3-2-1 Happy New Year!

KayTar chose her own birthday party theme this year, New Years, because we were celebrating the start of HER new year! I think it is super clever and we had a really fun time with it. Confetti poppers, faux-champagne in fancy glasses, balloons, top hats and tiaras, sparkler candles for her cupcakes...the whole shebang! She had a blast and most of her favorite people were in attendance (she made her own guest list); my parents, one of her cousins, her aunt, our best friends J and L, her teacher, her school nurse, her favorite ER nurse and her husband, and her best friend and her family. A few people who were invited couldn't make it, but KayTar was still pleased as punch!

 Such a cute birthday girl!

 

Collecting her balloons.

Me and my girl.

Presents!

SIX!

Blowing out her candles.

Trying to pop a confetti popper.

 I love this one!

She wanted to let her balloons go and make a wish!

Post-party tube feed. Gotta refuel!

*****

She got a lot of neat gifts for her birthday, but I'm really getting a kick out of the one we got for her. We bought her a Cicciobello doll and it is a trip! The baby gets sick and runs a fever:

Then you have to take his temperature in the ear (the lightbulb on the thermometer turns red if he has a fever). Then you try to give him drinks from his three different bottles to see if any of those medications make him feel better, but if all else fails, then he needs a shot in the tush!

Oh, how he wails when you stick him. It kicks the feverish crying into a much higher gear. Usually that cures him and he falls asleep peacefully, with gentle post-crying breathing.

What a hoot! KayTar enjoys being on the doctoring end for a change. ;)

On the last day she was 5...

She woke up at 8am, wearing her red and pink pjs with the penguin on them.

She climbed into my bed and stole my iPad first thing.

She had 4 tube feeds, 3 breathing treatments, 2 doses of Advair, 1 dose of Miralax, 1 dose of steroids, and 1 dose of antibiotics.

She had her 21st absence of the school year.

She ate 2 chicken nuggets.

She had a pediatrician's appointment to recheck her pneumonia.

We played Hangman and Tic-Tac-Toe in the hallways while we waited our turn. A stranger commented on how smart she is.

She wore her soft pink pants, pink heart shirt, and her Twinkle Toes.

She belted out Firework while we were driving in the car.

She made herself a cardboard iPad of her very own.

She went to cub scouts.

She gave me her very last 5 year old hugs and kisses and promised to give me her first 6 year old hugs in the morning.

She woke up an hour after falling asleep to ask me if she was six yet...when I said no, she said, "Darnit!" and went back to sleep.

*****

The past 2,191 days have been a wild, sometimes frightening, amazing, life changing, hilarious, entertaining, joyful time in our lives and I can't wait to see what the next 365 hold. Happy SIXTH birthday, KayTar, you have filled our lives to the brim...and then some!

Life With the 'Tars: In Photos

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My Author/Illustrator/Playwright/Comedienne (with pneumonia)

Author/Illustrator:

 The story of the time we saw her teacher at Chili's.

Playwright:

Yesterday she exclaimed, "A quick note for an antidote!" and pretended to faint onto my bed. She told me she was working on a play.

Comedienne:

On the way home from the doctor on Wednesday, we got stuck in traffic. KayTar pointed out a police vehicle and I said, "Yeah, someone probably had an accident." KayTar says, "I think someone peed their pants!" 

(with pneumonia):

At her doctor's appointment, she was diagnosed with pneumonia in her left lung. Same as around this time last year! When the doctor (who isn't our regular pediatrician) looked in her throat and said, "Not much back there!" KayTar replied, "Nope, just my uvula!" That got a chuckle from the doc. She is on her third day of antibiotics and steroids, her fever finally broke yesterday, and her lungs were sounding just a bit clearer last night. Still hearing crackles in her the middle of her left lung and the base of her right..hopefully it will clear soon!

Patient Note

 5 year old female presenting with 5 days of febrile illness per her mother's report. Patient also complains of cough, congestion, wheezing, and occasional loose stools. Mother is treating with acetaminophen and ibuprofen for the fever, Mucinex and Albuterol for the cough and wheezing, and Benadryl for the congestion, all as needed. Patient may have hallucinated during a fever spike two nights ago, as she adamantly insists that her brother was hiding underneath her table at 3am. Patient is in good spirits and thoroughly enjoying her sick days.

Life with the 'Tars: In Photos

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