Mary’s real birthday

Abe woke up with the flu today. Booooo! Lydia had the same strain of the flu on Friday, so I’m hoping this strain doesn’t make it to Mary or me. In the past two months we have had: lice, a virus (ongoing for Abe and me–we are both still feeling its affects even now), the flu, and the flu (a different strain) AGAIN. It’s a great thing Ammon didn’t come when I wanted because the poor little thing would have been brought into a den of illness.

On a happier note, today was Mary’s birthday! I have lots of pictures.

Anticipating her birthday breakfast plum cake.
Anticipating her birthday breakfast plum cake.
Mary got sang to three times today. We gave her a present after each meal. After breakfast Lydia gave her a slinky. That was a big hit, even though it didn't work on our stairs.
We sang to Mary three times today, and we gave her a present after each meal. After breakfast Lydia gave her a slinky. That was a big hit, even though it didn’t work on our stairs.

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Playing with balloons.
Playing with balloons.

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After lunch Mary opened her second present of Tegu magnetic blocks.
After lunch Mary opened her second present of Tegu magnetic blocks.
After dinner we sang to Mary a third time. We gave her a beautiful Jan Brett floor puzzle of the Easter Bunny.
After dinner we sang to Mary a third time. We gave her a beautiful Jan Brett floor puzzle of the Easter Bunny.
After dinner, we chatted and called Jere and David. Mary loved telling everyone she was the birthday girl today!
After dinner, we chatted and called Jere and David. Mary loved telling everyone she was the birthday girl today!

Mary spent a lot of the day singing, “I’m the birthday girl!” to herself and anyone else who would listen. Lydia started the day sweetly and loved sneaking balloons into Mary’s room and letting Mary have special things…but after hearing Mary announce she was the birthday girl for the umpteenth time, Lydia said, “Mary, I know you’re the birthday girl!! Stop telling me!” It was downhill from there. Lydia had lots of tantrums and I felt sure that I had failed in the parenting department.

From his deathbed, Abe somehow managed to pour two hours of attention onto Lydia and help her turn around. She still struggled to be polite, but at least we didn’t have to endure hours of screaming for the rest of the day.

Lydia’s screaming didn’t affect Mary at all. She was excited and happy all day, and she practically danced her way through the whole day. I am so happy she had a great day, and I hope Abe feels better tomorrow.