How Much is that Doggie in the Window?

I had to add a video of our family "ham", Jordan. He got a doggie towel, so we taught him the famous song,now every time he takes a bath, he has to sing the song. He even wants me to hold him up to the mirror so he can see himself.

We are the Hawks! Jared's School Program 4-18-11

, I figured it out, so enjoy Jared's version of We are the Hawks.....the school song of Windermere Elementary School!

Jared's school program

Monday was Jared's turn for the beloved school program. He did great considering he really does not like to get up in front of people.

I have been trying to upload a couple of videos, but so far no luck. I will keep work on it. Hopefully my computer will let me, until then, enjoy some pictures.

Spring Break

Last week was Jared and Allison's spring break, I know kind of early, but what can you do?

We finally took the kids to the indoor waterpark that we have been trying to get to since last summer. One thing or another always got in our way. Last summer was all of Allison's surgeries and then when we tried to go in Oct( even had the reservations and everything) I ruined it by having surgery for kidney stones.

We prayed really hard that nothing would happen, loaded up the van and headed out for the weekend. It was really fun, well for the kids anyway, mom and dad not so much. It is times like this that the full extent of Jared and Allison's hearing loss comes to light. One of us had to be with them at all times, making sure that they knew what the lifeguard was trying to tell them even if they could not hear them. There was many times that we had to point out our children and tell the lifeguard...."see that boy in the brown swim trunk and the girl in the purple bathing suit? Well they can't hear, so make sure you are looking at them when you are talking to them." Most of the lifeguards shook their heads at us and said "ok" like they knew what we were talking about, but then went right on blowing their whistles and expecting Jared and Allison to understand. Then there was Jordan, who is 3 going on 13. He thought he could do anything that his older brother and sister could do. Boy was that hard to explain that he had to stay in the smaller pool. At least it had water slides for younger kids, he didn't feel so left out.

All in all, it was a great weekend of making great memories together!

Sorry about the double picture....anyone care to share how to delete a picture once it has been published?

A note from the teacher

This is the kind of note that you want to get from your child's teacher. We are so pleased with how well Allison is finally doing with her new ear! :-)

Sorry about how the picture is, it is hard to copy green ink. If you click on the picture it will enlarge and you will be able to read the note.

Allison's School Program 3/3/11

Last night was Allison's school program/open house. She did an amazing job( of course you would expect me to say that, right?)
It is moments like last night that we are truly thankful for the wonderful gift of Cochlear Implants. She sang right along with her hearing peers. She may not have gotten all of the words correct, but she sang!! There were a few tears shed by this proud mommy! I will never get tired of watching my daughter shine in life!
Oh, in case you don't know, Allison is on the top, white shirt, glasses, next to the 2 boys.

Nothing new to report

These are the moments as a parent of a child with a hearing loss that you dream about! When life is so normal that there is nothing new to write about, no appointments to the audiologist for new mappings of their CI, no weekly trips to the SLP or AV therapist because they are doing so well, of course with Jared and Allison being in school full time they get their therapy there. Even there, they are working on ordinary things, like writing sentences and putting thoughts on paper, not the 6 ling sounds. It is just an ordinary every day miracle of hearing kind of day and it is wonderful!
Allison's school program is on Thursday, I am sure there will be tears shed as I hear her sing her song with her classmates. I will post pictures and videos soon