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.

?MOLDS?

In need of a hearing aid mold for Savanah. . .unfortunately her audiologist with the school is out of town. . . anywhere else in UTAH VALLEY that other people get molds done at a reasonable cost?

BTW: Yep, Savanah is being fitted for her new HEARING AID next MONTH! Woohoo!

All in a day's outing.

Recently Savanah and I have ran into several children with cochlear implants. This is such a neat experience for her, since most of the time, the people you see with hearing devices are older and have hearing aids. So to see another child have a cochlear implant automatically connects you to them! And we have no problem talking to the family or the child, in fact, if they are in earshot, we do every time.

Kids who have cochlear implants are bonded. It's not like that if you wear glasses or anything, but these kids have been through the ringer. They are learning something so new and yes, even though we won't publicly announce it to them on a daily basis, they are a little bit different, definitely a little more special. Savanah beams with pride when she meets a family with a child who also has a cochlear implant and I beam even more when I get to show how wonderfully Savanah is doing with her speech and language.

We have come to know that every child who recieves a cochlear implant reacts differently. Some progress faster, some regress. The outcomes are all so different. These children are all so unique in their own ways. What may work for one, may not work for the other. But all in all, it is such a neat experience to talk with a family, or a mother, or just the child, for a moment, and walk away from that moment feeling relieved other people go through this process as well.

So even if you don't have a cochlear implant, but you see someone who does. . . why don't you stop them. Let them know you know a bit about those! Ask them how they are liking it. It probably would make their day, it definitely makes Savanah's!

We did IT!

We took a STAND and RAISED AWARENESS to STOP CMV!

We had a pretty good turnout for the lemonade stand. I was impressed with the people who really went out of there way for myself and Savanah to stop by. THANK YOU to THOSE of YOU who SUPPORTED us! I also am so grateful for friends, not just ordinary friends, but friends who dedicated hours and an entire day for this cause. THANK YOU, YOU ARE TRULY AMAZING PEOPLE and one person, specifically, went above and beyond the call of duty and you know who you are!

Ever since we found out Savanah was deaf, I have tried to be an advocate for her. I want people to be aware of her condition, and her cochlear implant, and her abilities and this virus. I have wanted people to know that she is just like any other child, and to please always treat her that way. I have wanted to make the difference, not only just in her life but the lives of others. I think we somewhat accomplished that on Saturday.

We may not have raised our goal for fundraising, we may have GALLONS and GALLONS of lemonade leftover, but the main goal was reached. We raised AWARENESS for people in this valley of ours and my promise and commitment to STOP CMV is that I will continue to raise awarness with OB offices across this county so that pregnant women will finally be aware of this devastating virus.

TAKE a STAND to STOP CMV! Also if you have not done so. . . go to the website and upload your photos for the HAND C!AMPAIGN

It's TODAY!

HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!

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. . . !