Mikaela is progressing very nicely! We had our 6 month follow up appointment at CHoP yesterday. She is 'right on target' for the amount of time she's been activated. She is responding to sounds in the 35 dB loss range. She is most likely hearing softer sounds, but not consistently responding to them based on her age and interest.
Her receptive language is just wonderful. She shows lots of indication that she is learning by incidental language much like kiddos without any hearing loss. I will say a word in regular conversation with Juliana or Kurt and she signs it. She really enjoys listening to lots of different sounds. She plays with some of Juliana's old Dora books that have a speaker and has Dora saying different things in English and Spanish. The one book, in particular, has sounds like a balloon blowing up, different instruments, a ball bouncing, and she can't get enough of it.
Expressively, she is coming along. She repeats lots of intonation, duration and approximations of words. My goal this weekend, since we are on vacation at a family reunion, is to make a list of her expressive language. I would have to say we are over 20 or 30 'words'. Of course you may not know what she said, but I do! :-) We would like to see more consonants emerging over the next few months. Her audiologist made some adjustments to the program which should increase her access to some of the softer sounds of speech. I also have a speech evaluation request in with my Early Intervention team to see if speech therapy is something we should bring on board. (with the other 18 hours per month that she is already receiving.) Oh, well, I am a firm believer in 'no time like the present'. Honestly, why wait, though? If she needs it, she needs it!
Physically, she is getting closer everyday to walking. (Please, God, help her to walk by the end of this weekend!!!) Okay, maybe I'm pushing it! But I am 7 weeks from delivery and I can't carry her very far any more!! This baby is pressing on so many ligaments and ribs that I could scream. Add in the 20 plus pounds that Mikaela weighs and I am close to tears!
Today, Juliana went down the basement and brought up a doll stroller. Immediately, Mikaela had to take it from her! I was fearful that it was too light, considering I still have a 5 pound weight in the push toy she has been using. She whipped that thing around like no body's business!! She fell once, but didn't seem too shaken or daunted! That will be coming with us this weekend!!
PT wouldn't leave on Monday until Mikaela stood - by herself! I told her the bed upstairs was clean and I could make room in the drawers....BUT Mikaela did stand for a few seconds! We had to distract her with bubbles, but she stood! Once she realized she wasn't supported, she lowered herself to a sit. This has been the trend since Monday.
Today at Juliana's ballet class, I wouldn't let Mikaela crawl at all. Where ever she wanted to go, I said, "stand, please" and walked with her holding one hand. That will be the theme this weekend. No one carries her or lets her crawl! We will grab a hand and walk her to her destination! I am determined to show her that she CAN. We have to believe in her until she believes in herself!
