Still enjoying the journey...

Its been a while since I have updated my blog and I have a very good reason for NOT doing so....I AM TOO BUSY! I am so enjoying my life right now and find myself going here and going there and taking my time listening to all I can. When I went for my testing at MUSC (another big shot out to Meredith my audiologist) I didnt score all the great when put in an environment with others talking. She told me and I quote" Karen, you need to throw yourself out there, get out among everyone and everything" Unquote. Well that is EXACTLY what I am doing now. Before my cochlear implant, I was starting to withdraw away from people because I could not understand them, couldnt read them and was tired of the funny or strange looks when I gave off the wall comments. So, I am doing what Meredith suggested and Im "throwing" myself out there. I am going to concerts, musicals, the fair, dinners out in crowded restaurants and really trying to do it all. For the month of October, I worked daily at our Pumpkin Patch at our church. Everyday I went in at 9:30 and stayed all day give or take a shift or two of running errands and such. I had such a fun time at the patch that I didnt want to leave! The mornings were filled with young children who were coming to visit for story time and purchase a small pumpkin. We read stories, sang songs and did a few finger plays. Do you know how long its been since I have done that?!?!? I cant remember the last time I was able to hear a childs voice and actually converse with small children in a group setting! I surrounded myself with people I have never met and tried to converse. Just throwing myself out there and having a blast! How wonderful my days are filled with new sounds! I went to a fundraiser where we sat around a round table. I was able to talk across the table and I could tell you everything that everyone was saying! That was a first for me. It was all I could do to not tear up! We sat towards the back of the room and when the keynote speaker started her speech, lo and behold, I heard everything. Now that I could never do! NEVAH, EVAH! I now hear prayers with my eyes closed, speakers...you name it, I hear it! Life is good... Now, went back for my last checkup and I have improved! When I am listening to a speaker 1/1, Im in the high 90%! And in conversational settings I am slowly showing signs of improvement. I am pleased as I hope Meredith is also. Another thing that I am doing is going back and singing at the nursing home like I used to do. I still dont sing and I still dont like music but a friend of mine encouraged me to go back and sing. I decided that I would try and sing and no one complained. When I sang to the children at the patch, I knew they wouldnt complain so I went for it, but the nursing home? I did and I will continue to go. I decided like young children, they dont care....So, for me life goes on. If I dont update my blog for a bit, you know I am just too busy enjoying the life of hearing and that I am busy throwing myself out there. Hope your life is going well and let me "hear" from you!