Some video

Toes loves her new Dora book.

Here she is "Reading" the book to Daddy. She is mostly just rambling nonsense, but she is trying to follow the rhythm of reading aloud and ends every page with a "Dora" or "Boots".


This is not the best demonstration of her current language skills, but it says a lot about her imagination. ;)

Her language amazes us. She is almost always able to get her point across with words. She knows most of her colors, can tell us what word goes with what shape we point out and is making huge progress on her numbers. We can't wait for pre-school. We know she'll do even better once that is rolling this summer.

Speaking of shapes... we found the greatest shape puzzle in the $1 bin at Target. You can see it on the left side of the screen in the video. It has been one of our most useful home therapy tools. I highly recommend finding a basic shape puzzle to use with your kids - hearing or hearing impaired. We have worn the thing out!

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Erin had a mapping appointment on Friday. We spent some time in the booth and discovered her response on the left side is still only in the 35 - 40 db range. We were expecting more.

It is hard to tell if she is actually not hearing below that level, or if she is just not listening below that level.

Either way, we need to do some more work.

The audi told us to turn off the right processor at least 1/2 hour per day. She suggested that we try some of the softer Ling sounds (ss, sh) from varying distances to see exactly what she is picking up on. So, we've been working on it.

We know she understands us when we speak to her when she only has her left side on. But, we need to do more to make sure she is picking up on other sounds, other than normal speech level.

So, we aren't quite already there. But we are getting close!

Ho, ho!

The entire Toes Family had a great holiday.

Toes is amazing us with her language skills lately. The second implant has done wonders in regard to her pronunciation.

She always struggled with two very important words: Milk and Mommy.

Milk always came out "Kah!"

Mommy always came out "Mah-hee!"

She is really coming around on forming the word "milk".

And, when reminded, she throws out a very clear "Mommy!"

But, I can't help but prefer "Mah-hee". It almost feels like her special name for me. :D

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Check out this new CI resource! http://www.cochlearworld.com/

Mark, a CI Father started the website to provide CI information. It is an excellent resource.

Mark has also started a new CI Forum. Cochlear World Forum.

Since Erin's diagnosis, I have been looking for a good Chat Board or Forum to share ideas, concerns, etc. with.

I have a Mom's Board with kids of a similar age to Toes that I am involved in. They are invaluable to me. And I love them all dearly. If it weren't for them and their sharing of the trials and joys of raising a two year old, I would be convinced Toes was possessed. ;) I am so very fortunate to be a part of this group.

But, I have longed to find a similar board or forum with moms and dads of Deaf and HOH kids. Yahoo has a couple of them, but a private forum would be so much easier to navigate.

I hope some of the other parents out there will join the forum so we can all start speaking openly.

So, check it out. Register and say Hi. Let's get the dialogue rolling.