This past May and June we celebrated Elli's 8th birthday, Briggs' 5th birthday and Maggie's 2nd birthday.  My kids' birthday's are all 3 weeks apart, makes for a busy couple months! :)

 

School started mid-August and the kids are LOVING it!  The first month of school has been a success and we're off to a great start!  Briggs is doing SO great in kindergarten!  He is mainstreamed and in a school that has Redcat soundfield systems in every class room including all the specials (music, PE, art and media) rooms.  Many, many, many thanks to another parent of a child with CI's and an SLP who together co-founded the "Hear to Learn" project and have raised funds and applied for and received grant funding to put this amazing technology in schools within our large district.  Four schools were piloted and now word is spreading on how these classroom soundfield systems benefit ALL children and are having such a positive impact in many ways.  More and more schools in our district are starting to purchase and implement them!  SO wonderful!!   Briggs also uses a personal FM system.   Together they make a listening environment for Briggs that is unbelievable!  SO grateful!!   Briggs played t-ball this summer (also a success) and is in soccer right now.  Elli too is in soccer.  Her team moved to a more competitive league which has been fun to watch.  Maggie will start pre-school next August.  We have been blessed to have the same pre-school teacher (who we LOVE) for all of our kiddos!

 

Briggs and Maggie are doing wonderful with their CI's!  They both have the Neptunes which allowed for alot of hearing while swimming this summer! :) 

 

I've been involved with ALOT of advocating projects for the kids.  This has been both very rewarding and frustrating.  We as parents feel so passionate about what we know is best for our kids and not always do we feel that "vision" is reciprocated. The relationships I've built along the way has been one of my favorite aspects!

 

I've met and become friends with so many great families!  Getting to know and developing relationships with other parents of kids with hearing loss has been so instrumental in where my kids are today with their success with the implants.  I can't even begin to explain the value they all bring!  For all you new and future families of kids with a disability... connect with other families experiencing the same thing you are.  Very valuable! 

Elli : 1st day of 3rd grade!

 

 Briggs : 1st day of Kindergarten!

 

Briggs fish he caught this summer!

 

Maggie at the park, saying "cheese"!