Insights of a mom with two implanted boys

Graduated
Insights of a mom with two implanted boys I can't believe it but he has done it. Douglas is now a high school graduate. This photo is of him and his interpreter. I am so proud of him. He has decided to go to UNL. He was all set up to go to RIT but found out two months ago that he has Type 1 diabetes. He was accepted into a study through Creighton Medical center in Omaha Ne. He will have to go once a week for ...
Mon, May 09 2011

Letting go and College bound
Insights of a mom with two implanted boys Our oldest is in his senior year. I am having a hard time getting him to understand that there is a lot of things he needs to consider when picking a college. I am trying to let this be his decision with letting him see all sides to each college. How do you let go and hope he makes the right choices? How do you step back and know he may fail? How do I let him be a you...
Thu, Dec 02 2010

speaking with more words
Insights of a mom with two implanted boys Aw, My baby is growing up, both of them. I can only assume that Diezel talks as well as he does because he is mimicking all six of his brothers and sisters. I could not have imagined that we would hear such words come from him. Diezel will say, come here, where you go, I want eat, give me that, look over there, I poo change, grandpa, grandma, mom, dad, Jason, destiny,...
Thu, Dec 02 2010

Lost Processor
Insights of a mom with two implanted boys Where did the summer go? This is a picture of Decemberlyn and Diezel at the kid's swim meet. While the kids were swimming, Diezel was playing at the park. Do you know how difficult it is looking for a beige processor in sand? Two hours in and we found it. The thousands of imaginary bricks on my shoulders dropped the minute I saw it under the merry go round... Now we h...
Fri, Sep 24 2010

E.Y.F. IN ROCHESTER NEW YORK
Insights of a mom with two implanted boys DOUGLAS WENT TO ROCHESTER NEW YORK TO SEE IF HE WOULD LIKE TO GO TO COLLEGE HERE. HE WROTE AN ESSAY TO THE LIONS CLUB IN RETURN THEY HELPED A LITTLE WITH THE COST. I WANTED TO SHARE HIS ESSAY.First, I want to thank you for the donation of 100 dollars to fly out to Explore Your Future at Rochester Institute of Technology. I appreciate your generosity. I had a great tim...
Fri, Sep 24 2010

One more year
Insights of a mom with two implanted boys Douglas had his senior pictures done a week ago. It made me a little sad. I starting thinking about how short this year will be. Then my baby will be heading off to make his own destiny. He plans to go to R.I.T. in New York. That is a very long way from home. I won't be able to see his smile, tears or hear his laugh or snores.When I was told Douglas was deaf it was li...
Fri, Jun 18 2010

having fun
Insights of a mom with two implanted boys Diezel got to enjoy feeding a chipmunk at Estes Park in Colorado. He had so much fun. But at the end of the day he started getting cranky and wanted to be held. Diezel is wants to do everything by himself so when he wants to be held and cradled, I knew he wasn't right. In wasn't much longer before he vomited on me...I just wonder if it wasn't the altitude? Besides tha...
Fri, Jun 18 2010

Speech Contest for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Insights of a mom with two implanted boys Douglas did a good job on his speech. He didn't win but I think that everyone in this picture is winners. They stood up gave speeches, did amazing jobs, and they all represented themselves wonderfully. The speeches were on Cyber Communication, pro or con...Not only did they do a good job it was an opportunity for all these students to get together with old friend...
Thu, Apr 22 2010

Mapping
Insights of a mom with two implanted boys This was Diezel's 2nd birthday. I can't believe he is 2. He went back to the Lied Technology and Learning Center in Omaha Nebraska. They remapped his implants. I can tell that he is hearing better. He is starting to copy sounds and words that we say. Today he said "Wow, look at that" I was floored. How amazing is that.. I hope he keeps learning and saying more...
Thu, Apr 22 2010

O'neill Prom 2010
Insights of a mom with two implanted boys Douglas and Alecia right before they went to prom. They have known each other since they were two. They are like brother and sister. They goof off as you can see in one of these pictures. The other is of Douglas' interpreter, Laurie. It was amazing that she was willing to go to prom with them. She also went to post prom with them for awhile. Douglas is so lucky to hav...
Thu, Apr 22 2010

A wonderful son
Insights of a mom with two implanted boys This is Douglas when he was younger. Thank goodness for braces. He had a very bad overbite. I am so proud of Douglas. When I was a teenager my mom use to say you will get it twice as bad when you have your own. So far, I have been very lucky. The other day Douglas was Instant Messeging me on Yahoo. Here is a copy of our converstaion. I feel blessed to have such a wond...
Mon, Jan 18 2010

new words
Insights of a mom with two implanted boys This is Diezel with his cousin, Gracee and his Grandma Fern. We were at Morgan's skating party. They are a month apart. Diezel is now saying stop it, one, two, three, two, two, and two, that is how he counts. He is also saying what, more please, uh oooo, want it, get it, dawson, douglas, and a few more I just can't think of them. Gracee can say way more than this but ...
Thu, Jan 14 2010

I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a...
Insights of a mom with two implanted boys I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a disability - to try to help people who have not shared that unique experience to understand it, to imagine how it would feel. It's like this......When you're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous vacation trip - to Italy. You buy a bunch of guide books and make your wonderful plans. Th...
Wed, Dec 16 2009

Merry Christmas
Insights of a mom with two implanted boys Here is our Family picture we have just gotten back. I think it turned out pretty well. Our photographer is such a wonderful person. I am glad that I have had the opportunity to know Brooke Kraczor. We want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and God bless each and everyone of you. Please remember why we celebrate Christmas. Jesus was born on this day and he gave...
Wed, Dec 16 2009

A good movie
Insights of a mom with two implanted boys This movie is an older one but it is so worth watching. I had some friends over and they had said before that they could not imagine what it was like to have found out your child was deaf. When Douglas was born and I found out that he was deaf, I had no idea that he would ever hear as well as he does. Anyways, we watched this movie and my friends expierenced...
Thu, Nov 05 2009

Nucleus 5
Insights of a mom with two implanted boys Diezel with his sister Decemberlyn. This was taken last night after we got back from Omaha, Nebraska. He is showing off his new nucleus fives.Giving him a piece of chocolate from halloween so that he will stay still long enough to get a side view of his new processor. It has plastic covers that you can put on. Right now he has blue with soccor balls on them.This impla...
Thu, Nov 05 2009

Surgery is over
Insights of a mom with two implanted boys Diezel did well. He was in pain for the first day and night then he bounced back to his normal self. He gets hooked up this wednesday. I am excited. The first implant he recieved was the nucleus freedom. You can feel it on his head. It protrudes a little. This new one even with a little swelling you can not feel it at all. He recieved the nucleus 5. I like that i...
Mon, Nov 02 2009

Nervous
Insights of a mom with two implanted boys Diezel goes Monday to get his second cochlear implant. I am nervous. You would think after three implants. Douglas with two and Diezel with his first, I would be immune to this. It scars me. Surgery is still surgery. I am sure he will do fine. I know God will protect him and stay beside Dr. Lusk. while he is operating on my son. Hopefully neither of my boys or for tha...
Sat, Oct 24 2009

This is my mom, Joyce Lynne Myers. She has been through a...
Insights of a mom with two implanted boys This is my mom, Joyce Lynne Myers. She has been through a lot in her life. I appreciate everything she has done for me. When I found out Douglas was deaf, my mom was there. She helped me through a very hard time. Not only did she stand beside me but she waited for me to grow up. I was young and immature. I didn't handle the situation the best that I could have. I am g...
Mon, Sep 14 2009

I love you!
Insights of a mom with two implanted boys Diezel and I are posing at the lake. WE are signing "I love you" to dad. I think it's cute that he is trying to get his fingers right. It won't be long and he'll have it down pat. I want to slow the clock down just a little. Diezel being my last baby, it's hard to let him become more and more independent. I now know why the "baby" of the family is the baby. Yes, it is...
Tue, Sep 01 2009

Diezel's summer
Insights of a mom with two implanted boys When you say "kissy kissy" Diezel will pucker up. I think it is so cute. Our summer has gone by so fast but it has gone by without an accident, in our family that is a miracle.Diezel signs frog, please, more, uncle, thank you, kitty, puppy, eat, drink, candy, gum, want, but his favorite is no,no,no... He is trying out words with his voice. He says mom, dad, Douglas(Do...
Mon, Aug 24 2009

Who would have ever guessed
Insights of a mom with two implanted boys We celebrated my husband's 40th birthday last night. There was kareoke. Here is a picture my husband and our son singing together. When I learned that Douglas was deaf I would have never guessed that the day would come that he would sing kareoke...What a blessing....
Sun, Aug 16 2009

Update
Insights of a mom with two implanted boys Summer is here. Douglas is out helping Grandma with her garden. He has joined the swim team. He has taken first every time so far. I am so impressed with my son. He has made sure that everyone knows his needs. He has his coach signal when the whistle is blown. He entered a speech contest for deaf and hard of hearing. He didn't win but I think he did well for his first...
Thu, Jun 18 2009

new information
Insights of a mom with two implanted boys When I was deciding which way to go for Douglas with his language (sign,oral or total communication), I told his deaf educator that I wanted him to have speech therapy and I wanted him to learn to sign. I wanted Douglas to be given every opportunity as a deaf person and to be allowed every opportunity as if he was a hearing person. She told me this was total communica...
Tue, May 05 2009

Independent
Insights of a mom with two implanted boys I can't believe it but on April 25th 2009 my 15 month old's cochlear implant fell from his head and he grabbed it and put it back on. He is reaching such mile stones. How awesome is it that he knows it has to be on his head to hear sound...
Wed, Apr 29 2009