Shriner's Day Two and Three

It is a beautiful Saturday afternoon here in Cincinnati. It is crazy to think it is November and it is around sixty in Ohio!

Oksana's day improved about 5% yesterday. She actually was forced to eat a popsicle by the staff nurses after I left to take a small walk and get a salad. Without me there, they flexed their nursing muscles and somehow she caved in. They even had her eating applesauce but the second she saw me it was all over. She began to cry and wanted nothing else to eat. She did eat a french fry and a bite of cottage cheese, when Larry and the boys came down for dinner. The boys loved the hospital of course and all of the gadgets and toys!!!

Today has started off rougher, then I had hoped. She had refused to eat or drink anything! Then it happened for the eighth time, she got sick. So she began to really refuse to eat/drink, because she said it would make her ill.

Around noon, her breakfast came and I bribed her into a toy for eating some food. She took two bites of a pancake, a piece of egg, one spoonful of yogurt and a sip of milk. At least, it was a small step. Then I asked her what she would eat if I bought it, like her favorite chicken nuggets from McDonalds. She agreed to this, so I put on my sneakers and headed a couple of blocks to McD's. She actually ate one nugget, two french fries and three sips of my diet pepsi! Success is slowly coming. Unfortunately, today we will not be our day to go home. She must eat an entire portion of a meal and drink, before being released.

We got to meet about five different Shriner's clowns this morning. What special individuals they are. They each take time out on a Saturday, to put a smile on the faces of little children, all in need of some fun!