10 months into your life, i recognized my faith. as your heartrate soared above 200 and your oxygen level dipped to the 80s, i recognized my faith. 
i wanted to make a deal with god, to bargain, to make promises. instead all i thought was that god is good, babies die, and god is still good. damn. no room for bargaining there. but beyond that moment of terrifying freedom, you came back to strength in all your glory. and maybe this is why there is a part of me that cheers when spices and toothpaste are spread all around.
we celebrated your being three today, little e. from where you were to now.
and despite the activity of yesterday, you woke to insist that there were presents to open.
oh, no eliza, you opened them already.
no, there is more, it is my birthday.
well, thanks to nana and papa, abby and family, and auntie bonita, she was proved right.
truly loved and treasured you are, eliza irene…even when you are hungry and the sun is too bright and the drive to breakfast is too long.
and just for fun, a picture of naomi at 3…isn’t it amazing how they look alike?
prairie daze 
yes, they look very much alike! such a cutie. happy birthday big girl!! i will say a special prayer for you today for your future, your dreams and your ability to achieve anything you put your heart to!
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Happy Birthday, Eliza. It is a joy to know you and watch you relate to the world. And Happy Birthday to your big sister, too!
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Oh, Eliza! Happy birthday!
I don’t know what to say except that when I see you or think of you I can’t help but smile, smile, smile. You are loved!
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Yesterday, Eliza’s real birthday, was such a blur here in Markham, I plumb forgot to call. Dang it! I did little more than check on Mom to see what else I could bring her as she coughed and ached her way through the day in bed!
Eliza, I’m sooooooo glad you had such a good birthday. And I’m so glad we were able to celebrate your birthday early while we were in Newton. We love you so much.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Oma and Opa
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zachy said
“but she is not flee – i am flee!” :op
happy birthday “baby” girl!!
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I love three! In some ways I’ve found 3 to be harder than 2, but Eliza’s given you lots of practice in dealing with a child’s determination that I know you can handle it. I’m glad that she had a few presents to open on her birthday despite her escapades the day before. Much love to you, Eliza!
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Happy Birthday Dear Eliza! I wish you much joy, happiness, love, adventure (no questions about this one!! :) ) and peace in your life. You will go so far with all of your spunk!
Love, Sara and family
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you’ve reminded me of those days that we spent in the hospital with greta, who had RSV as well (tho i later learned not nearly as bad). i remember knowing at the time that you were also in the hospital with eliza those very same days. and now those memories have become yet another connection.
she’s beautiful. i look forward to knowing her one day. i am grateful for her life!
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She looks so incredibly calm in that hospital picture. I can not imagine you were calm, what with the bargaining and hoping and all. I don’t believe the bargaining works, but I am glad that things worked well (and led to today) for you and yours.
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Happy Birthday Eliza! I am loving watching you grow through the wonder of the internet. And my oh my, do you look like your sister.
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“Hatty Dirtday Ewiza!” Love Poppy & Mei…Xxx
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