Welcome home!

I knew this week would be crazy before it started, but I did not expect this. Looking back, I can't believe we've only been back 7 days. 

So, like any kiddo who is in the therapy, when you return from a trip everyone wants to meet with you. So Monday to Wednesday Hannah had 1, maybe 2 appointments per day. Not bad, and I have to brag that everyone was SO impressed with her sitting. 

Another thing that happened is Eli started school! Yay!  

He was SO excited and did so well the first day!

That was Tuesday. 

Wednesday he woke up with a 101+ fever. Whaaaat? 

Definitely not in the plan this week. 

Because Thursday Hannah had an ABR (sedated hearing test) which had been scheduled for at least 2 months on a day Eli would be at school, right?

Wrong. 

By the time Eli woke from his nap Wednesday afternoon his fever had crept up to almost 104 and he was pitiful. 

So regroup. Keith stayed with Eli the next morning and I went with Hannah to the hospital. 

Besides having to fast Hannah did beautifully. Barely fussed at the anesthesia and slept through the entire procedure with just nasal sedation and not the IV. 

The results of her test were good. Her hearing is the same as it was 3 months ago, so hearing aids are still working well for her as evidenced by her continued babbling and reactions to sound. 

Our next steps are having her evaluated by a team of doctors on the cochlear implant board in Cincinnati. These doctors include a developmental pediatrician, an ENT, the surgeon, a speech therapist and one more that I cannot think of right now. Since Hannah has additional issues (not just hearing loss) we decided to go this route so that more eyes are on Hannah and nothing is missed. 

We also plan to meet with a cochlear implant surgeon in Louisville at the end of September to get his take on her. Regardless of where the surgery takes place, this evaluation will help either doctor. 

So, back at home...

Eli is still pretty pitiful sitting at the table with a blanket wrapped around him in August. Poor guy!

But we are making it. Today is Friday and tomorrow (or 5 o'clock today) cannot get here fast enough. 

Hopefully next week will be less drama-filled. 

Mama said there'd be days like this. 

Ahhh...beach 2015

There is just something renewing about sand between your toes and salt in the air.
The beach, it. was. nice.

The Wilson family has been going to the beach for as long as I can remember so I'm glad the tradition still holds and I can share it with my kiddos.  Of course, Hannah was not thrilled about the beach, except for the sand that she continued to eat, but give her a year and I bet things will be different.  

Sticking her feet in the Atlantic

It was nice to be on beach time and off therapy and appointment time.  I'm sure Hannah felt the same. We ate leisurely breakfasts and went out on the beach most mornings.  We took afternoon naps and ate lots and lots of shrimp.  

We waved to countless helicopters that flew over head and kept our eyes open for sharks but only saw a huge group of dolphins which was a nice surprise.  

We got up with the sun (or before it) because of Eli.  Most mornings he woke at 6 and does not know how to control the volume of his voice while others sleep, so we hit the sand early and took morning walks.  That's a nice time to be on the beach.

Eli loves the ocean and the waves, but knows how to keep himself safe.  It was fun to see him explore more this year.  

Another morning walk with my big boy. 

"You rule the swelling of the sea; when its waves rise, You still them."  Psalm 89:9

 Eli is also learning more about flying a kite.  The winds were high most days so it made for fantastic kite weather.  

Next year they won't be this little and I'm sure they'll be on to another adventure. I treasure these times with them. 

To say it was nice to "get away" is an understatement. I actually had not been to NC since before Hannah was born, but it was also nice to be away from the world of doctors and therapists pointing out things Hannah does wrong or constantly being reminded of her delays. This trip away caused me to let that go for a little while and just enjoy my girl the way she is and not worry about what she's not doing. 

I believe it helped her too, because while we were away she started sitting (yay!). Of course it's not for super long and she still falls over but it's an improvement and such a kind gift from God to this mama who doubts his goodness in my life so often. 

This trip and this girl are such examples of how the Lord knows me and how much he delights in his children. 

"For the LORD 

takes delight in his people; 

he crowns the humble 

with victory."

Psalm 149: 4