Peer Group

I think if you could stand really close to me right now, you might be able to hear my brain humming. This past Thurs. Fri. and Sat. we (Sharleen and I) went to the Early Hearing Resource Center in Surrey. It was three days of speakers, panels, discussions, and even a "salesman". One of the best things was talking to the other parents and learning from their experiences and what they have all been through. They were really long days, as I was out the door by 8:00-8:30 and home by 4:30. My sister Melanie took my children for the first two days and my sister-in-law Adeline took the three of them on Saturday. Thanks so much, guys, I know it is always "more" when there are extra children around. (the least I could do was bring dinner) And Danielle comes with extra worries (which is why she is very seldom out of my care) which Melanie found out on Friday. She had taken all the kids to the park and then noticed that Danielle's tummy had all spots/hives on it. I had left my cell phone in the van, which looking back was probably a good thing b/c I really wouldn't have known what to say, rush to the hospital-Mel does not even have enough seats for all the kids, call 911, I'd meet you at the hospital....I would for sure of had to come and get her "just to make sure" I still don't know what it is and now she has them on her legs and arms too??? She ended up phoning Gerard and he said to give her Benedryl, which I didn't have in the diaper bag, I have that in the van since when I am out I always have the van, and the e-pi pen is the diaper bag which goes were ever she goes, even if I know I don't need the diaper bag. Kinda a pain since I don't always want to haul the diaper bag around, especially since she is toilet trained now, but if I start with just putting it in my purse for this shopping trip, and then back in the diaper bag for church, and then in my pocket for this or that I won't be able to keep track of it.

The building is amazing. Everything was designed for better acoustics and to improve hearing. A really incredible building.

This is the teacher. Noticed all the F.M.s around her neck and on her waist, she's like a pack horse. All the children there (10-12) have an F.M. so thankfully some of them can share the microphone or she would have a lot more on. She was a really busy lady for these three days. Many of the children had never been there and the boys were all pretty active. But she was really consistent in what was expected, and really insisted on proper classroom etiquette. Below she is telling someone to stop talking, as taking turns is even more important with children who are hard of hearing. Sighing is also huge, everybody who works there can sign as well as many parents and children. Sharleen came home showing us the new signs she had learned.

Here is Niessa all "dolled up" as she is going out with her friends to watch the play "The Elves and the Shoe Maker". She came home and said "It was her best day ever." I really wanted to go as my babysitter was acting and her mom made the costumes, but there is only so much someone can do. In the end,  I am glad I didn't get tickets as I was so tired that evening.