Thank you, First World and More Encouraging Signs

A HUGE thank you to everyone for all the heartfelt messages about Hannah's TV debut and sharing in her activation day. Our phones and Email and Facebook accounts have been ablaze with so many kind words. Hannah is one lucky little girl to have so much loving support.

We had a small viewing party at our apartment for Hannah's TV debut. We shared the special moment with Grandma and Grandpa and later Hannah's friend Parker came over and we got to watch the show again. I thought the newscast came out great and Dr. Max Gomez did an amazing job telling Hannah's hearing journey. I think he should definitely do a followup in a few years.

Hannah, me and Parker

A week after her initial activation, this past Thursday, Hannah had her second mapping appointment with her audiologist Megan. Megan gave Hannah a new set of programs based on what Hannah was comfortable hearing now. Since Hannah had been using the Neptunes for a week, and slowly getting used to the new sound, she was ready for more volume. As a result of the increased sound this past week, she has become more animated, turns to sounds - both loud and soft and has been even practicing a couple of new sounds.

Hannah is lighting up the room with her charming personality. Since she has gotten her Neptune sound processors almost two weeks ago, she has been so darn happy. She waves to everyone, flashing her pearly whites in the biggest smile. Everyone she meets or passes in the street are just dazzled by her. She was always pretty friendly, but we have definitely  noticed she's even more animated. My parents took Hannah to lunch and the entire staff at the restaurant raved about what a cute, happy baby Hannah is.

This past Saturday, we took her to music class at Three Little Birds. She just loves the music class. Hannah seemed a little more comfortable, a bit more confident. For the first time Hannah crawled to the middle of the room to look at the map (each week, the music theme is based on a different state and the class starts with the teacher showing the children a map of the US). She also was more responsive when the teacher. The pianist told Michael and I she has seen a big change in Hannah this week.

Hannah checking out the bassoon.

Also, another encouraging sign happened today during speech therapy. Hannah is now responding to soft sounds. Liz plays a toy CD player that plays soft music that until today Hannah hasn't responded to yet. Today, on several occasions Hannah turned to the soft sound. This was amazing. You have to remember that Hannah's hearing is like a baby who is only 10 days old who generally don't respond to sounds. Also encouraging, Hannah played the "learning to listen" game with Liz where Hannah picks a special small toys from a drum. The small toy is associated with a sound. A boat is toooot, the cow moooo, a baby doll lalala and wahhhh, a bunny is hop hop hop. After Hannah went through all the small toys, Liz held up two toys, one in each hand, and promoted Hannah with one of the sounds. Hannah's job was to choose the toy associated with the sound. So Liz held the boat (Hannah's favorite) and a doll and Liz said wahhhh. Hannah looked at each one and picked the baby doll. We did this for the remaining four toys, two more times and my girl got it right each time. GO HANNAH!
Even more, Hannah produced her first word: UP! While playing with the spinning Pooh toy, Hannah said UP to indicate she wanted the Poo to pop back up. 

Later on that day and more encouraged, Hannah and I were playing in her room and I made some sounds with some of Hannah's noise makers and Hannah turned to the sound. She's also talking more both with me and when she's by herself.

Enjoying a spring afternoon in the tulips along Park Avenue.

I can't wait for the sounds to keep coming!