When your up....you must come down

After a few months of feeling pretty good where we where at, today just made me realize that we are still riding that roller coaster, because we are now taking the turn down.
Savannah was due for some hearing tests this morning to determine exactly what she was hearing after having had her hearing aides turned up in the HF 3 mths ago.
She wasn't even in the booth for 10mins & the Audiologist said she wasn't responding to sounds she would normally. So she checked her ears & said they where blocked & that the ear drum wasn't moving...GREAT! So now Savannah cant hear anything out of either ear :( Not sure as to why this has happened as she doesn't have a cold, but now i have to take her to a dr to make sure that there isn't anything else going on.
I had noticed that she wasn't responding as well the last few days & wasn't talking like she normally had been, but didn't think much of it. So now even with the HA's in she isn't hearing much from her good ear. shes shifted into the sev/profound range :(
How long will this last i do not know, but this age is sooo crucial to learning & hearing new things & I'm worried that we are only going to get behind & fall back if this doesn't resolve itself soon :(
If only she had an implant in her profound ear i wouldn't be worrying right now, because at least she would be hearing something!
We don't go back for more tests until Dec 22nd now. Not wonderful timing with Christmas coming up, but don't have much choice :(
So hears hoping this clears up soon, otherwise I'm not sure whats going to happen.

A day to be Thankful, a day for Reflection a day for Thankyous & a day for LOUD shirts!

My day started pretty typical with a wake up call by 3 children jumping all over me & thankfully they did. I looked at the clock & it was 8:10am! I jumped straight out of bed & turned the TV on. Today was our very first LOUD SHIRT DAY & today started with an inspirational & beautiful story on a young boy named jack.

JACKS STORY


I sat in complete silence watching this segment as tears streamed down my face. Watching this young boy & what he has achieved is just amazing. For a parent like me who is still early on in the journey, this clip gives me hope, hope for an amazing future for my daughter.
I am thankful that there are organizations like this, that have only the children's needs & best interests first. I'm very thankful for early intervention. These amazing centres help deaf children to listen & speak, they are helping my daughter speak. How could you not be thankful! I'm also thankful that their are amazing mums out there like Jacks mum who are so open about their journey & share how just amazing their child is doing in the hearing world. Jack is such an inspiration.

Thankful i can not say enough, and over the last few weeks i have been busy spreading the word for loud shirt day, fundraising for Savannah's school & trying to get as much public & community awareness as possible. It was the least i could do & I mean what did i honestly think i could do? I didn't think much, but i even surprised myself. Ive even completely enjoyed doing it too!
To date I have raised $1590.00 all directly for Savannah's school! Savannah has been printed in 2 local newspapers & one having been on the front page LOL.
I also made some YUMMY cupcakes for the playgroup on Thursday & Today i brought Loud Shirt cookies i made to the mother goose program.


The cupcakes :)


Can you tell that someone liked them? lol


The cookies :)


Here are some pics of the gorgeous kids in their LOUD & proud shirts:)

So tonight i sit here whilst my kids sleep & realize how lucky we are & how lucky my daughter is to be where she is. Lucky she has an amazing family that love her no matter what, Lucky that she has 3 awesome brothers to protect her, love her & make sure she knows shes one of them.Lucky that she has an amazing school & staff that are clearly doing amazing things with her. But also very thankful for those AMAZING new & special friends i have made since we have started at the school. Friends that I never knew would become like our family & that will always be a big part of our lives. I'm lucky & so honoured to have meet these mums & their kids. I'm so glad that Savannah will have some lifelong friends too. And of course those people i have meet because of blogging!
Today has been an amazing day, not only because it marked our first of MANY MANY more loud shirt days to come, but it made me realize that we are at a really happy place with everything right now.
As a family we are surrounded by some AMAZING people. So thank you to everyone that has supported us, donated to this wonderful cause & of course those that have been great friends to us. I may not say it all the time, but you guys are awesome & love you all.

So now onto my next adventure (which will be saved for another time) Some may say Ive found my calling, but i say Ive found my passion.


HAPPY LOUD SHIRT DAY 2011 ;)

Mummy what are those??

I remember in the early days wondering if people would stare at Savannah's hearing aides, or whether kids would pick on her, or if people where talking about her wearing them behind our back. Along the way i have definitely noticed whispers & stares from onlookers, most probably curiosity more than anything. Funnily enough people always seemed to admire that darned pilot cap she wore (goodness knows why LOL) & where always asking about it, of course i would always tell them what it was for. I knew that one day, someone would wonder about them & ask why shes wearing them...And this day was to be it
I guess as time goes on, i become more & more & more forgetful that she is even wearing them (LOL) i honestly do. Last week i took the kids to the Tesselaar Tulip Festival. Spring is upon us & i wanted to enjoy as much of the nice weather (back to rain now) that i could.
We where waiting for Savannah & Blake (my middle son) to go into the Petting Zoo & i noticed this young girl (no older than 5) buzzing around Savannah like a little bee (lol) didn't think anything of it of course until after a few minutes i had noticed the little girl trying to touch her hearing aides. Savannah had obviously been aware by this stage & was pushing the girl away, I stepped over to grab Savannah & before i could the little girl blurted out "Mummy what are those in her ears!!??"
The mum looked embarrassed & quickly told her daughter that they helped her hear. The little girl being so inquisitive continued with "but they are weird, i don't wear them"
Her mums response was "well she thinks your weird wearing a headband" her mum turned to me apologized & walked off.
Kids are so honest & i love that!

By this stage i had grabbed Savannah & picked her up, but was so annoyed at myself that i didn't say anything! it was almost like my mouth was glued shut LOL and if you know me that is very rare.
I would have loved to explain to the little girl what they where for & why they helped Savannah, it made me realize that I'm bound to get more of this as she gets older. Kids are interested in things they haven't seen before, and of course once interested ask lots of questions.
Of course this got me thinking about Hayden going to Kinder next year, he will start having new friends & of course they will be interested in why his sister wears "those things" lol. What will i say to them? And do they need to be told before they notice her wearing them?
Oh boy, ive just realized this is new territory for me. Might be in for some interesting times ahead..lol

LOUD SHIRT DAY!

Show your support for such a wonderful cause LOUD SHIRT DAY 21st Oct 2011, and a cause so close to my heart!
Wear you loudest & Proudest Shirt & Raise money to help Deaf kids talk!
I have been fundraising myself in support of Savannah's School Taralye. You can easy donate to this wonderful fundraiser or There is still time to register to hold an event at your workplace, school or Childcare centre & most importantly all the money raised helps deaf kids learn to listen & speak!


Loud Shirt Day Link

My fundraising page

Savannahs First Concert

Savannah went to her very first concert today. I was a tiny bit worried how she would handle it, wasn't sure if the noise would be too much for her with the hearing aides. Surprisingly she did amazing & enjoyed the concert more than her older brothers did! LOL she was up the front dancing away with other kids the entire show! Not sure she could really hear everything but she definitely felt the beat!
Justine Clarke is a child Performer in Australia on the kids TV station called ABC. She is amazing & Savannah LOVES her! here is a clip of one of Savannah's favourite Songs & a video of Savannah dancing.

Her Favourite Song & Singer :)

Savannah talking

Here is a tiny snippet of Savannah saying a few things. It was pretty late & she was pretty co-operative which was nice...But she had to hold the music frame otherwise she wanted my iphone lol

Learned My Lesson

After Savannah's Nap today, just like any other day i put her hearing aids straight in.
Today was not different.

We wandered over to visit Nana & Pa at home & show them Savannah's new stylish shoes. My Mum was on the laptop & Savannah was on her lap playing around with it. My Dad called out to Savannah numerous times & no response. I had to chuckle thinking that she was ignoring him.
He continued to call her name & still no response.
So he clapped his hands really loud & Savannah turned her head, so i didn't think much of it.
I commented on how it was strange she wasn't reacting like she normally would & especially not to her name.
I noticed she had started playing with her mould & digging her finger in, so i decided to take the hearing aide out & check that it wasn't full of wax. I grabbed it & checked it & then put it up to my ear.

Oops. I had just realized that the battery was dead. The hearing aide battery must have died before we had come over.
No wonder she wasnt replying to her name! The wasnt going to be hearing her name from the Profound ear!
I cant even remember the last time i changed it either :/ How bad is that!!
I learned my lesson today! complacency=bad mama!