Where to begin? You’re turning 9 today. Nine! I first held you in my arms 108 months ago and I was just thankful you were alive. Your mom and I hardly dared to look too far in the future at that point. We knew you had a rough road ahead — multiple heart surgeries, scary odds — it was best to take things one day at a time. Since then those days have really flown by.

Of course you taught us to look forward to a hopeful future eventually. Little did we know it would be filled with so many pleasant surprises. I just went through the last year of photos (and added a ton of them to your photo section). Simply put, you never cease to amaze us.

Your sense of wonder and hunger for knowledge is insatiable. We delight in each challenge you overcome and problem you solve. You manage to exhibit something weekly to stop us in our tracks (in a good way). Whether it’s your innate sense of kindness to others (especially those in need), your defiance of some parental ruling you disagree with or just your ability to smile and laugh through anything — you inspire us.

We have a busy weekend ahead. You’re having the “spa birthday party” you requested with a few friends today after school. On Saturday you’ll lead Team Matilda once again at the 2011 Twin Cities Start! Heart Walk.

Here’s wishing you the best birthday yet. Thank you for being the greatest gift we’ve ever received.

It’s been quite a busy year. We’ll be adding new photos and stuff here soon. Until then, you can read all about our family’s adventures in our 2010 update over at roventine.com. We’ve added a gallery of our favorite photos from the past year too.

Tillie and Lucy recorded their annual Christmas song, “Santa Claus is Coming to Town.” You can listen below:

Our family Christmas video is up too. Here’s wishing everyone a very merry Christmas and a fantastic new year!

8 years ago today, our strong, beautiful daughter Matilda was born. 8 years. Wow! Where does the time go?

This past year has proven to be a positive and very eventful one for Tillie. She’s not only gotten smarter and wiser in school, she’s also grown so much. She’s decided to let her hair grown long, loves to put together her own outfits, and reads chapter books and pretty much anything nonstop! She is vibrant and energetic, too. She is always busy- from cooking with me and helping tend her garden to playing outside and giving her sister lots of (unsolicited) advice. She has recently started wearing glasses for astigmatism and now looks oh so studious. She has matured into a lovely young lady who finds happiness and excitement in each new day!

As the school year winds down, we look forward to more family bonding this summer. Tillie will attend her second year at Camp Odayin, a day camp for kids with heart disease. Watching her play and form friendships with other kids with special hearts is amazing and something we had always hoped she would be able to do. She plans on mastering her bike without training wheels this summer and tackling every set of monkey bars in the east metro area.

These next few days Tillie has special plans to celebrate her birthday in style. She will be getting her ears pierced, eating at her favorite restaurants, taking a few close friends to the salon for manicures, and celebrating being a heart disease survivor at the AHA’s Heart Walk in Minneapolis.

Tillie doesn’t let having a “special heart” hold her back and embraces life to the fullest! She never ceases to amaze us. She’s given us hope and happiness, and on her special day, we are honored to celebrate her amazing life!