Today we have a follow-up hearing test....

to determine how much improvement there has been. I think he's vastly improved since Friday (it's a night and day difference). That said, I might still keep the MRI appointment on Friday, so that we have that step done in case his hearing takes a turn in the future. Maybe.

I'll keep you all posted (and get some new pictures up).

The main side effect so far is bright red cheeks from the steroid (and being in hazy sun over the weekend). Not to bad!

Jake is now telling me his hearing is *almost* as good as it was before NH day....

NH (No Hearing) day. I'm a terrible mom and I keep sneaking up behind him to 'check' his hearing. Checking his hearing entails me yelling his name behind his back, seeing if he'll turn around. Right around yell 15, Jake said, "Mom, I can hear you, I just don't want to listen to you yell anymore".....:)

So, I guess we'll know for sure on Tuesday if he is back to where he started. If so, I'd encourage anyone w/ sudden drops in hearing to give steroids a shot (unless they are a health risk for you or your child). For us, it was definitely worth a shot. And, so far, they seem to be working well.

So, maybe, *maybe* implant avoided (for the time-being.)

Steroids might be working???

He is definitely better today, and his left ear (which had the drop last Spring) is significantly better- mainly due to earwax removal yesterday ;) So, he can now hear me when talking in a *very* loud voice, and looking at my face. Yesterday he could not hear me even when yelling at the top of my lungs. Definite improvement.

I guess we won't really know until we visit the ENT again on Tuesday, but cautiously optimistic.

I think I saw this coming last Spring....but still. (Jake's future CI's)

Jake (my almost 'normally hearing' child, woke up complaining that his hearing aids were broken. Not so much- really...just his ears. And, not broken, just in need of some extra sound. After many hours at the ENT/Audiologist, there is no fluid, no "Glue Ear", little negative pressure, but some significant hearing loss.

We're trying steroids....more to come.

So all four kids are now in college.....

o.k., it hasn't been *that* long, has it? We're here....just busy, as usual.
School is in full swing, and everyone is enjoying their teachers, etc. Soccer is also in full swing (but what else is new ;) We did have an interesting Saturday, w/ the highpoint being a visit from the Camas police department. We let the two older girls stay home while we went to Jake and Trey's game, and somehow Emily "accidently" dialed 911. Then, in a panic, the girls ran down the hill to a friends house (which meant they were not home to answer the return 911 call), which resulted in a personal visit. The police officer was quite nice about it, and Emily remained in tearful apology mode for the remainder of the day.

So see- nothing has really changed around here. Choas still reigns, I just need to be better about sharing. What I really wish is that I had had my camera available to capture the moment. Hopefully it will be Em's last upclose and personal encounter with a police officer!

Sneak preview of tomorrow's update: Jake's new true love (and his efforts to share his feelings through cookies :)