Speech/hearing Updates

 I thought it was about time for some updates on Maggie.

Hearing Aid update:   Her BAHA hearing aid is working great. It has not broken at all which is amazing because Maggie is a three year old little girl that loves to play hard.  We just switched out her headband with a new black one.  The company that makes it (COCHLEAR) just starting selling the headband in new colors so we were happy to get a color that matches Maggie's hair a little better and does not stand out so much.  It also doesn't velcro like the old ones which is nice too. 

Maggie's hearing is in the normal range with her hearing aid on and in the severe hearing loss range without it.  She loves it and asks for it immediately after her bath and in the morning.  If I have to change the battery, Maggie will get very agitated and upset that she can't put her hearing on right away. It really is a miracle !

In about a year and a half Maggie will have surgery to place the BAHA on a titanium post on her skull.  It will allow her to hear even better and she won't have to wear that headband any more.

Speech Update: Maggie's speech is still very delayed but improving steadily.  She has just started putting two words together and some three word sentences.  Some of her favorites are : Snow White, Blue ball, Balloon popped, I want, All done, My room, Hot dog, Ride bike, I'm stuck ( my personal favorite) and Read book. We are just amazed and so happy at her progress !


The long e vowel sound is very hard for Maggie along with the s, and sh.  She goes to private speech/ auditory verbal therapy once a week and sees the speech therapist from the public school once a week.  Maggie works very hard and thrives in a "school" atmosphere.  The girl loves to learn and has a love for flash cards like I've never seen ! 


I can understand just about everything she says, but other people may not.  Signing is still a big part of her communication, but she usually signs only if you don't understand her. Maggie still loves to sign and enjoys watching her Signing Times Video.

She's still very clingy a.k.a Velcro Baby.  But, she was not clingy at all at the beach. It was like she was all grown up and did not need me at all ! 

I Heart Camping.

 

 

 

 

 

Our Best Camping Vacation.

 

This was our Beach House for five days. We stayed at the Topsail camp grounds in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida. 

It was beautiful and very kid friendly and we had so  much fun !

 

The fact that Maggie actually walked to the beach all by herself and was not clingy was a huge bonus. She really didn't walk, she ran to the beach with a huge smile on her face. 

Made this beach loving mama so proud.

 

We visited Rosemary Beach one day. It is such a unique Beach town that is more like a European country outing with beautiful architecture and plenty of bike riding paths. In fact, everyone here rides bikes to the beach and little quaint restaurants. 

Lots of cute shops.

 

And lots of great photo opportunities.

  (If only my children didn't complain so much about having their picture taken. )

 

The weather was perfect, and my children played together all week on the beach.   These big shovels from Target were a hit !

Around Here.

 

Chuck took Maggie on a ride on the four wheeler and she loved it.  

She also loves to ride in her red Coupe.

 

It's finally spring here and we've been busy watering the flowers, trees and steps.

 

We just got back from our spring break trip and I'm exhausted ! 
It was so much fun and Maggie certainly must have some Hawaiian in her. She loves the beach ! 

I've Missed You.

 

Well Hello there. It seems I've been a little busy, much too busy to blog lately.  But I miss it

I still follow blogs and I've watched many families go to China and meet their little baby girls, go to doctor appointments and schedule surgeries.  I love reading about their journey and I have missed writing about mine.
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Even my boys miss it.

 

So, I have a lot to get caught up on.

 

It a nutshell this is what we've been doing : studying for tests, going to football practice, Chuck and I went to the Lady Antebellum Concert, getting ready for our spring break camping trip to the beach, reading The Hobbit to the boys at night, buying spring and summer clothes for kids and lots of pretty dresses for Maggie, work, family dinners and bible time, bike rides with Maggie, speech therapy, watching Maggie continue to make leaps and bounds in her speech and everything else, and re-decorating with white/ neutrals.