Things have really seemed to 'click' with Kevin this week. His pronounciation is improving and he is creating more sentences without prompting. Yesterday, he told me a 7 word sentence! 'I get Ethan a blue M&M too.' I feel his speech is really starting to improve and just in the last few days too!
He also decided to do some potty training this week all on his own.... hence the m&m's!!! My little boy is growing up!
Friday, July 11, 2008
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
A Good Day
Ahhh, the power of prayer! At least, I'll think that is what saved me today.
Kevin has been quite a stinker about putting his processors on after they are off (when he wakes up in the am, after nap, after swimming, etc) If they are on and it falls off, he replaces it right away, but if they are taken off, then he won't put them on. It is a real struggle for me! I have ignored him, bribed him, punished him, but nothing works. When HE finally decides it is time, they go on without any struggle and all is fine. Unfortunately, his time schedule isn't always the same as mine and that is where the issues come in. I am confident this is a 2 year old issue and he is just trying to exert his control, but it drives me bonkers!
So, this morning, we had to head out to his first day of summer school at his deaf school. The last few days of his school, he decided he hated it and cried the whole time. I was hoping a month off would change things. So, after really struggling with his processors, they were finally on and he was happy. Then I told him we had to go to school, and he lost it. He cried frantically! My husband and I straight-jacketed him in the carseat with him still wailing. After about 15 minutes of crying and me trying to reason with him, I just lost it! While driving, I looked up and just prayed to God that I needed a break and please give me the strength to deal with this. WHY, why, why????? I didn't know what else I could do!
So, he calmed down, clung to me for the first 5 minutes, and then realized that this school was FUN! He joined in, played with other kids, participated in everything, behaved during therapy, everything I could have hoped for. (or prayed for). Something just clicked! Maybe God heard my prayers. We'll see what tomorrow brings, but for now, I feel like we are headed uphill again instead of spiraling down at a fast rate!
Ahhh, the fun we have with toddlers!
Kevin has been quite a stinker about putting his processors on after they are off (when he wakes up in the am, after nap, after swimming, etc) If they are on and it falls off, he replaces it right away, but if they are taken off, then he won't put them on. It is a real struggle for me! I have ignored him, bribed him, punished him, but nothing works. When HE finally decides it is time, they go on without any struggle and all is fine. Unfortunately, his time schedule isn't always the same as mine and that is where the issues come in. I am confident this is a 2 year old issue and he is just trying to exert his control, but it drives me bonkers!
So, this morning, we had to head out to his first day of summer school at his deaf school. The last few days of his school, he decided he hated it and cried the whole time. I was hoping a month off would change things. So, after really struggling with his processors, they were finally on and he was happy. Then I told him we had to go to school, and he lost it. He cried frantically! My husband and I straight-jacketed him in the carseat with him still wailing. After about 15 minutes of crying and me trying to reason with him, I just lost it! While driving, I looked up and just prayed to God that I needed a break and please give me the strength to deal with this. WHY, why, why????? I didn't know what else I could do!
So, he calmed down, clung to me for the first 5 minutes, and then realized that this school was FUN! He joined in, played with other kids, participated in everything, behaved during therapy, everything I could have hoped for. (or prayed for). Something just clicked! Maybe God heard my prayers. We'll see what tomorrow brings, but for now, I feel like we are headed uphill again instead of spiraling down at a fast rate!
Ahhh, the fun we have with toddlers!
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Wisconsin study
We came back last week from the Wisconsin study for bilateral CI toddlers. It was really interesting to have Kevin participate in the study. They are comparing bilateral children to single CI children in 2 areas. The first test was to see how well the child can detect directional hearing. Kevin sat in a soundbooth with multiple speakers arched in front of him. He was supposed to look at the speaker that the sound came from. Only 2 words were ever spoken, so after time, Kevin 'habituated' and became bored with the test. They repeated this test numerous times throughout the 2 days... needless to say, Kevin became very tired of this test!
The second test was to see how well a bilateral child can understand sound with background noise. Kevin watched a movie and eventually they started to add background sound while having Kevin point to the object they said. This test interested Kevin much more than the other one!
I was very pleased with how well Kevin did with these tests. It was also nice to see Madison, WI. The weather was great and we got to explore the city. Overall, it was a very good experience for all of us!
The second test was to see how well a bilateral child can understand sound with background noise. Kevin watched a movie and eventually they started to add background sound while having Kevin point to the object they said. This test interested Kevin much more than the other one!
I was very pleased with how well Kevin did with these tests. It was also nice to see Madison, WI. The weather was great and we got to explore the city. Overall, it was a very good experience for all of us!
Monday, June 23, 2008
Off to Wisconsin
Well, we are off to Wisconsin tomorrow to take part in a study for children who received bilateral implants at a young age. I am excited that Kevin is going to be a part of this study. I will help out in any way I can to show the benefits of receiving bilateral implants at a young age. I'm really excited about this trip... I just hope that Kevin cooperates during it. It is a long trip for a short amount of time, but it will be exciting, none-the-less.
I'll update when I get back and will tell you all about the study. I don't know too much about it right now.
I'll update when I get back and will tell you all about the study. I don't know too much about it right now.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Go Dog Go and O'Tootles
Kevin continues to talk and talk and talk! He just loves the fact that he can say so much! The other day, my husband and I were talking about the books that we read Kevin versus the ones that we read our other (hearing) son at the same age. Our other son was very advanced verbally for his age, so the books he enjoyed were more advanced. Kevin still reads mainly simple 'board' books, but the length of the books are increasing. He loves 'Mr. Brown can Moo', 'There's a wocket in my pocket', and 'ABC book'. (He is almost 27 months) So, I decided to read him one of my other son's favorites when he was 2 years old, 'Go Dogs Go'. This is somewhat simple book, but lengthy. Kevin loved it wanted to read it again! I was so excited because up until recently, he could hardly sit still for a book and how he wants to read long ones! He seemed to understand the book too! I was very encouraged by this!
Today, my kids were watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse on tv. I was in the other room and I heard Mickey tell the kids to say 'O'Tootles' and then I heard Kevin yell 'O'Tootles'! I got such a kick out of him getting so into the tv. This is one show that really seems to capture his attention. It is nice to know that he hears and understands what the tv says! Yes, life is pretty normal for us right now!!! I couldn't be happier! :)
Today, my kids were watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse on tv. I was in the other room and I heard Mickey tell the kids to say 'O'Tootles' and then I heard Kevin yell 'O'Tootles'! I got such a kick out of him getting so into the tv. This is one show that really seems to capture his attention. It is nice to know that he hears and understands what the tv says! Yes, life is pretty normal for us right now!!! I couldn't be happier! :)
Friday, June 13, 2008
Kevin had his mapping appts last Wednesday and Thursday. We split his mapping into 2 days now because he just has a hard time sitting still for all the tests for 3 hours. I love having the appointments on 2 days. It was soooo much less stressful on everyone. It also allowed Kevin to perform like a star because he wasn't so exhausted. You know how some days your kids just make you soooo proud? Well, these were 2 of those days. Kevin performed beautifully during the sound booth tests and dropped the ball in the basket when he heard the 'birdy'. He also said 'birdy' when he heard the sound. He was so reliable! This was the first time we got accurate individual ear tests. I was amazed at the results! He is hearing about 15-20db across the board for the left and 20-25db across the board on the right. With both ears he hears better than that! So, we are able now to start really fine tuning each ear to give him his optimal hearing. This is such an exciting time for him. He is just really starting to blossom and talks constantly! Actually, that was one of the hardest parts of the test. He can't stop talking for a minute and he needs to be silent during the test. It was quite amusing trying to keep him quiet so we could test his hearing. He was born to talk!!!
4 word sentences are now becoming the norm for him. The night of his mapping, I was laying in bed across from his crib trying to get him to sleep (we were staying out of town for the mapping, so I was in the same room as him). He knew I was there and looked up and said 'more juice please, Mommy'. He didn't even have his ears on at the time. As adorable and amazing as that was, I had to still say no. :)
As I was sitting with him in the sound booth trying to keep his attention so that he would do the test I was thinking how hard these kids really do have to work. I mean, how many 2 year olds are expected to sit still, be quiet, and drop a ball when they hear a sound. I know he has been doing these tests all of his life, but it still amazes me that he cooperates so much. I can see why many hearing impaired kids do so well in school. They have been 'trained' to sit still when you need them to!
4 word sentences are now becoming the norm for him. The night of his mapping, I was laying in bed across from his crib trying to get him to sleep (we were staying out of town for the mapping, so I was in the same room as him). He knew I was there and looked up and said 'more juice please, Mommy'. He didn't even have his ears on at the time. As adorable and amazing as that was, I had to still say no. :)
As I was sitting with him in the sound booth trying to keep his attention so that he would do the test I was thinking how hard these kids really do have to work. I mean, how many 2 year olds are expected to sit still, be quiet, and drop a ball when they hear a sound. I know he has been doing these tests all of his life, but it still amazes me that he cooperates so much. I can see why many hearing impaired kids do so well in school. They have been 'trained' to sit still when you need them to!
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Kevin's first song
Kevin learned how to sing 'Happy Birthday' yesterday at his deaf school. He had a bad day there and I didn't think he was getting anything out of the day, but I guess I was wrong! Today, he brought out the microphone and started belting out 'Happy Birthday'. I couldn't get enough of it!!! It wasn't anyone's birthday in our house, but it is still fun for him to sing! This is his first song that he has ever really sung!!! Enjoy!
Some things to take notice of are: 1. his clarity is getting much better, 2. He actually gets some intonation in his singing 3. when Dad prompts him in the background, Kevin is doing something else, but still hears it and responds.
For some reason, I can't seem to upload a video to my blog, so you will have to click to youtube to view it. Sorry...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIbjTmzkXzc
Some things to take notice of are: 1. his clarity is getting much better, 2. He actually gets some intonation in his singing 3. when Dad prompts him in the background, Kevin is doing something else, but still hears it and responds.
For some reason, I can't seem to upload a video to my blog, so you will have to click to youtube to view it. Sorry...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIbjTmzkXzc
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