it has been a while...

...since I've last posted! I'm sorry! (to the few ppl who actually read this).

It has been BUSY here. The day to day life with 3 kids and getting ready for Christmas is enough to keep anyone busy. But, we've also been busy with other things that most people don't deal with.

Our FABULOUS homeschool teacher comes once a week. She's been teaching me about deaf culture. She works with the kids...she even brings toys for James :)

On Thursdays we have Audio-Verbal Therapy. We've just started. We have  a LONG way to go. We need to get Audrey "listening" again. She can hear some things with her hearing aids but her brain isn't responding to the sounds normally. Basically, she's checked out. She has become so used to NOT listening that it is an unnatural thing for her brain to do.  I've noticed this. That is why when someone says "HI AUDREY! How are you?" Audrey will just stand there and stare at me or look around and not respond. She's not being rude. Her brain isn't responding to the sounds. Anyway, apparently there is a way to teach her brain or train her brain to become better at "listening".

I've accepted that she'll never be "normal" or "average" but I HATE when other ppl expect her to be so. For example: We were at a store. Cashing out. The cashier says to Audrey "Hi. How are you today?" Audrey just stands there. the cashier proceeds to say "What? Cat's got your tongue??!?"

I said "no. Actually, she's hearing impaired" (I should've said deaf cause I now know that "hearing impaired" is highly offensive to deaf ppl...who knew?!)

Anyway, I just can't stand how people look at my daughter when she doesn't act "normally".

OK, back to updating.

On Monday we met with Audrey's Hearing Resource Teacher. We reviewed Audrey's audiogram from Sick Kids. Her hearing loss has progressed to profound in some frequencies.  Soooo shocking and not at the same time. I've noticed that her hearing is worse. She can no longer hear me speak without her aids.

In leiu of a Christmas Concert, her school had an advent mass. That in itself was a disappointment. I've been looking forward to her JK Xmas concert since her original birth day ;) Anyway, Audrey looked pretty but her disability was on display. I'm sure we and maybe a few others were the only ones who noticed since every other parent was only looking at their OWN kid. Nonetheless, it was a first for me. Seeing my kid on "stage" side by side by side by side hearing kids.

This post actually seems like a downer post. But I'm not feeling really down. I guess the facts are depressing but my girl is still freakin' awesome. And SO smart. I swear, the reason that she is deaf is because she'd be too smart if she had all of her senses ;)