Thursday, January 31, 2013

Hodge Podge

Just a hodge podge of stuff that I'm posting tonight.  Enjoying the little things these days...

Ryan is really doing a great job at sitting up on her own.  This short video was taken a couple weeks ago.  Please note that hearing aids are in!  Go mom!





Here's Bryce and his favorite car.  He has played on it since he was 19 months.  The horn doesn't even work anymore.  And guess who knows how to sit on Bryce's favorite car now?!?!




And these are two of the cutest kiddos ever.  Note that Bryce is chewing his gummies and I sure hope that Ryan doesn't look like she has only a mow-hawk for much longer.  Sigh.











Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Play Date!!

At school (formerly known as daycare) Bryce has a friend named Connor.  Connor and him have been in the same class since they were 10 weeks old.  Connor is 7 days older than Bryce.  
Connor has a sister named Taylor.  Taylor just turned 6 months last week-- she's about 12 days older than Ryan.  

So, us parents thought it would be fun to get together!!  We went over to Connor's house in Phoenixville.  I tried to just grab a pic, and those boys are crazy!!  I couldn't keep them still.  In these three pics below they are trying to hug!

I didn't get any pic of the princesses...my bad.  Next time!




Monday, January 21, 2013

Do You Hear What I Hear?

This is our latest experiment at home that our Early Intervention specialist taught us to do.  It helps us to know if Ryan is responding to noise-- and it's a fun game.  
Here's how it works:  Bryce sits next to me and distracts Ryan by waiving to her while I video tape.  Dad stands behind Ryan and begins to make noise-- Ryan will turn her head if she hears it (or so they say.)  In the videos below, we think she hears the noise, but can't help but think that she might just see the movement of the toy!!

I will say it's a pretty entertaining game and if she can hear this, even a little bit, then these hearing aids are all worth while.  Even though she can't hear speech or normal sounds, we know that if she can hear with these hearing aids on then her brain is working on keeping that auditory nerve in good function.  (Otherwise, if you don't use it, you lose it....this is another reason why early implantation is key.)


We have an official audiology sound test with hearing aids in about a week.  So, I'm sure their analysis will be more formal than this one!!!

Monday, January 14, 2013

Christmas in TX

I've been meaning to post this for awhile, so forgive my tardiness.  We were in Houston for Christmas this year since my family lives down there-- thank goodness for warmer weather!!!  

Bryce was so excited to get his Thomas the Train.  This is exactly what he asked for while sitting on Santa's lap.  Next time, Santa's elves will be shopping on Craig's List for these types of toys.  What you see below cost his elves $140 from Toys R Us.  I mean, seriously?!?!?!



And of course, Ryan was just a cutie hanging out with gramps!!
(Note, hearing aids are in!!!!)







Bryce also loved his new Power Wheels.  How could you not? 


It was a wonderful holiday, and hopefully, I'll do a better job next year about getting xmas cards out!!!

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Genetics Day


Today we were back in Wilmington for our genetics testing! In anticipation of a long appointment after I had spent about 45 minutes on the phone prior to today, this appointment was refreshingly short with the gentici Although st. the cause of hearing loss is not necessary in determining Ryan's CI candidacy, we will also be able to rule out any other associated syndromes that may be a result of her hearing loss. Really, all we hope to find is the connexion 26 mutation which can result in recessive hereditary bilateral deafness/hearing impairment. This means that Sean and I both carried this gene in some kind of alternative fashion and passed it on to Ryan.
Anyhow, more to come in the following weeks as the results from her blood test will reveal more details.  Pictured above is a very unhappy girl who had to have three people for all THREE TIMES she got her veins poked.  Ugh. 

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Ryan 5 Months


Ryan girl, 
You are five whole months.  Where has the time gone?  Between managing your brother and coping with your hearing loss, I barely blinked and already you are so grown up.  So sad, I didn't even get out Christmas cards this year.  Maybe next year?  Or else, I'll do a belated card....um, maybe.

Anyway, you, are such a sweet girl.  You are a snuggle bug (completely unlike your brother).  You love to be held, and you love to snuggle.  You will do this with pretty much anyone these days.  Your biggest stride most recently was standing up and bearing weight for a significant amount of time on your legs.  We put you in the exersaucer (name of jumpy, bouncy thingy)-- and you are loving it.  You play with all the little toys on it.  Speaking of little toys, you have two favorites:  Sophie and Abby.  Sophie is your giraffe, pictured below, and Abby is your Sesame Street doll.  You picked up Abby at the hospital, and she comes with you on all your trips and all your appointments.  You are comforted by Abby and her 'twinkle think' mantra.

You, at five months, are quite the frequent flier.  You have already made three roundtrips to and from TX (twice) and Omaha.  Good thing you love your Uggs-- all three pairs (thanks Grammy K)-- because they keep you nice and warm on your trips.  Comparatively to your brother, you are not a great sleeper-- you love love love being awake and making sure you're not missing a thing.  I do think partly because you can't hear anything that you compensate with your visual behavior.  You pay attention to everything (it's almost annoying).  If the TV is on and I am nursing you, you ALWAYS turn your head about every 15 seconds to check out what we are watching on TV.  If big brother is watching Sesame Street, you zone to the TV more than he does.  You love the little people and all the lights.

You love your butterflies.  Your mobile is butterflies, you love this. But, you also have a little turtle that displays colored stars in the dark-- this scares you.  I'm not sure why, but you whine every time that thing is on...big brother loves it.  He took it from you.  (This is common-- big brother taking things that are yours-- we are working on this.)

You are starting to grow into your cheeks.  (thank goodness as they were a little overwhelming there for awhile).  You do have the biggest cheeks we have ever seen.  They are really fun see you with such big cheeks-- it's funny.

Mom and dad loathe your hearing aids.  'Nough said.  This is why they don't make it into many pics.  You are supposed to wear them all the time, but sigh, they are hard to keep them in.  We are looking forward to nine months for your CI surgery.  We can't wait for you to hear us and catch up with your speech and language development.  

Much love Ryan!






 




                 Grammy Krenz and Ryan's new doll!                                 Uncle Rob & Auntie Sammy!!!