what a difference it makes!!!

Yesterday, Cory was at a birthday party..and it was his deaf friend's birthday.   So there are many many kids that have hearing loss, mixed with signs and verbal language.   He came home, was full of "language".  Recalling several things from the birthday party, telling me or talking to himself.  It was amazing to see how explosive his language has become after an experience. 
I would like to do more hands on experiences with him, its a good language opportunity. 
In the past week, for some reasons, it was slow.  I find that I spent more time with him.  We have been doing little bit of cooking, playing games, puzzles, practicing writing his name and thank god for mild weather we have, we played outside. 
This week, there is no preschool..ugh.  It will be tough.  Last night, before light outs, Cory said "tomorrow preschool?"  I told him that it is closed for the week.  I probably should do the calender system with him..I have been trying to find one that with blank days and bigger enough for me to draw each day.  No luck, maybe I should go to Staples.  (knowing it will be pricy and too big). 
I will post more about this calendar later.  This is one of the biggest helpful tool for me, my mom used it for me.  I think I have it somewhere in the basement among my old home books too! 

Prevex B..presciption that works!

HI..I have this terrible condition in my ears ..it started few years ago.  I don't know why.  Its almost like an allergy reaction that came up and never goes away.   My ear molds reacted to it..I have tried several types..but end up with the type that works for me.  Because of my type of aids and no whistlings...I have wore same time for many years before that and never had problem.  My audiologist is not sure why..my doctor doesn't see anything..(each time I go ..it healed then or nothing.  ) Then it'd come back again and again.
ANYWAY...I have tried several creams, first aid cream, even skin cream thinking its just dry condition.
I should explain what it feels like..its feel like itching, painful ..become red inside but nothing.  Sometimes, I find dry flakes surrounding it and on my molds too.  Its just plain weird.   I have tried not wearing it for days and let it heal naturally.  Then go back..and forth . 
My mom is a pharmacist, she can't figure out what I have so she gave me an sample to try.  It works!!!!! Finally all those years of trying several things...this cream "Prevex B" Topical Corticosteroid cream seems to help and soothes the pain of red scalp.  
I would applied it twice a day not wear aid unless needed to. 
I just thought that would be something you need to know if..you have the same problem or your child. 

Grandparents..

I am trying to encourage all extended families to be involved with Cory as much as possible. We need every family members to be involved with Cory's life as much as possible.  Its is probably much common occurance that these children don't have that opportunity being with their aunt, uncle, cousins etc. because of the communication part.  I can understand that......however, who said you have to know sign language beforehand just so you can be involved with him?  It is not necessary..there are different ways of getting involved by lots of love, gestures, simple words, by going places, by spending time with him/her.   The more you get involved, the easier it will get..I promise you.  I would know! Speaking from experiences!!!!!  My memories with all my extended families are great..each of them were different by their own ways, and I may not understand them at the time, but I do remember their love, bonding and spending times with me.  That is one thing that I would never forget.  
My Baba, we would spent time with by going to her place for sleepover, the routines are pretty much the same..each time.  We would watch tv, play games, make cookies, go to Dairy Queen for ice cream (yes every time!), have perogies for dinner and of course, there is her "popcorn" twist snack.   I love going over there each time, I don't honestly remember much of conversations we would have..but words are just simple and same each time.  I remember lots of love..and compassions.   My other grandma, we always make her famous brown sugar cake and tea parties.   My grandpa, we always play checkers, card games and going to White Rock pier walks.   
My parents are enjoying Cory as much as they can...even though we are so busy with stuff, running in and out of house these days for CA's activities.  They offer to babysit several times..lol.  Its hard because at time its wayyyy over there and out of the way for us.   Cory was thrilled to see them today at CA"s soccer game..it was great to see that.  I really have to just drop him off and let them spent time with him.   I am NOT worried at all about lack of communication..he will just do fine.  (No, they don't really know sign language by the way)

I think my Husband, Sean has bit of hearing loss..

I had to laugh..I was going to post this other day..but time running out.  Priorities!!!!  When we were in BC Children's Hospital for Cory's CI assessment, among other things too..
This time Sean was in the sound booth with Cory.  And I'm sitting there watching them..
I mentioned before that Cory hears certain sounds that I couldn't?
They were testing him very soft sounds, and he got them each time.  Sean was sitting there going ??????  Did a double take.  He looks at me with his shoulders like what???  (I lipread him saying..I'm not hearing anything!!!!)  He was quite astonished.   bwahahahaha ha ha!  (singing song..) somebody needs a hearing aid????
He was like no way..my hearing is perfect, thank you very much!!! 
I wonder...

6 months difference..using SIGN Language and Spoken Language.

Today I walked out with confidence and Cory did very well with assessment (Post CI - one year assessment).  Beth said that remember that Cory really did started language, using CI in August at the time of his placement with us.   Nothing before....his score at the time was very very low 4/40..and now six months later..BOOM!  He got 32 out of 40.  She never see this process so fast in 6 months! She is very pleased with it.  She even said that what we are doing is GREAT, keep it up.  Using both sign language and oral for his overall communication.  It's a huge improvement.   yes!
And she admitted now that he is being a "boy", naturally he didn't really want to do listening games nor follow the listening directions.   She said she is very happy to see that.  LOL I had to laugh because he was too cooperate and was too "good" before.  She admitted she was tad bit worried about that because it wasn't normal.   So we just have to be more patience and respect his spaces and feelings.   Make it work to his level now.  That is fine with me..I am finding myself more patience with him these days. 

BC Children's Hospital..appointment, appointment..

You know the saying "You never stop learning as you go???"  That is the case for me today..we had several appointments at the BCCH today for Cochlear Implant thingy..  here I am this morning, thinking..why do we have to go?  Just get it done already!!!! (for second one)..They wanted to meet with Sean and I, to go over the process, to meet with social worker, meet with clinicial (nurse?) and so on.  It's almost like if Cory didn't have the first one, so its a process all new families go through before CI.  In our case, it's new to us because of the adoption, so "technically" we didn't go through the first process.     I have done so much reading, learning, talking to other parents, and felt that maybe it's bit of waste of our time.   However, it wasn't!  First foremore, I'm little embarrassed to admit this, Sean is completely clueless with all that.   I thought he was onboard with it and I did gave him stuff to read and did tell him things now and then.  But he's a man..duh, what am I thinking?????  No wonder, moms hold the belt in the house these days!  giggle..   I was sitting there thinking..duh to myself..I should have made more efforts in getting Sean involved and make sure that he has read information. I'll sit on him if I have to!   But the up side is that it is better for Sean to hear all that from these professionals and getting those informations that he needs to know.   (yes, I did felt little embarrassed for not sharing stuff like that with him)   We gotten the answers that we needed to know, felt better with some questions we had and walked out more determined than before.   So it wasn't a waste of time..
One thing I learned is that, I'm getting the STRAIGHT facts from them than I hear several different things from other peoples around the community.  It's kinda of scary in sense that everyone say one thing, and other say different things.   It's ok to hear their opinions, and their thoughts BUT if you want the straight facts.  Talk to the PROFESSIONALS that are right "hand-ons" with it.  
Two more appointments to go..because unfortunately ENT Dr. wasn't in today and then there is a team meeting follow up for decision to make whether Cory is a candiate for second one or not.   Then if he is, we have to give our answer.  So of course, it's a waiting game ...

Monkey See, Monkey Do..

This is a perfect example of my son's way of his world.  He is a follower!  We have to be careful with what we do or say.  He will pick up on that.  OH YEAH! 
We have an older daughter who is 9 yrs. old, going on 13?? There are bit of phase we are going with her these days..I say it's hormones.  Her dad thinks it's attitudes.   She has been yelling at us "No!" when she is frustrated or doesn't want to do when being told etc.  sighhh.  We have to change our tactics with her now..before we would not let her "speak her piece" because it ended up series of "what if"..and "buts", and it ended up arguing with us.  Then now, she would say "No" loud and clear..it's almost like she was 2 yrs. old again.  I had to laugh, I did told her that it reminds me of her when she was 2 years old.  But she doesn't think its funny..
Anyway, I am very happy to say..Cory now, are saying the word "NO"..loud and clear but it wasn't a nice "No".  Its more like "NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!" with vicious.  He has start doing that last week, which I just ignored it because its just not something I want to pick a battle with. So I have tried to modelling it over it , try to show him how to say it nicely.  I am also trying to respect his "no", if he doesn't want to etc.  Respect that.  He has the rights to express his feelings. ok.  However, I have to draw the line now.  Two days ago, he has been doing more and more lately that it become too much and it was really loud. He would scream into my ears and everyone else too.    It wasn't pleasant anymore.   Obviously, my modellings wasn't working at this time.  Last night, I told him it's time for bath.."NOOOOOOOOOO!", unfortunately, he needs it.  After bath, I say "time for Pajamas on" "NOOOOOOOO" on top of his lungs right into my ear.   OK ..that is it!  I can't ignore that anymore.   I gave him a TIMEOUT for that.   He got really furious and kept on screaming.  wow.     Took him at least 10 minutes to calm down, I basically said to him "Cory, you really need to stop screaming like that (showing him how he does it), its not acceptable anymore. IT hurts my ears, and this needs to stop".   If you do that again, I will give you TO.  Then of course, (LOL) he screamed "NOOOOO" again in my face.   Time out again.      Maybe this tells me, that its probably something we should have followed up on that right away when this first started...and correcting it will be more difficult now.   The last two days was all about time outs (lots!) with each time he screamed "Noooo"..I am happy to say that it's getting better now.  Before we were leaving for preschool, I asked him to go put his toys away as we have to go.  He did screamed again.  Time out.   We were bit late for school, just.   I told him before we went in..the classroom that if he screamed like that again today in classroom, Mommy will give you Time Out.   I am so happy its so much better now..he now just tell me (sign) I'm sad, or mad.  The best way is to acknowledge that!   I talked to CA, my daughter, last night , we had one to one time as we were at her baseball practice and went for ice cream after.   I told her that we have noticing Cory screaming and he is just copying her.  She feels badly about it and yes she realized that.   She really didn't like it..and I told her that I didn't like it either.   Hit the nail right on..   I did told her that I would have to give her Time out too if this occurs.   She thought that was funny..but is willing to do that to be fair.  ( can't imagine giving a 9 yrs. old one!)   should be interesting...