Ordinary Miracles began as an online baby book filled with photos and memories and has since grown to a full fledged online journal. With family scattered all over the Midwest US and Western Canada, it helps us all keep in touch as our children grow. Eric William, our first child, was born on Monday, July 31, 2006 at 5:09pm. He weighed 7lb 12oz when he was born and was 21 inches long. Daniel Joseph, our second child, was born on Tuesday, March 11, 2008 at 8:12pm. He weighed 5lb 6oz and was 19 inches long. We (John & Kelly) live in Missouri, USA, though neither of us are originally from here; John’s side of the family is scattered across Kansas and Nebraska while Kelly’s lives up in Alberta, Canada. This wide family tree means that our boys are citizens of both countries.

I’ve often though I ought to try to “fit” into some kind of blog category – devote it to motherhood, or special needs, or deafness, or CMV, or something or other. However, really, it’s just a mish mash of everything that is our family life. Dealing with a toddler with special needs can take up a lot of it, but there’s a lot of laughter and joy and general fun as well. Life carries on, no matter how much it may seem like the world is ending when you first receive a diagnosis for your child. I’m still learning to relax and enjoy it all, but I get better at it every day.

The name of the site was inspired by a song of the same name, sung by Amy Sky. After Danny’s birth, the name has taken on an even deeper meaning, as every milestone he reaches and every sound he makes (and, eventually, hears and speaks) will be a miracle so ordinary and yet extraordinary. And, watching the world through my childrens’ eyes, I have come to see the miracles all around us as they discover them one by one.

At six weeks you learned to smile
At three months you learned to laugh
At six months you cut a tooth
and at ten months you took a step
At two years you made a best friend
at three years you rode a bike
at four years you learned to skate
and at five years you learned to write

(Chorus)
Just ordinary miracles
Ordinary miracles
but all the same they’re miracles to me
the days that Ill remember well
have a simple kind of wonderful
of ordinary miracles

Your silky head beneath my chin
for bedtime books and lullabies
your angel kiss upon my cheek
your teddy bear clutched to your side
How soon the bike wheels turn to car wheels
the lullabies to rock and roll
The teddy bears to pretty girls
and instead of you these thoughts I’ll hold

(Chorus)

(Bridge)
And I know the day will come
that you’ll spread your wing and fly
but Ill treasure these moments all my life
A gentle kind of wonderful
the sweetest days are always full
of ordinary miracles
each time I hold you near
It’s an ordinary miracle