Here is the massive backpack full of supplies and stuff for her cochlear implant.
Emma was all smiles waiting in the waiting room!
opening all the packets took longer then almost everything else:) Now we have to figure out all these pieces. But we get the most important parts for now, the processor and the magnet!
Her most talented audiologist testing her magnet strength and seeing how swollen she was still.
Talking with the super talented, Mrs. Jaime who runs Songs for Sounds and helped get us a camera guy to tape today for us. We are allowing Vandy, AB, and Songs for Sounds to use it and share Emma's story as well. Super excited to help other families!
Actually placing her CI on her to start turning the sound on. We are using a headband instead of it resting on her ear, Emma has an infection and swelling still in her head. We see her surgeon tomorrow to see what is going on with that and how long before we can switch to the cool T-mic and behind the ear wearing!
Emma "hearing" sounds in the CI and letting the audiologist know if it was "Good" or "Too loud". She did great with just the sounds coming in! It was cool to see her do so well and work hard listening.
Emma being silly but working hard!
This is a shot after they turned voices on, Emma was not so happy with this sound. I joined in on the work then, and we had to work her through the stress and then slowly turn the sound back up. This was to be expected, but hard to watch. She was really upset. It has been a long time since she has heard out of the left ear. It was scary. The implant is turned real low for the time being as she adjust to sounds and starts to teach her brain to decipher what is going on.
That is my head helping or trying to help, she pretty much ignored me.
This was moments before she started being tested on certain sounds that voices say. She was finally smiling again!
Testing with voice sounds, she did so good. She even heard a few sounds they thought she would not hear yet. This is hard work made a little fun with a cookie game. This is when I started tearing up! It was amazing, so amazing to realize who much this will change her life. She will be able to hear better, talk better and do much better with anything doing with speech and hearing!
The poor camera man, who was amazing, trying to get Emma to talk to him. She decided to be silly and refuse. She was over it all by then.
She talked a little once daddy joined in.
Trying to wear her new backpack that is bigger then her. Daddy is really excited about the bag, and I have a feeling her will be wearing it soon.
Trying her new Compilot that will at some point be able to stream blue tooth devices straight to both her "ears". However due to her hearing aids age, it did not work with it today. We connected it to the CI but she is struggling to understand sound out of just it yet. Therefor, we did not get to use the Compilot much today.
But this brought on a new exciting prospect. We will be updating her hearing aid to a new one now to help her be able to use all the technology available for her. She picked the crazy purple color with a pink ear hook and hot pink ear mold. It is going to be crazy but it is what she wants. I am still trying to tune her down to pink with purple hook but we will see. She is thrilled to be getting a new one. We are as well! She will be all decked out to start second grade that is for sure.
Getting her new ear mold made, she loves this part for some reason.
A close up!
Playing with the cute monkey, AB (advanced bionics) sent her with her new implant!
We meet my parents for a celebrating late breakfast, but Emma was still hungry when we picked brother up, so McD's on the way home it was.
Her awesome Advanced Bionics gear!
Princess Pink rules!
a little CI only listening time, it is not her favorite. She is struggling understanding the sounds, but it will get better. Keep telling her, she is working that ear out, just like a athlete!
I am just in love with her hearing devices. Some may find this sad or hard to handle. But honestly, her aids have made a huge difference in her life, that how could it make me sad. She has learned to read, dance, and sing while wearing just her aids. Now, we have a better device to help her do more, hear more and achieve more! I am proud of her and proud of the beautiful devices that help her be who she is!
laying down with mommy for a much needed nap, after waking up at 5:45 to excited to sleep anymore!
Made pizza together for dinner, the kids love doing this.
her getting dressed to put on a show for me. She helped take her implant on and off to get dressed. I was so proud. She is already learning fast how to get the magnet in it's place. She is super proud when she can do it.
Capped the busy day off with ice pops on the sidewalk with her sweet friend while catching fireflies.
Now, for some light reading before bed!! Lol, this is all the small manuals that came, we have a huge users guide as well.
Today was amazing, emotional, and exhausting! So very proud of her and how well she did despite the stress. Tomorrow we return for more mapping on her implant and to see her surgeon for a post op visit. Hoping her clears us for some swimming just in time for the fourth.
