Hearing Loss and Speech Therapy

Well our prayer for Melanie to stay in the nursery was quickly answered.  On Wednesday, August 21st, going to iMom....Melanie literally leaped out of my arms to go play with the others kids in her nursery class.  I was shocked!!  She had a blast.  What a blessing it has been this past week to go into worship and fully hear the message.  It is awesome for Melanie that she can learn how to play with kiddos her age!

This week has brought some answers to the question about Melanie's lack of hearing.  She had failed her hearing test with the TN Early Intervention group a few weeks ago.  Yesterday, we went to Vanderbilt to have a more intensive hearing screening done and visit an ENT that works with Melanie's plastic surgeon.  Unfortunately, they were unable to complete the test because she was unresponsive to so much of the test.  We found out that there is so much fluid in her ear that her ear drum cannot function.  There is no way to tell how much hearing loss, if any, that she has until the fluid is removed.  So....Melanie will be having tubes put in her ear at the same time she has her palate repaired this Fall.  What a blessing!!!  We now know why Melanie cannot communicate with words and why the words she tries to say sound like they are underwater.  I am so excited for Melanie to be able to hear!!! 

This week I have brought out the sign language videos that I did with Cohen.  Melanie has been an expert at "please" since China.  As of Monday, she has mastered "more", "eat", and "drink".  Tuesday she was putting her sign language together to create sentences.  My smart girl!!!

In two weeks, we start communication therapy with Rainbow through TN Early Intervention Services.  In four weeks, she starts speech therapy.   

It is unbelievable to think that Melanie turns 2 on September 2nd!!!  Friday, September 6th, we will be having a celebration for Melanie.  It will be an evening of cake and drinks as we thank those that have stood by us with fundraisers, donations, volunteering and prayers for the past two years of our adoption process.

Melanie has a babysitter for the first time!

Well tonight was the first time we left Melanie with a babysitter.  Of course they had the best babysitter in the world...my mom...or as the kids call her "G". 

Melanie and Cohen enjoyed a hour and forty-five minutes of "G" time tonight without me or Jason.  SHE DID GREAT!!!    This is a true success!  We had her watch the kids while we went to an open house at Cohen's school.  Mom said that she fed her almost the entire time.  We had her watch them at our house so that she would be in familiar surroundings.  This is one big thing to check off the "adoption adjustments" checklist!  Thank you Jesus.

The next thing on the "adoption adjustments" checklist is having Melanie stay in the church nursery during Worship service.  This is probably going to be a little more difficult that the normal adjustment period since we are vising different churches at this time.  It will be hard to build up some consistency with familiar surroundings, people, and kids.  We pray that this process does not take too long.  It is all in HIS timing.  Let's just pray that her adjustment period for staying in the church nursery is just as smooth as the bonding stage and staying with a babysitter! 

We have been home six weeks!

We have now been home from China for six week and have had Melanie for eight weeks!!!

As of August 8, 2013...Melanie is now officially bonded/attached with me and Jason!!!  Praises for the answered prayer!!!  It only took seven weeks (from the day we got her).  Yes, the separation anxiety has begun.  I know that it seems REALLY strange why I would be happy for Melanie to have separation anxiety when away from either me or Jason...but trust me this is a good thing!  It is one of those "adoption" things.  So now we just have to work on her feeling safe with those who will be babysitting from time to time...like "G".  I have to say, "G" is taking this separation anxiety thing hard.  She just wants Melanie to love her...like Cohen loves her so much!  It is getting better every time we go to G's house. 

Over the last two weeks we have found out a few things about our little Melanie.  Her palate repair has been scheduled for this Fall!  We really like her plastic surgeon.  He has a great reputation and is a perfectionist.  Love it!  We also found out that Melanie failed her hearing test.  This makes so much sense as to why she says words the way she does.  The theory is that she has fluid build up in her ears, which is normal for a cleft palate child.  So when she hears words, they sound like they are under water.  When she tries to says words, in English, they sound like they are underwater.  Another praise...I emailed Melanie's plastic surgeon about a referral for an ENT and one that could do tubes in the ears at the same time as the palate repair.  So we love our plastic surgeon!  Not only are they going to do the tubes in the ear and palate repair at the same time, they set up our appointment with the ENT.  Can I just say great customer service?  Love that office!

So Melanie is now liking cold items like ice cream/frozen yogurt.  We have tried to give Melanie ice cream a few times.  She cannot stand the coldness on the roof of her mouth.  Today, we went to Sweet Ce Ce's and she loved it! 

This past week, the Hendersonville Life magazine released my adoption article.  It was a VERY short version of the two separate articles I wrote for Gallatin Life.  The follow-up to the Gallatin Life article should be out in September.  It has been so exciting to have the opportunity to share our adoption stories and hopefully encourage other families pursing adoption.

Melanie is doing really well in her transition.  I am learning how different boys and girls are in regards their emotions and the approach to instruction.  Cohen has started 1st grade.  He loves his teacher, and thinks she is cute.  Eventhough he asks to be homeschooled again and that he does not like the rule at school where they cannot talk....he tells me everyday that his day was awesome!  Our family is doing really well in the adjustments of our life right now....searching for a new church home, having a new addition to the family, and no longer homeschooling.  We truly feel blessed by God and are very thankful for our adoption experience.  He has been our rock and strength to get us through it all!!!