Learning to be deaf, again

More than ever, Gage has the need to touch...EVERYTHING! Especially when we go somewhere he hasn't been in a while. He started doing this just before his ci removal and continues it still. When we went to the audiologist's office yesterday, first thing he NEEDED to do was touch the ornaments on the Christmas tree that patients had made during their auditory verbal therapy sessions. "Let me see what the star feels like" he could be heard saying.
He still talks nonstop, I assure you. Really, we still do all the same things we're used to doing, only we do them all the time now and not just at bedtime or when he didn't have on his ci. Like flipping the light switch if he's playing in his room and we need him, walking with a heavy foot, so he can feel us coming behind him and we don't scare him to death. I can tell you that if he never gets another ci, we are going to HAVE to replace our dog that mysteriously disappeared while we were in the hospital (I think a hunter probably shot her by accident?). She would bark anytime a car drove by too slow. Gage is going on eight years old now and does not want Mama outside when he plays, so I need some form of knowing when danger could be near. I used to could look out the window and know exactly where Gage is, even if he wasn't visible because Brownie would lie in the field and stay close to wherever he was. He's never been able to hear me when he's out in the fields playing with his trucks but if I could see Brownie, I could find him really close to her.
Also I've noticed he watches less tv...even Spongebob. He's used closed caption anyway but now, w/no sound, he's lost some interest (not all). He just won't sit there very long. Now he prefers to be in his room, disassembling trucks and customizing them...adding wheels, leaf springs (whatever that is) and shocks, etc. I'm sure when he finishes, this will be an awesome ride.
And just for fun, she's not short of entertainment either. Watch out Sofia Madyson, Santa brought Brook some legwarmers! Can't wait til she wears them!
It's amazing to watch her communicate with her brother now. She gestures very well and knows that he has to see her face. He still orders her around and when I try to order him around, he simply tightens his eyes so he can't see me...oh the power of a deaf child!
**UPDATE**
I just heard Brook say this "Jesus, Gage can't hear me right now, he needs two implants. His head is hurt so he needs two new implants...PINK ONES!!!"