Deaf Child Behind The Wheel

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.

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.

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.

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. 😭

Spring Breakin' It

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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).

Have a Blessed Spring Break

Making an Electric Guitar

So 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.

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)

The Teenager

 

 

 

Thirteen

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

We are honored to own a teenager this day. He is loved, he is appreciated, he is a Blessing. Happy birthday buddy.

She's Not Been Approved

We've waited (almost) a month now since we had our fundraiser, since we sent in our initial paperwork, and finally we have a response...she has not been approved (YET). We are just now getting to that approved/not approved point. I did receive a figure (a total) on the amount of out of pocket expenses for the processors and WE HAVE ENOUGH FOR TWO!!!! Hallelujah.

I quickly responded with "Move forward, move forward. We have it!" Several thousand dollars is a lot of money but Praise The Lord He's seen fit for her to get two new ears, not just one. Now they are sending the "okay" to my insurance company to proceed with paperwork and when they approve her..(yes, I'm claiming it, V-vi-ctory!)...we will place our order. I already have her an appointment AEA week in hopes we will have them in our hands by then, and ready to TURN THEM ON!

And what's even better? We have enough to buy two new "ears", the accessories she wants, extra batteries, the aqua-packs for swimming, and maybe even enough left over cover the clinic bill once she goes in for her MAPping session to have them turned on and in tip top working order! Covered-in-full. If, and that's a big IF, anything were to be left over after I get her all set up, I will buy a few extra parts for Gman's CIs so he will continue to be in excellent shape and we should be set for a while!

We could not have done all that on our own, so thanks to HIM, HE guided our little community and provided a way. Thanks to those who followed HIS lead! My two PTO friends who worked so hard, the two wonderful families for singing, and every last person who donated money or food for the event or even prayers! I had one lady hand me a check one day and with tears in her eyes she told me that after her daddy died (recently) she had a little bit left over and instead of buying herself the earrings she wanted....she wanted to give it to my B to help with new ears. She said she couldn't stand the thought of her needing new ears and knowing she was spending money on "bling" so she wanted to give. Warmed my heart!

Because of this wonderful community, this rural, small town big-country place...it looks like my baby girl will be hearing better in no time! Thank you all. B is smitten!

The Latest on Goldenhar Boy

So we spent most of yesterday at his annual appointment that usually takes six hours (but we got lucky and were done in 4). This is where a social worker, nutritionist and several dental experts get together and see some of the special cases to make sure the kids are gaining weight, getting proper nutrition and to discuss future surgical plans. We have been planning for a jaw distraction in his teenage years all along but yesterday the idea was tossed up that a different surgery may be better for him. The main problem is finding a proper bite for him with so many missing and misshapen teeth. We are going to start seeing an orthodontist soon (which was in the plans all along) to see if he can move the teeth he has into some kind of "order" if...and that's a big IF, he has enough bone to work with...there may be some bone grafting needed as well. Any type of mouth surgery isn't the most pleasant of surgeries, so I hate it for the little guy. However, we are truly Blessed. Most Goldenhar patients are in far worse shape as far as the mouth/face goes, so we are very thankful his problems are limited. He finally weighs 70 lbs at (almost age 13) and for that we are thankful as well. He's growing, slowly but growing, so for that we are Blessed also. Love this little fellow, and like my Maw-Maw always said, "God's got His Hands on this one."

On a lighter note, he got to see Ms. Sue Sue the artist again. Even though he may have outgrown her coloring, painting, stenciling on an average day...he loves to see her every year and just sit down and talk with her, paint with her, and truth be known, I think Ms. Sue Sue enjoys it just as much. She always remembers him.

Study Day

 Back at the first of the year, as my Dermatologist removed the cancerous tumor on my foot, we discussed my children. She was very interested in the oldest child's Goldenhar Syndrome. She had heard of it, but never seen a person who had been diagnosed to her recollection...so she asked us to participate in a large event held there each November where Dermatology Doctors come from far and wide to learn more...

My mom and I loaded the boy up at 5 am this morning and headed south, to UAB's Kirkland Clinic. They provided us with breakfast, coffee, cookies, other snacks, and more coffee. The boy earned a nice monetary prize from the University for his time and that is probably the only reason he wanted to go (typical). They placed us in a room (other patients were there also) and I kid you not...over a hundred doctors from all over the world came in small groups where I gave my "speech" on cochlear implants, Goldenhar Syndrome, skin tags, scars, dermoids of the eye, etc etc etc...

Gage did grow tired of the whole event after the first hour (we had already seen like 80 people at that point) but he was polite as expected and they all thanked him/us for coming and helping out over and over again.

I had explained to him before we ever went that this would help some child in the future. If they come across another child with these features, conditions, anomalies, they may have some idea what direction to point the parents...and that is all we wanted to do. They also reiterated that him as well so he was happy to help.

Both of the kids did well on their report cards this time, and we continue to mainstream as we always have. They are both participating in the church Christmas play again this year and we are about to leave for practice now. We still hope to upgrade Brooklyn's "ears" by April of next year as we must come up with the funds, since insurance will only cover 80%, we'll need over 3 grand before we upgrade to the N6s. Fingers crossed and praying now, we hope to accomplish this for her. She is on her last few spare parts right now! Until next time....

I am thankful they are deaf

If you had asked me eleven years ago if I was glad my first born lived in silence, I would have said no. The experts told me he would learn to speak though it would be limited and at a much slower pace, and that I needed to narrate everything I do. When I woke in the mornings we put his prosthetic "ears" on knowing he would only hear certain parts of my words but we were to spend our day talking...about everything. If I walked to the kitchen I sang, "walk, walk, walk," with every single step in hopes that one day, he would learn that everything, even motions, had names, sounds, labels. By the end of the day, I rarely even answered the phone and had to force myself to speak to a tired husband when he came home from work, because my words had been given to my child.

There were days I thought would never end and when he finally got his cochlear implant, we had to start over again. Sister came along, and we were blessed to start it once more for her so words became part of our life. I learned to describe feelings and emotions, we stopped at every tree, we smelled every flower, we listened to every bird. Eleven years have passed now and I can honestly say that I'm thankful my children are deaf.

My busy world slowed down for years as they began to grow and learn. Each day, I'd step outside my door and wonder if there was anything else left that I could give my children and something new would appear. Their little face would light up with excitement and tears would run down my cheeks as The Blessings poured in day after day.

I had no idea that The Lord was crafting me all this time. HE was teaching me how to see HIM, how to feel HIM, and how to teach my kids about HIM. HE was teaching me to write with the same words I taught my children only they became more than just words over time. HE taught me to notice everything and then translate what my eyes and heart could see. Today, I am thankful HE lets me feel. If my world had not slowed down a few years ago to absorb HIM, I would not have the relationship with Christ that I do today. He took something very close and special to me, my children, and had them teach me how to hear HIM.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving everyone!

Blakely Updates

I think my child blogs more than I do now. That's what happens when you have two jobs, two kids, a husband and a wonderfully fun place to live! I keep extremely busy these days between all of that and PTO and church so I have my excuses for not blogging.

We finally have Brook's FM working again on both ears. She's back on track. Even though she's only in third grade, I never have to tell her to do homework, she just does it. The other kid is a different story and his grades reflect that! He just got his ears MAPped again so he's hearing better for now and will go back next month as usual. His nose bleeds have picked up once again. We were supposed to get that cauterized before, during another surgery, but we never had it written down for the surgeon to do, just a verbal thing, so with Gman's complications it got overlooked. We may end up having to take him back one of these days for a little procedure to fix that. He hates nose bleeds.

We are excited about Thanksgiving this week, and look forward to family time. I've actually been put in charge of two casseroles for the first time ever so let's hope they are edible. I'll be gone ALL DAY LONG on Friday for my annual shopping trip and we plan to put up our Christmas tree this weekend! I have so much to be thankful for and everyday is kinda like Thanksgiving for me so say your prayers, and let HIM know what you are thankful for this year!

She needs new ears

Gman had his much needed MAPping session this past week. I was in survival mode and trying to get well from a wild form of crud that unleashed inside my head and lungs, so I'm just now feeling bloggy!

We had hoped this tax season (around March or so) that we would have been able to upgrade Brook's processors. She's had them for years and they've been out of warranty for quite some time. However, with all of Gman's surgeries, we have always had extra parts to make do if something broke. We just never got around to it and the cost of such an upgrade is very steep. Like just under three grand steep (that is just a guess-our insurance will cover 80% of an upgrade-they are just under 20 grand for two ears-but we would have a trade-in credit with two of her old processors from what I can tell...

The bottom line is that by this next tax season, we will have enough saved back to upgrade the child to new ears. That is going to be hard with Christmas around the corner but she needs them, she wants them, and she deserves them. I am very excited about it and will be praying that we accomplish this and get that baby some new ears!!

She goes in for her annual MAPping in January and we will know more about the finances, and possible upgrade at that time. Gman is still going every six weeks at this point and will be MAPped again before our Thanksgiving break. He needed lots of changes on both ears this time, and he did so well...he actually earned a prize!! Blakelys never earn prizes there (they just give up) so that was a real treat!

We are torn between going to the 300th cochlear implant celebration next Sunday with The HEAR Center to the ever-so-awesome McWane Center or the Pumpkin Patch with our church. We signed up for both and if it rains we have decided to attend the science center (my kids have been recently already) and if not...Pumpkin Patch here we come!

Week Two

We've started week two of school already here in Bama. Gage is having a difficult time hearing, we're having some issues with one of his processors changing/turning up when you slightly touch the side of it...he's already been kicked in the head (on accident, at PE again-what is it w/these boys?) but so far no issues have resulted from that.

I'm guessing if he doesn't improve (modify classroom/accommodations) then I'll have enforce the FM microphone system that he DOES NOT WANT TO WEAR ANYMORE!!

Brook is doing quite well. She's using her FM system, her teacher unfortunately had fallen ill unexpectedly and she's hoping to come back at the end of this week, so she's had a sub so far.

We went camping this past weekend and had a wonderful time as usual. The kids brought their bikes, they swam, and they fished. One of Brook's processors had issues though and it needed a new part (which was at home) so she had to go a full day with just one "ear". She hated it...but made it just fine.

Other than that, we are just enjoying ourselves. We love our friends, our family, our school, our church...what more could you ask for?

VBS

The Cochlear Kids are having a wonderful time at Vacation Bible School at our church. They are learning verses (and repeating them on cue) and songs (with a little more difficulty but they are doing awesome)...just like the other kids. Church has been the BEST thing for my kids, despite my initial concerns that they couldn't hear well, or sit still (or any other excuse I gave for not taking them regularly). They actually have learned so much, including how to sit still and behave in church!!

Here they are playing water balloon volleyball and yes, Gage's leg is soaked right here...guess he fell a little short at catching those balloons with the sheet but it was all about team work. That night the story was about Gideon and his army of 300 God picked. They made a homemade trumpet with that one and last night after hearing about David and Goliath, they made sling shots. They can't wait to go back tonight and see what they learn.

When I Am Deaf

As we get the news that our children are deaf, many of us sit back and try to figure out how in the world they could mistake our child who obviously can hear, as a deaf child. One day, as reality floods in with the tears, the sadness, the heartache, the worry, the guilt, we accept the news and move on...because we have to. We educate our ignorant minds and realize that we are never going to be like other families, other parents, other mothers. Some of us eventually realize that what they were born without, can be the biggest gift of all...

Throughout our early years of parenting, we are forced to place ourselves in our children's shoes. We enter a grocery store and realize that our voices can get lost in the wide open space so we move in close to our children when we speak so they see or hear us. We know that midnight storms will not wake our kids because of the loud howling wind, but we pull their curtains tight so the flashes of lightening won't startle their little eyes and hope the deep booming thunder doesn't shake their cribs. We repeat questions for them when their big blue eyes roll over to our direction without them even asking because we know they didn't understand. Also parents of deaf children, we learn to feel, in more ways than one...

When we started going to our little country church, one of the first things I did, was feel for the service. I knew that if I could feel HIM, without seeing or hearing Him, it would be the right place for my kids. Some of THE BEST church services have been when I am deaf...

There have been times, when I am deaf, that I need to close my eyes completely to simply absorb what's around me. If you keep very still, that preacher's voice can reach right up through the bottom of the pew and grab you by the gut so hard your back arches over to slump as you begin to pray. Sometimes, when I am deaf, I am led to Altar, only to find it so crowded that I stop right beside the piano. On bended knees I'll reach up and with outstretched fingers, I'll feel the music as the pianist pounds ivory keys which seem to strum right into my heart. Sometimes, when I am deaf, He begins to show me things that may not matter to anyone else...but to me, it's Pure, it's Golden, it's Richer than anything I've ever received...yet the only price I paid for it was Believing.

Being deaf sometimes can be a true Blessing, and I am thankful for the times He lets us feel. I don't always listen despite having two functional ears and I don't always see though my vision is clear. But I know how to feel.

Gulf Shores Beach

So we just got back from the beach here in glorious Alabama. Even when it rains 85% of the time, you are still at the beach! We barely had any time to actually get down there in the sand...maybe 5 whole hours the entire trip. However, as long as it wasn't lightening, we let the kids swim in the pool, even during downpours. We sat there under the shelter of the building which had tons of chairs and we just pretended it was perfect weather.

I have waterproof containers (like Otter boxes or waterproof cell phone boxes) that I use to put the kids' implants in while they are swimming, but Gage wore his most of the time down at the ocean. He likes to catch fish in a net and he tapes his "ears" on really well so I don't worry too much about them falling off. As the rain picked up though, he did come to me and turn them in, because they were getting quiet. I always bring a dry n store down there with us so I'd simply put them in the machine for a an hour or so when we got back to the room (and then again all night long at the end of the day) and they were perfectly fine.

this looks sad...all that rain

Cousin Kendall went with us



Cuz Kendall, Brooklyn, Gage

There was one episode where Brook locked herself in the bathroom to take a shower...I needed to get in there to wash her hair (she had an earache) but we are so used to the switch being on the outside of the door rather than inside, there was no way I could alert her. Beating on the wall was out of the question due to being in a condo w/neighbors above and below and all around (they can usually feel a good door pounding, lol). But she finally opened the door and everything worked out...

MAP Day

Whew. That's all I have left to say about the MAPping appointment. Besides, I've already blogged it all HERE.

But Summer Break has started here for the Blakely kids and aside from the little incidences with today appointment, we are enjoying our time away...from almost everything.

At our appointment, we met a cute little dude from The Bell Center who had just graduated but is attending the summer program AND we saw a little girl and her mom who attended one of our PEEPs in the Park events last year. We have been wondering about her all this time. She is a cochlear implant candidate but the family still isn't convinced or ready to make that type of commitment. Loved catching up with her. We had hoped to run into another family that blogs, but we missed them, darn.

Little man is hearing better and should be good til next month while Brook will probably get a quick tune-up before school starts but she only needs a once a year MAPping these days. Fantastic. We discussed going back to the Geneticist office who may or may not be able to determine a cause or link between the two kids' hearing loss now.

The Wrong Thing

Due to the fact that I've received multiple private messages on Facebook about this one single blog post from my other blog...(click here)...I've decided to cross post it here and tell a quick little story that I was reminded of, when a friend read that post.

For my family, it has never been wrong for other children to ask questions. I have always taught my kids that when other kids ask them "what's wrong with their ears" or something similar, the best thing to do is answer them. If they don't feel comfortable doing that, they can come get me and I'll do it for them but I prefer my kids answer questions themselves...this builds confidence and they need to use the voice that The Lord gave them...I am just their back-up plan.

Here is The Wrong Thing to do...

On several occasions (when my kids were tiny), I've watched small children stare at my children's ears. Sometimes the pure fascination in their eyes would bring a smile to my face. My small child would stare back with no answers to give yet and only a few clear words that nothing to do with cochlear implants. Just as I am about to give the child the answers he/she deserves, Mom comes over...looks at my child and in a gasp, shew her kid away. We were never even given a chance. I wanted to tell the child, the mother that my children's ears didn't work, at all, but God decided that He had some things for them to hear, so we were given devices that make their ears hear sometimes...

But instead, an embarrassed mother that had no answers and apparently would kill over if her kid asked a question, ran away from a really great family. She'll never know how funny my kids are. She'll never know what a gift we were given. She'll never know that it's okay to ask honest questions. Some of our biggest Blessings have come from brave people who have stood in line with us, talked to us until we hated to say goodbye, laughed with us, learned with us, discovered with us...and made it okay for us. Our confidence was given by those brave people who didn't run away. My heart has sank low lots of times in the beginning, when my kids were smaller. But I have to say in hindsight that the confidence also came from those who ran...and I guess I should thank them as well...because I knew that soon, I wouldn't let anyone run. I'd politely tell them that it's okay, it's fine and I'd show them that special needs kids are approachable...which is exactly what happened.

So if you're still stuck in that rut, of letting people stare, not answering questions you know they have...if you don't speak up, your kids never will either. Most of the time, my oldest (who isn't shy) will answer all the questions himself. Sister is a little shy but that doesn't mean we can't take questions. Once people know they are listening and talking to a deaf person, amazement sets in. I have to explain to most hearing people that these devices don't magically make their little brains understand what sounds are...it takes an incredible amount of therapy...an incredible amount of family dedication, an incredible amount of hard work from the child and everyone around the child, but it's all worth it.

This is an old video for those who have never seen my kids without their "ears"



Sometimes the captioned version doesn't work well but here it is on youtube also--he was trying to let her FEEL him talk--she's not a very good speech reader--unlike him.

It chose me

A friend of mine from church publicly thanked his wife the other day for being such a great stay-at-home wife/mother. She was sick and he had to take his little boys to the pool, washed dishes, folded lots of laundry, entertained the boys some more, etc. etc. while she lied in bed...sick. It's a draining profession I know, but we Mommies (or stay at home Daddies) get used it.

I had a full time job in the Accounting Dept. of a very large beverage distributor in the big city when I had my first child. I couldn't wait to get back to work and I didn't even wait for my full 6 weeks post surgery recovery time to end. My husband's schedule required him to pull weekend doubles at the restaurant he managed at the time so this gave him a couple of sporadic off days during the week. His schedule, was really the only reason I was able to make it there one more year after my son was born...and the fact my family gave us any off days they had to help us out too.

At his birth, we knew he had "issues" that needed to be investigated, scanned, removed, etc., and we spent most of that first year, in and out of the hospital for all sorts of procedures/surgeries and lots of times, we had three appointments per week. Luckily my husband lots of times was able to pick our son up from daycare, drive him to me in the big city (an hour away) while the baby screamed the entire way, so he could pick me up from work and attend the necessary appointments, then drop me back off to finish my day. You see, deaf children are required just like all other children here in the U.S. to be turned around backwards in the car(until around age one), hence the word-rear facing car seat-but when they can no longer hear, or see their parents driving...they scream. Brook wasn't so bad because big brother was facing forward and could play with her as she rode backwards but Gage was all alone. But my point is, we were a team, my husband and I, and we were in survival mode.

After I realized my son stayed VERY sick with a weak immune system as his only defence for daycare and the fact what little speech he had was troubled, I decided to give in to what had been picking at me for the entire year, and I left work. It was my burden to bear and I was ready to bear it.

I had no idea how hard switching jobs would be. I remember sitting at my desk during lunch as I finished up the three/four week notice and I made a list. I would vacuum on Mondays, wash one load of clothes a day, change linens on Sundays, etc. Luckily I can laugh at it now, but it was never that easy. I did the normal things most stay-at-home moms do but I also focused on speech therapy, which before he could hear, was more like language therapy. He was learning to read lips but I talked to him all day, everyday, as if he could hear to expose him to as much as possible. But my biggest mistake ever...was removing the burden from my husband. I tried to do EVERYTHING myself and was digging myself a hole so deep, it took The Lord to get me out of it. I had no strength left in me, to do everything alone, anymore. My husband was more than willing to help but by that time, I had needed more than a physical rescue.

I've taken on jobs over the years, I still work in Accounting during tax season most of the time, helping out a former employer and I substitute teach. I've become the stay-at-home working mom that works while her children are at school, which allows me to have summers off with them! I love my job now and have for years. It was tough, but it got better. I am so thankful that He chose this job for me, because I would have never picked it for myself. We have only a half day of school left (Tuesday) and we're free to begin our summer...my most challenging and my most fun time of the year. I didn't choose to stay at home as my job, it chose me...and I'm very thankful.

Deuteronomy 28:1-3

1 “Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the Lord your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the Lord your God: “Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the country."

I saw their smiles when they discovered something new, I watched them in amazement as they learned to hear and speak, I learned how to be a better parent, a better wife, and a better Christian...just by being a stay-at-home mom. I would have never chosen this for myself, I really really wanted to work outside of the home. But for my family, my place was here. It took The Lord to move me into that office and quit a job that I loved, but the benefits have more than out-weighed the costs.

Why

Why do children do things like this to their faces when you have a doctor's appointment?? Well, just as I told him, everyone stared...

He finally weighs 57 lbs.!! Woop Woop which his doc says is appropriate for his height. He had to get one shot, not a big deal...

He won himself a dollar for not crying or fussing too much...(he still doesn't know how cheap I am, lol)

He's very proud of himself for being such a big boy! I have to sub the next two days, but after next week, we are pretty much done with school. We are out for the holiday on the 28th, the 29th I have an eye appointment so they will go but I don't even plan on sending them the 30th which is the offical last day for students...I'm looking forward to our beach trip in JUNE!!!

Eye love him

Eleven years ago today, I was handed a baby. Nurses walked in and out of my room giving me little more than concerned glances. One nurse reluctantly smiled and noted him as a special baby.

Eleven years have passed along with approximately 20 surgeries/procedures and my child is still noted as special (to me). He's driven himself into the O.R. all by himself for several of the surgeries on the toy cars donated for the children to ride as they await their name to be called, showing amazing bravery. He's probably much brighter than the nurses 11 years ago ever figured he would be. He's both hearing and deaf, now. He has the best of both of those worlds at this moment. And he is fully aware that one of the biggest surgeries is waiting for him when he's a teenager...jaw distraction...and he's worried most about his upcoming 11 year old visit with his pediatrician, where his school has confirmed he'll need a shot before sixth grade (go figure). He has friends, he has fun, he has family...and now he has glasses!

Happy Birthday to my baby!!

BSHM

May is Better Speech and Hearing Month and this blogger is celebrating by inviting guests to write on her blog. Today she's featuring the Cochlear Kids!

CLICK HERE TO READ