March has always been one of my favorite months because it is my birthday month. (I realize March can really mess with your head—what with its wildly inconsistent weather patterns that make one feel almost simultaneously hopeful spring will and possibly has already arrived, to feeling like the darkness and cold may never leave—but we are all complicatedly paradoxical.) It was also the birthday month of my Grandma Joyce (and Dr. Seuss (March 2)), my Grandpa Jim (March 22), and is the birthday of my dear Uncle Gary (today!), my kids’ Grandpa Greg (March 24), and my baby cousin Joshua (March 25 )! See why it is such a fun month?
Eighteen years ago it became for sure my very favorite month when it was the month I first became a mother.
Jordan Kate Duprey was born on March 30, 2008 in Richmond, Virginia. Fast forward almost eighteen years, and this weekend she and I are celebrating our birthdays together, just the two of us. We have been walking and sleeping and eating and reading and soaking in a mineral springs and arguably doing all the things people should do to celebrate birthdays.
Naturally, memories of my first baby’s childhood and adolescence have been popping up and playing through my mind. We recently watched baby videos and marveled at how intelligent and adorable she was (still is) and have been looking at photos, as high school graduation is right around the corner. All the memories, all the emotions. First words, first steps, first plane rides, first visits to the beach.
First falls.
June 3, 2009
Yesterday evening, just before dinner, Jordan managed to slip through the rails on the balcony of our 2nd story apartment and landed on the cement. Right when I got her in my arms, she was moaning, but at least awake and moving all her limbs. The men in the ambulance were incredible, and Jordan would stop whimpering long enough to wave “Hi” & “Bye bye” to them. She also tried to make a few baby signs on the way, which kept my heart at peace.
We have been very well taken care of here at MCV, and after many scans, tests, and observations, we have received the best news possible, considering the circumstances. Jordan has three fractures on her skull (picture them sort of like she was wearing a headband), but they separated cleanly and there is absolutely no need for surgery; they should heal perfectly in up to four weeks. Her brain is absolutely unscathed- she even started saying “Uh-oh!” She’s been signing “Thank you” and “ALL DONE” to the nurses when they’ve been taking her blood, etc. Such a polite, intelligent, beautiful, sassy little girl! :)
We received the final word of clearance from the neurosurgeon and pediatric surgeon this morning, so we got to take off her neck brace and now she gets to eat! She just finished some Cheerios and peanut butter crackers, sucked down some apple juice, and now she is walking around the hallways, with only a little help from Daddy.
Thank you thank you for all your prayers; the power of prayer truly is overwhelming. We all know our lives are in God’s hands, but sometimes that fact is really just thrust in our faces! Never have I understood the phrase “in the blink of an eye” so well. Just a reminder to turn to God in celebrations and crises. Love you all so much. Now go give your kids/parents/friends/loved ones a big hug and say a prayer for this life we get to live while we’re here!
Love,
Jamie, Jeremy, and THE JORDAN KATE
Watching your children fall is heart-wrenching. It physically hurts me when my kids hurt. The temptation is to try to do anything in our power to protect or shield our kids. But no matter how carefully we watch them, sometimes they still slip through the balcony slats. I know the life we live is a both-and. Jesus illustrates this in a beautifully agonizing way on the cross. Each year that goes by, I try to embrace what it means to be people who are loved so much that we get to have free will, and that because of that, we will always have to hold both joy and sorrow (and everything in between).
Over the years Jordan has had ups and downs, as we all do. She has dealt with health struggles that have been frustrating, painful, and often debilitating. But just like that first big fall, she keeps getting back up. It would be easy for her to assume a victim posture, to feel sorry for herself, to make excuses, to be negative—and fairly understandable if she did—but instead, she continues to teach us what true resilience looks like.
The world would be a better place if we all showed up being willing to face challenges head on, with grit and honesty and perseverance and hope, like Miss Jordan Kate.
Happy birthday, my darling girl.
