He Calls Me MeeMa!

This week I heard the best new word coming from the sweetest little voice!  This year was Destination Christmas for our whole family and we spent it on the beach in Florida.  A week with our whole family is a rare occasion but spending it with our grandson is DOUBLE the joy and fun. The day after Christmas we were all together when I heard him call me "MeeMa!" for the first time. My heart just melted and jumped for joy and it really made my day! Actually, it has made my whole week, Christmas, and all!

I have had many names in my lifetime.  I am a daughter, sister, friend, wife, mommy, Mom, mother, mother-in-heart, granddaughter, cousin, niece, etc. just to name a few.  I've wondered for years what our grandchild would call me (he calls Steve, "Papaw").  Just to hear his sweet little boy voice call me "Meema! Meema! - over and over again is music to my ears and totally priceless!  I just wanted that moment to stop in time for just a little longer....it was the best Christmas present ever!

As I wrote in my journal this week, I reflected on Psalm 139 where God knew our names long before we were conceived or born.  He knew a long time ago what Jackson would call me.....

"You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit.

How I was sculpted from nothing into something.

Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth;

all the stages of my life were spread out before you,

The days of my life all prepared before I'd even lived one day..."

(from The Message)

I really didn't want to be called a traditional name like "Grandma" or anything like that but I love "Meema!"  It would probably change over time to something like "MeeMaw" as he gets older but this is perfect!  We've enjoyed our time together playing with his new toys, going for walks, eating together, shopping, etc.  He doesn't sit still for long!

Soon it will be a brand new year with new sounds, opportunities, and changes....

Happy New Year to you.  And may 2010 be the best yet!

A Very Special Request

Last month I received a very special request from another blogger who lives halfway around the world in Norway. His daugher, Lotte, wears the BTE (Behind The Ear) Cochlear Freedom Processors and is also bilateral like me. Her father asked me to be a guinea pig for an unusual experiment....

You see, Lotte does not wear her processors behind her ears but on her shoulders in little handmade pouches. Several medical specialists do not like the way she wears them but really cannot provide an answer why her cochlear implant processors should be worn on her ears. Lotte was implanted at a young age and has always worn her "ears" on her shoulders. And does not want them any other way. I know of other bilateral children whose parents put the processor(s) on their child's shoulders because it keeps them from falling off their small ears or manipulating the controls or losing them. Lotte's parents want to have some ammunition the next time the doctors and audiologists started complaining.

So, Lotte's dad reached out to me via Facebook and asked me to try wearing my processors on my shoulders for a few days so that they could have an adult opinion when this issue came up. Lotte is still too young to give them feedback on what or how she hears because she does not know anything different. Her parents are curious to know if sounds are softer on the shoulder or more difficult on the shoulders as opposed to being on the ears. They also wanted to know if there was a difference if the processors were covered with a coat or jacket, whether sounds were easier to hear without the wind blowing across the microphones or they were more muffled. I tried hanging my processors off my ears but my coils were too short to notice any changes in sound perception. After we traded several messages, here is what I got in the mail....this...

... and this! They sent me some "pouches" for my processors to clip on to my clothing, a pair of long coils, and the sweetest note! I have a feeling that Lotte put those stickers on! I love the beautiful handwriting, too.When I was Lotte's age until the age of 20, I had the most powerful body hearing aid available on the market and wore it tucked in my bra. I was very creative hiding my cords using my bra straps and rubber bands because I did not want anything to show. My microphones were in front of me on my chest. In fact, when I talked on the phone, I looked like this:I never really knew a difference having my "ears"on my chest because I did not have anything else to compare with and it was all I knew. And heard enough to get by with what little hearing I had.

Later, as an adult, I was tired of the "box" on my chest and got BTE hearing aids, mainly for cosmetic reasons. Even though the BTE's were not as strong as the body aid, I did not care because I wanted to "look good" and not have to bother with the cords, etc. My hearing was so poor that I really couldn't tell the difference between the body aid and the BTE's on my ears, except the BTE's were softer and not as strong.

I was honored and happy to do this "experiment" for Lotte and her parents. Not everyone can move their "ears" to their shoulders! The first thing I noticed was that my voice and sounds were very "nasal" or muffled, as if I had water in my ears or was in a swimming pool area. That did not change after a few days. But, the brain is an amazing organ and probably would have adjusted if I had kept them that way for a longer period of time. It was also very inconvenient having my processors on my shoulders because I could not change my batteries or change my programs or settings quickly. Lotte's parents probably handle those details for her. And, it was almost impossible to use the telephone. I had to move the processors to my ears to use the phone. Also, there really was no difference with or without a coat or sweater covering the processors on my shoulders. When I wear a hat over my BTE processors, I hear fine. I do like the sound of the wind so it does not bother me if it is there or not.

But, after I thought about it for a while, I realized that the distance from my ears to my shoulders is probably greater than for a child like Lotte. And the space from shoulder to shoulder is a greater distance on an adult when compared with a child. So, Lotte's processors are probably closer to her ears than mine are when I wore them on my shoulders. That may change as she grows. I still got "surround sound" no matter where the processors were located.

My advice to Lotte's parents was to let Lotte make the choice how she wears her processors. Why change something if it isn't "broken?" It should be her choice to move her BTE's to her ear. She may change when she gets older for convenience, or when she wants to look good, or when she sees how others wear theirs, etc. She does see other children with BTE's on their ears with amazing contraptions to keep them there but her father says she will follow her own way. She does not complain and is a happy seven year old going to school, interacting with friends and family, and even playing the piano. I really do not not think it should be an issue because she is hearing sounds, communicating, and is getting surround sound. There really is no "right" or "wrong" way to wear a cochlear implant processor as long as a person can hear!

To my readers, if you are a parent of a child that wears cochlear implants or hearing aids, an adult CI user, an audiologist or other health professional reading this, please do two things for me:

1. Leave a comment on your thoughts or experiences on this post for Lotte and her parents, AND...
2. Go visit Lotte's blog and say "hi!" She'd love to hear from you!

Jackson Update!

Jackson with his Tennessee grandparents!

Here are a few pictures from the holidays! Steve and I flew to Texas to be with our grandson, Jackson, and his mommy & daddy. He is growing so fast and we miss him already. I loved hearing him "talk" and make his noises. He also "slaps" the hardwood floor in the house as he does his "Army crawl" and it is easy to know where he is. I even heard him cry after his nap behind a closed door! And he always smiles when we open the door to get him!

Jackson at 9 months

The Three J'sJackson standing next to his cribDoing the "Army Crawl!"

Guess Who Is Coming to Tennessee?

Jackson! (And his mommy and daddy, too!) They will arrive tonight from Texas. And we are all ready for him with a clean car, car seat, & stroller. I love having a "Granny Car" complete with all the "accessories!" I never dreamed that being a grandma would be so much fun! I also borrowed a port-a-crib/playpen, and swing and all this stuff fills up my vehicle. There is hardly any room for the rest of us! In addition, I have formula, bottles, diapers and even a mini tuxedo for Jackson to wear this weekend. Steve and I can't wait to see our grandson again and have the rest of the family meet him! Brad (#3 son) is getting married on Saturday to his lovely fiancee, Caitlyn, and we are all headed to Kentucky for the wedding and celebration.

Right now the house is quiet with the dogs at the kennel and everyone gone. But we will soon hear the wonderful & precious sounds of laughter, babies, family, & friends at the wedding. And Brad & Caitlyn's wedding vows, the music that they've chosen, and the words of Pastor Jeff, who was Brad's youth pastor at our church.

On another note, my cell phone DIED yesterday. I just about DIED (pun intended) when it wouldn't power up or do anything. I never thought I would be so dependent on a phone after not being able to use it for years with my hearing loss. My replacement won't come for at least 5 days so I will be without a phone for the wedding weekend! I am using my old cell phone that I got two phones ago but it is so ancient compared to what I'm used to. I don't even want to carry it with me. I tried to call Brad last night with it and could barely hear with it. It does not have the M/T rating for my cochlear implants and it doesn't have speaker phone. But, I'll survive. Maybe this was supposed to happen for a reason so that I can concentrate on more important things.

I have several CI friends and bloggers who got cochlear implants this week and they are all doing well! (Five at last count.) One even went bilateral and got two at the same time and counted 30 staples in her head! I went to Knoxville this past Tuesday to sit with Karen's husband while she had her surgery and she did great. Am still waiting to hear updates from the others! I read a report recently that there are 130,000 cochlear implants WORLDWIDE today compared to 100,000 a few years ago. . . the number of patients has grown tremendously in the last few years. I've said this before and will say it again. . . "the time to hear is NOW." Life is too short and too precious to go without hearing the sounds and people around us. I hear the mourning doves, birds, and crickets outside all the time and smile. . .and am improving on the phone and in understanding what is being said on the radio. And I love listening to my iPod!

Blogging is a full time job and as you can see, I'm having a hard time doing updates. But I will write when I can. . . and will certainly post next week with wedding and baby pictures!

Leaving Texas

Being a grandparent is GREAT! Steve and I are officially in the "Grandparent Club!" I never thought we'd get so attached to a little baby. . .he has captured our heartstrings forever! I thoroughly enjoyed my two weeks in Texas with Jason, Jessica, & Jackson and did not want to leave! I truly bonded with that little guy and want to see him again. And hear all his little sounds that he makes. He changed so much those first two weeks and I don't want to miss a thing. I'll be back in June after my HLAA trip to Reno, Nevada!

The following pictures were taken the last day we left. Steve and I got up early so we could take turns holding him before we left for the airport. Isn't he precious??? :)

Gramma Laurie & Grampa Steve with Jackson

Gramma Laurie & Jackson

Jackson - 12 days old

Grandpa is here. . .

. . .and all is well! Steve arrived in Texas on Wednesday night and was happy to see the newest member of our family!

Steve & JacksonJackson in Grandpa's armsSteve & Jackson together

The Best Things Come In Small Packages

"How sweet to hold a newborn baby,
And feel the pride and joy he gives
But greater still the calm assurance
This child can face uncertain days because He lives. . ."
(lyrics from the song "Because He Lives")

Jackson is nine days old and is such a sweet, cuddly, & warm bundle to hold! I just love being a grandma! But better still, I am blessed to be able to hear all his little baby sounds. . .the sounds I missed when Steve and I had our four babies.

Jackson Sleeping on Grandma

Gramma Laurie & Jackson (9 days old)

The mornings are the best times when it is just he and I. Jason or Jessica will bring him to me when he wakes up around 6 a.m. We eat, burp, cry, coo, gurgle, grunt, sleep, snore, and listen to the mornings birds chirping. He'll stay awake for about 30-45 minutes and then falls asleep in my arms. . .and we snuggle for a couple hours. I love to listen to him breathe! Sometimes he "sings" as he breathes and it is so cute! This is heaven on earth and I'm really going to have a hard time leaving him when I return to Tennessee. I'm already trying to figure out a way to get back here again. He is changing every day and getting more alert. He is attracted by light and likes to look around with his dark eyes. He knows his mother's and father's voice and calms down when he hears them. It is amazing how babies are so tuned in to their parents voices. I'm bonding with him, too, and he knows his grandma!

Jackson Listening to his Mommy's voice

Jessica went back to classes yesterday and had a hard time leaving him. I don't blame her. He is such a sweetie pie!

I've had several "firsts" with Jackson. I brought him and Jessica home from the hospital last week because Jason had to work. I also went to his first doctor's appointment when Jessica needed to take him to the doctor after he was released from the hospital. I've given him his first "walk" and his "first bath." If he is fussy, I'll walk outside with him and he'll calm down. He does not like to be "unwrapped" and have his clothes off or his diapers changed. He has different kinds of cries, too.

I've been taking plenty of pictures of him and sending them to family and friends. Steve can't stand being away any longer and is flying to Texas today to see his grandson! He loves babies and can't wait to get here!

Stay tuned for more pictures!

The Best Birthday Present!

Meet Jackson Brice! He arrived today at 4:24 p.m! He weighed 8 lbs. 4 oz., is 19 inches long and has a full head of black hair! Mom, Dad, & Baby are doing great! I will celebrate my birthday tomorrow (no fooling!) holding my new grandson! A rare and precious moment! I'm enjoying his little newborn baby sounds and breathing noises already!

First Family Picture! Grammy Laurie & Jackson