Amazing and Supportive People. . .

Surround us!
I am so thankful for all the wonderful people in our lives.

Work.

Friends.

Family.

Strangers.

This 'Handraising' campaign has been A M A Z I N G !

Thanks to everyone who has participated
and if you have not yet. . . PLEASE DO SO!

Blend in.

Lately I've been told a lot that
"Savanah just blends in".

Blends into what I think?
The walls. . .
the people. . .

I get what people mean.
She talks so well.
So she must just "blend in".
Just because of her cochlear implant I suppose.

But I don't really think she does any of this. . .
well yes, the talking well part.
But that has been countless hours of hard work,
lessons, appointments, mapping etc.
Just because of the implant, her speech did not just form that way.

So the 'blending in' of society I do not believe is correct.
Savanah is a uniquie individual.
She is so very special.
She is deaf. Not very many people are deaf.
So blending, no, but shining yes.

Aren't we all different? At least we are "suppose" to be.
Everyone has different personalities,
different looks,
different traits.

So why would we want to "blend in"?

Tude

Everyday Savanah asks to go swimming.
LITERALLY. . .
EVERYDAY!
It's sort of cute though.
Yesterday we ran a few errands,
swimming was on her mind.
We were in the car going to a destination when Savanah told my mom she was having a little bit of an attitude last weekend when we were at the lake.
"I won't have any attitudes today Mom, I really, really, really want to go swimming!"

Isn't it funny the things they pick up just from what you say to them?
"Savanah, please stop having an attitude."
Now she knows all about the "attitude(s)" and realizes in order to get what she "wants" she has to refrain from it.

Smart little kiddo.

Savanah's Perspective

So driving on the freeway this morning.
Two little girls in the back.
Chatting between them.
Her views on life begins. . .

Savanah tells her little sis she is deaf.
Gracen just looks intently at her and listens to her for a moment. . .
"When I was a baby, I couldn't hear mom and dad like you can hear mom and dad now. When I was three, these one people they cut my head off (meaning they cut into her head for her cochlear implant surgery) it didn't really hurt very badly. Then I got my implant and I could hear everything super really well." I smiled a little. "I'm the most special girl because of my implant and mom and dad love me and help me hear really well." "Most of my friends are deaf and you cannot be deaf because you can hear. It's okay though Gracen, my ears are just a little broken."

Then Savanah begins to tell her about growing old. "When your a grandma, you'll be really old and you'll go to Heaven. And when you're an adult, you can stay up as late as you want and watch TV after your childrens go to bed, just like our mom and dad. And no one tells you what to eat. The driving world if they say it's okay they will also let you drive a car. But if you have a job, only some of the times, you'll get lots of money, and money helps you be smarter."

Finally Savanah begins to talk about babies after Gracen commented on the adult part of the story about when she grows up she is going to have babies. Savanah replied. . ."When you're a mommy, you'll have milk in your boobies, but I know it's kind of gross, you can just put a cap on it, is that a great idea mom?!?"

I just love being Savanah's MOM!

?-Plant

Savanah's little sister, Gracen, who is 3 years old. . .
well she calls Savanah's implant -
her EAR-plant.

I just love it.
She pretty much has it right on the button, don't ya think?

It's kind of clicked now.
Although Savanah really does not like when you say it incorrectly.

Figures.

Candy Terms

The other day Savanah, my mom and I went to Yogurtland.

It's this really awesome place where you can get as much frozen yogurt as you want and then you can just PILE on all the toppings you can imagine!

Well of course Savanah thinks this is cool.
What 7 year old wouldn't?
I got her frozen yogurt for her, chocolate of course.
Then let her go to the topping bar.

She loaded up on M&M's and chocolate chips.

Grandma asked her what she put on it.
She replied. . . "M E M's and mountains"!!!

How cute. Chocolate chips are mountains and M&Ms, are pronounced with an "E" in the middle. Oh how I just love her.

These kind of things use to offend me.
I remember when Savanah was awfully young, Desmond and I were watching TV.
And these people were making fun of deaf people.
I cried out, "That's terrible!"
Desmond still thought the joke was funny.
I was completely appalled.

For some reason,
after seven years.
These sorts of things do not really bother me anymore.
People are always going to be people.
We make mistakes.
But hopefully we learn from them.

Something we have tried to instill in Savanah
NOT ONE SINGLE PERSON is like another person.
Everyone is different.
Everyone has faults.
Everyone has a character flaw.
Everyone is human which means no one is perfect.

So for everyone who makes a joke about being deaf, blind, fat, dumb, handicap etc.
The joke is really on you.

J U N E means CMV Awarenss

It's June, so we all should know what that means!
It's CMV Awareness month.

I'm working on a few special projects,
they are top secret, but we'll keep you posted.

But do me a favor would ya. . .
Go to this website
and start spreading the word!

The more spreading of this word,
the more lives will be saved!