Aria’s Birthday…. - Aria MacDonald

Aria’s Birthday….

PHOTOS ON FACEBOOK

Thought I might try a day in the life blog for her Birthday celebrations, as you know we delayed them till she was feeling a bit better and thankfully she is doing MUCH better than even two weeks ago.

8.30am I arrive to hospital to find Aria awake and playing with the Occupational Therapist. She was still a bit tired and wasn’t really going for it. She’s happy to see me though and that is nice. OT leaves and two minutes later the people for her morning XRAY turn up. Off to a rip roaring start. Aria knows its her birthday today and is happy to be 4!. As for me I have done the normal run down of various stats with the nurse on today, things are ok so that is good.

9am Our fabulous nurse arranges to put off one of Aria’s regular cares for today to give her a more relaxed day, its nice they care and want to make her day special. I suggest to Aria that she takes a nap so she is full of energy when Mummy and Asher get here, she screws her eyes closed and pretends/tries to sleep. Super Cute!

10am So far we have seen OT, PT, RT, ID and the liver Dr plus the regular nursing staff of PICU and a handful or students in tow… just a typical morning for Aria. Big news so far is that we are going to look into getting some formula for Aria to drink instead of water and she is sprinting all day with her being off the vent 3 times. She is also on her Antibiotics for another 9 days so that might mean the kidneys won’t kick in during that period….. we’ll wait and see on that front though.

10.15am Its the Intensivists (PICU Dr) turn to visit, he talks about Aria being on her trach cuff (off the vent) all day by the end of the week and only on the vent at night….. WOW!

10.30am Asher and Mummy arrive, Aria is very excited and sends me down to help them bring up the presents. Things get noisy now with Asher in the house, it is happy noise though. Blue Dolly is in for a visit too, Aria insists that Green Dolly gives Blue Dolly a kiss since they have been apart for quite a while. We tell Aria that Blue has been looking after Asher for her.

11.00am Rounds been and gone without anything of note so its PARTY TIME!!! Cake, decorations, presents, about 20 staff singing happy birthday and playing instruments. Present time now.

12.30pm Celebrations have come to a pause. Asher is sitting down saying “Chikka Chikka Boom Boom” from a new book Aria got. Aria is surrounded by some dolly friends. I think the biggest hit of the day was a real working oven from her friends on the staff at the University of Nebraska Medical Centre. We still have lots of other events to look forward to today….. Oh and her hour off the vent with low flow oxygen support went well.

1pm Lunch time for everyone, Pizza and Santa Fe stromboli. The surgeon stops past to eat some cake, everything steady as she goes. Bridget the music therapist comes back for some music time. Aria is keen to try out the new bells she got today for a present. Nana has skyped from NZ to say hello too, the kids are happy to see her.

2pm Aria is tiring but her and Asher are doing preschool together after getting some respiratory treatment. Physical Therapy comes back and we tell them not today thank you. Asher and Aria are enjoying doing Elmo puzzles together.

3pm Another skype this time with the Cousins, Asher and Aria both love to see them and there is happy chaos on both ends of the connection. After this Aria settles in to watch the Music Therapy Promo DVD that was made starring our family amongst others. Asher watches Dora on another DVD player, the wonders of modern technology.

6.30pm For a good past of the last few hours we have been off walking with Aria and no vent. That is right we had her with an oxygen tank which made things much easier. We went tunnel walking, outside and to the cafe for a bit of sit down dinner. We’ve also had some visitors including our little friend Emerson who is has had two transplants just like Aria. Aria is still chugging along, overcoming her tiredness to keep on playing.

8pm Asher and Anita have left to get Asher to bed. He has done really well to last the day. They went to the launch of the Music Therapy DVD for a bit, it was a fundraiser full of flash people, Asher obviously fitted in perfectly (or not). Aria finally succumbs to sleep letting me get home the earliest I have in a good while. She did really well today, she has extraordinary reserves of energy that girl. I think she had a great day, as did we all.

We are really thankful for the last 4 years of Aria’s life, we are really thankful for how quickly Aria has made gains with her breathing and we are thankful for you all sharing this journey with us.

And yes, there will be photos of the day too at some point…..

39 Responses to “Aria’s Birthday….”

  1. Tina Coleman says:

    WISHING ARIA A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION! HOPING FOR LOTS OF FUN AND ENERGY! MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALL ON THIS VERY SPECIAL DAY WHEN ARIA “TURNS” 4!!!!!!!!!

    Love,
    Tina

  2. Emma says:

    Happy Birthday Aria!!

  3. Tiffany Keller says:

    Happy Birthday Aria! Have a wonderful day with your mum, & dad, Asher, green dolly, & whoever else comes your way! You are such a brave fighter, & I’m praying for you! God Bless!

  4. brad and stephanie says:

    HAVE A WONDERFUL PARTY Aria! What a fun day!

  5. Jackie says:

    Have an awesome day everyone πŸ™‚

  6. Bracefield family says:

    Happy birthday Aria from everyone at Redeemer!
    Praise the Lord for such good progress especially on the vent!
    In Christ
    Tony

  7. joyce says:

    HAPPY BIRTHDAY ARIA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    Have a good time with family and friends. Love you and praying still.

  8. Martha says:

    So lovely to hear that Aria and the family had such a great day! And wonderful to hear about all the improvements in Aria’s health.

  9. Christine MacDonald says:

    Happy Birthday Aria, enjoy your day celebrating with Mummy, Daddy, Ashie, Green Dolly, Blue Dolly and everyone who comes your way today. Lovely to see you and Ashie this morning. Lots of Love Nana

  10. jeannie overall says:

    happy birthday little one-what a wonderful day for you! i hope asher and dollies had alot of fun with you celebrating, and mummy and daddy-and all the nurses by the wound of it! thank you for sharing your day with us x x x x

  11. Jen Cato says:

    Yay! Aria gets to PARTY!!! Happy Birthday, sweet Aria! <3 (hugs) Glad you could enjoy your awesome day! πŸ˜€

  12. jeannie overall says:

    oops that was meant to be by the sound of it-didnt check my spelling!

  13. Kathleen and Anita says:

    Happy birthday little Aria.
    Here it is in Spanish:
    FELIZ CUMPLEAΓƒβ€˜OS! Someone there who speaks spanish will give you the pronunciation of the ñ!
    Four is a wonderful age to be and comes with a very important word. It is “WHY??” Listen out for it mummy and daddy! Sooner or later you will hear it!
    Thank you Hamish for the word pictures.Can’t wait to see the camera pictures!

  14. chrissy Hallberg says:

    YE HA AMERICAN BIRTHDAY PARTY GIRL!!!!!!!,well done,sounds like it went off realy well,nice to hear staff got into the spirit of things.God bless you all.Big prayers comming for awesome leaps over any hurdles that may come along.Keep up the good work miss Aria.xx

  15. Leticia says:

    Wishing Aria A great Birthday!!! What a big girl she is now. Im glad her day went well and you all got to enjoy a little time together. Much love and prayers xx

  16. Lyaine says:

    Glad everything went so well for the the Big 4 year old Birthday gir.

  17. Laurie says:

    I am having such fun reading this post! I have hit the refresh button on my browser a million times, at least!

    Happy Birthday to Aria – I’m so glad that she’s able to enjoy her celebration!

  18. Rod & Margaret says:

    YES HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR ARIA !!
    Family… your faith and that of your many supporters has brought this about. Thank you Lord for your power and kindness.

  19. Jude says:

    Happy Birthday Aria!! πŸ˜€

  20. Viv says:

    What a lovely birthday celebration. Happy Birthday Aria !!!!

  21. Fran & Dan says:

    Awww sounds like it was a brill time and we are sure Aria bought England some luck on her special day ;o) xxxx

  22. Samantha Sutherland says:

    Happy Birthday Aria – sounds like a fantastic day and you did so well to keep your energy up all day! Holy Moly your day is really really full of interruptions though – I really felt for you guys with the things you have to cope with on a daily basis and Aria of course with the constant stream of people touching her and working on her recovery with her. It takes a lot of strength to get through that on a daily basis so good on her for doing it! She truly is a miracle child! (where did four years go huh!)

  23. fiona says:

    Very Happy Birthday Aria- what a wonderful day for you all to celebrate together- and a BIG thank you to all the wonderful hospital people who are looking after you so well

  24. Lauren says:

    Happ Birthday Aria!!

  25. Christine MacDonald says:

    It has been a very eventful day, yay for walks, you are such a trooper Aria!!!! Well done hope you have enjoyed your day

  26. Viv says:

    What a happy, encouraging post – and happy, happy birthday precious Aria – glad that you’ve all had such a good day together – especially the “out and about” bit!

  27. Lisa Robertson says:

    Sounds like a very lovely and very busy day!!! Very interesting to sit down and read through it all, so glad Aria enjoyed her birthday!!! x

  28. Kelli says:

    So glad you all had a great day, you all deserve it so much.
    And thank you for sharing your journey with us, I must admit I often have a tear or two after reading your blogs, because your an amazing family and Aria is such an amazing wee girl, my prayers are always with you πŸ™‚ and very much looking forward to the pictures. HAPPY BIRTHDAY ARIA πŸ™‚ πŸ™‚

  29. Nikki says:

    Happy Birthday, Aria!

  30. Louise says:

    Yay, sounds like an awesome day! Happy Birthday Aria.
    Love from the Morrison family

  31. Linda Crosbie says:

    WOW. What an event filled day and definitely one to celebrate. So pleased to read that Aria is making many gains in her recovery. Thank you for sharing your journey with all the ups and downs. Sounds like more ups are happening now and thats the way it should be. You guys are amazing. XXXX

  32. Raylene says:

    Happy Birthday Aria!

  33. Jan Piper says:

    Thank you so much for sending out such a full and very detailed account of Arias birthday. It was just beautiful to read. You are all constantly in my thoughts. One day I hope to get to meet this amazing wee girl and you all Take Care

  34. lisa says:

    Happy Birthday Aria!!! You are amazing sweetie. I’m so glad you all had a great day. You so deserved it! You continue to be in my thoughts and prayers. Reading about your progress is such a privilege. Take care all of you.

  35. Judy Palmer says:

    I have just seen the birthday photos on Facebook, and am amazed at the energy that Aria found to last all day ( a feat most healthy 4 year olds would struggle with). Well done Aria. Praying for continued healing and blessings for you all. Yours in Christ,
    Judy.

  36. iliganoa says:

    Halleluia praise the Lord! what a miracle filled day we just praise the Lord for you Aria, you are such a fighter girl. A very very special birthday and lots more like it, God is so gooooood amen! love you all, Noa

  37. joyce says:

    Loved the birthday pics on facebook.You have waited so long for this day when Aria is doing so well.What a terrific journey you have been on but God has been so good.Up or down he has been faithful to you.Each day is a step forward for you all.What a testimony you have been to so many of us.May God continue to bless your precious family.

  38. mirren says:

    I have been following your blog for a while now, and I just wanted to encourage you all. I know so many people are cheering Aria and your family on.
    It’s so encouraging for me to see your continuing faith in God, and your trust and reliance on Him. He will always be there for you.
    I will keep praying that Aria will continue to improve.
    I’m so glad you could celebrate her birthday today. Happy Birthday Aria! God bless you all.

  39. technomarine says:

    You can not upgrade the built in sound/audio card as it is a chip set mode into the mother board. You can update the installed audio driver but if you have your operating system set for auto updates it will already be the latest driver.

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“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”- Jeremiah 29:11