7-24-08
I just knew God had a plan for Ben. Not only is he a happy, bright, super-cute boy...not only am I so blessed because he tells me "I love you" and gives me hugs....not only did we get approved for the grant that will handle all of his hearing loss costs...but now, after seeing a top surgeon and spending 2 days at Chapel Hill Hospital, the doctor has determined that Ben can get a cochlear implant !
Ben is so excited about this. He kept asking after every test if the answer was yes. I reminded him that this is a "process" and to be patient. When we got the green light after his last test, we went outside the hospital to call Mike who was back at the hotel with the rest of the kids. Mike & the kids stayed with us through the first day of testing, but we decided staying back at the hotel and swimming was a better choice for the 2nd day, so I told him I would call when we were done to come pick us up. Ben & I walked outside where we could get a signal. I got Mike on the phone & immediately gave the phone to Ben and I told him to tell Dad "yay!". Ben grabbed the phone and did his "tarzan" shout with joy in his voice. He stunned everyone around us...and I was just cracking up :o)
So, our next appt is Sept 3rd and I believe surgery might be around October. We were hoping to stay at the Ronald McDonald house, but found out that they only allow 3 people to a room...we had 7 with us, so the Hampton Inn gives special rates to people who have a referral but can't stay at the Ronald McDonald house. We met lots of other Chapel Hill families there who had come to town for follow-ups or testing. We spent time with one family in particular who has 2 children with cochlear implants. Both parents are hearing. The kids are doing so great.
I am posting some pictures here of our trip to Chapel Hill & swimming at the hotel. Brinley's 1 year "gotcha" day was yesterday, so I just sent in her 12 month report with pictures. We had to send a family picture and we hadn't taken a new family picture since Ben came home so here's our newest family picture...it's always a hysterical challenge to get us all together!
(click on picture to enlarge)(right click on picture to print for yourself)
...it's grueling, but we do have some fun at it !!!!!!!!
More Miracles...
Summer Happenings...
7-13-08
Well, we are in the middle of summer and everything's going so well. We've been quite busy around here. The kids have completed 2 weeks of summer camp at Parkwood, with 1 week to go, which will be 7/21-7/25. Brianna goes white water rafting in W.V. this week on a 3 day trip with the deaf youth group. Bri has been an excellent camp counselor/interpreter. Ben completed all his testing for school. He did the tests in Chinese. We took a family "field day" trip to UNC Greensboro to check out the campus there for Brianna & to find out more information about the program they have for the interpreting/teaching degree. That was interesting and fun! It was good for Brent, Lidia & Ben to also see what college is all about. Brianna started her new job at McDonald's, so she works 2 evenings a week at the chinese restaurant and a couple days a week at McD's. Grandma & Papa Mack came for a visit...and I launched my home business, selling books, dvd's & cd's on Amazon. This week will be especially interesting because thurs & friday we will be at Chapel Hill for Ben's evaluation. We hope to be able to stay at the Ronald McDonald House. This leads me to share something that happened today...
After church, we went to McD's for lunch. After that, I took the kids to Sam's. Bayla & Brinley absolutely love going to Sam's due to all the free samples of food they get to eat! It was Ben's first visit there. He's so interested in everything. Anyway, we are in the line to check out and I'm signing to Ben, as he's helping me put the items on the belt. He helps me a lot, by the way, he pushes the cart around w/the girls in it. He lifts heavy things for me. So, the lady in front of us asked me if he is deaf. We got to talking...her little girl Jada who is 7 was with her. Jada is deaf with a cochlear implant that she rec'd at 2 yrs old. She has excellent speech & hearing skills. Well, we ended up hanging out a little after we both checked out and discovered that Jada's surgeon was Dr. Buchman, which is who Ben will see this week at Chapel Hill. We also discovered that Tiffany (Jada's mom) is also an optician like me. Jada's mom was very positive about their experience. They showed Ben how easy it is to put the processor on or take it off, and something *clicked* with Ben. He's seen people at Parkwood with implants, but none of the kids his age have one. I think he kind of understood what it is, but today he was more interested. Maybe since I told him he's seeing the same doctor as Jada, he had a heightened interest. He asked me if Jada was really "talking" to me. I explained to him that Jada is deaf like him, but with the doctor's help and with the implant, she is able to hear & speak. He looked at me and signed "I want that". I also explained to him that some people cannot get the implant, like one of his friends at Parkwood, and that's okay too, because deaf people are beautiful. So, as we're walking out, I asked him what would be the first thing he would want to hear if he is able to get one. Here's what he said... fireworks, a balloon popping, the dog barking, watching a movie with sound, lightening, a baby crying... he seemed so excited. I need to try to make sure he understands that we need to be happy with whatever God's plan is for him. We have been so very blessed again... we have been approved for a NC state grant for Ben's hearing needs. This is SO big. This grant will cover all of his tests this week. He'll see Dr. Buchman after his full audiological workup. He'll also have an EKG, an MRI, and an ABR. If they determine he's a candidate and we go the implant route, it will cover the surgery & equipment, which I've heard is maybe 70-80k. Our health insurance may provide some coverage, I'm not sure yet, but whatever isn't covered, the grant will take care of. I'm so grateful for God's provisions.
In closing, here are a few pics from camp this past week. Look at Ben in that soldier pose...last week at church we had God Bless America Day, and it was so awesome. Ben told me he wants to be a soldier. I learned later that he cannot join the military due to his deafness. I learn something new everyday. Anyway, he sure does look serious about his pose! {click on pic to enlarge it}
My Brianna Faith...
6~27~08
Brianna has been very busy lately. She is working as a camp counselor/interpreter for 3 different weeks of camp at Parkwood church. This week was just great! It has been an eventful week for this kids. Brent, Lidia & Ben all went as campers, along with Bri. Camp is all day, and they've gone bowling, swimming, to the park, a fancy Japanese restaurant, the movies, McDonald's, and more...even a trip to Old Salem. Ben has loved every bit of it. This week was mostly hearing kids, but there were a handful of deaf kids too. There are 3 interpreters, including Brianna. In July, there are 2 more weeks of camp at Parkwood, but these are for the deaf children. There will be some hearing siblings there too. Brianna will be responsible for certain groups and functions. This has been a great experience for her so far. Brent & Lidia will also attend the deaf camps.
Brianna also landed a 2nd job (at McDonald's). She just picked up her uniform yesterday. She'll still work 3 evenings a week for Nancy's chinese restaurant, and also work McD's a couple days a week. AND....she got her driver's license yesterday! She's so happy! I let her drive the kids to camp today. For now, we are letting her use Mike's blazer.
I'm really proud of her. She has a sensible & caring heart. She's part of our deaf bible study group on Wednesday nights...they were collecting goodies to take to a homeless shelter. Bri & Lidia stayed up until 1:00 in the morning one night. It had been a long day of camp, then work for Bri, but they stayed up late & baked a bunch of cookies & muffins to take in the next morning. Each & every goody they made had a note of encouragement on it. Lidia wrote some in Spanish with English translation. I was so impressed by their dedication and willingness to share about their joy for the Lord. Here are a couple pics!!!
Yes, we are home!! Been too busy to post :o)
Oh my, where do I begin?
First of all, Ben is doing great! Better than I ever imagined. He is a really nice kid. I believe that he has already bonded to everybody in this big family, and he has jumped right into every situation. He's very playful, funny & loves to joke around. Some of the highlights of the last 2 weeks have included; Ben getting to meet both sets of grandparents and some other extended family, swimming practically everyday at the beach here in our neighborhood, going to Lidia's 4th grade class with Ben, Brinley & Bayla to give a presentation on China (that was very special), Ben has pulled out 2 teeth (his own), he has been to the audiologist & ENT doctor, had all his titers done at the pediatrician (he was unphased by the blood draw), been going to Lidia's softball tournament games (Lidia's coach saw the longing in his eyes, and they included him in practice...man, for a boy that has never played baseball, can he ever hit a baseball!), and Ben was invited behind the counter at Nancy's Chinese restaurant and she put him to work! He was just dying to work, so she gave him some tasks which he did great at. He worked for about 1.5 hours and she gave him a little pay...he was thrilled. He wanted to do it everyday! We've also been very busy doing paperwork and footwork for Ben's admittance into school. He'll be in the deaf program here (still not sure what grade they will put him in), and he'll also receive ESL services. There is a LOT of red tape involved, but we are getting through it. Ben loves our dog Maggie (or any animal), he has learned how to swing on a swingset, ride a scooter, go 4-wheeling, throw a football & of course some baseball. He desires to do everything. Tomorrow Ben and I are going to spend the morning at school to visit the deaf class. They are actually moving the deaf program to a different elementary school than the one it's at now, and the main teacher is changing. But it will be nice to expose him to the program and to meet some kids who will be his classmates for this fall.
I have to share something funny. Okay, one day Ben came to me while I was on the phone with the school system to show me that he had a loose tooth. It didn't look especially loose. He came back to me 10 min later with the tooth in his hand. He proceeded to go downstairs to Mike's office and show him that he took his tooth out. Mike said after he showed him, Ben tossed his tooth in the grass! I told Lidia about it when she got home from school, and she said hers is in the grass too...telling me how she had shown Ben a tooth she recently had lost, and he took it and threw it in the grass. So I told Lidia maybe this is a cultural thing in China. Lidia then said, "well in Guatemala we throw the tooth on the roof and make a wish!" I got a kick out of that...we have so many funny moments at this house! He has proceeded to pull out another tooth...I showed him how to put it under his pillow, which really perplexed him, and I exchanged it for a dollar bill. He hasn't come to me to show me the dollar, so I don't know if he's found it yet in his bed. I guess we'll see!
I also would love to share a very sweet message from my mother-in-law. I am so touched that all of my children are so loved by all of their extended family.
Here is her message...
[[ We had a wonderful weekend in North Carolina with Mike and Lisa, and of
course, the kids. We had not spent much time with Brinley since she arrived
to the family last summer, so we wanted to share in all of the family times
along with the newest addition, Ben. Lisa, Brent and a friend, Susan, went
to China about 3 weeks ago and arrived back in the States a week ago. We
certainly did not know what to expect but I, personally, came away feeling
so great about the adoption of Ben. He is the happiest boy, a ready smile
from ear to ear and big dimples. Mike said he might be hesitant to give
hugs, so I shook his hand at first but could not keep from hugging him. He
responded well. I am sure he is getting used to hugs. He is tremendously
alert, bright, interested in everything that is going on around him. When
they got to Mike's home on that late evening, Mike said, Ben would not
sleep. He tried out everything that he saw, "flipping lights on and off,
the refrigerator, all appliances, toys, pictures, behind everything and
super aware of everything." Mike feels that he has an engineering mind and
I hope that they will keep that in their minds as they direct him toward a
future of his own. I brought him a book that one uses as a tool for
learning. With the felt pen in hand, he looked at every picture and the
dotted letters which help someone learn to spell, and with lightning speed
he tore through every word, writing it exactly and perfectly next to the
word. It seemed as if it took no skill at all. I had thought that Lisa
could use it to begin a home schooling until school was arranged for him.
He is WAY ahead of so many things. We spent some hours down at the "beach"
their local lake down the street. Ben had a life vest on and saw the others
using the "noodles" to float. After a long time he took a noodle, marched
around the dock then, with a guttural sound of announcement, he ran to the
edge of the dock and jumped in!!!!! We were all SURPRISED!! I doubt that
he had ever swum in his life, but he was not afraid.
Later he kept trying the Razor scooter and attempting to get balance in
order to ride it. This was in the street! Lisa and I stood nearby and
motioned to him to be very careful and aware of cars. He came down a long
driveway right into the street but began to be careful as well. He
surprised us by "signing" to us that he had just seen a rabbit in the trees.
In such a short time he has obviously come to love his new family and
especially Michael. He seems very taken with Mike and having his very own,
FATHER.
Cesar and I had to leave on Monday to get back to Tampa. We left sadly,
knowing that it would be some time before we could enjoy the family again.
I have begun to realize that being "deaf" is probably not so bad! Why??
Because one is not impaired by all of the sounds of this world, "computers,
TV, radios, stereos, IPods, cars, transportation, and a thousands other
things that vie for our time and effort!" Without sound, everything else is
amplified and perfected above what most people know. There is complete
"focus" on things that surround one. Ben can learn so fast and seemingly so
easily. He watched Lidia's softball game, borrowed a bat and ball and
attempted to hit the ball on his own. This is a child who is focused on
life and is enjoying every minute! It was a JOY to be a part of this
amazing weekend.
Please pray for Mike and Lisa as they guide all of their children.
Thanks for your interest and your prayers. Love, Jocelyn ]]
Well...that's all for now
Here are some pictures...
This is a gorgeous oil painting that I brought home from Guangzhou. I thought it was a beautiful mix of Lidia, Brinley & Bayla. It was painted by a Chinese man that goes by the name of "Ben".....meant to be!
The end of the trip going home sure was tiring...over 25 hours of travel !
Brinley & Bayla loved skinning the corn (is that called corn husking???)
Ben working at Nancy's restaurant ~ he LOVED it!
Pictures in our backyard with Grandma & Grandpa Jordan
Fun at the beach in our neighborhood
Ben loves to go to Lidia's games!
It's past midnight on Monday ...
