Cochlear Implants

I have a 6 year old boy who was born profoundly deaf.  Because of modern medicine and technology, my son "hears" with his cochlear implants.  Just before his second birthday he had surgery, and it has been an incredible journey as he has learned to listen and speak.  We were signing with Caleb even before we knew he was deaf because he has a deaf aunt, uncle, and cousin.  It is really important to Thad and I that our children are able to communicate with their family members.  I can't tell you how relieved I was that we had started a foundation for language development through sign. After we found out Caleb was deaf I knew that foundation would be critical for the rest of his developement.  Through sign language we were able to teach Caleb that there is sound in the world, and expose him to it with signs.  For example, if I heard the phone ring, or an airplane go by, I would sign to him that I hear something, then we would go find the source of the sound.  I would continue our dialogue with simple signs. "It was the phone.  I heard it ring."  "Wow, that airplane is loud."  When his implants were activated and he was able to "hear" the sounds, I would continue our routine.  The signs were very familiar to him, and now he could connect the sound to what he already knew.  Giving him the language through signs was critical for his language development, and helped him to understand what he was hearing much more quickly.

(Caleb's processors are light brown.  These were some sample ones we were trying)

Today he is a thriving Kindergartener.  He loves school, his teacher, and friends.  This first year of formal schooling has gone very well, I believe, because of the amazing team Caleb has working on his behalf.  With the year drawing to a close, it is time to begin working on next year.  He will have a new teacher, and I want the transition for both his teacher and him to be as smooth as possible.  The begining of a school year is a very busy time for the classroom teacher, so it can be helpful to start meeting with him/her now.  I want Caleb's first grade teacher to have knowledge about him and his needs before school starts in the fall.  It would be helpful for her to meet the other members of his team to have her questions answered before the busyness of another school year is upon us.  The best way to achieve that is to have a meeting before this year is over.  It is also a great time to make plans for sending his FM system to be serviced so it is clean and ready to go when school starts in the fall.  School employees have so much to think about, so it can be helpful for them to get reminders from parents so necessary details don't fall through the cracks.  I really appreciate the team approach we've built at Caleb's school.  There are knowledgeable, professional, loving, and kind people working very hard for his success.  It has truly been a remarkable journey.

There are families who are just learning that their baby has a hearing loss, and might not know where to turn for help.  I know for us, it was so helpful to be able to talk to other parents who knew what we were going through and could help us.  What we have experienced was never meant for us to keep to ourselves.  We would love to help others who might be looking ahead to an unknown future.  Sharing our story could help bring some clarity and hope to their situation.  We are our children's best advocates, whatever their needs might be.  I will forever be grateful for modern technology, and the miracle gift of "hearing" it has given my son.

Those Places

I wish I would have taken a picture of my kids' toothbrush/toothpaste drawer.  The germophobes reading would have gasped at the horror of all the germs being shared between the brushes.  We just went to the dentist last week and I wanted to do the dance of joy as I heard "no cavities" four times.  (Cody goes to a different dentist, so he didn't get in on this event)  The kids were thrilled with their treasures.  A new toothbrush and individual sized tube of toothpaste can be quite exciting.  What isn't exciting is the drawer it all lives in.  Do you have areas in your home that you just want to shut the door on and pretend isn't there?  Today, for me, it was that drawer in the bathroom.  sigh!!  It must be conquered, yet today, I didn't have what it would take to organize it.  So today, I just shut the drawer...and I'm ok with it.  Yet, tomorrow when I'm back in it, I'll probably wish I had organized it!!

When I take the time to make sure things are cleaned up, it brings me peace.  Take for example, my kitchen counter.  This is how it looked first thing this morning.  Nice and cleared off.  Just the way I like it!! 

With-out much counter space in the kitchen things get cluttered and messy pretty quickly. I've noticed that there is a direct correlation between how cluttered things are, and how well I manage the goings on of our home. It can get pretty crazy sometimes, yet I don't want the clutter to determine my ability to tolerate and manage what's happening. At any moment I could be answering a question for the 3rd time, cleaning up a spilled drink, hearing a crying and hurt child coming my way, and settling a fight over who's turn it is to sit next to me for devotions!  God is helping me to remain peaceful on the inside, even when everything around me is super busy, and I can literally see piles of paper, toys, grime, and dog hair growing before my very eyes. It is important to me that first and foremost I respond to my children, instead of react.  I really don't want their childhood memories to include a mother totally living life one step away from losing her sanity.  I have definitely been there and it's not pretty!  With the Lord supplying peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, goodness, and self control to the depths of my being, I can handle anything that comes my way, no matter what speed it is comin'. 

Having this to look at out back totally helps, too!!!!!  In all things, I give thanks to my precious Lord.  He knows what I can handle, and has equipped and anointed me to take care of my family and home in a way that brings Him honor and glory.