Hearing Results

Well, he passed his hearing tests today with flying colors. The audiologist did another tymphanogram test and a "modified" hearing test. The tymphanogram results were normal. Friday, his right ear was flat (meaning no sound bounced back from the ear drum). So we went on to the other test. Since Jacob is too young to respond "raise your hand when you hear a beep", this test sends a "buzz" to his ear drum and if his hearing is good, the ear drum will "send it back". That test showed perfect hearing. I asked him how a tymphanogram could be flat (failed) a few days ago and now it's perfect? He said it's very easy to get "false" results from that test...that it has to be held just right and it's easy to get it against the ear canal and give false results. Soooooo, the good news is that his hearing is just fine! I'm waiting on a call back from the speech pathologist about the home evaluation they want to do with Jacob. Because regardless of hearing, his speech is still not what it should be. I wouldn't be concerned about it (he does have a big sister that always talks for him) except that he tries to communicate and all that comes out are vowel/middle sounds. If I make him say individual letter sounds, he can do it. But putting a word together he can't do. Please is either "uhh" or "eee", for example. Plus, the early childhood center agreed that his speech is a concern. So, that's where we'll go from here! Again, we definitely appreciate all the prayers and support. God is faithful!!

Appointment Already

They already got Jacob an appointment with the audiologist at 10:30 in the morning (Wednesday). Any prayers you'd like to pray on our behalf would be much appreciated!

Results...Thus Far

First off, thank you for praying for us today! Jacob did great letting the PA look in his ears.

(I just love little boys in overalls!)

So what we found out today is this: the PA was able to see all of both ear drums and did NOT feel that the wax was causing any issues. His right ear drum (which is the side he failed the test on) is a bit red but she did not recommend any antibiotics (we'll see how that goes, seeing as how he woke up after being asleep for 1.5 hrs. tonight screaming and took me several minutes to even calm him...not normal behavior for him.). The PA said there is obviously something going on since he failed the tymphanic (or whatever it's called!!) test so she is setting up an appointment with an audiologist to do more hearing tests. Don't know yet when that will be.
I'm a little bit frustrated because that's not what I was expecting to hear. I honestly thought the wax was the problem. Seriously, this kid has WAXY EARS! So what is the problem? I haven't a clue. I guess maybe the audiologist can shed more light on it. The PA suggested the fall-to reasons for kids being speech delayed--2nd child (oh yes, Anna talks for him all the time); boys, they have a tendency to not pay attention (ehh, no. Since the kid knows every last letter sound and can mimic animal sounds and re-enact scenes from cartoons...I'm pretty sure he's paying attention!). The way he misses the beginning sounds and the way he doesn't distinguish between similar sounds (like c/k and t) makes it obvious to me that it's a hearing issue and not a "behavior" issue. So we'll just see what happens.
I'm okay...ya know, when something out of your control (and unknown) is wrong with your kid sometimes it's hard. I guess I should say I'm okay as long as we just talk about the fact. But if you say "I'm praying for that sweet boy and his ears" I'm gonna tear up! MY SWEET BOY. (thank you Kim, for your invaluable encouragement and insight!)
Fiddlesticks. I hate being emotional. So if you see me, don't be sweet to me just ask me about the facts and I'll be okay. :) The reality is that even if he has permanent hearing loss in one ear...that's so minor compared to what some other families have to go through. Not that it's not a big deal and will not affect (or is it effect??) things, but I just try to keep it in perspective. God has a plan for this. This is not taking Him by surprise!

Spring is in the Air!!!

Wednesday was a gorgeous day! The other Anna & Jake came over to play and the kids had a blast playing outside!

We even had enough bikes/trikes/scooters for all four to ride!

The other Mr. Blue Eyes ;)

Jacob, lesson #1 in the female species...it starts young, that whole telling-you-what-to-do thing!! HA Anna Mae went over to Jacob, squatted down and all I heard was "Now Jacob, don't..." too funny!

The kids got so warm, they all shed their jackets and hats! Even then, Anna Rose complained about being hot!!
The neighbors across the street saw us all out front and came over to play (adding 4 more kids!). My next-door neighbor thought I'd started a day care! :) I can't wait for Spring to be here every day!!!

Reminder....somewhere!

I went to open the fridge door the other day and noticed my "reminder"...

almost completely covered in letter magnets! Lucky for me, I already had it on three different calendars. Sadly for me, that doesn't always make any difference in my ability to remember!! HA

This was a reminder for Jacob's appointment for his "Count Your Kid In" screening at the grade school. I've been concerned for a while that he's not hearing everything (and not just because he's two or a boy or my husband's son! hehe). In the last several months he's started trying to talk (before he really made no effort to talk except to say a few select things like more, NO, yeah, and our names). Except all that came out were vowels sounds and the occasional ending sound. Never the beginning sound except for the words he'd been saying such as Yeah, No and our names. He knows every last one of his letter sounds--he loves watching Leap Frog and says them along with the video. I've also known forever that he has incredibly waxy ears. I figured that's what the deal was, but for whatever reason I just didn't do anything about it. Seriously, I don't know why. So anyway, I finally talked to a lady I student taught with and she said her first step would be one of these screenings. So he had his appointment Friday. We first met with an early childhood center's rep (I really don't know what her title was!). She asked Jacob some questions, checked his vision using flashlights and finger puppets (to check following and color-blindness). Of course, he wasn't too cooperative about that, but I assured her I had no concerns with his vision. Only his speech. He was cooperative for about 10 seconds and then he spotted some toy up on the shelf that he was zoned in on. You know my children and their ONE TRACK MINDS! So the lady said she definitely wants to do an in-home evaluation with their speech pathologist (yet to be set up) because his speech (or lack thereof) is a concern. We then went in to the school nurse to get his hearing checked. She looked in his ears, which she said "I can't see all of either ear drum because of all the wax." SHOCKER. She then did a tympanic test (the tympanic membrane, aka ear drum, is located in the middle ear, and moves in and out to variations in sound pressure, changing acoustical energy to sound energy). For this test, a little puff of air is blown into the ear. She said he can't feel the air but should hear it. His right ear's results were flat, meaning the waves didn't bounce back from the ear drum. Which means there is something blocking them--usually fluid, but in Jacob's case, most likely wax. Her recommendation was for Jacob to see his primary doctor and see what he would do--hopefully agree that wax needs to be removed. If not, move on to an audiologist and have a full-blown hearing test done. So Jacob has an appointment tomorrow afternoon. I truly believe that the wax is what's causing the hearing "loss" but I also know that he will require speech therapy to catch up to where he should be (by the time a child turns 3, he should have a vocabulary of about 300 words. Jacob says about 10).
So, if you wouldn't mind praying for Jacob tomorrow around 1:30 that would be much appreciated. He hates having his ears touched, let alone someone poking around in them! And also pray that the doctor would agree to try and remove some wax and see if it helps. Thanks!! :)

Life

Life is busy. I'm not sure what, exactly, is so making it so busy. But it is! I guess just life...keeping up with the kids, Anna's school work, training them in God's word, keeping up with the house (ha...haha...hahaha), feeding our "other" kids every week, Awanas, Bible studies, personal time, exercising, spending time with friends, work, etc etc etc! All of those are good things, sometimes they just all overwhelm me. And a lot of that comes down to me managing my time better and letting unimportant things slide here and there. And focusing on my biggest job: being a mom! So here are a bunch of pictures:)

At school for V Day, Anna got some candies. The most prized of which was her box of candy hearts. She gladly shared a few with Jacob. He really liked them. And when she (and I!) wasn't looking, he grabbed the box and STUFFED EVERY LAST ONE OF THEM IN HIS MOUTH! Oh my...when she found out she was absolutely devastated!!! Jacob knew exactly why she was crying. After a few second of the wailing, he went over and patted her head and then he knelt down and gave her a hug. Lucky for Anna, Papa & Binga came to visit that weekend and she got some more candy hearts. Oh the injustice!

I bought "30 Day Shred" and Jacob was my workout partner one day. 'Nuff said!

They love playing in the sink.

One evening it was a bit too quiet for too long. I quickly searched for Jacob after Anna said she didn't know where he was. And I found him sitting in their room, like an angel, reading books! CUTE!!!

Hmmmm....verrrrry interrresting.

Beautiful blue eyes.

Jacob had a nasty fall last week while Aaron was gone. He was running from the bathroom (it was bath time...his favorite game to play!). He went to turn into the living room and his feet flew out from under him! His head smacked the wood floor so hard. There was actually a flat spot for a bit where he hit! Then he got a goose egg. I was surprised it didn't get a lot worse than it did. There was a bruise there, but it wasn't really big or dark like I thought it would get. No worse for the wear;)

I would never let my kids stand on the bathroom sink and draw on our mirror! ;)

I'm sure Jacob wasn't as disgusted with his sister as it appears in this picture! A friend borrowed Jacob's car seat last week so it sat in the living room after she brought it back. Jacob was like a king on his throne watching a movie!!

So now back to life:)

Anna-isms

Our foster son (my cousin Seth) eats supper with us most evenings (he's not taking classes this semester so no meal plan...we took pity the second we heard his plan for eating was PB&J and EasyMac!!!). He loves to play with the kids and he loves to razz Anna. Reminds me SO MUCH of my dad--always teasing and pestering. And Anna, JUST LIKE me, always takes the bait and hollers! :) But, Anna loves him anyway.
Yesterday afternoon, Seth was playing with the kids in their bedroom. Anna was hootin' and hollerin' about who-knows-what, running in and out of the bedroom. She kept telling Seth she was going to take a nap and Seth kept telling her that she wasn't. Just to show him, she went and got her little satin sleep mask. Next thing I know, she runs from the bathroom to her bedroom door with that mask in her hands like a sling-shot and yells (while in a battle stance):
THE BATTLE IS THE LORD'S!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Needless to say, we all roared with laughter. This girl...I just love her!