Believe It Or Not

Believe it or not, these are some of my favorite Jordan pictures from the last year.

Here are a couple pictures for Danielle (in Holland), and a couple more of my favorite feet photos, for fun.

Happy Little Feet, etc.

Last week aunt Jill & I made a footprint tile for Jordan, by, among other things, painting the bottoms of her feet purple. The lady at the ceramic shop was amazed that she slept through it, but hey, when Jordan is asleep, she's asleep. Avery & I picked it up tonight, then spent some time taking pics of feet.

Devon painted Avery's in October 2004, and I painted Jordan's in early January 2007.

Devon is off to Seattle for an action packed day starting early in the morning. I must resist the temptation to stay up late. . . . Nana Noma is here as "back up" in case things go crazy, as they frequently do on the nights he is away.

Jordan has been smiling up a storm, after not smiling for a couple of months. We just wish we knew what to do to make her smile -- although noises seem to trigger it sometimes. Of course we cannot catch one on the camera, but we did tgtsome shos of her last night between smiles, sporting her new Queens University shirt. No, this Queens is not in New York, it's in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, and is daddy, uncle Bryan, and aunt Tina's alma mater. Perhaps she'll have to don her WSU outfit for the Cougs next basketball game (aunt Jill, nana Noma, and my alma mater).

And, for at least the 3rd time this winter, it's snowing! I guess we won't know if we will get any until we wake up tomorrow. I don't have to go anywhere, so I say bring it on -- let it snow, let it snow, let it snow. However, by Friday it's supposed to be dry and sunny. Sounds perfect to me.

Must get some sleep. Must keep to my new schedule. It feels great (if not a little tiring by the later afternoon).

Just One More Thing

Well, it happened again. Just one more thing to remind me how things are. The suction machine arrived tonight, and, sadly, it's probably a good thing.

Last week at Jordan's one year check-up the doctor suggested that we get a suction machine, because at some point in the future, keeping her "cleaned out" will make the difference between being home and being in the hospital. 4 business days is record speed for insurance approval, and here it is already. I guess I just wasn't prepared to get it so soon.

She just doesn't seem to have the umph to get a good cough most of the time, so when she finally gets a good one it seems to pull the food out of her tummy, too. One thing I am looking forward to is sucking the snot out of her nose before it drips down her throat. That rattling snot sound can really drive me crazy sometimes. I have even gone so far as to holding tissues up to her nose, somehow thinking that she'll just instinctively know how to blow it if the tissue is in place. It never happens.

I just hate all this medical equipment. I just hate this cold she has (it's been waxing & waning for ~6 weeks now). Colds are just devastating to her system. All she does is make snot, then, as it drips down her throat, coughs, which makes her barf, which sucks!

And on that note, I have to admit that I hate the idea of the feeding pump, but I like how it makes our lives easier. I feel totally guilty that I'm so willing to use it. But feeding her takes alot of time out of a day, especially if you have to sit there and drip it in by hand. If you go too fast -- barf! And we already have enough of it with this never ending cold.

Now here's the crazy thing with the suction machine. It arrived at 9:00pm while Kelly & Kate were here with Avery & Jordan (I was driving Devon to the airport), and the delivery guy had to show Kelly how to use it, so she could sign the papers for it. She's an RN, so I was almost happier he showed her, then she showed us. But really, what are durable medical equipment delivery people doing delivering things at 9:00pm, and why are they delivering things if they're qualified to use them. . . .I guess stranger things have happened.

So, If Jordan is up at 3:30am again this morning, coughing her little brains out, perhaps we'll try to give the suction unit a whirl. No aspiration, no pneumonia, that's her resolution for 2007! Whatever it takes, even if it is another machine.

Growing Into It

Here's our latest comparison picture of Jordan "deflating" from her summer ACTH (steroid) treatment. She's not really losing weight, but rather just growing into it. Her weight to height ration is still pretty high, so it might take awhile for her to grow into it entirely.

ACTH: Day 1 (13 July 2006)











ACTH: 48 days on, 3 days off (1 September 2006)











ACTH: 48 days on, 34 days off (2 October 2006)











ACTH: 48 days on, 13 weeks off (6 January 2007)

Santa's Little Helper

Just arrived: Avery on santa's lap for the first time. Thanks Mike & Sandy for the neighborhood santa party!

(I left all the info so as not to violate a copyright or anything)

Yeah January

I can't get over how long the days are now that the "birtholiday" month is over. Phew. It seems like the days go on forever, and the things on my list that have been building up for 2 months are being crossed off faster than new things are being added. It feels great. Last night I made it into bed by 11:31pm! I'm sure this is a record for the last year (except for a few nights I was sick). Jordan didn't wake up until 7:00am, and then I got to take a nap from 9:00 to 11:00. I feel like a new person!

We had a nice relaxing weekend at home. Devon & Avery went to the pool with the big yellow slide (Firstenburg Community Center). She won't go down the slide with me, because I can't keep her out of the water at the end (but he can, and so can our friend Julie who visited in November). Devon thought it was pretty funny, though, that as she slides down, she puts her fingers in her ears, instead of plugging her nose. Yep, definitely takes after her mother (and my phobia of things in my ears, including water).

Today we spent the afternoon at nana Noma's. Nana tried hard to get some snuggle time with Jordan, but noted that she just doesn't get much when Avery is around. Uh huh! She usually gets to have them one at a time, but she can handle them both, too. We had a great dinner, and Avery helped nana Noma make raspberry tarts for Devon (as a thank you for fixing curtain rods & hanging curtains for her).

This evening we had a play date with Kate. She's been under-the-weather for awhile now, so we were needing a Kate fix. Wow, Kate got a scooter for Christmas, too, and she's crazy on that thing! She's going to have to give Avery lessons.

Okay, now I'm all pepped up and ready to get back to my random, philosophical, boring, irritating blogs (your choice of adjective). And I'm going to aim for bed before midnight from now on. I admit I am a night owl, but getting all that sleep is heavenly. I forgot!

Posers

Avery's no danger mouse on her new skates & scooter from best friend Kate. Aunt Jessie has to help (but that's okay with us!). All smiles for the new year.

Liber-Avery, playing on Katy's new birthday piano today at our super-fun play date with Heather & Katy.
Slow as a snail, playing with Katy's Play-Doh.

How'd she do that with her fingers? (aunt Jill's pose)

A Time For Family

The striped sisters, back from their 1 year and 3 year check ups. Both are doing great!

Dr. Avery pronounced poor, flu-ridden uncle Jon Paul dead after finding a temperature of 0!

Silly slippers for aunt Jessie & Avery.
Triple snoozing!

Aunt Jill & the girlsGrandpa-grandpa John, and his cousin Clara. They grew up together in Colorado, and haven't seen each other in years.

Fun-Do

Grandpa-grandpa John & Dona joined us for a relaxing new year than with melted chocolate & fruit. We put Jill's new (3rd!) fondue pot to use for a couple of hours. Avery was bouncing off the walls -- she had a nap with me earlier in the day (a definite no-no when you want her to go to bed before 10:00pm), then she got all honked-up on chocolate & marshmallows -- and some fruit. Even Jordan gave the chocolate a try, and daddy thinks she liked it (once she got past the gag reflex, that is).

Happy New Year!

Happy 2007

Phew, we survived! We made it through December, and have all resolved to take it a little easier this year. I think Jordan might be the happiest -- she's been awake & alert more today than I'd seen her through all of December. I guess the pressure is off, finally. Maybe she's more at ease because we're more relaxed. And, her barfing seems to be easing up a bit. I hope I'm not jinxing things by mentioning it here.

On Thursday grandpa Gary, grandma Kay, aunt Jessie & uncle Jon Paul arrived. On Friday grandpa-grandpa John & Dona came, followed by aunt Jill that evening. With everyone gathered, it was time to celebrate Jordan's first birthday on Saturday.

But first, it was off the Heather & Sam's house for Katy's second birthday party. Then, off to the mall for a 4-siblings photoshoot with Jill, Jon Paul, Jessie, & me. And then, finally, 15 minutes late, we all arrived for Jordan's celebration.

As with all things Jordan, it was an odd first birthday; sad in some ways for the obvious reasons, but much happier than I expected, because she was here to celebrate it! I can't say the feeling will last forever, but I'm finding a new kind of peace with Jordan lately. She may never be an astrophysicist, hell, she may never even go to a regular school, but I'm okay with that. I guess it's all part of the process of loosing a dream. But, now I'm adjusting to my new dreams, and it feels pretty good. And really, there's nobody as sweet & gentle as Jordan.

So, celebrate we did, and after a few hours of food, cake, & conversation, Devon kidnapped me across the state line. As if 2 birthday parties and a professional photoshoot weren't enough for one day, we still had our anniversary to celebrate. We drove into Portland and enjoyed a delicious anniversary dinner at Oba!, a pan-hispanic restaurant in the trendy Pearl District. Then, much to my true surprise, we stayed the night downtown at The Vintage Plaza hotel. It was heavenly! Aunt Jill & nana Noma held down the fort with Avery & Jordan at home, and fixed a nice breakfast for grandpa-grandpa John & Dona in the morning, too.

So, now we're out of "birtholiday" survival mode and trying to get back to "normal." Here's to a fresh start in 2007, and getting into a new family groove.

Goodnight kisses for Jordan tonight. Actually, it was Avery going off to bed, but Jordan joined daddy & her for some books, snuggles, & kisses, of course.

[Lots more pictures to come -- soon!]