Activation Day today!!!

Well, we finally made it to the activation day. This is the day that we have been waiting for since we first found out he was deaf. Kevin did amazingly well today. He smiled the first time he heard sound!!! He was so curious everytime there was sound and looked around. When they did the neural testing, he started to sing at each interval. I can't wait to see him really take off with his language. We started with the left side and got more responses from that side, but I think that is because he was getting used to the sound and was also very tired by the time we reached the right side.

He was soooo wiggly the whole time and it was very hard to hold him still for the mapping, but managed somehow. I think he is going to do great with the implants! He seemed to really like the sound he heard!

Annie (our audiologist) set the setting very conservatively. I will increase the sound over the next few days and then we go back and get it re-mapped. Hopefully we will see him respond to sound more after that.

I am pretty overwhelmed with the new role I play now. The CI falls off very frequently and I feel like it is up to me to get him to talk by providing therapy at all times, but I can't say anything bad about the technology that is allowing Kevin to hear. It is just a little scary today because the realization has set in that this is really happening.

Kevin continues to be a happy little boy and the sound doesn't scare him at all. That is the great news!!! Thank you for the miracle technology that is allowing our little boy hear!!!

Activation Day tomorrow!

Tomorrow Kevin gets activated. I can't believe this day is already here!!! We have thought about this day for so long and now it is really here!!! I have no idea what to expect from his reaction. I just hope he does something to let us know that he is hearing. It would be great if he just looked at us and smiled and understood, but I know that won't happen. Soon enough....!

The real work starts tomorrow. It will start with keeping the processors on his head. I know that will be a big challenge, but hopefully he will cooperate. I am hoping things will just get easier for us from here on out.

I can't wait to report what will happen tomorrow! Until next time...

5 days to go

I am so excited for next week! I know that the reaction from Kevin can range from crying to smiling to nothing at all. I really hope he has some reaction, but I am preparing myself for any of those. As long as they work, I really don't care what he does!!! My Mom is sewing pockets in my onesies for his BWP (body worn processor). It is great having a crafty Mom! Kevin will be set for his clothes. I am kind of enjoying my quiet time right now because I know as soon as the processors go on, I am supposed to narrate everything! Kevin will be so sick of hearing my voice, but hopefully it will be worth it and he will be able to talk normally. Until then, I am 'resting' my voice!

Till next post...

6 days until activation!

I am very behind on posting! Kevin was bilaterally implanted with Cochlear Implants on January 29. We chose the Freedom processor. Dr. Roberson did an outstanding job with the surgery and we just couldn't be happier with how everything is turning out so far. Kevin will be activated in 6 days, which means that will be the first time he will able to hear. I just can't believe it!!!

When I stop to think how much has happened the last 3 months, since he was offiicially diagonsed, it just makes my head spin. I am relieved to finally be on this side of things and feel like we are moving forward. I look forward to the day when we can just lead a normal life.

I am so excited for Kevin to be able to hear and I know he will do great! Hopefully I will be better about blogging.... I know getting the word out about cochlear implants is very important and I want to do my part to educate everyone on this miracle technology!!!

background info

A little bit of background for all of you:

Kevin was diagnosed with a hearing loss from the newly activated (2 weeks prior to Kevin's birth) newborn hearing screening at the hospital when Kevin was about 18 hours old. We thought the test was incorrect, as all hearing parents do, and proceeded to retest the next day. After he failed 4 tests in the hospital, we was seen at Sutter Memorial by pediatric audiologists. They incorrectly diagnosed him with an ABR while he slept on my lap. I try not to think about that diagnosis too much because while it did delay us in getting him treatment, I did get to enjoy my baby for a short while without thinking there was something wrong with him.

At 6.5 months of age, we broght him in for another test and he failed his behavorial test. We did a sedated ABR on him a week later and he failed miserably. That was a hard week for us and I honestly felt like the world had come to an end. What I know now is that the world that I knew had come to an end, and I have now entered an unknown space and an exciting journey. I am ready for this challenge to raise Kevin and know that he was given to us for a reason. He will do great things in life and has a wonderful personality. He is very determined and adventurous, which will help him suceed in living with this challenge. He is also quite the charmer, with a great winning smile!!!

We interviewed a few surgeons and once I met Dr. Roberson from the California Ear Institute, I immediately knew that that is where we needed to treat Kevin. As I left, I told John that when we found out Kevin was deaf, it was like someone threw a 1000 piece puzzle up in the air and after we met Dr. Roberson, we have finally finished putting the frame together. I felt like things were going to get started in the right direction.

We have been very pleased with everyone we have met there. I think Kevin's team is full of strong people and he will do well. He goes in for a sedated ASSR test next week and then a CT Scan the week after. If all goes well, he is scheduled to have a bilateral surgery for cochlear implants on Jan. 11. I am so anxious waiting to find out if he is truly a candidate.

The big question for us is which device to choose. We are looking at the Advanced Bionics and the Cochlear devices. I wish there was a clear cut answer, but there just doesn't seem to be one.

Until next time.... we'll know more after Thursday when they perform the ASSR.
-Kristen

first post

This is my first post with a blog. I am testing to see how this will look. Kevin is our son and is currently 8 months old.