Hard Little Worker

Yesterday evening was a dual therapy session for Tessa.  Ms Melody (physical therapy) and Ms Deb (vision therapy) teamed up and made Tessa work! :)

It's always fun when she is quite the little participator!  She was sitting up so beautifully for Ms Melody and focusing hard for Ms Deb!

Tessa was reading a book with Ms Deb about a red ball that rolled into a box.
Hence the playtime with the red ball and the box...trying to help Tessa associate what she was reading with what she was interacting with!
She got the hang of it!

Then we change positions to propping on her right side and read some more!

Tessa did so good helping turn pages and sitting up all at the same time.

And then we switched positions again, now propping on her left.

Melody and I were both so impressed with Tessa's head control.  I tend to think it has a lot to do with her having 2 CIs now.  She is just so much more involved and aware of everything going on around her.

Pretty darn cool.

And of course we had to ride in the box!  Therapy can't be all work and no play ;)

It is pretty incredible to have such wonderful people working with Tessa!

   

And she knows!  

She knows they love and care for her and don't just show up to make her mad ;)

~Whitney

P&T

I kinda like these two ;)

~Whitney

Activation Day!

Activation Day 1 went great!  It is always so amazing to me to watch Tessa work so hard and be so patient! It never hurts when the world is revolving around her for the moment either ;)

One thing that is super different that I hadn't even thought about:  before, when Tessa's right CI would fall off or she would take it off...she would have no access to sound.  The most challenging moments of this were when she would pull her CI off and start chewing on it...our initial reaction is still to say "Tessa Rayne, no ma'am!" ...and of course she hears nothing..and our verbal discipline turns quickly into an "Ugh!" and then most of the time...laughter.  I can see her utilizing this Ears-Off-Can't-Hear-You tactic well into her future ;).  But anyway, for reasons other than her just hearing our verbal reprimands...it is very cool now, that even if one of her CIs is off, there is likely at least one in tact and so she barely misses a beat!  And you can already tell how much more she is taking in!

The coolest moment of my evening:  Tessa took a good nap on the way home after Activation and we took her ears off and let her sleep a bit more once we got home ~ she was pooped!  When she woke up I put her ears back on and carried her in her room to change her diaper.  She was so calm and grinning from ear to ear.  I was just talking to her and laid her down on her changing table and she started the sweetest bunch of soft little giggles to every word I said.  I would say a few words and she would giggle...almost right at her turn in the conversation.  I just stood there for a good 5 minutes, just talking to her and watching her smiling and listening to her precious sweet little giggles to every word I said.  I'll never forget it.  It was so clear that her world was already sounding very different to her...and last night, she was loving it!

Most of the videos we got were from when Tessa's new CI on the left was hooked up to detect tones being played to her.  As she responds to the tones, they are able to map her new processor.  It was incredible to see her responses to this new sound for the very first time!

  

A huge thanks to the greatest of people at Hearts for Hearing!  We have been through a lot over the last 2 years...and we are so blessed to have had them so involved in our journey!

~Whitney

Demolition - Power Chair Style!

I am married to the most creative man...and most fabulous Daddy to Parker and Tessa.  This video is just a tiny glimpse into the kind of fun they have over the summer.  What better use of moving boxes once you're moved in!

I absolutely love this!

~Whitney

Recovery/Bandage Off

I just realized I never posted anything about Tessa's recovery or when we took her bandage off.  More important to me and my timeline of memories of course, but never-the-less...

Such a little trooper

patiently waiting for the removal the huge weight wrapped around her head ;)

immediately spunky and playful once it came off!

 sorry it's a little gruesome, last year I remembered to get one after it had healed a bit...

this year I only took one just right after the bandage came off

(I was so sad to see where they shaved her head...luckily it's hair and it will grow back!)

 this made my day...she was SO happy to finally get a good bath!!

and then, here we have, little miss pretty...fresh after her bath & bandage free!

It cracked me up when I went back and looked at last year's "Bandage is off" post (http://bynumfourblog.blogspot.com/2011/06/bandage-is-off.html)....we got almost the exact same shots this year, too funny.  Some things haven't changed very much...but other things have...and Little Miss Tessa definitely has! We have a big girl on our hands now...man what a difference a year makes!

~Whitney

Activation Day!

It's activation day today and we are really excited!  Tessa has healed up very nicely from surgery and we are ready to get her left CI turned on today and start helping Tessa get adjusted to life with 2 CIs.

It's silly, but I must admit, I have moments where I would love to be done with headbands...but since it is the most realistic solution for Tessa to be able to function with her CIs on...I learn to deal ;)  The sweet girl we found on Etsy last year, came through for us again this year!  We got Tessa's package of 18 headbands, with left and right CI holders sewn on!  Since they are an essential accessory...we are thankful for the fun fashion element too!

We're hoping to get lots of pictures and videos to help capture today.  There is no way to know exactly how the left activation will affect Miss Tessa, but more than anything, we pray that she feels secure and comfortable with the way life will begin to change for her.

It's been really fun over the last few weeks as people have been asking how Tessa's surgery went and how she's been doing.  Several times in those conversations I've had moments where I just stop and think, 'it's kind of a miracle, that she is deaf...but she hears now'!  So much of our lives is about adjusting, constantly finding a new normal, and rolling with the punches...I wouldn't trade those moments where I can stop and realize God's constant provision for Tessa and our family.  I pray that I am always reminded of these miracles along the way...and that I always take the time to stop and praise the Lord for all the ways He shows Himself sovereign in our lives!

So, here's to witnessing another miracle today!  It's a good day :)

~Whitney

Love her!

this sweet face got me through my day today :)

~Whitney

Cuties

I'm on a roll today...so I figure I'll leave you with two of my favorites!! 

Spirit League Awards Party

 Last night we went to the Clydesdale Barn in Yukon for The Spirit League Awards party! 

 I decided to get Tessa all  gussied up for the occasion ;)

Super neat place!

 crazy cool to see these enormous animals up close!

Tessa got a trophy!

 The Jaguars were such a cute little team.  Fun to be a part of!

 They had little ponies too...more Tessa-sized ;)

Little Miss got all fancy in her power chair once the crowd cleared out a bit.  

She's too fun!

 ~Whitney

Dream Night at the Zoo

Dream Night at the Zoo was on Friday June 1st and we were so excited to get to make it this year.  It's a night where the Oklahoma City Zoo dedicates an evening to special needs children and their families.  The event was catered by Chic-Fil-A and there was lots to do, including a special sea lion show and an elephant show.  Our sweet friends Victoria and Adrian got to come and it was such a fun experience having the zoo to ourselves and seeing all the joy and excitement on the faces of each and everyone there!  

the  boys at the sea lion show

and the girls 

 fun family pic at the elephant show!

daddy and Tessa

Parker, Victoria and silly Adrian

two super happy kiddos!

~Whitney