We did it!

We finally did it! Rhianna's second implant was switched on ,on May19th.I was anticipating chaos and hardship but it didn't happen.Boy,was I glad.

She participated well during the map but was a bit upset after the switch on saying that the new ear is noisy.I guess that's how it is if your ear has not been hearing for the past four years.Anyway,the new ear is turned on very low BUT she was able to detect and identify all Lings sounds by day 3.Yes,we started therapy at home from day 1.Not that we're so ambitious,we were just trying to get her to understand that the new ear will need training too.At first she was quite amused working with the new ear,then she got a bit bored.So we mostly work for about 15-20 minutes each night on sound detection, Lings and some early sounds.
So far this new ear is working way faster than we could ever imagine (talk about cross over effect!).

Kylie the koala is Rhianna's new best friend.She enjoys reading the book on how Kylie got her CI



The new bilateral bionic girl in her pink tutu skirt

 So far,our second hearing journey has been much easier than the first from surgery to switch on to getting her to wear the device.She's been wearing the new ear as much hours as the old one if not more and WITHOUT complaining.Hopefully,this will last forever and ever.
So keep us in your thoughts and prayers people.

She's four! (How did that happen??)

So, she turned four on May 13th and we decided to party,party,party! She browsed the net with me and selected the cake that she wanted to bring to preschool.


Well, it's pink with a picture of the princesses (What more can a girl ask for?)



With her preschool friends (yes,they only have that many children in the school and maybe 5 more not in the photo)

 They played games,sang songs,ate the cake and had a lot of fun.When I picked her up,she was very chatty and telling me all about her party not knowing that we had another one waiting for her at the daycare.



Another party after naptime with her daycare friends



With a cupcake of her own choosing


And later in the evening another party with friends and family (I said party,party,party - so we actually had 3 parties)




Cake ordered and sponsored by a friend of mine- totally amazing!



The trio - The only children in our close circle of friends


And finally the unveiling of the mysterious gift that was kept hidden for the past one month.We saw her drooled over this thing in the store and decided to get it for her birthday and also to celebrate the 'birth' of her new 'ear'.She knew this thing is (damn) expensive and didn't even (dare) ask for it.



Behold the Rosebud dollhouse or the Pink House as Rhianna calls it.



Inside view of the Pink house.It has three floors including the attic

 We only got her the bedroom,living room and kitchen furniture so the house is still quite empty.We plan to do some reward system to get her to work more on her new ear and 'earn' more furnitures for her pink house.Hope it will work out and motivate her to do more therapy.See,we never spend money unecessarily.All her toys were carefully selected and geared towards therapy.

So,that's her birthday story.Yes, she was thoroughly spoiled for the day after all you only turned four once!

My best gift

To all wonderful mothers out there, Happy Mother's Day!

We might get cakes or cookies,roses or other gifts..but the best one(s) came from God.



This is mine - Born on Mother's Day 2007

P/s : She was initially smiling but after holding the smile for a few seconds, it kinda turned into a grimace