Regional Tech Fair

One proud Mama alert...

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.

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!

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....

Goldenhar Boy

So I was lying on the O.R. table (it was actually more like a doctor's office-I had no anesthesia) trying to think of anything to say to drown out that LOUD snipping as the surgeon removed skin and tissue deep within my foot (another skin cancer). I blurted out (in a voice that was a little too loud for the awkward quiet) "So where did my other doctor go?" Realizing instantly my voice was off key and too loud I tried to retract some composure as my blood pressure soared with every SNIP, SNIP, SNIP!!!! "I mean, Dr. C? She's not here anymore right? She always used to ask me questions about my Goldenhar Boy."

She knew exactly what I meant when I said the word Goldenhar and she starting spouting off facts she knew to confirm I was referring to the same syndrome, "Does he have any Renal issues?" Our conversation progressed just as I had hoped and I forgot all about what this lady was amputating...

By the time she finished sewing me up, I had agreed to bring him in, next November, to meet doctors from all over as she was in charge of organizing an annual event for doctors to meet with patients who have disorders, dermatology issues, or rare syndromes which might land them in an office like theirs one day. Basically Gage and I will kinda sit around and chat as these doctors make their way from group to group and answer any questions they may have. I warned her Gage was quite the talker and he's used to helping out the medical field any way he can. We know that, not only could it affect his own future, but others that come in behind him with this same rare syndrome...
a doctor will be able to say, "Oh Goldenhar Syndrome! Yes, I'm familiar with that, I met a 12 year old boy with that when I was in Alabama once!"

We are beginning our Spring Break at school this weekend and it won't be long until we are here for the Summer!! Woop Woop!

IEP Number One

I wish everyone's IEPs were as easy as mine are...but I know lots of people have to basically fight for every little thing. This year is the first time I recall them getting input from Gage. I know I had asked him last night if there was anything he needed for sixth grade and he said, "YES! I have got to have more P.E. time. I mean at least fifteen more minutes! There's just not enough time right now!" Apparently he mentioned that to them too, listing that as his FAVORITE subject (such a boy).  

They will not test him for Gifted as it has been postponed for too long (he was referred in second grade) but now his SATs scores from the past few years weren't high enough for them to consider him (even though he did earn a medal for his scores!) He had surgery after surgery causing him to get delayed each year. So, I'm guessing I won't be satisfied until I know his IQ score which means I'll probably pay out of pocket and have those done this summer by the Psychologist who tried to test him before (when his ADHD was so bad and he couldn't even finish the testing) The good news is that his ADHD doesn't seem to be too bad right now so his meds are still working!

He basically has a similar IEP to last year, he needs his special equipment (static-free computer mat, FM system, cochlear implants) and he'll stay in the classroom except for ARMT testing which will be done in a quiet small group setting. He will not be testing on any movie that doesn't have proper captions and he won't be testing on material given over a pre-recorded device unless exact reading material is furnished that can be read while it plays. And no paddling without calling me first (shouldn't be an issue)

I shouldn't have any issues but if they do pop up, I'm certain his sixth grade teachers will be glad to get with me and we'll work to resolve any of these matters. She also asked me a quick question about his next year's IEP when he'll be going over to the high school. I almost started crying. I don't even want to think about my baby going over there!

I have got to get him in to see the Audiologist soon. His teacher stated that he's having a terrible time right now and is lip reading heavily! So I'll be scheduling that asap.

Now Brook's IEP is next week so hopefully her's will go as smoothly!

University of Montevallo

To some extent she's right. Implants are almost impossible to buy. They are expensive (covered by most insurances) and you need a prescription (so to speak). That was her point. She went on to write "Save your money if you can't hear!!!"

We went to our (almost) annual visit at the University of Montevallo Monday afternoon to talk to the up and coming Deaf Ed/Speech Therapy majors. The kids' former SLP is the instructor/teacher and we had a great visit.

Everyone was very respectful again this year about our choices. There's almost always some students in there that sign only and this year was no exception. We had a bonus this year and found out one of the students was wearing a cochlear implant too! Neither kid wanted to talk.......at first. Then after they warmed up, they did fine. In fact, Brook stood next to me and mocked me as I spoke...fabulous. She really liked one of the interpreters (she's often present at events we go to and I've ran into this lady for years). Brook even wrote on the board, "The lady in the green jacket likes me." Gage brought a vehicle he'd created and spoke on that subject for a little while.

I discussed our background, Goldenhar Syndrome, school, FM systems, parenting, language opportunities, AVT, ADHD, and so much more! We talked about home life and how they communicate without processors on, and the difference between bilateral and hearing with one implant.

We hope we shed some light on how "normal" yet insane at the same time, we can be. The kids got a gift card as a reward which I happily bought them prizes with on Black Friday. We look forward to hopefully returning next year. My mother even came this year with us and she kinda warmed up and spoke a little too.

Bullet Updates

We've been super busy here lately but here are a few quickies from the Blakely kiddos.

• We have realized Gman isn't growing out of his lazy phase. He MUST get it together with this whole homework issues...or lack there of. Good thing we can access a few of his text books online now and I can see his teacher's lesson plans for the week....hee hee, can't get away with much that way.
• Gman goes for a tune up the 11th of Nov. No real noticeable probs yet, but we are looking forward to seeing his Audiologist again who keeps laying out of work, having babies.
• I am subbing quite a bit. Cheerleading is over. I spend all my "extra" time at home or at church...am I boring or what?
• We are looking forward to the PEEPs in the Park event coming up Sunday. The Delta Zeta girls from the University of Alabama are coming to give us all a big ole Fall Festival
• We are scheduled for our annual visit to the University of Montevallo where we go talk with the Speech/Language class my friend teaches. This will be the first time both kids have attended...but we are out of school that week for the Thanksgiving holiday so what do ya do? This should be interesting. They may demonstrate wrestling or Fight Club while we are there for the students!

Other than that, we are just going to work/school, keeping busy with life as most everyone else.

Turkey update

No I'm not cooking a turkey, never have. But thought I'd take a minute to update everyone on the Cochlear Kids. Gage is back to duel implants. His little sore healed up from my negligence the new magnet being too strong. So you know what that means...he's crankin' up the music again. He's been listening to Waylon Jennings and The Dukes of Hazzard Theme Song! (whew, spare me!)

I wanted to quickly comment on the voluntary recall of AB cochlear implants...if my child wasn't having issues, I'd just breathe a sigh of relief. I don't think you need to freak at this point. They all (all companies) have a chance of malfunctioning, we should know!! Though I completely understand the seriousness of it. Maybe there's better testing that needs to be performed on these products before we subject our kids to surgery in the first place?

Here are a couple of things of that may interest you if you haven't read them already. The article I did on the recall and the article I did on the new Genetic testing, both of these and more can be found here.

Monday, I check Brook out early and we go to University of Montevallo to do our annual meet & greet with the up and coming SLPs or Deaf Ed students. Usually I take Gage and I decided B was gonna get a turn this year!!

University of Montevallo

For those students at the University of Montevallo, here he is (no matter what he said about his little sister tonight) blowing her toes after he's just painted them (this pic is only a couple of months old)...

I'm very proud of little man, tonight he gave his first "presentation" to the up and coming Deaf ed and speech pathology majors at a college here in Alabama. And I BARELY GOT  A WORD IN EDGEWISE at certain times...his story telling has come a long way over the years, these days his stories never end sometimes (lol). You may have noticed me trying to 'butt in' on occasion and change the subject when he spoke for more than five minutes but there's good reason. I was nervous. You mamas can feel me on this one...when your kids get to telling stories about home events, home life and then out pops something so random and unexpected that your embarrassed to death...that was my fear. I've been so enthralled with a child's story before only to be blindsided with  a "you remember that mama, when you said you didn't like the neighbor's kids" or something like that (which may or may not have been true, depends on if the neighbor ever reads this, lol) But you get the idea, I was so afraid he'd get carried away on the subject and throw in a random, "like when I saw you in your bra" type thing so I was only trying to stop that before it happened! Luckily, he's maturing and no such story was exploited. Had a great visit with the college students, thank you for letting me come by and visit. I appreciate your questions and Gage is hoping to come back next year to speak with the next year's students! Topics Gage discussed, speech reading, school, self advocacy...topics I discussed, language opportunities, IEPs, audiology, siblings with cochlear implants/deafness, resources, parenting, history, Goldenhar syndrome, and much more I'm sure.
p.s. he loves the Legos thanks for offering a reward, he was expecting nothing though, he talks for free! lol, it's a hobby of his

Lack of Updates

The lack of updates is due to my crazy keyboard...takes me like 15 min to write a sentence or two, I will get a new one asap...

I've been subbing a lot this week and thankful for each day I get to go in. I love being around all the kids and seeing how different they all are and how individual each kid is. One kid said to me "Gage has tiny ears!" very matter-of-factly in which I quickly responded "and yours are big..." lol but then he laughed and said, "my daddy's ears are HUGE"...we talked about how ears come in different sizes...Gage was busy with a handwriting assignment and he never looked up...he must have missed that conversation or he is just used to it because he never mentioned it to me. The boy was not being ugly at all, he simply made an observation and stated a fact...no big deal at this point. Gage only lost 2  lbs since starting ADHD meds which is fine, he continues to thrive and do well on Concerta. He and I will go to U of Montevallo Monday to talk to the speech-language class. More later.

The Presentation

I'm going to have to keep this brief, my keyboard has went haywire...takes me a minute to type 1 sentence! The EI presentations went well, some therapists came up to me afterwards to tell me I should go into speech pathology...I smiled and said "I've had great 'teachers'"...a mom w/a CP kiddo told me she thought I was great at what I was doing, she was warned that she might make me cry, she saw tears. If I can encourage even 1 person, it is  worth me standing up there w/nothing but life for credentials.

I met some cicircle members: Maria and blogger Lisa , I love meeting all the families I connect w/online. Lisa  & I discussed which one of us loved a mutual friend Jennifer the most. Since I was "the veteran mom" I let her win (lol) but if  Lisa Lilly's mom had been there she would have really taken the cake because Jennifer is running on Lilly's behalf in the Mercede's Marathon to benefit The Bell Center where Lilly attends. Betty Bell herself was at my presentation again (click here for my first encounter w/this living legend) and she  actually said she learns something from me each time she comes, WWOOOOWW!!  I'm in awe that I even get to participate! Thank you all for attending.

Gage will go w/me next week to talk to students at the U of Montevallo...so exciting! Thank you Tamara for the hook-ups and for all you do/have done, would NOT be able to do any of it w/out you! You Rock!

Family Update

Okay, so Gage's meds are still doing fabulous! He is doing fabulous! This week, again, he got a 100 in conduct w/another note of how great he's doing! This week his lowest grade was a 96. His dad and I in no way want perfection here, but it's tough when your A student is bringing home F's, which was the final straw when considering meds for this child. He's doing great on the lowest dose of Concerta still and we go back to the doc on Nov 19.  Brook is still doing well in school also, with the occasional check mark, but we do believe that she's doing as well as she can in all areas. She is going to get check marks, no doubt but we are very proud of her improvement in behavior. Another note about Gage's adhd, I've had concerns for years about OCD, it runs in my family! His psychologist didn't have concerns with this and neither did his pediatrician. However, since he's been on meds, he's really really really focused. He's worked on this tractor for a solid week, for hours a day. He's out of school today for the holiday (a quick thank you to our troops present and past) and already put in three solid hours (it's 9 am)working on a tractor that semi worked before, he changes and re-changes and re-changes. It'll eventually be useless and not work at all and end up in the trash but wow, he's obsessively working on it. He'll put in another six at least until he eventually decides to do something else. We are still working on his weight, he's starting to lose and ribs are protruding, but I think a good fattening milkshake full of peanut butter, carnation, heavy cream, ice cream will do the trick.

Gage has been asked to come with me when I go on the 23rd to the local college. University of Montevallo usually asks me to come talk to the speech therapy class which usually has many deaf ed students as well. This will be the first time Gage has several hours of intimate time with students in a field related to him. Some of these speech therapists may not go into the deaf ed field but I feel it's important for them to know about hearing loss in any field they pursue. Whether they work with elderly or children, they are bound to run across someone w/hearing loss and this is their opportunity to learn from a child w/hearing loss first hand. I hope they pay attention, their final just may on Gage Blakely! I know the teacher!

HEAR Center at the Park

My Goofy Child

and my diva

love those press on nails

We had a great time yesterday when we FINALLY arrived (thank you Jennifer for answering your cell phone!) after I got us lost. But many families came out on the beautiful day at an area park. I met many of the families I speak to on Facebook and many families I seldom see unless we have one of these events which brings us all together. There were veteran families who have been in the hearing loss world for years and more just beginning their quest for information, comradery, and success. I was so excited that I forgot to take pictures and I had two cameras in my pocket! That's pretty sad, I know. You can find more about this on Bama Ears, so click here. Many of the Bama Ears kids were there!

I'm All Ears blog has the final details about the EI Presentation on Monday, click here.

EI Conference 2009

I need to quickly mention that I'll be presenting this year at Alabama's Early Intervention Conference at the BJCC. I'll take part in the 1:30 session: Social interaction, joint attention and behavior regulation: Encouraging social communication across routines which will be on Monday Nov 16, and after that on the same day I'll be presenting at the 3:30 session: Children with Cochlear Implants which we'll be going over lots of therapy on a budget type things along with a brief history of the Blakely family. 

For info on registering for this conference see your EI Coordinator or contact Shannon LaBudde at Shannon@ecaucp.org (256-237-8203) for information about registration.

...for new parents of hearing impaired kids

I'm getting ready in a few weeks to do another presentation for Alabama's Early Intervention. I decided to go back through my blog and read some older posts for inspiration. I pulled out several and have broke them down into categories, videos, new parents, funny stories, etc. Today I'm gonna post the ones for new parents. These stories may or may not help you new parents, with the emotions we go thru when our child is diagnosed with hearing loss. Hopefully they'll help and I'll put up more later. Some of these may have symbolism and if you don't get it now, you will later when you've climbed your first mountain!


The Black Out-Freak Out Dec. '08-When Brook woke up to blackness, no hearing, no vision!

The Carwash- Nov '08-When I learned what it must be like to be a deaf child going thru a car wash

The Sparrow-Nov '08- A fictional short story w/symbolism...when someone finally listens to what you've been saying

Tasting the Clouds-Nov'08-written a few days after The Sparrow w/related content

The 1 1/2 hr conversation-July '09 tells of fire safety w/deaf children

The Thrift Store-Aug '09tells of the non stop talking of my deaf child and the listening abilities of my other deaf child...also about good thrift store bargains for therapy

Advocating for Themselves- Sept '09- means just what the title says

Three Wishes-Oct '09 recent story of how a deaf child views himself

Avoidance...

...something I did twice today. First, I took the kids to school and dropped off the ADHD papers at the pediatrician's office. I then stopped by and checked my p.o. box while I was in town. As I pulled into the parking lot, there was "the old man". This old guy has been around town for many years. He had a stroke and has some paralysis in his face but still speaks well and gets around. This morning as I see his car at the post office, I park my car and wait...avoidance. I felt guilty checking my emails as I wait for him to leave. He's the nicest thing ever but I didn't have 15 minutes to talk to him about his deceased wife today. He loved her. He misses her every...single...day. He's actually very interesting to talk to and I normally never avoid him but today, I knew I couldn't give him the full time he needed to tell me how lonesome he is. I didn't want to rudely rush his story, that I know he needs to tell. So I opted for avoidance. Now I feel guilty. I will again go to the post office in the morning (he goes at the same time every morning) and I will NOT avoid him. I will give him his 15 min he needs, and I'll enjoy listening to him, as always.

One thing I didn't avoid was the Southern Women's Show. I always try to volunteer when asked to stand at a Cochlear booth, and will do it again tomorrow. Just this morning, my deaf child turns the radio on in the car to his favorite country station and says "George Straight" with a smile. He wasn't asking, he knew it was George Straight, and he was proud. Having only been hearing with his current ci's for five months, this is well worth my trip to the civic center to talk to people about cochlear implants. I met my new friend Joy who has a precious five year old girl with one ci. Sorry about the photo quality, I had left my camera in the car! You can see Scott from Cochlear talking passionately about a Baha device to a lady with single sided deafness. Tomorrow my friend Jennifer will come for a while to sit with me at the booth before her child has mapping. Both of her children are now in bilaterals which you probably read about on Bama Ears. We will have better pictures tomorrow! Although I didn't avoid the event itself, I did unfortunately have to park in an undesirable area (across the street from a Salvation Army). It was the last of the free parking spaces, I did not want to pay 8.00 to park when the only cash I had was 10! I'll bring more cash tomorrow. Last time I went to the civic center, I parked in the same area and as I walked to my car, I had to pass a man I thought was talking to me. He said, "I wanna be a boxa". I smiled nervously, not sure how to take that but when I looked up at him, I could tell he was looking at someone other than me! But there was no one there. He then began to air box. So I avoided that side of the street completely. I walked as fast as my elevated shoes and fitted skirt would take me, which is faster than I would have imagined them going. No one spoke to me, no one was boxing. Whew!

I emailed more teachers today in hopes they will soon start calling for me to sub! Still no calls! And as for the October Challenge, I'm down almost 5 lbs and still a ways to go, I hit a slump. But my other girls are rockin' it and doing great, better then me. Go girls....to be continued.

I'm All Ears

Rachel from Cochlear Implant Online put up a YouTube video of Vivie (who she was visiting in Greece) working on an I'm All Ears translation. Click here to view that short video. If you haven't got a copy of the book co-written with a fantastic SLP/AVT in training please click here and order your copy today, they are only 20 bucks plus shipping. You can scroll down to pay online and there's also a print out if you need to send a check so look for that as well. I'm All Ears will be presenting once again at the Early Intervention Conference in November-details to come. The book is our tale from ignorance to advocacy while enjoying the journey with a silent beginning to world full of life and sound.

Also, I did an interview (along with some other parents) for Say What Club, click here to read that. Thanks Kim!

the deaf "kangaroo"

You can usually find Gage after school, releasing his ADHD ENERGY in the form of pretend play, usually involving animals that either run fast, hop fast or climb things. Today he was a kangaroo. Brook decided to do a "presentation" on the patio and I'm sorry that my camera ran out of batteries for that but I did catch her explaining to me why a kangaroo would need cochlear implants.


Yesterday the kids helped their Dad with a project they created in their own little heads. They decided that our cat Whiskers needed a cat box to sleep in so they put Dad to work! Now get in there cat! We did find her in there this morning (at her own will).

In other news, we decided to take Gage to a behavioral psychiatrist. No not what you think it is. We want to be sure that with his intelligence, his energy (ADHD), his hearing loss, and all that this little guy has been through in the last 8 years, all works to his advantage. We believe that all he has on his charts (medical and school) can certainly work together to benefit him in the end. So far we feel that they all have worked well, but this is just something I've been meaning to do for a year but with the infection last year, I gotta little side tracked. We hope to gain some knowledge and leave with ideas how to better manage his ADHD at home and to also use it to his advantage. He gets bored unless he's taking things apart or building something. So far he's limited himself to toys but I can only imagine as he outgrows toys, what he'll be wanting to take apart...so we need ideas to keep the little guy stimulated and not lose his creativity. The group I'm taking him to specialize in special needs/gifted/learning disabilities/behavior/ADHD, etc. and will surely keep us on the right track. My husband and I have to go first since he's under the age of 10 but after that initial meeting, they will see Gage.....more on that later.

EI Update Conference 2009

As a presenter I'm very grateful for Early Intervention to have asked us to present at this conference. "I'm All Ears" has already opened up so many opportunities and we had a blast even though the rather large sanctuary was quite intimidating...I'm used to smaller rooms but hey, I only shed a couple of tears, got my act together and finished without feeling like I made a fool of myself. We even sold a few books even though that wasn't what we were there to do (we aren't 'making' money off the book either, it's priced so we pay for printing/accountant/LAWYER-we get nothing and never have), we were speaking more on the therapy side of things this time, and hope to do it again at the one in November. Robert (who likes to steal my spotlight) was there as well and he was asked to present after us as a cochlear implant user and people loved him as usual.

Now, as a parent..........
You have no idea how much I loved going to this. I met some really great people. I met several that actually worked with Early Intervention (EI) directly and families as well. First I met my Facebook/blogger friend Lisa. She's a school teacher and has a little girl with cochlear implants and she also wrote their story on Bama Ears (click here). She is so adorable and she had really great questions and she worries about the same things I used to also. I wish my camera battery had not died and I would have more pictures. I love meeting people I communicate with via email/blog/FB in person, I was totally star struck!

Moving on to the lady that she brought with her....
I see this lady with big white hair, big blue eyes, I figure she's around 60-ish. I sit down beside her on the very edge of a frail bench I had nearly fallen off of earlier (it was a little off balance) but apparently I didn't learn my lesson the first time and the lady was nearly catapulted off the seat! I quickly and nervously redeem myself and politely sit all the way back careful not to crowd her personal space. She's dressed to impress, hair perfectly done, jewelry, she obviously is looking hot and wants to keep it that way! She tells me that she had her 50 yr class reunion a while back and a third of them were already 'gone'. I realize that maybe she's not 60? but then she turns around and tells me she dropped her keys down the elevator shaft this morning when she was leaving the gym!! As she spoke, I'm thinking "could you invite me to your house for dinner, I want to keep talking to you!!" She was amazing to talk to and then someone comes up and introduces their sister to her and notes her as "The Grandmother of Alabama's Early Intervention" and she's Betty Bell. Well, I've heard of the Bell Center (click here)
and I realize hey, this woman is a living Legend. Maybe I should have gotten an autograph but instead she asked for mine! (she had bought a book) and now I'm thinking "can you come home with me and stay a few days so I can pick your brain and hear all of your stories?" But I lost my nerve and I didn't ask her, maybe that would have been inappropriate...?

As a parent.....
I have to say, the opening act was this guy and his father playing music together and the 20 year old was singing his heart out as he sat in a chair and played his music. You could tell that every muscle in his body wanted to get out of that chair and perform a more active version of his songs but his bottom remained appropriately in the chair. As I sat, I'm thinking, dang Alabama's pretty darn cool to provide this entertainment for us as people are finding seats, meeting new and old friends and I suddenly realize that my feet and head are starting to groove with this music, they are really, I mean REALLY good. I sat next to Tamara (the other half of I'm All Ears) and she says, "I know him, he grew up w/my son." Now was she just showing off? Nah, she follows up with "I wonder how they got all those pictures, their house burned down!" I look up at the big screen (I had not noticed, my eyes were on the boy and his dad) and his story is up in pictures. I get chills. He's a special needs child. He has DiGeorge Syndrome. And at that moment, he was my child. Even though it wasn't hearing loss related, I watched in tears at some of those photos of him in hospitals, tubes running everywhere, surgery after surgery...but there he was, looking/acting like your "above average" young man, singing with so much passion that I suddenly realized that it was now my bottom I was having to keep in my seat. I saw a girl standing nearby (from a distance I though it was his girlfriend, turned out to be his mom! no joke) and I watched the slide show over and over until I reached a point that I had to focus back on the music or I was going to be full blown basket case and I had a presentation to give! Then as they finished their set and the dad was handed the mic, I watched this man talk with the most unbelievable pride I've ever seen! Again chills. He told of how severely dyslexic Todd (the son) is that he couldn't take the exit exams for high school. But Todd marched himself into the Principal's office and demanded he be given the test orally. How's that for self advocacy? He told of how a few years ago he was playing music w/his own friends and Todd picked up a harmonica....a few days later (no joke) he was up on stage for almost an hour w/a very well known Blues band and played for everyone at City Stages in Birmingham Alabama! That's how well he could just 'pick up' music. He couldn't read music if he tried but he could listen and play! A few years later he did the same thing with a guitar, and look at him now. He's a bright, twenty year old, with groupies and everything! Being a stay at home mom that never gets out, I had no idea how popular this guy was...again, I should have asked for an autograph but they bought my book instead! How flattering is that? I'm waiting on the mom to get her's finished. I could sit and write it here but I'll make you wait til it comes out, we hope she has it out by Spring (Ida, is that enough to get your butt writing, you now have a deadline!) Mom got up and spoke for the final ten minutes but this time, I was in awe. This woman spoke about her son's history, his journey, and where his is today with confidence I only wish I had. And she was speaking to everyone, a full house, not some small session I was having later. I wanted to meet her, I wanted to be her. I met her, and she assured me, I could be her. Thank you for this experience, I have memories to last me a lifetime, this was definitely a life changing event for me, I love Early Intervention !

here is a link to find out more and watch videos of this young man Todd Simpson and Mojo Child
http://www.toddsimpsonandmojochild.com/ his dad is the foxy white haired man (he gave me 5 bucks to say that!)

p.s. thanks to Cochlear for all the bags I won! they were a huge hit and people loved them and the resources found inside!

correction! Cochlear Implants! Intervention Tools and Living with Cochlear Implants

SORRY !!! I've misread our time slots for the EI presentations....

"I'm All Ears" is gearing up for the upcoming presentations for Alabama's Early Intervention Program in Tuscaloosa, AL. If you're in the area, join us at the University Church of Christ at 1200 Julia Tutwiler Drive in Tuscaloosa on June 23 from 8-4. Our sessions are from 10:30-11:45 and then repeating at 1-2:15. We will be demonstrating ideas and tools to help those little ones learn to listen and speak. I'll also be talking resources, resources! We will again present a different session in Novemeber at another EI conference so we want to see you at both! Professionals can earn your CEUs so come down and join us!! Hope to see you there.

Cochlear Implants! Intervention Tools and Living with Cochlear Implants

"I'm All Ears" is gearing up for the upcoming presentations for Alabama's Early Intervention Program in Tuscaloosa, AL. If you're in the area, join us at the University Church of Christ at 1200 Julia Tutwiler Drive in Tuscaloosa on June 23 from 8-4. Our sessions are from 1-2:15 and then repeating at 2:30-3:45. We will be demonstrating ideas and tools to help those little ones learn to listen and speak. I'll also be talking resources, resources! We will again present a different session in Novemeber at another EI conference so we want to see you at both! Professionals can earn your CEUs so come down and join us!! Hope to see you there.