Gee oh gee, Jordan is 3!

Jordan's birthday weekend got off to a rocky start with a terrible cough and a trip to the doctor, but things got much sweeter when she got in a little early celebrating with Grandmother, Granddaddy and Aunt Brittney!

Among Jordan's favorite early presents were the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse figurines from Grandmother and Granddaddy, the "so cute" shoes from Aunt Brittney, and the Micky Mouse counting book from Aunt Susie.

The Disney figurines from Grandmother and Granddaddy are a perfect fit for her growing hands!

Jordan taught Aunt Brittney a little something about counting with Mickey!

Jordan takes Pluto for walks regularly.  She keeps saying she's ready for a pet...



We had to reschedule her Build-a-Bear outing with Casey, and she smissed her first official day of school, but Jordan was feeling much better, just in time for her birthday!



For a special birthday girl, mommy had a special birthday treat!  In stead of oatmeal and yogurt, Jordan enjoyed a frosting and sprinkle covered chocolate chip cookie for breakfast!

The fun continued throughout the day with a special delivery from Mima and Mipa, gifts from Aunt Becky, Uncle JD and cousin Jeffrey, and some favorite toys from her nanny, Missy!

When Mommy and Daddy got home from work, it was time for Jordan to open MORE presents!  The moment that Daddy walked in the door, she began tearing into the biggest present... and with excitement declared... "IT'S A COUCH!"

And what birthday would be complete without a birthday cake???

...  BEFORE ...

... AFTER ...

And what birthday would be complete without a birthday bath???



And when there's no more presents to open and no more cake to eat, it's a nice time to sit on one's new "couch" and reflect on the day with much love and appreciation for the friends and family who helped make birthday #3 one to remember!

And eventually, every wonderful birthday must come to an end...!



HAPPY BIRTHDAY MISS JORDAN ROSE RINKER! 

May each year be more amazing than the last.

Karter Kaye - 2 Months!

Sorry for the delay!  Losing internet for a week put me behind and now I can't seem to catch up!!  I owe you a full update, but for now, here's Karter Kaye at 2 months!!

Karter at 2 months!  (16 lbs!)

Pretty as a flower!



Doing the "it's my birthday" dance!



Nothing is sweeter than the soft touch of a loving hand... 

All good things...

... must come to an end...

I go back to work on Monday.  Today was my last Wednesday at home with the girls.  Tomorrow will be my last Thursday at home, and Friday is my FINAL day.  To say that this time has flown by would be an understatement.  These last few weeks have been such a gift.  I can honestly say that I know my daughters better than anyone else does.  Once I go back to work, that will change soon, but for now, it's an awesome feeling.  I have shared many lunches and several therapy sessions with Jordan, and the timing worked out that I could be present and very attentive to the preschool transition process. 

Jordan will turn 3 on March 14.  On that day, she is no longer eligible for Help Me Grow benefits, including attending her current school program at Eastgate.  She will start preschool at the elementary school on her birthday.  I have mixed feelings.  I want to protect her and hold her tight.  At Eastgate, Jordan spent most of the time as 1 of 3 children with 4+ therapists in the room.  All of the kids had something to make them "different."  Jordan was always, "just Jordan" to them.  Now, Jordan will be in a class of 15 kids, where more than half are typical.  She will have new challenges to overcome, but those challenges will make her stronger.  We didn't have to put Jordan straight into preschool, but it feels right for her.  Jordan LOVES school, and she treasures her friends from schools.  AND, her school seems to be great!  I have had at least a half a dozen meetings with the teacher and therapists.  Tomorrow (as well as next Monday and Friday) we are going to have a playdate with the class so that Jordan can meet the kids and we can see what problems the room may present for her.  Hopefully it goes well.  The teachers, therapists, and psychologist are excited to have her.  They are blown away by her intellect and her drive, and they want her to be a role model to kids who may have difficulty focusing or are too care free and may have a little too much quit in them.  Of course that makes me proud, but it also makes me a little sad.  Jordan has never been a care free kid; her disability hasn't allowed for that.  But, her focus and drive make her special - and for me, it makes her "just Jordan."   

Karter is a special gal too.  She mostly sleeps through the night and prefers to do very little napping in the day time.  She always has love in her eyes, like Jordan did as a baby and still does today.  I look at these girls, and I know how blessed I am.   

Tonight, we are going to dinner as a family.  Not only do I go back to work on Monday, but Jared starts turn around.  Turn around means 13 hour days, 7 days a week, for 5 weeks straight. 

We are about to enter a very scary March.  But, we are ready for the challenges, and we are excited for what's on the other side!!  Big things are coming for us!!

Speaking of coming, a fun post with pictures is coming this weekend!!  Karter Kaye is turning 2 months... sort of.  There is no Feb 30, so I'm not sure when her 2 month birthday actually is, but I know it's coming!!!

Karter Kaye is 1 Month Old Today!!

It is hard to believe that a full month has passed already, but Karter Kaye is 1 month old today!!

We had a couple of special visitors here to help us celebrate - the girls' great grandparents!!  Buck and Sudie came in town on Wednesday and spent the last 4 days sharing giggles, kisses, and love with 2 very happy little girls!

When Granddad Buck wasn't beating the big kids in Monopoly, he spent lots of time hanging with his girls.  Jordan couldn't control her laughter and may have met her match; he "cracks her up"!!!  The 2 bullied each other around the train track while arguing about whether or not he could call her "Mugs".  By the way, after they left today, Jordan told me that she is not Jordan; her name is now Mugs.

Grandma Sudie thought watching twin boys was a handful until she spent the last 4 days changing diapers, feeding dinners, and loving on her great-grandbabies!!  She kept the girls clean, fed, and cuddled, and I know they'll miss her loving arms now that she and Buck are on their way back to West Virginia.

What a great way for Karter to spend her one month birthday!!  Jared and I are enjoying the quiet time while the girls are both getting rested up after lots of fun...!

Want to see your picture on the blog?  Come visit!!!  The girls love visitors, and Jared and I do too!! <3

3 Wk Update (ALREADY!)

Wow!  The last few weeks have flown by!  Karter is 3 weeks old today, but it feels like yesterday that Jared, his brother, and I headed to the hospital with so much anticipation and excitement.  And how exciting the past 3 weeks have been!

Karter is a great baby!  She eats like a champ and has progressed to 6oz per feeding!  She had some early discomfort and tears related to pooping, but Gerber has a formula with a slightly lower iron content that has helped with that issue and now she rarely even fusses!  She doesn't like going to bed at night, but once I finally convince her, she sleeps well.  For the past 3 nights, she has slept from around midnight/1a until Jared's alarm wakes her around 6:30a.  And, she is tolerant!  If you've ever brought a baby home to an excited toddler, you may be able to relate.  But Jordan loves her new baby sister!  She loves her fingers, and her toes, and her nose, and her lips, and her ears, and everything else that just needs exploring!! 

Happy Birthday Karter Kaye!

Karter Kaye is 2 weeks old today!



Reflections of a long and lovely 2010

Being on leave has given me an opportunity to sit and think; not something that I claim to do much of otherwise.  My thoughts today have been mainly geared around remembering 2010 with a smile and with amazement that we more than survived, but we have grown in so many ways!  [And here is where I will begin bragging on my family...]

In 2010, we witnessed Jordan accomplish an unbelievable list of achievements including first words, sentences, and paragraphs, assisted and unassisted sitting, mobility through crawling and using her gait trainer, giving hugs, kisses, and unconditional love, making friends and going to school, becoming a big girl and now a big sister!  [We are so proud of our Jordan Rose and love her so much!]

In 2010, Jared and I made and delivered a healthy baby girl who is a welcomed addition to our family and hearts.  [We love our Karter Kaye!]

What most people don't know is that we have been involved in a messy lawsuit for the past 2 1/2 years related to Jordan's birth injury.  In 2010, we learned what we always knew; Jordan's condition was 100% avoidable.  We also learned the name of the individual who forever changed our daughter's life, as well as the specific shortcomings and incidents of the night.  But my biggest lesson was in learning to accept what can't be changed and in learning to overcome the hate that had entered my heart.  In 2 weeks, we will be meeting with the defense and pray that we will meet resolution and will close the book on yet another chapter of bumps and bruises so that we can move on to more highlights and excitement in 2011 and beyond!

Through all of our personal challenges and achievements in 2010, we TRIED to maintain composure.  Jordan is the most loving of children, so I know that although we definitely waivered at times, we never completely failed at keeping it together.  God never promised that it would be easy, but it is always worth it.

So when I think back on 2010, I can't do it without tears in my eyes.  And although some of those tears are from sadness and pain, most of them are from pride and joy.  We have grown! 

We're Home!

Jordan has been doing a great job of holding down the fort while Jared, Karter, and I have been recovering at the hospital.  But yesterday, we were finally able to come home and Jordan didn't hide her excitement!

Jordan picked a matching outfit from Grandmother Hamilton for her and Baby Karter to wear home from the hospital together.

Karter earned an early release with great test scores, a big appetite, and continuous good health.

Mommy and Daddy couldn't wait for us to all be home together!

Today was our first full day together at home.  We love our new family of 4.  Jordan and Karter have spent plenty of time bonding together.

Jordan gives Karter plenty of kisses.

A proud big sister who tells her little sister that she loves her.

We were all happy to spend some time visiting with Nathan and Kiersten when they dropped in from West Virginia!

Just like her big sister, Karter loves swinging!!

Daddy has been doing an amazing job taking care of his 3 girls.  Mommy is still recovering from surgery, and Daddy has been making bottles, changing diapers, playing with toys, fixing dinner, and helping Mommy to her feet on the rarity she feels like being there.  Once we are all in the swing of things, we girls owe Daddy a big ice cream cake and plenty of hugs and kisses!  (And maybe even a date night out to see Harry Potter...!  Anyone interested in being a babysitter for a night?)