tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81438237633777331722024-03-13T02:12:08.962-05:00Cochlear Kidscountry kids with cochlear implantsVBnBamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06188520199027370788noreply@blogger.comBlogger759125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8143823763377733172.post-88696794127901176692019-06-09T07:12:00.000-05:002019-06-09T07:12:39.205-05:00Upgrading Again<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrpmChmWKaLTQYdzgCz6tLyomgUpbKMYlSsCGlrKxg6Viw4SCLtfBf-H6Yusdt0MiG5kFm2K-2-t0Osp6atd7Zo1U22fD6a2U0qCbzomk_qH4U9J_c7IN4kw5NzAidoeFGP500vBhlBn8U/s1600/FB_IMG_1560081592241.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrpmChmWKaLTQYdzgCz6tLyomgUpbKMYlSsCGlrKxg6Viw4SCLtfBf-H6Yusdt0MiG5kFm2K-2-t0Osp6atd7Zo1U22fD6a2U0qCbzomk_qH4U9J_c7IN4kw5NzAidoeFGP500vBhlBn8U/s400/FB_IMG_1560081592241.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
It is that time again. It's been a little over 5 years since her last upgrade and although we were hoping to make it through fall before we began the lengthy process of an upgrade, one of her processors quit. For good kinda quit, like the clinic said she needs a new one. The other one still works part time which is probably worse than not working at all so she is getting by with her backups (Freedoms) which are obsolete. So you see we are kinda in a pickle.<br />
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We sent in the order forms last week and the ball is rolling but I don't look for her to be in them before school starts back in August. When we get an idea that they are shipping out we will go ahead and make an appointment with the clinic so she can be delayed no more. Just in time for volleyball season!<br />
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She is super excited to get new N7s and can't wait for them to work directly with her iPhone. She loves music so the Bluetooth capabilities are calling her name. The struggle will be worth it in the end.VBnBamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06188520199027370788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8143823763377733172.post-54247065293149467532018-06-06T06:44:00.000-05:002018-06-06T06:44:02.706-05:00Cochlear Implants and SportsSo it's been a while, <strike>like a year</strike>, since I've updated on the Country Kids with Cochlear Implants. That's probably because <strike>I've gotten distracted and lazy and almost forgot I even liked to write</strike> during school "season" Brooklyn keeps us busy with her sports. She does well in school socially, keeps good grades, and is an athlete. She continues to play softball and volleyball each year and now that she's moving up to high school level, being in the 9th grade now, she'll be in the "big leagues" so to speak.<br />
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She has completed softball for the year and her team had a really good season with less than a handful of losses, and so begins volleyball. She will start workouts with the older girls upon her return from the beach and she really likes that part. She may groan and complain but she likes the feel of a good workout.<br />
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She finally got rid of the braces and the glasses and she looks forward to her first volleyball season without them! We continue to use double sided fabric tape to help secure her processors on her ears. This is her preferred method now, she gave up the small headbands but they could make another appearance when her first volleyball game rolls around who knows.<br />
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She still loves music and uses her over the ear headphones <strike>the ones that cost a small fortune or the higher quality ones at Wal Mart work just as well</strike>. Hopefully it won't take a full year to update on my two kids with cochlear implants! We wouldn't want you to think they are boring, they keep us full. 💗VBnBamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06188520199027370788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8143823763377733172.post-46817902469492078972017-06-15T08:55:00.000-05:002017-06-15T08:58:39.404-05:00Sports and Cochlear ImplantsThough there are many options these days for kids who hear with cochlear implants AND also play sports, I'm going to show you what works for us. The trick is to know your options, and find what works for you and your child!<br />
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My daughter is our athlete. She is going on 14 (I know!!) and has had her implants for almost twelve years now. She became an athlete in 7th grade when she made the volleyball team. Her height is perfect for such a sport and after the season was over, she tried out and made the softball team. She is learning but doing well in both sports. Her teammates and coaches couldn't be more supportive and the encouragement has certainly boosted her assurance, and confidence.<br />
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I have (out of necessity) learned to do braids. One thing at the end of the season we learned is that double braids help hold the processors on. She has long hair and the braids on each side running behind the ears are great. I wish I could braid tighter than what I do but hey, practice will help that! She bought some skinny headbands that she says help also. At first she was simply pulling her hair back in a pony tail and using double sided fabric tape directly on her processors and that worked for a while but these other options were better due to sweat causing the tape to lose its stick. This basically got us through the majority of both seasons. We now know what to do for next year as she enters 8th grade playing both sports again.<br />
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If your child wants to play sports, go for it! Let the coaches know you are experimenting with head gear options and they may even have great advice!<br />
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<br />VBnBamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06188520199027370788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8143823763377733172.post-10036107394324511712016-09-23T05:15:00.000-05:002016-09-23T05:15:55.261-05:00Deaf Child Behind The Wheel<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Radio off, windows up, minimal talking and we are off. I guess I am as nervous as any other parent giving full control of a massive deadly weapon to their 15 year old child.<br />
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Truthfully, I thought the fact that he is hearing impaired would multiply that fear ten fold but so far, that isn't really a factor. He does a great job. We have had him drive at various times, even at night and in heavy rain. Next on our list is completely deaf...just down the road and back. He has to learn what it feels like so if batteries die, he don't panic and wreck trying attain his sound back. He needs remain calm, remain in control and get to where his going safely.<br />
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I think our biggest concern is (as he gets older), if he were to get pulled over, would he be able to safely communicate to an officer at a distance that he is hearing impaired. We are hoping to find something tag or window related that would state or warn of this immediately. We also have this concern (and in his billfold) that if unresponsive due to a wreck or whatever that he can't have MRIs due to the magnets in his head without first removing them.<br />
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So far, just having a permit isn't that bad. As 16 approaches, my anxiety heightens when I realize he will not want me to ride with him anymore. ðŸ˜VBnBamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06188520199027370788noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8143823763377733172.post-15861922382725992592016-06-19T18:18:00.001-05:002016-06-23T09:35:05.724-05:00Metal Mouthes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitW-QFKWCue9r2UTARmJWqKnfBvj6V0ZrsZUJVCMv3cY-tUW79z2vOYlb5_NIaZvfyqd5Qpr1EtyzU7EKgQ0qxlik1lEd4rRWDSX1Z5B1Qj-pWG-5WGeFjVLFVMbf1FxVlIzXbWPBczOwP/s1600/IMG_20160609_185525.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitW-QFKWCue9r2UTARmJWqKnfBvj6V0ZrsZUJVCMv3cY-tUW79z2vOYlb5_NIaZvfyqd5Qpr1EtyzU7EKgQ0qxlik1lEd4rRWDSX1Z5B1Qj-pWG-5WGeFjVLFVMbf1FxVlIzXbWPBczOwP/s320/IMG_20160609_185525.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Well, we have both kids in braces. It all happened so fast with Brooklyn. A couple of months ago we never guessed she needed them but one glance at the X-rays and it became clear. Her baby tooth will be extracted next month and the Orthontist can begin the process of pulling the crooked adult tooth down into the proper position.<br />
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We visit the surgeon at the end of the month to decide what is on the agenda for both kiddos. Will it be a jaw distraction for Gman? He will also give us details about B's pending surgery. Busy summer, but still Blessed!VBnBamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06188520199027370788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8143823763377733172.post-49597708069910802402016-06-02T13:57:00.000-05:002016-06-07T05:53:55.885-05:00I Want You to HearSensorineural. Conductive. Audiogram. Milestones. What are all these new vocabulary words being thrown at me and my new baby? This became our reality years ago when my first child failed his newborn hearing screening. His tiny little ears were soon adorned with rather large super-powered hearing aids. The best of the best on the market and even those floppy devices couldn’t bring enough sound to those tiny ears, to hear my voice.<br />
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<a href="http://bit.ly/1X7HeG0" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMTzfrx9RbVvXKh6VHiqg_aQqUoePQtxmOqolhaXjvFBxrqsdWp-9qs0TUnkCEk5jlSYuSuo1pX3TEoKELxqE7mv8Ro-Q6XF_E0yUuuYA6YvwNQNJUlzJP_E5nJrWpVQXPhYrlZe6cOhVO/s320/GRAPHIC-degrees-of-HL.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Having no history of hearing loss on either side of the family, we didn’t even know what questions to ask at that point. Months passed by, then years. We introduced him to his new little sister with what little signs and gestures we had developed as our communication methods. We were introduced into the <a href="http://bit.ly/1X7HeG0" target="_blank">Cochlear</a> family by our doctor as our next step toward living in a hearing world full of possible speech, language, music, and voices.<br />
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While little sister was developing her babble, her various toddler words, we were shocked to find out she too had hearing loss. She soon progressed to severe levels as we prepared to our son to undergo his first cochlear implant surgery. Our hopes were high and expectations low as our now almost four year old would either soon begin to hear the world that had been so quiet, or he would remain in silence.<br />
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Not only would he receive the gift of hearing, but his sister would soon follow in his footsteps. We had therapy as a family to learn how to learn how to hear and how to develop appropriate speech and language. It was hard work for everyone on our team but both children are in public school, playing sports, playing instruments, enjoying their friends’ laughter and not enjoying their mother’s singing.<br />
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Now <a href="http://bit.ly/1X7HeG0" target="_blank">Cochlear</a> introduces their new website as a resource for parents finding themselves facing a similar situation as we did years ago. A place to answer the daunting questions that linger can be accessed from almost anywhere. Find out more about the advanced implantable hearing solutions by <a href="http://bit.ly/1X7HeG0" target="_blank">Cochlear</a> by visiting <a href="http://bit.ly/1X7HeG0" target="_blank">www.Iwantyoutohear.com</a><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">This is a sponsored post from <a href="http://bit.ly/1X7HeG0" target="_blank">Cochlear</a> written only by me. My opinions are my own.</span></i></div>
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VBnBamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06188520199027370788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8143823763377733172.post-48915829332559279262016-04-30T09:44:00.005-05:002016-04-30T09:44:56.449-05:00Braces for Straight TeethYes, you heard me right. There are braces for straight teeth. Why would someone want to pay thousands of dollars out of pocket for braces when the child has great, and straight teeth? It's called impacted #11. That's the canine tooth. My Brooklyn is about to begin the whole process of getting braces, see an Oral Surgeon for a tooth extraction and try to pull down the impacted adult tooth. This was devastating news to not only us, but the Orthodontist who loved how pretty and straight her teeth are, but I looked at the X-rays and there is just no getting around it. It needs to happen, and happen soon.<br />
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Over the summer we have the bulk of the work completed followed by about two years or so of clear braces. She also has TMJ and will be under treatment for that as well. She already has cochlear implants, glasses and now adding braces too. I've tried to encourage her to try contacts really soon but she is nervous and says she isn't ready. With volleyball tryouts only a few weeks away, she may find out that if she makes the team, contacts may be the best option! I can't believe she is about to be in the 7th grade! Gage will be going into the 10th and he is only weeks away from getting his driver's permit! He too will visit the Oral Surgeon to give us an estimate of if/when he will be facing his much awaited jaw distraction.<br />
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<b>Where has the time gone?</b></h4>
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<br />VBnBamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06188520199027370788noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8143823763377733172.post-72563305191009521492016-03-30T09:53:00.000-05:002016-03-30T09:53:22.855-05:00Spring Breakin' It<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoS6F-iKu8VxbVVHrfdeyCfdlCiQktz6E_uGBJ10MlhQfrPVIkFvxEXXwuYzoS_3Lf2kos3kqiVnch4d4g-61i4UchqWjED-K-wlNCdbbv2w6gmOLG5b4bq7Q_nnHplo56T96M0AsQqMGb/s1600/IMG_20160319_190540_edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoS6F-iKu8VxbVVHrfdeyCfdlCiQktz6E_uGBJ10MlhQfrPVIkFvxEXXwuYzoS_3Lf2kos3kqiVnch4d4g-61i4UchqWjED-K-wlNCdbbv2w6gmOLG5b4bq7Q_nnHplo56T96M0AsQqMGb/s400/IMG_20160319_190540_edit.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSt18wefn0aSacPOFbd1J-xWlVDK0NFYvDw06bXauKJCPETY9-oULmDcNmlyiP7Eg4FVDWh5XNexkO1XbCqE8hbkPuB7Dc-2fC03g8Jcj_LE8F0egys1fEBMbGiIsymKF9TCmz-VfkDjHG/s1600/IMG_20160316_142842_edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSt18wefn0aSacPOFbd1J-xWlVDK0NFYvDw06bXauKJCPETY9-oULmDcNmlyiP7Eg4FVDWh5XNexkO1XbCqE8hbkPuB7Dc-2fC03g8Jcj_LE8F0egys1fEBMbGiIsymKF9TCmz-VfkDjHG/s200/IMG_20160316_142842_edit.jpg" width="130" /></a>So what have The Blakelys been up to? It is best to do this in picture form. They were recently seen for an ear "tune up". Brook is still on a once per year or as needed basis. Gage is still as needed but seems to be going every 9 weeks or so which is a huge jump from our monthly visits from previous years.</div>
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What else is new? We've spent the first three days of our Spring Break in either Dental or Orthodontic offices (no surprise there), trying to get some things taken care of while we are all out of school. No word on when they think Gage will (or if it is out of the plan) need his jaw distraction. We are still in the infant stages of Orthodontia.<br />
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I no longer work at the elementary school, I have moved over to the high school. Brooklyn will be over there next school year so it made sense for me to go ahead while the opportunity was there to make the transition. It wasn't easy but everyone has seemed to have adjusted well.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgECLSxsMJOJT_EDf8knwYDoRe1I5rYpnlnX685tVLoFfPE6fuUmT3Eixknp5nxOccVfKVGpg0aKPr7QZMTCf1r2fzBbbeMutHtDWHf5ROTf8hIo6S64hHEocFvF2T7bkYhualfb4ONFEod/s1600/IMG_20160227_125436.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgECLSxsMJOJT_EDf8knwYDoRe1I5rYpnlnX685tVLoFfPE6fuUmT3Eixknp5nxOccVfKVGpg0aKPr7QZMTCf1r2fzBbbeMutHtDWHf5ROTf8hIo6S64hHEocFvF2T7bkYhualfb4ONFEod/s200/IMG_20160227_125436.jpg" width="112" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvD5FPAP3IDxf1wK9DWdkFD6tFH5MDXABeVWYH5ug15PKOFwBj9-liJpwTXtkqltzYldYd5RiCulsKK9NWo38uaaZ5r5uUZkVrFF5pRVuSkV4QOqxO4xPeb7CMhv_-H3oYho5s6JL0_XmR/s1600/IMG_20151122_144812.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvD5FPAP3IDxf1wK9DWdkFD6tFH5MDXABeVWYH5ug15PKOFwBj9-liJpwTXtkqltzYldYd5RiCulsKK9NWo38uaaZ5r5uUZkVrFF5pRVuSkV4QOqxO4xPeb7CMhv_-H3oYho5s6JL0_XmR/s200/IMG_20151122_144812.jpg" width="112" /></a>We still love being at home and wouldn't trade it for any place on earth. We love the sunrises and sunsets, we love to spend time in the woods with campfires, four wheeling, and just enjoying family and friends.<br />
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Brook still loves babies (but real ones now, not dolls) and will scoop one up anywhere she can find one. I see lots of babysitting in her future as she approaches the teenage years. Gage is obsessed with building things. He is always, everyday, in his shed working on furniture or handmade guitars.<br />
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We lost our beloved dog Marley in a tragic accident so the husband adopted two puppies (both Lab mixes) and they could not be more adorable. The kids really love them!<br />
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Next on our list...Brooklyn tries out for JV Volleyball in May. We wish her the best of luck. She already worries about how she will keep her implants on as she jumps around the court. We know there are many sport options that can render this, she just needs something to worry about (smile).</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Have a Blessed Spring Break</span></b></div>
VBnBamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06188520199027370788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8143823763377733172.post-23315065414904773752015-10-12T15:02:00.001-05:002015-10-12T15:02:29.196-05:0011 Years of HearingIt is hard to believe we are approaching 11 years of hearing with our first born. Brooklyn has been hearing for almost that long as well, but Gage was three and a half years old when his first cochlear implant was turned on. Here's how funny all that noise can be!<br />
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We had no idea that the three years of silence or at least minimal hearing aid benefit would never show at age 14. We didn't expect him to catch up so fast but a little boy's determination and hard work paid off. He was released (graduated) from AVT only a year later just when his sister began her journey. These two compliment each other well and they sure have taught me more than I could ever teach them!<br />
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I need to post some more videos!!VBnBamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06188520199027370788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8143823763377733172.post-54072345517059469492015-09-12T08:28:00.000-05:002015-09-12T08:28:17.971-05:00The Problem with Hearing KidsThe problem with hearing kids, is they hear. We hearing parents of deaf children grow accustomed to being able to get up at 4:00 a.m. (or stay up to 4:00 a.m.) and do dishes, laundry, vacuum, any noisy task we want because our kids will sleep soundly. When hearing friends come over, we panic. Suddenly everything we do becomes magnified by 10,000 and we realize how noisy we parents really are.<br />
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I "shhhhed" myself this morning when making breakfast as the two deaf ones slept soundly and the one hearing friend (also was out cold) was at risk for being awakened. Luckily, no fire alarms blared this morning (which is usual) so I was pleased they got their much needed ZZZs. I guess we can take that early morning time to do other things like, blogging, drinking coffee, and watching the sunrise!<br />
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<br />VBnBamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06188520199027370788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8143823763377733172.post-8118704307488165032015-08-15T06:10:00.000-05:002015-08-15T06:12:33.023-05:00Speech Therapy BagsI was recently reminded of portable Speech Therapy bags. The ones we mom of hearing impaired children have in our homes, in our cars, at grandma's, practically everywhere we go. We know kids need toys to help occupy them at those long grueling appointments and they love to play, so why not combine playing and learning? Going through AVT (Auditory Verbal Therapy) and Speech Therapy with both of my children helped me be prepared for opportunity teachings.<br />
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I have a list I have put together for some of the top 5 items I used to carry. I'm curious as to what parents carry in their therapy bags these days! You can view my list <a href="https://www.influenster.com/member-4c5622e15/my-speech-therapy-bag" target="_blank">here on Influenster (click here)</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9lKYk7KJadnVT4TD8GpImLud4TTZPmRDruW51EV0GAcAAFlA_AMJ4NEUmeLypXT4Dn2rHgpDvPTzw7Xp1kEch8Tf48DV8Oy-7TYjlMAiITSSVXPvMnaOM7v63-wE4qwceETkbA5wZ_TdW/s1600/DSCN3401.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9lKYk7KJadnVT4TD8GpImLud4TTZPmRDruW51EV0GAcAAFlA_AMJ4NEUmeLypXT4Dn2rHgpDvPTzw7Xp1kEch8Tf48DV8Oy-7TYjlMAiITSSVXPvMnaOM7v63-wE4qwceETkbA5wZ_TdW/s200/DSCN3401.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
We would change our items every couple of weeks or so (basically when mommy got tired of the Legos or tired of reading the same book). One thing to remember about these bags, your local thrift store can be a gold mine! Just wash the toys really well and your child will be learning for pennies! You can find great "odds and ends" and at my thrift store they bag up miscellaneous items like small figures, small doll house items, random cars, etc. which was PERFECT for us! I'd pay $0.59 for big bag of WORDS! Don't let great opportunities pass you by because you think an item is too girly for you boy or right the opposite. My daughter and I would use big brother's hot wheels to drive to all of her doll's houses! It's all about how you approach it!<br />
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I miss those days!</div>
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<i>If you would like more information on how to be an Influenster, make your own lists, write reviews, and try free samples, <a href="http://www.influenster.com/r/1276770" target="_blank">CLICK HERE.</a></i></div>
VBnBamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06188520199027370788noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8143823763377733172.post-5829711940389886492015-07-18T10:04:00.000-05:002015-07-18T10:04:56.132-05:00Making an Electric GuitarSo what do bored teens do when school's out for summer...make homemade electric guitars of course! This first video is the very first one he made last week.<br />
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The upgraded version of the guitar soon followed when a neighbor (who is very smart about a lot of topics-guitars is not one of them but welcomed the challenge) took the boy under his wing and let him come over everyday (for hours on end) and use tools, ask questions, and together...two great minds came up with this: (though he warns he still has string work to do)<br />
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<br />VBnBamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06188520199027370788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8143823763377733172.post-87562848402812622582015-07-12T15:25:00.001-05:002015-07-12T15:25:37.973-05:00Heavy Metal<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Let's face it, he was heavy metal the minute he picked up his first guitar. Well, not really, but he is certainly cool enough to be...<br />
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We finally got the boy in his braces. Sorry to all the Goldenhar patients that don't have a cleft palate, insurance will likely NOT pay for the braces. But that's okay. He is in them, and will be for a while. They only put on the top row this go around and will add the bottoms at a later appointment. He will also add the spacer later as well. He didn't want to put everything in his mouth at once and have the Gman super uncomfortable. The braces hurt bad enough, but nothing a little ibuprofen won't handle.<br />
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We will remove the braces in about 6 months temporarily to add composite bonding type additions to the front teeth to make them look more like full pretty teeth. After that is done by his family dentist, we'll go back and put the braces right back on. The bottom row will be moved only slightly forward and then a pediatric bridge will fill in the remaining gap where he has no adult teeth (missing bottom front four). After the boy finishes growing at around age 20, he can decide if he wants an adult (more permanent) bridge or dental implants.<br />
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I know it sounds like a lot, and we haven't even been back to see the surgeon about the whole jaw issues, but he too wanted to wait until after age 18 to fix any of that (should we go in that direction). However, by the time the chap is in his early 20s, he'll be so glad he did all of this and I think he'll love the results! We are blessed as always to have a magnificent team helping and guiding us along the way!<br />
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The main concern now is keeping the health of his teeth and progressing in weight gain. Gman is afraid this will set him back but we have loads of ice cream to supplement his lack of biting into food that is just plain uncomfortable and not recommended for a young'un with braces. The anxiety is behind him now and he's getting used to the heavy metal already!VBnBamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06188520199027370788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8143823763377733172.post-16298206599755067362015-07-05T15:43:00.001-05:002015-07-05T15:48:13.997-05:00Hovering<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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On an impromptu stop at a Wal Mart, my mother decided to get G's hair cut. He needed a cut desperately and she was being the good grandmother and getting that little chore out of the way while they were out shopping.<br />
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Well, "the girl" my mother called her, sat G down and mother explained to her that once he removes his CIs that he'll hear nothing. Mother proceeded to explain how he wanted his hair trimmed up and assured "the girl" that she'd stand close by in case she needed her to communicate for her while he was <i>off air.</i><br />
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Hmm, "the girl" got really nervous and told my mother she'd have to go sit down and not hover over her while she cut hair....(hover over her?) Yep. As you can imagine, that didn't go over well with G's grandmother. Mom said, "I'm not sitting down until I'm certain you know how he wants his hair cut!"<br />
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Needless to say, he got a slight trim and we'll just see that he gets to his regular barber (who is much more understanding and nicer) than some people tend to be. Completely made the Gman uncomfortable as well as mom but they both learned something from their impromptu stop.VBnBamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06188520199027370788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8143823763377733172.post-5487087829584613302015-07-03T09:30:00.001-05:002015-07-03T09:30:49.307-05:00Brace YourselfAfter years of anticipation, guess who will be getting braces next Saturday?<br />
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That's right, this guy! We tried for over a year to get insurance to pay for them since it is medically necessary per the dentists, and orthodontists that we work closely with, BUT since he does not have a cleft palate, we got a big fat no! Goldenhar Syndrome has left his mouth with its share of challenges and we are not sure yet how long he will wear the braces but we'll see how it all goes.<br />
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We are moving teeth around to fill in the gaps where no adult teeth are present. Then, the dentist will be able to shape what he does have and after that he'll be ready for dental implants. Since dental implants can't be side by side, we must move teeth around first so that they can be placed sporadically. He has a long road ahead of him with orthodontia but by the time he graduates high school he'll be so glad he did it! ((He is less than excited))VBnBamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06188520199027370788noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8143823763377733172.post-19267957479526886112015-07-02T11:27:00.000-05:002015-07-02T11:27:32.118-05:00Wanted...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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...because some deaf children really do hear! </div>
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The boy picked up a guitar last summer and hasn't put it down since. So five guitars later, we started him in guitar lessons to couple his natural talent...I should say un-natural talent, God-given, God-decided-to-bless-him talent. However you look at it, if you had asked me ten years ago when he was four if he'd be able to ever hear a guitar well, much less play one, I would have said NO.</div>
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VBnBamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06188520199027370788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8143823763377733172.post-48778183008558426042015-03-15T07:06:00.000-05:002015-03-15T07:06:15.080-05:00Regional Tech Fair<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiioceBHM7YypbzgiehUJH3GXnMKlEqxivp7fW6TXIUd1s6jCVa4OWLaX80avOqMQ1RzVx3Os7tMkSeI5nPBqZmHV4AINipyBpTzkXTRNfFktt0ER5wMae2_vOr1T-F2s2pGA9fYo9lGT-4/s1600/IMG_20150313_100447.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiioceBHM7YypbzgiehUJH3GXnMKlEqxivp7fW6TXIUd1s6jCVa4OWLaX80avOqMQ1RzVx3Os7tMkSeI5nPBqZmHV4AINipyBpTzkXTRNfFktt0ER5wMae2_vOr1T-F2s2pGA9fYo9lGT-4/s1600/IMG_20150313_100447.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
One proud Mama alert...<br />
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Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine this high-tech kid would be standing in front of judges presenting a project about her cochlear implants. She and her friend/partner decided to do a project about B's ears and how technology helps her hear and the impact it makes at school, including her friends' point of view and how her peers play a role in her success.<br />
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These girls were asked many questions, they answered confidently, and brought home first place medals......next month, the are to present their project at the state competition!<br />
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VBnBamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06188520199027370788noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8143823763377733172.post-42091265830384411022015-01-22T19:07:00.002-06:002015-01-22T19:07:50.278-06:00Big Boy<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLoOQ-qsC45Pt-U8A-VTInUullIlGvaWF8-QxMfk_HWXtkGni0MrDtW9nFx4_xgj4Mt7ocqOzdg39sWusO3ZHXZTIIEpOV9GaQbklkRShi3TlZDJkjUI3kFGGuzusXZ2A82w6F6Qd2BTMl/s1600/CRS2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLoOQ-qsC45Pt-U8A-VTInUullIlGvaWF8-QxMfk_HWXtkGni0MrDtW9nFx4_xgj4Mt7ocqOzdg39sWusO3ZHXZTIIEpOV9GaQbklkRShi3TlZDJkjUI3kFGGuzusXZ2A82w6F6Qd2BTMl/s1600/CRS2015.jpg" height="200" width="112" /></a>In person, I know he still seems small for 13, but today at his annual appointment to see the CRS team consisting of a nutritionist, social worker, a team of dental experts, etc., they were BLOWN away by his growth spurt. Even more remarkable, this spurt actually happened sometime between May and November because we had other doctor visits in between to do weigh-ins....He has never been above the 5th percentile and today.....25th percentile!!! He has grown nearly 4 inches and gained 19 pounds in that time frame. It sparked their interest in Goldenhar Syndrome and several declared they do some more research on the subject.<br />
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The difficult news...medically, he needs lots of Orthodontia. He can't even eat corn on the cob, bite into apples, and lots of other things he don't eat because of his missing/malformed "teeth" called pegs. However, according to the widespread changes in the recent medical insurance coverage....a certain code doesn't fall under the "qualified" category anymore since he has Goldenhar Syndrome and not a cleft palate. His face is crooking more and more and will affect his upper face soon including around his eyes...it is expected the skin of one eye will begin to pull down and around toward the short side (right) as he continues to grow. He still will need dental repairs after Orthodontia and then the jaw surgery to follow in just a few short years to lengthen that short bone.<br />
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They are resubmitting paperwork in hopes to get it passed as necessary and not cosmetic for the common crooked teeth. We will sit back, and pray it works this time! We are just glad to have him, and we'll take it one day at a time. He sure is a fun child, and we are Blessed as his parents.VBnBamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06188520199027370788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8143823763377733172.post-89833900675882946722014-11-11T17:57:00.001-06:002014-11-11T17:57:29.152-06:0087<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Gman had an appointment today to check his height and weight because some of his medication suppresses his appetite. Well, at age 13.5 exactly....he's finally broke the 80 lb mark at a whopping 87 pounds!! We are thrilled! He's 5 ft 2 in and gained 10 lbs in the last 5 months!! His failure to thrive as a baby has come a long way.<br />
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Orthodontia was denied by insurance despite his syndrome that is directly responsible for his anomalies. We go see the oral surgeon again in January and see if new paperwork will get it passed through because he not only needs braces, he needs dental implants and possibly jaw surgery as well. I used to think that was so far in his future but at age 13, he's fast approaching the age (17) where they want to address the jaw distraction issue. Only time will tell, but he's a pure-bred champion so we'll cross that bridge when we get there (and with a smile on our faces).<br />
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Brooklyn is still doing well. She's almost 11 now <strike>and thinks she knows everything</strike>. Her grades have improved quite a bit this first report card and she is doing great. She listens to music with typical headphones on her tablet but still uses the speaker phone while using a cellular or other telephone. Gage prefers texting and just doesn't seem too interested in learning to use a phone any differently, though he can hear some using the speaker phone.<br />
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Brooklyn's hens are now laying. She started with 18 for the 4H project and gave away 9. Some of her 9 remaining began laying eggs this week (brown ones). We are still waiting on the Easter-eggers to lay which will be pastel colored eggs. She is such a good little "mama" to them. Other than that, we just enjoying mountain/country living and can't believe how Blessed we truly are!<br />
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<br />VBnBamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06188520199027370788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8143823763377733172.post-3771383751857098312014-08-20T05:23:00.000-05:002014-08-20T05:25:08.395-05:00A Blakely UpdateNot a lot of posting from the Cochlear Kids as of late but we are in full swing here in Alabama public school. Gage has started the 8th grade and is doing well so far. They are beginning to read The Giver in English class. He was also assigned Music Class and despite his initial thoughts, it will be a true asset to him in the future if he wants to play guitar. He picked it up a few short weeks ago on summer break and with a few chords from his daddy and a few from a cousin, he's learning...<br />
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Brooklyn has entered the 5th grade. She is still with me everyday since I work at the school full-time now. She will leave me after the 6th grade and go over to the high school with her brother. Her N6s are still doing fabulous! She loves her chickens which will start laying eggs within the next few weeks! <br />
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We love it here on "the mountain"...the world moves a whole lot faster than we do but we wouldn't change a thing!<br />
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<br />VBnBamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06188520199027370788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8143823763377733172.post-4317097033420946142014-07-12T10:10:00.001-05:002014-07-12T10:10:55.473-05:00Her "New Ears" AudiogramHer last audiogram in 2013 w/her Freedoms<br />
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...and you can see her Speech Reception was at 20 db...meaning she can hear speech softer than that looking at the chart but not clearly enough to understand it until you reach 20 decibels.<br />
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<strong>Now with her new N6's...</strong><br />
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She still hears very well with her CIs but can hear clearly at 5 db in the sound proof booth. That's a soft whisper!</div>
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We all know that in any type of noise that will dramatically decrease her ability to hear speech but we are very pleased with her new ears and the main thing is...she too is very pleased with them and that's the most important!!</div>
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She will be starting 5th grade on August 7th and as her team leaders, we have agreed that she can try the classroom(s) without her FM. She does NOT want it and this is the same grade Gage quit using his as well. We sought the advice from her Hearing Impaired Teacher and she agrees we could give it a try. If she needs it, we'll give it back to her no problem. I work at the school so I'm just a short walk away if she needs me.</div>
VBnBamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06188520199027370788noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8143823763377733172.post-30377756384827403942014-05-10T06:06:00.000-05:002014-05-10T06:10:30.353-05:00The Teenager<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Thirteen</div>
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I remember my first Mother's Day. I wondered if I would still be a mother a week later, a month later or a year later. People buzzed around me with concern for my newborn child. We become mothers because we have children. This little guy taught me how to be selfless, how to be patient, how to be deaf and then how to hear. My life slowed down and I watched him grow up in slow motion, yet here he is, a teenager.</div>
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Not long ago I was driving down the road on the way to a Wednesday night church service and I hear a 12 year old voice lift from the back seat, "Mama. I know why you only had two kids." I respond at the odd and random comment, "Oh you do? Okay, let's hear it." He said, "because you didn't want anymore deaf kids. We're a lot of trouble and you didn't want to have to do all that again." I quickly interrupted, "That's not true or I would have never had your sister. You would be an only child." A smile reached his face as we pulled into the parking lot.</div>
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Children teach their parents just as much as parents teach their children. Families grow and learn how to love each other despite faults and failures. There are times I wake up in the mornings and hear a child's voice that thirteen years ago, I was certain I would never hear. He enjoys his silence at times and will often belt out an old church hymn in the shower and I realize, he can't even hear his own voice...he's just offering it selflessly to his family and to The Lord. He can put his "ears" on and listen to the rain pound our old tin roof and a smile of appreciation will spread across his face. He brings more joy to our family with each passing day and I am so very thankful I was chosen to be his mother.</div>
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We are honored to own a teenager this day. He is loved, he is appreciated, he is a Blessing. Happy birthday buddy.</div>
VBnBamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06188520199027370788noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8143823763377733172.post-38017253761398730262014-05-09T05:37:00.000-05:002014-05-09T05:37:04.857-05:00New Ears Update<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVonOVkHfh7zOc2pK1CU0H3fAaRv9lRhNR3mtlrqevNuzfRlwdoHgWKK_ut-PBDdUaz3JR-2NPEI1XBUbBOV7NfOouzcH7muW_CfYxc-V3J3M-WW7tHhXSr08NadxqLiV2xyYfxdwXsvnB/s1600/Brook+new+ears.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVonOVkHfh7zOc2pK1CU0H3fAaRv9lRhNR3mtlrqevNuzfRlwdoHgWKK_ut-PBDdUaz3JR-2NPEI1XBUbBOV7NfOouzcH7muW_CfYxc-V3J3M-WW7tHhXSr08NadxqLiV2xyYfxdwXsvnB/s1600/Brook+new+ears.jpg" height="200" width="149" /></a></div>
After a full ten week wait, we finally received B's new ears! She was so excited to go get them turned on a couple of weeks ago. She loves the fact that she can now change the colors without the messy stickers. We also figured out that the N5 covers (her brother wear N5s) fit her N6s and they are cheaper to buy so we ordered a few more colors for her along with the coil covers to match.<br />
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I am so proud for her and proud of her. She was asked to speak to a first grade class about her implants since their reading story was about a deaf child. The teacher has a deaf nephew and has taught my children in the past so she was quite familiar with the cochlear implants. Brooklyn was happy to show off her ears yesterday to the crowd of six/seven year olds.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHXvaLWejSi0C2a3f5MBsOD_S1cMu40_7Xq2q5rngBAFW3SyErQaZJp89DLyMkpvtBfFGO5ERUD-GC6yH5yVNzT4l2I65rH0KGrHkfZ7xzNNjSbIAnZZMqKbU34MIpFwz2a8ut88PGjgKv/s1600/pink+ears.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHXvaLWejSi0C2a3f5MBsOD_S1cMu40_7Xq2q5rngBAFW3SyErQaZJp89DLyMkpvtBfFGO5ERUD-GC6yH5yVNzT4l2I65rH0KGrHkfZ7xzNNjSbIAnZZMqKbU34MIpFwz2a8ut88PGjgKv/s1600/pink+ears.jpg" height="149" width="200" /></a>We will take her back in a few weeks for some minor adjustments and put her in the booth for an audiogram so we'll have a better idea/comparison of how she's hearing. We only have two more weeks of school here in Alabama and we're out until the beginning of August! IEPs are done and State testing is underway. She has no special accommodations other than testing in a small group setting in case she encounters technical difficulties. I am sending her back-up ears just in case.<br />
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Brooklyn has also enjoyed the bilateral accessory cord she can plug into her electronics (and so do I). We have a few of the swim bags we will use over the summer but we will be looking into purchasing the new aqua devices Cochlear has come out with for both children so they can swim (without the embarrassing bags). All in all, we are very excited, very pleased and very Blessed people!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3dn4f8yorL8m18M0gdUIvOFYmFa6EI-B6OmwNCUojva23rcxSPr-vj70YNhyJxHiGZabDTF4p81B6dMIroD0OC6QCjw1w9-Xx-3UyCgj2ie78Xm9J3IdF-TkEVYdbtALmG9CvZOrAJrkl/s1600/plugged+device.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3dn4f8yorL8m18M0gdUIvOFYmFa6EI-B6OmwNCUojva23rcxSPr-vj70YNhyJxHiGZabDTF4p81B6dMIroD0OC6QCjw1w9-Xx-3UyCgj2ie78Xm9J3IdF-TkEVYdbtALmG9CvZOrAJrkl/s1600/plugged+device.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
VBnBamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06188520199027370788noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8143823763377733172.post-12471429507431310022014-04-08T17:29:00.000-05:002014-04-08T17:29:51.702-05:00Week 10We have begun week 10 of the "it should take about 8-10 weeks for the whole process". Looks like our "process" is taking longer. However, I did get a letter from our insurance company that states that it appears she <b>will qualify </b>for the replacements. I heard from SunMed today who stated they are still waiting for <b>final approval</b> and then they will contact me. So again, we sit and wait. I was teaching yesterday about adages/proverbs. One adage stated, "Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet." I'm going with that!!
Next week I have both of my children's IEPs for school. Gage will be preparing for the 8th grade and my B will be in 5th!! How did this happen?VBnBamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06188520199027370788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8143823763377733172.post-87440750372530230582014-03-12T15:45:00.001-05:002014-03-12T15:48:11.926-05:00Waiting to Hear......and the latest response from SunMed is..."Mrs. Blakely, I will contact you as soon as I hear from the insurance company." Here is what I would send if I we are still waiting at the end of this week:<br />
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Dear (insurance company):<br />
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My ten year old child, Brooklyn Blakely, is seeking approval for replacement
processors for her cochlear implants. I understand that your work load holds
tremendous weight and we are trying to express patience as we await this
approval but we have basically been on hold since the first of February.<br />
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While everyone in your office enjoys impromptu conversations with strangers in
a day's passing or the background music playing overhead in your favorite local
retailer, my child is missing out. She smiles and nods her head at random people
as they speak because she has no idea what they just said, or may have asked. She has to ask what song is on the radio because half the time sound is cutting in and out. The eight year old "ears" she is currently wearing fail her almost daily as she
gets up in the middle of class instruction to try to restart them, sometimes without
any luck at all. This is very embarrassing for her since nobody else in her class has hearing loss.<br />
<br />
While everyone in your office enjoys relaxing at home after work, she comes
home in tears on some days, purely exhausted from trying to hear the
world around her. I understand the difficulty of an overwhelming case load,
but as you hear the softest droplets of the rain on your rooftop or listen to the words of your favorite church hymn, please remember
my daughter. She needs those things too. Thank you so much
and please look into her case if you get a chance. It is important we get her
replacements as soon as possible.<br />
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Thank you,
Val Blakely<br />
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