My baby is EIGHT....

It honestly seems like no time ago at all that I was being rushed to Little Rock in an ambulance, moments after a well known now deceased dr here told me it was a waste of time, that my child was not going to be a 'viable birth' and I needed to accept that. Thank goodness my husband is a hard head that didn't take that as an answer, and thank God his best friend happens to own Monticello Ambulance Service Inc. or who knows what may have happened. I don't even want to think about it. If you question the validity of miracles, you can come over and meet my kid whenever you would like. Because we witnessed one through her that stumped every person in the NICU and had the Neonatology department dumbfounded. You see, my daughter, the one that tested higher than anyone in the entire school in reading during standardized testing, is supposed to be extremely mentally and physically handicapped. She had a very significant bleed in her brain, known as an IVH, Grade IV. When a child has this much bleeding in their brain, shunt placement is necessary to relieve the pressure, and stop any more brain damage from occurring. If it is a lesser grade, the body will "resolve" or reabsorb it, on it's own, but with one as bad as Jordan's, that was physically impossible. Impossible that is, without the king of kings...... On the day we went for her follow up head ultrasound to prepare for shunt placement (when she weighed 4 lbs exactly), they drug us all over the hospital, convinced the ultrasound machine was malfunctioning, because there was not only less blood present, there was NONE. My child had 100% absolution in a mere 24 hours. And obviously, if you have met my kid, you also know she is extremely advanced for her age, with no brain damage. She is literally, a walking miracle. I don't beat around the bush about it, you can doubt it if you want to, but my child was healed by the grace of God. I like to think I was given that blessing because I didn't try to demand it. At that point, I did not care if she was handicapped or not. I was just happy to have her.

Jordan was my "easy" baby. The one that slept well, and loved everyone. She is also my compassionate child, to a fault. She cannot bear to see someone in pain or upset. While my father had chemo and was very sick, it was not uncommon for her to climb into his chair with him and lay there for hours with him, when she was just a toddler. She always knew when her Pop was sick and they have a special connection.

She is my cut up for the camera. The one who loves to strike a pose. The one who notices all details, in every environment. She has the memory of an elephant.

She is also my girly girl, and my drama queen. The one that prefers makeup to toys, and new clothes over almost anything. She loves hugs and hanging out in your lap as long as you will leave her there.

I am blessed, in so many ways, to be given the opportunity to be her mother. She taught me more before she was even due to be born, than most have taught me in my entire life. She is my fighter, born 3 months early, kicking and screaming and more ready for the world than anyone ever thought.

Happy Birthday Jordi, aka "Boo Boo Bear," we love you very much!

We are off to Laynes (can't get used to saying Village Steakhouse), with Brother Bear Jagger in tow, to have a birthday dinner fit for a queen, she loves that place!! Her real birthday is tomorrow, but hopefully we will we welcoming Jackson Hines into the world, so we are going to eat tonight.