7 more days.....

Seven more days, and Mary's cochlear implant will be activated! In the meantime, she has recovered very, VERY well - in spite of her recent stomach bug that came out of NOWHERE! Memorial day weekend was rough for us regarding that but in true "Momo" fashion, Mary just seems to bounce back stronger than usual!

Today we went to Mary's ENT and upgraded the hearing aid on her right ear! What an incredible difference! We were so blown away, watching Mary's eyes get big and excited, hearing more (what we would deem) obscure, high-pitched nuances. Needless to say, equipped with a stronger, high-tech hearing aid in one hear and a "Bionic" cochlear implant in the other - baby girl's gonna SOAR! Here are a few pics, including one with her audiologist, Jeanne!

Keep you posted but look for video footage next week of Mary's activation!!!!

Mary's new Phonak Exelia Art Hearing Aid!

Mary & Jeanne, one of her audiologists!

Momo feeling the need for speed!!!!

Post-Op Update

Mary has done extraordinarily well! I hope that this is the LAST major surgery for her.....ever, really but I pray it is. She's had more surgery in her four years on earth than I have in my.....45! (Wow, did I just SAY that?!?! LOL!) Anyway, her "band-aid" was removed as I promised her and she was scared and crying "Ow, ow, ow" as I was cutting it off. Robert & I truly believe that she believed the bandage became a permanent part of her! I  packed some gauze lightly in her ear as she continued to have a small amount of drainage but her spirits just seemed to soar within minutes after removing the big bandage! She was still afraid to look at herself but Robert caught her doing the 'side glance' at herself as they passed a mirror and he asked her if she wanted to see. She nodded 'yes' and Robert said she that when she saw herself without the bandage, she just started pointing to her ear, smiling and rambling off with excitement - I'm sure about her appearance! We got our Mary back at that point!!! And honestly, we were worried. But she's moving full-steam ahead and is back to school this morning. She still experiences some unsteadiness, I'm sure due to where her surgery was in her middle ear and possible fluid accumulating in it. And in true "Momo" fashion, she forgets she's had surgery and plays fast and hard. She's learning to gauge herself and was even excited to go back to school! So the plan for now is that we continue to live life, monitor Mary's progress until her activation day which is June 8th! So here are some updated photos of our sweet baby girl post-surgery, post band-aid,  - rockin' towards the future!!!! God is GREAT!

Mary with her first Gift Basket!

Back to school, making a "funny face" in the parking lot

My sweet Momo showing the whole outfit, complete with her new sandals GeeGee bought her!

Surgery is Over!

God most certainly "showed up & showed OUT" the morning of Mary's surgery. Our biggest concern was her anxiety level of course and Mary did soooo well! We all woke up and Robert & I were very clear to her (spoken with as much love as possible) that we were going to the doctor. She started crying immediately and as best as we could told her that the Dr. was going to fix her ear. She didn't like it but calmed down enough to be cooperative and roll with it as we drove to Vanderbilt.

We were all a bit quiet but as we walked into the lobby Mary was taken with the aquarium and televisions all on the kiddy shows! We signed in and the admissions lady even gave Curious George an ID band which we put around his neck. When they called us to the 'holding room' Mary immediately started to cry. We got her weighed and and went to our little room where eventually we were able to kid around with her and take some pictures. Jessica, the child life specialist met us and Mary really took to her and that visit loosened her up even more!

The really cool thing is that EVERYONE was on board that when the time for Mary to be taken back to the OR, the phrase was, "I'll be RIGHT BACK". Just that phrase alone was priority. Then the anesthesiologists, fellows and residents all came around, asked the same questions but they were WONDERFUL to Mary! One in particular, "Prima" (I guess that's how you spell her name) is half Chinese & half Filipino and she took to Mary right away and I believe, vice-versa. So after Mary had her "goofy juice", she was very relaxed enough that when Prima asked her if she could hold her so that she could show her another room, Mary went right into her arms. Covered in her curious George blanket, holding George and still in her PJs that she refused to take off, Prima announced to us as Mary was listening that "we'll be right back".......SUCCESS!!! Off they went, Robert and I paused still to listen for any screaming or crying and....nothing. We high-five each other and kiss and hug!

Once settled in the waiting room, I'm looking at the left hearing aid in the speciman cup. Wow. We will never, ever see this on Mary's ear again. A sense of finality came over, I suddenly not only felt a loss for this little device that helped began her hearing journey but I started to feel nervous about the surgery. The receptionist pages "Businda" overhead and indicates the call is for me and Prima is on the line to tell me that Mary did GREAT going in the OR! She went on to say that as Mary was introduced to everyone, that she repeated everyone's name and that she was great about inhaling into the mask and went to sleep easily. COOL! PRAISE GOD!.....and that "right now, the Dr. is drilling into her head and audiology is in the room so we will call back when we're about to place the implants. Now would be a good time to get some coffee"......all I really remember hearing was "Dr....drilling into her head"......weird. Disturbing actually but I was grateful to get a play by play & felt a peace, continuing to trust God!

In the meantime, Robert & I get some breakfast, our dear sweet friend Mary Stockard from The Bridge Fellowship stopped by to pray with us and Robert slept while I went through the motions of looking at magazines. Another call - yep, its Prima!!!! Its about an hour and half later and she's informing me that they are putting the implants in and about to test it!!!! She will call us back! Whew, I'm getting hyper now! Thirty minutes go by...phone call anytime now, I just know it! Forty-five minutes goes by...hmmm....getting nervous....one hour goes by and I'm tearful now and just when Robert is giving encouraging words I look up and see Dr. Labadie heading over! He informs us that Mary did GREAT and that they did experience a delay in getting an initial response (probably due to the swelling, bleeding debris from the operation) but that yes, they DID get the response from the cochlear implant they were looking for!!!! We thanked him profusely and eventually headed back to PACU where our little momo was.

Needless to say, recovery is always a tough time but this time - it was really trying because half of Mary's nausea was not only due to the anesthesia but some vertigo and equilibrium issues with surgery. We also think that when she finally saw the mega cup over her ear, even today, I think that's messing with her self-esteem. We were in recovery seven and a half hours and finally got to go home.

(Mary starting to perk up Post-Op)

Today, Mary is quiet but coming around. She's drinking appropriately and toileting well but I'm still catching her looking at her head whenever she can catch her reflection. So, I put a Cinderella sticker on it. She smiled, and I promised her that we would remove her "band-aid" this afternoon. I also gave her a pedicure. I'm also kissing on her and loving on her and probably bugging the crap out of her but we are so grateful that she's home and recovering nicely! Thank you again - EVERYONE for your prayers, encouragement and continued support! We love you all!!!! Now after I wake up Robert from his nap shift - I'll be next!

Mary One Day Post Op.....you can tell she's still processing everything

George holding the Left Hearing Aid for the very last time!

Still Celebrating!!!!

         This last week, we have celebrated TWO YEARS WITH MARY HOME WITH US, rounding out last weekend with a very warm, tender and intimate Mother’s Day with Robert and my Momo! God is GREAT!

      I can’t believe its been over a month since I posted! Well, Mary has surgery to receive a cochlear implant in her left ear this Wednesday May 12th! After a few weeks of healing, she will be “activated” on June 8th - which basically means that she will be able to hear sounds out of that ear for the first time! There will be many follow up appointments to help Mary & her brain re-train how to hear out of that side as the sessions will also require fine-tuning her hearing levels…..that sounds like such a foreign concept - amazing what someone with ‘normal’ hearing takes for granted!

     Nonetheless, we are so fired up to witness the progress Mary will be making, the corners she’ll be turning as she experiences this incredible technology. I think the very first thing we just want to get over is the surgery as Mary still has really bad anxiety going into a Doctor’s office, thanks to how her last trip to the OR went! You know, the LAST thing you tell a child - especially an ADOPTED child is “Tell your parents goodbye”!!! Crazy! We have been promised at her peri-operative appointment that Mary will not experience the “IV” until she’s out; and thankfully, we’ve been ‘playing’ with a doll dressed in a hospital gown complete with cool accessories such as syringes, masks, coloring book thanks to the child life specialists at Vanderbilt! We’ll see how that plays out this Wednesday…hmmmm!
        Mary continues to make such incredible progress with her speech even since her CI workup in March! She seems to just be exploding with language in spite of where her hearing is now. We are also in the process of upgrading her hearing aid on her right ear to optimize her whole hearing/language experience. There will be plenty of pics and you can bet your sweet bippy that we’ll have video footage of her CI activation next month!
    Thank you for your prayers, we ask specifically that Mary fares well with the anesthesia, the operation succeeds without complications and a speedy recovery so that she can finish out her school with her friends who bring her so much joy!!!! This life continues to be sweeter and sweeter, more exciting, experiencing all the incredible things God is doing. I’m grateful to continue to let Him lead me, guide me, heal me and taste the wonder of His love through being a mother, a wife and a daughter of the King - all in spite of myself! I yearn for and praise the day when Mary chooses Him as her Savior, to experience this life at a whole NEW level……and hang on - I KNOW its coming!!!!!!!

APPROVED!!!

All I have time to share with you is that Mary has been OFFICIALLY approved for her cochlear implant - ROCK ON!!!!! Praise God!!!! We have had a chance to get some serious leisure time in since the workup so enjoy the pics!!!! Stay tuned!!!!

Mary enjoying the Easter Basket she won at church - Thanks Aunt Nancy for taking her to the hunt!!!!

Mary & cousin Natalie about to fine-tune the Easter Cake

Ta-daaa!!!!

Happiness - need I say more??????

Bein' silly with Mama at the Porch Party!!!

Mary and little cousin Ivy checkin' out the inventory

Mama & Dada stop for a pose!!!! Shweet!

Mary about to get into mischief as she has her first watergun lesson from Wyler!!!!

FAMILY!!!!

Back to Living Life!

       Yesterday, we completed a week long series of tests and evaluations for Mary’s cochlear implant candidacy. The week was very long and grueling, taking a toll on all of our emotions and mental frames of mind! Thankfully, Robert was off work all week so he was able to be present as well and as much as we dreaded the drive and tests, Robert always reminded me that we came through this together as a family.

      We learned so much this past week, not only about this amazing technology but how it could really take Mary’s hearing, language and speech to much higher level. Also, we were able to see where her baseline was with regards to the length of time she has had her hearing aids in which is almost a year and a half. We were VERY pleased and excited to hear the validation of how far Mary had come since then! Robert and I always think we know how far she has come but to hear it from others who have only met or worked with Mary in a limited time frame - well, we were thrilled to know we were still on track - and THEN some!!!! We really needed that encouragement towards the end of the week because there were disheartening times when during the long audiology tests, that Mary looked around with a blank look on her face when testing her left ear. Another part of her testing had her point to a specific picture when cued audibly and of course when it was her left ear being tested, I saw her shoulders sink as her lack of confidence dropped. She was pointing kind of aimlessly seeking out my facial expressions for confirmation or approval. Of course, she always got a big smile and a lot of enthusiastic clapping from Robert and I, even when she was pointing to the wrong subject. That was hard because Mary is usually so self motivated and sure of herself and I never want her to give up on herself, even when she’s unsure or scared or things get hard. She kept going along in spite of how she felt and I was so proud of her. I believe it was in that moment that Robert and I realized how much further a cochlear implant could take Mary so the matter is settled now in our hearts and we hope and pray it comes to fruition soon!

Again, knowing the gains Mary has made with hearing aids and realizing the possibilities with the cochlear implant we are ‘cautiously optimistic’. Without going into the nuts and bolts of how the decision is finalized to the point of scheduling a surgery, we ask anyone reading this to pray that God’s perfect will is manifested for Mary’s sake.

We are so fired up for the weekend and I know Mary’s ready to go back to school after this week! We still have a lot of research to do on which manufacturer to go with, manage and plan scheduling for the rest of spring and summer but we are sooooo glad this testing is OVER! Time to fit in some serious leisure activities and get ready to really enjoy this spring! God is so good and Mary - Mama & Dada are always, ALWAYS so proud of you, you really shined this week so keep running forward baby girl! We’re right beside you every step of the way!

Mary showing off her "Most Improved" award

Mary & Robert feeding the ducks between appointments!

Our little Momo getting a chance to something OTHER than testing

Great Report!

The post-op visit with Dr. Bryant went GREAT! Mary had just a bit of clotting around the tubes which was typical - more ear drops to clear it up but she has truly turned the corner as you can see!!!! We had the audiologist create some custom ear plugs for Mary in the bath as well as when she goes swimming - of course, Mary helped make them and she loves them!

The Valentines photos are sweet although you can tell Mary is still a little tuckered but today, this morning as I took her to school she really seems to be coming along as she always has, with the exception that she truly hears better! The Dr. stated that the additional fluid that came out of her ear probably contributed to an additional 30 decibel DECREASE in her hearing before so hey - we can tell its made a big difference and Mary can too!

March 2nd is the Cochlear Implant consult for her left ear so we'll see where we go from there. In the meantime, Mary is feeling better, hearing better, we're increasing our speech and signing efforts and loving that she sleeps better! Enjoy the pictures!!!!

Mary perking up with her Valentine Box

Mary REALLY perking up with Chrisopher!!!!

'Lil Momo hanging tough, eating Valentine snacks!

Mary in the kitchen with GeeGee making Sweetheart Sugar Cookies - workin' hard!!!

What a great BAKER!!!!

Dada's home!!!!!

All flirty before school this morning!!! YEA!!!!!