Halloween Prep

You never know what to expect on Halloween night with the weather in Minnesota.  Snowpants and a winter coat over your Halloween costume is unfortunately more common than not.  Luckily, we have lots of chances to celebrate and dress up besides trick-or-treating on the 31st.

First off, let's start with the costumes!  I figured this was most likely the last year that I would be able to (a) get the kids to wear coordinating costumes and (b) have any influence over what they dressed as.  So, I decided to dress the kids as a flamenco dancer and a matador.  I told Punky that she was a Spanish princess, and she was happy with that.  Her costume was found online.  We showed her a youtube video of flamenco dancing so she knew what we were talking about.  Buddy was happy being a bullfighter too.  I couldn't find a premade costume, so I had to make his.  I am really happy with how it turned out!  I found a girls velour bolero jacket at a consignment shop and cut the fur collar off.  I also bought matching velour pants there and gold trimmings at the craft store.  Some hot glue, a cape and some pink socks (for luck!) and the outfit was complete.  

One of our favorites is our annual trip to a local grocery store's Boo Blast.  The kids get reusable grocery bags as they enter the store (I suppose these are really for us moms, but after 4 years I have quite the stock pile already).  There are trick-or-treat stations throughout the store with typically healthier options like carrot sticks, milk cartons, etc.  This year the kids also joined in on a hula-hoop contest and danced the hokey pokey!  We waited in line for animals.  Punky chose a dog on a leash and Buddy requested a (black) cougar.  The balloon lady looked at me with a "that isn't on the idea board" look and I told her just to make a dog, he wouldn't know the difference.  Anyway, Buddy's cougar didn't even make it home, he popped it in the car.  

With Punky's Bffs Strawberry Shortcake and Lemon Meringue

We carved pumpkins tonight with the kids.  Last year I bought a pumpkin carving kit on clearance after Halloween and oh my gosh it really changed our carving experience.  It was so much easier!  I might even carve another pumpkin after the kids are in bed some time this week.  I want to try out one of those tricky patterns.  When I asked Buddy what kind of face he wanted his pumpkin to have, this is the reply I got:

Silly!

Scary?

Maybe a squishy face?

Here's what we ended up with!

Hearing Loss

This week Punky had an audiology appointment to try out her new hearing aid. When she got her first hearing aid at 13 months old, we were told that her (ballet pink) hearing aid would probably last about 3 years. As she grew, she would need a bigger, more powerful hearing aid. Also, technologies change so frequently that no doubt there would be new features available. Insurance covers (part of) the cost every three years too, so we had been anticipating purchasing the new hearing aid for her. Punky was most excited because she wanted to get a purple hearing aid!

Derek was able to join me at the appointment which I was so thankful for... because Buddy was his usual crazy self. After Buddy continuously asked the audiologist for his own hearing aid (red! giraffe spots!) and was denied, he wouldn't settle down. I ended up taking him in the hallway to check out the fish tank, while Derek stayed behind to watch Punky's hearing test.

Now that Punky is 4 and a half, the hearing tests are a little more reliable. Her hearing was last tested at a little over 3 years old. Even at 3, the hearing tests were often questionable as she got tired or bored with the audiologist's "games". (Is she not hearing that beep or is she simply being 3?) This appointment, however, she raised her hand confidently each time she heard the beep and was able to repeat back words the audiologist said to her.

I am a little bit thankful that Buddy needed to be taken out of the room, because it is no fun seeing your little baby fail at a simple hearing test. Watching her sitting all by herself in the sound proof room and not reacting to the beeps (when we can clearly hear them) is heartbreaking. Poor Derek felt the pain of that portion of the day.

At about 9 months old, we learned during a sedated ABR (Auditory Brain-Stem Response Test) that Punky's hearing in her left ear had mild to moderate hearing loss. Her right ear was normal. At 3 years old, her hearing loss was considered moderate to severe. At the time, we weren't sure if that was due to her being 3 and not cooperating with tests, or something else. Well, this week Punky's hearing loss had progressed even more and is now considered profound. Basically, if she was standing next to a lawn mower, she could not hear anything in her left ear.  This means that a hearing aid will no longer help Punky hear better.



Derek and I of course are feeling very sad about the whole thing.  Yes, she is lucky that her hearing in her right ear is normal.  Yes, she is a smart girl and can read already.  Yes, she has no speech or learning problems.  And even though we know that there are plenty of other people with hearing loss who are successful and have overcome their obstacles, it does not mean that we can not be sad for the challenges she will face.

Learning that her hearing loss has deteriorated has reopened the wound that we initially felt when we first found out about her hearing loss.  I feel like we are in a state of mourning again.  She's our little girl and we do not want her to have to feel any hurt or pain or troubles that may come with this.

Before this appointment, I felt we were in a good place.  We were comfortable with her hearing loss and had analyzed, discussed and cried over all the possible scenarios of problems she might face.  We were working to help her advocate for herself.  It took a long time, but I felt like I was at peace with Punky's hearing loss and the problems she would face.

Now that Punky will not be wearing a hearing aid, I feel like there are a whole new set of problems that I need to analyze and find solutions for.  The hearing aid was a sign or reminder to teachers, parents, other children that Punky does indeed hasve hearing loss and might need extra help.  Without it, will people know that she has a hearing problem and might need extra accommodations?  She looks, talks, and acts like any other kid but why can't she hear what I am saying?

I have heard terrible stories from others about teachers that didn't believe the child had hearing loss and thought the child was just not paying close enough attention in the classroom.  I imagine Punky as a tiny kindergartener walking through the crowded noisy cafeteria and a friend shouts out "Hey Punky, come sit by us!"  But she doesn't hear and walks in the other direction.  Will her friends think she is bratty and doesn't want to sit by them?  When in reality she just didn't hear.

Unfortunately, these are all problems that I worry Punky will have to face.  I hope we are able to give her the confidence and right tools to help her overcome any problems she has.  It will take time, but I know one day I will be at peace with her hearing loss once again.  But, today, I am sad for my little girl.    

  

Fall Farm

One of our favorite fall traditions is going to the "farm" with Grandma and Grandpa. The "farm" has tons of fun things to do outdoors with kids- a petting zoo, mini golf, giant slide, corn box, giant maze, train rides, bouncy houses, pumpkin patch, and more. The weather report was questionable that morning, but we decided to go ahead with our plans and risk the weather because we were unsure of when we would be able to reschedule.  It turned out to be a generally beautiful day with sun peaking through the clouds at times.  And because of the bad weather reports, the farm was not at all busy!  This is our third year in a row going and although not much has changed, the kids have a blast!



Of course, our first stop was the animal barn. In years past, the baby goats were roaming through the barn and the farm yard, but this year everyone was locked in their pens. We bought ice cream cones filled with corn to feed to the goats and alpacas.









There were also small pens with kitties, puppies, bunnies and even fawns that the kids could enter.  They like the bunnies best, I think.  The puppies were too wild, the kitties scratched and the fawns were sleepy.

We did a pony ride and tried to find our way through the corn (lattice fence) maze.



This year was our first time trying out mini golf with the kids.  They had a great time and didn't do too bad.  There were 9 holes, and after each hole, Buddy ran back to the start because he had to choose a new color ball.  I think by the end we probably had 3 or 4 extra balls and a few extra clubs.  Luckily, we were the only ones on the course!

Buddy had quite the interesting swing.  He couldn't decide if he was left handed or right handed and which hand to put on top.  We couldn't tell if he was trying to golf, shoot pool, or play hockey!  His "swing" was all over the place (and everyone had to BACK UP!).

The highlight of the farm was the birdhouse. We purchased popsicle sticks dipped in bird seed for the birds to eat. At first, we were all a bit freaked out by the birds. Buddy wouldn't hold his stick and had to have Grandpa help him. Punky was fine as long as the birds didn't land on her hands or arms. Grandma and I squeeled when birds flew on our backs and in our hair- yikes! After awhile, we all got used to the friendly birds though and were amazed at their beautiful colors!









We took a few trips down the giant slide before Grandma and Grandpa had to leave. Then the kids checked out their favorite water pump/rubber ducky game. We headed indoors and jumped in the bouncy houses before going home.





It was a fun day at the farm spent with Grandma and Grandpa! Hopefully next year, baby cousin L will be able to join us!