Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Last night before bed, Tayten and I were having one of those conversations about his CIs. I don't ever want him to feel uncomfortable, I want him to be well aware of his deafness and I want him to answer questions asked by others, so we have these conversations occasionally. I usually ask him if he likes being deaf and if he likes his CIs, and last night I asked him for the first time if he wanted to hear like the other kids. He knows that he is the only deaf kiddo around, but I think he is still too young for the difference to bother him. He told me, "I hear good my implants."
Then out of no where Tayten said, "My Dad drop my implant in tub." "Yes, he did and that was quite naughty of him, but accidents happen." I told him. I asked him if it was broken or if he could still hear okay. He said, "It works." Then he said, "Put my implant in bag?" I didn't understand him at first, so he clarified by saying, "Put my implant in bag to swimming pool. Martine's birthday."
If you remember, he wanted nothing to do with wearing his implant in the tub or pool using the aloksak bag and swim cap before, but after knowing it worked fine after Daddy dropped it in the water, I think he may be okay with trying it now.
It makes me wonder how long he's been thinking about this. We have been talking about Martine's (his cousin we don't see often) pool party for the past few weeks. I wish I could crawl inside his little mind. I wonder if he realizes that most of Chad's side of the family (and mine too) can't communicate with him when his ears are off and if that is why he wants to try wearing his ear in the water.
And this brings me to another point that I've wanted to bring up. There have been about a handful of times in the recent past, when away from home, Tayten has his ears off. Maybe he was swimming, maybe he had just not yet put them on for the day, but whatever the reason, someone had tried to have a conversation with him, question him, or get a point across and they got upset or frustrated because Taye didn't understand or just kept on doing what he was doing because he couldn't hear or read lips. It makes me sad to hear, "Go get your ears!" because I instantly think about how his life would be so different if when implanted, the cochlear implants didn't work. Would've our family learned enough sign to communicate with him or would he be in his own little world, conversing mostly with only Chad and I? Would he have those special relationships? It makes a person wonder and it makes me very thankful that we have the miracle of technology. Tayten LOVES his cousins and I can't even imagine what our family life would be like if he wasn't close to them.
I am not saying that if he didn't have cochlear implants, he wouldn't be happy, et cetera, because he loves not wearing his ears at home as much as he likes wearing them. I am saying that having CIs definitely makes it easier for him to communicate with the majority of people in this world; therefore, creating an opportunity for many more relationships that he otherwise would not have had, especially if we had continued living in this area where the Deaf community is nonexistent.
Then out of no where Tayten said, "My Dad drop my implant in tub." "Yes, he did and that was quite naughty of him, but accidents happen." I told him. I asked him if it was broken or if he could still hear okay. He said, "It works." Then he said, "Put my implant in bag?" I didn't understand him at first, so he clarified by saying, "Put my implant in bag to swimming pool. Martine's birthday."
If you remember, he wanted nothing to do with wearing his implant in the tub or pool using the aloksak bag and swim cap before, but after knowing it worked fine after Daddy dropped it in the water, I think he may be okay with trying it now.
It makes me wonder how long he's been thinking about this. We have been talking about Martine's (his cousin we don't see often) pool party for the past few weeks. I wish I could crawl inside his little mind. I wonder if he realizes that most of Chad's side of the family (and mine too) can't communicate with him when his ears are off and if that is why he wants to try wearing his ear in the water.
And this brings me to another point that I've wanted to bring up. There have been about a handful of times in the recent past, when away from home, Tayten has his ears off. Maybe he was swimming, maybe he had just not yet put them on for the day, but whatever the reason, someone had tried to have a conversation with him, question him, or get a point across and they got upset or frustrated because Taye didn't understand or just kept on doing what he was doing because he couldn't hear or read lips. It makes me sad to hear, "Go get your ears!" because I instantly think about how his life would be so different if when implanted, the cochlear implants didn't work. Would've our family learned enough sign to communicate with him or would he be in his own little world, conversing mostly with only Chad and I? Would he have those special relationships? It makes a person wonder and it makes me very thankful that we have the miracle of technology. Tayten LOVES his cousins and I can't even imagine what our family life would be like if he wasn't close to them.
I am not saying that if he didn't have cochlear implants, he wouldn't be happy, et cetera, because he loves not wearing his ears at home as much as he likes wearing them. I am saying that having CIs definitely makes it easier for him to communicate with the majority of people in this world; therefore, creating an opportunity for many more relationships that he otherwise would not have had, especially if we had continued living in this area where the Deaf community is nonexistent.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Hunting Pictures
Tayten's Uncle Pat, Auntie Manda, and cousin Landen when hunting this past weekend and they were successful!
I am not fond of shooting things and my husband lacks the ability to shoot things (Sorry, babe!), so we will only enjoy the jerky and sausage if they decide to share with us. **wink, wink**
I am not fond of shooting things and my husband lacks the ability to shoot things (Sorry, babe!), so we will only enjoy the jerky and sausage if they decide to share with us. **wink, wink**
Friday, November 13, 2009
Tayten's Lucky Day
I know, it is Friday the 13th, but Tayten lucked out and was up for show and tell and snacks! He was super excited to go to school. Plus, he gets to visit Lisa and after, we are going to see Marlee and Mercedes! So really, he is super excited for the entire day!!
I am curious to see how he does during show and tell today. I have been getting notes from school saying that he is becoming more confident each day and talking and interacting more with his peers rather than the adults. Hopefully he'll get up there and tell them all about the item in his bag! I asked him what they do at show and tell and he tells me, "Pass toy around." "And what else?" I say and he tells me, "All my friends say thank you." At first, he wanted to take his flash light that he got from Gma Jamie on Halloween, it is a scary skeleton that screams when you turn it on, but after he rummaged through his toy box looking for it, he decided on a big, green, remote control monster truck. Surprised? I am! It seems like the ideal toy for a 4 year old boy to show off to his little buddies at school, but that is so not Tayten. He likes toys like that, but I have seen him choose balls, books, crafty~artsy stuff, and barbie dolls over that truck many times since he received it for his third birthday. I asked him what he was going to tell his friends about his monster truck and his reponses, "My favorite toy long time!" Not true. "Mercedes bought for me." Again, not true. So, although I was sad for him when the truck didn't fit into the show and tell bag, I was glad he had a chance to re-think this opportunity. His third choice was his Army bear. It is his favorite of three Army bears. The bear was purchased by my mother and given to my mother-in-law when Peep, my husband, was deployed. Then one day when Tayten left Grandma Deb's, she let him take it home. Tayten has never really been attached to anything, but he went through a phase where he needed this bear to fall asleep. Anyhow, after we made sure it fit in the bag, I asked him again what he was going to tell his friends about his bear. First he said, "My daddy is soldier. He drives big Army trucks!" and continued on, "My favorite bear. I sleep with him loooonnnggg time." Now this was definitely more like him. More sentimental and less I'm-cool-because-I-have-a-big-monster-truck. I know in time that will change because, after all, he is his Father's child and nephew to Jason. For now, I will enjoy my sweet, sensitive little boy.
I always love when it is Tayten's turn to bring snacks. I think I get more excited then him! I enjoy searching for something crafty, hopefully fitting the theme for the week and it always has to be something that will put mile-wide smiles on those kids' faces. I struggled this past week trying to find something to fit there Native American theme. I did find some tepee treats, but all were loaded with sugar. I tried to think creatively and come up with a bow and arrow made of food or a canoe snack or something, but my creative side failed me again. I am, though, great at hunting down ideas and then re-creating! I finally decided on a turkey, which worked out, because they can prep for next week's theme of Pilgrims and Turkeys. You'll never guess where I got the idea!!! You are right, www.familyfun.com. What can I say, that site is overflowing with awesome ideas!
I am curious to see how he does during show and tell today. I have been getting notes from school saying that he is becoming more confident each day and talking and interacting more with his peers rather than the adults. Hopefully he'll get up there and tell them all about the item in his bag! I asked him what they do at show and tell and he tells me, "Pass toy around." "And what else?" I say and he tells me, "All my friends say thank you." At first, he wanted to take his flash light that he got from Gma Jamie on Halloween, it is a scary skeleton that screams when you turn it on, but after he rummaged through his toy box looking for it, he decided on a big, green, remote control monster truck. Surprised? I am! It seems like the ideal toy for a 4 year old boy to show off to his little buddies at school, but that is so not Tayten. He likes toys like that, but I have seen him choose balls, books, crafty~artsy stuff, and barbie dolls over that truck many times since he received it for his third birthday. I asked him what he was going to tell his friends about his monster truck and his reponses, "My favorite toy long time!" Not true. "Mercedes bought for me." Again, not true. So, although I was sad for him when the truck didn't fit into the show and tell bag, I was glad he had a chance to re-think this opportunity. His third choice was his Army bear. It is his favorite of three Army bears. The bear was purchased by my mother and given to my mother-in-law when Peep, my husband, was deployed. Then one day when Tayten left Grandma Deb's, she let him take it home. Tayten has never really been attached to anything, but he went through a phase where he needed this bear to fall asleep. Anyhow, after we made sure it fit in the bag, I asked him again what he was going to tell his friends about his bear. First he said, "My daddy is soldier. He drives big Army trucks!" and continued on, "My favorite bear. I sleep with him loooonnnggg time." Now this was definitely more like him. More sentimental and less I'm-cool-because-I-have-a-big-monster-truck. I know in time that will change because, after all, he is his Father's child and nephew to Jason. For now, I will enjoy my sweet, sensitive little boy.
I always love when it is Tayten's turn to bring snacks. I think I get more excited then him! I enjoy searching for something crafty, hopefully fitting the theme for the week and it always has to be something that will put mile-wide smiles on those kids' faces. I struggled this past week trying to find something to fit there Native American theme. I did find some tepee treats, but all were loaded with sugar. I tried to think creatively and come up with a bow and arrow made of food or a canoe snack or something, but my creative side failed me again. I am, though, great at hunting down ideas and then re-creating! I finally decided on a turkey, which worked out, because they can prep for next week's theme of Pilgrims and Turkeys. You'll never guess where I got the idea!!! You are right, www.familyfun.com. What can I say, that site is overflowing with awesome ideas!
Fruit GobblerI hope the turkey made it from the fridge to the table in one piece. The cheese cracked easily when I put it on, but hopefully it will stay in place long enough to make it to their assigned spot. This was so easy and not very time consuming. I know they'll love it - cute and tasty!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
