I'm Back! Bet You Didn't Even Know I Was Gone-LOL

I have been going through major computer withdrawel due to a broken keyboard. My Mac keyboard finally gave out on me (thanks to two overly enthusiastic keyboard users named Jake and Trey). But, all is now fixed....

It's been kind of a crazy few days (although when are they not). I was asked to visit a friends' class (she's a Science teacher) and teach them about Cochlear Implants. I did this two years ago and the kids were really great- interested, asked a ton of questions. etc. I had Trey with me and he agreed (sort of :) to let the kids feel the spot on his head where the internal piece sticks out. They all LOVED that. This time I only had Jake with me, who wears hearing aids, so the kids had lots of questions about why he *only* has aids, and will he get an implant, etc. Yet again, they were a great class- very quiet, and one designated boy stood up, shook my hand and welcomed me to the classroom. Gotta love Catholic School! Anyway- it's always fun to help teach other kids in the community about CIs.

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I'm always hesitant to share news from outside my little family, but at times there are things that happen that effect *our* family as well, and it's hard to not have them be a central concern. My SIL had her first baby last night but she had her 2 1/2 months early. She and the baby are doing well, but we'll be anxiously waiting to see how everyone does over the next week. I think she and her husband are in shock at the moment. Any spare thoughts you have would be greatly appreciated by all. She's had kind of a tough go of it, and this was completely unexpected. She will be celebrating her first Mother's Day under really stressful circumstances- I feel for them.

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I've also been working with my sister, and a friend who has a fantastic JRA website, to spread the word on a race that will be run here in June, to benefit a group called CARRA. From their website (www.raceforcarra.com) :
"Arthritis and other rheumatic diseases affect an estimated 300,0000 children in the U.S. Many of these children live with chronic pain and take daily medication in the hope of controlling their illnesses. CARRA doctors are committed to finding the cause and cure for rheumatic diseases in children."

My neice happens to be one of these children, so we are working with the local soccer clubs to motivate the teams to come out and run on behalf of all these kids who are not able to at this time. We're setting up a little friendly competition between clubs- it should be a lot of fun, and a great experience for the soccer kids to give back a little bit.

My kids are definitely hearing challenged (to put it mildly), but this does not keep them from doing anything, unlike the kids with mobility issues. It makes me very thankful for the health of my kids, and so grateful that we are able to have weekends like we just had, and watch our daughter excel at a sport that she loves. It has actually helped motivate Delaney- the fact that she has the ability to run, kick, and jump, whereas her cousin and other little children may not be so blessed.

It also reminds me that as I'm working with all of these great motivated JRA moms, I should get re-involved with our local hearing organizations. I did so much in Utah, but have yet to delve in too deeply here. We moved here and I had three children under the age of 8, with a baby due any day. I was trying to find resources, and then get the new baby (Trey) tested. We also then have had three implants, implanted over the course of 4 years, so to say it has been a whirlwind is an understatement. But, now it is time to get active again. Oh to have an extra 5-10 hours in a day.

Well, that's it on our end.