Blatant Brag Post

I took Cormac to see his teacher of the deaf today. She has been working with him since September. She said he is doing amazing and is "the poster child for early intervention and early implantation"! She said she forsees no problems with Cormac in his future. She observed him in class this week and said he is one of the brightest kids in the class. He is involoved in everything and is the first to volunteer. She said lots of kids with hearing loss will wait to see what others do before participating but not Cormac does not. She said even when his FM system was broken he did not miss a trick. He just paid more attention so he didn't miss anything.

She also said some kids who are doing really well at a young age tend to struggle a bit when they hit 3rd grade or so because they need to start with complex thought process. But she said Cormac already used a complex thought process most other 4 year olds aren't capable of using. She does not foresee Cormac having an issues long term. She says as long as we continue with what we are doing by the time 3rd or 4th grade comes he will probably just need monitoring to make sure he is where he should be. Can you say AHHH??? (and an FM system)

As if my day wasn't grand already we headed to the library and on the way out met a very nice man who just happened to be a psychologist who speciaized in people with hearing loss and was fluent in sign language. He says " I see you daughter (no, not a typo. He thought he was a girl. LOL) has hearing loss and wears implants." I say "yes, he has profound loss bilaterally" And he says "and look at how amazing he is doing" (Cormac had walked up to him and said "excuse me, is it ok if I pet your dog" and then asked him the dogs name and what kind of dog he was and also told him we had a dog.) He told me in the last few years he has changed the focus of his practice because he is realizing his sign language probably won't be necessary because of how kids like Cormac are doing. "They are growing up just like other kids without any delays and don't feel self conscious"

To hear this about Cormac is awesome. I already know he will be fine but it's sure is nice to hear professionals tell you he will be fine. Makes me so proud of him and all his hard work.. Makes me know Frank and I did something right! Makes me also wonder how Frank and I produced a kid as smart as him (LOL_).

So, with all that good going on I didn't let the lady at the Burger Kind drive through ruin my day. I was in desperate need of the largest Diet Coke and with four kids in the car running into a store was not appealing. The logical choice would be the drive thru. I figure I can even get the kids a healthy snack of apple fries. She swipes my debit card and tells me it's not working. The magnetic strip must be broken. I say well can't you enter it manually? Really?? She says "sorry,no, I can't do that" WHAT?? WHAT??? And this was the assistant manager. But I went somewhere else got my caffeine fix and all is well witht he world! This working overnights is seriously making me even more addicted to Diet Coke!

I kept a journal before I started this blog. I was not good at keeping it updated but I wish I was. I came across it this weekend and was scanning through it. I read this entry to the boys and they got the biggest kick out of it. Especially the part when I told them all the nicknames I called them.

May 29th 2007 (they were 13 months old and Cormac was not hearing yet)

Here is what I wrote:
Asof today Ciaran is running, Colin walks like a drunken sailor and Cormac will take a step or two.

Ciaran is the talker of the family. He says cracker, Dad, ball and makes the cutest monkey noise you ever heard.

Colin says Dad and duck. Ciaran also says duck and they both quack. Colin can moo like a cow. Colin says thank you. Ciaran said Pop Pop a few days ago.

They understand everything and know most of their body parts.

Cormac can't hear yet so he doesn't have any verbal word recognigtion however he understands some signs. Dad, horse, dog, baby, eat, more, cow)

I am waiting for his surgery. It cannot come fast enough. He so wants to talk.

He can sign baby, more and eat. He has been waving for months and also blows kisses.

Here are some of their nicknames..

Cormac: Big Mac, Cormy warmy, pea, Cormac the keg (he was short and stout when he was born)

Ciaran: Ceery Weery, Ciaran the cat(his cry sounded like a wounded cat), peanut and little man

Colin: Collie Wally, Bruiser, chub chub, big man and super chunk

Ciaran has a nasally laugh.

Colin has the funniest giggle. and is so ticklish.

At 13 months you are all wearing 18 minth size clothes

In the morning I can hear you all babbling to each other in your cribs. It's the sweetest noise a mother can hear.

Sometimes Cormac sleeps later. I let Ciaran and COlin wake him up. They toddle over to his crib giggling and rub his arm or back to wake him since he can't hear them. Cormac wakes up with the biggest smile when he sees his brothers.

The boys play well together. Colin is a little rough and steals toys.

Below is a little conversation I had with Cormac just yesterday. He really does crack me up.

Cormac: "Mom, what' the letter of the week at school this week?"
Me: "I don't know we can look it up?" Oh, it's "F". Can you think of words that start with "F"?
Cormac: "Fire, fairy, funny, fruit, flag football, finger, foot."
Me: "that's really good cormac. How about I say something and you try and guess the word?"
Cormac: "OK"
Me: "A turkey is big and ?? I was thinking he was going to say fat because they have been singing a song at school about a big fat turkery. But Cormac said "feathery" I was pretty impressed. A turkey is feathery. Not sure if that's really a word but it starts with "F" for sure!

When Frank was putting the boys to bed the other night I heard Colin tell him "Mom, will be in my heart forever because she is my best Too sweet that boy.

Today was Frank's birthday. We all went out to dinner. He wanted us to go as a family. My mom and Richie met us along with my friend Maritza and her daughter Kristin. It was a really nice evening. The boys could not have behaved better. Calleigh just smiled and ate everything in site. Now you know the night wouldn't go off without a hitch, right? Colin had just finished his meal and we were waiting on the adult food. He was coughing a little and I could just tell something was wrong. Mother's just know. I said "he is going to throw up" I started walking him to the bathroom while holding a napkin to his mouth. He puked in my hand and in the napkin. He also puked again in the bathroom. He was so good and didn't get upset. I have no idea why it happened and he isn't sick now. He seems just fine. He even managed to eat some cake. But it added a little excitement to the night!

Helpful computer game

We rarely play computer games. Mostly because I really don't need three little people taking over and eventually breaking the computer :) I found this game and it has turned out to be such a great listening game. Cormac LOVES it and he really has to listen in order to win.

It's called Hide and Seek with Milli (it's from the nickjr show Team Umi Zoomi. You have to find where she is hiding and following the clues she SAYS. It uses great words like "behind" "next to". So, it's all about listening. It's been a hit with all three kids. I am now going to search for some more games.

Anyone else have any games they like to play on the computer?

Two ears are better than one....

I can attest to this from our real life. When Cormac is down an implant it is evident the second I talk to him. I can tell instantly. It is also so much harder for him to locate sound. He has to look around to see where the sound is coming from. With both, that never happens.


Helping To Hear: Cochlear Implants x 2 | Neuroscience | Discoveries and Breakthroughs Inside Science

Just some cute videos

THis was taken over 6 months ago.




Calleigh being her cute self.




Cormac singing the song from Princess and the Frog.