Celebrating 3rd Hearing Birthday

I know I say this every time but WOW it has been awhile since I have written about Miss Chloe Jean - guess that means things are running smoothly and that is exactly right.


Chloe ended the school year by running into the classroom, hugging goodbye and off we went our separate ways.  We recently had her 3 year check up at Boys Town NRH - yes you read that right - Chloe has been enjoying her hearing journey for 3 years now!  She rocked the language and speech evaluation appointment - well she did have some moments of "I don't know" but with encouragement with stickers and stacking monkeys - she was able to complete her evaluation.  At almost 4 years old, with only hearing 3 years, Chloe's language skills averaged above her normal hearing peers.  All that hard work with her service providers really shows when you see results on paper.  It shows even more when you watch her hold a conversation with an adult in a store, church or activity all on her own - no interpretation from parents needed!  And trust me she is very good at communicating what she wants!  Remind you she is still my very strong willed and independent child!

And speaking of hard work - we received some great news from Chloe's private speech therapist.  Chloe will actually get to "Graduate" (be dismissed) from her private speech services mid-August.  I am going to be honest, I had tears in my eyes listening to this news.  And initially they were not tears of joy, but rather tears of fear.  I know in my mind that Chloe is ready for this change - but her Mom is NOT.  Those weekly trips to Lincoln for the last 3 years are like my security blanket.  I have adjusted to this change of schedule and accepted that "wow, look how far she has come in just 3 years."  Think of it, she has gone from not babbling at all to bossing us all around!!

Chloe will be in preschool again this year (and next year too) with a new teacher.  She will continue to receive services from the district to help her advocate when she can not hear in the classroom and work on hearing and communicating during group activities for example.

All the news I have for now - feeling blessed - God is so Great!

Checking In... Mid Year!!

So, wow... it has been awhile since I have updated... guess I'll blame that to just being busy!!

As you may have read, Chloe Jean struggled quite a bit at the beginning of her preschool journey.  It may all have been a bit over whelming for her.  She has several changes that all happened within a matter of a week.  She turned 3 (yea, that should be a happy note, which it is, but with 3 comes being "the boss"), had to change daycare providers (again, change might take awhile for Chloe to adjust to -she's enjoying her new home away from home) and then there was preschool.  Chloe was used to being in a quiet home away from home and needless to say - preschool added some extra noise.



Chloe was asked to join preschool early for a challenge and a challenge it is!  Chloe was excelling off the charts with her service providers who worked with her in a one on one environment.  We all know working the ins and outs of school (academically and socially) is a learning process for any child.  However, for Chloe Jean - learning to listen to the teacher in a classroom setting is a struggle.  She needed (and still is) to learn how to use her FM system properly (teacher amplified with microphone that directly feeds into Chloe's CIs) and advocate to her peers and teachers when she doesn't hear what is the conversation is about.  Chloe's CIs have proven to be a wonderful asset for her to thrive in a listening spoken community - however, she hears the pencil tapping or the chair moving across the floor at the same level of her peers/teachers talking.  I think this was a bit much for Chloe to all digest and was the root to her separation anxiety at drop off.

I am happy to report that for weeks maybe months now - Chloe is back to running into the building, walking into her classroom - and after a short hug and sometimes a kiss - she is on her happy way to learn.  I do have to say that it was probably just as hard for this mom to go through that every day.  It made my heart hurt leaving her - even being told she recovered quickly.  It adds an extra bounce to my step each  morning having her dropped off with a smile!

With lots of hard work from her service providers - they helped work through her emotions and continue to monitor her progress and growth in the classroom.  We recently made our routine visit up to Boys Town NRH for her 2.5 year check-in.  Can you believe it, it has been that long.  I recently watched the video from her activation where she turned to the sound of a bell - seems just like yesterday.  Chloe worked hard that day and made us very proud parents.  She gave her attention to her Audiologist for full two hours so they could make modifications to her programming.  This is very important as without the proper programming, who knows what she could be missing.

Then after a lunch (which I am not sure if it is the cookie Holly gave her or what, but she was on some goofy sugary high) she had her speech and language evaluation.  She was crazy wild, in a good 3 year old way this go around.  She had the gal at Boys Town smiling and laughing at her spunk and of course language skills.  Chloe again worked hard and gave them two hours full of testing.  Granted there were breaks for M&Ms and stickers - but she did amazing.  Chloe is testing above her peers with normal hearing.  This again made us very proud parents.  It is a blessing to have the technology in place and great "team" members pushing her further and further on her hearing journey.

Now only if we can keep her healthy.  Ugh.  Ear infections after ear infections, and this mom is D.O.N.E with them.  Chloe will be getting a tube in her right ear (left has perforation and doesn't appear to need one) and her adenoids removed toward the end of April.  It is hard to explain but those darn infections and fluids cause disruptions to her programming/hearing and I can't imagine how stressful that has to be for her.

And at home... well.... she tests my patience on a weekly - if not daily - level.  She is very strong willed and gets the best of me.  But then, after thinking of where she has come - I am very blessed she can vocalize as clear as she does what she wants and demands.