Julia's birthday

Yesterday, David went to the doctors to check out the water retention problem he has been having and by the early afternoon, he was admitted to the hospital. We knew that hospitalization was a possibility but once again did not realize how close he was to it. They started him on a diuretic IV and put a cath into his heart to find out from the inside how his heart is performing. The docs also bumped David's status from a 2 to a 1b, which ups his priority to get a heart.

I drove home from the hospital last night, stopped for a store made birthday cake. I accepted that I was not going to have time to make a cake, and that I might not have time to do much of what I wanted for Julia's party but she was still going to have a party.

And she did.

Julia and I woke up this morning with kisses and happy birthdays. We started getting out day ready and soon Ellen, one of our line therapist, joined us. We set the table, hung decorations, decorated the cake, did up Julia's hair, and were ready enough when little girls started arrives.

Four little girls -- three first or second graders and one 3 year old sibling -- invaded with joy and excitement. I had to laugh at myself for being worried, although still for the first half hour or so, I worried that Julia would be able to handle herself, or whether this would just be too much stimulation. She had Ellen to help her and other than two times when her emotions got the best of her, Julia was pretty much self-regulated.

We had planned for a few games if the girls needed it, but I was pretty sure that they would want to just play and that was exactly what they did. The girls started out playing with Julia's doll house and the animals that inhabit it. The calico critter kitchen set was the first present that Julia opened, and the only one she opened before the kids came over. there are actually muffins in the muffin pan. Tables were set, food prepared and served, and various animals went to bed. Next, they played with Julia's little pet shop collection and although Julia can take out lots of her pets at the same time when she is alone, four girls all spreading LPS stuff all over the play room. It was quite impressive to see all of her LPS structures up and working with pets visiting each other and using all the tiny tiny accessories. All at the same time. After an hour of playing, we sat down to peanut butter and jelly, grapes, orange slices and punch, and after everyone had something close to food, we lit candles and sang happy birthday. My girl was so happy. She blew out her tinkerbell candle and then asked all the girls to blow with her for the rest of the candles.

After cake, we opened presents. Julia's favorites were the two playmobile sets she received. Her aunt and uncle sent her a dinosaur set, and one of her friends brought her a garden set.

Amazing how a gardener with a green house and lots of plastic plants look to good with a T-rex, a few raptors and some plastic dino setting. She got some cool 3D books and puzzles and more games (from me). We played one of the games and soon it was time for the girls to go home.

Julia had such a good time that tonight she asked if she could have a party again.

By the time we visited David today, the docs had stopped the diuretic but put him on an IV that should increase the effectiveness of his heart. He can only be on it for a short time, it must be delivered via IV, and he must be weaned off it before he goes home. No word when that will be, and he is very bored after 24 hours in hospital. It is time to start that great american novel. He has been bumped to 1a status because of the new drug.

Julia and I hung out with David for a few hours. We opened the last of Julia's birthday presents, watched tv, explained what all of David tubes and beepers did, ate supper, and shared the last of Julia's birthday cake. I left a game in David's hospital room and I hope I can get Julia to play with her Leapster instead of watching tv as the week progresses. Because there is a chance that David will be staying at the hospital until he gets a new heart, we need to do some good things there and not just veg out with the tv.

While we were eating, Julia asked: "Please, Dad, can you come home now."

Julia and I came home, played with the dino/garden sets and got ready for bed. She did not want to take her hair down but agreed to take off her crown and hair decorations. She settled down to bed, told me she missed her Daddy, and went to sleep.

Really not bad at all for a ninth birthday.