Sophie's ASL Lesson with Daddy

Sophie's signing has really taken off this month.  I know, I've been saying that every months for the last 6 months, but she really is signing up a storm.

Here's some video of sign language lessons with Daddy today:


     MORE CRACKER:  http://youtu.be/qX2uZDWggDk

     DOG BATH:   http://youtu.be/kWUZ6yFgAxI

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I'm keeping the SOPHIE SIGNS up to date, but I thought these were too fancy not to share in a post as well :)

Surgery #2 Complete!

Another big day for Sophie!   Today we took Sophie in for her second cochlear implant.  Left ear this time.  Doc said it took a bit longer but everything went perfectly.  Two very nice Cochlear reps and our favorite audiologist were all in the operating room and were wonderful support.  We had a lovely nurse from Kona who cared for Sophie in post-anesthesia care.   I'm glad she only has two ears as I really couldn't take another one of these.

This kid is really something special.  After all of this medical stuff, hardly a fuss. Here are some pics:

Taking my vitals

Sticking close to Mom

Playing in the toy room

Waving hi to new friends

Mom needs to get me one of these!

Dad in his marshmallow suit just before surgery.

All done! Heading home :)

I love the remote!

I have to eat my words. After a week, I'm hooked on this remote. It beeps to tells me when coils fall off and batteries are low and I can watch the mic activity without seeing the processor. I also feel more interactive. We were given 4 programs to work through and got through 3 of them. It's nice to be able to set our own pace with Sophie's CIs.

So after a 9 month battle with hearing aids, keeping these things on Sophie's head is super hard as well.  We have a 4 component solution:

• Long coil cable (2 day shipping via fedex)
• Cochlear Litewear...just the clip
• Bebopshop (the cupcake clip on the pink tether from etsy) CI holder to ensure the processor stays on if gets pulled out of the litewear clip (happens a lot)
• Pilot's cap

Tomorrow is a huge day for us...Second mapping appointment, pre-op pediatrician visit, and Cochlear America is in town and doing a parent seminar on the Nucleus 5.  Second Surgery is Thursday so we have a very exciting week ahead!

Sophie's Activation Day!

What a big day for us.  We waited 3 weeks after Sophie's surgery to get her activated and start her mapping.  It felt like forever but it was worth the wait.

The mapping process was pretty quick.  The audiologist started with tones from a computer program and later turned on her microphones so we could talk to Sophie while she adjusted the maps.
Our CI comes with a remote so we were sent home with 4 programs to run through over the next couple of weeks.  Each program gets progressively louder and we can up the volume at will.  Pretty nifty!

We spent most of our time getting oriented to the new technology.  We'll get that wired over the next week or so.  Our big issue now is getting Sophie to keep her coil (round headpiece) on.  We've been experimenting with hats and headbands already and we may even try some toupee tape.

So much to learn and just one more week until Sophie's second surgery!

Here's the activation video.

10 days after surgery and feeling fine.  Happy Birthday Sophie.  Time flies!

Surgery Day Update and Photos

What a big day!  Everything went well and Sophie seems to be resting very comfortably.  Here's a photo recap:

 What a big day.  We started off in the pre-op room for a quick outfit change and some stats.

Next it was off to the playroom to wait for surgery.  That took a while but at least they had a nice selection o toys.

Surgery only lasted an hour and a half. Mom and Sophie were reunited within 15 minutes.  We stayed in recovery for a good 3 hours with 2 amazing nurses.  And what do you think about the bandage?  You gotta love a surgeon with fashion sense.  Note the bow at the temple.

The very nice Cochlear representative delivered this little guy.  He's Casey the Koala and He's an N5 user :)

Tomorrow is the big day!

Wow, time did not fly.  We've had a 20 day delay since our initial planned surgery and have been feeling every minute of it.  Sophie wasn't able to get an AM as her surgeon only offers this once a month for longer cases.  She otherwise puts the long cases at the end of her day so delays don't cause a ripple effect on the rest of the patients.  Understandable, but tough for a baby.

My main anxiety is the 8 hour no food prohibition before surgery.  We learned that we can do breast milk up to 4 hours prior so that helps a lot.  We also can do apple juice and Pedialyte up to 2 hours prior to surgery.  I'm making beef stew in the crock pot to serve up at 4:00 AM to make sure Sophie has a good meal in her tummy to last the AM.  She's teething so we expect a lot of crying and wailing once the milk shuts off...Poor kid!

We are blessed with lovely friends and wonderful family who have showered us with thoughtful gifts and yummy goodies to help us get through the waiting.  Thank you!  We love you!

I've saved the hospital bag packing for the morning to give me something to do with my nervous energy.  Off to bed.