Independence

We have been a Cochlear Implant family for ten months now. The technology that was so scary, new, and fragile has become as mundane as putting socks on each morning. Ben really has no idea of life without processors, tape, magnets, and remotes.

Just the other day, as we were driving in the car, Ben started shouting from the backseat, "Moo dad-der-y." It took a few guesses and loud "NO"s in response before I landed on new battery. Sure enough Ben's light was orange and a battery was going out.

He has also started replacing his magnets when they fall off. In the past, he would take the whole processor off and give it to us. Now, he can gently reach up and fish around for the magnet to stick.

I can picture the day when Ben's 'ears' will sit on his night stand and he'll stick them into place all on his own when he wakes up each morning- without thinking a second thought.

Pumpkin Patch

This weekend we went to the pumpkin patch with Auntie Sarah, Cousin Maddie and Uncle Marc. Ben met a cow named Bob.
A Turkey named Tyson.

And a sheep named Chops.

He went down the hay slide with Maddie,

played in the hay with Daddy,

and spent a LONG time digging in the wheat.

Ben helped Maddie pick the perfect pumpkin.

And then....

Ben discovered.....

the

tube

slide!!!

Again and again!

He laughed so hard, tears ran down his face!

It looks like we sent him down by himself (which he would have loved) but he is really trying to go up the slide on his own.

Unfortunately, we had to leave.

When we got back to Grandma's, I asked Ben what he wanted carved into his pumpkin. He said, "O".

Carving an O into a pumpkin is really much harder than it looks.

This was my second try.

Half way through we discovered he really wanted to eat 'O's. As in Cheerio O's.
Oh well. At least it was game day.

I've had a lot of questions about how Ben has been doing since his second implant. I love the questions and love to give my answer.

"Perfect. We think he's doing really well."

More specifically, Ben is just a 20 month old boy with extra ears. He runs, climbs, tries to jump, dances, loves to sing, and never stops talking. We often forget he's deaf and truly couldn't imagine what he'd be like if he couldn't hear us.

He shouts "touchdown" every time football is on t.v, calls every flat space to put things a "teple" (table), loves to eat "tow an yam" (toast and jam), drags a step ladder throughout the house saying "up da ladda", uses a "teep ne ne" (tape measure) in the car to turn the light above his head on and off, and has long 'conversations' on the 'phone' always ending with "Yeah. Okay. See ya. Bye."

We sing songs in the car, when he's in a bad mood or when he's sad. He shouts out the animal he wants to be on Old MacDonald's Farm and adds in each of the animal sounds though out the song. He 'signs' and sings the "A d ds" (ABCs) with me. Today after a fall, in tearful snuggle he sobbed, "un on mommy." (Sun song, Mommy) This is our go-to feel better song, 'You Are My Sunshine.'

Ben's two favorite phrases are "excuse me" and commanding people "sit down". He'll ask for things by saying, "Wan more appa pus." or "Ben hungry. Wan eat."

He talks in his sleep saying things like "chick n nunnets" (chicken nuggets), "Mommy home", and "vroom vroom."

He announces each time someone enters the room or leaves it, tells you what you're eating or drinking, and verbalizes what you have just done. "Mommy light on." or "Mommy coat on."

He argues, protests, and bargains. He says, "uh oh dado" (uho spagetti-o) when his batteries go dead or a magnet falls off.

Sometimes we have challenges with his 'ears' and at times we have pangs of sadness when he wakes up scared in silence or his 'ear' was accidentally shut off. We do wish every day that he could hear naturally and often wonder what exactly does he hear.

But right now, we are happy, Ben is happy, and that's all that matters. He talks and listens all day long. He's perfect.

Pumpkin Time

Today we got 'nanans' (pumpkins)!

Ben painted his own pumpkin.

And helped clean out Daddy's pumpkin.

.He loved sorting out the seeds

.and scooping out the guts.

.

He was excited to stick his fingers in the holes of the pumpkin,

but not convinced this was an eye.

He's saying, "No eye, Mommy. Nannan!"

.He is trying to blow out the candle. Each time he succeeded he'd say, "Light off. Wan light on."

.Blowing the 'light' out again.

.

Ben loved eating the 'deeds'.

. He doesn't look thrilled, but he actually

pulled his ladder up and chowed down on quite a few seeds.

Just like his Daddy: if it's salty and crunchy, he's eating it.

Dee Nah

When Daddy's out of town Ben and I get pick what's for 'dee nah' (dinner), no matter how strange it may be.
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Tonight was one of Ben's all time favorites: rice with cheese and carrots.

He helped puree the cooked carrots.

Then add the cheese,

.

blend it all together,

.

and pour it into the bowl.

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I didn't get pictures of him stirring in the rice because it took both my hands to keep him from shoveling it into his mouth.

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And the final test....

How does it taste?

Good enough to leave the boy who NEVER stops taking speechless!

Beach Trip

Today we went to the beach and the Oregon Coast Aquarium with Grandma Mary and nine other family members. What a busy day!

Ben's favorite part (besides lunch) was the sand on the beach. At first he refused to step on it and held his feet in the air. Then he moved on to gigantic steps. Finally he sat down threw handfuls of sand in the air. He threw sand up into the wind over and over. He found this to be hilarious. He crawled, rolled, and ran in the sand. Sand was stuck to every part of him.

At one point we noticed he was missing an 'ear'. This caused mas pandemonium for the long 2 minutes it took to back track and find it blinking away in the sand. He spent the rest of his beach time in silence.

I think this picture (thanks to Uncle Steven) sums up my little boy.

He makes a simple, silent, exploration of the world look beautiful.

Where did this amazing little creature come from?

Celebrity

Ben was featured in a front page article in our local newspaper. The newspaper contacted us way back in December before Ben's first surgery. The reporter and photographer were so interested in Ben's story they joined us on his first surgery day and then again when he was first activated with his right ear. The photographer was even allowed in the operating room, taking pictures of the entire procedure.

Last week they came out to see how life has changed for Ben since his second implant and activation. We thought they did a fantastic job on both articles. The first page actually brought tears to my eyes.

Hope you enjoy!

First article about Ben's surgery:
http://www.itemizerobserver.com/Archives/Story.aspx/16781/moving-past-the-sounds-of-silence

Article about the activation:
http://www.itemizerobserver.com/Archives/Story.aspx/16842/his-door-to-the-world

Most recent article after his second implant:
http://www.itemizerobserver.com/DIONews0.shtml

Books!

Ben loves to read books.

We read together everyday before nap time and bed time and Ben always has to have a stack to read in the car. We have read a few so many times he knows what comes next before I turn the page.

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Here he is reading one of his favorites with Daddy.

This is Moo, Baa. La La La! By Sandra Boynton.

The part he gets a bit carried away with is when the book says, "No, no, no. The pigs say Oink all day and night."

.

His favorite word lately is mo (no)!

Dancing Man!

Today went up to Dornbecher to meet with Ben's audiologist.

The whole way up he said " Dtr Don errr" (Doctor Don, ear). Dr. Don was thrilled to his his name over and over.

.

Ben had a booth test with his 'new ear' and tested at 15 db. Pretty good hearing for a deaf kid! With only the left ear on, he wont respond to questions or repeat a noise.

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Don suggested Ben wear only his 'new ear' for a little while each day to give him more confidence and not rely on his right ear. Ben's two ears are at about the same volume now. He just needs more time to exercise the auditory nerve on the left side.

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We also talked about the balance troubles Ben has had since his surgery. We will go back in a month and meet with the ENT if it hasn't improved.

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When we got home Ben proved he can hear and move around just fine.

These dance moves must come from Daddy!

Enjoy!

Play it over and over! There is no way you can't smile.

Zoo Trip

Today Ben went to the Zoo.

He loved the elephants. He jumped and giggled saying "ene ana, ene ana".

We had to drag him away from the pigs (iggys).

These penguins knew how to show off. Ben waddled saying "peep, peep, peep".

When we left he waved and said, "Bye, bye ena gena".

Cousin Maddie and Megan made sure Ben got to pet every pygmy goat,

ride each concrete animal

and ride the fake horse.

The left over sugar from this elephant ear may have led to his populatiry in the petting zoo.

This beaver is trying to convince Ben to be a Beaver fan.

But Ben loves his Ducks!

We had a wonderful, long day. Complete with a good-bye hug from a really big bear.

Not So Sure

Ben's second implant activation was quite a bit different from the first.

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He did not want the processor anywhere near his ear or the magnet put on. After some convincing and a lot of distracting, we were able to get the magnet on long enough for Dr. Don to turn the sound on. Ben startled so suddenly the block in his hand flew in my face, leaving a pretty shiner under my eye.

Each time we attached the magnet, so Ben could have some sound, he winced and tried to pull it off. He said "all done" over and over.
.

I didn't have much better luck that evening either. Since Ben wants to be just like daddy all the time, daddy wore his new ear for a while. Ben caved in and wore it for a few moments after that.

The next morning, I held his arms down, stuck his ears on, and headed outside. Ben spent over an hour playing with both ears on!Distract...

distract...

A busy boy with TWO EARS

Today, day 3, has been even better. Ben wore both ears most of the day. At one point, he had only his new ear on. I had to call his name pretty loud before I got a reaction. The sound is still pretty low.

After dinner, Ben took his new ear off and signed hurt and pointed to his head. I'm not sure if the surgery site is sensitive or he was just tired of listening. Either way, it's his choice (or luxury) to turn off the sound and rest for a while.

Lot's of changes for a little guy!