tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87247240251396161832024-02-20T23:01:23.392-05:00For the Love of AvaAva's exciting journey to the hearing world!Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11381036737322215643noreply@blogger.comBlogger65125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724724025139616183.post-48143618065172911832014-02-12T19:38:00.002-05:002014-02-12T19:38:46.380-05:00One year later!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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All is well here for Ava, who is now 5 and a half and has been hearing for nearly 5 years (April). Her senior kindergarten year has been smooth sailing; especially since she received her personal FM system last year. She is seeing her TOD twice a week and with her TOD she has been working on developing a brochure that demonstrates the steps to attach her receivers and activate her personal FM system. At this stage, Ava is learning how to identify the various parts of her cochlear implant and indicate when her cochlear implant and FM system are not giving a clear signal. Self-advocacy is a very important skill to have and it is practiced over and over at school. This will give her the confidence to speak up when she cannot hear something at school. She is also creating a power point presentation "All about Me" which will be presented to her classmates in April. She is very excited about her projects and enjoys her time with Mrs. Manocchio, her wonderful TOD. Ava is enjoying a very active social life, attending numerous birthday parties, ballet and hip-hop classes as well as a weekly gymnastics class. And we just signed her up for summer soccer!</div>
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Ava just received her latest progress report card and I am proud to announce that she has met ALL expectations for a kindergartener. Even better, she is reading well above grade level. I find that many of our CI kiddoes who were identified early and implanted at a young age, do extremely well in reading. This gives them a great foundation to carry through-out their school age years. In addition, her TOD reports that she continues to have developmentally appropriate speech and language. Yippee!</div>
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I notice that most of my other CI momma friends are also blogging much less frequently. Most likely due to the normalcy of our lives, which was what we all hoped and prayed for when we first received our child's diagnosis of profound deafness. I honestly could not be happier with Ava's continued successes and she has exceeded all of my expectations.</div>
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Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11381036737322215643noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724724025139616183.post-78191240592842389312013-03-01T15:32:00.000-05:002013-03-01T20:33:36.856-05:00Still Here/Hear! Travelling, Reading and FM Systems<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waiting for our plane to arrive</td></tr>
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My older daughter pointed out last week that I haven't blogged since October! I really didn't have much to blog about that would really interest anybody. However, I have lots of news and new experiences I would love to share.<br />
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<b><u>TRAVELLING WITH COCHLEAR IMPLANTS</u></b><br />
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My husband and I travelled with Lauren and Ava to Mexico last month. It was Ava's first airplane trip with her CI's. I put all of Ava's CI stuff in my carry-on: charger, zephyr drying box, personal audio cable, rechargeable and disposable batteries, remote. I didn't say anything to the security staff. Just left it all in my carry-on bag and it went through the x-ray machines no problem. Ava walked through the security x-ray no problem either. I didn't point out her CI's or anything. I had her CI identity cards with me in case they asked about her equipment but they did not. (I have never had to inform security about my hearing aids/accessories before so I didn't feel the need to bring up Ava's CI's. While on the plane, Ava was able to listen to the aircraft's radio using <a href="http://www.cochlearamericas.com/turnthemusicon/pdf/hope-series-tips-improving-music-listening.pdf">Cochlear's personal audio cable</a>. She also was able to watch movies on the iPad using the personal audio cable which connects her processor directly to the iPad. Lauren has the <a href="http://www.tecear.com/Music_Link.htm">music links by tech ear </a>for her hearing aids so she was able to watch the movies together with Ava using the same port (my husband bought a dual earphone <a href="http://i01.i.aliimg.com/wsphoto/v0/663434467/Free-Shipping-50-PCS-Audio-Stereo-3-5mm-Male-to-2-Female-font-b-Splitter-b.jpg">splitter</a> from Best Buy so they could both hear the movie at the same time using their different devices). <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ava listening to music with her<br />
Personal Audio Cable</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ava checking out emergency<br />
flight procedures</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting ready to snorkel</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chillaxin with a virgin strawberry daiquiri</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Girls with their new braids</td></tr>
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The trip was fantastic. Ava snorkeled out to the reef with us (we practiced in the pool first), swam and played at the waterpark. We left one of her processors on at the water park - she splashed about, went down the waterslides, dunked her head in the water and even stood under waterfalls with no problem leaving the processor on. We fastened the cable to her hair using a claw-like clip so that the processor wouldn't fall off and get lost. We plan to purchase Cochlear's waterproof bags this summer for swimming in the pool. Hopefully she will be more receptive to this as she didn't like using the aLoksak bags. Ava also wanted to get her hair braided. She had the half head version so that her coils would still be able to stay on her head.<br />
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<b><u>AVA IS READING!</u></b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ava's Student of the Month photo</td></tr>
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Ava is doing very well with her reading. A video clip of her reading is <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbIRvUtEGx0">HERE</a> . I am so proud of her! In the clip she keeps asking me if I'm "taking her picture" as she doesn't like to be photographed. While I'm taping her with my cellphone, I had to keep reassuring her I wasn't taking a picture (ok, I was taking a <i>video</i>, not a photo - not the same thing - if I admitted I was videotaping her, she never would have read for me on camera - so yes I sheepishly admit, I had to tell my daughter a "little white lie" to get her to read on film)<br />
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<b><u>AVA AT SCHOOL - FM SYSTEMS</u></b><br />
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Ava has been struggling to hear in her new all-day kindergarten classroom. Her classroom is the worst possible imaginable set-up for a child with a hearing loss. Her school built a new addition to accommodate three new full-day kindergarten classes of 90 children. These three classrooms are side by side and separated merely by a wall between each of them that does not meet the ceiling. There are no doors separating these classrooms from one another. It is a total acoustical nightmare. When one class is singing, the other class will join in. With Ava's classroom being the middle room sandwiched between two outer classes totalling 60 rambunctious 4 and 5 year olds, the background noise coming in from both classrooms into Ava's room is overwhelming. The hearing kids even struggle to stay focused. Ava received a soundfield at the beginning of the school year but it just was not working well enough for her. Her TOD saw all the signs that she was not hearing well. She would tune out during story time and was not participating in class discussions. She could not follow teacher instructions and seemed lost, uninterested and distracted. There were also some slight behaviour concerns. And Ava was absolutely miserable and exhausted by the day's end. I did some research and felt that Ava would benefit greatly from a personal FM system. I had my reservations about a personal FM system for Ava since she is only 4 years old and would not be a good reporter if something were to go wrong with the FM. I also had reservations about using the <a href="http://www.phonak.com/com/b2c/en/products/fm/receivers/mylink_plus.html">MYlink neckloop system</a>, which is favoured by the school board since it's cost-effective. The MYlink neckloop can be wonky, Ava hates having her telecoils switched on as she cannot stand the constant buzzing sound from electro-magnetic interference and I was worried about safety with having something around her neck that can be whacked at other kids or pulled on by 29 little kindergarteners in her class. We had a meeting at the school with the Vice-Principal, TOD, Ava's classroom teacher and the educational audiologist to discuss solutions for Ava. I wanted Ava to receive <a href="http://www.phonak.com/com/b2c/en/products/fm/receivers/ml14i.html">Phonak's ML14i receivers</a> which are WAY better than the neckloop system. I armed myself with research supporting the benefits of the receivers vs. neck loop - some of the advantages are: no electromagnetic interference buzzing, better sound quality, better speech intelligibility in noise, better dynamic capability and better signal to noise ratio than the neck loop. You just plug the small receivers into her processors and that's it. No remote to fuss with. However, the receivers are more expensive than the neck loop system. It just so happened that the educational audiologist had in her office two ML14i receivers on hand and Ava could have them! The following week, the board audiologist and Ava's TOD came to the school with the new receivers. It took some coaxing for Ava to agree to let them touch her processors, let alone wear the receivers. But after some bribery and little tricks, Ava finally let them put the receivers on. Let me tell you that a couple hours later, Ava's teacher personally called me on the phone with these words..."I don't believe it but it's like you have a different child....." Ava participated in the classroom discussion, answered questions, was totally focused during story time etc etc. I was so freaking relieved. And to think of what she has missed these last 6 months of school. I should note that Ava remains on par with her peers academically; but had we left things the way they were, she surely would have fallen behind both academically and socially. We can now breathe a little easier and sleep at night rest assured that finally, she can hear at school. <br />
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<br />Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11381036737322215643noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724724025139616183.post-38327444075954666932012-10-31T20:53:00.001-04:002012-10-31T20:53:23.385-04:00Happy Halloween!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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Ava just received her new Skin-its for her processors! We are really happy with them. The skins fit both the regular length and compact rechargeable batteries. </div>
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When Ava removed her processors tonight, she put them both together like this and said "look mommy, my CI's make a heart". I love that kid!</div>
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<script src="http://mediaplayer.yahoo.com/js" type="text/javascript"></script>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11381036737322215643noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724724025139616183.post-75259219216561771452012-09-25T14:34:00.000-04:002012-09-25T14:34:55.702-04:00Ava starts Kindergarten!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ava in her uniform</td></tr>
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Ava started Kindergarten this month. It has been going super well. I had some reservations as Ava's school implemented a full day program for the first time which meant she would be in a class of 30 noisy three and four year olds together with one teacher and one early childhood educator (E.C.E.). This, coupled with the fact that her classroom is openly connected to two other noisy 30 kid full day Kindergarten classrooms, made me worry that noise would be an issue. We decided before school started that she would benefit from a soundfield system in her classroom and this has made things oh so much better for her. Both the teacher and ECE wear the transmitter and they alternate between the two of them who would be doing the teaching as they both cannot be on the system simultaneously. They have worked this out very well between the two of them. Also, the soundfield is portable and it is brought to the gym and worn by the gym teacher. The proof that the soundfield is working well for Ava is how she comes home day after day demonstrating the new songs she learns at school; how she remembers the lyrics and has a pretty good articulation of the songs. She blew my socks off with her near perfect rendition of our national anthem "Oh Canada" last week. She is making lots of new friends but lucked out with having her best friend from pre-school placed in her classroom (one of the perks of having a child with a disability). Her compact rechargeable batteries last throughout the school day but we find that they run out of power a bit sooner now thus we are changing her batteries at about 6pm daily. Her itinerant TOD comes in once a week to make sure the soundfield is working efficiently and spends time with Ava in the classroom to get a feel of how things are going for her, and to see whether the classroom needs any further modifications to reduce noise. Soon, Ava will be pulled out of her class once a week to work one on one with the TOD. One of the projects they will work on is introducing her cochlear implants to her classmates. Cochlear Corporation apparently has colouring books that we can order which Ava can give to her class while she is doing her presentation. </div>
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There are a couple exciting products for cochlear implants that I am dying to share:</div>
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<b><a href="http://www.skinit.com/">SKIN-ITS</a></b> - I've ordered Ava "skins" which are custom made for her Nucleus 5 processors. I can't wait to get my hands on them. She is so excited. She picked out a Hello Kitty design. Her brown processors are so.....boring and look like, well, like medical devices. The skin-its will certainly give her CI's character and I'm sure her classmates will be sooooo jealous :)</div>
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<b>WATERPROOF BAGS</b> for Nucleus 5's. - Cochlear Corporation (finally) came up with their own solution to waterproofing the Nucleus 5. A custom made waterproof ziploc-type single use bag so Ava can wear her processors on her ear and go SWIMMING. <a href="http://products.cochlearamericas.com/products/introducing-nucleus-system/2-nucleus-system/water">Click here </a> for a picture of the bag. From what I can tell, Ava will still have to utilize a swim cap given the fact she dives in 8 feet of water for pool sticks. Ava was not a fan of swim caps so we will see if she will be receptive to wearing the new bag. Certainly a step in the right direction by Cochlear and I trust we will see a fully waterproof processor in the near future! The bags are available in Canada (yay for us) but are just awaiting FDA approval. </div>
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<script src="http://mediaplayer.yahoo.com/js" type="text/javascript"></script>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11381036737322215643noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724724025139616183.post-4184765325615920042012-08-09T09:16:00.000-04:002012-08-09T15:04:40.224-04:00Summer Camp! (and another speech sample)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Ava has been spending a few weeks this summer doing full day camp programs. She will be starting full day kindergarten this fall. She has adjusted extremely well being away all day. The last two weeks, she has been doing the gymnastics program. She really loves it. I keep her processors on using wig-tape and I secure her cables to her hair using little mini hair clips (the claw type ones with the spring). Also, I screwed her magnets in a little closer to her head so that the coils wouldn't pop off so easily. This worked really well for her. </div>
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I really love how they teach the kids new songs at camp. In the past, when Ava would learn a new song at school, I would have to practice with her at home to make sure she has her articulation down pat. She would often mispronounce some of the lyrics; especially new vocabulary.</div>
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Yesterday she came home from camp having learned the "Doggie Doggie Who's Got the Bone" song. I was SO impressed that she learned the whole thing in one day. With the exception of a couple of words, she did really well with it. She was so dang cute I just have to share it with you!</div>
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<br /></div>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11381036737322215643noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724724025139616183.post-44542384678412516632012-08-06T22:29:00.000-04:002012-08-06T22:34:20.767-04:00Meeting Rachel!<div style="text-align: justify;">
Today was an extra special day for us, definitely one of the highlights of my year.</div>
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Let me tell you why.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rachel and Ava</td></tr>
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A few years ago, while in the midst of shedding tears trying to get my hands on ANYTHING I could find out about deafness and cochlear implants for Ava, who had just been diagnosed as profoundly deaf, I came across this amazing blog "<a href="http://cochlearimplantonline.com/">Cochlearimplantonline.com</a>". The creator of that blog, is Rachel Chaikof. Rachel is a young woman who is deaf and has bilateral cochlear implants. She was implanted at the age of 3 in 1989 and was one of the first children to be implanted in the U.S. Rachel is a success story. She excelled in school, mastered the french language, received numerous academic awards, became a poster child for Better Hearing and Speech Month, graduated Summa Cum Laude from the Savannah College of Art and Design and works as Community Engagement Manager for a company that provides an on-line platform for corporations managing community involvement. You can read more about Rachel's accomplishments <a href="http://cochlearimplantonline.com/site/life/speaking-up-for-themselves/rachels-story/">here</a>.</div>
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Today, we were super excited because we got to meet Rachel in person. My husband and I were in awe of her. She is the whole package - intelligent, articulate and beautiful. My husband got to talk about US politics with her and I got to talk to her about FM systems, her experiences as a college student living in residence and learn things about the functions on Ava's processors that will come in handy when she is older.</div>
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And Ava, went to bed tonight, excitedly chatting about her afternoon with Rachel "who has CI's like me Mommy!"</div>
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Rachel, thank you from the bottom of our heart, for doing what you do. For reaching out to the 70,000 people per month who read your blog, a place where one can learn all he or she needs to know about hearing loss and cochlear implants. For your tireless efforts to spread awareness about hearing loss. And especially for taking the time to meet Ava. There really is no better role model, than you!</div>
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<script src="http://mediaplayer.yahoo.com/js" type="text/javascript"></script></div>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11381036737322215643noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724724025139616183.post-43767096223126934322012-06-22T20:52:00.000-04:002012-06-22T20:52:44.499-04:00Ava has graduated from Pre School!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Ava graduated from Pre School yesterday! I can't believe the year is over. She had a fantastic year at Silver Creek Pre School. She met all of her language goals and we couldn't be more proud. She blossomed socially and made a ton of friends. She was so eager to participate in anything and everything, especially "Show and Share". She was always <b>super excited</b> to go to school each day. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ava receiving her diploma from her teachers Sueann and Tahlia</td></tr>
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Earlier this week, I attended a Case Conference with the administrators of Ava's new school where she will be attending Kindergarten this September. At this meeting, it was determined what supports Ava will receive at her new mainstream school. She will receive a Soundfield system, weekly intervention with her d/hh itinerant teacher, in-service for the staff on cochlear implants, her classroom will have the appropriate modifications made to reduce background noise such as hush ups on the chairs. Her existing IEP will be carried through to the new school and adjusted in the fall. While her articulation is improving, it is still not quite age-appropriate in terms of when she is speaking in sentences. There is still work ahead of us in making sure she continues to progress with her language and not fall behind. We will miss having her weekly TOD visits which were chock full of therapy. In fact I plan to make an appointment with her auditory verbal therapist to have an assessment done to see exactly where she is at and from this arm ourselves with some goals to work on for the summer. With our deaf kiddos, we always have to be on top of things and work ahead whenever possible as it is so easy for them to fall behind at school.</div>
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Attached is a video clip of Ava reading some words. </div>
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</script>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11381036737322215643noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724724025139616183.post-34898462665646446252012-03-19T09:04:00.000-04:002012-03-19T09:04:26.731-04:00Pensive Ava<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioKHP3ZsPr8IoUKJMLoF7591vaEsrPUfp4-SXC-hdXSN84hB53_vIDH6Xx456nH5UWcbSVtglwGXUJ_0nMaf0x2YpHrzkY_yAHscj8RqNfpZTbBSdaw5eaLaYo7VpBnPqlBzuORXijrRU/s1600/Ava+pensive+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img aea="true" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioKHP3ZsPr8IoUKJMLoF7591vaEsrPUfp4-SXC-hdXSN84hB53_vIDH6Xx456nH5UWcbSVtglwGXUJ_0nMaf0x2YpHrzkY_yAHscj8RqNfpZTbBSdaw5eaLaYo7VpBnPqlBzuORXijrRU/s200/Ava+pensive+002.jpg" width="149" /></a>Ava refuses to wear her CI's first thing in the morning. Upon awakening, she wants to play a little by herself and eat breakfast in total silence. During this time she becomes very pensive and deep in thought. Shortly after she eats, she asks for her CI's and is ready to hear. Hearing folks may not understand this. How could she not want to hear <em>all the time</em>? Why does she do this? I'll tell you. Having that ability to choose not to hear is <em>bliss</em>. I love taking my out hearing aids at night, and sleeping in total silence. I also, as a little girl, would not put my hearing aid in right away when I woke up, and would prefer to eat my cereal in silence. It was my time to lose myself to my thoughts. I was not ready to be bombarded with all the noise that my busy bustling household brought. I'm telling you, the silence is so peaceful and relaxing. I love it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
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</script>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11381036737322215643noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724724025139616183.post-63643932474544412682012-02-27T22:10:00.001-05:002012-02-27T22:17:39.942-05:00Social Interactions of Kids with hearing loss in School<div style="text-align: justify;">My husband and I attended at lecture at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto last week. The topic discussed was Social Interactions of Kids with Cochlear Implants in School. The guest speaker was Dr. Janet Jamieson, associate professor and director of the Program in Education for the deaf and hard of hearing at the University of British Colombia. She has conducted extensive research on peer interaction among hard of hearing children and their hearing peers in elementary school. Her research was designed to explore the challenges and coping skills of hard of hearing children (she stressed her research was in relation to kids who have hearing loss; not necessarily with cochlear implants - although she found similar results in the little research that has been conducted exclusively with implanted children) who are integrated into regular classrooms in terms of establishing and maintaining friendships.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">It is very likely (but not always) that the hard of hearing child will feel socially isolated and withdraw at times because communication in a mainstream school and outside in the school yard can be difficult. It could be because they have trouble following rapid fire verbal exchanges between their peers, or not understand the quick rule changes that children may make in their daily play, or perhaps your child feels left out because they don't know the lyrics to popular songs, or maybe they misinterpret subtle social cues. Perhaps they have trouble knowing what to say if they just want to be included with a group of other kids already engaged in an activity. Some deaf children just need encouragement and a boost, to help them seek and build friendships.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Here are a few tips that Dr. Jamieson provided to help boost your child's self esteem and encourage friendship building:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">1. Usually all a child needs is at least one good friend at school. Invite this child over to your house, often.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">2. Consider signing up your child for after school activities that encourage social interaction, such as a sports team or drama. Encourage a friendship with a team mate outside of the regular team practices/games.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">3. Model how you would have your child join in a group of other children playing. For example, if a group of boys have been playing with trucks at recess, send your child to school with a truck and have him just walk over to the group and start playing with them.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">4. Get to know the parents of your child's peers. For example, Ava's older sister Lauren, who is 7, was upset about a particular classmate who was bossy and a bit of a bully. I got to know this classmate's mother and initiated having this classmate come over for a playdate. Now, Lauren and this classmate are good friends and regularly visit each other's homes.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">5. If your hard of hearing child participates regularly in a group sport activity at recess (such as kicking around a soccer ball with a bunch of other kids), research showed that that child was as popular or more popular. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">6. We have to realize that sometimes our child enjoys solitary or quiet play and that is ok. It does not necessarily mean she has withdrawn from group play due to a hearing issue. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">A few of my own tips:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">7. Print off the lyrics to the popular songs for your child (clean version of course!)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">8. Learn the rules to common school yard games and lyrics to jump rope songs and practice with your child.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">9. Another mom always buys the latest tech gadgets for her older implanted child (iPod touch, smartphone) so that they can text with their friends and not feel left out.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">10. As soon as your child starts school, have them do a show and tell about their hearing aids or cochlear implants. Have your child explain, with confidence, why they are wearing equipment on their ears and how it works. Practice with your child what to say if someone at school asks "what are those things on your ears/head?"</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">If you have any additional suggestions that may be helpful, I would love to see them. Please post a comment with your suggestions!</div>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11381036737322215643noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724724025139616183.post-59820251723841710802012-01-08T14:10:00.005-05:002012-01-08T14:34:19.551-05:00Friendships <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizWPa_I1MqWaIshzEPrpgpm-r_617kC1ZCffApfHVE6ksqZCpChtge3nz6jK3pLPYnXa4P3spzlqK610C0QRg59CpBQhSFAargn8OThEhZXU8qZtVn_zcS_OKqAKOWQa82xp9xjfvsEJ0/s1600/Ava+and+Sarah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="132" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizWPa_I1MqWaIshzEPrpgpm-r_617kC1ZCffApfHVE6ksqZCpChtge3nz6jK3pLPYnXa4P3spzlqK610C0QRg59CpBQhSFAargn8OThEhZXU8qZtVn_zcS_OKqAKOWQa82xp9xjfvsEJ0/s200/Ava+and+Sarah.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sara and Ava</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Ava had her first school mate playdate. Little Sara's mother overheard Ava and Sara at school making plans to go to each other's houses for a playdate. How dang cute is that? They are only 3 years old! So, Sara's mom and I arranged to get the girls together for their first real playdate. It was a huge success. Afterall, these two monkeys attend pre-school together 3 days a week plus a pre-school program run by the City of Toronto on Monday afternoons. "Sara is my best friend!", Ava proclaimed after Sara had left. The best part of the playdate? Just listening to the two girls converse while playing with Ava's Petshop toys and not noticing any difference between their language skills. Mission Accomplished. We've already booked their next playdate. And coincidentally, Sara and Ava will be attending the same school for kindergarten next year. I've got a feeling this is the start of a long lasting, beautiful friendship.<script src="http://mediaplayer.yahoo.com/js" type="text/javascript">
</script> </div>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11381036737322215643noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724724025139616183.post-88559031495102499042011-11-01T14:16:00.007-04:002011-11-08T16:23:46.667-05:00Ten On Tuesday and Speech Sample<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFqmiY90m4s09ewV_-vCK_iZWys7JAmCgSnHh80ckb84VIywSVc4Q3cNJqO-Gk5NrnrtPDa223dQxtkOFV2dStOPQ-NlbqVZZLXk14XG2JV2KW2IlPKfYnIVqn1Q9TYK306m_qOjEOAas/s1600/Ava+speech+sample+Oct+2011+002.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5672709779601152610" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFqmiY90m4s09ewV_-vCK_iZWys7JAmCgSnHh80ckb84VIywSVc4Q3cNJqO-Gk5NrnrtPDa223dQxtkOFV2dStOPQ-NlbqVZZLXk14XG2JV2KW2IlPKfYnIVqn1Q9TYK306m_qOjEOAas/s200/Ava+speech+sample+Oct+2011+002.jpg" /></a><br />1. Ava's left processor went kaputz a couple weeks ago. We were so worried that it was the internal device. The processor kept flashing a slow amber light. We swapped everything out to no avail. Even though the processor appeared to be working fine (we could hear sound through the listening headphones), problem was solved when Cochlear exchanged it for another processor. All is well now. In light of the recent recall on the N5 internal devices we were naturally very very concerned! Cochlear customer service was pretty impressive and attentive. I got a replacement shipped to me overnight.<br /><br />2. I had Ava's first parent teacher interview at school. She is doing amazing! She is very helpful in getting other kids to follow through with teacher commands and prompts. She acknowledges all her peers as they come in to the class. She plays so nicely with everyone. She actively participates in sing alongs and circle time. She just loves her school and her teachers. She is so happy there. I was so pleased to learn that quite a few of her classmates will be going to to same school as Ava for kindergarten next year! This social interaction with her peers is so important.<br /><br />3. Ava is consistently speaking in 6-7 word sentences now. So proud of her.<br /><br />4. One of Ava's goals is to break her habit of referring to herself in the third person. For example she might say "Ava wants more juice please" instead of "I" . She is now using I, you, my, mine about 85% of the time.<br /><br />5. There's a little girl in Ava's class that can read already! So I thought, why not Ava? I saved all of Lauren's sight words from kindergarten and got out a few two- letter words to start with. Ava is now reading the words "up, no, is, a, I, me". I also have her find those words in a book. Once mastered, I will add another 5 words. Why not give her a head start? She really enjoys learning the new words. At the same time she has started with phonics- learning the letter sounds. She has learned "S" and "M".<br /><br />6. We have a big plastic calendar hanging on the wall. Every day we talk about the date, add the day's number and sing the days of the week. We talk about the day's weather and what we did "yesterday" and what day it will be "tomorrow".<br /><br />7. Here's a speech sample. Ava is 3 years 4 months. She's had her CI's for 2 1/2 years. She is discussing the days of the week with her 6 year old sister Lauren.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxpuv9te0JhMMxQoe8jt2lrwk16Jv_P6GOirCcFw5Z8WIrFH-ZbtRogp-qRXjsS1WjA17ZvlC35w1n_TGy99Q' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br />8. I asked Ava's school for the lyrics of all the songs she is learning. At home we practice the songs to improve her articulation of them. She tends to rush through the songs sometimes and you can't always understand her words.<br /><br />9. Amazing CI moment #326. I asked Ava's playdate in our basement playroom "where did Ava go?" . Ava, having overheard this, answers me from the upstairs bathroom which is off the laundry room "I'm right here Mom upstairs in the bathroom!" WOW.<br /><br />10. I downloaded the Blogger app from my iPhone. I can now blog from my phone. The only thing I can't seem to do is post a video using the app. So I had to do that from my desktop. Pretty cool though.Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11381036737322215643noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724724025139616183.post-75773140317776170292011-10-10T20:50:00.004-04:002011-10-10T21:12:21.820-04:00Thankful!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggYnCgsmQJnPwUYA6C6WaOGASd0kMVw4TCeB2uZTuNfk0-YyJCWPQvN388C2XvD-xnlAK1X3DPL37ohpZ4zakSxiBEC1cq1sGfBs0r4fNsqIzAuDbSjqf9BH6UBaaKUpC0Nb_pnlqwHNA/s1600/Ava+Lauren+summer+2011+006.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662030804424683234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggYnCgsmQJnPwUYA6C6WaOGASd0kMVw4TCeB2uZTuNfk0-YyJCWPQvN388C2XvD-xnlAK1X3DPL37ohpZ4zakSxiBEC1cq1sGfBs0r4fNsqIzAuDbSjqf9BH6UBaaKUpC0Nb_pnlqwHNA/s200/Ava+Lauren+summer+2011+006.jpg" /></a><br />Today is our Thanksgiving here in Canada. There are many reasons to be thankful today. Here are my top reasons to be thankful. I am thankful for.....<br /><br /><br />1. Cochlear Implants - which allow my deaf child to hear and speak.<br /><br /><br />2. Hearing aids - which allow myself and my hard of hearing child to hear.<br /><br /><br />3. My husband, who is my best friend.<br /><br /><br />4. A roof over my head.<br /><br />5. Food on the table.<br /><br />6. Always having a job available should I need to go back to work. In fact I am working temporarily this month at my old job, which I love.<br /><br />7. My children. They are my purpose.<br /><br />8. Bonus time with my mother-in-law. She is 90 and survived a stroke. She is back in her own home and nearly fully recovered.<br /><br />9. the friendships that my high functioning autistic son has made in highschool. It is my wish come true.<br /><br />10. My CI and HA blog friends that I hope to someday meet in person (you know who you all are - I don't want to leave anyone out). We give each other such hope, inspiration and encouragement when we need it most.<br /><br />HAPPY THANKSGIVING!Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11381036737322215643noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724724025139616183.post-79746032133317706442011-09-26T21:01:00.004-04:002011-09-26T22:15:29.877-04:00Keep the conversation going.<div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0DC1LZQrcL0ZUxqeEtvk7jiK9sUuS6jyh7Woaosvpv5_JuE6Dr5Ax4jFlX48L4foEhP7GPAcQ40IuEIlW_b1L10po2dvPKtaL6ZGYcwti5EqT4PAph_6Oi_VNdccMAV8jCh5Fu4BQIwg/s1600/Ava+puppets+2011+001.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 150px; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656841673149774082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0DC1LZQrcL0ZUxqeEtvk7jiK9sUuS6jyh7Woaosvpv5_JuE6Dr5Ax4jFlX48L4foEhP7GPAcQ40IuEIlW_b1L10po2dvPKtaL6ZGYcwti5EqT4PAph_6Oi_VNdccMAV8jCh5Fu4BQIwg/s200/Ava+puppets+2011+001.jpg" /></a><br />We've spent the last two years teaching Ava to learn to listen and speak. She can talk about her feelings. She can listen to a story and is starting to understand and answer "why" questions. She can recall events that happened at school. She is beginning to understand the concept of yesterday, today and tomorrow. These are all prerequisites to having a conversation. You know, the back and forth talking between two people. Typically with a toddler, it can be difficult to have a real conversation where you and your child can go back and forth about one topic for more than a sentence or two. Up until now, many questions would require a simple yes or no or one word response. "Do you want milk or juice?" "Where's daddy?" "Did you have fun at school?" etc etc. Now, it is time to expand this to include why questions and to keep the conversation going for more than a sentence or two. I found it difficult at times with Ava as she would lose interest sometimes. However, Ava LOVES to play pretend games where she would get out her dollhouse figurines and will designate me to be the "mommy " and she would be the "daddy" or "sister" or whatever character she chooses. I found that when we engaged in this type of play, Ava could go on and on back and forth with conversation between these two pretend characters. To keep her interested, we made paper bag puppets together and then we would engage in our "conversations".....hi dog. hi cat. do you want to play with me? ok, what should we play? ummmm let's play chase. Great idea. ok i go first and you chase me. ok? ok, let's go. I'm tired now. Why are you tired? too much running. I'm hungry. What would you like? I want some crackers. Do you want crackers too? ok...... </div><br /><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><br /><div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZVylgInPViEIx7KoUS9ZsOpXCsNS1LH4dQ8vY5AVrtmib6iw0BqUqszozk49TFesDgFsnu161hdSGNEKhKQOD3beNTtjf5u_luAtON0L_fbre6LIPzFLSBfhzju9vjRBScqince0fbxI/s1600/Ava+puppets+2011+002.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 150px; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656841681279251234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZVylgInPViEIx7KoUS9ZsOpXCsNS1LH4dQ8vY5AVrtmib6iw0BqUqszozk49TFesDgFsnu161hdSGNEKhKQOD3beNTtjf5u_luAtON0L_fbre6LIPzFLSBfhzju9vjRBScqince0fbxI/s200/Ava+puppets+2011+002.jpg" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_iquMMZcj96ADArOsUDKzUXPi6K_AlSTKKsUqJmeBVtKO3WSyTSCXvuIhxafTiXXK2z0Jn2SXqb69yJp-zLv6h3mj5x8NE195lFZwNAsSBXkAbWYnC9v0Fy5d4syY6RFtYA4Gnz4ciEo/s1600/Ava+puppets+2011+003.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 150px; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656841697891929666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_iquMMZcj96ADArOsUDKzUXPi6K_AlSTKKsUqJmeBVtKO3WSyTSCXvuIhxafTiXXK2z0Jn2SXqb69yJp-zLv6h3mj5x8NE195lFZwNAsSBXkAbWYnC9v0Fy5d4syY6RFtYA4Gnz4ciEo/s200/Ava+puppets+2011+003.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><br /><div align="justify">In addition to her 3 morning/week preschool, Ava has ballet classes on Saturday mornings and a preschool program run by the City on Monday afternoons. She sees her TOD weekly. </div><br /><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><br /><div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2cEO737AFRVGtAd6GgS6dw7yriODH-no5_QuJWXQUKXnNHbXZ8ajsYC2YviWxFvLp1HrJ9tJXvytzAu5mQEK8DvoHA4LZPRrf6AAHzqRzB87cC1Mwstk7Ue2iEOxhHUPBBcduPvMnxMM/s1600/Ava+Lauren+summer+2011+003.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 150px; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656841688940598898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2cEO737AFRVGtAd6GgS6dw7yriODH-no5_QuJWXQUKXnNHbXZ8ajsYC2YviWxFvLp1HrJ9tJXvytzAu5mQEK8DvoHA4LZPRrf6AAHzqRzB87cC1Mwstk7Ue2iEOxhHUPBBcduPvMnxMM/s200/Ava+Lauren+summer+2011+003.jpg" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU8_jeA8rybKfVpxvH7M-CCgeosZgxAa0zC1OTZBRwmoa8o4iM5CuA-t4dRrVWKww8oxxPpR677V8xYGh1QaRRLeFxcVpz4U4PnDUa52b0q57uM8iM982qUN33PIgXeVjJxaJ7E8PPQQ4/s1600/Ava+Lauren+summer+2011+005.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 150px; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656841707530008946" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU8_jeA8rybKfVpxvH7M-CCgeosZgxAa0zC1OTZBRwmoa8o4iM5CuA-t4dRrVWKww8oxxPpR677V8xYGh1QaRRLeFxcVpz4U4PnDUa52b0q57uM8iM982qUN33PIgXeVjJxaJ7E8PPQQ4/s200/Ava+Lauren+summer+2011+005.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><br /><div align="justify">As for her TOD visits, we started doing the letter sounds and printing! So exciting! Last week we started with the letter "S". We learned a song about the "s" sound and pointing out words that start with the "s" sound. We practice printing the "s" everyday. Ava is also using a calendar everyday to learn the days of the week as well as the weather. We also go to the library every two weeks to sign out a ton of books. The books she enjoys now are getting more and more complex and advanced. We are so pleased by this. The work never ends. But she will be well prepared for junior kindergarten next year. I've been told for our deaf kiddos, it is beneficial to try to get them ahead, especially with vocabulary and language comprehension, so that their transition to mainstream school will be seamless. </div>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11381036737322215643noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724724025139616183.post-9695059959416104602011-08-30T22:29:00.009-04:002011-08-31T00:05:06.810-04:00Ten on Tuesday!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyfNAA82o8VM5HNhOcIvRvkPMCbVsCHfTe-mzpQQUAV494N-LPngubhyphenhyphen7BN-n6M4kbKFqZc0Vlo7CjRL6gBv7mELufxx-1d1UMT3JxuO2-H4nwqx9Un4O7T2s2m1Q6kmLO41FkQwrdnvk/s1600/Summer+2001+045.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646842478021687298" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyfNAA82o8VM5HNhOcIvRvkPMCbVsCHfTe-mzpQQUAV494N-LPngubhyphenhyphen7BN-n6M4kbKFqZc0Vlo7CjRL6gBv7mELufxx-1d1UMT3JxuO2-H4nwqx9Un4O7T2s2m1Q6kmLO41FkQwrdnvk/s200/Summer+2001+045.jpg" /></a>1. Ava is starting school in a couple weeks! Oh, pardon me, as Ava would correct me, "I'm going to PRE school!" She is very excited and points out her school everytime we walk by "that's MY school"). She will be attending 3 mornings/week.
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<br />2. We have had such a good, enjoyable and fun summer. She spent a lot of time swimming. She has no fear. She swims the shallow end, deep end, dives for pool sticks...all by the age of 3 and nary a swimming lesson (other than by mom). Wow.
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<br />3. Ava is speaking so well! We couldn't be more pleased. She continues to show noticeable progress all summer. She is becoming more accurate with her tenses (using "ing" and "ed" endings). She frequently will repeat phrases she hears us say at random times - such as "what are you talking about?" (in the sarcastic context - a phrase I use with my teenage children).
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<br />4. The pre-school Ava is attending is <a href="http://silvercreekpreschool.ca/">Silver Creek Preschool</a>. It serves children with all kinds of special needs together with typically developing children. They do use a total communication approach, which incorporates oral, sign and visual aids (for the non verbal children or those with communication disorders). I didn't choose the school because Ava is deaf. I chose it because it is also an excellent nursery school for typically developing neighbourhood children. There will be other kids with no issues who will be good language models for Ava. Ava's older sister Lauren also attended the school and had a wonderful fulfilling year doing all the regular pre-school stuff. They also provide speech therapy (if needed) and music therapy. The school will work with Ava's itinerant TOD in preparing a list of goals for her. Also, the school is literally a 3 minute walk from our home.
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<br />5. Ava will resume her weekly sessions with her TOD (Teacher of the Deaf) in September. The role of the TOD is to act as a link between Ava's school and her family. She will make sure all of Ava's needs are met at school and also will continue to monitor Ava's speech and language development. She will also continue to work with Ava on academic concepts thus giving Ava a head start for kindergarten next year.
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<br />6. Ava is finally in a bed and is sharing a room with her sister. The girls love being roommates. Ava also decided she wasn't going to wear pull-ups anymore at night. Pro: She has been accident free since. Con: she gets up every night around 3am to pee and will sometimes roam around (she is the heaviest walker and thumps around like an elephant) before she goes back to bed.
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<br />7. Ava has a Mapping next month. Looking forward to having her processors tweaked.
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<br />8. Ava's oldest sisters are leaving this weekend to move into their dorms at university. It's an emotional time for me. Try to imagine your kid leaving home and living somewhere else. Yeah they'll be back some weekends, yeah, they'll be home for the summer. But its not the same. They are living somewhere else. When its your firstborn, it is such a huge adjustment. At home, you know they're safe and snug in their own beds for the most part. You still have some control over their well being. That is all changing now. They have to make their own decisions as to safety and judgment in certain situations. I'm so excited for them, but inside, I'm mourning a loss.
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<br />9. Sometimes Ava likes to leave her CI's off for a while. Such as after swimming, she doesn't want them back right away and likes to play around deaf (and naked too lol). She loves exerting her independence!
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<br />10. Our life with Ava couldn't really be any more "normal". I continue to stress this because with her CI's, Ava is a hearing child. We are so grateful for her CI's and her ability to hear so well with them. I grew up with hearing loss. My honest to God opinion? Right now? It is no.big.deal. It's life. Our life. Life is what you make it. Don't look the other way. Don't look for what ifs or whys. Just live the life you are given and accept it. Strive to do all things possible to help your child maximize his or her potential and believe you, as his or her parent, ARE doing EVERYTHING possible. Then just ......be. Life truly is precious.
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<br />Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11381036737322215643noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724724025139616183.post-20638510930009647062011-08-04T19:46:00.002-04:002011-08-04T20:55:01.046-04:00Just chilling and enjoying the summer!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyWtdYW-bsfmUnWQg4HZYedxxNwLAM5Ba-BqYjgPk4vC2K6TN9gr5zWXW5R68jrcMV-C4DZZ_ioNmAB8edZA8erermccDI464Bdhqq6V3ks7eie4ChwD7-isJr8aYWuepthnXbL_d9epc/s1600/Ava+and+Lauren.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5637151753351182258" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyWtdYW-bsfmUnWQg4HZYedxxNwLAM5Ba-BqYjgPk4vC2K6TN9gr5zWXW5R68jrcMV-C4DZZ_ioNmAB8edZA8erermccDI464Bdhqq6V3ks7eie4ChwD7-isJr8aYWuepthnXbL_d9epc/s200/Ava+and+Lauren.jpg" /></a> It's been a month since I last posted. Ava is enjoying her summer so much. She has done two weeks of half day summer day camp. No CI issues whatsoever. She would come home and eagerly recall the days' activities. She loved wearing a big girl backpack and would proudly march off to camp with her sister.<br /><br />We visited Ava's AV therapist last month to check in. You may recall that Ava finished her AV therapy last December. However, we were having some concerns based on some new speech and language testing Ava had done. While we thought Ava was doing well up to that point, it was the testing that indicated she was not doing as well as we thought. In the end, we surmised that the testing simply indicated that there were some concepts she had not yet achieved, such as stating her last name. These are things we can simply teach her. Ava's AV therapist reassured us that Ava is still doing very, very well. Sometimes, you cannot get too caught up in "test results". To this day, Ava is progressing wonderfully. She has become very inquisitive, constantly asking me "what are you doing?" She is very VERY excitable and oh so full of zest and life. <br /><br />Tomorrow we are headed for the annual summer Voice Camp weekend for kids who are deaf/hard of hearing. So excited for the girls to spend a weekend with other kids their age with hearing aids and cochlear implants. It is such an interesting mix of families. Some families are completely oral, such as ours. And some families use sign language, mainly those families where the parents are deaf and chose to have their deaf children implanted and learn to listen and speak. The weekend is full of activities for the kids and workshops for the parents. I look forward to meeting the families we met the last couple years and also to making new friends as well. I will be sure to post pictures.Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11381036737322215643noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724724025139616183.post-34005164064481063992011-06-30T21:35:00.037-04:002011-06-30T22:34:04.342-04:00Happy 3rd Birthday Ava!<div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOA0e4pPV1ZYaHSSS4jsayyuz-qSGhzZXf0wN_2lk90BYVJ5MofCvfcN7NM-9gEDLtJXO5e_7wZK_L7seX2uVU0cpDS4qPU5QJDqP4XqLoFaQ2pbSGctPGWSWbpZ2r4JKGxsjpQDbWfpk/s1600/Ava%2527s+3rd+birthday+003.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624198999285444674" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOA0e4pPV1ZYaHSSS4jsayyuz-qSGhzZXf0wN_2lk90BYVJ5MofCvfcN7NM-9gEDLtJXO5e_7wZK_L7seX2uVU0cpDS4qPU5QJDqP4XqLoFaQ2pbSGctPGWSWbpZ2r4JKGxsjpQDbWfpk/s200/Ava%2527s+3rd+birthday+003.jpg" /></a> Ava turned 3 today! We had a small celebration at home with most of her brothers and sisters since I unfortunately had to get strep throat of all days! I had to cancel Ava's little party we were going to have with her friends from the neighbourhood. However, we are having a family BBQ for Ava's out of town grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins on Sunday so at least we can celebrate properly then.</div><br />THEN:<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUfoYgqA9RPKerK9XBWSlp8ncWcIezQnuhABjMtqIMS4MinZNF7LtZihKsKUCwhuPp7SaCGiSP6EN_j1bbUvTl3fFVRk5gJ7V0z6DxCO2Tz3-MG3ijv6hFF-b9YVq-AjgUJXg3bR2PU_g/s1600/DSCN3396.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624195205834544514" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUfoYgqA9RPKerK9XBWSlp8ncWcIezQnuhABjMtqIMS4MinZNF7LtZihKsKUCwhuPp7SaCGiSP6EN_j1bbUvTl3fFVRk5gJ7V0z6DxCO2Tz3-MG3ijv6hFF-b9YVq-AjgUJXg3bR2PU_g/s320/DSCN3396.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW4kQg2fxwLVJ0xYzo76kImjqjJpxLbJeAJzS2i1bb3FmVblw-tGqhUatMSWt7HBgcu-rzU8VYbYNt9qKAz09-6e4fimkl5h-vgwwd0U6n-nK2eWddsiNVyZKZsInIjBkKwYUQJ8zBrPo/s1600/June09+and+Soccer+010.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624195212200334498" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW4kQg2fxwLVJ0xYzo76kImjqjJpxLbJeAJzS2i1bb3FmVblw-tGqhUatMSWt7HBgcu-rzU8VYbYNt9qKAz09-6e4fimkl5h-vgwwd0U6n-nK2eWddsiNVyZKZsInIjBkKwYUQJ8zBrPo/s320/June09+and+Soccer+010.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br />NOW: (she scraped her chin and lip yesterday :(<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7eifDDGfnzKftSpeGmGzf56nqWXcZRseBuWenuy5z-ihybNWGRqkCXWeTLzkdPYOdEx9-U5cWjzgGCkrp10V6EXfqhzsZN_XLZRyompNT8hl1o_0CpF8L2MbYyLZHtJhW070I97Yf6uA/s1600/Ava%2527s+3rd+birthday+005.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 239px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624197672414505250" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7eifDDGfnzKftSpeGmGzf56nqWXcZRseBuWenuy5z-ihybNWGRqkCXWeTLzkdPYOdEx9-U5cWjzgGCkrp10V6EXfqhzsZN_XLZRyompNT8hl1o_0CpF8L2MbYyLZHtJhW070I97Yf6uA/s320/Ava%2527s+3rd+birthday+005.jpg" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Y5f8LdOapAG91aHouydjWBirDqWH0ax1ZPnHC9XL-L4dwKpd7fIRoaUN195_VhWIe3v1wW7J2xnF8IgYBZUFWy9HPe7c7310d5A92evuKWNRnDO_r_kTlxcbsvMJ6h6OuYMyXxy_hz0/s1600/Ava%2527s+3rd+birthday+011.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 239px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624197692567897714" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Y5f8LdOapAG91aHouydjWBirDqWH0ax1ZPnHC9XL-L4dwKpd7fIRoaUN195_VhWIe3v1wW7J2xnF8IgYBZUFWy9HPe7c7310d5A92evuKWNRnDO_r_kTlxcbsvMJ6h6OuYMyXxy_hz0/s320/Ava%2527s+3rd+birthday+011.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Ava's Sibs (almost all of them!)<br /><br /><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvUSKyWGW3Xsm4yddSwjlUkl1hSgYM8giPyBzvesnAGZsfCxjRq5zDNOu1coHHBiAqDv67KBavineDJF5lwY1gvhd_9ZU9tmbZZCL9jfHJe-jqce-qqa68j3C3EzqD8JnRpl8GdJI5EX0/s1600/Ava%2527s+3rd+birthday+006.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624201510900111106" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvUSKyWGW3Xsm4yddSwjlUkl1hSgYM8giPyBzvesnAGZsfCxjRq5zDNOu1coHHBiAqDv67KBavineDJF5lwY1gvhd_9ZU9tmbZZCL9jfHJe-jqce-qqa68j3C3EzqD8JnRpl8GdJI5EX0/s200/Ava%2527s+3rd+birthday+006.jpg" /></a></p><br /><p align="center">Clarissa - almost 18!</p><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVQNI5leZRcaJ_as5B3manF74fprPK4G9L9_WIVtXAXwbsKP1B5_bt2NHgjHC0yun3eFBH0Ba-wWj06sNrSmybm2mScs1pUZvx0IdyFrLZX2Vu-1PyO6hQfZR-FJhm1w9WCaQz_ykA3cc/s1600/Ava%2527s+3rd+birthday+004.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 150px; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624201520108262242" border="0" alt="" align="center" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVQNI5leZRcaJ_as5B3manF74fprPK4G9L9_WIVtXAXwbsKP1B5_bt2NHgjHC0yun3eFBH0Ba-wWj06sNrSmybm2mScs1pUZvx0IdyFrLZX2Vu-1PyO6hQfZR-FJhm1w9WCaQz_ykA3cc/s200/Ava%2527s+3rd+birthday+004.jpg" /></a></p><br /><p align="center">Lauren - 6 1/2</p><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNO_QjjtonyvpidWPGypsrBGY4nQ3hwuk3gwnajpToJeubUOW5HwrP201KPRfmOlk7ms3fGlSnX5yDfEb0C21cXM3dZ4LtYGbHSxeGoFQnG2Qnb3L-BqG9UOJDIV2izjDD8dijtgv4o_4/s1600/Ava%2527s+3rd+birthday+007.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624201527258572626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNO_QjjtonyvpidWPGypsrBGY4nQ3hwuk3gwnajpToJeubUOW5HwrP201KPRfmOlk7ms3fGlSnX5yDfEb0C21cXM3dZ4LtYGbHSxeGoFQnG2Qnb3L-BqG9UOJDIV2izjDD8dijtgv4o_4/s200/Ava%2527s+3rd+birthday+007.jpg" /></a></p><br /><p align="center">Anthony - 16 on Monday</p><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWcAvM2nMDIjvkf_jEnu71Q3arvahlbzp51vZiQdGSxnh2GXLiqMkm_usrBWBs-T6Rw-uZOZgrib3AbfsuQ1n5Aj4a7sd-W8sJGEPDwxwkwRua99YqABjXSi0nmeJCUCx0qMLjNuGb-wo/s1600/Ava%2527s+3rd+birthday+008.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624201537422021330" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWcAvM2nMDIjvkf_jEnu71Q3arvahlbzp51vZiQdGSxnh2GXLiqMkm_usrBWBs-T6Rw-uZOZgrib3AbfsuQ1n5Aj4a7sd-W8sJGEPDwxwkwRua99YqABjXSi0nmeJCUCx0qMLjNuGb-wo/s200/Ava%2527s+3rd+birthday+008.jpg" /></a></p><br /><p align="center">Adrian - 14 next month<br /><br /><p align="center">Good Night! zzzzzzzzz<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiefv_G1FDq9SJ20pvsoJYWsflAsR1WWt6N7vPIA5f9nX57lZHsmf18iEZqg08NcwwwdQdiJwzwhyphenhyphenvcXXf45_hP6itsToRl0J_C_bNpuMtshd1xnbr9O5S8UdCaQgwy_BoxRekzGVk-3AA/s1600/Ava%2527s+3rd+birthday+001.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624197955256756722" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiefv_G1FDq9SJ20pvsoJYWsflAsR1WWt6N7vPIA5f9nX57lZHsmf18iEZqg08NcwwwdQdiJwzwhyphenhyphenvcXXf45_hP6itsToRl0J_C_bNpuMtshd1xnbr9O5S8UdCaQgwy_BoxRekzGVk-3AA/s200/Ava%2527s+3rd+birthday+001.jpg" /></a></p>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11381036737322215643noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724724025139616183.post-48583699313463086752011-06-21T07:30:00.001-04:002011-06-21T07:50:42.556-04:00Ten on Tuesday<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-_yFoaRCi_UlU8_4TqWzABOyQEwLg1CRNiHrsSYEv0RGMXWLJAZug8m_vOw98x5BLPXidzSyPEvHwRtQpn49kkzXcQFrrWBvAEGcM-h8DAP06TSuRp9W0VhmozsVCznOJrIZKobLl5wU/s1600/Ava-June+11+001.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620499295113880914" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-_yFoaRCi_UlU8_4TqWzABOyQEwLg1CRNiHrsSYEv0RGMXWLJAZug8m_vOw98x5BLPXidzSyPEvHwRtQpn49kkzXcQFrrWBvAEGcM-h8DAP06TSuRp9W0VhmozsVCznOJrIZKobLl5wU/s200/Ava-June+11+001.jpg" /></a><br />1. Ava is toilet trained. Yay! Still wears pull-ups at night. That's okay with me!<br /><br />2. Since Ava is toilet trained, I was able to sign her up for some good ole summer camp. YES! I have her in two weeks of half-day camps at community centres only 3 minutes away. They are called "Half-Pints" and "Tiny Tots" . How cute is that. Her older sister is also attending camp at the same location. It will be a great dry run to prepare for pre-school in the fall. Not too worried about CI issues. I will use a critter clip and send some extra wigtape for the camp counsellors. And sprinklers for water days? Bring it on! We've got Nucleus 5's baby!<br /><br />3. Speaking of wig tape, <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.phonak.com">Phonak</a> has invented a clever product called "Stick 'n Stay". They are individual packages consisting of two pieces of double sided wig tape in a perfect contour shape. This is great for travelling. I now stick a couple packs in my purse instead of carrying scissors and a wigtape roll around. They work pretty well. They cost more than a roll of wigtape but it's still not that expensive if you only use it when you're out on the road (our hearing dispenser charged us $12 for a pack of 30 pairs) And of course but you can't beat the convenience.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEt_W_vnCMzjHkKIx7tWILiokSCF9hOq4W8Jo4t2ilYK2nXy6bJDCSSN6JeSExJGgONYZ_ZaMswqlw47BELCtdFaXsBlTD9glcHbGgLkfzzjj25xQNdF7lRx9uCIDKMbgJ-88ijO3nlI0/s1600/phonak2.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 180px; HEIGHT: 180px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620429717535085122" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEt_W_vnCMzjHkKIx7tWILiokSCF9hOq4W8Jo4t2ilYK2nXy6bJDCSSN6JeSExJGgONYZ_ZaMswqlw47BELCtdFaXsBlTD9glcHbGgLkfzzjj25xQNdF7lRx9uCIDKMbgJ-88ijO3nlI0/s320/phonak2.jpg" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcpesZEMoSnst1P-cXKCIZZk3tELyXF5wybRCuk2naX3mgQ_XNXBeFeZcLxX38OnsRgDpTMvrZTSfDEFzCXnEzwtbwcJC_3X_SbWxypR3Lz4Byo-igo1SsJ5rphr8CQ9MD1x4EaphPHac/s1600/phonak1.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 192px; HEIGHT: 192px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620429722323933266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcpesZEMoSnst1P-cXKCIZZk3tELyXF5wybRCuk2naX3mgQ_XNXBeFeZcLxX38OnsRgDpTMvrZTSfDEFzCXnEzwtbwcJC_3X_SbWxypR3Lz4Byo-igo1SsJ5rphr8CQ9MD1x4EaphPHac/s320/phonak1.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br />4. Ava is a complete little stinker. She now REFUSES to wear her aloksak bag and swim cap for the pool. GRRRRR! Guess we'll just have to wait it out until she passes that "I want to be in control of everything" stage. I had major waterpark plans for this summer and she is ruining them. GRRRRR!<br /><br />5. Ava has decided it is quite amusing to scream at the top of her lungs within close earshot. Not funny unless you're 5 months old and discovering your voice. Needless to say she has "time-out's" quite freqently these days.<br /><br />6. Getting dressed continues to be a battle. I've tried everything. She simply will not wear anything you even look at, much less choose for her out of an array of 3 outfits. Sorry, sweetie but you can't wear Dora pyjama bottoms to church.<br /><br />7. Ava LOVES to "read". She spends a lot of time looking at books on her own. She reads to herself having memorized her books. She will spend an hour sometimes doing this.<br /><br />8. The other day I asked Ava: What do we use to see? She said, "eyes". What do we use to touch? "fingers" What do we use to taste? "mouth" What do we use to hear? She caught me completely off guard when she replied, "CI's". She's a smarty pants that one.<br /><br />9. Growing up I used to wonder why I was the only one in my family who wore hearing aids. How grateful I am that I do have a hearing loss. I notice Ava looking at my hearing aids all the time. No doubt because of this Ava feels that wearing hearing devices are natural and normal because mommy and older sister Lauren wear them too. It kinda feels like this was God's plan for me, so I can better advocate and be a role model for my daughters. We are in it together.<br /><br />10. Another observation - Ava has to have both CI's on all - the - time. Sometimes, for example, I'll put just one CI back on after the bath or if I can't right at that instant refresh Ava's wigtape on a CI that has fallen off, she goes nuts. She demands both CI's <em>every</em> time.<br /></p>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11381036737322215643noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724724025139616183.post-58138297349799132112011-06-10T21:07:00.005-04:002011-06-10T21:51:08.968-04:00Worried....<div align="justify">Up until now, almost all of my posts have been fairly positive. Ava has been doing very well with her CI's, but perhaps not as well as we thought. Ever since Ava was discharged from AVT (and actually before she was discharged), I was a tad unconvinced that Ava could talk as well as her hearing peers. The testing (PLS-4) clearly indicated that her expressive language was a few months ahead of her hearing peers. But testing or not, I had reservations. I have 5 children. I know that children develop at different rates. I also know from experience that Ava just simply was not talking as well as her peers, despite the testing indicating that she was. For the last 6 months, Ava has been working with her Teacher of the Deaf (TOD); basically working on material from more of an educational perspective as well as incorporating the goals suggested by her AV therapist. Her TOD just administered a test called the Cottage Acquisition Scales for Listening, Language & Speech (CASLLS). With this test, Ava scored more in the range of a two year old (which makes sense since she has only heard sound for two years) rather than a three year old (her 3rd birthday is in a couple weeks). I was so upset, shocked and disheartened that I couldn't even blog about it. All this time I've been tooting the "my deaf kid has surpassed her hearing peers" horn only to learn that that may not be the case at all. Why did she score so high on one test and not do so well on the other? What's worse is the services provided by the school board for our TOD end at the end of June (just like school does) and break for the summer. I immediately called Ava's AV therapist who agreed to see us for another assessment on June 24 and we may resume AVT for the summer. While there is still time for Ava to catch up before she starts kindergarten next year, I feel really, really discouraged. All I want is for Ava to be caught up. We certainly have our work cut out for us for the next year and I'm so thankful I don't have to work so I can be home with her to work with her one on one. She will also get speech services at her preschool this fall. As for that CASLLS test, I'm also a bit skeptical. Some of the questions it posed, we hadn't yet taught certain concepts to Ava; such as "child states first and last name". I hadn't taught her what her last name was yet. Another item "child is able to tell simple stories". Ava can go into a diatribe about a Dora episode she watched quoting lines she hears from the show but can a nearly three year old tell simple stories - as in stories with a beginning, middle and end? Does reciting nursery rhymes count? (she has a few under her belt completely memorized). She can open up the "Green Eggs and Ham" book and has almost every page memorized. She regularly speaks in 6-8 word sentences. She is progressing everyday. We see a difference in her speech every.single.day. I am so anxious to see Ava's AV therapist and hear what she has to say in all this. I will be sure to keep you all posted.</div>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11381036737322215643noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724724025139616183.post-325320508601123392011-04-28T14:28:00.012-04:002011-04-28T15:07:02.715-04:00HAPPY 2ND HEARING BIRTHDAY, AVA!<div><div align="justify"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheCcmQH8K935PeQ9f3jvKkLwgEIfbd__WFa-t0kwXiFj8PrzOkpPClf1bR5YRSkWxSw8_zUwzKHLccNDENSYjGIHgt1nY6HlHrGh-NYxBdK0pkVbCNWa1Y9RXBVVWcZ17nW6mI_tLInR8/s1600/screenshot.png"><img style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 214px; height: 320px; float: left; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600703260791800402" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheCcmQH8K935PeQ9f3jvKkLwgEIfbd__WFa-t0kwXiFj8PrzOkpPClf1bR5YRSkWxSw8_zUwzKHLccNDENSYjGIHgt1nY6HlHrGh-NYxBdK0pkVbCNWa1Y9RXBVVWcZ17nW6mI_tLInR8/s320/screenshot.png" /></a>Ava's hearing is two years old today. We are as happy as ever with her progress and the beautiful "hearing" girl she has become. There is no doubt that she LOVES her cochlear implants and she LOVES to hear, especially music. Here is a short five minute video montage that captures her journey in a nutshell~from birth to the present. Thank you for sharing this special moment with us,</div><div align="justify"><br /> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">Amy, Markus, Ava and family</div><br /><iframe height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/VXNR6J75AlA" frameborder="0" width="425" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11381036737322215643noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724724025139616183.post-56317716103687603202011-04-15T20:21:00.021-04:002011-04-16T00:19:12.837-04:00Ten on Tuesday (Thursday)<div align="justify">I love the "Ten on Tuesday" posts written by my other CI mom friends such as <a href="http://nopeas.blogspot.com/2011/04/i-missed-ten-on-tuesday.html">this</a> and <a href="http://texaskennys.blogspot.com/2011/04/ten-on-tuesday.html">this</a> and <a href="http://lifewithlucasrc.blogspot.com/2011/04/ten-on-tuesday.html">this</a>. I love how you don't have to have a particular topic to write about, but rather a general diary type blog entry about a bunch of things all in one entry. So, even though it is THURSDAY and it is supposed to be Ten on TUESDAY (not Wednesday, right, <a href="http://texaskennys.blogspot.com/">Aiden's</a> mom?), here is my list: </div><br /><div align="center">1. Cochlear <em>finally</em> came out with snazzy new processor covers for the N5's to fit the processor with the compact rechargeable battery. </div><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbmvK-Af_FJryuu_mbOZWkHNdZDnGCAfhptCLGsVrlfaxU2vtqSTkoENDazK-MblW_0Jp_nun5F0u3avFrX3wb2bC4p3NIZWz8j9RxwDsPb65UmtQZN15t30u4Yhi_7hvXuXDv09lwwSo/s1600/Spring+2011+ci+stuff+ava+dancing+004.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595975725595191042" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbmvK-Af_FJryuu_mbOZWkHNdZDnGCAfhptCLGsVrlfaxU2vtqSTkoENDazK-MblW_0Jp_nun5F0u3avFrX3wb2bC4p3NIZWz8j9RxwDsPb65UmtQZN15t30u4Yhi_7hvXuXDv09lwwSo/s320/Spring+2011+ci+stuff+ava+dancing+004.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNVZ0RPSIQ32N7NnoLy7hu6NMnP-EzUuE0vX7YqIRVLfh8MTLdrT-mP9iBcUY7Kd6A3U2m_vgemShZlhy4QzO2_K74PMPQelZwXgkhM6alC99c1mwUZbSZT50JTotNtBxESyBt4JU8JZs/s1600/Spring+2011+ci+stuff+ava+dancing+007.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595975743964450706" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNVZ0RPSIQ32N7NnoLy7hu6NMnP-EzUuE0vX7YqIRVLfh8MTLdrT-mP9iBcUY7Kd6A3U2m_vgemShZlhy4QzO2_K74PMPQelZwXgkhM6alC99c1mwUZbSZT50JTotNtBxESyBt4JU8JZs/s320/Spring+2011+ci+stuff+ava+dancing+007.jpg" /></a></p><br /><div align="center">They are soooo pretty and soooo cool!</div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center">2. Of course, big sister Lauren needed something pink for her hearing aids, so she got new pink sparkly molds:</div><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN3CRf4vGMCZ87oYVxUQAgYZnOkXuu36sDDoQlRY-6CpD5244DnbqNJpqAua2IBaMjkPjex1yPNHkp7Wq1FR79E00uv6k3MoDuadFfsvmAEZy7qtYPfX4-E0PVm7FdnZPsA5kNUPJrybA/s1600/Spring+2011+ci+stuff+ava+dancing+005.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595975753792279538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN3CRf4vGMCZ87oYVxUQAgYZnOkXuu36sDDoQlRY-6CpD5244DnbqNJpqAua2IBaMjkPjex1yPNHkp7Wq1FR79E00uv6k3MoDuadFfsvmAEZy7qtYPfX4-E0PVm7FdnZPsA5kNUPJrybA/s320/Spring+2011+ci+stuff+ava+dancing+005.jpg" /></a></p><br /><div align="justify">3. Every spring and fall, we change Ava's microphone protectors. When the protectors get dirty and dusty, the sound quality can become distorted, so it is important to change out the protectors every 4 months or so. Cochlear <em>finally</em> came up with a much improved system to change the protectors (thank you Cochlear!). Before, it was next to impossible to change the protectors. They are teeny tiny little round discs the size of a grain of black cracked pepper and are next to impossible to hold let alone manipulate into the microscopic microphone holders and oh so easy to lose those little buggers (and impossible to find if you drop one on the floor!) It was also next to impossible to remove the protectors from the processors as well because you had this little tool with a looped wire end which was too wide to fit into the tiny hole where the protectors are sitting in. Now, Cochlear has improved the removal tool so that it is a cinch to pop the old protectors out. And as for inserting the new protectors, you simply slide a patch looped over the ear hook and line the protectors up over the holes and pop them in. Soooooo easy! </div><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhokO0NSwzrLAiDJzlLAaCvNuklqjJj0U3-zuohBBeJQMy5G-CPhl-hIXQGk-7G7O1vJz5G1hlPod2ulb2gujrB1NjqDFD6pokVbXrQDnruVeVV1TdKGtPwTLcq875OE8h45BMaL528qXM/s1600/Spring+2011+ci+stuff+ava+dancing+008.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595975763660332850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhokO0NSwzrLAiDJzlLAaCvNuklqjJj0U3-zuohBBeJQMy5G-CPhl-hIXQGk-7G7O1vJz5G1hlPod2ulb2gujrB1NjqDFD6pokVbXrQDnruVeVV1TdKGtPwTLcq875OE8h45BMaL528qXM/s320/Spring+2011+ci+stuff+ava+dancing+008.jpg" /></a></p><br /><p align="justify">4. My oldest daughter Clarissa and stepdaughter Catherine are graduating from high school in June. They are in the midst of deciding which university to attend in the fall. What am I going to do without my built in babysitters? I mean the reason I have a social life is because of my two oldest girls. I can literally just walk out the door and they know the whole routine of the household. I am going to be lost without them (and all their friends who babysit for me when my daughters cannot). </p><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtmncMBWwLwYRcl0PuQ-R7C7xSS6v82u8XamLq-SH1BFVmOongYpKY6BLg2S8ne3oQ7mvcaTCE0PgniRkVxB5xlt_KerbtmpS5Z2nEIviQdGr4h6nOKBQE9wHhyelC0OOK3oimIdd_RwA/s1600/Clarissa+grad+2011+002.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 150px; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595989413919322930" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtmncMBWwLwYRcl0PuQ-R7C7xSS6v82u8XamLq-SH1BFVmOongYpKY6BLg2S8ne3oQ7mvcaTCE0PgniRkVxB5xlt_KerbtmpS5Z2nEIviQdGr4h6nOKBQE9wHhyelC0OOK3oimIdd_RwA/s200/Clarissa+grad+2011+002.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlmWHaZ9FEaWUVNRK5mSxSz0MknPA3uMBHnVIqjliI8l8VC_x9D9_TQeneeUquSlo1XDj7anOJOshQn-6OTVis7bmiNUeJ-n4xeU-4ejWBOZRt9eUS9G-AyHgkRFiUIJRLvLT0JyfkO2E/s1600/Cat+grad+2011+002.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 150px; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595992450390610674" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlmWHaZ9FEaWUVNRK5mSxSz0MknPA3uMBHnVIqjliI8l8VC_x9D9_TQeneeUquSlo1XDj7anOJOshQn-6OTVis7bmiNUeJ-n4xeU-4ejWBOZRt9eUS9G-AyHgkRFiUIJRLvLT0JyfkO2E/s200/Cat+grad+2011+002.jpg" /></a></p><br /><div align="justify">5. Clarissa and I went prom dress shopping. It is the quintessential mother-daughter experience. I will never forget it. You look so beautiful and so grown up. I shed silent but proud tears. I am so proud of you sweetie.</div><br /><div align="center">6. My youngest son Adrian is graduating from grade 8. He also is celebrating his confirmation next month. He is growing into a handsome and smart young man.</div><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9_3VcoGaCAyTfR666Vfmlkf34lcBKiNHUwbZ7jfAY9_o9ak6bgHRJH3poPSVLF68pN0Rfbc5tdTUXa_bhRtcrInanle0Cqz6oi9ggUhgWqx74G9xz4FhJK0IScxzuRSrJ1zV4erfj38s/s1600/family-1.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 57px; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595991636505701090" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9_3VcoGaCAyTfR666Vfmlkf34lcBKiNHUwbZ7jfAY9_o9ak6bgHRJH3poPSVLF68pN0Rfbc5tdTUXa_bhRtcrInanle0Cqz6oi9ggUhgWqx74G9xz4FhJK0IScxzuRSrJ1zV4erfj38s/s200/family-1.jpg" /></a></p>7. Ava LOVES to dance. She constantly asks to listen to MUSIC. <iframe title="YouTube video player" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/NX3555OXi2A" frameborder="0" width="480"></iframe>8. Ava visited her pre-school yesterday. I cannot believe she will be going to SCHOOL. She starts in September and will be attending 3 mornings per week. <br /><div align="justify">9. Potty Training! Yes, it's actually happening. WOOOOOHOOOO. We first tried in January. Too soon. We tried again in March. No luck. We started again this week and we are definitely getting somewhere. Yay Ava! What do I do? Just have her put on underwear and keep the potty close by. I don't ask her a million times if she has to go pee. I just let her take the initiative. I figure she needs to learn what it feels like to be wet and learn how to control her bodily functions. This time she indicated whenever she has to pee and we would put her on the potty and she would go. No poops in the potty yet, she still wants her diaper for those. But today she did tell me her poo-poo was coming and she started to go in her underwear but she didn't finish it off in the potty (wanted her diaper back on for that). Baby steps.....baby steps. At least she demands her underwear everyday now. I found this Sesame Street rewards sticker chart. There are 5 columns for which she can earn a sticker, such as: indicating she has to "go", sitting on the potty, "using" the potty, flushing the toilet and washing her hands. Oh, it also helps that I use marshmallows as an <del>bribe</del> incentive. </div><br /><p></p><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFBkCymM7kunF-tisGXyG_KARISpr6WBonxM7BfqYS4Rc_rXbCLBppVnofDg6whPg87DWlNQ_uDYqW3hQxBFd7UlaDgRL9hB0ZFK73Wey9f3dQQYp1GHOwlNhM5uCWiWkpQG1cmd29fFk/s1600/Ava+dancing+001.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 150px; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596012036208670946" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFBkCymM7kunF-tisGXyG_KARISpr6WBonxM7BfqYS4Rc_rXbCLBppVnofDg6whPg87DWlNQ_uDYqW3hQxBFd7UlaDgRL9hB0ZFK73Wey9f3dQQYp1GHOwlNhM5uCWiWkpQG1cmd29fFk/s200/Ava+dancing+001.jpg" /></a></p>10. Clarissa got her driver's license. What a huge help that is. She can run errands and pick up siblings. I am loving it! So many changes this year. Hold onto your little ones. They will be driving and graduating before you know it!Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11381036737322215643noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724724025139616183.post-43288473253442220952011-04-01T21:04:00.012-04:002011-04-02T13:35:16.967-04:00Our two minutes of fame!<p align="justify">Our family was featured on our local cable tv show "Where Parents Talk". At first I thought the feature would be centered around Ava's cochlear implants, however, the network was more impressed with our blended family of seven kids thus the clip featured our family. They did touch briefly on Ava's implants, but not as much as I hoped for. To view the clip: <a href="http://www.rogerstv.com/page.aspx?lid=237&rid=16&sid=3729&gid=77674">click here</a></p>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11381036737322215643noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724724025139616183.post-77539523968101131502011-03-17T13:52:00.010-04:002011-03-17T15:02:26.829-04:00March Break Fun!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOkVf4XWaPeW2GIIcl2xojdt5H03jL2qhmWdl4qNTArCJfDUvBwF5q09KCvjSuqu-Cj3MMlDh5h1FGVCdACnxO8WgQCcaHZbhXFVU4kDdF9vTy7rypDnDtUq67molwTKIjN1Hu4kPj8ZY/s1600/March+Break+2011+%25282%2529+001.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585126171483199970" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOkVf4XWaPeW2GIIcl2xojdt5H03jL2qhmWdl4qNTArCJfDUvBwF5q09KCvjSuqu-Cj3MMlDh5h1FGVCdACnxO8WgQCcaHZbhXFVU4kDdF9vTy7rypDnDtUq67molwTKIjN1Hu4kPj8ZY/s320/March+Break+2011+%25282%2529+001.jpg" /></a><br /><div align="justify">We spent a couple days at the "Americana" resort waterpark in Niagara Falls (Ontario). Just want to remind everyone that yes, it is possible to waterproof the cochlear implant so that your child can swim AND hear! Here are three methods one could use to waterproof the CI.<br /></div><br /><div align="justify"></div>1. The method I use: Aloksak bag and swim cap. For more details, <a href="http://fortheloveofava.blogspot.com/2010/06/swimming-with-cis.html">click here</a>.<br /><br />2. Foodsaver method: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYTg7dmsrpo&feature=player_embedded">click here </a>.<br /><br />3. Balloon method: <a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B7rsCIpGSNdKZjRlN2Q0YzUtMzRhOS00NzBlLWE4YjItYzkwNzU1ZjU1MmM2&hl=en">click here </a>.<br /><br /><div align="justify">Ava has the Nucleus 5 CI's from Cochlear Corporation. The Nucleus 5 is water and splash resistant. I get a lot of comfort from this, which gave me the confidence to allow Ava to swim with the CI (using the Aloksak bag). The predecessor Freedoms are also water resistant. Cochlear Corporation's various websites show the N5 processors on wet children splashing about (without the use of any of the waterproofing inventions mentioned above). However, here in Canada, we don't receive "back-up" processors like our American friends do. So, I'm not willing to chance having Ava wear her CI's around the water without using the Aloksak.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAcg-sXkauKil2PDUar-Iq1gMuzbwXs47WiamJdanJE9lGCmpdc9ZrWag1WLLwM202yXp8jqM2dwJKiNyuX4cswiEO0f1vD2Ie99HKGkQwEX8IOndK5PRJNHyFoaYSzEpvgpQLTY93PVE/s1600/March+Break+2011+%25282%2529+008.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585109378913307026" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAcg-sXkauKil2PDUar-Iq1gMuzbwXs47WiamJdanJE9lGCmpdc9ZrWag1WLLwM202yXp8jqM2dwJKiNyuX4cswiEO0f1vD2Ie99HKGkQwEX8IOndK5PRJNHyFoaYSzEpvgpQLTY93PVE/s320/March+Break+2011+%25282%2529+008.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3I9QJMPCnb6UBGaXukMMQxIakxFaC8GM1rJT8H10jHN9Wd5_T_CJuGOmaLG6fvr4Cm6SNHW1YFPOn57XnLIbiAxzN5bbY3sqpQDUNxUtK0e4wKauMJw_rX-hI_bkiLnZLKpdKTOUwxqI/s1600/March+Break+2011+%25282%2529+003.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585124575673149154" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3I9QJMPCnb6UBGaXukMMQxIakxFaC8GM1rJT8H10jHN9Wd5_T_CJuGOmaLG6fvr4Cm6SNHW1YFPOn57XnLIbiAxzN5bbY3sqpQDUNxUtK0e4wKauMJw_rX-hI_bkiLnZLKpdKTOUwxqI/s320/March+Break+2011+%25282%2529+003.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5k9On4gaxt-oyYdZEMWyJd6BUIklO-7qicLRQP0TRC-wvPinFTzE12BZhxb0ABbP_k2n9xqkwdLp8SK_8nc2Sy2l9-Di8-DKa1k1eV_jiTT87WkHVljfiOof3fFP2hPdFPMRZMfgARCY/s1600/March+Break+2011+%25282%2529+013.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585109384320721778" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5k9On4gaxt-oyYdZEMWyJd6BUIklO-7qicLRQP0TRC-wvPinFTzE12BZhxb0ABbP_k2n9xqkwdLp8SK_8nc2Sy2l9-Di8-DKa1k1eV_jiTT87WkHVljfiOof3fFP2hPdFPMRZMfgARCY/s320/March+Break+2011+%25282%2529+013.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5k9On4gaxt-oyYdZEMWyJd6BUIklO-7qicLRQP0TRC-wvPinFTzE12BZhxb0ABbP_k2n9xqkwdLp8SK_8nc2Sy2l9-Di8-DKa1k1eV_jiTT87WkHVljfiOof3fFP2hPdFPMRZMfgARCY/s1600/March+Break+2011+%25282%2529+013.jpg"></a><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5k9On4gaxt-oyYdZEMWyJd6BUIklO-7qicLRQP0TRC-wvPinFTzE12BZhxb0ABbP_k2n9xqkwdLp8SK_8nc2Sy2l9-Di8-DKa1k1eV_jiTT87WkHVljfiOof3fFP2hPdFPMRZMfgARCY/s1600/March+Break+2011+%25282%2529+013.jpg"></a>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11381036737322215643noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724724025139616183.post-40986087205761576052011-03-12T21:02:00.007-05:002011-03-12T21:56:27.692-05:00A Star is Born!<div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6zhTNjYrM0yiLNB7wOX9CApDIwAGZrdfwTeOKNCqli4BQZ94FWdiL1YAr6yLYNKkFbN-Trb8YQNLLrLvuJgt3EDNEgilHmWSx8NGDc2bBdU0G1lgXKsJlHVGCf_35cdVNBlMDUgJN47M/s1600/Lauren+Ava+microphone+Mar+2011+001.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583380052633919314" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6zhTNjYrM0yiLNB7wOX9CApDIwAGZrdfwTeOKNCqli4BQZ94FWdiL1YAr6yLYNKkFbN-Trb8YQNLLrLvuJgt3EDNEgilHmWSx8NGDc2bBdU0G1lgXKsJlHVGCf_35cdVNBlMDUgJN47M/s320/Lauren+Ava+microphone+Mar+2011+001.jpg" /></a>I met, through our cochlear implant on-line parent group, a super dad from Florida who told me how much his toddler daughter loves singing and hearing her voice with a microphone and amp. He sent me a video of his daughter belting out Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and I was amazed at how proficient she was with the microphone and how she sang with so much feeling. I have since been eager to get a microphone and amp set up in the house as I can see how it could be used as a means to improve Ava's articulation. My husband is a musician and has this equipment, but he uses it quite frequently for his gigs and his equipment is so heavy and difficult to move in and out of the house. Well today, Ava and sister Lauren's awesome Godmother Linda, picked up this fantastic amp and microphone set from Pottery Barn (she couldn't resist the deal - it was marked down as a doorcrasher special from $200 to $20!). It is the real deal, not a children's plastic toy type. You can even hook up your iPod to it to play sing-a-long music. The girls went nuts, especially Ava. I highly recommend getting this for your CI kids, especially little ones learning to talk. Kids love to hear their own voices and love to perform. And of course, the obvious benefits are it's a fun way to develop and enhance language! Here's a sample of Ava's rendition of "Wheels on the Bus". We made her sit down as she was jumping and dancing around so much she kept yanking the microphone cable out of the amp. Your next American Idol maybe?<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dynVSDaugKDS_XYcqGwQnUAVsScXLLQ2VVFMGa5C01v2tFcKl_uS644fYHsfqwFBbPT97pexbMvoxUot52aOQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11381036737322215643noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724724025139616183.post-48423323942060441862011-02-21T21:42:00.008-05:002011-02-21T22:25:41.019-05:00Making Muffins<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdSqCA_Bc5Zqj5CtWahLTb2mDZk5WLw-27snJdOKJuvUFWsLyWCl917CJQqpVYJFYbJvdk7a3nTAJQrb71RvDldAWk8iLnnQMFHlc5CP0AcRWUvCPhIQCIQy8yYpUWTaFBMsw-Ufyf6NU/s1600/Ava+Feb+2011+014.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576345790910730610" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdSqCA_Bc5Zqj5CtWahLTb2mDZk5WLw-27snJdOKJuvUFWsLyWCl917CJQqpVYJFYbJvdk7a3nTAJQrb71RvDldAWk8iLnnQMFHlc5CP0AcRWUvCPhIQCIQy8yYpUWTaFBMsw-Ufyf6NU/s200/Ava+Feb+2011+014.jpg" /></a> <div><div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo-fpG4hZoVPw_cPVL-S0W8I2tpF8P8IWrs-z2FFg8c6oRhdSS9fLgCe0Y2jbxFbU4W-41-ZUScaPntLdlx1GvDEupMHKbwyqNcaYYgHAGNavuE7ScfPreFJ_GHsohELJU0-tfkZIzZRs/s1600/Ava+Feb+2011+014.jpg"></a>I'm enjoying my time at home with Ava very much since all her older siblings are in full time school. It gives us oh so much one on one time together...such precious time. Especially precious is this time because she starts preschool this September. While I'm very excited for her to start school, I also am dreading it. She is my baby and I would like to keep her home with me forever. She is our seventh child of this blended family so I know all to well just how quickly they grow up once they start school. Ava and I do everything together. Unloading the dishwasher, grocery shopping and sorting laundry is actually quite fun with my little sidekick. She loves to sort things into categories be it cutlery and dishware, daddy's socks v. Lauren's jammies. We are starting to work on sorting food; fruits v. vegetables.<br /></div><br /><div align="justify"></div><div>Ava and I had our first ever baking session together. She learned about mixing, beating, pouring, stirring, teaspoons and measuring cups. She had so much fun!<br /></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh89V2J8f0jx2xjOaORGciswYWlwVab_EOwIATvAtO0CLp-bOnT2CTwcX3EBf2iA9kuMFDhbaO_s_YNO8iLiy53YR9l3kzlZ9-764kdXamsPcb4F6v2Dx_hVcBcNhtQjGns8cO5eyfFdj0/s1600/Ava+Feb+2011+007.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576340267612568274" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh89V2J8f0jx2xjOaORGciswYWlwVab_EOwIATvAtO0CLp-bOnT2CTwcX3EBf2iA9kuMFDhbaO_s_YNO8iLiy53YR9l3kzlZ9-764kdXamsPcb4F6v2Dx_hVcBcNhtQjGns8cO5eyfFdj0/s200/Ava+Feb+2011+007.jpg" /></a></p><p align="center">Putting in the muffin cups</p><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGIWzUE9IHPWlM_anlHg59-kzhS7zyoqvDqTs2MrXpmP5Po4l-tTyRYXr_0owf61Ubuk21eUVpRerQ1nohqgNvNcBcgljtU7ClPBYyGcQdy3mlNLZFAVlIG2MnuscqJ_PI6jAD-gTtGJ0/s1600/Ava+Feb+2011+010.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576340266751611394" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGIWzUE9IHPWlM_anlHg59-kzhS7zyoqvDqTs2MrXpmP5Po4l-tTyRYXr_0owf61Ubuk21eUVpRerQ1nohqgNvNcBcgljtU7ClPBYyGcQdy3mlNLZFAVlIG2MnuscqJ_PI6jAD-gTtGJ0/s200/Ava+Feb+2011+010.jpg" /></a></div><div align="center">Adding the mix</div><div><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3cuscSvXuWcPjI0K6N57SNXrNi1DIeQeHsjI3nwV5DRxMy1-43pwtRdXofjXwekRXsIv_qOwC20zzYCD-Oq1i-IBwZTVZuuZMAjSdMU1drnlgD6gcjY_R6Lr7coszXfM4ZVbOLNn-2xY/s1600/Ava+Feb+2011+013.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576340271270516354" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3cuscSvXuWcPjI0K6N57SNXrNi1DIeQeHsjI3nwV5DRxMy1-43pwtRdXofjXwekRXsIv_qOwC20zzYCD-Oq1i-IBwZTVZuuZMAjSdMU1drnlgD6gcjY_R6Lr7coszXfM4ZVbOLNn-2xY/s200/Ava+Feb+2011+013.jpg" /></a></p><p align="center">Mix it up </p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdZ6ntE0EIzNX1BDvpotlXLRmVJzXk8Rrd-xi5Hy_oHbr5zA_lhPM1Y5TOa-7I6A-9YrcORVoPfqAjSRlCBHWYhDd25IoH7-YEVPcBfMWv8UDEQuVl9QfFAx2Me7nh0ux-C9BRyVgZuMw/s1600/Ava+Feb+2011+015.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576340273933955202" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdZ6ntE0EIzNX1BDvpotlXLRmVJzXk8Rrd-xi5Hy_oHbr5zA_lhPM1Y5TOa-7I6A-9YrcORVoPfqAjSRlCBHWYhDd25IoH7-YEVPcBfMWv8UDEQuVl9QfFAx2Me7nh0ux-C9BRyVgZuMw/s200/Ava+Feb+2011+015.jpg" /></a></p><div></div><div align="center">Spooning the batter</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1jg478IntPQp3EXnGTNFk0b_7tOqrE2fsXICYMqDZJkz_YToPyRqq7JnfQ_FiWEhdaLcCTNd5x9YZmfUIHCVgUu0MF5iblR6K_CHYw-5v7D-3FwAOuWxUymzNPXRcVcUs87D8Vu901H4/s1600/Ava+Feb+2011+021.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576340274093172610" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1jg478IntPQp3EXnGTNFk0b_7tOqrE2fsXICYMqDZJkz_YToPyRqq7JnfQ_FiWEhdaLcCTNd5x9YZmfUIHCVgUu0MF5iblR6K_CHYw-5v7D-3FwAOuWxUymzNPXRcVcUs87D8Vu901H4/s200/Ava+Feb+2011+021.jpg" /></a></div><div align="center">Chocolate chips and blueberries</div><div align="center"> </div><div> </div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgycl1NDEuwzEegN60r8SRS5Tj1Hcuilxt_DtWBxlye5cIy7pO88ckEvSQCENQdM20QOktgDZ0UzJIGr2K9hV2STf_NvCNAJdp2E4pS0TDYoyKn5ONMpVIhQpeJ95Ij8o5GLvITIFtJgTI/s1600/Ava+Feb+2011+023.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576341136557833570" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgycl1NDEuwzEegN60r8SRS5Tj1Hcuilxt_DtWBxlye5cIy7pO88ckEvSQCENQdM20QOktgDZ0UzJIGr2K9hV2STf_NvCNAJdp2E4pS0TDYoyKn5ONMpVIhQpeJ95Ij8o5GLvITIFtJgTI/s200/Ava+Feb+2011+023.jpg" /></a></p><div></div><div align="center"> Proudly carrying her creation to the oven!</div><div align="center"> </div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeNleH81vEEkM96j7i_XyunqOFGpon9CteQ-UKYZajhIYKOrnLVtqyjJKcum_1P_H6D-7mMZt3YxH8oh9tUCO0rLIy8uLZK7cwr3I0ChuknsF3_GS4OOgc4h4sboWIw8cF8jsp_ohz94E/s1600/Ava+Feb+2011+025.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576341145819165362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeNleH81vEEkM96j7i_XyunqOFGpon9CteQ-UKYZajhIYKOrnLVtqyjJKcum_1P_H6D-7mMZt3YxH8oh9tUCO0rLIy8uLZK7cwr3I0ChuknsF3_GS4OOgc4h4sboWIw8cF8jsp_ohz94E/s200/Ava+Feb+2011+025.jpg" /></a></p><div align="center">Turning on the light to watch! </div><div align="center"> </div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2clxiw-jYyzv4a-nRTY3d6ITeMIWN8SRS4sp_aIwZhADTk84wRl_5CdexicEq6PDRrKc7_srzqoThxUjHeO-Oflr1wypof6w17bbE4K_8Zl-QOoMqyJmMv1WT5rngV8VxkKXG4XCKiBQ/s1600/Ava+Feb+2011+027.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576341148111228978" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2clxiw-jYyzv4a-nRTY3d6ITeMIWN8SRS4sp_aIwZhADTk84wRl_5CdexicEq6PDRrKc7_srzqoThxUjHeO-Oflr1wypof6w17bbE4K_8Zl-QOoMqyJmMv1WT5rngV8VxkKXG4XCKiBQ/s200/Ava+Feb+2011+027.jpg" /></a></p><div align="center">Blowing to cool them down<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div><div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE-8x1w5wlFFmH2jNfbALAkymPRf2iDPH5-XifXiyH1cOKAKimvcAOi4Hz-tlQBhbRa0J3L6VCtMchDmE3x4VTFAMVZnukhGtw-SmuKhYdoU1DfetM3lHq8Aq_8-yTzb84IPurl7qFY6M/s1600/Ava+Feb+2011+034.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576341153268729538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE-8x1w5wlFFmH2jNfbALAkymPRf2iDPH5-XifXiyH1cOKAKimvcAOi4Hz-tlQBhbRa0J3L6VCtMchDmE3x4VTFAMVZnukhGtw-SmuKhYdoU1DfetM3lHq8Aq_8-yTzb84IPurl7qFY6M/s200/Ava+Feb+2011+034.jpg" /></a></p><div align="center">Devouring her muffin!<br /><br />Our little catholic girl has taught herself to sign the cross at grace. We love it!</div><div><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyr54w82uV9pBIoxE8GLysbRX968IjUBKy3iIzF8Fkiun1DiAn1516nomVUAElR4bV0LC5nwYRWVQtiul6_' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div></div></div></div></div>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11381036737322215643noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8724724025139616183.post-42321138149150283672011-01-21T21:01:00.009-05:002011-01-21T22:30:30.831-05:00Going to "School"<div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB3b64d8Hhf8p4bbRWP_sLfUyJPQUhVKEBF13aIvXE4wXGVUzc7WNLvO6lsNwvtI7stqsNOuR7Nbxdef1xzSj27dcT8gC-2ZNjvfkMDQ601FKS4PkGfqgEnr5ByGFGdlOd2stLe4ESgQQ/s1600/Ava+at+Creative+Tot+playgroup+2010+028.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564836886153892114" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB3b64d8Hhf8p4bbRWP_sLfUyJPQUhVKEBF13aIvXE4wXGVUzc7WNLvO6lsNwvtI7stqsNOuR7Nbxdef1xzSj27dcT8gC-2ZNjvfkMDQ601FKS4PkGfqgEnr5ByGFGdlOd2stLe4ESgQQ/s200/Ava+at+Creative+Tot+playgroup+2010+028.jpg" /></a> An important step in a toddler's development is for them to spend time with their peers in a social setting. I feel it is especially important for a child with cochlear implants to do this, so they can pick up on social cues and subtle nuances in language from their peers. Ava is in a home full of much older siblings and us, her parents. While she is drawing phenomenal amount of language from us all, I believe it is equally important in her overall language development, to spend time with other 2 year olds.<br /><br />I am going to be honest here. Part of me has a fear that Ava may experience rejection by her peers. I grew up with hearing aids. I did not experience rejection myself (except for one smart-assed boy in grade 7 who made a couple smart-assed comments about my hearing aid, which I just let roll off, although it did sting at the time). Ava's older sister Lauren, who is 6, wears hearing aids. So far, knock on wood, she hasn't had any problem with her peers. Lauren's teacher of the deaf played a role in this, I'm sure. She had the clever idea to have Lauren make a book complete with Lauren's own illustrations of all the parts and functions of her hearing aids and Lauren read this to her class and to the principal. Right from the get-go, Lauren's peers were made aware of Lauren's hearing aids, why she got a sound-field and then an FM system and how they need to face Lauren when they talk to her. She has a ton of friends and frankly, they don't even think about her hearing aids or remember that she has them. I'm hoping that this will be the same with Ava too. But, who has really seen implants before? Don't get me wrong. I am eternally grateful for the technology. But I feel I have to do everything in my power so that Ava gets off to a good start socially, with her peers. I want the world to see just what a lovely vivacious full of energy and zest little girl Ava is. And the sooner, the better. In a group setting, Ava can learn things like turn-taking, sharing, empathy and conflict resolution. Last September, I enrolled Ava in a mom/tot group. The group meets for two hours every Wednesday in a school-like setting and follows a school-like routine. Ava LOVES it. I mean absolutely its her favourite place in the world to go to.</div><div align="center"><br />First, it's <strong>FREE PLAY</strong> at the many different stations, such as painting, colouring, puzzles, dress-up, toys, play-dough, potato head, books, etc.</div><div align="center"></div><br /><br /><p align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8UI5JoEUcwN57ZSXi1xSwa1Sf9KML_ApvR4djRLS3D1jdv7KgyH0aUCy6SDy1aI-DG4relBbWpmBVd7KpjGLjQRYY-Afyuruh8VwHs2LLkWdq_NdmKYpWRAWnonnUPNacR6Y-M9Sg5Yc/s1600/Ava+at+Creative+Tot+playgroup+2010+004.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564838222231810418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8UI5JoEUcwN57ZSXi1xSwa1Sf9KML_ApvR4djRLS3D1jdv7KgyH0aUCy6SDy1aI-DG4relBbWpmBVd7KpjGLjQRYY-Afyuruh8VwHs2LLkWdq_NdmKYpWRAWnonnUPNacR6Y-M9Sg5Yc/s320/Ava+at+Creative+Tot+playgroup+2010+004.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgArVlnAiuBFAbspux3MOzHW66SakbsrJn4ARjVXg_zmBIlRX862jhFael6_0oGw93ybWWm7VxikFe3LObuNb-DLJepJ_FMbPEOKfo4EaGrYKqGk5WsQ-S4XISk50w07s-XU8KAFutqheY/s1600/Ava+at+Creative+Tot+playgroup+2010+030.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564838236581382578" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgArVlnAiuBFAbspux3MOzHW66SakbsrJn4ARjVXg_zmBIlRX862jhFael6_0oGw93ybWWm7VxikFe3LObuNb-DLJepJ_FMbPEOKfo4EaGrYKqGk5WsQ-S4XISk50w07s-XU8KAFutqheY/s320/Ava+at+Creative+Tot+playgroup+2010+030.jpg" /></a></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiglUxNgE3hyphenhyphenk16saMOC8tT3DHV6IqpkUx6WxTPPr6CKYc8vTwoEP4QL3ifJTXEdtYOVjTO0qPkOAwlzsF-a0IczWIzLYQQtIjisEP41dzpCrjZWVZBoV627EN0bWOskTJ-_cFI57PTZko/s1600/Ava+at+Creative+Tot+playgroup+2010+012.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564838229307174738" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiglUxNgE3hyphenhyphenk16saMOC8tT3DHV6IqpkUx6WxTPPr6CKYc8vTwoEP4QL3ifJTXEdtYOVjTO0qPkOAwlzsF-a0IczWIzLYQQtIjisEP41dzpCrjZWVZBoV627EN0bWOskTJ-_cFI57PTZko/s320/Ava+at+Creative+Tot+playgroup+2010+012.jpg" /></a></p><br />Then, we do a craft. Here, we decorated our own gingerbread men and of course devoured them.<br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjImwS3fFG27whMdKt98O0-53cWXxuN1j8U9oKbPkw7imI90LpxHvaQH3R8b1QceX7eiS4KJ43HP7oAFi8hrcPr3A1_cJVGECEfeG5R_SUOAa3ck40dng80mgMGbmUGRIiZofsZO20ol88/s1600/Ava+at+Creative+Tot+playgroup+2010+053.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564841448447869874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjImwS3fFG27whMdKt98O0-53cWXxuN1j8U9oKbPkw7imI90LpxHvaQH3R8b1QceX7eiS4KJ43HP7oAFi8hrcPr3A1_cJVGECEfeG5R_SUOAa3ck40dng80mgMGbmUGRIiZofsZO20ol88/s200/Ava+at+Creative+Tot+playgroup+2010+053.jpg" /></a></p><br /><div align="center">Then, its <strong>SNACK TIME!</strong></div><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYCI_ZaRDRjBZE-_LBuk16BdWrQCGv9aGga1GZsPUmqo5Jlh8ZiGtS_fZv3UwTq0dW5Ie7Olw-WjQLjbygFfAMq-7mgRraCpHVMOq99ETCh5iy7NjCiodbb1Oh-tDlAgC4NkvZt1rCLrc/s1600/Ava+at+Creative+Tot+playgroup+2010+005.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564838244095191490" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYCI_ZaRDRjBZE-_LBuk16BdWrQCGv9aGga1GZsPUmqo5Jlh8ZiGtS_fZv3UwTq0dW5Ie7Olw-WjQLjbygFfAMq-7mgRraCpHVMOq99ETCh5iy7NjCiodbb1Oh-tDlAgC4NkvZt1rCLrc/s320/Ava+at+Creative+Tot+playgroup+2010+005.jpg" /></a></p><div align="center"><br />Then we go upstairs to the big <strong>GYM </strong>to play with bouncy balls and "What Time is it Mr. Wolf?"<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuSQSOCyfZlb3ulvfGnsFV6le-uXNqtEqfxed60WHGAs7kbN0IJnfL4_PBDxewSwP9_URq78TijaY-kog8lpGCFIL93R5AtlgOrjQzzh_HkS8QYa8tW1wcTDVs1sSX5OSKDnVNc4H2Bck/s1600/Ava+at+Creative+Tot+playgroup+2010+006.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564839462820297314" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuSQSOCyfZlb3ulvfGnsFV6le-uXNqtEqfxed60WHGAs7kbN0IJnfL4_PBDxewSwP9_URq78TijaY-kog8lpGCFIL93R5AtlgOrjQzzh_HkS8QYa8tW1wcTDVs1sSX5OSKDnVNc4H2Bck/s320/Ava+at+Creative+Tot+playgroup+2010+006.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div align="center">And then, we go back downstairs to pick out an <strong>INSTRUMENT </strong>for our marching band</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhayZJ9Grph_WWyPvf2C8Lg6aLd_Ec6T0OoWvO-rGEtwFCQiRu0tj09dCRHbsgymrHaENoR_TD4dx5E6Bm1G3RkbWbbv2dHYUan-LrKHZgR7E5IBaVeGGmiEucLiKsGt9cNGUlC85THPws/s1600/Ava+at+Creative+Tot+playgroup+2010+025.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564841444790233218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhayZJ9Grph_WWyPvf2C8Lg6aLd_Ec6T0OoWvO-rGEtwFCQiRu0tj09dCRHbsgymrHaENoR_TD4dx5E6Bm1G3RkbWbbv2dHYUan-LrKHZgR7E5IBaVeGGmiEucLiKsGt9cNGUlC85THPws/s200/Ava+at+Creative+Tot+playgroup+2010+025.jpg" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjksHYYC-P7M0xe_4R90CoHHhzCHm0-uVQactyoQOMjLyBxnwotSed13vgKNpyaZRtWBVCw_e4fRC0dhHNH3RpooroPHES740mNvuB4ucHpC4eEyQjiFE5bzclzX9BkbDz8HNeExF2weU/s1600/Ava+at+Creative+Tot+playgroup+2010+056.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564841439393078530" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjksHYYC-P7M0xe_4R90CoHHhzCHm0-uVQactyoQOMjLyBxnwotSed13vgKNpyaZRtWBVCw_e4fRC0dhHNH3RpooroPHES740mNvuB4ucHpC4eEyQjiFE5bzclzX9BkbDz8HNeExF2weU/s200/Ava+at+Creative+Tot+playgroup+2010+056.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><p align="center">Next, we have <strong>CIRCLE TIME.</strong> We sing songs and have a story.<br /><br />Then we line up and wait for our name to be called. "Ava be nimble, Ava be quick, Ava jump over the candle stick."</p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7rdfvmtLs8YwSp9UwLAxI01f5onjPLqjkaQ_rRJSGaGe_YwcqWMo7G_Pgtv3zrg531f83ljlFOGMci4Pd8BpyK5_BzCt-xP8JVipRb8ZuonaFBgXWJxAHb1BWExGm2PtNOwel8CTZoyY/s1600/Ava+at+Creative+Tot+playgroup+2010+029.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564841453092476594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7rdfvmtLs8YwSp9UwLAxI01f5onjPLqjkaQ_rRJSGaGe_YwcqWMo7G_Pgtv3zrg531f83ljlFOGMci4Pd8BpyK5_BzCt-xP8JVipRb8ZuonaFBgXWJxAHb1BWExGm2PtNOwel8CTZoyY/s200/Ava+at+Creative+Tot+playgroup+2010+029.jpg" /></a></p><div align="center">Of course, our day would not be complete without a gazillion <strong>HUGS</strong> from "teacher" Jessica </div><div align="center"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJRROdjhMdEqO64VgnXjlvypD7aeqyXm_vB1CyTiTgxTjq1mrV-_X54wQu4QmfFNbkiyHRm6jldNFCvX3-2ptyoTQBMvq9GDp6NzU3962cNM4Zj2xfgWQorvEjN_CJdo_yjH3iwivQMPk/s1600/Ava+at+Creative+Tot+playgroup+2010+031.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564841466505203986" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJRROdjhMdEqO64VgnXjlvypD7aeqyXm_vB1CyTiTgxTjq1mrV-_X54wQu4QmfFNbkiyHRm6jldNFCvX3-2ptyoTQBMvq9GDp6NzU3962cNM4Zj2xfgWQorvEjN_CJdo_yjH3iwivQMPk/s200/Ava+at+Creative+Tot+playgroup+2010+031.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbE35SafPkZOOGY1LcPwNF2rbvnnRJwaW5z0BEcz2kpaPoMxv0eScqU1stuVzlFV6JPntvl4aEeeMFvhQsWjb_pWCERo32RcWeNvOhDdDwwg5rOqTvDCm5OJLoBzP4_79ObdUScPJq7O0/s1600/Ava+at+Creative+Tot+playgroup+2010+066.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564844443222384386" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbE35SafPkZOOGY1LcPwNF2rbvnnRJwaW5z0BEcz2kpaPoMxv0eScqU1stuVzlFV6JPntvl4aEeeMFvhQsWjb_pWCERo32RcWeNvOhDdDwwg5rOqTvDCm5OJLoBzP4_79ObdUScPJq7O0/s200/Ava+at+Creative+Tot+playgroup+2010+066.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQauab-dd1SiFOQT3GET2x1t5d3HzZZj7dZSxS-9xmBwrArKeWYn67xpldJUfSCVVsfBZ9UV9Nj-LfjcHMUh5RMNoMqxeYtpEwKpOzCLxLcOWDn0Zx5vO0diauS7P_M65Iw_G2V9d411A/s1600/Ava+at+Creative+Tot+playgroup+2010+032.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564844439799258770" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQauab-dd1SiFOQT3GET2x1t5d3HzZZj7dZSxS-9xmBwrArKeWYn67xpldJUfSCVVsfBZ9UV9Nj-LfjcHMUh5RMNoMqxeYtpEwKpOzCLxLcOWDn0Zx5vO0diauS7P_M65Iw_G2V9d411A/s200/Ava+at+Creative+Tot+playgroup+2010+032.jpg" /></a></div>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11381036737322215643noreply@blogger.com2