Starting Playgroup & Preschool

This week Hannah started the 2s playgroup at the local hearing school. 

This playgroup allows kids to be around others who are their age and also have speech or hearing issues. 

We are excited to get our feet wet at this school for one day a week because in all likelihood Hannah will attend preschool here starting next year. 

While there are several deaf schools around the country there are very few hearing schools, the key to oral learning, so we are thankful to be in Louisville and that this resource is available to us!

This is not a "mommy and me"  playgroup but rather a time for the kids to be on their own with teachers who specialize in speech and hearing impaired kiddos. So, I got to watch from afar and from what I could tell and what I was told Hannah did well. 

I'm pretty sure she's the youngest in the group, but she didn't let that stop her. Of course she needs more practice paying attention and focusing on what the teacher asks her to do but that will come in time and her upcoming surgery should help greatly!

They do things like wash their hands, do a craft, sing lots of songs, free play inside and out and much more. Everything that they do is over-annunciated and signed which helps them learn better. It really is amazing to see Hannah pick up on signs and use them. Since the speaking part is taking longer than we want this really helps us to communicate!

Here's sweet Suzi hanging out with Mama during the playgroup. 

Hannah's not afraid to get in there and get her feet wet, which I am very thankful for so this group is a good thing!

She was, however, pooped by the end of the 2 hours. 

In other news Eli started preschool this week. He's going 3 days a week and yes, this is his last year before kindergarten, so hard to believe!

Eli's chosen way to stand for the picture

A little disclaimer: Keith was out of town the morning I took this so this Mama had to get 3 kids up and out by 7:45. So, that's why his shoes are on the wrong feet. 😉

Eli still doesn't tell me a whole bunch about his day, he talks and talks, don't get me wrong, but for some reason he doesn't want to share all the details. 

I do think his class is a little more structured and a little more work than last year but he's adjusting to it well. 

Even though it's hard at times to have 3 little ones at home this year I'm thankful for it. Next year with Eli in kindergarten and Hannah in preschool things will look a lot different around here!

"For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven."

Ecclesiastes 3:1

And it begins...

After a week of tests, evaluations and discussions the conclusion is to implant Hannah's left ear. This wasn't a huge shock to us and we are thankful everyone involved is basically on the same page, but the unknown is still scary. Especially having the surgery 1.5 hrs from home and everything that entails. 

We are taking everything one step at a time. First of all insurance has to approve the surgery, that can take 3-6 weeks. After it is approved we have to get on the surgery schedule. Best case scenario is 8 weeks, worst case is December. 😁

The reason we are starting with just one ear is because Hannah's left ear has always been her worst and since she has other issues, not just hearing loss, the doctor wants to make sure this is a mechanical issue and not a neurological one. So, doing one ear, then giving Hannah some time to show us what she can hear and do will give us information for a possible right ear implant in the future. 

So Keith and I have been reading up on manufacturers and think we have landed on one (it's a big decision choosing something that will go in your girl's head!)

Of course we want to commit this whole process to the Lord. We do think that He is leading us in this direction but would you pray for a few other things?

Please pray insurance approval would come quickly so that the appointment will be scheduled soon. 

Pray that the surgery would happen at just the right time for everyone involved. (Our family, family that may come in to help out, the doctor, etc). 

Please pray that this surgery will help Hannah hear better and begin to speak. 

There are many other specific requests that will come as the process unfolds and I'll share them with you then. 

Thanks for walking through this with us. It is a huge decision that can make a life-changing difference. 

Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.

Proverbs 16:3

4 weeks in

Suzi is already 4 weeks old. Actually, by this point she's almost 5. Life is flying by and she's fitting in pretty nicely. Of course there is less sleep and most days I'm spinning around from one need to the next, but I know this is a season and one day I won't be this busy with my kiddos. 

                     4 weeks old!

With the extreme heat that's covering the country we haven't been able to get outside like I'd hoped we would, but we are coping. The kids get bored and harass each other most days, but school starts in 2 weeks and I know Hannah (and I) will miss Eli when he's not here everyday. 

            

This week and next we are starting the cochlear implant process. Hannah and Keith went to Cincinnati for speech and aural evaluations on Wednesday and Thursday she had an MRI in Louisville. Next week we'll go back to Cincinnati and meet the surgeon and get his take on Hannah. From there we will know how to proceed. 

I'm hopeful that she needs CI's so that her speech and hearing will improve. Even though I'm not excited about the surgery and recovery, It should greatly improve her communication. At this point we still don't know exactly what she can hear and her speech is limited. Also, when we try to discipline her we wonder if she can't understand us or if she's just 2 and not listening because she doesn't want to. So many things to figure out with a girl like Hannah. ☺️

Keith was able to take off a few days this week to help with Hannah's appointments so we also threw in a little fun and headed to the Newport aquarium. It was so much fun. We saw sharks, walked under and above them and even found Dory-haha! (Eli was most excited about her). It was a fun-filled day and I think everyone had a good time. 

                         Dory!!!

                Can you find Suzi?

So, life as a family of 5 is constant and definitely busier, but I wouldn't change it. 

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."

James 1:17

Suzanne Faith

Baby Suzi arrived at 2:56pm, June 27, 2016. 

At 7 lbs 1oz she's my biggest baby and has already filled our house with lots of joy. 

We named her Suzanne after her two grandmother's middle names. My mom's name is Sue and Keith's mom is Anne. 

So far she's taken her place in the family like a champ. Having to deal with two older siblings wanting all the attention and sharing a room with Mom & Dad. 

Not only was she the largest (😉), she's also my only child who didn't come on her own. So, I was induced which was better than expected, but still very long and drawn out. 

The day following her delivery I was able to spend most of the day with only her which was a treat. 

The kids came by in the morning to meet her. 

                 Proud big brother!

And then Daddy took them to the zoo so I could rest and he could spend time with them. 

We are slowly adjusting to our new life of 5. I say slowly because I'm still recovering, Keith's been off and my mom is here. Reality hasn't really set in. 

Here are a few more pictures of the big sibs initating Suzi into the family. 

Hannah is completely uninterested 😊

Some treasures from this week:

*Keith and I spending Monday together. (Even though it was awaiting labor & labor) we don't get many days together just the 2 of us anymore. 

*How excited Eli is being a big brother. He's doing such a good job playing with her and distracting her when she cries. 

*How big Hannah looks now that we have a newborn again. I feel like she's doubled in size over the last week!

*sweet, newborn snuggles. I know Suzi's only 5 days old but she really is sweet. 

*How much the Lord has been with us this week. From calming my fears, to Suzi checking out medically and even having time to nap a little this week. The Lord has been so good to us!

We know the transition is just beginning but we are overjoyed with Suzi and thankful the Lord decided to place her in our family. 

What's been happening around here...

So as we wait for baby #3 to make her appearance we are thrilled to share what Hannah's been up to lately...

We are amazed and so grateful that the walking has started. She is such a hard worker and has been attempting this for what seems like forever. 

This is something we've been praying for over the last 6ish months and trusting the Lord would help her walk before the baby comes. I have to admit I wasn't sure it would happen, but again, so grateful that the Lord sees us and knows what we need. 

"Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments."

Deuteronomy 7:9

Summertime

As we wait out these last few weeks before baby we are starting the summer off right. 

First of all Mawmaw and Poppy came for Memorial Day and we went strawberry picking. 

I think Eli picked 2, ate them, and immediately went and sat down but it was fun. 

Hannah found her spot too. 

With the nice weather, we also went to the zoo. It's so nice to have one in our city!

Also, Eli started swim class. This is something he and Keith are doing one evening a week with an instructor at our neighborhood pool. I think he loves it and it gives him some pool time. 

Every summer we have a block party. There are lots of "big kids" that live around us so many parents pitch in for an inflatable water slide. Last year Eli went down once and that was it. This year he couldn't get enough of it. 

It was an added bonus that, Megan, a sweet neighbor, volunteered to go with him almost every time. This also made this mama feel better since the water slide was 44 ft tall!

Another big triumph that has been happening the last few weeks is Hannah is getting very close to walking. 

Every day I feel like she is getting more controlled and can go further. She still prefers holding a hand but it won't be long. I'm excited and nervous all at the same time. Mostly excited ☺️. 

And the last thing that added adventure to our week was releasing our butterflies. 

We cared for them several weeks and then they came out of the cocoons and we set them free. It was a fun science experiment that I'm sure will be repeated. 

Looking back, I can't believe we've only been officially on summer break for a week and we've already done all this. I know we'll slow down, or I will at least, but for now we're having fun. 

Here's one last pic to document this little life to come. 

Our neighbor, Emily who is due a couple weeks before me. Hopefully our girls will be good friends. 

Sweet summertime!

Scheduling

Many days I spend a lot of time on the phone. 

Scheduling appointments. 

Calling people back. 

Straightening out bills. 

Etc. 

I feel like I've kind of gotten down what to say, who to ask to speak with, what questions to ask and to not leave a message for them to return my call at a convenient time, because who are we kidding? The reason I called at this time is because it is convenient for me!

Well, Hannah had her cochlear implant phone interview last week. We were told that someone would call to schedule an ENT appointment, 2 therapy evals and an appointment with a social worker. 

Not wanting to lose anytime I decided to call up there the following day to go ahead and make them. 

"The referrals are not in the system". 

So the following day I called again. 

Same answer. 

I was put in touch with the social worker who was on the call and she told me the name of the lady who should call me and she wasn't sure why it was taking so long. 

Well, a few days later we all realized this lady had been out of the office for 2 weeks and had just returned. She's the only one who can make the therapy appointments and now she has a backlog of appointments to schedule, but Hannah is on the list. 

For some reason all this waiting, not being able to move forward or do anything really got to me. I mean, does no one understand our situation? We're kind of on a clock and if scheduling initial eval appointments takes this long will she even be able to have the surgery before the end of the year? 

All this was going through my mind at 3am. Lovely. 

Well, after going a little crazy I finally calmed down and resided in the fact that these appointments would not take place before baby #3 comes. We would have to wait. 

This calmed me and frustrated me all at the same time. 

Even if no one else knew our timeline, God did and He could have gotten us good appointments or at least in with one of the doctors before the baby comes. 

But He didn't. 

And that's when I realized (again) that all this is out of my hands. Sometimes I feel like "if only I had ______". 

Called sooner. 

Pushed a little harder. 

Asked more questions. 

Even if I have a perfectly articulated plan or speech things will fall into place in the right time. 

After getting a call from Cincinnati yesterday afternoon and scheduling appointments for late July/early August I felt relieved.--To have something on the books and to not have to worry about rushing up to Cincinnati during my last weeks of pregnancy. 

I'd say God knew that all along. He wants me to focus on this new little one to come right now and having those appointments at that time will allow us to push pause a little bit on our crazy schedule and adjust to our new family. 

I love that he cares more about my needs and my heart then the schedule I think I should keep. 

So, here I am at 6am on a Saturday morning with things still running through my head, but also overflowing with thankfulness that I have a Father who arranges every step and will help me articulate my words when I call about another bill on Tuesday. 

And so I don't forget to document life while also learning so much about being a mom of a child with extra issues here are a few pics from this week. 

Eli's last day of school for 2016. Next year he'll be a big 4 yo preschooler. Sniff, sniff. 

Mrs Kara. Eli has been in her class the last 2 years!

Hannah & I sharing a soft pretzel on one of our last alone dates before the baby comes. 

So thankful for my little family & this crazy life.