Life is Bliss - Lily's Cochlear Implant Journey

Talking in Church

This weekend we trekked across Nebraska to a western wedding and then back to the other side for a 100th Birthday party.  Lily did very well on the eight hour journey in the car, only demanding to stop a few times. 

On the trip, we had a couple of strangers say to us, "Boy, she is a talker" and "She is so verbal for two."  Those unsolicited comments are quite fun. 

It also took all our tricks to keep her quiet during the wedding which was held in a small church.

One of the secrets was lots of M&Ms, which we now call L&Ls so Lily doesn't know what we are talking about.  However, then Lily was requesting the M&Ms by color.  "Blue one, Yellow one, Green one. More M&Ms please."   She also kept making comments during the ceremony like "Hi Dale," "I see him," and "More Music."  She was the only one to clap when the songs would end  (I always thoughts the Methodists were clappers).

Every step comes with new challenges, but these are quite fun.

Singing in the Car - A Great Time for Language

We do a lot of singing in the car.  Sometimes we sing the dozens and dozens of kid songs we've learned since Lily was born. 

Lily asks for music a lot.  It sounds like Mur-or, then I correct her with "Mu-sic" and she says "Muuuuuu-si."  Hard word to say. 

Lily knows which songs she likes.  She'll say "No-no-no," indicating that she wants to change the song.  Today she started saying "Next song."  She has a couple of favorite kid songs including one that sounds like Bob Dylan and another that talks about ice cream.  (Of course).  She'll wave her arms and legs around and try and dance to the music. 

We've also started singing the A-B-C song and Lily is really picking it up fast.  She will fill in certain letters and words when we pause.  Grandma has an alphabet caterpillar that has also really helped her learn this song. 

The car is great time for singing, dancing and music. 

Jazz In June

Lily dances to the music at Jazz In June next to the Sheldon Art Gallery.

Songs - Singing and Dancing

Lily loves music.  She loves kids songs (especially Raffe, Elizabeth Mitchell, and the Tune Ups CD by Chris Barton), Kindermusik songs, nursery rhymes, Library Story Time songs, and the Dixie Chicks.  

However, she was not happy today when she turned  on the NPR Classical Station at full blast.   It was the first time I've seen her running screaming out of her playroom.  Fortunately her CIs cap the sound at approx 90 dbs, so no damage was done.  She can listen to all the loud music she wants.  Maybe it was the Classical Music she didn't care for? 

Anyway, we sing a lot around Lily.  Songs she likes, does lots of the actions to, and is starting to sing some of the sounds/words are: 

Twinkle Twinkle
Itsy Bitsy Spider
I'm a little Teapot
Thank You Song
If you are Happy and You Know It
Walk Around Rover
When I Stand Up I Feel so Tall
There's a Baby at the Door
Row Row Your Boat
Ring Around the Rosie
Twinkle Twinkle Traffic Light
Wheels on the Bus
Open Shut Them
Bounce Bounce Bounce

She also responds really well to the Clean Up song which goes xxx away, xxx away, time to put the xxx away.  So simple, yet magically effective.

I don't know how she will feel about music when she is older, but we've seen and read about lots of teenagers with CIs who connect their Ipods directly.  There is a great simulation of what he the Hi Res 120 sounds like on the Advanced Bionics website.  Prior to Lily receiving her CIs, we read so much about how people with CIs have no music enjoyment.  While it might be the case for some adults, it just doesn't seem to be the case for Lily. 

Phrases and Music Listening

We are anxiously waiting and encouraging Lily to start using two and three word sentences.  Her vocabulary is building towards 100 words and this is the next language step. 

Lily has started to say some phrases that are like one long word to her, but really are multiple word phrases such as:  Up up we go; Up, Up, Up whee; All Done; catch it;  Dada car; ahhhhh boom (airplane files, airplane lands), and up above the worl..... (she says this whenever she sees a star). 

The other thing I've noticed more recently is that she is able to hear words in a song on the CD player and respond, especially to her kids' music.  When words like swish, tap, wave, clap, jump or mama are said, she responds with an action or repeats the word.  

It feels like each step is another gift. 

OPA, OPA - Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Lily had a great Irish feast tonight at out favorite Greek restaurant (Long story short, every year the best Irish food is served up at our friend George's greek restaurant for one night only). In addition to the usual boiled potatoes, cabbage and corned beef, a troop of Irish dancers entertains. Lily loved it. What a great day to celebrate. Here are a couple of pics below (and don't forget to see more photos at Lily's Latest Pics on the right side of the blog).

Fast and Furious

The words are coming fast and furious.  I can't even keep up with the expressive language (ok this is a little exaggeration, but we are hearing 4-5 new words everyday) and I've all but given up on tracking receptive language.  Lily is constantly surprising us with another new word she knows.  She is not talking in sentences or even two words together, but if you say "what is this" she'll say purse or Big Bird or Dora or Ivy.  Lots of nouns.  She is also repeating everything, especially words at the end of the sentence. 

Today we also attended the SNRP Bowling Day for students who have a hearing impairment.  Lily dazzled them with her Kindermusik Walk Around Rover Song and her Good Bye song from library story time.  She hears these songs well and does all the actions including getting on the ground and "shaking her tail."  She was even saying "run, run, run" as she ran around Mommy fast and furious, for the second verse of Run around, Run around, Run around Rover...

Disney World Magic Moments

A quick trip to Disney World's Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom created all kinds of magic moments for Lily this past week. 

Some of the best moments included Lily dancing to the pre-show music for the Magic Kingdom parade.  She was not only dancing but she was running around, laughing and squealing with joy.  The rhythm and music was clearly moving her soul, until she ran into a drain pipe.  Fortunately, she regrouped quickly once the parade started. 

Another magic moment happened as Lily watched the Lion King show.  She again was dancing in her stroller to the music, kicking her legs and waving her hands.  She was growling like a lion and squeaking like a monkey.  All the "animals" in the show were coming up to her and giving her high fives and big smiles.  Lily was in animal heaven. 

Getting What You Want - ABBA

Lily can communicate very well even with her 15-20 words.  Yesterday she was pushing on Grandpa's back while he was sitting in a kitchen chair and saying Up Up Up.  Finally, Grandpa got up and then Lily ran around in front of him and threw her arms in the air and said Up Up Up.  She then pointed to the stairs that go to the basement.  Grandpa agreed and downstairs they went.  This is special Lily and Grandpa time when they listen to ABBA (Take a Chance on Me, Dancing Queen, Fernando and really anything Grandpa can pull up on YouTube).  Lily will sit and listen to the music as long as Grandpa will sit there with her.  Every time a song ends, you will hear "Mor, Mor" and then ABBA starts singing again.  ABBA is also great because the videos from the 70s are just pictures of them dancing around and singing. Lots of face shots, long boots and bright lipstick.  Namaste

Bumble Bee Song

We've started singing a few songs with actions over and over again.  One of LIly's favorites is Bringing Home a Baby Bumble Bee. She has begun to anticipate the actions and words.  When we pause, she looks at us with anticipation.  Then we pinch her and say, "Ouch, it stung me."  She'll immediately scrunch her shoulders and say Ouuuu and smile.  She is also recognizing the word Ouch in other contexts.  Very cute and exciting. 

WORDS:  I'm bringing home a baby bumble bee.  Won't my mama be so proud of me.  I'm bringing home a baby bumble bee.  Ouch!   It stung me.  :)

Singing Songs

Lily is singing.   OK it sounds like humming or moaning or babbling to a different song, but she is getting the idea.  She sings most to Grammy's little musical piano.  We have a huge list of songs and nursery rhymes we are supposed to be introducing and incorporating into our daily routine.  The first five songs on the list include: Wheels on the Bus; Itsy Bitsy Spider; Row, Row, Row Your Boat; Open Shut Them; and Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes.   As we sing and do the motions, we're trying to get Lily to recognize the song and imitate or initiate the motions.  There are 30 songs on the this list.  Lots of singing to do!!

Beans, Beans, Beans

Lily's day was full of beans. It started with a trip to see the local children's band The String Beans. They're kinda like The Wiggles but with less dancing and more Nebraska references. If you're looking for fun children's music, check out their CDs. They're quite good. The Beans were playing a show as part of Bryan Hospital's Health Fair. There were plenty of carnival-type games and activities for kids and booths from local vendors - from Kinder Music to the Local Blood Bank. Lily had a great time and we met up with her friends Ivy and Anya as well.

Later in the day, the family went out to the El Salvador Cafe. Lily has been mastering the spoon and tonight she seemed to master it with a bowl of refried beans. She devoured the bowl and had a great time doing it - as evidenced by the picture below.

We're off to give her a bath.

Kazoo and Blowing

Lily has been blowing for a couple of weeks now, which according to our Handprints and Footsteps Speech Therapist Staci, is quite good for her age.  She said most kids don't blow until 18 months.  Today, Lily got out our bag of musical instruments and began to blow and make sounds on the Kazoo.   This involves blowing and sound making.  No easy task.  She was even mimicking my sounds, both high and low.  Ahhh a musician in the making. 

Music and CI guy at the Library

This morning Faye, our LPS Hearing resource teacher, brought a darling CD called Circle Group which Lily and I will be exploring this week.  Lily loves to dance, spin, shake and bounce. This morning she was bending her knees and grooving to the music.  This of course was after we moved her away from the piano that Grammy gave her.  Lily loves pushing the song button and banging her hands on the table.  It's an upbeat way to start the morning. 

Then on our trip to the Library, we saw a 70-year oldish gentleman with a CI.  I have this urge to rush up to everyone with a CI and talk with them about their experiences and let them know we are a member of the "club" too. This time I restrained myself and then when I changed my mind he was gone.  Lesson: Don't hesitate.