Activation Day!

November 23rd was a very important day for our family.  Landri heard sound for the very first time!  We went to the University of Iowa and the audiologists first tested all the electrodes in Landri's implant - 22 in total!  They got great neural responses from her with each one!  This was comforting.  They then turned on her processor so that she could hear the sounds around her for the first time.  It was sort of anticlimatic.  We were all talking to her and waiting for that big moment - but Landri just took the new sound in stride and just kept playing.  I have to admit there were a few moments of panic when I needed confirmation from the audis that she REALLY....REALLY....can hear things...right?  They said that her response was completely normal and that they were very comfortable with the responses they received during testing.  There are so many leaps of faith in this process.  They turn her processors on very very slowly to not scare or overstimulate Landri.  It could be very overwhelming for her to hear all sounds at once.  We will introduce her to new sounds thru her processors little by little.  I think it takes a few months to fully activate her implant.  Landri's processors (the external portion that looks like a hearing aid) have different programs or maps on them that have been created just for her. They are sort of like her hearing fingerprints.  Everyone's map is unique.  The audis sent us home with 8 programs and 4 volume and sensitivity settings on each program to work thru over the next 2 weeks.  We have been told that it may take almost a month before we see Landri actually turning her head to sound.  When it comes to sound Landri is like a newborn.  Her brain is working so hard to make sense of it all.

What now?  Our job now is to help Landri learn to listen and not ignore the sounds she hears and also help her associate the sound with meaning.  We talk about everything we do and point out sound to her.  When the dogs bark we say "listen Landri are those the dogs barking?".  When we run water out of the faucet we listen to that, we listen for the vacuum, we listen for microwave beeps, we listen to her spoon tapping in her high chair.  So far I think her favorite thing to listen to is her own voice - typical girl!  We notice her humming and blowing bubbles more with her implant on.  AND of course without a doubt she is even more fascinated with her sister and wants her every second! 

Really the only struggle is keeping the processors on her head.  Seriously - I am thinking about starting a "Keep the BTE on a one year olds head Support Group" and serving stiff margaritas at each meeting.  All my other CI mommies  - who's with me?  It really does take a ton of patience - like a ton - ton, ton, ton.  Landri does not associate her CI with sound yet so all she wants to do is take that thing off her head.....every second....and then chew on it....or whip it across the room.  BUT.....everyday it has got to get better! 

This post would just not be complete without a picture of Landri and her cool new CI!  We are having computer issues - thanks to Gma for letting me borrow hers to do this post - and all my pictures are trapped on the other computer.  I promise a picture soon!  Check back! 

I also have 1001 other things to update on like Thanksgiving and Landri turning1!!  I'll get there!  Need time!  Thanks to everyone for all of your support during this exciting - but stressful - time for our family.  Aren't family and friends the best?