Two Weeks Post Activation

It is hard to believe it has already been two weeks since the cochlear implant has been activated.  It  has been more roses and chocolate then the first day.  Kylie loves her new princess ear and knows how to put it on herself.  She turns on the device and knows how to make the outer part magnet to connect to the internal part.  

Is she hearing better?  Does she recognize her name?  Has her speech improved?  I wish we had concrete answers to those questions.  What I can say is it gets better each day and small little things like saying STOP and pronouncing the S for the first time are the milestones that we celebrate.  She has been talking non-stop since they put it on.  However,  for Brian and I that see and hear her everyday it is hard to say we see big improvements.  They tell us it could be several months before she experiences the true impact as they have to adjust it to get her there. 

We are currently on program three of the three programs they built for her when we activated the device.  We go back on Thursday for them to test it and build more.  Keep in mind she is at the bare minimum for the device and potential they are gradually increasing that each time.  She still rolls herself into a ball when you first turn it on in the morning but that process has gone from 15 mins to a minute or two.  She knows it is coming and braces herself and then moves on with her day.

The device doesn't get in her way and her life is back to normal if not better.  We did try it swimming over the weekend but the outer part needs a stronger magnet that only the doctors office can fix.  

Here are some things we have been up to since the cochlear was activated.

Here is Kylie whom finished her second season of Soccer checking out her new medal (she calls it money)

This is a bench that we received from Terri and Hugo almost 13 years ago as a wedding gift.  My Mom, Kylie and I re-stained it so it will last even longer!  You can see her processor in this picture (the purple thing clipped to her shirt)

There was the beach.. Kylie was showing off the device she can swim in.  It has all white wires vs brown for water.

Here is Kylie trying to catch a wave

Of course after catching too many waves you get worn out!

Here is Kylie at her end of the year Pre-K Party / Graduation Party.  Kylie misses the cutoff for Kindergarten so she will repeat Pre-K with the same teacher.  This is a huge benefit for Kylie as it will allow her to catch up with her speech etc.  They still allowed her to be part of the graduation ceremony.

This is a picture hanging in the school that Kylie created.  She was asked what she wanted to be when she grew up and she wants to be a doctor to help with Boo Boos.  (Shocking I know this is the girl that sleeps with band-aids under her pillow - Just in case)

To my Mom and Dad - I have to say she far surpasses my drawing abilities already!