when your house is transformed into a hospital. Last week I overheard Mason and Brynn playing and there was a lot of talk about suctioning, oxygen, and trach noses. I peeked around the corner to find Optimus Prime and Minnie Mouse sporting trachs of their own.

 

 

This is a scene I will never grow tired of seeing. It melts my heart how much they adore their baby sister and want to be like her.

Mason and Brynn aren't the only ones who are envious of all Ellie's cool accessories. Today Miles would not leave Ellie's pulse ox lead on her foot alone. So we pulled out an old blood pressure cuff and made a monitor for him. He was thrilled!!

 

When Ellie was in the hospital after getting her trach she got a special delivery from the Coal Team at Union Pacific. All of Scott's coworkers had sent her this darling Build-a-Bear. I don't have enough kind things to say about the Coal Team and how supportive they were through all of this, even though Scott was just a summer intern. We definitely felt a part of the U.P. family.

One of the respiratory therapists gathered up some old trach supplies for us so we could give her bear a trach to match her. I love it!! 

I'm not the only one that loved it. Mason and Brynn have been begging us to go to Build-a-Bear Workshop for months, so when Ellie got one they were green with envy. I am so proud of both of them and how well they have handled all the crazy ups and downs we have had this summer so last week I surprised them and took them to Build-a-Bear to make their own bear as a back to school gift. The cutest part was when we got home they both wanted their Bears to have trachs like Ellie's bear. Thankfully the respiratory therapist had included a couple extra trachs and Ellie was happy to donate the rest of the supplies. I love the finished product!!

Mason with his Black Bear "Minedee" (pronounced Mine-Dee) I have no idea where the name came from.

Brynn with her colorful bear "Cinderella". She's not quite as original as Mason.

For the record I wanted to get Miles a bear, too, but Scott insisted he is too little to care and we have plenty of bears around the house he can have for free. I see his point, but I still feel bad he is the only one without a special bear. One day when he's a little older I'll take him back and let him pick out a bear, too.