Last day. . .

It is Savanah's last day of Kindergarten. WOW! This year has flown by. These past few days have been a blur, there are parent teacher conferences, meetings etc. to determine what Savanah's placement should be next year.

I never realized what deaf children and parents of deaf children went through with education. Until meeting Savanah, I had never really met a deaf person. I do remember one girl in highschool who wore hearing aids and was more reserved. I remember talking to her a few times and not being able to understand her very well. She was probably just passed along in the school system.

For the first three years of Savanah's life, her dad and I spent very precious time learning how to parent a deaf child and fighting for resources. We did not have any other children yet. We devoted all of our time to her. It was time consuming, but all the work has definitely paid off, not to mention our decision to have Savanah recieve a cochlear implant. When Gracen came along in 2008, it was a completely different experience. She was a hearing child. She talks at the age of 2, she comprehends everything you are saying, she follows directions, it is a totally different world.

We have two little girls, Savanah who is deaf and Gracen who is hearing. They are both intelligent, funny and absolutely darling. Gracen sort of understands that Savanah cannot hear, especially in the morning and during bathtime. She knows what her cochlear implant is and to not touch it. It has been tricky at times having a deaf child and hearing child. My goal is to be the perfect parent giving both children equal, quaility time and to insure Savanah is never left out. I also want, Gracen to not feel like the focus is always on Savanah. I do not want her to resent Savanah for being deaf. I try my best, but often laugh at my errors.

After all of this talk about school and mainstreaming lately, the thought of having a hearing child and deaf child has stayed in my mind. I have often wondered what differences we will encounter with putting Gracen in school. There will not be IEP's and all of these meetings. I wonder what it will be like for Gracen to grow up and attend school with her deaf sister.

So as for now, Savanah just got on her van to attend her last day with Becky and her last day at Kindergarten. She sure is growing up. Her confidence is beaming. Her language and speech are beautiful. Her grades are on her level. She is shining! Now if we could only make our decision as to what to do with her next year. . . !