Happy Mother's Day

I received Mother's Day cards from the kids. This one was from John and after reading his message, my heart just melted and it puts a huge smile on my face. He wrote this in his own words and thoughts. Inside the card the message said...

I LOVE YOU

You are like another Mom to me. You are so special and I love you so much. I love helping you with mash potatoes. I love walking through the mall with you. I like eating No-Bake cookies more than I like making them. I pray for you for your job and thank God for your hearing. You are such a blessing to everyone around you. I like seeing you smile and you make me laugh and smile. I love it when you pick me up from school! I love you.

Love, John

He's such a sweet young gentleman and his Grandma (my Mom) usually call him "Teddy Bear" because he loves to snuggle with us.


CI note...John was in the same room when Steve was turned on for the first time. I wish I could put the local TV News segment in here but it's impossible. After the long morning event with the News Reporter and the camera man spending the entire morning for the segment, our family walked across the street from the CI center to the cafeteria in the hospital. John was sitting next to me and I was listening to see if I could recognize any new sounds that surrounds me in the dining room. Lo and behold, my brain clicked and repeated everything what John said, "What did you say?" without any visual clue. He was so excited and everybody in my family were in total shock. Family said that I wasn't supposed to hear that as I was starting to take baby's first step at the very beginning and it had been only a few hours since I had entered into the world of hearing.

Last Saturday he called me and I recognized his voice right off the bat when I answered my cell phone. The next day (Sunday) as we were at his house, where his Mom made the best Blackberry pies for dessert, he told me that he truly enjoyed talking to me on the phone. I told him let's do that more often.

SINGING IN THE RAIN

Last weekend, we went to one of our favorite Mexican restaurant, On the Border for dinner. Then we went to a musical program. It was Boise Music Week and they were celebrating their 90th years. The play was called "Singing in the Rain" and it was awesome to watch and hear. We have attended musical performance several times since we have had our CI. Hearing the music is such a blessing. There were 4 interpreters that interpreted and we can use it as a backup. We were sitting near the front stage where the orchestra pit is located. It warmed our heart and it gave us joy to listen the beautiful pieces of orchrstra. Hearing the background such as raindrops and tap of the shoes was phenomenal. We believe it was one of the best performance we have attended.

During the intermission, one of the interpreter (22 years old) came and visited with us. It turned out that she was born hearing and had lost all of her hearing from meningitis two years ago. She had learned sign language for 8 years. She has a passion for singing and want to be able to hear, especially music. She wears two Starkey tiny HAs and said it is very helpful. We told her that in the near future she should be looking at CI. She eventually will if her hearing continue to deterioate.

Deaf Coffee Chat

The Deaf and HOH meets twice a month at an local coffee shop, Moxie Java. It is a way of getting together for social and also, a place to learn sign language. As I was sitting there and I noticed 3 high school students sitting across from us. One gal, Brittany, came over to our table and started to sign and asked for someone who hadn't yet showed up. She said she had been taking ASL in her high school and was told to come to Deaf Coffee Chat as part of her project. She was so fascinated to learn about all hearing loss. I had explained the type of hearing losses and shared my CI journey. Also, I explained about how the CI works. Also, I explained about the rechargeable battery and told her when it dies, I'll replace for fresh one. Moment later, my battery had died and said, "I'M OFF THE AIR" and they all laughed so hard. Some deaf people told the HS students that they don't want CI and that is their choice. Brittany said if she went deaf, she would definitely choose CI. They soon pulled the chairs over and joined us.

Brittany was much interested to know how the CI work and asked many questions. I shared my experience and explained what I couldn't hear prior to my CI that my HAs did not help. When I told her how much I appreciate music, she said she does sing. Her friend mentioned she had a beautiful voice and I asked her if she would sing for me. She blushed. Perhaps she would if it wasn't in public. The other gal, Brittany told us that she wanted to learn sign language and asked us to teach her few signs such as nice to meet you.

The employees at Moxie Java have an interest in learning sign language and would ask what the sign for certain words.

They truly enjoyed the evening and said they would consider coming back and join us again. It's a place to gather for fun and fellowship.

Is this hilarious or what?

I had received an e-mail message from my long time deaf friend, Caroline. The names has been changed due to privacy. Caroline and I had lived 6 blocks from each other and we both had worked downtown and would meet for lunch 1-2 times a week. Also, we would do something together on the weekends. Couple years ago, I had signed up to take ASL 1 class. Beth, who is an interpreter and teaches sign language at the university, found out that I had enrolled in her ASL class. She was excited and told me that she had heard great things about me. Shortly, after the class had started, I found out that she started to meet with the Ladies Night Out with a mixture of Deaf/HOH and hearing ladies. Beth's parents are deaf and her sister also worked at the university in the Deaf studies.

Hi Debbie,
I went to First Southern Baptist Church for "Friends Day" this past Sunday for the fourth year in a row.
Guess who I saw out there?? Beth... she was an instructor at OSU OKC, but she is retired. When she saw me, she asked me where do I live? She wanted to know why I moved back here from Idaho. I was little laughed at her and told her that I was not Debbie B.... LOL She said that my hair style looks like yours which it is true.
She wants me to tell you HEELLLOOOOOO. She looks great and really enjoys her retirement. I told her that I talk to you on VP once a while. She was so proud of you learning to use any sign languages. She also asked me about your brother, Steve. She wants to spank him for not learning signs like you. SMILE
Have a great evening.
Caroline

Sweet Nothing in My Ear

Be sure to tune in for Hallmark Hall of Fame's Sweet Nothing in My Ear tonight on CBS at 8 o'clock Mountain time. Marlee Matlin and Jeff Daniels co-star as parents embroiled in a debate over whether or not to implant their deaf child. This story may be hypothetical, but the debate is real and has gone on for years. The movie looks like it will be very good and we are very much looking forward to it. Have some popcorn while watching the movie.

Birthday Card

April 13th was Debbie's Birthday. Steve surprised her with a card that plays "Sweet Home Alabama" music. How thrilled Debbie was and the rest of the family (hearing) thought it was pretty cool and had fun listen to it several times.



Big wheels keep on turning
Carry me home to see my kin
Singing songs about the south-land
I miss 'ole' 'bamy once again
And I think it's a sin
Well I heard Mister Young sing about her
Well I heard ole Neil put her down
Well, I hope Neil Young will remember
A southern man don't need him around anyhow
Sweet home Alabama
Where the skies are so blue
Sweet home Alabama
Lord, I'm coming home to you
In Birmingham they love the Gov'nor
Now we all did what we could do
Now Watergate does not bother me
Does your conscience bother you?
Tell the truth
Sweet home Alabama
Where the skies are so blue
Sweet home Alabama
Lord, I'm coming home to you
Now Muscle Shoals has got the Swampers
And they've been known to pick a tune or two
Lord they get me off so much
They pick me up when I'm feeling blue
Now how bout you?
Sweet home Alabama
Where the skies are so blue
Sweet home Alabama
Lord, I'm coming home to you

Adventure on the Mountain

Steve, Debbie and Jacob left Friday afternoon to head to McCall for the weekend. On the way up, it started to rain and it was fun listening to the raindrops hitting the windshield. As we were heading up to the mountains, I was amazed of how much snow they had and felt I was being backward. Steve and Jacob asked what I had mean by that. I told them I felt I went from Spring to Winter. It was unbelievable to see how much snow McCall has.

Saturday morning, Steve had to go downtown to take care of business and Jacob and I stayed in the cabin. Jacob and I played Boggle game together. I mentioned to Jacob how much hearing people hear and Jacob said I've always wondered what people with CI hears. While we were talking, we looked out the window towards the lake and there was a yellow fox.

Steve called me to let me know he was on his way to the cabin and be ready to head to Brundage Mountains. What a gorgeous day to ski. After lunch, Steve and Jacob decided to do some couple more runs and I decided to stay in the Lounge. About half hour later, Steve came back to the Lounge and told me the bad news. Jacob had a skiing accident. I was talking to a worker in the Lounge and we had something in common. She said that she has two sons with hearing loss and loved their hearing aids. I told her about my CI and she asked me all about it. Later, I told her that Steve has a CI. I shared with her about our first weekend with a friend we had stayed with in LA area. When I told her about our new sound on a Friday night, this worker said it must have been a cricket and you and your brother heard for the first time. I was speechless that she knew about it because she said that when both of her sons got their first hearing aids (they were living in LA at the time), they were delighted to hear the crickets. Steve and I had to run on and ladies at the Lounge hope that Jacob would be alright when they heard the bad news.

I got my ski equipment to take it down to the First Aid clinic so Steve could put it on the ski rack of the SUV. I went in to check on Jacob and was shocked to see him being on oxygen and on the board. The Doctor felt that he was going to be OK but wanted to get him to the hospital for

x-ray just to be sure there were no broken bones, fracture, or head injury. We were amazed how well we could communicate immensely with the staff at the First Aid clinic. The ambulance came and loaded Jacob into it. One the EMS staff wanted me to ride in it instead of riding with Steve. I was glad I was encouraged to ride along in the ambulance and could hear the CB radio.

As Steve was following the ambulance, he thought he couldn't hear the siren. After arriving at the hospital, we talked about it. I had explained to him to Steve that the driver would adjust the volume and it got louder as we were approaching town. Steve thought that his brain was playing the trick and he was happy that I shared my experience with him.

This was our first experience with our CI at the ER and we were amzed to hear the intercom with our names being called. The conversation with the ER Doctor (she was awesome), RN and the staff were extremely nice and friendly. We were able to communicate and understand and we are so blessed for this amazing technology.

Jacob was such a great trooper throughout this ordeal and he was ready to head out. Of course, he was not happy when the ER Doctor told him he would have to wear the neck brace till he's being re-evaluated at his primary physician here in town this week. We are grateful that his injury was not serious and he was a lucky teenager. We are very proud that he's our nephew and he has been very supportive since the day one with our CI.