January 9th!

So Savanah's surgery date is scheduled for January 9th. There are all sorts of emotions flying around about this. Excited, a little nervous. You know the jist. I mean, it's major surgery, who wouldn't be a little intimidated by that? And being a medical professional and knowing everything single thing that can happen has never been good for my soul but I have complete faith that everything will go according to plan! We've been asked by a few different people why we are choosing to implant her other ear when she has done so well and is hearing just fine. Well I'm here to clear this up. . . "just fine" is mediocre. We are born with two ears, most of the time. We are designed in life to hear with two ears. Savanah has done exceptionally well with just the one implant but I want to give her the opportunity to advance. To not tire out so quickly in school after listening all day, I want her to have the advantage of localizing (finding the sound) better, I want her to have the option of implants. She can choose later to wear them or not to wear them. She is amazing! Technology is amazing! Every single person that has ever been involved with her education, therapy, training is amazing! I hope only the best for her, that is all we can ever do for our children. Be able to give them endless possibilities. And that my friends, is what we are trying to do for Savanah.

BIG news!

I would like to make an announcement! 2013 will be another BIG year for Savanah. At the beginning of the year. . . Sometime in January. Savanah will be receiving. . . Drum roll!!!!

ANOTHER cochlear implant! Wahoo! She has been approved. We are just waiting for a surgery date, which we were promised will be in January. :) We are so excited for her! She has wanted this for some time! So glad we can make it happen.

Third to the grade.

Savanah starts third grade tomorrow. At a new school. With new people. New faces for teachers. COMPLETELY taken out of her comfort zone. Except for her bestie in her class. We met her teacher today. It was strange. I felt disconnected. She was nervous. Ne

She seemed nervous to have to teach a deaf child. But for being nervous, she sure didn't ask near the questions I expected. It seemed repetitive trying to explain to her that Savanah needs to sit on the right side of the room in the first few rows, near where the teacher will be speaking. I felt like I was wasting my breath. She seemed to think I was crazy. Even though I am her mother. I have experienced all of the auditory testing with her. We have been with specialists and teachers who only TEACH deaf children. I sure hope it goes better than this first official meeting. First impressions are huge, don't ya think? I'm a concerned but we'll see how it goes. I'm excited to report - that I will officially have a FULL-TIME mainstreamer tomorrow. I'm so excited to hear about her day after school.

Mapping & Sno-Cones

Recently Savanah and I ventured to Logan for her cochlear implant mapping. Mapping appointments consist of working with our favorite audiologist Cache but they involved audiograms - sound programming - and electrode tuning. This last appointment. Was just Savanah and I. A little mommy-daughter date. The drive to Logan (which is about 2 1/2 hours away from our home) was eventful. I was able to talk to Savanah the entire drive up there. I learned a lot about her. Have you ever really just talked to your kids? AND really LISTENED?!? This drive I listened to her tell me all about her friendship with Elly. How she really does enjoy being a big sister. How swimming is one of her favorite things to do and that she really doesn't like seafood or meat. I also learned that Savanah understands her deafness and "thinks it's pretty neat at night to not hear anything!" I also learned something I never had heard before - A sno-cone is her favorite treat and that summer was her best season. I agreed with her and told her I feel the same way. Later on that evening, after her mapping appointment, we each enjoyed a good sno-cone. She had lime and I had tigers blood. And it was a perfect day. The coolest thing about this day though - was the fact that while I was driving, holding both of my hands on the steering wheel, I was able to verbally communicate with my deaf daughter. And through the power of technology and medical expertise and a LOT OF WORK on both of our parts - she was able to listen to me. I didn't have to rely on sign language at traffic lights. She did not have to read my lips. We talked. And it was wonderful.

Different

So Savanah has a new best friend. This new BFF lives a few doors down. In our new hood. She is also 8. She is a little tom-boyish too so you can imagine how much Savanah is just eating that up. She loves it. They love each other. They sleepover. Play all day. Take tennis together. They are with each other ALL THE TIME. so y

And you know what I absolutely love about this new friend of ours. Not only is she super accepting of Savanah. But she has also been a HUGE model of difference in Savanah's life as well. In Utah it is pretty rare to see people who are of different races. Predominatly white people live in Utah. So to Savanah having a friend who was not white was huge. But I have to tell you. NEVER once has Savanah mentioned to me the difference of her skin color. Never once has she said anything to me. We're all different. Light. Dark. Hearing. Deaf. Blind. Handicapped. Blonde. Brown eyes. The list goes on. . . And that is the beauty of the human race.

Legit.

If you have a copy of 'The Endeavor' Check me out. A whole article dedicated to Savanah and the fight to Stop CMV!

CATCH UP!

Savanah turned 8 in March. Savanah celebrated her 5th Anniversary of HAPPY HEARING DAY in April. Savanah started track, started seeing an orthodontist and ended second grade in May. Savanah is excited. . . scratch that. . . beyond excited for summer! So bring it on!

And oh yeah. . . by the way. . . we had ANOTHER stranger GASP after they realized she was deaf. She must be talking that well! Wahoo!