Want to hear a secret?

(Savanah's daddy and myself are thinking about getting her a 2ND implant.)

Coloring vs. Reading

So I attended Parent Teacher Conference last night.
I have to say it was interesting.
Savanah's mainstream teacher was lovely.
Very "first-grader'ish"
Told me "Savanah is darling, such a beautiful outgoing girl."
"We just love her."
We already knew that.
We discussed how she is doing in the class.
What progress she seems to be making.
She is doing extremely well.
Listening intently, not straining but very attentive.
She is following directions.
She is friendly and social.
Kids are receptive with her.
Things are going well. . . except. . .
her coloring I was told.
"Her coloring is not really up to my standard."
I was blown away!
But then I shrugged it off. . .
Because at the next conference I went to with her deaf teacher,
I was delighted to hear. . .
Savanah is reading above GRADE LEVEL!
She is able to read independently!
And with her guided reading, she is doing wonderfully!
So once again I will ask, coloring vs. reading?
I'll pick reading.

Basic Stuff. . .

will never come "easily" to Savanah.

But over the course of these last weeks of school, Savanah has taken 3 spelling tests and aced every single one of them!

We've definitely worked hard. Homework nightly, spelling, reading, sight words, math etc. Of course, not the favorite thing to do, but she definitely is working hard to get this stuff down.

It got me thinking the other evening, Savanah will always have to work hard in school, EXTRA HARD. School is never going to be "easy" for her. Some things will not just come naturally because of her deafness. So we have designated an area and time frame that homework needs to be done. I've felt like I've had to be fairly strict for the age of 6, but if good habits start early, hopefully they will stay.

Still always so very proud of our Savanah and all of her efforts to live in this hearing world. :)

I was meant. . .

to have a daughter.
to have a deaf daughter.
to have her teach me in more ways then she will ever know.
to cherish her.
to learn patience and kindness from her.
to grow with her.
to respect her.
to realize that everyone really is different.


I was meant to have Savanah. She was my trial and great joy at the exact same moment.
Other people may not realize the stresses that come with parenting a deaf child. It can be emotionally draining and at times financially impactful, but I wouldn't trade her for the world. Not one moment. (But I definitely will trade her cable coil on her cochlear implant that is about to go out, and the $290 that will come with that!)

Ding!

Just was reading over my previous post. . .

Is not that just the most AMAZING thing. . .

I can have a VERBAL conversation with my deaf daughter.

My deaf daughter, who was unable to speak a mere three years ago!

And look at that now. . . a FULL conversation!!!

Still amazes me.

That's all!

We had a chat. . .

just me and Savanah. Gracen was asleep. Daddy was in the mountains with his 4-wheeler, so it was the perfect time to have this little chat and it went something like this. . .

Me: So how was school?
Savanah: Good. I have two classes. Mrs. Boles class and Mrs. Buskers class. I live in that class with Ellie. We all have implants. Mrs. Busker has a time out class, Hunter was there today, he was not listening.
Me: Oh really? Were you listening?
Savanah: Yup. I did not have to go to time out. I listened and got a sticker.
Me: Well good Savanah, I'm so glad you are minding your teachers. Are you hearing okay in class?
Savanah: Yup. Remember mom I have an implant. :)
Me: I know sis. I just want to make sure that when someone is talking to you or in front of the class, like the teacher, that you are hearing and understanding everything that is going on.
Savanah: I got switched. My seats just like switched. I sit in front of Jacob not in the back anymore. Switched, just like that. (big goofy smile and hand movements)
Me: Oh good, so you got moved closer in Mrs. Boles class. Glad to hear it. Are you liking school lunch and the lunch room?
Savanah: Yup. All the peoples talk in the lunchroom. Talk about cool stuff and funny things. You can talk all the time in the lunchroom. Talk to everyone about cool stuff.
Me: Good, I'm glad you are having such a good time. I love first grade.
Savanah: I love it too. I'm not in KINDIEGARTENER anymore. I'm big. I'm like in first. I live in first.
Me: Well you live here sis but you go to school and are in the first grade.
Savanah: I know mom, I know. :)

Well first week of school, down.

FIRST GRADE

I remember being a first grader.

Edgemont Elementary, Mrs. Hale's class.

I have vivid memories of that year. Especially when I got in trouble and was sent back to Kindergarten for a few hours. I remember the 'reading treehouse', the desks and how they opened and could smash your fingers if you were not careful. I remember the library trips and recess. I remember the hall and where I use to place my backpack. I remember the smells and eating lunch in the big cafeteria.

Well my little Savanah is starting first grade next week. Wednesday the 25th. Yikes! What a scary thought to have a first grader, I don't feel old enough, I don't feel ready for her to keep growing up. But it is happening, right before my eyes.

I hope she cherishes first grade. I hope she has only positive, fantastic memories like I did. I hope she makes life-long friends, some of which I still have as far back as first grade. I hope she loves her teacher. I hope she listens. Intently and understands. I hope she loves to read, just like her and her dad did when we were 6 and 7. I hope she enjoys school lunch, because unfortunately the days of packed lunch for her and bye-bye this year. I hope she runs and laughs during recess. I hope she shares and follows directions and loves school to the fullest extent.

Savanah will hopefully only be in this particular school for this year, hopefully we'll be in a new house, with a new school by second grade, an elementary school that the kids will stay in.