Normal is what you make of it. That which seems boring and sedentary to one human being might summon adrenaline in another. Though nothing in our life is as it was a little over a month ago, a feeling of normality has returned to our family. The days are over-saturated with activities. The kids quarrel, then play, then quarrel again. And Jordan’s indomitable personality holds court upon our house as it has for more than six years.

“I don’t want to take it off!” Jordan ran to a corner, arms folded, crocodile tears streaming down her face. In the opposite corner, Jeanette and I did all that we could to suppress laughter. Jordan clutched her right forearm defiantly. A crusted, dingy sliver of translucent adhesive tape dangled near her finger tips. It was a stowaway from her hospital stay. It once held the IV tubing in place, but now it stuck to her arm like a vestigial organ, its only purpose to collect bits of dirt and grime.

Jordan will return to school on Monday. It won’t be soon enough for her. Saturday morning she whined while sitting at the breakfast table, “why can’t I go to school today?” An explanation of weekday mechanics did little to pacify her, so she ran off to get some “homework”. Of course, Jeanette and I plan to use this episode to our advantage in later years, when it is possible that her academic enthusiasm might wane.

Jordan leapt forward with great progress this week. Her dressing was removed today and the surgical area is healing perfectly. Her mood is good and she’s regained much of her physical and cognitive abilities. She’s scheduled to start chemotherapy next week. In the meantime, her doctors have given the “all clear” to return to school and normal activity. It’s been a very good week. A la David Letterman, following are the top 10 reasons we know Jordan is getting better.

At age 14 Sylvia Plath wrote, “How frail the human heart must be – a mirrored pool of thought.” Years ago when I read this I thought it a deep sentiment for an adolescent. Watching Jordan struggle with her own mirrored pool of thought this week, the poem found new meaning. Physically, Jordan is recovering well. She adeptly moves around the house, only occasionally needing to balance herself. She appears to have less visual impairment.