We got bronchitis! Well, not actually on Christmas day but all four are coughing and miserable. It stinks to spend their vacation sick. I guess it's better than them missing school. Calleigh had to go to urgent care on Tuesday night. She was running a high fever, coughing like crazy and just plain miserable. Our pediatrician is closed on Wednesdays so we couldn't the next day and I could tell she was getting worse. With her history, I didn't want to mess around. The last thing I needed was another was for her to have a seizure or something
The boys luckily aren't running fevers. They just have coughs and congestion. You can tell by their eyes they are not themselves. Tonight I gave them some cough medicine before bed to give them some relief. Last night, I could hear them coughing all night long and they got no rest. I am hoping with a good night's rest they are feeling better in the morning. Calleigh is on day three of antibiotics so she should feel better too.
We did have a marvelous Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Our family is blessed in many ways but most of all we are blessed by the people in our lives. We could not have better family and friends who love us and support us and do things that leave us speechless. I will write another post about that when I have some more time.
I will leave you with these two videos. If you are my friend on Facebook I apologize for the duplicate posts of the videos but these are too darn cute not to put on my blog!
Cormac singing Joy to the World. He still amazes me.
Colin playing piano like he actually knows how to play! Watch Cormac's foot in the very beginning. Colin is hilarious.
Santa brought soccer poppers.....
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Ten on Tuesday
We went to see Santa at Macy's in NYC and to Rockefellar Center to see the tree. Here are ten pictures from Friday. My Mom and mother in law went with us. Four adults to four kids. Excellent ratio. The boys were amazed from beginning to end. The train ride into "Cormac's city". The pedicab (or death mobile), the lights, the window displays at Macy's and Lord and Taylor. And we saw Santa. He was awesome. And don't you know, an hour later we were walking down 5th Avenue and Santa (yes, the same Santa from Macy's) was outside and he said to the boys "Hi boys, remember you. I took a picture with you about an hour ago. AND he remembered what they wanted!!! It might have been one of my favorite days ever....
Here are TEN pictures for Ten on Tuesday.
Here are TEN pictures for Ten on Tuesday.
Monday, December 19, 2011
Church Play
We took part in the church play on Sunday. Kindergartners were either angels or shepherds. We were three shepherds.
I made the costumes myself and I was pretty thrilled with how they turned out. It was very simple and thanks to my Aunt Lee (who gave me the pattern) I was able to make them. Cormac did the braiding of some of the twine. The kid loves to braid for some reason.
Here is a clip of them singing. Can't tell you how cute it was. They are not smiling while they sing but between songs they were smiling. It still never gets old I have triplets up there singing away and even more one of them is deaf! Years later I am still amazed at how lucky we are to have the technology that exists today!
They only had three days to learn all the songs. We didn't quite learn all the words to every song but they were pretty close. They weren't you most popular songs.
We only have a day and half of school and then we are off until after the new year!! I am so excited. We are going to have a lot of fun. We are planning on trying ice skating for the first time. We are having a play date with our favorite girl, Kennedy, who we have not seen in way too long.
I made the costumes myself and I was pretty thrilled with how they turned out. It was very simple and thanks to my Aunt Lee (who gave me the pattern) I was able to make them. Cormac did the braiding of some of the twine. The kid loves to braid for some reason.
Here is a clip of them singing. Can't tell you how cute it was. They are not smiling while they sing but between songs they were smiling. It still never gets old I have triplets up there singing away and even more one of them is deaf! Years later I am still amazed at how lucky we are to have the technology that exists today!
They only had three days to learn all the songs. We didn't quite learn all the words to every song but they were pretty close. They weren't you most popular songs.
We only have a day and half of school and then we are off until after the new year!! I am so excited. We are going to have a lot of fun. We are planning on trying ice skating for the first time. We are having a play date with our favorite girl, Kennedy, who we have not seen in way too long.
Monday, December 12, 2011
An Inspirational couple of days
I was blessed to head out to Advanced Bionics on Wednesday. I am a volunteer mentor for them and we were going to get some training. I am also the co-chapter leader for the Bionic Ear Association for the New York/New Jersey Chapter. We are still ironing out the kinks to get our chapter up and running but I have lots of faith it will be very successful.
I cannot say how thrilled I am with our decison to choose Advanced Bionics. I have never looked back after our decision. We have had nothing but success. We get such support from them. When you go to a training session it is so inspiring. To see so many recipients or parents of recipients leaves me in awe. It also gives me time to meet with other parents. We can bounce ideas off each other. We can talk about the future. We can talk to those with older children and learn from them. I can talk to parents of younger children and hopefully encourage them along this new journey.
I truly feel we are just one big family. I know it sounds hard to believe but unless you have experienced it you could not understand. When I call customer service I usually speak to the same person. Well, that person works upstairs in the building and we get to meet and chat with them. I can't think of many companies who make themselves so available. From the audiologists to customer service right down to the CTO/CFO. Yep, that is him below in the pictures. He made himself available and had dinner and spent several hours after dinner just sitting with us and talking about anything and everything. It was so amazing to be so close to someone who makes decision that literally change Cormac's life and all of our lives.
I loved getting to see some old friends from all around the US and Canada and loved meeting some new folks. We have so much in common. We have all travelled a road we never thought we would travel. My life is richer for knowing all of these people.
The real show stopper of the training was The Neptune. This is the worlds FIRST SWIMMABLE PROCESSOR!!! To say this is life changing is an understatement. Cormac will be able to hear in water for the first time......EVER. He can swim, he can bathe (he is dying to know what it sounds like when the water runs over his head. He told me he KNOWS it makes a noise but he just can't hear it). He can play in the snow without worrying of it falls in the snow. He can do anything around water, moisture, dust. You name it and it's covered. On top of that it runs on a triple A battery. We will never be anywhere where we wont have a battery. I mean, you can always find a battery.
Check out the video below.
Cormac will have lots of fun picking out his color choices. He already asked if it come in pink. LOL He wants blue for sure he said. He literally wakes up every morning asking for the Neptune. I so wish we had one now for swimming lessons. It would be so much easier. We are counting the days until January until it is available. We are also praying insurance will cover it....
I just want to Thank everyone at Advanced Bionics for all they do. They asked questions, the recipients answered and they produced it. Most people said they wanted a waterproof processor but they didn't want to sacrafice sound. Well, now we don't have to!
I cannot say how thrilled I am with our decison to choose Advanced Bionics. I have never looked back after our decision. We have had nothing but success. We get such support from them. When you go to a training session it is so inspiring. To see so many recipients or parents of recipients leaves me in awe. It also gives me time to meet with other parents. We can bounce ideas off each other. We can talk about the future. We can talk to those with older children and learn from them. I can talk to parents of younger children and hopefully encourage them along this new journey.
I truly feel we are just one big family. I know it sounds hard to believe but unless you have experienced it you could not understand. When I call customer service I usually speak to the same person. Well, that person works upstairs in the building and we get to meet and chat with them. I can't think of many companies who make themselves so available. From the audiologists to customer service right down to the CTO/CFO. Yep, that is him below in the pictures. He made himself available and had dinner and spent several hours after dinner just sitting with us and talking about anything and everything. It was so amazing to be so close to someone who makes decision that literally change Cormac's life and all of our lives.
I loved getting to see some old friends from all around the US and Canada and loved meeting some new folks. We have so much in common. We have all travelled a road we never thought we would travel. My life is richer for knowing all of these people.
The real show stopper of the training was The Neptune. This is the worlds FIRST SWIMMABLE PROCESSOR!!! To say this is life changing is an understatement. Cormac will be able to hear in water for the first time......EVER. He can swim, he can bathe (he is dying to know what it sounds like when the water runs over his head. He told me he KNOWS it makes a noise but he just can't hear it). He can play in the snow without worrying of it falls in the snow. He can do anything around water, moisture, dust. You name it and it's covered. On top of that it runs on a triple A battery. We will never be anywhere where we wont have a battery. I mean, you can always find a battery.
Check out the video below.
Cormac will have lots of fun picking out his color choices. He already asked if it come in pink. LOL He wants blue for sure he said. He literally wakes up every morning asking for the Neptune. I so wish we had one now for swimming lessons. It would be so much easier. We are counting the days until January until it is available. We are also praying insurance will cover it....
I just want to Thank everyone at Advanced Bionics for all they do. They asked questions, the recipients answered and they produced it. Most people said they wanted a waterproof processor but they didn't want to sacrafice sound. Well, now we don't have to!
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Ten on Tuesday
1. I am leaving for California next week! Very excited to see some awesome people I haven't seen in a while. I will miss the kiddies but I am sure they will survive without me. Frank will be home for the days I am gone.
2. I am in serious need of a haircut/style or something. I am just sick of my hair. It is always horrible. That said, I don't know where to go down here so I have to figure it out.
3. I have the final IEP meeting on Wednesday at school. I am pretty sure we are not going to get approved for the services I requested. I think it's disgusting children get penalized because they are enrolled in private school. The town you pay taxes in still gets money for your child. We are saving them money by NOT sending our kids to their public school but the funds are not available for them in private school. I could go on and on but it's pointless. I guess we will see on Wednesday.
4. I cannot get over the unbelievable weather we are experiencing in the Northeast. We have been outside riding bikes and playing at the beach almost every day. It is so amazing. The kids don't even need winter coats at this point. We are taking advantage of every minute.
5. Frank is off on Friday. I am so looking forward to him having some free time. We have a ton or organization to work on in the house. Having a few hours with him home and only the baby with us will be very productive.
6. The tree lighting in town is on Friday. This is our first year in the new town. It sounds very fun. They have a choir, activities for the kids, Santa arrives on the firetruck and it all ends in the gym with hot chocolate and desserts.
7. The boys started basketball two weeks ago. The gymnasium acoustics are horrible. Not to mention 26 other kids and their parents all in the gym. It is the first time really ever Cormac has said he couldn't hear and got upset. I could tell right away he couldnt hear the coach. He was following along for the warm up but was about a second behind because he was doing what the other kids were doing and not hearing the instructions. It made me very upset. He then got upset and said he didn't want to play. Frank went on the court and helped him (there were other dads helping coach so he didn't feel singled out) and he was much happier. One of the girl coaches came over and gave him lots of one on one attention and he was quite happy! I am planning on bringing home his FM system for the weekend and letting the coach wear it so it doesn't happen again.
8. Cormac was evaluated by the SLP for the county. We finally got the report. I found one statement so amazing "Cormac's speech clarity was so clear after talking with him an articulation test was not necessary" I love this statement.
9. Ciaran needed the articulation test which did not surprise me. He has good speech but some of his sounds are not perfect. All the sounds he struggles on fall directly in his range of hearing loss.
10. My new favorite picture:
2. I am in serious need of a haircut/style or something. I am just sick of my hair. It is always horrible. That said, I don't know where to go down here so I have to figure it out.
3. I have the final IEP meeting on Wednesday at school. I am pretty sure we are not going to get approved for the services I requested. I think it's disgusting children get penalized because they are enrolled in private school. The town you pay taxes in still gets money for your child. We are saving them money by NOT sending our kids to their public school but the funds are not available for them in private school. I could go on and on but it's pointless. I guess we will see on Wednesday.
4. I cannot get over the unbelievable weather we are experiencing in the Northeast. We have been outside riding bikes and playing at the beach almost every day. It is so amazing. The kids don't even need winter coats at this point. We are taking advantage of every minute.
5. Frank is off on Friday. I am so looking forward to him having some free time. We have a ton or organization to work on in the house. Having a few hours with him home and only the baby with us will be very productive.
6. The tree lighting in town is on Friday. This is our first year in the new town. It sounds very fun. They have a choir, activities for the kids, Santa arrives on the firetruck and it all ends in the gym with hot chocolate and desserts.
7. The boys started basketball two weeks ago. The gymnasium acoustics are horrible. Not to mention 26 other kids and their parents all in the gym. It is the first time really ever Cormac has said he couldn't hear and got upset. I could tell right away he couldnt hear the coach. He was following along for the warm up but was about a second behind because he was doing what the other kids were doing and not hearing the instructions. It made me very upset. He then got upset and said he didn't want to play. Frank went on the court and helped him (there were other dads helping coach so he didn't feel singled out) and he was much happier. One of the girl coaches came over and gave him lots of one on one attention and he was quite happy! I am planning on bringing home his FM system for the weekend and letting the coach wear it so it doesn't happen again.
8. Cormac was evaluated by the SLP for the county. We finally got the report. I found one statement so amazing "Cormac's speech clarity was so clear after talking with him an articulation test was not necessary" I love this statement.
9. Ciaran needed the articulation test which did not surprise me. He has good speech but some of his sounds are not perfect. All the sounds he struggles on fall directly in his range of hearing loss.
10. My new favorite picture:
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Santa Landing and things that still amaze me....
Yesterday, we went to see Santa arrive by helicopter at the oval. We weren't sure if he would come in the helicopter or a firetruck and much to the delight of hundreds of children he arrived on a helicopter. The looks on the my kids faces was PRICELESS. Santa was waving from the helicopter. To see such pure joy is such an awesome experience. The only drawback was it took him almost two hours to walk around and see all the kids. The kids just ran around and played but it was tiring. I had to send Calleigh home with my Mom for her nap. I was left with my niece and nephew and the boys. My niece, Cailan, told me she is pretty sure I have magical powers or am a miracle worker to be able to get all the boys to listen! She is only 9 years old and is so funny.
When the Big Man FINALLY got to say hello to us. They boys along with my niece and nephew.
The boys and the elves.
Cormac and the elves. He was the first to ask if he could take a picture with them.
The smooch
Me and the Smooch.
Waiting....
The next few are when they first say the helicopter with Santa. Priceless
A few more while waiting!
On a CI note, I am still amazed after all these years. Here are two moments from yesterday. My niece asked Cormac to play the alphabet game with her. (She is nine) asked "How do you play it?" She said "I will say a letter and you need to say a word that start with that letter". He says "Ok. Let's play". She went on to name all 26 letters. She could not stump him. He said a work for every letter. She never had to repeat herself. Not once. My niece is the sweetest girl and she couldn't believe he couldn't be stumped! So then Cormac says "now it's my turn to say letters and you say the words"
Calleigh was sitting in her high chair drinking out of a sippy cup. It was making a strange whistle noise when she was drinking. It was so quiet. Cormac was sitting at the table and says "what is that quiet squeaking noise I hear?" AND he only had one implant on at the time! LOL.
Let the Christmas Season begin!!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE it!
When the Big Man FINALLY got to say hello to us. They boys along with my niece and nephew.
The boys and the elves.
Cormac and the elves. He was the first to ask if he could take a picture with them.
The smooch
Me and the Smooch.
Waiting....
The next few are when they first say the helicopter with Santa. Priceless
A few more while waiting!
On a CI note, I am still amazed after all these years. Here are two moments from yesterday. My niece asked Cormac to play the alphabet game with her. (She is nine) asked "How do you play it?" She said "I will say a letter and you need to say a word that start with that letter". He says "Ok. Let's play". She went on to name all 26 letters. She could not stump him. He said a work for every letter. She never had to repeat herself. Not once. My niece is the sweetest girl and she couldn't believe he couldn't be stumped! So then Cormac says "now it's my turn to say letters and you say the words"
Calleigh was sitting in her high chair drinking out of a sippy cup. It was making a strange whistle noise when she was drinking. It was so quiet. Cormac was sitting at the table and says "what is that quiet squeaking noise I hear?" AND he only had one implant on at the time! LOL.
Let the Christmas Season begin!!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE it!
Monday, November 21, 2011
Ten on Tuesday
1. I am so happy it's getting close to Christmas. I LOVE Christmas time. It is probably my favorite time of year.
2. I am enjoying our unseasonably warm weather. We have been so lucky to be getting so much time to play outside at the beach and playground.
3. Calleigh is a chatterbox. Literally, overnight she has become a parrot. She repeats everything We just need to work on her using her words to get things now. She is totally into naming everyone at this point. She can say her name which melts my heart when she says it.
4. The boys are so much fun at this age. They want to just learn and learn. As I type this they are all on their Ipod touches. They are all playing educational games. Not because they have to but they want to. It makes me so happy.
6. Frank had a birthday. The boys made him a crown to wear. He wore it all day. He watched footbal wearing it. It made the boys day. He is a great Dad and puts the kids happiness before anything. We are lucky to have him.
7. We have a half day on Tuesday and off for the rest of the week. So looking forward to all the days with the boys. We are heading to Insectropolis on Wednesday. I get creeped out from bugs but the kids will love it.
8. The day after Thanksgiving we will be heading to see Santa for the first (of many) times. He flies in by helicopter and it should be fun.
9. With Thanksgiving on Thursday I am thankful for so many things. I am hoping to write a post for Thankful Thanksgiving with all the things we are thankful for in our lives (including the kids. Should be interesting what they say)
10. I have a question for all my CI moms. I will blog it soon. Just looking for your thoughts on something.
2. I am enjoying our unseasonably warm weather. We have been so lucky to be getting so much time to play outside at the beach and playground.
3. Calleigh is a chatterbox. Literally, overnight she has become a parrot. She repeats everything We just need to work on her using her words to get things now. She is totally into naming everyone at this point. She can say her name which melts my heart when she says it.
4. The boys are so much fun at this age. They want to just learn and learn. As I type this they are all on their Ipod touches. They are all playing educational games. Not because they have to but they want to. It makes me so happy.
6. Frank had a birthday. The boys made him a crown to wear. He wore it all day. He watched footbal wearing it. It made the boys day. He is a great Dad and puts the kids happiness before anything. We are lucky to have him.
7. We have a half day on Tuesday and off for the rest of the week. So looking forward to all the days with the boys. We are heading to Insectropolis on Wednesday. I get creeped out from bugs but the kids will love it.
8. The day after Thanksgiving we will be heading to see Santa for the first (of many) times. He flies in by helicopter and it should be fun.
9. With Thanksgiving on Thursday I am thankful for so many things. I am hoping to write a post for Thankful Thanksgiving with all the things we are thankful for in our lives (including the kids. Should be interesting what they say)
10. I have a question for all my CI moms. I will blog it soon. Just looking for your thoughts on something.
Friday, November 18, 2011
What makes you different or special?
This question was asked of the boys as part of their homework. We had to read a poem and then we were supposed to ask them what makes the special or different. I was very curious to see what reponses I would receive.
Somehow I figured Cormac and Ciaran would answer with something related to their cochlear implants and hearing aids. I was wrong. Neither one of them mentioned it as making them different than others. Interesting, surprising and wonderful at the same time.
Colin was the only one who mentioned them and said he was different "because I don't have anything wrong with my cochleas and dont wear anything on my ears."
Cormac said he was different because he had blonde, curly hair.
Ciaran said he was different because he had different colored blue eyes.
I think they were talking about being different from each other as triplets not as different from their peers.
Somehow I figured Cormac and Ciaran would answer with something related to their cochlear implants and hearing aids. I was wrong. Neither one of them mentioned it as making them different than others. Interesting, surprising and wonderful at the same time.
Colin was the only one who mentioned them and said he was different "because I don't have anything wrong with my cochleas and dont wear anything on my ears."
Cormac said he was different because he had blonde, curly hair.
Ciaran said he was different because he had different colored blue eyes.
I think they were talking about being different from each other as triplets not as different from their peers.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Why am I deaf?
Yesterday, at my Mom's Cormac asked me "why am I the only deaf person in our family?" He has never asked before and I could tell he wasn't upset. Just curious.. So, I told him "Daddy and I both have a very special gene (I told him about genes and he seemed to get we are made up of them. )and when we both gave them to him and he was born deaf." He said, "oh, ok" and smiled. Then I explained we gave him cochlear implants because we wanted him to be able to hear all the people who love him talk to him and so he could talk with us. He said "I love having my implants. If I didn't have them it would sound like it does when my magnets are off all the time". (For those that don't know, without his magnets he hears NOTHING. ZERO) I said "Yes, it would. What is your favorite thing to hear?" He said "the ocean waves crashing to the shore and the sound of you and Daddy's voices"
Just in case I had any doubt about our decision (which I did not) he reassured me he is a happy hearing kid!
Just in case I had any doubt about our decision (which I did not) he reassured me he is a happy hearing kid!
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Not so Wordless Wednesday
An unseasonably warm week. We have been taking full advantage of the last few days when it will be so warm/
Here are a few memorable statements from the terrific trio.
A few weeks ago Frank and I were going out to meet some family to see a band at a local bar. The boys were asking where we were going. I told them where and they asked "what is a bar?" I told them it was where they make adult beverages. Probably not the conversation I should be having but I was kidding around with them telling them we were going to dance. Anyway, this weekend I was going to a gift auction at a country club to raise money for the school. Ciaran looks at me dressed and ready to go and looks at Colin and Cormac and says "I can't believe Mom is going to Barber AGAIN. I wonder how many times she will go to the Barber" After a huge chuckle I was thinking if he starts telling other people Mom and Dad go to barber alot they won't think much of it. LOL
I posted this on Facebook so if it's a duplicate sorry.
Colin: what's a f*ckaneer? Me: what did you say??? Colin: I said what's a f*uckaneer? Me: do you mean bucaneer? Colin:yes..you know they wear those hats. What are they? I think I nearly died from laughter when I walked out of the room.
I am still laughing about this one. If you could hear his voice it was priceless.
Here are a few memorable statements from the terrific trio.
A few weeks ago Frank and I were going out to meet some family to see a band at a local bar. The boys were asking where we were going. I told them where and they asked "what is a bar?" I told them it was where they make adult beverages. Probably not the conversation I should be having but I was kidding around with them telling them we were going to dance. Anyway, this weekend I was going to a gift auction at a country club to raise money for the school. Ciaran looks at me dressed and ready to go and looks at Colin and Cormac and says "I can't believe Mom is going to Barber AGAIN. I wonder how many times she will go to the Barber" After a huge chuckle I was thinking if he starts telling other people Mom and Dad go to barber alot they won't think much of it. LOL
I posted this on Facebook so if it's a duplicate sorry.
Colin: what's a f*ckaneer? Me: what did you say??? Colin: I said what's a f*uckaneer? Me: do you mean bucaneer? Colin:yes..you know they wear those hats. What are they? I think I nearly died from laughter when I walked out of the room.
I am still laughing about this one. If you could hear his voice it was priceless.
Monday, November 7, 2011
Ten on Tuesday
Ten words I currently love...
1. Tank you (not spelled wrong)
2. Ciar Ciar (Short for Ciaran)
3. Purple
4. Lobster
5. One Two Three
6. Blue
7. Eight
8. milk pease
9. Baby
10. Did it
It's been a long time coming but Calleigh is finally adding new words every day! It's so exciting. It seems like it's all clicking. She has amazing receptive language and now the expressive language is coming along. Not sure why it's taking so long but I will take it!
1. Tank you (not spelled wrong)
2. Ciar Ciar (Short for Ciaran)
3. Purple
4. Lobster
5. One Two Three
6. Blue
7. Eight
8. milk pease
9. Baby
10. Did it
It's been a long time coming but Calleigh is finally adding new words every day! It's so exciting. It seems like it's all clicking. She has amazing receptive language and now the expressive language is coming along. Not sure why it's taking so long but I will take it!
Friday, November 4, 2011
Great way to start the weekend
Yesterday, when I went to pick up the boys from school another Mom (who I don't know at all maybe have said hello once or twice)came up to me and says "I saw this picture and thought "Are you also a model as well as a Mom to four kids?"
After the shock wore off I kindly said Thank you and no, that is definitely not me!! It was probably the nicest compliment I have received in years (except for yesterday when someone gave me a compliment about Cormac...you know who you are ) I guess I don't really look as bad as I think I do when I go get the kids. LOL
After the shock wore off I kindly said Thank you and no, that is definitely not me!! It was probably the nicest compliment I have received in years (except for yesterday when someone gave me a compliment about Cormac...you know who you are ) I guess I don't really look as bad as I think I do when I go get the kids. LOL
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Manasquan Water Taxi
This weekend we went rode the Manasquan Water Taxi. They usually are open for business in the summer and you can ride the taxi between several bars/restaurants on the water. I had done it years ago and it was a lot of fun. This year they tried a Pirate Cruise. (nothing like the Pirate cruise we went on for the boys birthday) You ride the boat (adult beverages are served if wanted)to Treasure Island. Once on the Island you go on a nature hike/treasure hunt. You "find" a treasure chest as well as a pumpkin patch. Such a cute idea. It was a little cold on Sunday but still worth it. The kids had a blast and Frank enjoyed the adult beverages :)
The Island we went to brought back lots of memories because when I was in my twenties we used to go to the same island by boat for the day and enjoy way too many cocktails with lots of good friends.
Something I also noticed and was even surprised by. We were sitting on the back of the boat. We were going pretty fast and it was very windy. There was also music playing. I was able to have a normal conversation with Cormac who was sitting two people away from me. I didn't need to yell. I could just talk to him. Even with all that background noise he was able to have a conversation. Pretty darn amamzing.
We will be back again next year for sure. If nothing else, we go so wonderful pictures!
The Island we went to brought back lots of memories because when I was in my twenties we used to go to the same island by boat for the day and enjoy way too many cocktails with lots of good friends.
Something I also noticed and was even surprised by. We were sitting on the back of the boat. We were going pretty fast and it was very windy. There was also music playing. I was able to have a normal conversation with Cormac who was sitting two people away from me. I didn't need to yell. I could just talk to him. Even with all that background noise he was able to have a conversation. Pretty darn amamzing.
We will be back again next year for sure. If nothing else, we go so wonderful pictures!
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Some quotes worth keeping and Happy Halloween!
The kids have come out with some good things lately. I put some on Facebook so if I duplicate sorry. I just want to be able to remember these things.
Colin: I am pretty sure Evelyn is in love with me. Me: How do you know? Colin: I asked her and she said yes Me: Oh, that's nice. Colin: Yeah, but I am in love with Reese. (And so it begins) Then Cormac chimes in "Well, that's ok cause I am in love with Evelyn" Ciaran says "dont worry mom, I am in love with you"
2135Boys are all playing in Calleigh's room. Colin and Ciaran are "whispering" so Cormac can't hear them. I say "He can hear you. He is not deaf. He is in the same room as you". From across the room Cormac says "Well, actually I am deaf but I heard them anyway"
Driving up from our house to my Mom's house on Halloween Colin says all to himself in the car "Wait, I must be dreaming. Is that snow. I must be dreaming because it doesn't snow at Halloween."
Ciaran has been "quoting" me in and doing impressions of my voice. To hear him say things I know I say all the time is outright hilarious!
Everything now has "smurf" in front of it since wee were the smurfs for Halloween. "Smurftastic" "Smurfilicious" "Smurftaculuar"
My Mom got dressed as a witch for a Halloween party and texted me a picture to show the boys. When I showed them here is what they said :
Colin: You look good and pretty and have a spooktacular day.
Ciaran: You look bootiful.
Cormac: You look like a very friendly witch and I don't care if you are scary and have a green face.
They say so many things I can't possibly remember them all but I really am trying to document as much as I can.
On the Calleigh front...she is doing marvelous! She has really started chatting away! She never would repeat what you said to her but now she is like a little parrot. We know she can hear so we weren't sure why she wasn't talking. But then again, Calleigh is really a medical mystery. With all her issues she doesn't have any neurological or cognitive issues (thank goodness). She is still delayed in speech but making HUGE progress. Her favorite word right now is "purple". She says it so cute. SHe is also getting better wth her gross motor and more steady on her feet. If you can imagine we are already starting to talk about preschool! Since she is in early intervention they start the process 6 months ahead of her third birthday. So, that would put us in December! If her speech and gross motor skilss are still delayed she will qualify for preschool in district. Our (new) district has a great program because it's has typical kids and delayed kids together. We are not sure this is where she will go but we will see. If she catches up she will go to the same school as the boys do now. I am BEYOND thrilled with her therapists since we moved. I think a change was good for her and different techniques are a plus. Her PT really has her working hard. She brings things and set up mini obstacle coureses in the house.
And now to leave you with some serious cuteness. We were the Smurfs for Halloween. Cormac was brainy, Colin was Papa, Ciaran was grouchy (check out his eyebrows). Frank was Gargamel, I was Smurfette and Calleigh was Azriel the cat.
Colin: I am pretty sure Evelyn is in love with me. Me: How do you know? Colin: I asked her and she said yes Me: Oh, that's nice. Colin: Yeah, but I am in love with Reese. (And so it begins) Then Cormac chimes in "Well, that's ok cause I am in love with Evelyn" Ciaran says "dont worry mom, I am in love with you"
2135Boys are all playing in Calleigh's room. Colin and Ciaran are "whispering" so Cormac can't hear them. I say "He can hear you. He is not deaf. He is in the same room as you". From across the room Cormac says "Well, actually I am deaf but I heard them anyway"
Driving up from our house to my Mom's house on Halloween Colin says all to himself in the car "Wait, I must be dreaming. Is that snow. I must be dreaming because it doesn't snow at Halloween."
Ciaran has been "quoting" me in and doing impressions of my voice. To hear him say things I know I say all the time is outright hilarious!
Everything now has "smurf" in front of it since wee were the smurfs for Halloween. "Smurftastic" "Smurfilicious" "Smurftaculuar"
My Mom got dressed as a witch for a Halloween party and texted me a picture to show the boys. When I showed them here is what they said :
Colin: You look good and pretty and have a spooktacular day.
Ciaran: You look bootiful.
Cormac: You look like a very friendly witch and I don't care if you are scary and have a green face.
They say so many things I can't possibly remember them all but I really am trying to document as much as I can.
On the Calleigh front...she is doing marvelous! She has really started chatting away! She never would repeat what you said to her but now she is like a little parrot. We know she can hear so we weren't sure why she wasn't talking. But then again, Calleigh is really a medical mystery. With all her issues she doesn't have any neurological or cognitive issues (thank goodness). She is still delayed in speech but making HUGE progress. Her favorite word right now is "purple". She says it so cute. SHe is also getting better wth her gross motor and more steady on her feet. If you can imagine we are already starting to talk about preschool! Since she is in early intervention they start the process 6 months ahead of her third birthday. So, that would put us in December! If her speech and gross motor skilss are still delayed she will qualify for preschool in district. Our (new) district has a great program because it's has typical kids and delayed kids together. We are not sure this is where she will go but we will see. If she catches up she will go to the same school as the boys do now. I am BEYOND thrilled with her therapists since we moved. I think a change was good for her and different techniques are a plus. Her PT really has her working hard. She brings things and set up mini obstacle coureses in the house.
And now to leave you with some serious cuteness. We were the Smurfs for Halloween. Cormac was brainy, Colin was Papa, Ciaran was grouchy (check out his eyebrows). Frank was Gargamel, I was Smurfette and Calleigh was Azriel the cat.
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Evaluations
Cormac and Ciaran had their evaluations last week by the Psychologist which is part of the IEP process. The purpose is to "assess cognitive, social and emotional and adaptive functioning"
The report on each of them was three pages long and very interesting. Both of the reports were very similar.
Below is a bit of what he said about Cormac. Not the sentence in italics. Could this make me any happier? All the years of hard work have paid off...
He was easily engaged in and took great interest in testing items. He was very curious and verbal throughout. He talked a lot about his brothers, his school, and his family with great excitement. He impressed me as a happy, inquisitive youngster who really enjoys his school and home experiences. Cormac is a happy child who verbalized a lot during evaluation. Cormac demonstrates equally well-developed itellectual ability on both verbal tasks which involve use of language and on non -verbal tasks which involove non-verbal spatial and sequential congitive ability.
Below is a bit of what he said about Ciaran.
Ciaran "was curious about many of the test items as we worked together. Ciaran greatly enjoyed the evaluation process and frequently wanted to interact with and talk with the examiner. He impressed me as a very happy youngster who is interested in exploring his home and school environment. Ciaran demonstrates higher level of intellectual ability on verbal tasks which involove the use of language than he does on non-verbal tasks which involve non verbal visual spatial and sequential cognitive ability. It is important to note that his non verbal abilities are still in the High Average Range.
So both of my children with hearing loss are testing in the 96% for VERBAL IQ. That means only 4% of children their age (HEARING CHILDREN) would score higher than them. I am pretty thrilled with these results.
Cormac's results kind of go along with what his TOD for over 3 years said about him. She felt he was a verbal learned but just happened to be deaf. So, his brain adjusted to be a visual learner during the year he couldn't hear. When we gave him the ability to hear he was suddenly a verbal and visual learner. Most people are one or the other.
They have another evauation on Friday. One down, two to go!
The report on each of them was three pages long and very interesting. Both of the reports were very similar.
Below is a bit of what he said about Cormac. Not the sentence in italics. Could this make me any happier? All the years of hard work have paid off...
He was easily engaged in and took great interest in testing items. He was very curious and verbal throughout. He talked a lot about his brothers, his school, and his family with great excitement. He impressed me as a happy, inquisitive youngster who really enjoys his school and home experiences. Cormac is a happy child who verbalized a lot during evaluation. Cormac demonstrates equally well-developed itellectual ability on both verbal tasks which involve use of language and on non -verbal tasks which involove non-verbal spatial and sequential congitive ability.
Below is a bit of what he said about Ciaran.
Ciaran "was curious about many of the test items as we worked together. Ciaran greatly enjoyed the evaluation process and frequently wanted to interact with and talk with the examiner. He impressed me as a very happy youngster who is interested in exploring his home and school environment. Ciaran demonstrates higher level of intellectual ability on verbal tasks which involove the use of language than he does on non-verbal tasks which involve non verbal visual spatial and sequential cognitive ability. It is important to note that his non verbal abilities are still in the High Average Range.
So both of my children with hearing loss are testing in the 96% for VERBAL IQ. That means only 4% of children their age (HEARING CHILDREN) would score higher than them. I am pretty thrilled with these results.
Cormac's results kind of go along with what his TOD for over 3 years said about him. She felt he was a verbal learned but just happened to be deaf. So, his brain adjusted to be a visual learner during the year he couldn't hear. When we gave him the ability to hear he was suddenly a verbal and visual learner. Most people are one or the other.
They have another evauation on Friday. One down, two to go!
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Ten on Tuesday
1. This weekend was an awesome family filled fall weekend. On Saturday the boys' BFF from Cedar Grove and her family came to visit. We did the farm/pumpkin picking/hayride thing and it was so much fun. That evening Frank and I went out with some cousins for some coctails and to see a relatives band. Sunday we went bike riding and hiking on the beach nature trail. We didn't even realize we had been gone for 3 hours. It was a perfect day with Frank and the kids.
2. Monday didnt go as well. Colin was sent home from school with a fever. Calleigh is also sick. By the end of the night all 4 were not feeling well and running slight fevers. We will be heading to pediatrnician tomorrow if they can see us all.
3. Parent teacher conferences were a big success. Their teacher said all the boys are doing great and she has no concerns about them at all. I did have to explain why they each have their own color and city. Ciaran is really advocating for himself when he misses things in class. This makes me so proud. Cormac appears to "not really miss anything". Smile.
4. We are working on getting rid of training wheels on the bikes. Well, we are discussing it. I am thinking this weekend we will take off the wheels and see how it goes.
5. Soccer continues. Ciaran seems to really be taking to soccer. Colin and Cormac enjoy it but not like Ciaran.
6. Calleigh has started talking so much lately. It's like all of a sudden she is blossoming. She said "please", "thank you". Any word that starts with /m/ she can't say without saying mmmmmmmm first. It's adorable. She continues to make huge strides in all areas. She is still quite wobbly when she walks but is getting better. She now calls Ciaran "Ciar Ciar".
7. IEP's are still in the works. Both had their evaluations by the psychologist and we are waiting for the rest of the evaluations. It takes forever.
8. A grandparent of one of the boys' classmates has a cochlear implant...what are the odds of that?? I spoke with her and she said she does really well and has had it for 11 years.
9. I love how even though the boys are in the same class they come home and tell such different stories about their day. They don't sit together (there are three tables: red angels, blue angels and green angels) so they each tell me about everything their friends at their table talk about.
10. I need a professional organizer. Just saying.....
2. Monday didnt go as well. Colin was sent home from school with a fever. Calleigh is also sick. By the end of the night all 4 were not feeling well and running slight fevers. We will be heading to pediatrnician tomorrow if they can see us all.
3. Parent teacher conferences were a big success. Their teacher said all the boys are doing great and she has no concerns about them at all. I did have to explain why they each have their own color and city. Ciaran is really advocating for himself when he misses things in class. This makes me so proud. Cormac appears to "not really miss anything". Smile.
4. We are working on getting rid of training wheels on the bikes. Well, we are discussing it. I am thinking this weekend we will take off the wheels and see how it goes.
5. Soccer continues. Ciaran seems to really be taking to soccer. Colin and Cormac enjoy it but not like Ciaran.
6. Calleigh has started talking so much lately. It's like all of a sudden she is blossoming. She said "please", "thank you". Any word that starts with /m/ she can't say without saying mmmmmmmm first. It's adorable. She continues to make huge strides in all areas. She is still quite wobbly when she walks but is getting better. She now calls Ciaran "Ciar Ciar".
7. IEP's are still in the works. Both had their evaluations by the psychologist and we are waiting for the rest of the evaluations. It takes forever.
8. A grandparent of one of the boys' classmates has a cochlear implant...what are the odds of that?? I spoke with her and she said she does really well and has had it for 11 years.
9. I love how even though the boys are in the same class they come home and tell such different stories about their day. They don't sit together (there are three tables: red angels, blue angels and green angels) so they each tell me about everything their friends at their table talk about.
10. I need a professional organizer. Just saying.....
Monday, October 24, 2011
Kindergarten Pictures :)
You never know what you will get when you aren't there when pictures are taken. I was thrilled when these came home today. I just love the school uniforms. Makes them look like little men!
Thursday, October 20, 2011
THe Cost of a Child
I received this last year at the boys' Pre K 4 graduation. Kept meaning to blog it but kept forgetting. Came across it during the move. It is very true.
A few years ago the government calculated the cost of raising a child from birth to 18 and came up with $160,140 for a middle income family. Talk about a shocker. That doesnt even touch college tutition. That figure leads to wild fantasies about all the money we could have saved if not for the birth of our child. But $160,140 isn't so bad if you break it down. It tranlates to $8896.66 a year or $741.38 a month, or $171.08 a week. That is a mere $24.44 a day! Just over a dollar an hour. Still, you might think the best financial advisor might say don't have children if you want to be rich. It is just the opposite.
What do you get for $160,140?
Naming rights. First, middle and last.
Glimpses of God every day. Giggles unser the covers every night.
More love than your heart cold hold. Butterfly kisses and Velcro hugs.
Endless wonder over rocks, ants, clouds and warm cookies.
A hand to hold usually covered with jelly.
A partner for blowing bubbles, flying kites, builiding sandcastles and skipping down the sidewalk inthe pouring rain.
Someone to laugh yourself sill with-no matter what the boss said or how you stocks performed that day.
For $160,140 you never have to grow up.
You get to finger paint, carve pumpkins, play hide and seek, catch lightening bugs and never stop believeing in Santa.
You have an excuse to keep reading the Adventures of Piglet and Pooh, watching Sunday morning cartoons, and wishin on stars.
You get to fram rainbows, hearts and flowers under refridgerator magnets and collect spray painted noodle wreathc for Christmas, hand prints set in clay for Mother's Day and card with backward letter for Father's Day.
You get to be a hero for retreiving a Frisbee off the garage roof, removing a splinter, filling the wading pool and coaching a baseball team that never winds but gets treated to ice cream regardless.
You get a front row seat to history to witness the first step, the first word, first bra, first date and first time behind the wheel.
You got to be immortal. you get another branch added to your family tree and if you lucky, a long list of limbs called grandchildren.
You get an education in psychology, nursing, criminal justice, and communications that no college can match.
In the eyes of a child, you rank right up there with God, Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy.
You have all the power to heal a boo-boo-, scare away the monsters under the bed, patch a broken heart, police a slumber party, ground them forever and love them without limits SO one day they will, like you, love without counting cost.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Wordless Wednesday
Here is why I don't have many words to write...I am too busy enjoying an amazing fall!!!
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