Well....we made it!! Every year with her we take as such a blessing. Kaitlyn had a very good birthday this year...we've been practicing for weeks! She now thinks that whenever the song "Happy Birthday" is sung, it's only for her, and she looks for the candle to blow out. Very funny.
We celebrated her birthday two ways. The first was on her actual birthday, which was Wednesday the 30th. All grandparents came over, as well as Aunt Amy & Uncle Kyle with Haily Rose, and Uncle Darren & Aunt Kelli with Dean & Juliette. Amy, Kyle and Hailey gave her her first bike!!! And it's gorgeous! And old timey red Radio Flyer one, with a bell training wheels and all! Kaitlyn LOVES this bike so much, and can't understand why she can't ride it yet, but she will soon! She does sit on it for a few minutes and says "vroom vroom," but no real peddling or anything. Darren, Kelli, Dean and Julie gave Kaitlyn a bathing suit set for the summer, and it's the cutest thing!!! Pink one piece with ruffles and polka dots! And a pink terry cloth cover up and matching hat...and the best of all...pink polka dot sandals. She's going to be the cutest little beaner on the beach!
A special birthday present came in the mail from our friend Lizzie, and her mom and dad. The Chern family has been our closet and dearest friends throughout this entire ordeal with Kaitlyn and her kidney crusade. We met them in the PICU the day after Kaitlyn was admitted last October. Their daughter Lizzie was admitted with a type of leukemia, while Kaitlyn had renal failure. Our families kept each other sane and strong through the long month at Morristown Memorial Hospital. And when we were all discharged, we kept in touch, and even had some repeat overnights together! Our little girls are two weeks apart, and have other similiar characteristics that are simply uncanny! Lizzie is just as much a fighter as Kaitlyn, and has also had a transplant of her own last year...a bone marrow at Sloan Kettering. She is doing well, as is Kailtyn, and we can't WAIT to get the girls together for the first time to meet, and play. A long road we've all had, but this ending is what we are truly excited for! For more information on Lizzie and her story, please visit her page at:
www.caringbridge.org/visit/elizabethkatechern
In other news, we're celebrating Kaitlyn's birthday the second way today, at her favorite place, The Little Gym! We are looking forward to a fun afternoon, with her friends and their parents, and will make sure to post lots of pictures when it's over!