Today my daughter turned 5. I am so pleased and impressed and happy with the wonderful little girl she is. She has told me thank you for her present about a million times. She is full of love and hugs and sunshine, and that gives me a lot of joy...

But birthdays also break my heart. I ache for the little boy that would be here, admiring his big sister as she blows out candles. My sister-in-law posted a picture of Sami as a baby, and she looked at it and said "Mama! Look! Its baby Rhys here for my birthday!" She is so sweet.

So much joy and so much pain.

Happy Birthday to your little girl!! She sounds precious. My daughter will be 5 this April. Each day I see my son in her and it is hard not to miss him. I so wish she had her little brother here too to look up to her. She just adored him-he was 6 mos when he passed away of SIDS. Yes, she brings SO much joy, but also reminds us of what would have been-what should have been. Thinking of you, and sending endless understanding and sharing in your pain.