She's a Trooper

So yes, we have been busy the last week or so getting adjusted to Elizabeth and her new ear buds. She has been progressing well in her speech therapy (more about that later) and seems generally more confident and happy most of the time.

We did, however, need to have a second ABR (Auditory Brainstem Response) test done again--the first one wasn't quite right owing to the fact that she wasn't sedated for it and therefore the results were a bit off. We had to take her over to Children's Hospital CHOC in Orange this a.m. so that they could sedate her and administer the test.

Anyone who has been to a children's hospital can likely attest to the fact that it is one of the more sobering places you can visit. Upon our arrival things were fairly upbeat since they have it decorated like a little Disneyland and we arrived before 7 a.m. so there wasn't much activity. As we made our way to the wing of the O.R., things changed and we realized we were in a "hospital". Elizabeth realized it too and even though she was riding through the halls on a little red truck--she saw the lab coats and wanted "out".

The admitting nurse was clever--she took one look at her and asked us if she could give her a little sedative before examining her, because, in his words, "she wasn't going to let him get near her." He was right and we said okay to the sedative. Within half an hour Elizabeth was like any lovable drunk--blowing bubbles and laughing while they checked her heart and took her temperature. She also asked for more of the "juice" a.k.a. "sedative". The nurse, like any good bartender, said-"I wish I could give you more." He did finish the sentence with "sweetie" as opposed to "buddy" at least.

Okay so here I will introject that I started this post about a week ago and am just getting around to finishing it...it has been a hectic week or so.

As far as the ABR results it looks as if Elizabeth's hearing loss is considered "moderate"--which is more or less what we expected. I was hoping that the report would show her loss to be more mild than moderate--but the good news is that her loss is very correctable with hearing aids. There is a spectrum of hearing loss that includes mild, moderate, severe and profound.

Elizabeth has been through lots of tests and has been quite the trooper through everything. She is continuing with her speech therapy and the good news is that her speech is really coming along. And, as this video shows--she is approaching life with a new sense of exuberance now that she can hear better. I get the sense from her that she is actually joyous about a lot of things now--in a way that she wasn't before.

She also has become a tad more self confident and dare I say "bossy" since her ear buds have been on. But more about that later.