Could it really be?

KINDERGARTEN!!!! Yep. The time arrived. My babies are now full time students. It's like I know it's real but can't believe this day has come. It seems the last five years have flown by but have taken forever. Does that make sense? I guess the days are long but the years are short.

The unexpected move sort of threw a monkey wrench into our long thought out plan of Kindergarten. It sent me into a frenzy. We are not just a family that shows up in your school. We are first triplets. Can they fit all three in one class? Will they try and force me to break them up? I had this all worked out at their original school. Oh, and let's not forget...two IEP's. So we don't just blend in when we arrive. THere are going to be some delays in getting services started but luckily I have possession of an FM system so Cormac was able to use it today with no issues. His teacher was totally awesome and had no problem using it even though it's not required since his IEP is not finalized. Ciaran will have to wait because we don't have the shoes for his hearing aids yet. They should be paid for by the county who is responsible for his IEP. He is just starting the evaluation process since he is newly diagnosed with hearing loss.

Nothing is simple. Our day to day lives aren't really different than anyone else but trust me, nothing is simple when it comes to school. Being in private school complicates matters more than being in public school. We made the choice to do private school and feel strongly we want our children to attend private school. So the added pressure is self inflicted :)

It all about your resources. Having Summit Speech School as a constant and consistent support system is priceless. Their knowledge and experience cannot be matched by anyone else. I feel truly blessed to have so much love and support from them. Our new principal is an amazing man. He not only welcomed our family into his school but he rearranged other students so my three could be together. He has already made the calls necessary and has promised to rearrange his schedule to be available to attend any and all meetings with the county. That is not required of him.

Hours of phone calls, countless time organizing folders and reports has seemed to pay off. It looks like we will be able to get the services required. It is not set in stone yet but things are looking good. My best advice to any parent is to be prepared and educated. A well educated parent is a districs worse nightmare. Know your rights, understand your rights, know what you want and WHY you want it and have the reports from people WHO KNOW YOUR CHILD ready and waiting.

Ok, enough of all the boring details. Let's get to the cuteness of Kindergarten. Their class was adorable. Their teacher was sweet as can be. They went in to school with no problem. Hung up their backpacks and joined the class on the rug. They signed "I love you" to me and that was it. I was better than I thought. Seeing them so happy made it much easier. I only cried for a second after we left.

They came out of school just as happy. They were very excited to see me and Calleigh. They came out telling me all kinds of stories. Colin said he made a new friend named Ryan. Ciaran said he made friends with a girl but he forgot her name and Cormac said his girlfriend is Mary. They attended music class and thought it was awesome. They were teaching me what they learned. I just love how they love to learn. Their brains just absorb everything. It was a great day for them. Such a milestone for our family. Seems like yesterday they were born. I will cherish the years I stayed home with them. It's kind of scary to hand your children off to someone else for so much time.

We finished the day with soccer practice. The boys were asleep before their heads hit the pillows. All day at school and soccer sure must be tiring!

Why I love waking up in the morning....

For moments like this! Sure the whole day isn't filled with all moments like this but there are plenty of them. They make it all worth it!


 

 

 

 

3 days and counting....

Three more days. That's it. The start of a new chapter in our lives. They will head to Kindergarten on Wednesday. Tuesday is the meet and greet but I get to go the that :) We enjoyed a long day at the beach today. We head back up North to our house tomorrow to pack up some more stuff and prepare for the final move.

In the meantime, enjoy some pics...

I didn't ask them to pose for this. They asked me to take a picture...

The "unofficial" last Friday of Summer

The Friday of Labor Day weekend usually signifies the last weekend of Summer since everyone goes to school the following week. We do start Kindergarten next week. BUT since we now live at the beach.....well, I guess it doesn't end! We can still go to the beach after school, we can still go on the weekends. This is just hitting me and I am so thrilled. Even if we have soccer on Saturdays we have the beach after.

September is the most beautiful month of the year at The Jersey Shore. Not many visitors. Very quiet. Warm temps in the day with the cool ocean breeze at night. I am so looking forward to sitting on the front porch, reading to the kids and enjoying my favorite smell of the ocean. The first day you need to put on a long sleeve shirt in the evening is my favorite feeling.

Starting on Wednesday I will have six hours a day with just Calleigh while the boys are at school. It is so bizarre I can't even comprehend it. Calleigh and I are going to start enjoying some real girl time. What's my goal? I like to jog. Always have. This summer I was actually able to maintain a little bit of a routine and got in about 3-4 days a week. (Thanks to my mother in law who doesn't go to work until 1pm and I got to sneak out early in morning. I usually do about 3 to 3/12 miles. There is one straight path along the water. When I get up to the beach if I go left it winds up in the 3 mile range to the end and back. If I go to the right it will be 5 miles there and back. That is my goal. I want to do the five miles. Of course I will be doing it while pushing Calleigh but that is ok. I don't think it will be so hard. I don't have much trouble with 3 1/2 miles but I will work on my time and try and reduce it.

So, I hope you all have a fun and safe Labor Day Weekend. We will be relaxing on the beach....

Ten on Tuesday

1. The boys go to Kindergarten Orientation on Thursday. I will be with them. I am terribly upset. Their first official day is Tuesday.

2. Since we are moving I won't know any of the other parents. At their old school I knew most of the moms of the soon to be Kindergarteners. I think that will make it a little harder.


3. I can't believe we are actually moving. I am sad we are moving. I will miss a lot about where we live now. Mostly my Mom who will be an hour away.


4. Calleigh's only mode of transportation now is WALKING. Yes, she looks like I did back in the day after a drink too many, but she gets better every day.


5. I have to transfer her services to another county which will hopefully go smoothly.


6. We survived Hurricane Irene unscathed. We were prepared for the worst and our area got lucky. Two towns away the entire town is evacuated and there is devastation everywhere. It seems you either got off easy or you were devestated. No inbetween.


7. Frank is back at work but working on their old contract. He did not agree with this but it is what it is.....my feeling is they will go out again when the 30 days is up.


8. Preparing for two IEP's in a new district sucks. (Well, sucks worse than your average IEP prep)


9. The boys started their first soccer in our new location. They loved it. I thought it was cute and hysterical. What's not so funny is they play their games at 8am on Saturday mornings....


10. Oh, yeah, I still have to pack my entire house. Haven't even started.....

A whole new journey for our family....

The Lawrence Family is making a move....we will be relocating to the beach. It is all happening very fast and was all last minute but things seem to be falling into place. We are sad to leave but happy to see what is ahead of us. We have to leave St Catherine's which is difficult but the boys are enrolled in St Rose. St. Rose is an amazing school. The Principal was very helpful and understanding. Of course, we have to get two IEP's written in the next few weeks which will prove to be a challenge.

It will mean a new Teacher of the Deaf for Cormac and he loves his current teacher. He hasn't seen her all summer so I think it will be easier. Ciaran will have his first IEP ever. I am not really sure what services he should receive. I do know I will only let Summit Speech School provide any of the services. I want consistency and I know they go to Monmouth County.

The boys will start school after Labor Day at St Rose. I can't believe I will have three Kindergarteners. I can't believe I have to pack up my entire house in the next few weeks. We sure have a lot of stuff. It's time to purge ourselves of EVERYTHING we don't need or use. I am going back to simplicity :)

I am thankful for my blog and facebook to be able to keep in touch with so many people! But it's only an hour away!

Perception

I had someone tell me the other day my kids were lucky to have me because not everyone could handle children with needs. (It was a total compliment and I was not upset) But you know what?? I was taken aback. I don't think of myself as a parent of a child with special needs. Don't get me wrong, I realize Cormac is deaf and wears implants. I am perfectly aware Ciaran has hearing loss. I am more than understand Calleigh is delayed in her gross motor skills. I realize I have two children with IEP's starting Kindergarten . I have had Early Intervention in my life for 5 years now. To me they are just my kids. I guess it's all about perception. My children just think of themselves like any other kid in the world. I think of them as just your typical kids.

So, now I have been thinking. Is that how people perceive me? Are people looking at me all day with pity because they see I have one kid with Cochlear Implants and another with hearing aids? I hope not. I honestly don't get that feeling from people. Sure, lots of people have it easier but lots of people have a much harder life.

My question to you is do you think your perception of yourself is different than how other perceive you?

What a day....

My day started by getting all the kids up, fed, dressed and to my Mom's house by 9am so I could get into NYC with Cormac for his mapping. (Remember two weeks ago he wouldn't get a map?) I made it to the city at exactly 10:30am for his appointment. He was a rock star and did awesome. He happily went along with his mapping even with a different audiologist and assistant. He was totally cute too.

I leave the city and head back to pick up the kids at my Mom's house. I scheduled an appointment for Calleigh at the pediatrician. Tuesday night she had a slight fever (not even 100). She didn't have any other symptoms. Wednesday she was very cranky most of the day and continued with a low fever. Wednesday evening her fever was a little higher. The highest was 101 but with tylenol it went down. I decided she needed to see the pediatrian and make sure she didn't have something else going on.

We go to the doctor at 2pm. They took us in and the doctor had finished her exam. No ear infection, rapid strep was negative. She had a bit of a red throat so I was to continue tylenol if she had a fever and keep an eye on her. Bring her back if anything changed or the fever continued. The doctor left the room. Calleigh was in my arms. I was waiting for him to come back to give me a script (for a cream for diaper rash). She looked like she wanted to go to sleep. Her head was resting in the crook of my arm. All of a sudden I just knew something was wrong. She went limp, her eyes rolled in her head and she was blue/gray. I yelled for the doctor who came running in.

They brought in the Oxygen but it wasn't needed. ( I thought maybe he should have given it to me at that point). He was listening to her heart and lungs and he said she was OK and would come around. I thought at this point she was literally dying. She looked that bad. I am NOT an alarmist. I have SEEN and lived through lots with my kids already. I have SEEN Calleigh not breathing at 8 weeks old and given her rescue breaths. I have seen her stop breathing in the hospital after her colostomy surgery and watched them bring her back. I was pretty sure this was the same thing.

It took her a long time to come around. It was a slow process. She was in a deep sleep for a while. She was very groggy. My pediatrican wanted us to go to the hospital to get bloodwork and cultures. With her medical history he doesn't ever like to take any chances.

He called Frank and asked him to come meet us at the office. (Frank is on strike so he was home which worked out. About the only good thing about the strike) Luckily, my Mom was around and she came up to stay with the boys. We headed to the ER and got there around 3. The ER was ridiculous. It was so busy. It was 5:30 before they even took the blood and urine samples. (Horrible experience. The poor girl has not veins) We stumped the entire staff with her medical history because no one knew what Duane Syndrome was and we had to tell them. (It wasn't critical to her care so I wasn't upset).

After many hours the results were in and they couldn't find anything. All tests came back negative. They are assuming it was a Febrile seizure. She really never had a high fever but it went from 99 to 102 in a very short amount of time. She never actually seized. She just went limp so it seems weird.

We finally got home about 8:45pm. (yep, I was out of the house for 12 hours and never had food or a drink!) Calleigh is sleeping in her crib. I am afraid to leave her alone. The doctors assured my they are harmless. My doctor told me three times. If it happens again she will come out of it. He kept reminding me he did NOTHING and she was ok. That is easier said than done. And I am not a doctor. He also said if I was scared to always call 911 and have them come. We follow up with him tomorrow morning.

My heart breaks for Calleigh. She just cant seem to catch a break. She is the sweetest girl ever. Why does she have to go through so much? She just started walking this week. She looks like a drunken sailor but she is walking. She worked so hard and now this?

They really get it..

Spending the summer on the beach means extra time for Cormac without his implants. He doesn't really mind being without them when it involves water. I let him where them when he is just playing in the sand away from the breaking waves. What I have witnessed is such a wonderful sight to see. Ciaran and Colin have become his "ears". I have overheard Colin telling a friend they met "we are triplets. His name is Cormac and he is deaf but has cochlear implants. Make sure he is looking at you when you talk to him so he can read your lips and then he will just answer you." So cute to hear them explain it to other children.

Today while they were in the water I had to keep getting them to move back over in front of me since they kept drifting. I must have kept saying "Ciaran, Colin come back over here." A lady sitting next to us says "What is the thirds one's name? I only hear you calling two" I never even realized I didn't call him. His brothers automatically tap him in the shoulder and tell him. I don't even have to ask them. I explained to the lady he was deaf in the water without his implants.

It's never great when you child cannot hear when it involves a large body of water but we really seem to have a nice rhythm. I am so blessed Ciaran and Colin are just such awesome, caring and loving brothers. When they find something on the beach they never leave him out if he is missed something. They run over to him and get his attention and show him what they found. If a plane or helicopter flies over they always point it out to him so he can see it.

To say I am proud of them does not do it justice. Time and again I realize his brothers are his greatest teachers, his best friends and such amazing little people.

Belmar's Treasure Trail leads to different side of the Jersey Shore

Belmar's Treasure Trail leads to different side of the Jersey Shore NJ.com: ", the Belmar Treasure Trail, a nature walk located across from 1st Avenue next to the Belmar Fishing Club, offers visitors a nice change of scenery, without leaving the beach.
Essentially, the Treasure Trail presents a peek at what the Jersey Shore looked like before it was overrun by bulldozers, boardwalks. Though short, the trail includes sweeping dunes covered with native vegetation. You might also catch a glimpse of some of the animals that live on the shore, like seashore grasshoppers, common terns, and white-footed mice.The Treasure Trail is great for kids as well. There are educational signs posted throughout the trail, teaching children and adults alike about the importance of dunes and how they provide homes to the various plants and wildlife. Kids can also go online and answer questions about the Treasure Trail to win some 'treasure' of their own"

Me and Grandma packed up the boys and cousin Corinne while Aunt Juanita watched Gavin and Calleigh. My boys have been asking to go here since Memorial Day Weekend. Anything involving a "treasure hunt" peaks their interest. We followed the trail and read the signs of what to look for along the walk. The kids were thrilled to find almost all of the "treasures" we were searching for along with some extras. We found an entire flock of the special bird we were looking for (white bellied something or other), lots of flowers on the list, grasshoppers. I was very happy we didn't find the giant eared mice but the kids nearly lost their minds when Ciaran found the cottontail rabbit! Ciaran said he just knew he could find one in this "special bush". And he was right! We saw it two more times.

We brought home a collection of shells, rocks, driftwood and the "best" ever we found the skeleton of a bat or some other small animal and we rought it home.

It was such a wonderful way to spend some time. We watched some boats in the inlet go under the draw bridge. The kids were thrilled we got to see the bridge go up. We waved to some boats goinng out of the inlet. Lots of talking and vocabulary. Lots of fun.

We are having a great summe so far.....

Ten on Tuesday

Ten Things I hope to teach my children: (in no particular order of importance)



1. Love


2. Compassion


3. Understanding


4. Acceptance


5. Independence


6. Hard Work Pays Off


7. To Embrace differences


8. Empathy


9. Value of friendship


10. Family is forever

All about Ciaran!

Ciaran lost his FIRST TOOTH today! He is the first of the boys to lose a tooth. It was very wiggly all weekend. Today we went to the beach and he came out of the water and started talking. All of a sudden Colin says "Ciaran, what the heck happened to your tooth?" (I know not the best of things to say) Ciaran had no clue it had come out in the ocean. So, our first tooth is lost at sea. He said he would write her a note but I took a hint from a blogger friend and we sent the Tooth Fairy a text telling her he lost his tooth!

He asked for Hot Tamales and a dollar. Frank just ran out to get him the candy.

Here is a classic Ciaran story from the weekend. Sunday we were up at the beach. Frank had built some structure with them involving a tunnel and a bridge. Nothing fancy but pretty cool. There were two boys sitting near us. They started playing around and one of them purposely destroyed their structure. My kids didn't really get upset. They said it wasn't nice he did it but I said "no big deal. We can rebuild". These boys were about 7 I would say. Well, one of the boys had built an "arena". Ciaran knew it was his. Ciaran NEVER said a word. Ciaran was nice as pie when we rebuilt the ruined structure. Ciaran acted like it was no big deal. Fast forward about an hour. I am watching Ciaran. He is walking ever so slowly along the beach (I WISH I had it on video!) and he casually gets closer to this kids "arena". Without missing a beat and almost stealth like his little foot knocked down the "arena" in one quick stomp of the foot. If you know Ciaran this is Classic Ciaran. No one gets over on him. Ever. The big kid through himself on the ground and started screaming crying like he was a two year old. The father says to him "well, really, what did you expect? You knocked theirs down." I told Ciaran it was not nice to do it but man was I so secretly proud of him! I always say Ciaran is the kid you do not want to mess with. He thinks and plots his plan of action. I love that little toothless boy!

Ten on Tuesday

Ten books a day. This is what was recommended at the Cochlear Implant Convention. I have been trying to stick to it every day but it's not that easy every day.

Here is our ten books for today:

1. Reptiles Are My Life.

2. I am a Whale. The life of a Humpback Whale.

3. Beauty and the Beast. The Beast's Feast.

4. Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure

5. Hippie Grandma

6. Welcome the the Green HOuse

7. The Butt Book

8. My Mommy Hung the Moon.

9. It's hard to be Five

10. The Bone Book (Colin picked it from the library and it's filled with information on human bones.)

Melancholy

mel·an·chol·y/ˈmelənˌkälē/
Noun: A deep, pensive, and long-lasting sadness.
Adjective: Sad, gloomy, or depressed.

Cormac asked me what the word melancholy means the other day. I told him the definition of the word. For some reason he found the word utterly amusing and hilarious (just the opposite as he should). He understood the meaning but could NOT stop himself from just saying it over and over again. He could not control his laughter after he said the word.

A little while later we are walking and I guess Cormac thought Colin was acting a little sad and he says "Mom, Colin is not melancholy he is melancolin." I found it so hysterically funny. So did Cormac. Colin on the other hand did not find it so amusing and began yelling "Hey, I am not melancholin" Oh, I just cracked up. Cormac is STILL saying the word a few times a day and laughing out loud!

Holy Heatwave, Batman.

After my Ten on Tuesday post I realized from Wednesdat to Saturday we were heading into a heatwave. They were predicting 100+ degrees with a heat index even higher. I had to head into New York for a mapping on Wednesday. So I decided to head down the shore Wednesday evening to ride out the heatwave on the beach.

For the first time ever Cormac was not cooperative during a mapping. He was very excited on the way into New York. he was thrilled when we got there. After the auiologist hooked him up to start the map he was so upset. He cried. He said "he didn't want the grey things on his implants and he just wanted his implants to be normal" There was really no negotiating with him. On our way home from mappings we usually stop along the way and he gets some kind of treat. I even explained to him we were going to have to go right home and not get to stop. I tried to bribe him with something i KNOW he wants. No go. So we did the bare minimum and went home. What can you do? He has always been so cooperative. We will go back sooner rather than later since we need to make sure we have a great map to start Kindergarten.

We went to the beach on Thursday. It was not even too hot at the beach. There was a nice breeze and we were able to stay for most of the day. My kids are such beach lovers. The ocean is there friend. Ciaran has reached new limits in the ocean. The kid will run and dive into the break of the waves. He will get clobbered by a wave and just bounce up laughing. Colin and Cormac are loving the ocean just the same but Ciaran seems to just be a natural at riding waves and boogie boarding.

Friday was the hottest of the days and I decided not to bring them to the beach. Temperatures reached 103 or more degrees. (not including the heat index) I didn't think it was safe for Calleigh since she can't swim in the water. The thought of her just baking in the son seemed like too much. We went to the movies instead. We saw Winnie the Pooh. It was ery cute movie. Just long enough for Calleigh to sit through. The boys enjoyed it. We hung around the mall for a while after to stay cool and busy.

Frank came down on Friday early evening for dinner. We went up to the beach playground. Cormac decided to jump from the rock wall. His knee hit his mouth and he hit his front tooth. His tooth pushed up and back. It is not loose and it didn't turn black (thank god). His lip is still purple and swollen but he looks like a totally different kid. It looks like he lost his tooth but he didn't. I have to bring him to the dentist this week to get it checked. I am going to be so upset if he loses his front tooth and another tooth doesn't come in for 2 years.

The heatwave continued for Saturday and Sunday but the beach was great. The water has been a little rough but I have spent lots of time in the ocean. We head home tomorrow after a few hours on the beach.

Next week we go back to NY for our FOUR YEAR post activation speech evaluation. I cannot it has been four years......

This is one of my new favorite pictures. This is the first time Calleigh ever took a bath with them. I think she liked it???
 

Ten on Tuesday

1. My new favorite app for my droid is I Heart Radio. Totally loving it.

2. Busy week with appointments. All four had dental cleanings and check ups. All was well. Ciaran actually has two wigglers. Calleigh might have a missing tooth. (eye tooth). We wont know until she has xrays and I am not going to worry about it right now. Ciaran had his first follow up with audiologist for his hearing aids. The audiologist is great but still trying to figure out the best way to . get him access to the sounds he can't hear without messing with the sounds he can hear so well. We are pretty comfortable with his programs for now. Cormac is going for a mapping tomorrow. I am pretty sure he needs it badly. He has seemed a little off for the past week or so.

3. The heat is ON in NJ. It's supposed to feel like 100+ tomorrow and I have to head into NYC. Not really looking foward to it but what can you do.

4. We are going to head down to the beach tomorrow night to ride out the rest of the heatwave at the beach :)

5. I went jogging tonight outside which was probably not the best decision.

6. Summer is flying by very quickly. I am not looking forward to it ending. Only 8 more weekends until school starts. We dont start until September 12th.

7. Today I bought the boys' uniforms for school. (Well, their summer uniforms they wear until the end of October.) They are going to look so stinkin' cute. I guess no one will realize they are dressed alike since the whole school will be dressed alike!

8. Calleigh is still taking steps but not fully walking. She can walk around pushing her push toy with no problem and can also do it one handed.

9. I am sporting quite the tan....those who know me well know this is odd to see. My legs are no longer pasty white. I love it!

10. Boys are still doing tennis lessons and they love it.

Vermont

We had an awesome vacation in Vermont. It was the first time we have gone away for longer than a few days as a whole family. Since the boys were born we have always had so many doctors appointments Frank has used most of his vacation days to watch the other kids so it was a nice break for all of us.

We did a lot in Vermont. We went to the Pico Adventure Center. We did Power jumping.
(Well, Calleigh just enjoyed watching!)



Colin

Cormac


Ciaran

Cormac did some rock wall climbing...

A quick shot with cousin, Michael.

Pony Rides...

For the actual 4th of July we went to a parade in the town of Killington. It was so much fun. This is the boys 4th year at the parade and they loved it. We wore our red, white and blue to celebrate. We learned all about why we were celebrating and the meaning of 4th of July. We learned some new songs (Grand ole Flag, Yankee Doodle!) The kids got to do potato sack races, egg toss, water balloon toss and many other fun games at the picnic in town. We swam at the pool and Ciaran and Cormac have mastered swimming without floaties!!

Calleigh loved the cake and the fireworks. This is the first time the boys stayed up late enough to see the fireworks. I can't belieive I let Calleigh stay up to see them! I would have NEVER done that with the boys. She truly loved them and slept very late the next morning!

The next day we rode the gondola at Killington Mountain. Lots of words to be learned. Gondola, peak, slope, summit and many more. The boys LOVED the ride up to the Summit.

We did some fishing. Lots of vocaulary for this one too! Cast, reel in, bait, bobber, patience, line, algea, tackle (as in tackle box and not as in tackling like the kids usually do!) We learned difference between pond, lake, stream, river.







We did mostly family bonding. Cuddling on the couch in the evening. We went out to dinner one night and a band was playing. The kids got down on the dance floor. They were shakin their groove things for sure!

We also went to the lake. I didnt have my camera for the lake. Took lots of pics on the phone but I cant get them to transfer.

We finished up the week by heading to Massachusetts to the Cochlear Implant Convention. That will have to be another post!

Along the way in the car we played some great games. Whiz Kids is awesome! We also played a game where one person says a word and the next person has to say a word with the LAST letter of the word the person before them said. You can make it harder by making it be only words of a certain topic. We learned about each state we travelled. (The Bay State, the Empire State, The Green Mountain State, The Garden State). Lots of hours to talk in the car. LOL.

All in all it could not have been a better trip. Unless of course,Aunt Lee and Uncle Bill could have been there with us!

Summer

I have a hard time keeping up the blog because we are just too busy enjoying our Summer! We are down the shore today but heading back North in a while. I am so upset scheduled an appointment for Ciaran for a Monday. It is supposed to be beautiful tomorrow again. Oh well, live and learn.

I still owe an update on the convention and I promise it is coming. Maybe tonight or tomorrow I can work on it.

Leave you with a short story on Cormac. Cormac was telling some family about the Neptune (the new waterproof processor coming out shortly). He was saying how he can't wait to get it. Then he tells me "you know I can wear it in the bathtub." I say "i know you can wear it anywear" He says "know what I want to hear?" I say 'what" He says "when I stick my head under the faucet and rinse my hair I KNOW it makes a sound and I really want to know what it sounds like". Hmmm...first time he has ever mentioned it to me. First time he has ever said he wanted to hear something he couldn't. I was a little upset to realize he was missing something BUT in the very near future he will hear it. SMILE

Ten on Tuesday

Ten Things about the Minuteman Northeast Cochlear Implant Convention:



1. I was so inspired by the people I met. To see SO MANY people in one place walking around with implants is just amazing. People of all ages and all different reasons why they needed an implant but mostly with the same goal. To feel connected with other people and not feel isolated.

2. The psychologist who gave a seminar was by far my favorite speaker. She said things I never knew. Taught me things to look for in the future. I asked her for a copy of her presentation so I can share it with others.

3. Frank's favorite seminar was "Sports and the CI".

4. We are a special community of people.

5. Advanced Bionics is part of the family. Choosing them has made me happier than I can ever imagine. The love and support I feel from everyone there is amazing. I don't think many companies function like they function. Right down to meeting Tiffany, one of the customer service reps who helps me when we need to order parts.

6. Cormac was "recognized" by people who have never met him! The power of the internet....he said he was like a "rock star". He is a rock star to us for sure.

7. I .got to listen to two of the pioneers of AV therapy, James Watson and Lea Watson. They were amazing. I am reassured we did and are continuing to do things correctly :)

8. TEN BOOKS A DAY!!! This is what Lea Watson said we should be reading to our children. We are big readers but I don't think we do ten books a day. She said she has never had a parent come back and say "we didn't need ten books a day". But she has parents who tell her how early their kids are reading and how they are the top readers in their class. I committed to reading 10 a day. Monday was our first day. We did it!!

9. Knock, Knock jokes are great for kids.

10. We need to instill in our children the ability to self advocate. It is critical to their success. They need to be able to say "I didn't hear you " or "I didn't understand you" which are two very different statements. They need to not be worried about others and always ask for clarification and not be embarassed.

This could easily twenty or thirty on Tuesday but will stop at 10.

We're Baaaack!

It's been an amazing 10 days of vacation. We did alot. We played alot. We laughed alot. We learned alot. We covered Vermont, made it to the Cochlear Implant Convention is Massachusetts and ventured back to NJ. We covered a lot of ground and I plan to give a great update as soon as we settle back in at home. The convention was marvelous. Being surrounded by so many amazing people is priceless. Getting to meet IN REAL LIFE people i have "known" for a long time beyond priceless. Seeing so many inspirational people and listening to speakers who are so knowledgeable was unbelievable.

So, stay tuned for the whole story.....

On a side note, Ciaran is a champ. He has never missed a beat with his hearing aids. He woke every morning and asked for them. He PROUDLY showed them off to anyone who would listen to him. He has not complained once about them. He was in a play group at the convention and I got a text from one of the group leaders "Ciaran just told me his hearing aids are making a different beeping noise and he thinks it means he needs new batteries". I only told him once if he heard beeps he might need batteries. He is totally taking ownership of his hearing aids. I could not be prouder of him.

Day one

We picked up Ciaran's hearing aids this morning. He was very excited and couldn't wait to go get them. He seemed like he was really trying to be excited even though I could tell he was a little nervous. He did awesome. He was great with the audiologist.

I was most nervous about the molds bothering him. He doesn't seem to notice them. He is very enthused and says "things sound a little louder and my voice sounds different" He decorated them with green stickers. He was all excited about the pediatric kit Phonak provided. He loved the bag and wanted to carry it with him. He said we have to make sure to bring it to Vermont.

When we got home he could not have received a better reception from his brothers. They came running to the truck asking to see them. Colin said "wow, Ciaran, those are so cool. I really like them". Cormac said "Ciaran, now you are like me. Can you share your stickers with me? I want to look cool like that" I let Colin try them on and he was excited. I might have to get him so dummy hearing aids!

All in all it has been a great day. Ciaran had a yummy donut when we were done (it was too early for the hot dog truck!) and then we came home and CALLEIGH TOOK THREE STEPS ALL BY HERSELF. God works in mysterious ways. I was a little down about Ciaran having to get hearing aids and then I come home and the smooch walks for me. She is a little ray of Sunshine in our lives!