Activation

Just a quick update... Activation was a SUCCESS!! Miss Chloe Jean had no tears and even had a few smirks!! There were a few moments when she stopped playing and by looking at her eyes she knew there was something different.
Will post more later (in a few days) but until then we are thankful God has answered our prayers and enjoying playing with Chloe and introducing her to all the new sounds!! Here is a quick video- hope the quality is good, I'm still learning how to get it on here- you will see how she stopped and focused on the new sound once they started ringing the bell...

Surgery #1 - Right Ear

"What Mom"

Just a few pre-surgery photos...

"Cheese"

The first day after Chloe's surgery has gone pretty good if you consider the surgery she just had.  She slept like a rock last night - and played a little and slept a little the rest of the day (hoping she repeats it tonight).
Her balance was off for most of the day - which they told us about since they worked on the inner ear - poor thing could barely hold her head up first thing this morning.


By the end of the day, she was laughing and playing with her Big Sister!  She loves her so much - it was priceless last night when Chloe finally got to see Sydney.  It was the only smile we saw since surgery.

Chloe has to wear the red head bandage (we like the choice of color they picked, getting her ready for football season) - and she doesn't seem to tolerate it well and can get it off in a snap.  So needless to say her few awake hours today its been quite the battle keeping her distracted to leave it on.

From our interpretation - they were able to get successful feedback from the hearing nerve when they tested the internal processor.  Dr. Lusk seemed pleased with how the surgery went and it felt good to give him a hug after his report.

Brian's highlight from yesterday (besides having a successful surgery, of course) is the fact that we got to pick an extra color for the caps/magnet/buttons... Mom already had picked out a light pink, darker pink and purple...any guess what color Dad picked out??  Yup, RED!!  And he already has plans to get a Husker sticker to put on them as well.

Matthew 21:22 And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.”

Surgery day...

6:30 am...
Here we go! All checked in and waiting for them to take her down to surgery... Praying she will soon be back in my arms.

10:45 am...
Update... The cochlear implant is in, currently testing device, Dr Lusk will be closing up incision soon then take tube out and should be in recovery within the next hour...



Noon...
Out of recovery and into the room, my arms!! She is sleeping now and doesn't seem to tolerate the IV or the bandage

Think we are ready...

Pre-operation Exam...Check!  Passed!

Pre-operation Physical...Check!  Passed!

We have taken all of the "pre" steps needed in order to stay on schedule with surgery on 

TUESDAY, July 24th...just a few more days.  

A little details about Chloe's surgery:

We are scheduled to be at the hospital at 6:15am with surgery scheduled for 7:45am.  The surgery will be approx. three hours long and she will be kept in recovery up to an hour before returning to her room. Chloe will get monitored for two to three hours following surgery before being sent home. Chloe will wear a bandage for three days to cover the incision, which will be very minimal if you think of the surgery involved. If you fold your ear flat and trace the edge, that's approx what her incision will be.

Activation (turning on external device) is scheduled for 10:00 on August 1st. However she will need an X-ray first thing that morning and approval from Dr Lusk before proceeding. 

Plans are to do the right ear first - second surgery scheduled for August 21 - due to the risks involved with the length of surgery, both ears are not done at the same time.

I will try to give updates day of surgery...let the prayer circle begin!!

3 weeks and counting...

Just three weeks until Chloe's first surgery and the Mommy nerves have already started. Nervous for the surgery itself and the risks that are always there. Nervous for the new journey once her first cochlear implant has been activated. But I'm anxious too to see where this journey takes us and to watch Chloe's reactions as she discovers sounds for the first time. But overall we are ready!! 
(Chloe's ear infection has cleared, we go to the surgeon next week for final clearance and ear check)


The device we have chosen (yes this was a choice we had to make and it is probably one of the hardest choices I had to make) is Advanced Bionics Neptune. Neptune is a fully waterproof device meaning that Chloe will be able to enjoy water activities such as bath time, swimming, rain...while still being able to hear. This was a major factor for us as we considered devices - for me I went against my heart feeling and listened to my mind thinking about how much language learning time there is during bath time. Think of it they are stuck in a tub and can't run from you and you are stuck next to the tub at the same time...so what else is there to do but work on colors, animals, shapes, etc, etc, etc 

Again we are asking for prayers from all of you to keep Miss Chloe Jean healthy so she can have surgery, prayers that God will guide the surgeon carefully during, and prayers that she will recovery quickly and be back safe into our arms.

Save The Date!!!

We made two steps forward today...and this mom is more excited (and a little nervous to be honest) than words can say right now!

Peek A Boo

Let's rewind a little - I woke up today thinking, Day 14.  Today is Day 14 of the 7 to 21 days we were informed it could take to get insurance to approve the cochlear implant surgery.  And little did I know that Day 14 was our lucky day.  We got a phone call today from Boys Town NRH to let us know that they had approved the cochlear implant surgery for Chloe!  Happy Dance (with tears of course)!  It is still a little fuzzy if both sides will be covered as actual paperwork didn't indicate times two, but we are going to take it one "ear" at a time.

Still hadn't had much time to process all of the excitement, items on my to-do list and the second phone call came.  Boys Town NRH called to schedule the surgery.  We have a date!!  As things are scheduled now, Chloe will have surgery on JULY 24 to implant the processor on her right ear.  Happy Dance (with more tears of course)!  Now, things can change from now until then but we are praying that Chloe remains healthy and we are given green light go for surgery.

On a side note, Chloe currently has an ear infection on her right ear - just started antibiotics and ear drops tonight.  The tubes are doing their job and allowing for the infection to drain and not build up and since we have time, I think we will be able to clear things up by then.  

Thankfully the family is busy with all sort of activities - July 24 will be here before we know.

Chloe Jean - 9 months

Just in the mood to post and thought "why not" share an update about Chloe's growth and development.  She  had her 9 month checkup last week (in one way I can't believe she is that old already, but in another, it seem like we have been traveling for quite some time) and Chloe is:
Beautiful
Bright
Healthy
Happy

Oh wait, those are the things I tell her everyday, now the doctor gave us:

Weight 19 lbs 11 oz (60%)
Length 28.75 inches (90%)

Chloe has had a big week here lately and is starting show off all her new "tricks"
Waves (when she wants); Blows Kisses (when she wants); Crawls up on all fours, but army crawls when she wants to get there quicker; Starting to pull herself up on toys, and thinks she can stand without holding on (thinking maybe we need to invest in bubble wrap to protect her head); has two bottom teeth

Can't forget Big Sister Sydney...she is amazing with Chloe and can get her to laugh so easily.  Chloe's eyes still sparkle when Sydney comes into the room and sure enough she has to play right next besides her, too big for "baby" toys now.  Sydney is learning how to be "4" and is also teaching her mother patience and trying to see just how far she can push some buttons...but overall, her questions, her responses, her non-stop talking (and/or singing) make me smile and laugh.

Tired girl after weekend of camping

God is truly amazing and has blessed us with two thriving young girls...I don't know what I would do without them.

(( Yes, we are still wating for a surgery date to be scheduled, it should be with insurance now))