Life is Bliss - Lily's Cochlear Implant Journey: Holidays

We've made it through all the holidays. For some reason it felt like the best holiday season yet.

Bodie turned one right before Christmas and we can already see the challenges these December babies face. We're going to have to get much better at Birthday parties, Christmas gifts, stocking stuffers, etc.

Lily kept questioning us on why she was the only one that got any toys in her stocking. She's already getting far to clever to trick. She also kept asking about the logistics of Santa delivering toys around the world. However, she already understands the concept that you have to "believe" for Santa to come.

This year was such a great one for Lily's hearing. She received her new waterproof Neptunes this spring, as well as the ClearVoice software that helps her hear in noise. The ability to go in water and still hear has been remarkable and has changed our lives in so many ways. The waterproof thrill is not lost on Lily. She still tells everyone her Neptunes are "WATERPROOF....CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?"

Lily also started Kindergarten with a personal FM and a soundfield in her Kindergaten room (with a teacher and student microphone). It has been a remarkable combination. While she still misses some of the quiet chit chat, she is picking up on a tremendous amount. Probably more than some of the hearing kids. Her teachers have been a dream and so easy to work with. This has made a huge difference.

Lily's soundfield use has also helped launch my drive and work to develop the Hear to Learn project, where we are putting 100 soundfields in 100 classrooms in four elementary schools. Thank you everyone for supporting this project with your donations and encouragement. We have truly been blessed with kind family and friends who support our dreams. The project and fundraising is really starting to come together. Can't wait for you all to see it in action.

Here's a few more pictures to fill in the last month. Where has the time gone?