Today has been a very unusual day!
I went to visit Alison, one of my audiologists. She helped Mom and Dad put together the outside part of my cochlear implant, the part with a microphone and batteries to shock my snails into helping me hear. It took forever--we waited in the waiting room (I guess that's what they're for), we waited in an office, we waited while I wore the new gadget, and then--
--Alison left the room. What was she doing? It was getting really hot with me and Mom and my baby brother/sister inside Mom's belly and Dad and Grandma and Grandpa J and some intern (whatever that is) all cramped in that tiny office, and I was getting really bored with the cups of little plastic clowns and the Mr. Potato Head with eyes and ears too big for his body and--
--then something happened in my brain. A funny tingling, jingling, clangy sort of thing. Alison was standing at the door waving a metal cup on a handle, and inside the cup a metal ball was banging against the cup. It wasn't a cup. It was a bell. AND I HEARD IT. At least that's what I think was going on!
Suddenly, I realized that everything around me--this colorful row of wooden blocks Mom called a xylophone, the clowns in their cups, all of the people, their hands when they clap, I mean just about everything was making a sound. I didn't cry, but it was a lot to handle at once.
Still, have I heard things before? Maybe in a dream once. I just don't know. It seems right, it feels comfortable.
Okay, actually the wacky piece of plastic that I have to wear isn't comfortable at all. It's irritating and certainly throws off my feng shui (whatever that is). But hearing, well, I'm really glad that I can now!
When my device falls off, all of the sounds disappear, and I'm back in my old oh-so-quiet world. Mom and Dad put the device back on, and with it returns all of the noise. I'm living in two worlds now, and they're both so different. Dad says I'm lucky; some people spend their entire lives looking for silence and never find it. I have it with one quick tug behind my ear.
I'm very happy that the big cut on my head worked and my snails are doing their job again! The big cut has healed enough that I can go back to Fisher Learning Center tomorrow and play with all my new friends! I wonder what they all sound like?
Monday, July 14, 2008
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Walk Like an Egyptian!
Two days ago I was walking back and forth between Mom, Grandma J and Dad. Really, it was pretty easy, because they never got to far away.
So I decided, why can't I do this myself? And I did! I took a couple of steps from the couch to the divan (whatever that is) and Grandma J almost jumped three feet straight into the air!
Mom says that I walk like an Egyptian because it's some song by The Bangles. Dad says I walk like an Egyptian because I still don't bend my knees much and move like a mummy. I think Dad is silly, because Mom isn't all wrapped up in bandages and she bends her knees all the time. Plus I don't think she's ever been to Egypt.
Now I'll walk almost anywhere! Sometimes I start to tip in one direction and just walk that way instead, and other times I have to run and grab onto something before I fall, but I'm already figuring out how to slow down and stand still. It's not as hard as I thought! I can walk from one end of the house to the other without help, but Mom and Dad and Grandma J stay close just in case I start to lose my balance!
Dad says that his back is really excited!
So I decided, why can't I do this myself? And I did! I took a couple of steps from the couch to the divan (whatever that is) and Grandma J almost jumped three feet straight into the air!
Mom says that I walk like an Egyptian because it's some song by The Bangles. Dad says I walk like an Egyptian because I still don't bend my knees much and move like a mummy. I think Dad is silly, because Mom isn't all wrapped up in bandages and she bends her knees all the time. Plus I don't think she's ever been to Egypt.
Now I'll walk almost anywhere! Sometimes I start to tip in one direction and just walk that way instead, and other times I have to run and grab onto something before I fall, but I'm already figuring out how to slow down and stand still. It's not as hard as I thought! I can walk from one end of the house to the other without help, but Mom and Dad and Grandma J stay close just in case I start to lose my balance!
Dad says that his back is really excited!
Friday, June 27, 2008
I saw the sign...
Oh, by the way, some people were wondering if I'm still going to use sign language after my snails get back to work.
YOU BET! I know more than 25 signs now and there's no turning back. I'll always be deaf, especially when I'm swimming (I can't get the outside part wet--you know, the batteries and microphone stuff) or skydiving or sleeping. If I don't keep signing, I'll have a really hard time communicating with people in those situations.
Plus, Mom says there's nothing bad about knowing two languages, maybe even more! I still want to connect with other Deaf people like me, and not all of them have special snail wranglers.
YOU BET! I know more than 25 signs now and there's no turning back. I'll always be deaf, especially when I'm swimming (I can't get the outside part wet--you know, the batteries and microphone stuff) or skydiving or sleeping. If I don't keep signing, I'll have a really hard time communicating with people in those situations.
Plus, Mom says there's nothing bad about knowing two languages, maybe even more! I still want to connect with other Deaf people like me, and not all of them have special snail wranglers.
I've got snails in my ears!
So, good news, everyone! Let's see if I can explain everything as I understand it:
There are these special snails that live in our ears. They have really neat spiral shells that catch all of the sounds from around us and deliver them to our brains, and our brains say, "Oh! That's a waterfall!" or "My goodness, that monkey is loud!" The brain doesn't want the snails to run away so they keep them in place with special leashes.
My snails have been misbehaving! They're running all over the place and won't stay in my ears! So yesterday, Doctor Nosan put special an extra strong leash on one of my snails. I'll wear special microphones and batteries on the outside so there's no way the snail can fall out of line, like a shock collar for a dog (whatever that is).
Dad says that's not exactly how my ears work, but close enough for now.
Getting the leash inside my head wasn't easy. First, worst of all, mom and dad woke me up REALLY early and didn't feed me anything, because Doctor Nosan worried that food might wake up the snails. When we got to the hospital, I had to just lay around in funny clothes waiting. Then they put a tattoo on my face so the doctor wouldn't forget which snail he was going to leash:
Then they gave me some funny medicine they called "Vitamin V" that made me feel really silly and clumsy. Dad put on a big blue "bunny suit" and a shower cap that I thought was hilarious, then carried me back to the operating room.
When Dad and I got to the operating room, Doctor Nosan was there, with another doctor called an Any Steezy All-Oh Gist. She looked and acted a lot like Aunt Suzanne; that made me feel more comfortable. She put a mask over my face and the air smelled really gross for a while. Then I fell asleep and Dad left me with the doctors and their nurses.
Doctor Nosan had to make a really big cut, but I didn't wake up or feel anything. Mom, Dad and Grandma J waited for me. They said it took almost four hours to rope the snail and get the leash in place. When I woke up, I had a humongorous bandage on my head, like a giant earmuff:
Mom said I looked like Princess Leia, whoever that is. Dad thought I looked like Aunt Jemima smuggling pancakes in her kerchief, whatever that means.
My face was really puffy and I felt pretty lousy for a little while. Grandma J got me to smile once or twice and Dad made me laugh once, when he was tickling me. I slept a bunch, woke up and ate yogurt and applesauce and graham crackers and vanilla ice cream, then went back to sleep again. I never got sick like some nurses thought I might. Every time I woke up, I felt a little better.
Mom and Dad stayed with me in the hospital all night. Doctor Nosan woke us up in the morning and took off the bandage. Boy, the cut was really big, but it didn't hurt as much and the doctor said everything looked perfect:
I've got tape holding my skin together! Isn't that weird? I can't get it wet for a little while and the doctor said I shouldn't lift anything heavier than 25 pounds for a month. Fortunately, I only weigh 23lbs, 12oz!
After all that sleep and without the bandage, I felt so much better! Here I am less than an hour after the bandage came off, laughing, riding around in a wagon, making really funny piggy faces in this great clear plastic above my hospital bed, watching Mom brush her teeth, etc:
On July 14, they'll let me start wearing the microphone and batteries, and we'll see if those snails will whip into shape. Until then, thanks for everyone who was worried about me! I'm doing great!
There are these special snails that live in our ears. They have really neat spiral shells that catch all of the sounds from around us and deliver them to our brains, and our brains say, "Oh! That's a waterfall!" or "My goodness, that monkey is loud!" The brain doesn't want the snails to run away so they keep them in place with special leashes.
My snails have been misbehaving! They're running all over the place and won't stay in my ears! So yesterday, Doctor Nosan put special an extra strong leash on one of my snails. I'll wear special microphones and batteries on the outside so there's no way the snail can fall out of line, like a shock collar for a dog (whatever that is).
Dad says that's not exactly how my ears work, but close enough for now.
Getting the leash inside my head wasn't easy. First, worst of all, mom and dad woke me up REALLY early and didn't feed me anything, because Doctor Nosan worried that food might wake up the snails. When we got to the hospital, I had to just lay around in funny clothes waiting. Then they put a tattoo on my face so the doctor wouldn't forget which snail he was going to leash:
Then they gave me some funny medicine they called "Vitamin V" that made me feel really silly and clumsy. Dad put on a big blue "bunny suit" and a shower cap that I thought was hilarious, then carried me back to the operating room.
When Dad and I got to the operating room, Doctor Nosan was there, with another doctor called an Any Steezy All-Oh Gist. She looked and acted a lot like Aunt Suzanne; that made me feel more comfortable. She put a mask over my face and the air smelled really gross for a while. Then I fell asleep and Dad left me with the doctors and their nurses.Doctor Nosan had to make a really big cut, but I didn't wake up or feel anything. Mom, Dad and Grandma J waited for me. They said it took almost four hours to rope the snail and get the leash in place. When I woke up, I had a humongorous bandage on my head, like a giant earmuff:
Mom said I looked like Princess Leia, whoever that is. Dad thought I looked like Aunt Jemima smuggling pancakes in her kerchief, whatever that means.My face was really puffy and I felt pretty lousy for a little while. Grandma J got me to smile once or twice and Dad made me laugh once, when he was tickling me. I slept a bunch, woke up and ate yogurt and applesauce and graham crackers and vanilla ice cream, then went back to sleep again. I never got sick like some nurses thought I might. Every time I woke up, I felt a little better.
Mom and Dad stayed with me in the hospital all night. Doctor Nosan woke us up in the morning and took off the bandage. Boy, the cut was really big, but it didn't hurt as much and the doctor said everything looked perfect:
I've got tape holding my skin together! Isn't that weird? I can't get it wet for a little while and the doctor said I shouldn't lift anything heavier than 25 pounds for a month. Fortunately, I only weigh 23lbs, 12oz!
After all that sleep and without the bandage, I felt so much better! Here I am less than an hour after the bandage came off, laughing, riding around in a wagon, making really funny piggy faces in this great clear plastic above my hospital bed, watching Mom brush her teeth, etc:
On July 14, they'll let me start wearing the microphone and batteries, and we'll see if those snails will whip into shape. Until then, thanks for everyone who was worried about me! I'm doing great!
Monday, May 5, 2008
Sunday, April 27, 2008
The Rest of the Top Ten Missed Moments of 2007
This is just what it feels like when I try to walk! Mom and Dad are always holding on to me, slowing me down, so I always feel like I'm falling behind. But I can't quite walk by myself so I need their help to stay upright at all. It's quite the paradox (whatever that is)!
Each person must follow their own course at their own pace, no matter how far behind the finish line we may feel. So, in an attempt to get back on track, even though this is all feels like ancient history, here's the rest of my top ten list from 2007:
8. Fondue with the Millers
Mom, Dad and I went to Highlands Ranch to visit the Miller Family. While I played with Alyssa and Luke, all of the adults cut their food into little pieces and then covered it in melted cheese and chocolate. Brian and LuCinda are super nice and Mom and Dad say they are lucky to know them. I hope next year I get to eat little bits of food dipped in cheese too! Here's the sign for cheese:
7. My Fever
We flew to Kansas on a little buzzing plane. When we arrived I didn't feel so good and that night I got really hot! Here's the sign for hot:
Mom said that it's called a fever when your whole body starts feels like it's boiling. It really scared me and I think everyone else, too, because Mom and Dad and Grandma J all took turns staying up at night with me. Luckily, I started feeling better and we still had a great Christmas!
6. Christmas with the Johnsons and Crockers!
I'm still figuring out this present-wrapping business. Apparently people want their gifts to be hidden underneath pretty, colorful paper. At my first Christmas, I didn't understand this and thought that the pretty paper was the gift, so I played with the paper more than the present underneath! We had a great day with Grandma and Grandpa J, Uncle Andy, Uncle Stan and Aunt Suzanne, and Uncle Pat and Aunt Kristina.
5. Picking up food with my fingers!
I've been working on this since birth but starting in November and December I finally got the hang of it. Now I can grab anything I want and can put it in my mouth. And I do as often as I can! I can grab with my whole fist or just two fingers, I can pick up green peas and little tiny things or big stuff like a ball!
4. Standing up!
Also in November I learned how to pull myself up in my crib and stand, holding on to the rail. Mom, Dad and I were so excited the first couple times that I did it and we clapped and cheered and laughed. It was so much fun I couldn't stop practicing, every chance I got! But I hadn't learned how to let go and sit down again so a couple of times I stood up in the middle of the night and had to call for help to lay back down. Now I can go up and down all by myself!
3. Two teeth
Dad says there's an old song called "All I Want For Christmas is My Two Front Teeth." I didn't really want anything because I didn't understand Christmas but I still got those teeth! My first tooth was on the bottom and it's partner didn't show up until much later. But the top two teeth came just before Christmas! They really hurt coming in but I can eat so many different things now that I have them!
2. The Sign for Milk, Blowing Raspberries, Shaking my head "No!"
For the last couple of months in 2007, I loved communicating with Mom and Dad by blowing raspberries. I don't know why it's called that, because there isn't any fruit involved. You just stick out your tongue a little, close your lips around it, and blow air! It makes a really funny tingling feeling on my mouth. Mom and Dad will blow raspberries back at me, stick out their tongues and make all sorts of other silly faces. They really want me to understand them, I guess. I know how to sign milk really well, which is good because milk is really important to me. At the end of 2007 I was still drinking formula several times a day from a bottle. I also started shaking my head back and forth, which Mom and Dad say means "No." I didn't realize that so I would just rock my head from side to side and laugh because it was fun to do!
1. No touch and no mouth
This is only number one because it's the two things that Mom and Dad sign to me the most! Any time they want me to stop doing something they make the sign for number three:
And then they close those three fingers. It didn't take me long to figure out that this means "NO" and I should do something else instead.
Before Mom and Dad figured out that I was deaf, they would tell me "no" with their voices, and I would just keep on trying to eat cat food or stick my fingers in electrical outlets. Finally, after feeling very frustrated with me, they tried something different. They stomped on the ground--and I felt it! I turned around to see what caused the vibration and they signed "X Marks The Spot," because they didn't know how to sign "NO" correctly yet. I wasn't sure what the sign meant either, but their faces told me everything. Cat food isn't for babies.
So I don't mess with the cat food anymore. And Mom and Dad sign "NO" all the time!
Each person must follow their own course at their own pace, no matter how far behind the finish line we may feel. So, in an attempt to get back on track, even though this is all feels like ancient history, here's the rest of my top ten list from 2007:
8. Fondue with the Millers
Mom, Dad and I went to Highlands Ranch to visit the Miller Family. While I played with Alyssa and Luke, all of the adults cut their food into little pieces and then covered it in melted cheese and chocolate. Brian and LuCinda are super nice and Mom and Dad say they are lucky to know them. I hope next year I get to eat little bits of food dipped in cheese too! Here's the sign for cheese:
7. My FeverWe flew to Kansas on a little buzzing plane. When we arrived I didn't feel so good and that night I got really hot! Here's the sign for hot:
6. Christmas with the Johnsons and Crockers!
I'm still figuring out this present-wrapping business. Apparently people want their gifts to be hidden underneath pretty, colorful paper. At my first Christmas, I didn't understand this and thought that the pretty paper was the gift, so I played with the paper more than the present underneath! We had a great day with Grandma and Grandpa J, Uncle Andy, Uncle Stan and Aunt Suzanne, and Uncle Pat and Aunt Kristina.
5. Picking up food with my fingers!
I've been working on this since birth but starting in November and December I finally got the hang of it. Now I can grab anything I want and can put it in my mouth. And I do as often as I can! I can grab with my whole fist or just two fingers, I can pick up green peas and little tiny things or big stuff like a ball!
4. Standing up!
Also in November I learned how to pull myself up in my crib and stand, holding on to the rail. Mom, Dad and I were so excited the first couple times that I did it and we clapped and cheered and laughed. It was so much fun I couldn't stop practicing, every chance I got! But I hadn't learned how to let go and sit down again so a couple of times I stood up in the middle of the night and had to call for help to lay back down. Now I can go up and down all by myself!
3. Two teeth
Dad says there's an old song called "All I Want For Christmas is My Two Front Teeth." I didn't really want anything because I didn't understand Christmas but I still got those teeth! My first tooth was on the bottom and it's partner didn't show up until much later. But the top two teeth came just before Christmas! They really hurt coming in but I can eat so many different things now that I have them!
2. The Sign for Milk, Blowing Raspberries, Shaking my head "No!"
For the last couple of months in 2007, I loved communicating with Mom and Dad by blowing raspberries. I don't know why it's called that, because there isn't any fruit involved. You just stick out your tongue a little, close your lips around it, and blow air! It makes a really funny tingling feeling on my mouth. Mom and Dad will blow raspberries back at me, stick out their tongues and make all sorts of other silly faces. They really want me to understand them, I guess. I know how to sign milk really well, which is good because milk is really important to me. At the end of 2007 I was still drinking formula several times a day from a bottle. I also started shaking my head back and forth, which Mom and Dad say means "No." I didn't realize that so I would just rock my head from side to side and laugh because it was fun to do!
1. No touch and no mouth
This is only number one because it's the two things that Mom and Dad sign to me the most! Any time they want me to stop doing something they make the sign for number three:
And then they close those three fingers. It didn't take me long to figure out that this means "NO" and I should do something else instead.Before Mom and Dad figured out that I was deaf, they would tell me "no" with their voices, and I would just keep on trying to eat cat food or stick my fingers in electrical outlets. Finally, after feeling very frustrated with me, they tried something different. They stomped on the ground--and I felt it! I turned around to see what caused the vibration and they signed "X Marks The Spot," because they didn't know how to sign "NO" correctly yet. I wasn't sure what the sign meant either, but their faces told me everything. Cat food isn't for babies.
So I don't mess with the cat food anymore. And Mom and Dad sign "NO" all the time!
Friday, April 18, 2008
Madeleine Math
13 months
21 pounds
6 teeth showing
8 words in sign
1 banana-sized aquatic sibling
11 hours of sleep at night
2 naps
3 hearty meals
24 ounces whole milk
4 diapers
4 awesome grandparents
2 lucky parents
+ 1 neglected blog
__________________
100 reasons to be happy!
21 pounds
6 teeth showing
8 words in sign
1 banana-sized aquatic sibling
11 hours of sleep at night
2 naps
3 hearty meals
24 ounces whole milk
4 diapers
4 awesome grandparents
2 lucky parents
+ 1 neglected blog
__________________
100 reasons to be happy!
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