It’s going to drive Jordan mad.

She has asked me many times when she is going to be an older sister. I continuously let her know that it’s not happening. The next time a new baby arrives in our family will be when she or her brother get married and have a baby. (Mind you, I always remind her that she should get married first. I’m trying folks. I’m trying.) So instead of getting a younger sibling, Jordan has spent a lot of time lately with her dolls. She tells them how she’s the big sister and the doll is the little sister. She loves bossing the baby around and giving her love. I’m pretty sure that’s how she’d handle a real baby as well.

Jordan and I were hanging out on the rocks near one of our favorite coves in Maine when Jordan found a rock that looked like a cellphone. She started talking on her phone and having imaginary conversations. She didn’t want me to shoot video of her… but I snuck a little moment:

I can’t stop laughing every time I watch.

I told myself that my kids would only do one thing at a time as well. That opinion changed when Jordan came into my life. I started to focus on skills and activities that could enhance Jordan’s skills. She showed a lot of interest in dance before she was two and needed to work on her balance. So when she was 2 and a half, I put her in dance. When she turned three she had a chance to take part in equestrian therapy which is really great to help build her core strength. I couldn’t say no to that. Now I’ve signed her up for four weeks of soccer. It’s 45 minutes for four Saturday mornings. It will happen while she’s taking dance and before equestrian therapy starts up for the Fall. Honestly, I’m wondering if we have to skip equestrian since I also have Jordan’s brother, Cameron, in soccer and piano… and possibly a recreational flag football team (non-competitive in every way – it focuses on skills). In total, I could end up with each kid taking part in three activities a week.

It hits a little closer to home when you see articles like these that claim I should just ignore my kids. I agree that I should put the technology away more often… but I’m not totally convinced that unstructured play is completely removed from my kids’ lives. A little bit of structure and free time seems to make sense. My kids both seem to be better behaved when they run around, especially Cameron. And I would love for them both to try different activities and see what they like the most. So far, Jordan loves dance and horses and Cameron is really enjoying piano and soccer. I want them to learn, play and participate in activities where they interact with other kids outside the structure of school. But with all the running around, will worry about articles that say I’m doing it all wrong. But to me, I feel it’s right for us.

She has thrown tantrums over just about everything… but not her helper arm. She’s added it into a daily patterns before and after vacation. I think I’ve figured out why we have some serious buy-in with her arm.

First, it’s because it’s pretty. So very very pretty. All that princess action makes her proud to wear it. It isn’t my style, but that doesn’t matter one bit. I need her to love it and she does love it. Second, it’s because she can use it. Check this out:

I challenged Jordan to draw with her helper arm when we got to school one day this week… gave her a little instruction to hold onto the paper (or coffee filter, whatever works) and she did a little drawing. It turned in to mostly a scribble but she tried to write a few letters in the mix. It was awesome.

The more she uses it, the more she realizes it’s a useful tool. That’s the other reason why she’s really buying into it. She’s growing logic. I realize she’s four and wants to rebel against everything I request, but I think she’s seeing real purpose to her helper arm. I don’t require a time limit on her use. I just expect her to wear it at the start of every day at school. At home, she uses it when I see a need, but it isn’t required. She’s great to using it. She loves having an elbow. I’m so happy for her.

But that will be in four to five months. Last week I had major knee surgery and now I’m seeing the world as a mommy in a little slower pace. And Jordan isn’t thrilled.

She is thrilled to return to school this week after being out of town for more than a month.

I’ve been able to pick her up from school and snag her brother from camp, make dinner… and then physically collapse. No trips to the pool, no playing in the backyard, no trying as hard as I can to refocus Jordan’s brother from his new Harry Potter Wii game… I am taking a late evening nap! Work, physical therapy, kids… I’m tired.

I’m looking forward to making a rapid return to the bending-knee world… but for now, I have even more respect for those who deal with physical challenges every day. Mine will improve and I know I’ll be back on track before December. I raise my glass of water and bottle of ibuprofen to the many people I know who never complain and always live happy and strong days.

Jordan and her brother have spent so much time together that I actually think they like each other from time to time. They’ve actually slept in three different beds together in the last three nights. Last night they were so tired, they didn’t even try to challenge each other. They just passed out. Heck, they woke up this morning and actually played together and never attempted to wake us. That has to be a miracle in some form don’t you think?

We were very very busy since we left Maine. First, we drove to Maryland. Jordan got to meet a little girl who I’ve really wanted her to meet for a long time. They’re about 8 months apart in age and I knew they’d love each other. We only got to play for a couple of hours, but they were pals pretty quickly. Jordan didn’t want to leave… But we had plans to meet up with her uncle at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC. The departure was sad, but I’m so glad they got to hang out.

Naps or no naps, Jordan was up for all kinds of adventure when we traveled to the mountains of North Carolina. She got to hike and climb and explore all kinds of waterfalls and rivers. I swear she has no fear. She didn’t want help and she wanted to do everything her brother was doing. It was stunning and exhausting to try to make sure she was safe.

Jordan came away from the experience with a firm ability to zip zippers!! And she’s better at working on buttons and shoe tying. I’m sure she’ll have shoe tying down by next year. The kind of pride that comes from those kind of life skills are awesome.

Cameron was the only sibling… so hopefully we’ll have more next year. He still had all kinds of fun with the campers – there were many more boys than girls. Jordan was the youngest of three girl campers – and by the end of camp, she really wanted more little girls. Luckily one of the volunteers brought her daughter over two evenings in a row. Jordan won’t stop talking about her new friend. We’ll certainly have to get them together to play soon. Jordan really did love her older girl friends and they were SO awesome with her.

The camp started out really hot. Luckily a rainstorm cooled things off and it stayed awesome the rest of the time. There were a ton of activities, catapult, golf, baseball, swimming, biking, arts and crafts and even archery. The kids with upper limb differences got to learn archery with their mouth! How cool is that? Jordan was a little small for it all but the folks who put on the clinic helped her feel like she participated.

I’d like to share a big thanks to everyone who put the camp together. Especially the Ridder family who made sure this camp came to Missouri last year and made sure it continued this year. I really think this camp has a chance to continue for many years. The next challenge? To help raise enough money for the camp so all kids with limb differences can attend. It would be incredible if the many kids I know could participate with their families. It is really a meaningful experience. Especially when you can watch your child share what he or she knows with peers… And those peers can share as well. I really think the parents learn a ton as well. Expect to hear me planning fundraisers later in the year!!