A New Kind Of Perfect

Strong.  Courageous.  Brave.  Loving.  Giving.  Understanding.  Doubtful.  Questioning.  Graceful.  Passionate.  Wonder-filled. 

These are all words that pop into my mind when I think of one of my best friends these days.  That list could go on, and on, and on, and on, and on...

I remember the phone call.  I remember the voice saying, "Hey, guess where I was referred too?  Houser Norberg."  I remember the feeling of excitement take over my body because it was something I knew that she wanted more than anything.  I knew that she wanted to be a mommy.  I knew that she was meant to be a mommy.  I knew she was going to be an awesome mommy.  Her dream was coming true, and I was so very excited for her.

When I was pregnant, I remember thinking 9 months was an incredibly long time to wait to meet the miracle that I was growing inside of me.  However, I'm pretty sure waiting for someone so close to you to become a mom for the first time is an even longer 9 month period.  It seemed like a really long time from that first phone call, to the one that woke me up around 10:30, on Easter night.

I feel like I traveled the pregnancy journey with her pretty closely.  I would call and get updates, we shopped for maternity clothes,  I would answer questions about whether people were deliberately trying to tick her off, of if it was just crazy-out-of-whack hormones...we celebrated the upcoming arrival with a baby shower, we (I'm sure she more than me...but just barely) couldn't wait to meet her new perfect addition to the family.

On April 8th, I got a phone call that said Sophia had been born.  Through my immediate tears of joy, I heard a crack in the voice on the other end, and the next phrase was, "Kori, she has Down Syndrome."  Unexpected--Yep.  Un-do-able--Nope.  My next immediate thought, "Ok, they've got a new kind of perfect."  As a matter of fact, that's how I told Dave about Sophia.  He knew right away that I had gotten the call I had been waiting for.  He knew that a precious gift had been delivered.  When he asked, I said, "She's here.  And she's a new kind of perfect."

That following Monday, I watched my amazing friend run 17 roller coaster rides of emotion.  As soon as I walked into her hospital room I saw the exhaustion, both physical (she'd only been in labor for over 48 hours!), and emotional exhaustion.  It didn't last long though.  I was blessed enough to travel down the hallway with her and see Sophia who was in Nicu (there were some  other complications along the way).  I will never, ever, never, ever, not ever forget watching my dear friend's face change from sadness to love.  From exhaustion to energy.  From doubt to pride. From empty to love filled. She had the look of a mom as soon as she set eyes on that little bundle wrapped in pink.  I watched as she grabbed that little wiggly girl and beam from head to toe.

The roller coaster didn't end for many days afterward.  I was there that same day when I had to watch my friend who had given labor not 24 hours before, kiss her baby goodbye, through tubes and wires, wrapped securely in a carriage that she would travel via helicopter to Riley Children's Hospital in.  I watched as she had to say goodbye to her husband, who would make the journey with Sophia.  I watched her strength.  Strength that I know I wouldn't have had in that moment.  I watched her make the decision that she was going to do everything she needed to do to get to Indianapolis just as soon as she could to hold her daughter close and be with her husband.

I remember hearing her say that day we were at the hospital after Sophia left..."As soon as we can take care of the physical crap, we've got the rest of this."  And boy do they ever.  I know that never in a million dreams did she figure that she was going so be spending 2 weeks in a Ronald McDonald House inside a Children's Hospital 300 miles from home.  Never did she imagine she would be praying her daughter would have a successful surgery when she was just 5 days old.  Never did she imagine she would have to learn how to deal with feeding tubes, incisions and extra chromosomes.  But they've got this.  They've got a new kind of perfect.

Lisa and Jeremy,

I look at the two of you and the journey you're on together with Sophia with all of the admiration in the world.  God gave you a very special gift when he brought Sophia into your lives, one that he knew you would both embrace, love, cherish and treasure.  I have watched, listened and learned from you both over the past 3 weeks more than you'll ever know.

I am so very blessed to call you my friends.    I can't wait to get her together with Reilly for play dates...(is it too soon to talk girlfriend?) I am looking forward to the time you'll call us and ask us to keep Sophia so you can go on a date.

You two are rocks.  Your love for one another is what has gotten you through these hard times.  Keep relying on one another, and please don't be afraid to call...to ask...to borrow anything from us.  We're here for you.  We're traveling this road with you.  We love you and your precious gift!

Love,

Kori