5 Years? Who'd have thought we'd be here...

My sweet Sam.  5 years ago right now, she was having uncontrolled seizures in the NICU and we weren't sure how long she'd be with us.  Tonight, I can't get her to bed because she's just not tired.

It's hard to believe that yesterday was Sam's 5th birthday.  In some ways this has been a seriously LONG haul, in others it seems like the blink of an eye.  From any perspective, Sam remains a miracle.  She's overcome so much.  She walks, talks, dances, runs, jumps.  This is the first year we haven't had to do "cake training," practicing in hopes she'd take a bite of birthday cake and not get upset.

She even wanted a candle this year!  Last year, she got so upset by a candle on her cupcake that she caused a big scene.  Fire scared her to death, and she wasn't particularly a fan of group singing either (I don't blame her - it WAS painfully off key).

She also got to celebrate with friends at school.

I think the biggest hit of the day, though, was the last gift - HUNGRY HUNGRY HIPPOS!  She and Ally were very competitive - I could see a bit of their parents coming out...

We are very much looking forward to her first big birthday party on Sunday, with lots of our friends and her friends from school.  We're having it at the same place where Ally had her spectacular 3rd birthday party.  It will have a pirate theme!  Stay tuned...