The Surgery

On January 26th we arrived at UC Children's for Hadley's surgery. This momma had lots of anxiety to say the least. Some things are just different depending on where you stand in the grand scheme of things. Yes, this is what we've been waiting and praying for, but there are a lot of different feelings that come along with the decision we've made.
Decision questions;
Will this work? Will our daughter be able to hear?
Will she thrive after surgery?
Will she be okay with us doing this in the long run?
Will she wonder why we chose to "alter" her?
Many of you reading this may think these points are silly, even wonder what I was thinking asking myself these questions. Who wouldn't want the opportunity to hear? The best way I can answer that is by saying if you have never been deaf, then you can't truly answer that. It's not for me to decide if a person with hearing impairment should be "changed" so they can hear. Maybe they are perfect just the way they are. The issue is that with children the earlier we proceed with implants, usually means the better results we get. And time is precious....so we proceeded with our decision to have bilateral cochlear implants performed.

Waking up from anesthesia was well...... horrible!!!! But Momma and Daddy just loved her through it. She had some nausea and vomiting, and wouldn't eat anything, and I mean anything... Not even her beloved gold fish. My mother and I kept vigil by her bed all night, sending Brian out to sleep so he could drive us home the next day. I was through this time I spent with Hadley, holding her and showing her I will never leave her that helped form an even stronger bond between her and I.

After some medicine, and a sleepless night we were more than ready to come home. So in order to leave she had to eat something.... what else is better than rice? egg noodles?

Once home we got Hadley some much needed rest. The kids were so glad to see her, and even more excited about the possibility that their baby sister will hear.

Hadley had to wear this red headband for 10 days, which was a challenge. She wasn't happy about it at all, but by day 4 she accepted that she had no other choice. The first few days at school were rough, but just like always, she made it through it. Now we anxiously wait  for two weeks until we get to turn the implants on.

Happy Thanksgiving

Although we were together in China last Thanksgiving this is our sweet girls first Thanksgiving here in the U.S.A.

                                                          I love her face in this picture
 We have so much to be thankful for and she is just one of the five most wonderful things that has ever happening to us!

                                                           My two beautiful daughters

                                                            Our "H" filled Blessings
 

Fall time

It is so hard to believe that this time last year we were getting ready to leave for China, to get this sweetheart home! She has changed so much, and so have we...

Just look at this face as she takes her first trip on a hayride!!! We should all make this face whenever we do something new for the first time.

She picked her first pumpkin, and fed a goat for the first time at Bear wallow Farm. She has really come out of her box, and is learning to be a curious 3 year old.
Her physical challenges have gotten a little less challenging, she is learning to run and play with others

and her ASL, well she is taking off... Mrs. Darlene is working with her everyday, and we can't thank all the staff members at Memorial Education Center for being so devoted to our sweet little girl

(Hadley signing "daddy").
This past week we went to UC, our final appointment series before we find out if indeed our girl can get cochlear implants... Please pray this works out for the best, and we will keep you posted on the plan.

Double Dimples

Love when this girl smiles.......

Over the weekend Hadley was all smiles, football games and birthday parties. She played with cousins and watched her (favorite brother) Harrison celebrate his birthday. Whenever we light the candles on the cake she just laughs and claps! It's hilarious to watch.

Just look at her sweet smile in this picture

July update

My at how fast this year is going. Our sweet girl has been home for 8 months now (seems longer though). Hadley went back to UC on the 16th and got her hot pink hearing aids and although she is still not hearing anything they are working her nerve to learn what to do with the sound it hears. This is one step closer to getting a cochlear implant possibly. She will wear these for 3 months and then we will move on to the next step. Hadley is signing more, and more which is amazing since we have taking her out of school this summer to stay home with the other kids. It's a little better on the budget too. The past week she went back to school when the others did, and although I was a little apprehensive as to how well she would do, she has surprised me yet again. Walked straight in the room, got in the line waved good-bye to me, and off to the cafeteria she went.
This summer she got to enjoy vacation, which I posted some on our main blog but I must say our girl travels well.

We went on a cruise to Mexico, and the Grand Cayman Islands and she didn't miss anything.... So hard to believe that she wasn't walking independently and now she is running around on a cruise ship out in the middle of the ocean...

 and does this little love the water......

She loved swimming with our little friend "golden boy"

 and this little guy.

She slept good everynight...

tried new food choices, and enjoyed time with her forever family.....

love this little girl!!!!

June trip to UC

We had another day of appointments at UC with Hadley this past week. We met with a speech pathologist first. Mrs.B was great, patient and understanding. She was also amazed at how well Hadley is doing. Mrs.B is fluent in sign, and Hadley responded to her really well.  She made some recommendations for us, and gave us some pointers for the future.

Then we met with Dr.W who is a developmental behavioral specialist. What a blessing it is to meet this team of amazing doctors! Dr.W's assessment was that Hadley us catching up, maybe slightly still behind in gross motor, but overall doing well. From her stand point if and when we get a cochlear implant Hadley will be an appropriate recipient.

Then Hadley had some blood work, didn't shed one tear, tough girl. Then as we walked to the audiologist's office she insisted on walking with her oversized backpack on cruising the halls all by herself. Waving and smiling at everyone in her path. With her hotpink, sparkly sunglasses on. Everyone smiling and waving back, she is so stinking cute!

Then we met with Mrs.L the audiologist and we made our next appointment for our hearing aids, which by the way are hotpink too!!! Mid July we will go back and get them, wearing them for a few months to see if amplication will change anything. However I will say, when you hear nothing, hearing aids only amplify nothing. But we will give them a try anyway.

Socks

Our sweet heart has learned how to put shoes on.... however not her shoes! The other day I noticed she had went and put on Haven's socks and shoes and was prancing around the house in them. May I add that she didn't fall once.... and it's hard to walk in shoes twice as big as your feet when you don't have an issue with your gait. I ran to get the camera so I could catch a few shots of her....

Each day she accomplishes something new, I'm so lucky to be this little ones' Momma!!!!