4 Ears and 4 Eyes

Guess who's next to get glasses?? That's right, Gman!!

Yes, the picture is dark because the lights were off. But he's getting a cute pair of blue plastic glasses that look great on him. He HATES the whole idea. But he'll get used to it. And he doesn't have to wear them all day long, just for distant reading, etc. And we'll pick them up in a week or so. Good thing he wears cochlear implants because his ears wouldn't hold them properly being malformed, but they sit perfectly resting atop his processors. I can't wait until he SEES the difference.

Ears, ears, ears

Yes, I will schedule an ear tune up an hour and a half away for child #1 and be back to school before 1 p.m. for child #2's IEP. Crazy I know but it worked.

We got the boy all fixed up. He sat drawing, rolling his eyes, making snide remarks, etc etc, as his wonderful Audiologist MAPped BOTH ears, fixed the MIX for his FM so he can possibly hear his classmates better when the mic is in use, returned Brook's FM system to me in less than an hour and a half. So the four and a half hour trip put us back at school 10 minutes early for Brook's IEP. Woop! Got her all squared away and ready for 3rd grade next year.

We have determined that Gman is still going to need MAPping monthly. We tried to stretch it to five or six weeks and he's reading lips by then. He's ALWAYS needed monthly MAPping so this is nothing new. He just "special" as he likes to say, when trying to one-up his sister, lol.

Top Searches

These are the top word or phrase searches that land people here at Cochlear Kids, I always find these interesting. This is for the last month.


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Bullet Updates

Sorry, I'm not a lazy blogger (maybe I am) but we've just been really really really busy. I can't wait until Summa time and we have less on our plates. Everyone seems to stay booked up when I work a lot (and I am) so we all have to pitch in and play catch-up when we get home which leaves little computer time for me.

• Brook's IEP is scheduled for Thursday-I see no problems with that, nor am I nervous or anything. Just a meeting with the teacher(s) and I see them around a lot anyway so I'm not scared.
• Gage is scheduled for MAPping before her IEP meeting. He needs it. Even his teacher says he's reading lips to get by. I will also get his mix adjusted on his processors so that he can use that again. He needs to hear the teacher and other students and right now he only hears her.

• We have our PEEPS in the Park event on Saturday. Yay. I get to meet up with a lot of other families from AL with kids with hearing loss.
• Can you believe my baby boy is about to be 11 ?? Just a couple of more weeks!! Say it ain't so!

IEP Number One

I wish everyone's IEPs were as easy as mine are...but I know lots of people have to basically fight for every little thing. This year is the first time I recall them getting input from Gage. I know I had asked him last night if there was anything he needed for sixth grade and he said, "YES! I have got to have more P.E. time. I mean at least fifteen more minutes! There's just not enough time right now!" Apparently he mentioned that to them too, listing that as his FAVORITE subject (such a boy).  

They will not test him for Gifted as it has been postponed for too long (he was referred in second grade) but now his SATs scores from the past few years weren't high enough for them to consider him (even though he did earn a medal for his scores!) He had surgery after surgery causing him to get delayed each year. So, I'm guessing I won't be satisfied until I know his IQ score which means I'll probably pay out of pocket and have those done this summer by the Psychologist who tried to test him before (when his ADHD was so bad and he couldn't even finish the testing) The good news is that his ADHD doesn't seem to be too bad right now so his meds are still working!

He basically has a similar IEP to last year, he needs his special equipment (static-free computer mat, FM system, cochlear implants) and he'll stay in the classroom except for ARMT testing which will be done in a quiet small group setting. He will not be testing on any movie that doesn't have proper captions and he won't be testing on material given over a pre-recorded device unless exact reading material is furnished that can be read while it plays. And no paddling without calling me first (shouldn't be an issue)

I shouldn't have any issues but if they do pop up, I'm certain his sixth grade teachers will be glad to get with me and we'll work to resolve any of these matters. She also asked me a quick question about his next year's IEP when he'll be going over to the high school. I almost started crying. I don't even want to think about my baby going over there!

I have got to get him in to see the Audiologist soon. His teacher stated that he's having a terrible time right now and is lip reading heavily! So I'll be scheduling that asap.

Now Brook's IEP is next week so hopefully her's will go as smoothly!

ASL 1

I was subbing at the high school the other day for a Resource type Aide/Teacher. Other than a couple of kids coming in to use the quiet setting for tests, there was little for me to actually do. But what was very interesting, is that the last block of the day is an ASL satellite class from AIDB (Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind). The kids seemed to be really interested in it and knew quite a bit of sign.

The teacher was very patient as she had two classes going at once. But within that one class she taught them The Pledge of Allegiance and they went through a Bruno Mars song in sign. I found it all very interesting and she discussed with them about how to interpret a song by it's meaning and not the actual words, since there is so much symbolism in music. I just found it all very interesting and I did stand up before the camera by the end of class and told her both of my children were deaf and wear cochlear implants.

Now we begin the IEP process for this year. Gage's is set for this week and Brook's is next week. I can't believe they will be in third and sixth grade!!

It Was an Accident...

Little boys...what can I say? Although my daughter has been in the E.R. more times for injuries, little boys will shred Mama's nerves put us through the wringer too.

When Gman got in the car yesterday after school he says, "Now Mama, it was just an accident...but at P.E. while we were playing kickball, (boy's name) and I ran into each other, tripped, fell and he accidentally kicked me right where my implant is..." waiting waiting waiting for Mama to go nuts

When I heard the name of the other little boy man, I knew it was totally an accident and I calmly asked if he could hear well, if it hurt any, and if the other little boy was okay!! He said yes to everything and despite the fact he didn't want me to, I looked at it really really good when we got home. Nothing, it was perfectly fine.

Accidents can, do and WILL happen. Under most circumstances these implants are very durable these days. Sometimes, people aren't so lucky and need to have them replaced. Today we are very thankful that we will not be going in for a replacement surgery at this time.

Gage is currently taking the State testing this week along with everyone else his age (grades 3-6) and also during the first of next week. He is removed from his class along with a couple of other people who need a smaller, private setting to take the tests. He is doing well, despite the fact HE HATES THESE TESTS!! But we are down to only six weeks of school left, and then SUMMER VACATION!!!

Easter Egg Hunt

We had our Easter Egg Hunt for our church Saturday. Gman is obviously "too old" in his elder state (lol) but Brook had fun. I did have to remind her not to go down the plastic slide without taking off her processors but she chose not to go down them, because THERE WAS A METAL ONE!!! Yay. So static wasn't much of an issue.

They had a ball...and guess what Brooklyn earned in her Sunday School class (and it was taught in song format!!)

That's right! My deaf baby learned a song and sang it by herself to her teacher!! woop woop!

Easter Egg Hunt Pictures