Last Day Of School.....

(Sorry the picture is tiny....I'm working on it)
Not sure whether to celebrate or be scared ;) So far, Trey has spent many days holed up in the house to escape the rain and cold. Come on summer- I've heard you exist.

Just me today....

I couldn't handle Delaney's lack of proper punctuation (please ignore the triple dots above ;)

Actually, all in all I think she had fun with that. Or at least had fun making fun of her sweet, always nice and loving, mother.

As of right now we will go back to the Audiologist in a week or so. They will continue to monitor her hearing to see if there is continued improvement (of further downward fluctuations). I would say, if I had to take a guess, that she has continued to improve. Her hearing appears to be back to where it was prior to the downward slide.

Our kids have LVAS or EVAS (Large/Englarged Vestibular Aqueduct Syndrome) and are prone to fluctuations in their hearing. Typically if there is a downward fluctuation, and if it improves, it does not return to its previous level. For example, just prior to Emily's 3rd birthday she lost all of her hearing in both ears virtually overnight. We got her in to see our Audiologist who confirmed that she had lost it all. Before the fluctuatoin she had a mild to severe hearing loss.

Jake also lost his hearing in both ears (down to the profound level bilaterally) last Fall. We took him in to see the ENT/Audi right away, and they decided to try steroid treatment. Within two days his hearing was significantly improved. Not exactly where it was prior to the loss, but pretty close. Of course there is no evidence showing that steroid treatment works (or no "reason" it works), but considering we're two for two on recovering significant amounts of hearing w/ LVAS fluctuation I'm all for it. Hindsight is 20/20 but I wonder if we would have had any success way back when w/ Emily?

Well....I need to get the kids off to school. Emily has a field trip to visit Ft. Vancouver (of course it is pouring down rain, as usual of late).

I'll post some new pictures in a bit :) Not of my "white" hair....remind me to get Trey's vision checked.

Guest Blogger: Delaney

Delaney has been telling me I'm a terrible blogger (which I agree with....I've been too busy, and due to the number of papers I've been writing I'm just out of "words").

So, she is my guest blgger for today. Have at it D.
Delaney what was it like to lose your hearing in your aided ear?
I woke up last Thursday with ringing in my ear, it SUCKED (EDIT, by melissa: sorry, my 13 year old's vocabulary is limited) :)The following day I had an appointment with the ENT and audiologist. I had lost a good amount of hearing in my favorite ear, so the ENT decided to put me on steriods for a week... If that didn't work, I would have to have an injection in my ear...

I have been on steriods for a week, and had my follow up appointment today. I met with the ENT and audiologist again.. My hearing has gotten better, but still isn't as good as it was.. The ENT decided not to have me have the injection directly into my eardrum.. YAYY :)

While we were waiting for the ENT Jake had me cracking up.. He kept trying to do sign language and talking very SLOWLY (Even though i could hear fine)Jake kept saying "I come in peace" while making the peace sign with his fingers.. Since the ENT,my mom, and I were laughing at him.. He got WAY to carried away.. And started getting on my last nerves :)

This morning my mom and Trey were driving to school, and they were talking about what color Milo and Maxine were.. Trey was saying "We have one dog that is black, and one dog this is brown, black, and white" My mom said "Actually Maxine is black and white, because she has white around her nose and mouth" "Why mom?" Trey asked.. "Because Maxine is old".. "Oh she is white and black because she is old, like you mom" "But, I dont have white in my hair" my mom replied.. "YES YOU DO" Trey said.. :)

Hopefully this will inspire my mom to post more often..

EDIT: Melissa again, I also apologize for Delaney's unique use of the period???

Yes, I am a HUGE fan of cochlear implants....but

I have one hold-out. My oldest....She has never embraced her implant (which does not go over well amongst those of us who love them, and see no wrong). The main issue is her amazing hearing in her aided hear (which does not make sense when you see her audiogram...she should have marginal hearing from her dinosaur of a hearing aid, but no). She does so well. Long story short, that ear has quit on her (which we warned her about, due to our children's anatomy (LVAS....).

More to come tomorrow after many appts. I'm not sure whether to be thrilled (maybe she'll embrace her implant ), or sad, she's 13....change is bad :(

Life and Macaroni and Cheese (or more appropriately lasagna)

I am experimenting w/ homemade macaroni and cheese tonight. Why, you might ask. Because I am pretending I have some control over events by baking something from scratch. I remember way back when (September 26, 2008, not that I keep track ;), I left the gym to notice that I had several missed calls and messages. I quickly scanned them only to find that several were from my husband's boss....weird! I also (quickly) found out that my husband had collapsed due to sudden cardiac arrest and the outcome was unknown. I did not know what to do, how to proceed. This was not part of the plan. So I called the doctor who had been trying to reach me, then called my sister (to help w/ the kids), called my parents, and called Rob's family. Unsure what to relay, tried to sound like it would all be o.k. but was a wreck.

That's what family is for.....And, I have great family on both sides.

Rob survived, and emerged doing great. But, those meals that were delivered without request, and despite my protests carried me (and the kids, family) through. It seems that more and more we have friends, family, etc. that are in a similar position. At the time I did not realize that those meals probably helped the givers as much as they helped me. I felt guilty over lack of thank you notes.

But now, as I sit and watch another family struggle, the meal is really to make me feel better. One small way I can help, when really there is nothing I can do. What I can do is make sure that it is the best darn macaroni and cheese ever (breadcrumbs, a variety of cheeses, etc.)! And, I'll bring also bring Kraft (already prepared) because lord knows my kids hate mac n' cheese if it isn't bright orange.

Thinking of an amazing family as they embark on a huge journey.....If any of you have great casseroles/freezer meals I'm ready. I'm sure I'll be the bearer of many.

...On a Boat

but no flippy-floppies in sight (which makes no sense unless you've seen the SNL sketch). We recently traveled to Bainbridge Island for one of Delaney's state cup games. Beautiful place, but I did hear from a "local" that it can be rough living on an island- even if it is connected to land via ferry, and bridge. I don't know, it seemed pretty spectacular to me.

That said, it was a 3+ hour trip (one way) for a 85 minute soccer game. I had to sell it to the kids somehow, so I promised Trey, my sole tag-a-long a boat ride. Of course I also made him promise not to tell Jake (as he stayed home for baseball). First thing out of Trey's mouth...yep, you guessed it "we went on a big, big, boat). Of course, Jake later turned it into a "cruise"- if only!

Hola!

My daughter tells me I'm a horrible blogger and I'm disappointing everyone (sorry mom, and Laura- my two loyal readers ;) Nothing new going on here. We're smack in the middle of soccer tryouts. One daughter made the team of her choice, although she was really worried, despite the fact that the coach is her FATHER! Emily is also the team's only goal keeper at this point, so I'm not sure why she was worried :)

Delaney has tryouts coming up in a week and a half. Keep your fingers crossed that she too makes the team of her choice (she doesn't have her dad coaching at this point).

Jake has been getting in trouble at school all week for being off task and silly. That pretty much sums Jake up- off task and silly! He is playing baseball and loving it. When his team is focused (when, being the key word) they are pretty good. That said they are no Diamondbacks. This team has 2-3 practices a week and there is NO goofing off. They are hardcore (for pee wee little league).

Trey is playing t-ball and also enjoying it- most of the time. Tonight I can already tell he's going to fight me on practice. It's rainy and cold. I might fight me on practice as well. He is turning 6 in the middle of May- my baby is getting old....

Milo is still peeing (in the house, that is). See, you haven't missed much ;)