First day of "school"

My boys...all THREE, attended the PIP classroom. (Parent Infant Program is an all signing Early Start preschool) Caden joined, because we weren't staying the whole time. And he did great! The teacher asked multiple times if we were registering him to also be apart of the program. (if you don't already know, caden has been tested as having a hearing loss as well. But further testing is happening on Monday. More on that later).

Here are a couple pictures from our first day. I won't lie....it was overwhelming. The kids are 18 months -2.9 years old. But they seems years older, because of the size difference and their abilities. The second time we went (yesterday), the twins did SO much better. They actually sat during circle time and seem a lot more comfortable. I think the key is a nap and food right before class. We will continue to go Tuesdays and Thursdays. I really think the interaction and exposure to typical developing kids will help them tremendously.

*notice how much smaller the boys look in these pics. The other kids did really well with them though. Xander, especially, was very interested in watching the other kids. I'm excited to see some growth in different areas.

Parent Infant Program

Braxton and Xander will be attending the early start program at my old job, California School for the Deaf, Riverside (CSDR)! We had our IFSP (a meeting to discuss goals and best placement for the boys) this week. The team decided because of their hearing loss and lack of language at this time, the boys would best fit the Parent Infant Program (PIP). It's a signing environment, but they do have speech goals and will see a speech therapist. I could not be more thrilled! We loved the teacher and the class has 7 other children ranging from 18 months to 2.5 years old.

I only have one concern...GERMS. It is the middle of flu season. They will be around multiple kids and a lot of germy toys. NOt to be paranoid, but I really don't want to go back in the hospital with one of them. I'm weighing the cost....language, socialization vs. the chance of getting real sick. I feel God tugging me and telling me, TRUST ME...PRAY for your little ones and let them grow and develop and experience what this classroom has to offer.

With that said, we will go in on Tuesday for about an hour to see the boys roam and check out the set up of the classroom. Then we will probably start going T/TH for a few weeks, working up to M-Th (8:00-11:00). I will (or my mom will) have to be there until they are 18 months old...then the goal is to drop them off. This will be soo good for them, because they are very (especially xander) attached to mommy.

So..here's the start of another chapter in our book of "life raising preemies"!

OVER LOAD

As I have mentioned in the recent past, the twins have had some hearing tests done that have come back abnormal. There is a definite hearing loss, but at this time we don't know the exact amount.
I sort of predicted that the boys would have some issues with hearing....not really giving it much thought. But now that they are 17 months (13 months adjusted) and only babbling mama, I am getting more concerned and starting to find myself on the phone with more specialist, on the Internet looking up more terms, and my mind is going non stop. I think there's a fine line between being a concerned and involved parent, to an overly obsessed control freak. Well...I am currently leaning towards the freakishly obsessed parent. This only got worse when we took caden to a hearing exam this week and he shocked us. He was showing a moderate hearing loss! Caden of all people. There is a huge chance it's just fluid blocking the sounds, not allowing his ear drum to move properly. We are being referred to ENT and we'll see what they find or suggest.

Next week we start the process of getting xander's cyst removed. So we go to a consult with the surgeon, and then the lung doctor and then the ENT for clearance for surgery.

So-- here is sit...just spent my awake alone time googling tons of stuff on preemie hearing loss and resources, and blah blah blah. Is it doing me any good. NO. I have done all I can to this point, so I need to just shut the computer and start my day. My day of NOT worrying, NOT obsessing and just trusting the GOd has it all under control. I often think I am in the driver's seat, and this morning I am reminded and am VERY grateful that I am not!

The boys will go to John Tracy Clinic on February 1st for second opinions on their hearing loss. Is it progressive (like mine)? Is it something that will in fact interfere with speech? I still have so many questions and very little answers. Part of being a mom to micro preemies is learning to "wait and see". waiting for me.....you see.....is NOT easy.

BUT okay God...I get it. Surrender to you....trust that your will be done....and that I just have faith that my boys are in good hands. I pray for wisdom to be the best advocate the boys can have and that God would just direct our steps as we start this next journey (school!). Boys have an IEP today....they may be qualified for an Early Start Preschool.

My ramble...inspired by strong coffee this morning and lack of sleep (as we are weening boys off of their 12 am feeding), is officially over.

TBC

Happy New Year!!

Our New Year's Day was spent at one of my most favorite places..THE BEACH! Living in Riverside now, I don't get to see the beach as much as I want, and definitely not as much as I did.

My cousin Kirsten and friend Heidi both joined us for breakfast and a stroll down main beach in Huntington. The boys loved the sand (first time touching it) and the weather couldn't have been more perfect.


2011 is going to be an exciting year....no doubt another year full of challenges and changes. ( As you know, if you have kids, you master one area in parenting and a whole new season begins.)
But one things for sure....

I*LOVE*MY*FAMILY

Thank you Lord for giving me a chance to learn, change, forgive, and love...I pray I can do this job even better in year 2011!

hearing aids in the near future

Introducing the "speech banana"
I'm not trained in audiology, and I don't know all the technical terms related to audiological testing--however, I have some background in dealing with hearing loss (as a teacher for the Deaf and having my own hearing "issues"). Even if you do not have any background in these things, you can look at this "banana" and interpret it pretty easily.


The numbers running across the top are the frequency sounds (type of sound). The numbers going down is the range of decibel (loudness of sound).
Inside the white banana looking thing, is where we hear all the speech sounds; the sounds vary in decibel as you see.

Braxton and Xander have started some audiological testing with the results somewhat inconclusive due to their age. However, this last appt (last week), the doctor was giving us more of a realistic look at what he may or may not hear right now.
Looking at the speech banana, Xander could hear at a threshold of 40 (at about 400 fq) and 45 (at about 3000 fq). so if you plot those lines you will see the letters positioned above the line are the speech sounds he could miss out on. Every thing below the line he can hear. (note: "normal" hearing is above the 20). There was nothing plotted around the 1000 to 2000 fq range, so I'm not sure what is being heard . From what I remember the doctor saying , hearing is fairly "normal" in this area, so when plotting, the line wouldn't go straight across horizontally.

The reason for all the quotes and uncertainty is because with the boy's ages you can't test the exact DB loss. So the doctor was giving us a worst case and best case scenario. I sorta explained what it would look like in between. When the boys are about 2, they can be tests by turning their heads when they hear a sound, looking at a toy or a light when a certain Db/Fq sound is played. This would give us a better graph on that banana. (I have to go back to school and become a trained audiologist to really explain what i just attempted to explain) :)


SOOOO what does this mean?? It means that the doctor recommends hearing aids for both boys, and speech therapy. Their speech is only that of a 3/4 month old. This could very well be due to their hearing loss, developmental delays, prematurity, being boys, etc etc. Probably all of the above.
Early intervention is key. Although they aren't deaf, and really do hear quite a lot. They are missing some sounds that will effect the ability to articulate speech accurately. These interventions might only be temporary, but necessary for the time being.



Looking back at those meetings in the NICU (with the doctors, nurses, social workers, etc), I remember them saying they could have hearing issues, and how phil and I just smirked at one another. God knows what we can handle, and if this is the extent of their "preemie" issues, bring it! and i won't lie...I'm getting pretty excited thinking about what color hearing aids I should get the boys. Yes....colored aids are totally "in" if you are a kid :)


The boys have come A LONG way, there's no question there. I am very very proud of them! The recent hearing issues are one of the, still, multiple issues we could be facing as they are still developing. Your prayers and support are still very much appreciated!