Spa-ring Fa-ling

So the kids had their Spring Fling at school yesterday. Some events use water, lots and lots of water. In fact, there was even a water slide. Kids were soaked. Teachers were soaked. Good thing most of then had a change of clothes!

My kids put a small case in their pocket to remove their processors as needed and then put them back on when finished. I was at school subbing so I was unable to go out there with my kids this year and I'm glad they are 'big enough' to handle it all themselves. I did have teachers emailing me the afternoon before asking what they needed to do and I was happy to tell them "nothing."

Brook did get in the car after it was all over, smiling her toothless grin with a wrinkled nose spotted with the most adorable freckles I've ever seen. She said, "Mama, I got confused on one of the water events. I didn't hear the instructions and when you were supposed to dump the bucket of water on your friend's head, I dumped it on my own." So cute. We laughed and I assured her that sounded like something I would do.

IEPs are outta the way. Easy as pie. We begin our summer break next Friday...and we are looking forward to it. Brook has another loose tooth which needs to come out today. If her big ole teeth don't push through faster, she's gonna be eating oatmeal and soup. We are signing her up for cheerleader today! G-O Baby Go Go, G-O for Victory! Ah the memories of herkies and huddles, cheer camps and ballgames....

And guess what? I got an email from the lady with a Goldenhar child in AL. I had mentioned her in this article. (Click here to read) Thank you Ms Skala for reaching out to me!

How's that for a bunch of random updates?
a couple of old pictures for your viewing pleasure...

Take the Million Ear Challenge

Come on at take the Million Ear Challenge. So many cochlear recipients and parents, family and friends have already stepped up to participate in Cochlear's challenge to reach a million ears during May's Better Hearing and Speech Month. Simply go to the website and post your name and what you'd miss about hearing should you have none tomorrow! CLICK HERE It will give you an option for you to share this info w/your Facebook friends (please do that). This way we can reach more people. Also you can send free Ecards as well, simply click on the Ecard option on the right column.

And Happy Birthday G-Man!! I can't believe that 10 years ago, I was afraid-I was lost-I was worried we'd never even see birthday #1 and here he is...

10

Hearing loss was the least of my concerns at the time-but now, it seems the resources are everywhere I turn. We've been so blessed to have had the support and fantastic medical care over the years...and still blessed for all that we have today...our secluded world we only thought we were in years ago, has proven to be bigger than we ever knew. We have friends in Greece, Italy, Australia, California, Washington, and in every-single-state-in the U.S. (I can not name them all, lol) But we put one foot in front of the other, just as we did 10 years ago. We have just as many appointments as we did 10 years ago. But we are not alone. Thank You!!

Bloggers tour Children's Hospital

A few weeks ago, I received an email inviting me (and few other local bloggers) to tour Children's Hospital of Alabama and attend a luncheon. I of course accepted immediately, who doesn't want a "VIP" tour of the place I've spent more than a few nights in over the last 9 1/2 yrs? The other bloggers (Nanci, Birmingham Mommy, Andre, and the most adorable pregnant lady) were also invited to ride in THE LIFESAVER HELICOPTER but three of us had to decline. I had a sudden fear of my feet leaving the ground and my knees got weak so I decided standing on top of the hospital right on the landing pad for the choppers was as brave as I wanted to be today.

The hospital had their Christmas trees out and how cute is the one with the little smocks? I walked around taking pictures and it felt like yesterday when we were here at the end of '08 fighting the infection that took my child's beloved cochlear implant. There was no guarantee of ever hearing my voice again, AC/DC, firetrucks or anything else this child's world had been filled with. He was 7 when I asked him "Do you want to hear anything else buddy before we go to the hospital, anything at all?" He quickly answered no, knowing the pain it would cause just to put it on his ear with so much infection inside.

Reality suddenly consumed me when I realized I didn't have my son with me. This day had nothing to do with surgery, stitches, medical terms I needed to learn and bandages for my now 9 year old. Today, I was a visitor. I was with a group of fabulous people who loved to blog (just like me) and we had a luncheon to attend. We did visit all over the hospital, even the NICU where a nurse remembered giving Gage his PIC line a couple of years ago when she was in that department, I knew I recognized her!

Then we had lunch together over at the Children's Harbor with Mike Warren THE CEO of the hospital!! After we finished eating he chit chatted...

We all went around briefly telling about ourselves and my heart was about to beat itself out of my chest. What could I possibly say to this man concisely in a couple of minutes? Do I just say "Thank You?" No...I don't know him, I love the hospital and our doctors but I didn't want to give the common thank you. I ran several thoughts through my messed up head and it was my turn...

I gave a general idea of blogs (international, national, and local blogs I have or still do participate in or own). I then tell him my son's name is on that wall (Wall of Inspiration), and I tell him that we have spent a great deal of time there over the years. I then tell him in a nut shell that we are primarily associated with hearing loss and Dr. Audie Woolley, and before I know it, I'm moving to the edge of my seat and feel like I need my PowerPoint to show this man how wonderful the doctors and nurses are at Children's...but I try to keep composure...I suddenly say, "...and who in their right mind would be thankful for curse words but we are! Because it's something my children OVERHEARD and they are deaf" .... I even described how Gage feels so 'at home' under Dr. Woolley's care that he's been known to burst past the waiting patients straight to the back saying, "Woolley!!" ... I did throw in that although I knew our Doc was out of town now (he ran the NY marathon from what I hear!) he was supposed to return this week to do a procedure on Gage Thursday and any retirement, vacations, a leave of absence, all should be immediately refused because we need him here, in Birmingham! I told this man I've never really met before, that Dr. Woolley is the only reason Gage can hear, speak, rock out to music due to such complicated anatomy. I told him quickly how he researched, he stayed committed, he found a way for my child to hear. The CEO mentioned the Alabama School for the Hearing, how Children's had extended their staff for the school's use (AVTs) through the end of the year and he might not had expected me to jump in so quickly with a "Yes, but they need funding, seriously!" He described the school to the other bloggers and my turn was slowly fading as I watched the clock only three minutes from my "absolutely can't stay any longer, must leave to get the kids from school" time. I had to leave.

But what an opportunity! I was so glad they asked me to come. They were all so nice, and they said we could come back if we thought of something else we really wanted to see. Such a different perspective not pulling a suitcase or kids along with me. It was a good day.

Got tape?

And once again we pack up our supplies to walk thru those school doors on Monday YIPEE

 Here is our emergency backpack kit that I place w/each child so they are prepared to replace batteries or tape should they need to.

Four and a half glorious days!

And I'm only kidding, sort of we have had fun this summer but this last week has been nothing but fights. They are extremely bored and need the routine of school again!

Tomorrow is B's orientation. Gage goes for mapping on Friday.

I also want to remind you all to sign up for my email alerts on Examiner.com

Click here

Although I'm required to make the content apply to a particular area, the subject matter is still general special needs, from hearing loss to school to accessibility, and more. I've only been 'on the job' 2 weeks and have acquired many subscribers (yay! thank you facebook friends) and can't wait to dig in and write even more articles on many different disabilities! I love doing this and have applied for additional topics and keeping my fingers crossed they'll give me more after I finish the first four week training period.

Teaching an old dog new tricks

Wow, have I got a lot to learn! I wrote my first article yesterday for Examiner.com (click here for my page) and realized writing in AP down style is harder than it looks. I had my title as No Insurance? and was corrected by one of the biggies there as No insurance? conforming to AP down style of only first word capitalized unless proper noun...oops! But they are so great, I'm taking some online courses they offer to help me learn. I'm so excited to be the Etowah Co Special Needs Kids Examiner. I hope people will visit my page often and subscribe to me so I'll have the fire I need to write several articles a week. With my first day (and not even a full day) I tripled the page views some of the others in my field get per day so thank you friends, big (((hugs))). I realize I need my Cochlear Kids blog more than ever now, 'cause I'm not gettin' graded here! Whew, had to get it off my chest.

she loves using my camera and taking 84 pics of herself, her dolls, her dolls' shoes, her bed, her stuffed animals, etc.

In other news, I let Brook get in the pool yesterday for the first time since her stitches last week but I told her not to go under! So far so good, by Friday, she should be set to go back to her normal 15 swims a day.

Also we have her speech perception test in the morning! Details of that visit later! 18 days til school starts, woop woop!

My Blog Addictions...

Yes, I love blogging, but mainly story-telling! I wanted to list all my blogs here before school was released, several teachers read our blog and I wanted to be sure they have all of our blogs since I've branched out recently.

Cochlear Kids-my kids/my family, our personal experiences w/hearing loss

One Brick Shy...-all of my other crazy stories not related to hearing loss, mostly humor

Mud Boggers by Gage-his blog of his creations, look for many updates over the summer when he has more time to create

Bama Ears-hearing loss and family stories in AL, maintained along w/Tiffani from Sound Check Mama

Alabama PEEPs-Alabama's parent mentoring program for families w/children who have hearing loss; local events, hearing loss facts, etc.

Cicircle News-which I need to get back to! International stories about children w/heairng loss....

I'm All Ears-book blog, inactive unless we have a presentation somewhere

Quick Updates May 10

• Happy Birthday Gage, he's 9 !!!!
• I have PEEPs training day tomorrow-can't wait to talk to the Hearing Impaired Teacher, UAB Genetics, AVT (auditory-verbal therapist), AuD, EI (Early Intervention), and many more who have agreed to come in and teach the mentors MORE about hearing loss
• Brook has completed her flower bed

• I don't think Gage can hear well at all but he has mapping next week, not sure if it is right ear related (the ear w/7 electrodes turned off)??
• Brook wants to have a house right next door to me when she grows up so I can help her watch ALL of her kids...I hope she brings the # of kids down a bit, not convinced 23 kids will fit into MY patience schedule but we'll manage
• Brook has a field trip on Thurs. and I get to attend!

'New Resource for Families'

'New Resource for Families' (click link to view)


And for my birthday, mom found me a t-shirt at Wal Mart that says, "Chillin' with my Peeps"
So perrrrrrrrfect!

So I Had an Idea....

The first thing I said as I walked out of the ENT/Audiologist's office the day I found out Brook couldn't hear well with her little 9 month old ears, was "Let me call my peeps." I had already established my 'people' which basically consisted of my family and our early intervention team that my son had just graduated from when he turned 3.

Now my people consist of hundreds and I mean hundreds of people, mostly parents I see on the internet. Most of us NEED our peeps. When we are worried, or overwhelmed, or even when we are ecstatic over a new sound our hearing impaired child has learned after months of practice...we need our peeps.

I've watched in envy as many parents have recently joined parent mentoring groups from all over, going to training sessions, getting expenses reimbursed such as mileage, etc. We need that here! One of my biggest issues with mentoring in my own state is I'm limited to my computer basically. I can't afford to gas up my car and drive a couple of hours round trip to meet up with families very often, though I've done it from time to time anyway. So I had an idea....

I took a chance and emailed our ENT and audiologist (who are on the receiving end of most of my ideas *smile* ) and basically told them I wanted Alabama to have a mentoring program too, outlined what some of the other programs offered, and they emailed me back saying they liked the idea. So I worked with the audiologist who is over the HEAR Center over the next few weeks reading programs, talking about what I felt would work for our state, and we decided to just develop our own program *smile*.

So, the next thing I know, she's figured out how we can get the basic funding to start us off. She and I spoke back and forth a couple of times with the lady over our newborn hearing screening program for our state and together they got us a small grant. *smile*

Now, what to call it, hmmm. I told her I wanted to call it PEEPs so people could say, "Let me call my PEEPs," just like I did a few years ago but I couldn't come up w/that final E word...but she could. And so I introduce PEEPs.

We come with our own name tags and everything! We can get reimbursed for our mileage when we are out volunteering our time and we we can even do small events to get our families together from time to time. But most importantly, we will work closely with all agencies, from Early Intervention, ENTs, CRS, teachers who work with hearing impaired kids, anyone who will have us, and utilize us, we are there! For this year, we are running a crew of five but hope to expand one day should we acquire the funds.

So May 11, will be our big training day. We are asking professionals such as the genetics dept, a teacher for the hearing impaired, audiologists, etc. to come and give us valuable information we can share with families across the state. We will keep close with our various professionals gathering pertinent information...general information, we can use and share with families, and serve families from across the state who need information and resources, need camaraderie, need some PEEPs. We'll also help and aid the other hard working volunteers around the state, giving them the resources and support they need to continue their efforts as well. And all this works both ways, we intend on helping the professionals understand the parent-side of things just as much as we do educating parents. *smile*

We now have our own blog HERE. We still have two more PEEPs to put up, hopefully today or tomorrow. I also wrote about the group on Bama Ears.

And of course we all have our own agendas. One of us wants to get more info to docs and hospitals, one wants more info in the schools, and I'm sure together, we'll all make it happen. I also believe that uniting all these parents from the great state of AL, regardless of the services they have chosen, and regardless of the school they attend, we can all accomplish even more...

um, like getting insurance to cover hearing aids...just an idea.

a little adhd w/that hearing loss.......

Updates from 'round here.....

1. Mercedes Marathon went well according to my friend Jennifer who ran for Lilly (who has ci's)...she more than doubled her goal in donations!! That Bama Girl knows how to do it (you hear that TX? she's ours! just kiddin')
2. Brook's fm is broken, so it's off for repairs, she's having some difficulty hearing (obviously) without it but her teacher is a pro and is making sure she gets the info she needs without getting frustrated
3. Gage's Adhd meds have now been upped...more on that later, he begins the higher dose tomorrow. It's tough on parents just so you know (all you teachers out there) for us to make sure what we are dealing with. So yes, I will let him go three weeks w/bad grades, slipping conduct, and whatever else happens til I'm 100% convinced it's his ADHD. Since we've had to shut off six electrodes thus far on one ear, I've been dotting my i's and crossing my t's w/listening checks, equipment checks, behavior monitoring here and at school, comparing notes w/everyone and after 3 consistent weeks of really 'no good days' as far as his attention goes, I was convinced it was in fact his meds not working as efficiently. So he's being slightly increased (he was on the lightest dose anyway) and we'll report more on that as we know more.

And now for a big tease...Alabama will soon have an amazing resource for parents with children who have been diagnosed w/hearing loss, and guess what? It's ran by parents and backed by professionals.....so exciting...more on that later too!

Cochlear's Hearing Heroes

I awoke this morning at 4:30 (not unusual since I go to bed before dark as my friends would say-not entirely true, I patiently wait on the sun to go down) and I walk past the computer, flip it on as I head towards the bathroom to dress for the day, throw clothes in the washer, grab a cup of coffee, and return to computer where I truly begin my day! Sometimes it's the most rewarding part of my day, when very few "thank yous" are heard after I've washed people's clothes, folded them, cook people food, did their dishes...at least at my computer, I'm know I'm doing good for someone, and appreciated for it. When I see someone brag about something they read from Deaf Village, or the Circle News , I know I was lucky enough to have contributed a little something.

As I sat this morning ready to read/moderate the blog entries for DV, I noticed an email from Cochlear. It was to congratulate me on being one of the nominees of their "Hearing Heroes". At first I figured it was thanking me for nominating Rachel Chaikof, the mastermind behind creating DV. I nominated her last year because of her contributions and devotion to the hearing loss world, raising lots of ca$h over the years for various organizations and for her hands on ability to share her personal experiences being a bilateral cochlear implantee, and most of all, because of her age. Most of us aren't avid volunteers in our early twenties!
But as I read further I realized it was actually congratulating me! I was chosen along with Rachel and a few others as someone's Hearing Hero. I feel like a Grammy nominee (teary eyed and all) but I do have to thank the mommy who nominated me *smile*, it really has made my day! You can vote here, but as cheesy as it sounds, I'm just honored to have my name next to those other fabulous nominees!

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

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!

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.

VIPs

Here we are, part of the Deaf Village crew. Almost a year ago we were invited to the Chaikof's house (some VIPs in the hearing loss world). Last minute, we had to decline the invitation because Gage's infection kept getting worse, and the symptoms were unusual so we had no idea what we were dealing with at the time and I didn't feel comfortable leaving him behind to go on a road trip several hours away. When we heard that Elizabeth B. was flying in to spend a few days there, we took the opportunity to drive out of state and meet everyone.

I have to say, Elizabeth is so adorable and funny and smart. She has very ambitious goals, she's about to be back in school, she has her career well thought out and I'm sure she'll reach at least 9/10 of her goals (wink). She's really a funny gal and so polite and she and Rachel seemed like they've always been friends. You can almost picture their little sleep overs when they were younger, only they never knew each other til recently.

I took mom along for the long drive to help navigate and control behavior. She suggested we stop at a rest area mid way to walk the kids. So we did. That helped...some.

I have to tell you they were all wonderful people, I even got to meet Adam the middle hearing child. He hung with us for an hour and a half, before he retired to his room for his homework. Jessica is a doll! She along with big sis Rachel have bilateral cochlear implants just like my two children. Jessica was very patient with Brook and allowed her to play with her dolls and brush their hair. She kept the kids entertained the entire time. She was a BUSY girl. Just after the kids played for a while and got comfortable with each other, we all sat down to eat. Melissa is quite the hostess and provided not only a very nice lunch but dessert as well. And joining us for lunch was the famous Mary Ann who was THE AVT Rachel has written about and who has become a close friend to the family as well. Jessica told me all about her school which sounds fabulous and she's very excited to be in eighth grade now. I was pleased to get at least a decent first two hours out of the kids before it all hit the fan! When we got ready to leave I assured Jessica that I had the kids packed up and ready to stay with her for a while at Camp Jess. She's such a good little teacher, very patient (even though another child had their hands all over her stuff). I had hoped she would keep them for a few days and train them to be as quiet/calm/polite as she is. She said, "I'm in eighth grade, I have too much homework." So I had to take them back with me. I almost made it out before Elizabeth spoke and reminded me that I didn't have all of my children...

But just as we were ready to go, I think it was Elizabeth who suggested we ALL play a game of chase the Blakely kids. I wasn't really in the mood truth be known but we were guests and who are we to decline her ideas? I know it was the therapist in her that made her want to do some listening exercises while the child were in motion, increasing their distances from the speakers, and hiding in places no one could find them! Even Mary Ann the retired therapist couldn't escape the active game that seemed to never end. Here Rachel finally tackled one while Jessica got another only to escape again but after a 30 minute game of high speed chase that left everyone wearing sweat on their bodies and exhaustion on their faces, we wrangled both and got them in the car. I've never seen so many smiling faces as we pulled out of their drive way... they were happy we stayed to play that last game of chase with them. And yes guys, we had a great language expanding conversation on the way home. One child calmed down (the one w/severe ADHD at that) and one chose not to. She went straight to bed when we got home! **smile**

(possibly more later) I hated to leave you all hanging on who I got to meet up with, so I decided to spill the beans asap. I will say they are all very kind, laid back, very intelligent people and I'm so glad we had an opportunity to meet them. Rachel of course is ready to skip town again next weekend to begin her next adventure (she's so brave and ambitious as well).

Gage goes for mapping at the audiologist's office on Tuesday which he really needs and we'll get those FMs going in school. So far so good with school, had a great first week, let's hope it continues.

Fireworks on the Fourth

I have to tell ya how much we look forward to holidays where we use fireworks to celebrate. This Independence Day will be celebrated by many and I have to tell you that believe it or not, my kids did not like fireworks (even though they are quite visual) a few years ago. I remember my kids would always miss out because we would always do the fireworks at dark and they would get so excited to see the lighters (matches or light sticks whatever we used to actual ignite the fuses), they would smile as if that was it but they couldn't hear the 'whiz' sound of the rocket flying into the air and as our faces would follow them into the sky, our oohs and ahhs could be seen by the children so they would look up to see what we were looking at......to find a dark sky, they had just missed the pretty colors. They just didn't get the whole fireworks scene. However now, as our country celebrates freedom, so are my children who have thankfully become more and more independent each year not only because of their freedom but their Freedoms (name of their cochlear implants). Have a great Fourth of July!!

And on a different note, if you live in Alabama and have child with hearing loss please send us your story. If you are a professional and want to nominate a family please give them the website address of www.bamaears.blogspot.com . We want professional stories, family stories, children's stories, teen stories, anything related to hearing loss in Alabama. You can email them to bamaears@yahoo.com . We do not do commercial stories to sell your products but if you are a doctor, teen, parent, teacher of the deaf, hearing loss with multiple needs, etc. and have an interesting story, we want to hear from you!

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!

If You Need Something...

Ask a busy person......ever hear that? Naomi, from the famous cicircle once quoted that in a blog post and I'll always remember it. This morning I got started on a post I'm working on for Bama Ears. With my obviously ADHD brain, I get random thoughts of panic, as if I'm about to leave on a trip *grin* and forget something. I think of other blog posts I need to be working on so I quickly email those prospective writers and ask them to write! Then I watch a great video of someone who's finalizing their blog post for me already. Then of course while I go clean my toilet, I think of something I need to tell Lydia (from cicircle, cicircle blog and cicircle website too!) So I chat it up with her who was tracking down her immunization records so she can finish enrolling in the AuD program for school, faxing, emailing, filling in all the papers necessary for this to take place while she sent a letter to a friend, cleaned her kitchen and fixed the grout in the bathroom! WHEW!

Already I've accomplished a whole day of volunteering (I did my DV moderating at six am so that was behind me) and my washing machine was running in the background as I tell the kids to go pick the squash from the garden.......not bad for a morning on the job, when you don't really have a job, haha. And not bad for a lady who survived the dinosaur age. Gage asked me yesterday..."how long ago were there dinosaurs?" and I replied "millions of years ago." He thought a moment and said "so you've seen one?"

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.

I Made a Survey

I finally did a survey. I have other questions I want to eventually ask so I did a tester survey here. Please feel free to answer the nine questions, really short survey and these results will be posted next week on my blog. It's anonymous, you don't even put a name on it so parents of hearing impaired kiddos, click below to visit the survey.
Click Here to take survey