Sweet Changes

Life is definitely changing!

Here's a little recap of some of the sweet moments we've had with Tessa since activation:

~ She smiles more than she did before...I know, right...didn't think that was possible ;)

~ She makes the sweetest noises riding in her car seat (before, she was our 'quiet passenger')

~ She ooo's and coo's on our stroller walks in the evenings

~ She looked up to find me when I said to her "Tessa, Mommy is pushing your stroller"

~ She makes her 'serious face' when she's listening (before, her serious face was reserved for concentration on physical movement)

~ She joined in a 'yelling match' over dinner one night with all her little cousins (she will not be out-shined ;)

~ She is constantly looking around...as if she is trying to put what she's hearing, together with what she sees

~ She engages with Mommy, Daddy and Parker without the constant use of our 'spirit fingers' to keep her attention

~She seems to pay attention to the dogs' barking in the evenings while we're outside playing


We left Tessa's second activation appointment on Thursday with 4 programs for her CI processor. Each program gives her a little more access to sound and has volume control of 1 to 10. We made it through the first program at volume 10 beautifully and transitioned to program 2 for the last couple of days. There have been moments of stress and frustration mixed in with all the sweet and wonderful changes. Tessa has had a little more trouble adjusting to the second program, but we have still been able to keep it between volume 8 and 10. We are hoping that tomorrow she will have adjusted a little better and we can attempt to introduce her to program 3.


It's just another period of time of what we call the "guessing game". Sometimes it is very difficult to know exactly what is causing her distress...but we are doing our best. On top of all of this, she's got a couple of molars coming in too. It's a balancing act for sure...and we are learning just as she is...we want to always know how to help her and keep her motivated. This cochlear implant thing is a whole new world for us. It is incredible that it has opened up a whole new world for her, but it will not be a journey without it's ups and downs.


We are of course overwhelmed, but are delighting in the many moments of celebration along the way! Darin and I just got done talking tonight about how good it is to know that God is in control...because this is beyond anything we are capable of doing or handling on our own.


Tessa is the hardest little worker I know...if she's putting in the time....Mommy, Daddy and Parker are putting it in too, right there with her!


~Whitney