Oh yeah

Absolutely Perfect.

Say what?

Most of you know that Abbie has some ear issues. She was born with a birth defect that falls somewhere between Canal Stenosis and Aural Atresia. Her left ear is tiny, the ear canal even tinier, and her ear bones are malformed. The good news is that somehow her left ear can still conduct sound, and that her right ear is completely normal. The bad news is that she has about a unilateral 40 db hearing loss.

We've been working with a specialist, her pediatrician, and the school district to find the best solution for Abbie. We've decided that for now we will try a hearing aid. Yesterday was her first fitting. Since she's still only 3 and they expect her ear to grow, she will have a BTE (behind the ear) aid fitted with an ear mold. We've decided to go with the Eleva, made by Phonak. As a special treat it comes in pink! If you know Abbie, you know she's got the spunk to pull off a pink hearing aid. :)

Stephen and Clara know that Abbie is getting a special microphone for her ear since her ear has the volume turned down. So far, Abbie feels pretty special about it all as she's the one who gets to play the games at the doctors office. Sometimes, though, it's tough for her to have to drop off Stephen and Clara at fun playdates. She's had many tests done by the school district to make sure that her hearing loss hasn't affected her vocabulary, speech, social skills, motor skills, etc. So far she's still head and shoulders above average and a spit-fire to boot. Lots of kids with unilateral hearing loss develop problems later in school once the background noise gets louder. Hopefully Abbie can avoid that heartache and be used to her aid by the time she gets to school.

Her ear form and aid should be in within the next 2 to 3 weeks - assuming that everything goes well with insurance and the fittings. Then we'll start a new era as a family - one where we can ALL hear! I can't wait!

Other peoples pain

A friend recently told me to check out a bloggers website.  I read it out last night and spent a good hour engrossed by her entries.  She journeled about carrying and loosing her 4th  baby.  It's an incredible testimony and I'd urge the few of you who read this to check it out.  

It amazes me that my soul can feel so connected to people I've never met.  Maybe it's just the shared experience of being a mommy ... but I think it might be more than that.  I think that it's the knowledge of the same truth, the life of the same Savior within us.  She wrote that when the doctor told her that her baby would not survive, her response was ... "Jesus is the same as he was before I walked in here."  My gut - my very soul acknowledged that truth with her.  Even as tears of great sadness welled up in my eyes.  

It's almost a guilty feeling to have my faith bolstered by someone else's tragedy.  Who am I to take a piece of insight from someone's deep and devastating pain?  But the hope lies within that shared faith.  Within that observation of truth.  How amazing my great God is to let me have a tiny piece ... to let this dear family share, be a light.  

Her site is called "bring the rain".  It's from a Mercy Me song.  They lyrics are powerful and beautiful - especially when quoted by someone experiencing deep tragedy.

"Bring me joy, bring me peace,

Bring the chance to be free

Bring me anything that brings you glory

And I know that there'll be days

When this life brings me pain

But if that's what it takes to praise you,

Jesus, bring the rain."

Austin - land of warm weather and Resort Booth

Stephen and I just got back from Austin, TX where we celebrated David's HS graduation.  

David won a really nice camera at his senior party - and since he had gotten an even nicer camera as a gift from my parents, he let me buy the party gift off of him.  The result is that I get to show you all some of the photos from our trip!