Jordan and Brandon got to go on their first field trip together with Jordan's preschool class. They went to the park by the lake. There were swings, slides, and monkey bars. Together they enjoyed seeing the ducks and the beautiful lake scenery at the park. After only a couple of hours, both boys were worn out and ready to return home for a nap.
Another first this week...potty training began. Earlier this week, Jeannie was talking to Jordan as she was changing his diaper. She asked him if he would like to try sitting on the potty instead of using the diaper. He seemed to dislike the feel of the soiled diaper. He indicated by clucking his tongue for "Yes" that he would like to try using the potty. It was a sucess the very first time. We waited several days to make sure that it wasn't just a fluke. Since that time, Jordan has successfully urinated and had bowel movements in the potty numerous times. He urinates almost every time that he sits on the potty and he doesn't waste much time either. He gets right down to business. The bowel movements are more difficult for him to master with the same level of skill. What can I say? Brandon, Jordan's twin brother, still hasn't mastered that one either.
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
Friday, April 27, 2007
Learning New things at School
Jordan has accomplished feats at school that I thought were impossible at this stage of the game. He actually cut out three shapes with switch-operated scissors and held the glue stick while his teacher helped him apply the glue and stick it to the paper. He used paint dots to paint his art project. What an amazing accomplishment for Jordan!!! We are so very proud of him. He worked very hard. His twin Brandon still has difficulties with scissors and glue. Jordan's artwork now adorns my refrigerator door, along with his twin brother Brandon's artwork.
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Kelly
Our family has been blessed beyond measure with loving friends. One of my dearesst and most precious friends, Kelly Hall, suffered a tragic accident on Thursday night. She was mixing pool chemicals to get her above ground pool ready for the season. A freak accident occurred and a chemical explosion resulted. She was home alone with her two sweet children who ran to a neighbor's house to get help. Kelly was rushed to ER at a local hospital and then life-flighted to Vanderbilt Burn and Trauma unit. She has severe burns and her vision has been greatly compromised in her right eye and her left eye has a poor prognosis at this point. Please pray incessantly for her and her wonderful family!!! Prayers work!!!
You can find updates on Kelly's healing at the CaringBridge.org website under the name kellyhall.
You can find updates on Kelly's healing at the CaringBridge.org website under the name kellyhall.
Friday, April 20, 2007
Jordan's First Day of School
Jordan did actually go to school even before his twin. He attends Beech Elementary School. His classmates are both handicapped and non-handicapped children. His nurse, Patti, went with him since Jordan still has very real medical concerns. Some of which are a pre-disposition for seizures, sleep apnea, cardiac and respiratory irregularities, a tracheostomy, and a "mickey button" style feeding tube. I firmly believe that all these medical concerns are temporary and that he will continue to heal as he shows us daily. At this time, however Jordan still requires additional medical equipment and emergency supplies to be with him at all times. He cannot even maneuver his own wheel chair yet, so going to school was a huge endeavor and a breakthough for Jordan's recovery.
Jordan was very comfortable at school. He was able to use the computer to play learning games himself. He was able to discern colors at group time and to know which color that he had. He participated in story-time by making eye contact with the teacher and then using his eyes to indicate answers by looking at the card with the correct answer. He even spontaneously raised his own hand slightly to show that he wanted to answer the question, as in a regular classroom setting. The teacher knew that Jordan loves Barney, the purple dinosaur, so she found dinosaurs for him to use during playtime. He was able to hold the dinosaurs and to let go of them on command. I know all this may sound like small accomplishments, but for Jordan these are huge feats. Please remember that a very short time ago, Jordan was predicted to be "in a permanent vegetative state" that would most likely proceed to "brain death".
As Jordan's Granny, I was apprehensive about Jordan going to school. Jordan far exceeded my expectations for the first day. I believe tht he actually enjoyed it. I was also concerned about him being too tired for his therapy session afterward. He was a little tired, but he still had an awesome day at therapy as well. He not only was able to accomplish his usual goals but to add new accomplishments as well. I am sure that he will build up his strength and rise to meet all the new challenges before him. Jordan has always had a fighting spirit. He continues to exhibit that quality every day.
Jordan was very comfortable at school. He was able to use the computer to play learning games himself. He was able to discern colors at group time and to know which color that he had. He participated in story-time by making eye contact with the teacher and then using his eyes to indicate answers by looking at the card with the correct answer. He even spontaneously raised his own hand slightly to show that he wanted to answer the question, as in a regular classroom setting. The teacher knew that Jordan loves Barney, the purple dinosaur, so she found dinosaurs for him to use during playtime. He was able to hold the dinosaurs and to let go of them on command. I know all this may sound like small accomplishments, but for Jordan these are huge feats. Please remember that a very short time ago, Jordan was predicted to be "in a permanent vegetative state" that would most likely proceed to "brain death".
As Jordan's Granny, I was apprehensive about Jordan going to school. Jordan far exceeded my expectations for the first day. I believe tht he actually enjoyed it. I was also concerned about him being too tired for his therapy session afterward. He was a little tired, but he still had an awesome day at therapy as well. He not only was able to accomplish his usual goals but to add new accomplishments as well. I am sure that he will build up his strength and rise to meet all the new challenges before him. Jordan has always had a fighting spirit. He continues to exhibit that quality every day.
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Happy Birthday to Jordan & Brandon
April 14, 2004, two beautiful twin boys were born to my daughter, Jeannie. We were all very excited. They have been a source of joy to our whole family since that day. Brandon and Jordan are a gift from God, just as every child most certainly is!
Although, Jordan had a tragic near-drowning accident on June 17,2006, both boys continue to be a blessing to our family daily. I am reminded that not just birthdays and holidays are special, but everyday that you are given together is to be savored and celebrated. We are not promised tomorrow.
Today is indeed a celebration!!! Our twins are three years old. Birthday cake and ice cream will be served and presents will be opened. Already two special friends have brought presents to the birthday boys. Jordan has emphatically expressed by clucking his tongue ( his version of "yes" at this point) that he expects a taste of cake and ice cream even though he has a "mickey button" style feeding tube and a tracheostomy. We are experimenting with taste and texture in tiny, tiny taste amounts in speech therapy. Jordan will get only a tiny amount because he still cannot swallow as well as he needs to do for larger amounts. Still we are praying and believing that someday soon Jordan will be able to actually eat and drink normally again. He improves by small increments almost daily.
I will post pictures of the birthday boys soon!
Although, Jordan had a tragic near-drowning accident on June 17,2006, both boys continue to be a blessing to our family daily. I am reminded that not just birthdays and holidays are special, but everyday that you are given together is to be savored and celebrated. We are not promised tomorrow.
Today is indeed a celebration!!! Our twins are three years old. Birthday cake and ice cream will be served and presents will be opened. Already two special friends have brought presents to the birthday boys. Jordan has emphatically expressed by clucking his tongue ( his version of "yes" at this point) that he expects a taste of cake and ice cream even though he has a "mickey button" style feeding tube and a tracheostomy. We are experimenting with taste and texture in tiny, tiny taste amounts in speech therapy. Jordan will get only a tiny amount because he still cannot swallow as well as he needs to do for larger amounts. Still we are praying and believing that someday soon Jordan will be able to actually eat and drink normally again. He improves by small increments almost daily.
I will post pictures of the birthday boys soon!
Friday, April 13, 2007
Jordan's Story
On June 17, 2006, our lives changed forever. Our precious twin boys, Brandon and Jordan, awoke early from their Saturday afternoon nap. They decided to be sneaky and quietly go outside to play with their friend Joseph who was visiting that afternoon. All three boys had been napping in the room with Kayleigh, the twins' sister and Jeannie, the twins' mother. Kayleigh had been watching a movie and Jeannie had been reading a book. Both had unintentionally dozed off with the boys due to a late night, the previous night. ( Bobby, the twins' Papaw had been at emergency all night with a possible heart attack that turned out to be a reaction to high blood pressure medicine.) Everyone but the twins had been up very late making sure that Papaw was okay.
Noiselessly the boys opened the door and left the room where they had been sleeping. The trio continued their journey through the kitchen where they encountered a deadbolt lock on the door which they managed to turn and open. The same door also had a latch about 5 feet off the floor, put there for this very reason. The resourceful boys apparently moved a stool over to the door and opened the latch. The stool was found near the door. After making their escape to the backyard without being detected, they most likely climbed the steps to the locked deck attached to the pool. Jordan has always loved to play in the water: the bathtub, the wading pool, a mud puddle, ...just about anything with water in it. That was why we had two locks on the gate to the pool. I guess it was just too much temptation for Jordan and he has always been very determined when he set his mind to something. The twins must have helped each other over the gate because it was still locked when the boys were discovered minutes later. Joseph was left behind on the steps because he was unable to scale the locked gate alone. Brandon was on the pool deck looking toward the middle of the pool where Jordan lay floating facedown.
At that very moment, Patti, Joseph's mom, returned with the twins' brother, Ashton, and her son, Jacob, along with her mom, Becky. Both Becky and Patti are trained nurses, knowledgeable about life-saving techniques and CPR. Upon hearing the commotion, Ashton climbed the 6 foot high privacy fence and opened the gate for the others. Patti jumped into the pool and rescued Jordan and began CPR. Initially being paralyzed by intense shock, Jordan's mother, Jeannie was finally able to take action and called 911. Jeannie prayed continually as the two women struggled to revive Jordan with no success. No pulse or respiration was detected.
Within minutes, more help arrived on the scene and Jordan was on his way to ER. The rescue team also could find no heartbeat or breath, but continued CPR and rescue procedures. After arriving at Hendersonville Hospital Emergency Room, the staff worked for an additional period of time attempting to restore Jordan's pulse and respiration. By that time, we (Jordan's grandparents) had arrived at the hospital and we began to pray as a family in the family room. They called Jeannie into the ER, telling her that Jordan was not going to make it and that she needed to see that everything that could be done had been done to revive him. Jeannie fell apart and had to be taken from the room. I then asked if I could see him. I am Jordan's Granny. Not knowing, that Jordan was considered to be beyond resusitation at that point, I began holding his hand and praying. I don't remember exactly when I realized that something had changed, but I do remember the ER team working around me as I continued to pray for Jordan. Suddenly someone said "We got a Hearbeat!" Time seemed to stand still as I continued to pray and they continued to work to stabilize Jordan. A helicopter stood by ready to take Jordan to Vanderbilt Children's Hospital. When the teams, added up the documented time Jordan was without a pulse, it was at least an hour. What a miracle!!!
Jordan spent the next 31 days fighting for life--his family grasping for the seemingly impossible dream that he just might recover, despite the odds. Jordan hovered at death's door as a continual parade of prayer warriors ceaselessly prayed for Jordan's restoration. The Great Physician, Jesus, was on the case, and He personally guided the hands of Jordan' s caregivers, doctors and nurses. Prayers were answered on a daily basis. FINALLY, on July 18, 2006, Jordan was released from the hospital and into the arms of a family dedicated to helping Jordan recover. Hope, restoration and healing are the focus of Jordan's story.
Noiselessly the boys opened the door and left the room where they had been sleeping. The trio continued their journey through the kitchen where they encountered a deadbolt lock on the door which they managed to turn and open. The same door also had a latch about 5 feet off the floor, put there for this very reason. The resourceful boys apparently moved a stool over to the door and opened the latch. The stool was found near the door. After making their escape to the backyard without being detected, they most likely climbed the steps to the locked deck attached to the pool. Jordan has always loved to play in the water: the bathtub, the wading pool, a mud puddle, ...just about anything with water in it. That was why we had two locks on the gate to the pool. I guess it was just too much temptation for Jordan and he has always been very determined when he set his mind to something. The twins must have helped each other over the gate because it was still locked when the boys were discovered minutes later. Joseph was left behind on the steps because he was unable to scale the locked gate alone. Brandon was on the pool deck looking toward the middle of the pool where Jordan lay floating facedown.
At that very moment, Patti, Joseph's mom, returned with the twins' brother, Ashton, and her son, Jacob, along with her mom, Becky. Both Becky and Patti are trained nurses, knowledgeable about life-saving techniques and CPR. Upon hearing the commotion, Ashton climbed the 6 foot high privacy fence and opened the gate for the others. Patti jumped into the pool and rescued Jordan and began CPR. Initially being paralyzed by intense shock, Jordan's mother, Jeannie was finally able to take action and called 911. Jeannie prayed continually as the two women struggled to revive Jordan with no success. No pulse or respiration was detected.
Within minutes, more help arrived on the scene and Jordan was on his way to ER. The rescue team also could find no heartbeat or breath, but continued CPR and rescue procedures. After arriving at Hendersonville Hospital Emergency Room, the staff worked for an additional period of time attempting to restore Jordan's pulse and respiration. By that time, we (Jordan's grandparents) had arrived at the hospital and we began to pray as a family in the family room. They called Jeannie into the ER, telling her that Jordan was not going to make it and that she needed to see that everything that could be done had been done to revive him. Jeannie fell apart and had to be taken from the room. I then asked if I could see him. I am Jordan's Granny. Not knowing, that Jordan was considered to be beyond resusitation at that point, I began holding his hand and praying. I don't remember exactly when I realized that something had changed, but I do remember the ER team working around me as I continued to pray for Jordan. Suddenly someone said "We got a Hearbeat!" Time seemed to stand still as I continued to pray and they continued to work to stabilize Jordan. A helicopter stood by ready to take Jordan to Vanderbilt Children's Hospital. When the teams, added up the documented time Jordan was without a pulse, it was at least an hour. What a miracle!!!
Jordan spent the next 31 days fighting for life--his family grasping for the seemingly impossible dream that he just might recover, despite the odds. Jordan hovered at death's door as a continual parade of prayer warriors ceaselessly prayed for Jordan's restoration. The Great Physician, Jesus, was on the case, and He personally guided the hands of Jordan' s caregivers, doctors and nurses. Prayers were answered on a daily basis. FINALLY, on July 18, 2006, Jordan was released from the hospital and into the arms of a family dedicated to helping Jordan recover. Hope, restoration and healing are the focus of Jordan's story.
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