Wearing the BTE!!!!

On our visit to CHOP 2 weeks ago, the audiologist suggested that we start wearing Isaac's BTE on his ear. We were a little nervous at first, but Isaac has not really messed with it at all. Isaac has his daddy's big ears, so it proved to be no problem! God knows what he is doing. He gave Isaac big ears to hold up the processor. There are no problems to mention and now we can even let Isaac run around in his swimming trunks with no shirt to pin the equipment on. It is so convenient. We simply use the mic lock (it is a clear plastic tube that hooks onto the external processor and holds it in place). The only instances (there have been 2) when Isaac has pulled the implant off are when he has temper tantrums. The first tantrum was when Granny was holding Noah and not giving attention to Isaac. We were trying to eat dinner and Isaac did not want to sit down and eat. We tried telling him time after time to sit down and he would not listen. We put him in the time out chair and when he got up he ripped the implant off his head and threw it on the floor! It was as if he was saying that he wasn't going to listen to us as long as we were telling him something he didn't want to hear! He really is a smart boy. Now this makes me nervous, especially when we are in the car and his window is down. All I can picture is him having a tantrum in the car and throwing his processor out the window. I have decided to use the window locks and not let him have his window down until he understands that we can't just go and get another speech processor. The picture above is Isaac showing off in his cool outfit and with his big boy BTE! We are so proud of him!

Making Progress

Isaac's language and attempts at verbalizing are really taking off lately. I need to put some video on this blog of his conversations. One of the coolest things is to watch Isaac play. He has conversations with himself and his toys. He will say ,"ump, ump ump" for jump and make his cars jump and then he will will babble and babble. The funniest is when he will tell his cars, "mo!" This is his attempt at the word no. I think it is his new favorite word. To think that a year ago I never thought I would ever hear Isaac say anything! He loves to tell Ian and I no when we ask him something. It is kind of infuriating at times but then I have to laugh when I see how adament he is about it. He really is a little man! It is amazing to watch him grow and explore his world. Isaac is a very inquisitive little guy and will repeat what we say if we say it with enough enthusiasm (or if it is something really interesting).

On another note, although Isaac loves the movie, "Cars," he does have a new favorite one...or should I say two. Isaac LOVES Ice Age 2 The Meltdown. He actually says it too. He signs elephant and will say "Ice Age E E E". He says it pretty accurately too. The things he has a hard time at saying are D's, N's and adding consonant sounds to the ends and sometimes beginnings of words. I know this will come in time. His other favorite movie is Chicken Run. The movies are both cute but when you see them for the tenth time, they get old. Gotta love toddlers!

Isaac says, "boom boom boom!" for fireworks and for thunder. We went to see the fireworks around Memorial Day and Isaac was mesmorized. We recently had lightning and thunder storms and Isaac loves to go to the window and say, "boom, boom, boom!" I guess he thinks that there are fireworks somewhere. I am thankful that he isn't scared of them.

Isaac continues to be a good big brother. He loves to kiss Noah goodnight. We put Noah in bed with Isaac when we say the prayers before bedtime. Isaac will sit really still with his arms around Noah and then he will kiss him on the head. It just brings tears to my eyes that this rough and tumbling little man can be so sweet to his baby brother. Motherhood is awesome!

Tomorrow's plan....another mapping and speech therapy session at CHOP. It should be extra fun because Granny is going with us and then Isaac will spend the night with her and Gramps.

We Love You Aunt Lydia

My sister Lydia has been a huge help to me and the boys this past week. She has come over and played with Isaac all week during the day. They played with bubbles, cars, swam in the baby pool and just played around. Aunt Lydia also made us fabulous dinners including spaghetti, ribs and chicken quesadillas. Thank you Aunt Lydia! We Love You!