New Year, New Outlook

We are just getting started on Brinley's journey...
Dec 2009 we got the diagnosis of profound bilateral hearing loss. English Terms: Brinley is deaf.

I'll be documenting Brinley's progress every step of the way. This will be my outlet in getting my thoughts on paper (well, computer) and maybe you will get something out of this too. You will learn what it means to be deaf, possibly be inspired to pick up a few sign language books or next time you see a child with hearing aids or Cochlear Implants you will know what it took for that child to get where he/she is today.

Modern technology is amazing!

"HARD DOES NOT MEAN IMPOSSIBLE"
Brinley Shay Reiswig


Sisterhood

Sisterhood

If we only knew then what we know now...

ALL SMILES WITH MY HEARING AIDS

ALL SMILES WITH MY HEARING AIDS

Mommy's Angel

Mommy's Angel

Upcoming Appointments

Jan 7th, Modesto

2:30pm Meeting with MCS/ SCOE Early Start Eval.


Jan 15th, Oakland
9:00am Speech Therapist Apt
10:00am Family Psycologist Apt
2:30pm First Audiologist Apt with Sara
3:30pm Meeting Dr. Murray, Implant Surgeon

Jan 29th, Oakland - Sedated CT Scan





Stanford here we come!


Feb 9th Meet Surgeon Dr. Blevins, get surgery date


Monday March 29th, 5 hr Surgery at Stanford

Activation 4/20 and 4/21

Follow up 5/17 and 5/18


Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Proud Momma

I haven't had a chance to blog in awhile. Between my husbands
birthday, preschool, speech therapy, Thanksgiving, Christmas, family
events, Danica's 4th birthday and Brinley's 2nd birthday- I've been
kinda busy! But tonight I feel like talking :)

Brinley is 2. It's been 8 months and 14 days since she's been
"activated". I have many mixed emotions about the process. I mean, I
wouldn't change a thing. Demanding authorization from insurance
company, REFUSING appointments months out and just throwing myself
into the world of deafness. It's been hard on Rod and I. Mentally and
physically exhausting. But at the same time it's been impowering. I
think how hard it is on me and then I feel super guilty. It's not hard
on me----- it's hard on Brinley. She's the one that has to wear her
equipment daily, deal with all the tweaks and issues that come along
with it. The stares, the questions, pre-ops, genetic apts. It
couldn't feel good to wear heavy sound processors over her tiny ears
every waking hour. Or the long hours of rehab and all the extra work
it takes just to "listen". But she's doing it and doing it with grace.

It will almost be 9 months since our daughter has been hearing. She
follows commands for example:

Go get your shoes on
Time to brush your teeth
Its time to take a nap
Jump up at the table
Lets go wash our hands
Give Sissy a kiss
Buckle up
Daddys home
Time for bed
Wheres your baby?
Do you want to go to the park?
Time to go outside
Go get your jacket etc.....

In the last month she's spoken the words

More
Ma Ma Ma
Da Da
Esssse for please
Esssse for cheese when talking a picture :)
Dog for dog
Mmmmmm when eating something good
NO!
OT for hot
Shhhh when putting baby to sleep
Hi
Hey
Uh Oh
Ni Ni for night- night

It's not exactly where I thought we would be at 9 months post
activation but I need to compare her to a 9 month old hearing baby.
They don't say much but babble at this age so when looking at the big
picture....we're on the right track.

<3 Reiswigs

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