This Is Why I Dance....

When I named this blog "Laurie's Dance With Sound" as I began my cochlear implant journey, little did I know that I would embrace the world of "dance" in a brand new way six years later.

Earlier this year, my husband, Steve, and I walked into the Let's Dance Ballroom Dance Studio, which had just opened in our small town of Maryville, Tennessee, to explore ballroom dancing.  Surprisingly enough, we found a new passion that we can enjoy together as a couple in this new chapter in our lives as “empty nesters.”  Steve and I have been dancing the "dance of life" for the last thirty five years and look forward to dancing together in a whole different way.  After progressing through a few weeks of lessons, I knew that I needed more than just a few sessions a week.  In addition to dancing with my husband (when he was not traveling on business), I started private lessons with our dance instructor, Brandon, to explore the world of ballroom dancing on a new and different level. 

Recently, during one of my private dance lessons, Brandon and his colleague, Chris, asked me, “Why do you want to dance?”  I don’t remember exactly how I answered it but I do know that the question caught me off guard.  I have pondered it ever since, searching for some better answers.  For a few days, my thoughts flowed in my journal and I decided I would put these thoughts into writing. 

Since birth, I have lived with a severe/profound hearing loss and have worn hearing aids since the age of two.  Although I could not hear well, music has always been a part of my life because it filled my heart with emotion and needed no words.  Victor Hugo decribed it perfectly when he said,  "Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and cannot remain silent."  Music was just “pretty noise” for me when I heard it through my hearing aids.  I would play my favorite songs and albums as loud as I could so that I could feel the beat and rhythm through the vibrations and sounds.  Throughout the years, I expressed the music that I "heard" through many different forms, whether it was by playing the piano, ringing handbells in church, dancing liturgically, signing to music, and even swimming on a synchronized swim team.  Expressing a particular song in various ways with grace and passion allowed me to show how my heart and soul felt inside.

In August of 2005, I underwent surgery for my first cochlear implant, and surgery for another cochlear implant followed soon after in January 2007.  These two surgeries changed my life and my hearing dramatically.  For the first time in my life, I was hearing sounds that I had never heard before, sounds that others take for granted.  I spent much time in therapy relearning how to hear with my new “ears.” Now that I can hear almost perfectly with my cochlear implants, music has become “multi-dimensional” with the variations of the different instruments and voices.  It is more than just “pretty noise” to me now and I am experiencing a brand new world of music! 

In my daily life, I wear many “hats.”  I’m a wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, friend, accountant, writer, mentor, and volunteer, just to name a few.  When I dance, I can leave the stressors of “life” outside the door for a while and just be me: Laurie.  The more I dance, the more I feel free and alive.  I lose myself in the music and the dance.  I cannot go more than a few days without music.  And now I cannot go more than a few days without dance.  I cannot find all the words to explain how I feel, but I do know that ballroom dancing has changed something deep inside me, and it is something that cannot be hidden or controlled.  When I dance, whether it is a waltz, tango, foxtrot, rumba, cha-cha, or swing, I feel a shift in my spirit and lose myself in the rhythm of the music on the dance floor.  But at the same time, my heart and soul (along with movements of my body and feet) are another instrument to be played.  When I wear my dance “hat,” I only know that I am listening and responding to the music playing in my ear, and it makes me feel whole.  Learning to ballroom dance has ignited a fervent passion and desire that I cannot deny.

I am changing in more ways than one.  As I shared previously, ballroom dancing has allowed me to “let my hair down” and be free.  It helps me to release the tension and stress I encounter in my daily “dance of life,” keeping my body and brain active, as well as helping me with my mental health.  Also, I suffer from Meniere’s disease, which is a disorder of the inner ear that affects hearing and balance, characterized by episodes of vertigo and dizziness.  I am learning how to balance and control my body and have not had a single “attack” since I started dancing!  I am gaining more confidence and coordination in my body, which is resulting in a better posture and positive outlook on life.  The extra pounds I have dropped are also a plus!

My dance instructor and the owners of the dance studio know that they have inspired me and have given me a new lease on life.  Their faith, belief and trust in me that I can dance in spite of my challenges speaks volumes.  Two weeks ago, I performed my first tango dance routine with my instructor & dance partner to "Santa Maria" at a Friday Night Party at the studio.  I was nervous right up to the time of the performance but as soon as the music started, the butterflies in my stomach went away and I just "danced."  What a wonderful feeling it was to show my joy, my emotions, and deep gratitude that I am able to do what I love as I moved across the floor.  I know that I would not have done this without the miracle of sound through my cochlear implants.

Dancing has freed me to enjoy this moment, this season in my life and makes me feel happy inside.  So, my friends, no matter what is going on in your life today, "Take Life By the Hand and DANCE!"  You will never, ever be the same.....

My Dance Instructor and Partner, Brandon and I after our "Santa Maria" Tango Routine

June 3, 2011

Come Sit With Me for Awhile

I've been away from this blog for awhile, mainly because there hasn't been time to write.  I compose blog posts and thoughts in my head on a regular basis and sometimes write them down in my journal.  But no one benefits UNLESS I put it here!

So, today, I'd like to share with you why I have the pictures and quote on the top of this page.  The two white rockers invite you to come sit with me on my front porch for while.  I love a good cup of tea but it is better shared with a friend or someone I love.  Let's listen to the birds sing together!  

The sound of the gently flowing waterfalls is so soothing to me.  And the wind in the trees reminds me of the One who created this beautiful world just for US.  And I absolutely love the birds.  I found this quote shortly after my first cochlear implant was activated, which fit perfectly with my "Dance with Sound."

Spring has arrived in Tennessee.  The birds are slowly returning to my feeders and I just love to hear their happy songs!  Last night I took time to relax on the front porch in my rocking chair with a glass of wine.  It was so peaceful and relaxing just listening to the birds and sounds of nature.  Made me realize that no matter how busy I get, I really need to just take some time to relax & rejuvenate, even if it is just for a few minutes.

Happy Spring to you from me!

A Tsunami Experience and CI Moment

Questions for the deaf and hearing impaired:

• Are you prepared for emergencies and major alerts when traveling, especially when it comes to hotel accommodations?
• Do you let airline personnel and agents know that you would appreciate alerts for boarding times, gate changes, delays, etc.?
• When checking into a hotel, do you request an ADA kit and let the staff know that you may need special assistance or notifications during emergencies?

When I travel alone through airports and stay at hotels, I am not afraid to let others know that I might miss a message and would appreciate some personal attention. I do this for two reasons…for my own safety and to increase awareness about the needs for the deaf and hard of hearing.  Even though I can hear with my cochlear implants, I usually make sure I ask for assistance, especially when I travel alone. I am still deaf when I am not wearing my cochlear implant processors. I turn them off when I fly (why waste batteries on engine noises) and at night.

My husband and I recently traveled to Hawai’i for business and were staying at the Marriott Waikiki Beach Resort on the O’ahu Island. Our room was on the 27th floor overlooking the Pacific Ocean right near the beach. Last Thursday evening, we had just gone to bed and had turned off the light after a long day. We were planning to get up early the next morning to tour Pearl Harbor and do some sightseeing. I had turned off my “ears” and was doing some reading. We were first alerted to pending danger around 9:22 p.m. by my friend, Evelyn, when she sent me a text message asking if we were okay. And a few more text messages and Facebook alerts came in from other friends asking the same question because they knew we were in Hawai’i. Just as I turned to Steve in confusion, he immediately sat up in bed and giving me the impression he was listening to something. He was hearing announcements and instructions coming through the hotel intercom.  It was difficult for him to understand what was being said because the intercom system kept making crackling noises. (There is no way I would have been able to make out the words even with my cochlear implants on.)  We immediately turned on the TV where we found out about the 9.0 magnitude Japan earthquake. We were shocked to see the massive devastation that had just happened and learned that the earthquake triggered a powerful tsunami that was headed for Hawai’i in a few hours! Steve also received a phone call from a colleague at Hawai’i Electric offering us his home if we needed to evacuate.

Hawaiians are very service oriented and hospitable people.  The hotel staff was well prepared and promised to keep their guests informed on any new developments through the night. There were signs by the elevator in English and Japanese.  We were assured that we were safe as long as we stayed above the third floor. Our hotel was built like a fortress and the staff was well prepared for situations like this.  The tsunami was scheduled to come ashore to the Hawaiian Islands around 3:30 a.m. I immediately jumped out of bed, put my cochlear implants back on and packed my suitcase in case we had to evacuate in a hurry!

We heard tsunami sirens all night long (a new CI sound for me!). We also heard the police on the streets below us telling everyone to get off the beaches and go inland. Needless to say, it was a long night of warnings and we got very little sleep. Steve and I took turns watching the TV and dozing off. We even went down to the deck on the 3rd floor around 3 a.m. to see what was going on. The conference rooms were turned into evacuation centers and there were TV monitors set up everywhere. There was a church next to the hotel and I was comforted when I saw the simple cross on top of the roof. I knew then that we would be okay, no matter what happened. I was reminded of Deuteronomy 31:8 that tells us that "the Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."  Whenever I am anxious, nervous, upset, or scared, this verse reminds me that the Lord has already gone before me, preparing the way for protection and peace.

It was actually a beautiful and eerie night. The tsunami waves did come ashore and came over the break walls, flooding the beaches and streets, stopping short of the high rise hotels, including ours.  Most of the waves were around four feet but some beaches on the islands reported eight foot waves.  When the sun came up the next morning, the streets and hotel decks were soaking wet. The sky was a beautiful blue color with a few white clouds.  The water was also blue, crystal clear and sparkling in the sunlight. There were sailboats back on the water and a few surfers taking advantage of the big waves. As we looked out at the beach, we could see the seaweed that had washed ashore.

I am so thankful for text messaging, email, Facebook and modern technology. Otherwise, we would not have gotten the messages about the tsunami so quickly. Because Steve is hearing, I don’t usually ask for special accommodations because he takes good care of me.  In the future, though, I think it would be a good idea to make the hotel staff aware that I have a hearing loss in case of emergency.   My husband may not always be in the room with me if I need to be alerted.

While our experience was mild compared to the tragic events and loss of life and property in Japan, we never dreamed in our lifetime that we would experience a tsunami warning.  This was a reminder to me to always be prepared in case of emergency, no matter what the situation is.

A Broadway CI Moment

Wow! Oh, Wow! My husband and I recently saw the Broadway musical, “Wicked” at the Gershwin Theatre while on vacation in New York City. For the first time EVER, I was able to enjoy a show without missing a single word or action. Steve called ahead before he made our reservations to see if they had any assistive listening devices available for me. The person who answered the phone was very vague about what was available and didn’t seem to know too much about them. We decided to take the chance and go to the show because I figured I might be able to use my Cochlear audio cable cords that I use for listening to music on my iPod and FM systems. To my surprise (and glee!), I was able to use not one, but TWO assistive devices for the show. There was a gal in charge of the booth and they had an infrared unit with a neck loop, headsets (much like the TV Ears), AND a handheld I-Caption unit. I also overheard her telling someone else that they had a device to allow someone to enjoy the musical translated from English to Spanish. In order to get the units, I had to exchange my driver’s license and chose to use the infrared neck loop unit with my own cords and the I-Caption unit.

Wow! The acting & musical numbers were extraordinary, drawing both Steve & I (as well as the audience) into the story. We were totally in awe of the costumes and the different sets that moved quickly between scenes. Our seats were four rows from the stage so the orchestra was right in front of us! The plot of the story was very intricate and we loved how the life lessons were connected to the original Wizard of Oz, which was first produced in 1939. The characters were so loveable and emotional, leaving Steve & I speechless in our seats. We both had tears streaming down our faces by the end of the show.

I think Steve enjoyed the show just as much as I did because I did not tap his arm once during the musical production to ask him what was going on or what someone had said. I cannot remember a time when I did not have to ask a question about the storyline during a show or a movie. My earliest musical memory was seeing “The Sound of Music” when it first came out in the late 1960’s. My mother sat next to me and spent the whole time making sure I understood what was going on. She was my earliest “transcriber” and was so patient with me.

There are only three theatres in NYC that provide assistive listening devices for those persons with hearing loss. (I didn’t catch the names of the other two.) The Gershwin Theatre definitely has a place in my heart and I plan to visit again the next time we come to New York City. This Broadway experience was definitely a special CI moment for me. In case I haven’t said it yet, “Wow!” What an experience! I love New York!

To Cochlear and those persons responsible for the advances in technology today so I can hear & enjoy music & shows with my cochlear implants, I just want to sing “because of you, I do believe I have been changed for good….” (lyrics from the last song “For Good” in the musical, Wicked).

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 Spooky CI Moment...

Here is a question for you:

If a car alarm goes off in the garage and no one is around, does it make a sound?

The other day I was working in my office upstairs (I work at home for our consulting business) and heard a car alarm go off. I had my window cracked a little bit so I could hear the birds and thought that maybe it was my neighbor's car going off but didn't see anything or anyone. Then it stopped a few seconds later.

I continued working for a few more minutes.....then I heard it AGAIN. Before I could get up from my chair to investigate, it stopped. Now, whenever I hear an unusual sound or one that confuses me, I find someone to tell me what it is. But this time I was alone in the house and had to figure out for myself this time. I thought that maybe Chris had come home for something and was in the driveway messing around, teasing me. (As a mother of boys I've had my share of "pranks" and "jokes" played on me before!)

Then, I heard the car alarm go off AGAIN! And this time it stayed on (and Riga was going crazy barking and pacing in the kitchen). So, I got up and went downstairs because it sounded like it was coming from the garage. Sure enough, it was coming from MY CAR and the lights were flashing on and off, all by itself. No one was around, nothing was touching the car or had bumped it, and I was pretty sure the keys were in the house. I just stared at it for a few minutes with my jaw open trying to figure out what to do. As I started to turn around to go back inside to locate my keys, the darn thing shut off by itself.....RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME!

By now I was really starting to get confused (and a little spooked) because this had never happened to me before and I was alone in the house. I sent Chris a text message to his phone and told him what was going on. He said that maybe my door alarm system was going bad and that maybe I should call the dealership to get it fixed. I found my keys on the hook in the kitchen where I usually hang them and I heard the car alarm go off AGAIN! And it shut itself off about 30 seconds later. I took my keys out to the garage, pointed my keys at the car, and pressed the buttons a few times to see if I could deactivate the alarm. The car stayed quiet after that so I went back upstairs to continue working.

But, later, I transferred Steve's laundry from the washer to the dryer and found my EXTRA car key in the bottom of the washer! He must have left it in one of his pockets! He is usually good about emptying his pockets and almost always puts the car keys in the same place in his office. So, while the key was being "washed" it must have set off the sensors to activate my car alarm! I just had to laugh and realized that was why the car alarm was being set off. I immediately took the key and put it in my cochlear implant dryer to dry it out and keep it from being damaged any further. We had just gotten new keys for my car and they were not cheap. I've used my Dry-N-Store for my CI to dry cell phones before. If it can "dry" a $7,000 cochlear implant processor, it can certainly dry an electronic key or cell phone which costs a lot less!

I was relieved that I was able to figure out why my car alarm was going off. I was afraid it had gone off in the middle of the night, waking my neighbors, when I wouldn't be able to hear it at all. And no one would have been able to get a hold of me to tell me to shut it off. There are times when I don't have my processors on and do not hear a thing, like when I'm alone, in hotel rooms, fixing my hair, etc. Which brings me to another post later regarding my thoughts about considering a hearing service dog in the next few years for my next dog....

Four Years Ago Today...

Four years ago today my first cochlear implant was activated...

Four years ago I heard the sound of a little boy's voice as he talked to his mom....sounds I had missed when our children were little...

Four years ago my four children surprised me with my very first iPod.... (I'm on my second one now!)

Four years ago I heard the beautiful sound of 19,000 women singing in acapella, the faint sounds of 19,000 Bible pages turning in complete silence, and 19,000 women worshipping together at a Beth Moore Conference in Knoxville...

It is hard to believe that I've been on this wonderful "Dance with Sound" for the last four years. I never dreamed it would be possible to hear this well in my lifetime, going from a severe/profound hearing loss to normal hearing in both ears. (I went bilateral with my second ear in January of 2007.) I still continue to discover "new" sounds in different environments but not as frequently as I did in the beginning. Getting a cochlear implant (or two) is not a "quick fix" to a hearing loss and it took much hard work and perseverance on my part to get to where I am today. I spent over a year in therapy just learning to hear all over again because I never heard those high pitched sounds that are such an important parts of speech. I had family members read to me and practiced listening to books on tape. I practiced on the phone even though I dreaded it. But it has all been worth it worth it and I'm still "practicing" today.

My cochlear implants have given me a new lease on life and connected me to another world of deaf and hard of hearing friends from all over the U.S. and the world, through the Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) and through this blog.

One of the best parts of this journey is being able to hear the precious & sweet "little voice" of our grandson! And it has increased my faith....for NOTHING is impossible with God! He always has a plan...in His timing...if we only ask...

And I couldn't help but smile and say "Thank you, Lord" as I listened to the sound of the rain above me in church this morning as we sang "Grace Like Rain...falls down on me.....Alleluia!"

Can You Read My Lips?

The above picture needs a little explanation. (Smile!) My husband and I are currently in Los Cabos, Mexico for a much needed vacation, our first in four years.! Traveling to different country poses some challenges with the different languages when one only speaks English. Here in Mexico, the natives speak Spanish as well as some basic English words. For someone like me, who is fluent in “speech reading,” it is hard to read lips when English is a second language because the natives don't move their lips to form their words in English. Steve understands when I cannot and is very good about translating for me. I’m thankful that I do not have to travel alone!

But, this week was a challenge when we decided to take the Cactus ATV tour in Cabo San Lucas, BCS, Mexico. Before we started the three-hour tour, we were all outfitted with bandanas that covered our noses and mouths, goggles, helmets, and Honda ATV’s! Everyone’s faces were completely covered, including our guide’s, to keep the sand and dust from getting in. I could not even attempt to try to understand our guide’s muffled broken English with the Mexican accent but was able to manage just by watching him and the others. Luckily, I had a 350cc automatic Honda All-Terrain vehicle and it was pretty easy to figure out and drive.

We had fun driving through the desert, mountains, canyons, and streams. We enjoyed the beautiful scenery, especially when we got to Migrino Beach. The huge waves in the Pacific Ocean were just beautiful as we rode along three miles of the spectacular dunes, cliffs, and white sandy beaches.

View from my ATV

I took it all in and just rode my ATV, with the wind blowing in my face. My very favorite sound is the sound of the ocean as the water ebbs and flows along the beach & rocks.

Migrino Beach & Pacific Ocean

Desert Sunset

More posts to come soon! Adios!

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!"

Health Update - Meniere's Disease?

Dear Friends,

I know I am way behind in my blog and will be updating it when I have a good opportunity. My email box is filling up with messages wondering where I've been and I want to thank everyone for their kind words and concern. I am truly blessed to have friends like you, many of whom I haven't met in person yet. I just responded Ethan's mom (see earlier post when I visited with her and E-boy) and thought I would just copy and paste my response here, too.

I have not felt well since I returned home from my trip to Ohio in late September. I had a very bad cold/sinus infection in October and it took me a long time to get over it. At the beginning of November, I went on a 10-day mission trip to Latvia with my husband and a group from our church, the Faithful Men singing group. While we were there I had two very bad vertigo attacks and was completely immobilized in bed in our hotel room for two days. I could not move, open my eyes or do anything without vomiting or having the room spinning on me. At first I thought it was food poisoning but no one else got sick like I did. A friend of mine had some phenergan with her so I was able to take that and survive the long 20-hour trip home.

To make a long story short, after seeing two doctors and going to a therapist, Dr. Merwin, my ENT/CI doctor, has pre-diagnosed me with Meniere’s disease, which is an inner ear disorder that controls balance. If that is the case, it will just be one more obstacle in my life that I will have to deal with. And I'm okay with that.

Meniere's Disease is manageable with a low salt/high protein diet and medicine. I am currently taking a water pill to see if that will drain the extra fluid around my ears. There is no cure for it. I will have two more tests done in the coming weeks to confirm Dr. Merwin's diagnosis (I can't have an MRI because of my cochlear implants so he is using other options). I am starting to have more good days than difficult ones. And will have final results in mid-January.

One of the side effects of Meniere's Disease is hearing loss. Luckily, this has not affected my hearing because of my implants. However, I've gone in the other direction and am EXTREMELY sensitive to sound. I have the sensitivity and volume levels turned way down and it is still too loud at times! Sometimes I just take them off for awhile and work in silence.

So, when I do have my good days, I try not to overdo it and just do the daily tasks that need to be done. With the holidays and year-end business accounting for our business, I have more than I can handle! But, all I can do is just take one day at a time. I used to say that God doesn't give us more than we can handle but over the last few years I've changed my view about that statement. I do think He gives us more than we can handle so we can call out His Name, talk with Him daily and walk with Him. He will be our guide during difficult and stressful times. He is here.

Hope you and your family and friends are enjoying the holidays with anticipation and HOPE. May you have a blessed holiday season, whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, or other tradition!

My "Gilead"

Last month I "escaped" to my aunt Trudy's house in Ohio. I needed to get away for a little while for some peace and quiet. Even though I can hear wonderfully with my cochlear implants, there are still times in my life when I crave the peace for my soul that comes with silence and solitude. . . away from the noisy world with no distractions. I've been going to Trudy's house every year for the last few years and look forward to my time there and spending time with her. She is my mother's younger sister and I'm close to her. She bought this place in the country several years ago to get away from the noise and haste of city life. This, too, is her "Gilead". . .

My prayer partner understood my need to get away and reminded me before I left that "Gilead" means "healing waters." I've always loved the song, "There Is A Balm In Gilead". . .especially the following verse:

"Some times I feel discouraged,
And think my work’s in vain,
But then the Holy Spirit,
Revives my soul again". . .

It takes me almost nine hours to get to my destination. As I was driving, listening to music, praying, and meditating, I was talking to God and thanking Him for taking me to my "Gilead." I heard a still, small voice say, "Dear One, I AM taking you to your Gilead." Then it dawned on me. . . .Trudy lives in Mount Gilead! I love how God works and speaks to me through people, places, and circumstances.

I had a wonderful week in my "Gilead." Slept, ate, read, exercised, sewed (I took my sewing machine, too), visited with family and friends, and just plain rested. It is so peaceful here. I wanted to stay another week. I also took lots of pictures!

Trudy's House

Cornfield Next to Trudy's house

"Healing Waters" in front of Trudy's house across the road

Trudy's front porch swing where I had my morning coffee in solitude. Trudy and I had some good conversations here, too. Her next door neighbor has a rooster that crows at the crack of dawn. We would sit here every morning, waiting for the sunrise and the rooster. But, never heard him.

My Christmas Tree Quilt that I made at Trudy's - I still need to quilt and bind it before I can hang it up for the holidays.

Aunt Trudy and MeEntering Mount GileadJeremiah 46:11 (The Message) "Oh, virgin Daughter Egypt, climb into the mountains of Gilead, get healing balm. . . .

Taming The China Cabinet

Ever since I got my cochlear implants, I've been more aware of sounds I haven't heard before. Others CI friends have had to oil squeaky hinges on doors or turn down the volume on the TV and other electronic items. In our house, we have a noisy china cabinet in the dining room! Our dining room sits in the middle of the house and is a major walk-through area from the hallway to the kitchen. The china in the cabinet rattled every time someone walked past it. No matter how I divided or arranged the dishes and glasses, they still made noise.

We recently replaced the carpet in our dining room because one of the dogs chewed a hole in it all the way to the sub-floor. (We needed to replace the carpet anyway because it was so dirty and I couldn't clean it anymore.) I had to unload ALL the dishes in the china cabinet and serving cabinet in order to move the furniture out of the room. I have two sets of china, mine and my mother's. And can't part with either set (but will gladly hand them down someday). I also have a few pieces from my Grandma Royer.

Anyway, when we moved the china cabinet back into the dining room, I decided that I had to find a way to eliminate the "rattling" noise. I also wanted to get rid of some items that we didn't need anymore and organize the china a little better. After doing some research on the Internet on how to organize china cabinets, I also found a very helpful hint. And will share it with you.

I put a plain coffee filter between each plate, bowl, and saucer! (And had to run out to the grocery to get more!) They come in different sizes and are supposed to protect the dishes from scratches and breakage. But, the coffee filters also cut down on the rattling noise because the dishes can't "wiggle" as much.

Here is the final result!

Labor Day Fireworks!

Steve and I went to Knoxville on Labor Day to see the Boomsday Fireworks. For those of you who don't know what Boomsday is, it is a huge three day festival held in Knoxville, Tennessee every Labor Day weekend on the waterfront in downtown Knoxville. It is a free event that brings thousands of people to Knoxville’s Volunteer Landing (near the University of Tennessee campus) and Neyland Drive for food, live music, has a play area for kids, and the biggest Labor Day weekend fireworks show on the last night. In addition to watching the wonderful fireworks show, those who attend can also hear the show choreographed to patriotic and contemporary music on radio.

This was my first time hearing and experiencing the fireworks with two CI ears. I could hear the music playing on the radio that the family next to us had with them. I also noticed an "extra" sound during the fireworks show, which I'm assuming that I'm hearing with the little residual hearing that I have left. If I had turned off my CI's, I probably would have heard the fireworks as "clicking" sounds in my ears. And felt them, too.

The fireworks were great! And fun! Enjoy the pictures!

Sounds of Mystic, Connecticut

The waters are alive with the sounds of Mystic,
With stories they have told for a thousand years.
The river fills my heart with the stillness of Mystic,
My heart wants to tell every story it hears. . .My heart wants to soar like the mist on the water rising like a breath of heaven to the clouds. . .
My soul wants to sail like a ship that glides
from the pier in the wind. . .
To move gracefully through the ripples of the water like a peaceful swan. . .
To flow like the tide when the waves trip and fall over
rocks on their way. . .I go to the sea when my heart is quiet. . .
I know I will hear sounds I haven't heard before. . .
My heart is truly blessed with the sounds of Mystic. . .
And I'll return some day soon!
(by Laurie Pullins 08/27/08)

Steve and I have been traveling for business and pleasure for the last ten days. We spent five wonderful and glorious days in Mystic, Connecticut with the newlyweds, Brad & Caitlyn, and had a great time. I heard the ocean with TWO ears for the first time! It sounds so much better and more complete than just hearing it with one CI or even with hearing aids. I took so many pictures but thought I would post a few here.

The Ocean beneath my feet!Mystic is an old seaport town and has so much history. Brad & Caitlyn have a cute little apartment in an old house in the historical district of Mystic. They are within walking distance to downtown Mystic where one can browse around in the unique shops, eat out in the various restaurants, have coffee or tea in one of the shops, walk along the pier and see the fishermen and boats, and see all the old buildings and bridges. I got up early in the mornings and just walked down to the pier and the water when it was peaceful and quiet without the hustle and bustle of the tourists. One of the highlights for me was seeing and hearing the Mystic drawbridge go up to let the boats pass. It sounds a horn when it is ready to go up and sounds a bell when it is going down. And I can hear it from a distance (about a mile) from Brad & Caitlyn's house!

The Mystic Drawbridge Steve and I used to live in the New London/Groton area, which is just over the main bridge from Mystic so we did some sightseeing and traveled down "memory lane." We went to our old house and neighborhood that we used to live in, visited Ocean Beach, and just drove around. We left CT in 1982. A lot of it has changed but much of it is still the same. And we also had dinner and breakfast with some friends of ours that live in the area. It was a wonderful "mini" vacation for us. Steve and I are so thankful that we can share these memories together after all these years. Where does the time go? I wish I could go back and live in Connecticut again!

Our first house on Lincoln Avenue (the only cobblestone street in New London)The NEWLYWEDS Caitlyn & Brad!Steve & Laurie at S&P Oyster Company

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!

Future Cochlear Implant Candidate???

This is what I woke up to this morning. . . I was not prepared for the sudden, jarring sensation that reverberated through my processors when I turned them on! And I was inside the house! We live on a quiet circle at the end of a mile long street and have very little traffic or noise on our street. We are having some major construction for the next five weeks so that the city can install sewer drains for our end of the neighborhood. . .

The man operating the jackhammer had some pretty heavy duty headphones on. Steve said he probably had earplugs on underneath as well, protecting his ears. I couldn’t tell if his surrounding coworkers had ear plugs on but I hope they did. Construction workers are constantly exposed to loud noises and it HAS to have an impact on their hearing. I had to turn off my processors when I went outside to get the newspaper (and take these pictures) because it was that loud. I wonder how many jackhammer operators lose their hearing doing this kind of work. They still get “bone conduction” through their bodies even though they are protecting their ears. Hmmm. . .maybe I should invest in some Cochlear and Advanced Bionics stock!

Woodpeckers, Baby Birds, & Roses

**Update** We have a very elusive woodpecker. I hear him every morning but he flies away as soon as I peek around the curtains with my camera. I'll get his picture one of these days! He still drills on the same corner of the metal gutter! I did post two pictures of the bird's nest and roses - see below!

I love this time of the year because I can hear the birds. We have so many of them around here! We have a beautiful red-headed woodpecker that has been visiting our bird feeder every day. (My bird book says he is a red-bellied woodpecker with a zebra-striped back and a red cap.) This morning as I was reading and having some quiet time in our breakfast area, I heard him! And with only one CI. (I like to start out my mornings with one ear while the house is quiet.) I've been hearing woodpeckers for some time but this wasn't the typical "rat-a-tat-tat" sound I was used to hearing. It was so loud and sounded like it was drilling on something other than wood. This woodpecker sounded like he was drilling and hitting the house! When we first moved here, woodpeckers were a problem for the previous owners because they would drill holes in the house. We haven't had any problems but I surely didn't want any holes in the house since we are getting ready to sell it. I heard it three times and said "Hey!" to get him off the house even though I couldn't see him. That didn't stop him because I kept hearing him. I started looking around trying to figure out where the sounds was coming from. You'll never believe where I found him. . .he was sitting on the edge of a gutter drilling into the metal! A cool sound and I listened to him do it several times. He then moved to the bird feeder. I tried to get a picture but he flew away before I had a chance. He'll come back and I'll post a picture when I get one!

We also have a nest of bird eggs in my hanging fern on the porch. I usually repot my ferns so I don't have to water them as often but was too late for this one. So, I left it alone. This nest belongs to the house finches that frequent our feeder and they are beautiful because they look like sparrows dipped in cranberry juice. The nest originally had four eggs in it but I found one on the ground last week after a storm. Can't wait for the baby birds!I love roses and try to buy a new plant every year. Actually, I buy them for Steve because he likes them so much. I found this one for $19.99 and thought it was a great deal because it has at least 30 buds on it! Beautiful! It is a Judy Garland rose and I love the red, orange and yellow colors.Must get to work but I wanted to share this with you. Check this space again because I'll load some pictures later today.

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!