Big Boy Ears

It's hard to believe it's already June. My older son finishes middle school in another week and a half and goes on his 8th grade trip. There's a fair amount to be done by him between now and then so keeping his nose to the grindstone all the while enduring "senioritis" is quite challenging. The principal at the boys' school is retiring this year - we really wish she'd stay another two years to get Sam through graduation. It's a time of many changes, hellos and goodbyes. One of my older son's best friends is leaving our town. He's Russian and his mother is a visiting faculty member here so they're moving on to Los Angeles. Mike was accepted at the School of the Arts. He's a very talented actor. So while we're sad to see them go it's going to be a wonderful opportunity - and someone to visit when we're in L.A.!

The biggest news this week was our visit by friends who now feel like old friends. Jim, Joelle, and Jonah who are from Pennsylvania. We met through an internet listserve for parents who have kids with cochlear implants. Like my boys, Jonah has two CIs - his "new ear" is actually brand new to him. He's been activated for about a week. Jonah is three and has the most amazing speech and language. When he met Tom for the first time, he checked out Tom's implants and said "You have big boy ears!". That still makes me smile. Tom and I met them for breakfast and then went to Sam's ballgame so they could meet Sam and Hugh. What a wonderful time! Luckily, we'll see them all at a conference next month.

"big boy ears" *grin*

Here's Tom and Jonah - I'm not sure who's happier that they're together. And check out Tom's knees. He earned them! Jonah is a toy car lover - his favorite is Lightning McQueen. Lightning - as we fondly call him - got thrown into every mud puddle at the ballfield that day. And Tom would retrieve him for Jonah.

Here are Jim, Tom, Jonah, and Joelle. It's so very neat to meet people for the first time and feel you've known them all your life. I'm sure we have programming jobs that would be interesting to you, Jim up here.

It's been a "hearing related"kind of week or two. Tom was asked to be part of the grand opening of the new pediatric perioperative services area at our local hospital. Tom was the ideal person to be at the opening since his first cochlear implant surgery was in the adult unit before the pediatric unit existed; his second surgery was in the pediatric area. He was so articulate talking about his experiences in each place and why for a kid/young adult the pediatric area was so much better. He really liked that he got to play with a PSP to pass the time before the second operation! Thanks to David Mc. for these pictures.

Here's Tom talking with Dr. Joe, the director of the unit. He took care of both boys' anesthesia when they had their surgeries. And Dr. Modlin, who's the chair of pediatrics. Dr. Joe is also Coach Joe - he co-coaches Sam's Little League team.

Coach Joe is introducing Tom who did an excellent job speaking. In the background is David, one of the wonderful nurses who took care of the boys during their surgeries.


And here's Tom cutting the ribbon for the new unit! He got to keep the ribbon.


On Sunday, our support group for parents who have kids with hearing loss had a get-together at the local science museum. The boys had a wonderful time and it was fun to see some old friends and to see how big their kids have gotten!

This is Toni, who's the most organized person I've ever met. She coordinates the group, as well as a frillion other things. She also does a mean face plant while sledding.


Oh - we had great food too!

And this is the wonderful Pamela, who is deaf and has been an amazing mentor to my boys. She feels like my daughter (along with Liz). Pamela and Liz both are graduating on Sunday. I know whatever they end up doing, they will do a fabulous job. We'll miss them both so much.


Oh - check out Tom's short hair! Nothing like a hot Saturday to make short hair an attractive thing to have.

Sunday evening, we had dinner at Uncle Steve's house to celebrate his promotion! Tom made him a sailboat in Woodworking. Steve is a griller extraordinaire and actually grilled buffalo! It did NOT taste like chicken, however. Congratulations, Uncle Steve - it's so well deserved.


Since not everyone gets excited about knitting projects (which I don't understand at all!), I'm creating a separate post for them.