The Goodwins

We’re awake and geeting ready for the day. Ella can have clear liquids until 9:45 so we are praying that those will be enough to avoid a major break down.

Ella slept in a “big girl” bed for the first time yesterday. She did great! We will probably convert her bed into one in a few weeks.

She’s had some apple juice and is watching Veggietales. We will keep everyone updated!

We are in Chicago at the Ronald McDonald House, the kids are asleep and the bubbles are on their final countdown! We got to play a while with our friends the Marchenkos; so far it has been a trip filled with smiles. Ella’s surgery is scheduled for 12:45 pm tomorrow… She’ll be hungry and cranky by the time she goes in so we’re praying they keep on schedule. We’ll post more tomorrow – goodnight and sweet bubble free dreams to all!

Ella for the first time in a long time cried when I left for work today.

When getting to work I learned it was the annual “Take Your Kid To Work Day.” While this is a program for kids that are between 12 and 18, I figured 1.) Ella needed a bit more “Dad Time” and 2.) It’s never too early for her to learn the “biz.”

So I called Bonnie and had her bring Ella to my office. She spent a couple of hours with me and seemed to have a great time!  She hung out at my table while I worked and then made the “rounds” in the office giving “knuckles” to everyone.

We have also been having a weekly “daddy/daughter” lunch. She seems to enjoy it.  She merrily sits next to me as she eats her cheese quesadilla at Qdoba all the while pointing at various things and asking “What’s that?”  As she almost always already knows the answer, I think she’s using it as a way to have a conversation as she’s still not speaking many words.  All in all, it’s a great time for everyone, including Bonnie as she seem to like having one less kid in tow while running errands during our lunch.

She is such a blessing to me. (I am happy to say that I can say that about both Bonnie and Ella!)

With Ella’s “bubbles” it’s easy not to see past that (especially for Ella as it’s partially blocking her vision).  However Ella has developed her own personality and sense of humor.

By example, a few weeks ago we were working on potty training (she has the peeing on command down but not the asking nor the #2 aspects) and she has a habit to want to “spin” the toilet paper roll and see how much spools out.  She started to reach for it and I firmly told her; “Ella, we don’t touch the toilet paper until we are done going potty.”  She pulled back her hand and then got a smirk, flattened out her hand and held it about and 1/8″ from the roll and then looking up at me started smiling.  Of course I started laughing and said; “I’m not touching!” and we both roared in laughter.  Of course, now that’s part of the routine.  “I’m not touching” emminates from the bathroom a lot nowadays.  Of course if strangers are in our house, they will be mightly confused!

As a mom these days my prayers are simple… let Ella loose the bubbles and let Justice keep his blue eyes!

Well, the bubble days in our house are on a final count down to removal on April 27th, and Justice is cute as a bug with his blue eyes… but I expect they may turn brown all too soon. Ella’s were the same deep steel blue for almost a year before she got her beautiful brown peepers!

So I accept the things I can’t control and I cheer for the things that I can. We’ve showered Ella with love and support over the last few months and while we are  all ready to be DONE with the bubbles she has been such a brave little trooper. She inspires us all with her bright eyes and loving smile! And through it all she has been an amazing big sister – she has so much joy over her little brother being in our family that it is truly a blessing!

We all need a fun stress free summer, and soon I hope that is all that will be on our horizon for a little while!

Status update: The bubbles are in and growing.

For anyone who is unfamiliar with our saga of Ella’s bubbles, I thought I’d spout a little history for you…

Ella was born with a giant nevus (large hairy mole) on her scalp which carries a significantly higher risk of melanoma than an average person would carry. Ella’s nevus covered the front left quarter (at least) of her scalp and part of her forehead. Last spring/summer we went through our first round of tissue expanders and plastic surgery to create new skin and remove the mole. While we know the reason for doing it is good, it’s just plain no fun. Of course Ella bounces back to her happy self much quicker than Kirk or I.

Ella’s most recent surgery (see previous posts) was to put in the 2nd round of tissue expanders… hopefully they are also her last, but we won’t be completely sure of that until the plastic surgery at the end of April.

The tissue expander process involves the placing of two surgical plastics balloons under her skin (basically breast implants!) which are then expanded with weekly injections of saline to stretch the skin. Ella’s newest “bubbles” are placed on the right of her forehead (to make skin w/o hair) and on the back left of her scalp (to create skin with hair). We visited Chicago last week for her first injection, and today Kirk started the process of doing them at home… he will be stressed out for the next two months, so if you see him please be nice!

If you saw Ella last summer and remember how big her bubble got you’ll be happy to know that this rounds should be a bit smaller (although there are two instead of one). The first round involved a 350 ml expander, which was capable of holding up to 500 ml. This round involves 250 ml expanders that can go up to about 350+ ml or so. We’ll see how they grow.

So, it is officially March which means less than two months left until plastic surgery… so close and yet so far away!

And as a very important p.s. Ella adores her little brother Justice, and we are incredibly happy as a family of four!

He’s so cute!