Well here it is 29 days post op from going bi-lateral. Overall I love hearing in stereo or surround sound as some of us call it. I can tell a huge difference in watching TV. Went to a restaurant but at the time we went, it wasnt too crowded so not sure I can tell if thats a better quality or not. At times, I feel like I am hearing more and at a louder decibel. Not complaining, just noting the differences. IM still supposed to wear only my new processor but I still have a hard time doing so although I am doing it more than I had in the previous weeks. As for my incision, it looks really good. The steri strips came off yesterday (shhhh but I had some help pulling them off although they are SUPPOSED to come off by their ownself HA!) I have to get new glasses and I was waiting for everything to heal before doing so and now is the time! In addition to receiving my new processor, I also got the brand spankin' new Ronda put out by Med El. Like everything these days I see some pros and cons to this new device and I feel I can now weigh the pros and cons and pass on my findings. For those in my CI support group, many want to know what I think. I posted pic of the 2 so you can see what Im talking about.
Pros
1  When wearing the disposable batteries the unit attaches by a magnet and nothing is behind the ear. Great if you have long hair but I dont so I dont have anything to attach the unit to with its safety clip
Con:
1) I dont see how active men with short hair or no hair could wear this unit.
2) When wearing the Rondo with the rechargeable battery, you have a wire that attaches to a small battery pack that you have to wear in your pocket or clip on your belt. For me, I would clip it inside my shirt to bra to hide the pack, I sweat so that doesnt work. I cant carry it or attach it my pocketbook. I could run the wire under my shirt and attach to waistband but I dont want to. In my opinion I would think that the battery makers can come up with a rechargeable that we could place in the unit itself. (ANYONE working at those places listening??) Ill post a picture of what they call the Mini Battery Pack so you can see what Im talking about.

Keep in mind this is not a scientific opinion. Only an opinion of a domestic goddess who is trying her darnest to find the best way possible to enter the world of the hearing. As I said before, I see pros and cons and definitely a difference between an older adult as myself and a small child. While Im talking about new discoveries, I have discovered Ear Gear. You wear it on your hearing devices to protect them from dust, sand, wind and sweat. Ive ordered mine but have not received them as of yet. Im headed to the beach in a few days and hope they come so I can again give you my opinion of this new gear. I for one am excited! Hope your summer is going well. Mine is....Karen

I think I can I think I can I CAN and I WILL!

Ok you guys...although it is funny as I will be the 1st to admit, its not fun being in Munchkin Land. I woke up this morning determined I will wear one unit, my new one. Its hard. SO very hard. Please be patient with me as I can not tell who is speaking, where the odd noise is coming from and just so absolutely frustrated almost to tears. My lip reading has gotten lazy. I know this will work for me, I know it as the 1st was so successful. I do know that wearing 2 is ok but I have to go through this process. Im home with my dogs who warn me of passerbys on the street or in the yard. I cant tell if its a bark or not. I have the TV's on it just isnt working. Everyone is a lollipop kid STILL! I know you get tired of hearing about it. Its so strange to me that with the 2 CIs Im hearing fine and can tell a HUGE difference. But with the one, UGH! I am blessed, truly blessed and I will get through this. To my friends who live with me everyday, bare with me and thanks for all your patience while I learn to hear AGAIN! For my new found friends in my cochlear support group, thanks for your support. Its nice to be surrounded by friends who are going through the same as you. Karen 

Again?????? NO! Well, ok.

That was me at an appointment with my Super Duper Audiologist. Again? Yes again. With my new CI, Meredith told me I had to wear the new one by itself for awhile and get my brain used to the thing. Well, my brain is telling me to wear both CI's so I can hear! I mean really! When I am wearing two, I can hear. When I wear the one, I can not. Its hard y'all. Think about it for a minute and you'll know where I'm comin' from. Hear you are sitting listening to the sounds all around you then things go silent. Would you panic? Really. What would you do if all of a sudden your world went silent? That is what Meredith is asking me to do. Well almost. I hear so well with my CI of 18 months. Now I have to remove it and wear my new one and start all over. Welcome to Munchkin Land and come meet the Lollipop Kids! Two weeks out and everyone still sound like munchkins. I have to wear one. I know I have to wear the one but its soooo hard! I want to hear normally! Im tellin ya, its hard throwing myself back out there this time. I know what I am up against and I am struggling here. I dont want to start at the beginning again but I know I do. I know it! Then why dont I do it! I am wearing 2 as I write this. Why am I wearing the 2 in the privacy of my own home when I KNOW I should be wearing one???  OK, Im taking it off. I will do this but I need your help but I dont know how you can help me. Maybe pull it off my dern head if you see me wearing 2? lol Ok next topic....I got the new processor thats out. Im talkin a brand spankin' new one. Ill take a pic of it for you and post it. Might post the other type I have too. The new one is just a small magnetic disc with fishing twine attached to it with a clothespin on the end. The other type I have rests on my ear and magnet is attached to wire.

I can see the benefits of both but if you have short hair like I do, I dont have anything for the clothespin to grasp. I might shouldnt call it a clothespin since Im not pinning it to clothes...what should I call it? lol I like both and too another thing? Hubby likes to play with my hair. He might knock it off and I might lose the thang! Ill try it and Ill keep it as a back up or when I dress up to go out somewhere special but Im not so sure I will like it. Anyway. Here are the pics and Im not putting my other one back on since I took it off. Proud of me? I am :)

Just Another Sunday...N O T !!!!!!!!

Well as you know, my CI is not a big fan of Sunday mornings. Notice I didnt say I...I said my CI. My CI does not like music at all. My CI does not like large crowds. Well let me tell you this, MY CI's working together DO like Sunday mornings. Did you catch the plural? Yessiree. Today was a good day. Today was the 1st Sunday of me going bilateral (meaning with both CIs' to church) And OMG! (thats oh my gosh!)Today we had the timpani and brass, full choir. Didnt register as we have had them before.Well let me tell you... the music started and I just about died right then and there. I mean BAM...the heavens opened up and this glorious sound came like I have never heard before. It was amazing! It was awesome. I was so emotional from hearing all this wonderful sound! I just can not put it into words! I looked at mother in law and she just held me while I cried like a baby. For 30 minutes I had to keep telling myself to breathe Karen, take a breath, in and out. For real!You have no idea how long I have waited to get my music back in me! I didnt hear the country screechin' choir trying to get the high notes. I heard this magnificent full church choir sing with all their heart and soul. Today was the last Sunday for our minister at our church. His last sermon that I heard in stereo. Such an emotional Sunday for me. I could write about my preacher but I wont since this is about cochlear implants. So back on track. I heard it all. I heard the music! I understood the music! This is such a big deal for me since this was one of my goals. All week long I was poor me working so hard to get where I was with one CI. Now the work has started again with 2. Honey...IM BACK! As I said before the heavens have opened up. Its my turn. Thank you. My audiologist told me that I would love having 2. She just knew it. She also told me there were no words to describe what hearing with two was like. Shes right. I cant explain it. Everything just makes sense. Its all clear. Its all good. Now dont get me wrong, I still have work to do but buddy...come on. Im ready for anything you got to throw at me.  :)  I was so tired from the service and such a nice meal afterwards that I slept the rest of the day. Next week when I go to church Im going to try and sing to see how I do. Im tempted to sing at the house and record myself but Im not. No more Row Row Row Your Boat for me! Im on to bigger and better stuff....Yeppers, today was a good day. A really good day. Thanks for sharing it with me....Karen

15 days post op

Well here I am at the 15 day post op mark. I seem to be healing nicely but I swear the process is taking longer this time. Still walking around wearing glasses with one side arm removed so Im walking around with broken glasses, old ones to boot that are just plain yucky lookin'. Im sooooo looking forward to wearing my black and purple ones again :).  My steri strips are still on and looking nasty. Cant pull them off as it is still a bit sore around incision. I still have a metallic taste in my mouth. Its more like a metallic strip on my left side of tongue. Dont remember having one like this last time either. I do hope it goes away soon cause my chocolate does not taste like chocolate and this here chocoholic is SUFFERIN'! lol   I just got an early birthday present from hubby. A flight booked to Denver to see my niece and her family. For those of you that dont know, this is a huge trip for me. It was my trip to Denver back in 2011 that opened my eyes on how "profound" my hearing loss was (hate using that word profound but it is what it is) I was in a new and different environment then what I was accustomed to and I was, to be honest, scared. I was frightened to what was going on around me or what not was going on around me. It was a scary feeling and at one time there was one moment that I will NEVAH EVAH forget. My niece asked me to watch her small son while she ran an errand and I panicked. I NEVAH EVAH panic. It was right at that moment that I decided when I got home, my hubby and I were going to have a serious discussion on what to do next and here I am, a bilateral CI wearer one year and 1/2 later. My how my life has changed over the year. I am so much more outgoing. I attend events I NEVEH EVAH thought I would attend. I am going out and about flyng solo to places unknown and truly luvin' my life. I am so blessed. Truly blessed. And on that note, I am out my door, droppin' the top on my car and doing my errands. Have a great blessed day y'all and again, thank you so much for you kindness, patience and support while I adjust to my new life.

Munchkinland!

Well day 2 in Munchkinland has come to a close and day 3 is beginning. I have decided that not only does everyone sound robotic and mechanical, everyone is a munchkin! You know the munchkins from OZ? In trying to find the humor (so I wont cry anymore) I think of my husband as a munchkin? When my 1st CI was activated he was a duck. But a munchkin? For those of you that dont know my husband, he is not a munchkin, far from it! Its hilarious when you think about it. Here we are talking over  dinner and hes sounds like a munchkin. Ya gotta laugh.Well, back to yesterday. I woke up and had a pity party for myself. I was told to wear only my new CI for a bit so my brain would train itself to it or whatever the techno term is so I did. I couldnt hear a thing! I was back to being a lip reader. I sent hubby off to work (somebody has to work to pay for this thing ! :)) Sent him to work, put on both CI's and went visiting my mom in law for 1st time. Of course when she opened the door, saw it was me and those gracious warm arms opened up and just hugged me while I cried. She knew I was in for more work. She knew she was needed. I love that woman and am so blessed to have her in my life. Well pity party has officially started. Yes, I am blessed. Blessed as one can be. I should NOT be feeling this way. Its like 18 months down the tubes as I have worked SOOO bloomin' hard to make my 1st CI work. Now IM back to square one and a bit worse. I know I shouldnt feel this way but I do. I leave her house, come back home, hit the mattress and cover myself up with my sheets and nap the afternoon away. In waking up, I looked in the mirror and told myself "thats enough, put on your big girl panties and deal with this" thus turning into this super being with cape (and tiara). I WILL WIN THIS! I am ready to work hard and make the best of this wonderful and beautiful gift that has been given me. So here I am in the wee hours of the morning ready to start my day. Ready to watch the sun come up (afterall I slept the day and night away) and count my MANY blessings. So you guys sound like lil munchkins to me. I laugh on the inside at my own private images. I do hear, I havent a clue what it is I am hearing now but I do hear...in surround sound   :)  Have a great day y'all and count your blessings, I know I will!

Activation Day !!!!!

Well here it is 12 days post surgery from going bilateral. WHAT WAS I THINKING?????? Did I honestly and truly want to hear in stereo? Was I missing out on anything without having surround sound?  Well, let me tell you. Today was activation day and I had mixed feelings about the whole shebang. When I got hooked up the first time it was awful. It was soooo loud and everyone sounded so mechanical. Robot like and like ducks. So I went in there thinking , here we go again. Well guess what? I was right in assuming the worst as IT WAS! Everything I thought about and experienced with ear one happened with ear two. Meaning, I HEAR ROBOTS AND DUCKS AGAIN! But thats ok, I know it will get better in time. ITS GOTTA! lol Anyway, the drive down to Charleston today, I turned up the radio loud, popped in one of my CD's so on the way home, I can listen to the same song with one ear, two ears and compare the two. AINT NO COMPARISON! It was awful. I AINT LYIN! But I know it will be better. Meredith (my super duper audiologist) said to wear only the new one so I did that in the car on the way home. I didnt recognize any of the songs on that CD! I keep telling my self it will get better as I love ear one. Well Meredith put me me in the booth and she was so excited because she said I scored in the normal range and was so impressed I scored as high as I did first time out. I posted it here so you guys could see my score. Let me know what you think? Is it pretty good? lol  After I left Meredith I went for a stroll in the hospital thinking I knew all the sounds...WRONG. I hear the dings of elevators, all the lil electrical noises I know are there were louder and I caught myself looking around. Caught up with my kids and ate lunch, placed my own order and headed back. I still have my steri strips on my incision and Im ready for them to come off. My kids who will rename nameless and who were asked not in front of the other lol
refused to take them off of me saying they were on for a reason and will come off on their own. I WANT THEM OFF NOW! But I still have them on :( Thats today in a nutshell. Im tired, my head hurts and Im going to bed. NIGHT ALL! Oh I might add here that I met a friend in person today that has a new implant that I met earlier online....I was right, we did hit it off and we were meant to meet :)  Cant wait to meet again and compare notes and she is getting her 2nd CI in a couple weeks.

The Journey Continues...Going Bilateral

Here I am once again, preparing to hang on and enjoy the ride of my journey. As many of you know by reading my blog, the decision to go bilateral was not an easy one. For you newbies out there, going bilateral means getting a second cochlear implant. I will now be hearing in stereo. Surround sound :). Surgery date, May 29, 2013. Im going into the OR calm cool and collective. Im ready. MUSC is wonderful. Touch base with a friend who works in the surgery preop and catch up. SO glad to see her again as she has wedding pics to share. Drugs are pumped in, and do not remember a thing. Wake up and am taken home. Although I have soup and crackers at the house, hubby insists that we get the chicken noodle soup from Chick Fil A as he heard that it was best. It was. Got along fine from the surgery, no nausea and slept most part for 3 days. Stayed with my wonderful kids and was most comfortable. Watched 3 movies before realizing no closed caption. Havent a clue what they were about as I was still in a drug induced coma lol . Wore a glascock like I did last time and removed it with some help and everything looks good. To give you an idea what I looked like, think Princess Lea in Star Wars. but one sided lol . No swelling and bruising like last time. So I stayed with the kids, got along really well and having the surgery on Wed, hubby and I decided to travel back home on Sat. Trip was yucky as we were in the truck which you felt every bump but couldnt be helped as we were pulling a trailer. Tried to sleep and did most of the way home. Arrived home, went to bed and slept some more only to be awakened to dinner. Hubby has been a real trouper tending to my needs. We ate lunch out daily or should I say, he brought food in and last night was no different. I am still real dizzy and a bit wobbly so no driving yet for me so I must depend on him for all our needs and so far, he has not disappointed. Will attempt to go to the store today to stock up on things. Also planning on going to church and a concert this afternoon. Bandages have been removed and now have steri strips for the next 10 days. Not sure how people will look at me while doning this new look but I need to get out and about. Might put on a hat... Pain is subsiding a bit and I only take a pain pill at night when I go to bed. Activation date is June 10th. Cant wait.

Here We Go Again!!!!!

Well the decision has been made and I am starting to get ready for my upcoming surgery to have my left ear implanted with a cochlear. When I first made the decision to have my right ear implanted, the decision was an easy one. Why? Because I had no alternative. I have a "profound" (dont you hate that word... profound?) hearing loss and hearing aides would no longer help me. So, the decision was made. But now? Now I do have a choice with the 2nd and the decision was not an easy one and one that I did not take lightly. All along my objective with the first implant was to hear. I do hear. Now the question is, is it worth loosing what hearing I have in my good ear to clip the hearing I have an replace it with a cochlear? This means I am totally deaf when I remove my receivers. Well my audiologist tested me with my hearing aid and I scored 7%. Out of a possible 100%, not good. So the decision was made and I have started the process. As I am writing this, I have decided that the hardest part about the surgery is forgoing my meds for 2 weeks before surgery date. Now for those of you that dont know me, I have Lupus and Fibromyalgia. Going without my meds is possibly the worst part of this process. This past week has not been an easy one for me. I am living in what they call a "fibro fog" I am having trouble completing tasks, remembering to do things and it is SO NOT ME! So far I have forgotten a drs appt. Something which I NEVAH EVAH do, I went for my pre op appt on the wrong day, which I NEVAH EVAH do! Since I traveled 2 hours, and as always, MUSC in Charleston was so accommodating to my needs. From the front desk to the nurses to Dr. Lambert his ownself who came out between surgeries to talk to me. Anyone and everyone should go to MUSC! Speaking of which, <sidebar>did you know that the hotels located close to MUSC have rooms for the hearing impaired? Yeppers they do, so really Dr. Lambert is #1 in his field so please consider having your implant done there. Ok. SO in addition to screwed up appts, I was late picking up my MIL (thats mother in law for you non texters out there :)) I NEVAH EVAH am late! SO I trying extra hard to pay attention, complete tasks and be on time. My body is tired, Im achy all over and I am so ready to get back on my meds! Good thing is I am sleeping or I would totally be a basket case if not so thats a good thing! So Im ready to move forward with the surgery. No second guesses and I look forward to hearing a little bit better, to hearing in stereo and maybe getting a better balance to be in tune with my surroundings. So, I will update when things are over with and might even update with an before/after photo :)  Later all! Oh, thanks for reading. Its been good therapy for me to do this blog....Karen

Should I or Shouldnt I?

Should I or shouldnt I? That is the question. For the last several weeks I have been spending time thinking about getting a second cochlear implant in my left ear. Since my last visit with my super duper audiologist at MUSC, she suggested that I would really benefit from a 2nd CI. I just dont know. My goal with my first CI was "to hear". I do hear but I do not know direction of the sound that I am hearing. Make any sense?With the 2nd CI, I will have direction and I will also be able to hear /understand better in a larger crowd situation. I talked it over with friends and family members, made a list of pros and cons and still wrestling with this decision. I can hear. I had a family member tell me that I can make a list of pros and cons and keep adding to that list BUT she said that if I didnt feel it in my heart, a feeling of content in my heart with the decision to get a second CI then my list of pros and cons is null and void. Boy was this not great advice! Let me back up a bit...When I had my CI done, with this surgery all hearing is lost in that ear where the CI is implanted. What little hearing I did have was disconnected or what I like to say "clipped". To be honest, I could not tell a difference after the surgery at all while waiting to be hooked up to my unit. The point I am trying to make here is that I was scared of being totally deaf but I knew I could rely on my good ear to pull me through while waiting the 3 weeks after surgery to be hooked up to my unit. My good ear which is my left ear. For some odd reason I have a feeling that I can hear in my good ear.  Ever since my last visit with my super duper audio lady, I have conducted my own test and experiments.You know, to prove them wrong that I can hear and all. Well, I have taken my unit on and off, put myself in different situations and I have come to the realization that I can not hear in my good ear and that I am deaf! Do you know how hard that is for me to accept? I dont know why but it just is. Now, with the 2nd implant all wires so to speak will be "clipped" and I will be totally deaf when not wearing my receivers (units). Will I be able to survive when I am not wearing my receivers? What will I do when I sleep? What will become of our "pillow talks" with my hubby? (Insert here...hubby says," what pillow talks, you cant hear me and you fall asleep BEFORE I do! ) What will I do at the pool when I swim and take my water aerobics class. Will I be able to depend on my lip reading? So many questions. I have prayed for devine guidance. Well ya'll. I have to say, I have taken the advice of that very wise family member. I have tossed out my list of pros and cons and have followed my heart. I bet you are wondering what I have decided. Let me tell you a story first of something that happened to me. I was out on a date where we went dancing.There I was doing a slow dance with my soul mate when it came to me. I had this warm feeling encompass me then on Sunday morning in Sunday school, that feeling came to me again. It was a feeling of comfort, a warm fuzzy feeling and I knew then that the decision had been made. I am going for the 2nd implant. I feel a load has been lifted. I am ready to hear in stereo. As I am writing this I am tearing up as I am overwhelmed with this decision. I have emailed my super duper audio lady to get the wheels in motion. I also am waiting to hear if my insurance is going to pull through and help me financially with this second CI. So my dear friends, I would love for you to continue this ride with me as I again go through the process of entering the world of hearing in STEREO! As always, thank you for reading my blog and supporting me. PHEW! This is great therapy!

Just another Sunday?

Well y'all...I had the most incredible time at church this past Sunday. I was sitting in my pew getting myself ready to hear the word and all. I saw the handbell choir was set up to play and I didnt think twice about it. I still dont like to listen to music. Choir still sounds screechy, organ is yuck, piano is getting better so didnt really think about the handbells. I mean it just didnt register that I hadnt heard them before with my CI. Well boy oh boy....here I am sitting and all of a sudden the handbells start ringing. OH MY GOSH! It completely took my by surprise! I HEARD THE BELLS! Almost having my CI a year (Jan 3rd of 2012 was hook up date) I kind of and this is bad to say but I am taking my hearing for granted now. Which I shouldnt. I heard the handbells! What an amazing awesome sound! Well I was so shocked and caught of guard that I let out a whelp and just started to boohoo right then and there! I was so loud and so overwhelmed I could just not contain myself. The beauty I heard! The bells! AWESOME! And what was soooooo puzzling to me is that I heard each and every bell being played. Why is that? A friend of mine who was sitting in front of me for sure was wondering what all the ruckus was about. He finally decided to turn himself around and take a look. He then realized what I was hearing and what was going on with me. Man oh man, I am forever grateful as he handed me a handful of tissue. Boy did I ever need it as the handbells played throughout the entire service! OH MY GOSH! I was completely blown away. Anyway, after the service, I was so excited that I had just to tell everyone I knew. I even went to the other building where we have a more contemporary service called The Fountain and had to tell them about it too! Oh my stars. I was going up to everyone saying I heard the bells! I know newcomers thought I was some kinda strange bird. It was fabulous! I might just have to join that handbell choir! Well, I came home, ate dinner and feel sound asleep as the morning festivities and activities plum wore me out! Oh man, God is good....

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!

And the band played on....

Well I have to tell you...I went to a band concert. Me! I was a bit leary of going but I decided to put on my big girl panties and give it a whirl! And boy I am so glad that I did! I went with friends of ours (add a big shout out now to Patty and Dave for being such gracious hosts on our visit) Patty played the flute and an electronic bass (not the guitar but the big fiddle :)) in the concert and it was fabulous! I heard Sousa marches and an Irish Jig that just made me well...jiggy! I heard a banjo, guitar, tin whistle, harp! I tried to focus in to hearing an accordian but couldnt quite make it out its sound. The piccolos and flutes were more enjoyable to listen to this go round then when I wore my hearing aides. Now overall music is still really not pleasurable for me but its getting there. I will continue to have patience but at times I ask myself, WWWHHHEEENNN! I am so ready. Im watching American Idol this season as an aquaintance of ours is singing, Elise Testone and last night Wallace a cousin of my BFF played on AI! How exciting is that! I did enjoy watching them and at times I heard Wallace play his electric bass (the guitar kind, not the fiddle like Patty). If you watch AI please vote for Elise. If you dont watch AI, please do, you are missing out on some great talent. I go back for another testing at MUSC and this time we will start testing on music. I for one am looking soooo forward to that! I will keep you posted on my journey but for right now Ill sign out so I wont bore you with anymore details. Hope all is well with you and Ill check back in with you soon as I have new things to report ~Karen

"But you're doing so well..."

If she says that phrase one more time, Im gonna smack her! I went for another appointment with my stand up audiologist Meredith. I swannee, she should have been a teacher cause she is just full to the brim with sunshine and positive reinforcement. Each time I get in the booth for testing, I have to listen to and repeat these words, sentences, words with noise in the background, sentences with noise in the background and I do awful! Well no thats not true. I score in the 90th percentile (98% to be honest, thank you very much :)) with just words and no noise...As words turn into sentences and with more noise added, that percentage goes WAY down. Now Meredith says, "but you are doing so well, golly Im so proud, its only been 3 months!" and on and on and on.... Now, it is so hard not to get bummed out when I fail these tests. But for me, I have decided that when I am at home, it works for me so haarummph with letting this testing (failing) get to me. Overall I am very pleased with things EXCEPT my music and phone. Now, as for the phone, when the kids call I find myself playing around doing different things, pushing different buttons, driving them crazy I know. Maybe thats why they are not calling me as much. Anyway, I will continue to play. Sometimes its ok and sometimes its a hold on let me try this kinda day. As for music, I am reminded of the quote, its elementary dear Watson coming from Sherlock. I have decided with my music to go all the way back to the beginning with my piano books. In my elementary books, all the music is within one octave. I take that octave and play different notes over and over again training myself that is an A...this is what an A sounds like and I play that A over and over again. I have now graduated to London Bridge which requires using 2 hands where I try to sing the melody. For someone like me, starting back at the beginning is working. Might not work for you but for me, thats where I am starting and one day Ill get there. I got lots and lots of years to catch up (since Im still so young and all) and got plenty of time in my golden years. It will come. I am new to the hearing world, thus needing to start at the beginning. Can I do this? You bet I can! I am determined.<insert slammed fist on desk here> I am going to another concert this weekend where some of the music (if not all as IM not sure yet) will be Irish. Im looking forward to getting my "jig" on. I will report back to you on how I perform. As always, thanks for dropping by and see you next week!....Karen

Palm Sunday and more...

Well today is April 1st. and also Palm Sunday. Let me tell you right now...what a day it has been! I walked into our church sanctuary and I saw a harp, timpani drums, an oboe and I already knew a flute was going to be playing because my friend was the one playing the flute. She did not say one thing to me about all these other instruments. Well, I had no idea what was in store for me today. When I wore hearing aids, the flute sounded horrible. Did not like a flute at all. Well here we are ready to start and Im debating taking my ear off.  I had made up my mind already that this was going to be a DISASTER. Well it was not! Ya'll wouldnt believe it. Each instrument had like a solo in which I could hear them. I heard the cello! I heard the harp! I heard the oboe! I heard the flute! Now each instrument only played alone for a split second but that was all I needed. I was beautiful. I went up to my friend after the service and she said,"well....could you hear it?" I just started to bawl like a baby. She was holding me, then her hubby got in the act and there we were, a lil threesome right down front of the church just a cryin tears of joy. Oh how wonderful today turned out to be. And to think I almost missed it by taking my ears off! Now to be honest, Im still having trouble with music overall. Still learning how to listen and hear a full choir. But today was nice. I didnt come home and hit the bed and crawl under the covers. Today was another great day. Now moving along, some of you asked how my last appointment went at MUSC. It went great. I am hearing just fine when its one and one and small group. She said I need to and I quote "throw myself out there" unquote and get to where the action is as I need to work on having lots of background noise to practice. Well thats all I needed to hear. I went to a noisy restaurant and I thought I did ok... Back to my visit. I have had problems with my head being really sensitive. Come to find out my magnet was too strong and they gave me a different one and I had immediate relief. Simple fix. It continues to amaze me. I have decided to stop with my blog as everything is starting to come together and I am having trouble finding things to write about.....APRIL FOOLS! Each day is a new day where I hear different things. Hubby came home tonight with MORE birdseed for our feeders as I am loving all these birds in our yard. They sing to me from sun up to sun down...speaking of sundown, the sun is down and its my bedtime. As always, thanks for stopping by and have a blessed Easter....Karen

Me and My CI...entering the world of the hearing..: Hang on and enjoy the ride....

Me and My CI...entering the world of the hearing..: Hang on and enjoy the ride....: January 3rd arrives, I am sick to my stomach, anxious, nervous, excited all wrapped into one. I arrive to see my audiologist Meredith ( inse...

I will remain calm...

Well I am trying to find a friend of mine whose son is in the hospital. I know he is in ICU but how do I get to see a family member when they are not sitting in the ICU waiting room? OK...go up to ICU only to find a note on the desk saying they were gone and to be back directly. I see a phone, pick it up (as you remember I do not talk on the phone yet only to family members) Well I thought, here it goes, I pick it up and lo and behold I cant hear a thing...I told the person answering the phone what I needed as I just had a lil something to drop off....no one came to the door so I hung up and left. Went back downstairs to the info desk and guess what? No one there...a sign said be back momentarily but there right in front of me was another phone! I waited a moment, no one returned so I picked up the phone provided and , nope, still cant hear lol  So, I thought to myself, you can do this, whats your next move. I went to the admissions office where this sweet young gal asked if she could help me. I laughed and said "honey, you sure can. Got a minute?" Big shout out to Tiffany for coming to my rescue. I explained to her my dilemma of being deaf and a new implant wearer and not able to use the phone. She looked at me, spoke clearly and slowly and gave me all the information I needed written down! Bless her heart. So sweet. Anyway...Made it up to the Childrens ICU only to find a BUZZER! No phone but a buzzer which said children sleeping ring once lol I do hope I rang it only once as a person waved me back.....make a long story short, I didnt get to see who I wanted to see but I did meet the mom I have heard so much about and chatted away. I swear, I love meeting new people. Day has been a good one. I do have a question...my ear hurts. Not my ear but my implant? Anyone know whats up with that? I go to MUSC on Thurs so I will ask  Its so weird! But then again....look who we are dealing with. As always, thanks for stopping by and hi to all the new friends I have met this week around town and are new followers....Later!

Where do I begin?

Its been over a week since I have updated, gosh, more than a week and so much has happened. Here I am entering my 3rd month with my CI and still I am discovering new things. As I said earlier, my CI and I are now one. Its the 1st thing I put on in the morning and last thing I take off when I go to bed. My selective hearing is starting to kick in. The vacuum cleaner no longer bothers me and the ice maker isnt as noticeable so things are improving. I went to my 1st auction flying solo. Hubby had a meeting so I went by my ownself :). Its amazing how easy it is to just flick that number up and down! It defiantly is all in the wrist action. Well, I came home with what my hubby calls a wooden box. But I call it an old vintage antique bin lol I love it and feel like I got a great buy. A steal even have you. Anyway...loved the auction and I can see myself going again in the future. No number in hand...just to hear and get caught up in the action. I went to the dentist. You might say no biggie. I say HUGE deal. They speak behind masks! I was able to converse (well converse as much as one can with garbola in your mouth) with everyone and dearly loved every minute. I can not tell you how much it means to me to talk to people now! I told the dentist that my jaw has been achy. Im sitting here thinking...could it be because I am runnin my mouth too much? Hummmm. What do you think? The birds are really out in their glory and I am enjoy hearing different pitches now. Not so much monotone but still sounds a bit mechanical. I know they are birds that I hear and its grand. Had no idea what I have been missing out on! I have been eating out (a lot) with friends. I am loving this! We have a group that goes out monthly and I went a couple times but just ended up sitting in my own world not taking part in any of the conversations. Now it seems like I am taking over in the conversations and I dont mean too! HONEST! I do not want to be one of those that people say, oh my she does talk so much! Its just so hard not to! I have been quiet for so long! So for those of you that are reading this, I apologize for monopolizing (is that the right word) all the conversations. Im just so excited and find it hard to contain myself. I just love my life! But I will try to rein it in a bit so I wont lose those friends I do have. Im sure Im not reporting everything that has happened but dining out with friends is a big deal for me along with going to the dentist and attending my auction. Went to an annual oyster roast and heard in the dark around the fire pit. Was cool...again, I apologize for talking too much lol. Thats all for now. Have a great day and as always, thanks for stopping by! Karen

Fun Day...another one???

Well, I dont know where to start. I do NOT! So many things have happened. Hubby took me to my 1st auction. I was able to hear the auctioneer after concentrating for a bit. Now I feel I am ready to fly solo to the auction house but hubby said I could NOT get a number and bid on anything. They have one every Thursday night so not sure when I will venture out. Had lunch with some friends on valentines day and had a blast! I am just loving this ordering business. Today I went out to lunch again and asked the waitress for todays specials! ME! Never ever have I done that! And yes, I heard what she said! Its amazing. Anyway, had some of my bestest girlies come up from out of town and we made a day of hitting only consignment shops. OMG! We had so much fun. To celebrate this occasion, I decided to wear a color on my receiver. Since I was wearing orange and brown, I donned the orange one. Had a pic taken so hopefully I can attach it to this update. DO you know when my friend took the pic of my receiver, I looked at it for the 1st time while wearing it. Looks kinda big and sticks out a bit more than I thought. Its ok though as I can hear :) Also this week I rescued 2 dogs in a busy parking lot at the gym in my wet bathing suit and no receiver which meant I was deaf as a doornail trying to communicate by voice on a cell phone lol Not an easy task. I ended up taking the dogs to the vet that was listed on their collars. I have now learned to ALWAYS carry my receiver with me....Ill just keep it in a bag in the pool area so I can keep an eye on it and not get stolen. Im sure there is a lot more I can write about but I do not want to bore you guys as I do want you to keep reading! For now tho as always I will say thanks for stopping by....now lets see if I can find my pic of my colorful receiver ....

I just flew solo!

Well. It is the day after my 1st follow up appointment and as I look back at the day I am in awe...It was my 1st trip flying solo to MUSC! Me, my ownself, got to MUSC, parked the car and found the right place! lol Im sitting in the waiting room with tears in my eyes as #1, I did not get lost, #2, I spoke to volunteers and visitors alike in the hall and elevators (something I never did as for fear of a reply) saying good morning and actually hearing their replies! #3, once in the waiting room, I heard my name being called without constantly looking at the desk to see who it was being called. When I was called, the kind, kind woman behind the desk just looked at me and smiled as I told her it was my 1st time "flying solo". After we were finished, she smiled at me and told me I did very well that I answered all of her questions and that I should be very pleased with myself. She went on to say that I had a most pleasant voice and again, I did a beautiful job. Well. I was pleased with myself and walked back to my seat with a puffed out chest that just screamed OVER CONFIDENCE! So here it is 8:45 and starting my day with a puffed out chest. lol  It did get deflated a bit later on but I will tell you why later. First up, my appointment. I loved being with Carla and Meredith. They told me I passed with flying colors and kept using the word awesome. Great! Puffed out chest...They kept telling me that I did really well as a new CI wearer so I am filled over the brim with self confidence. Oh, I did learn something but DO NOT TELL ED!....I found out that I have more colors for my receivers than I thought. I have a whole SLEW of them I can decorate with stickers and such  lol Hang on gang cause the FASHIONISTA IS BACK!  lol  OK...its now time for me to leave MUSC puffed out chest, beaming with self confidence only to hit the parking garage and wondering where in blue blazes did I park! Yep, you guessed it...rode the elevator to the top, looked out, continued my journey down only to meet a suburban along with the way at each floor who finally laughed at me a couple floors down when he rolled down the window and  asked, "lose something?" Man...talk about an ego buster when I said,"yea, my car " lol Found my car, hopped in and all is well. I am headed back home to my daughters home back under her protection...Got paid for my time for the study I am in so I decided to spend it in Charleston before heading home. Although I tried, my favorite shop was closed, started to rain so alas, I am homebound. It was a good day. No, It was a great day, I saw my kids, had a fabulous appointment and came home to dinner already planned by a wonderful hubby! Good day indeed...thanks for stopping by and until next time...hears hearing ya! Later...Karen :)