Way to go, MATT!!!

Matt tested so well on five different standardized tests, all normed for HEARING children, that it's been recommended to fully mainstream him. His speech teacher said if Matt wasn't deaf she couldn't write an IEP for him based on his speech because he was doing so well.

I've started the ball rolling with the district, have a summer full of papers and tests, but I'm very excited for our son. He wanted to be around other deaf/hoh kids last year, but we'll have to find another way to do this. I think his needs to hang with friends in the neighborhood at home AND at school is growing much stronger in him. The poor kid, because of our military family lifestyle, this will be his seventh school, and he's just turning eight next month. You name it, we've seen it, all across the country. We've been amazingly blessed with wonderful teachers and therapists along the way!

Hmmm... I've been thinking about bilaterals for him, too. Last week I met some AMAZING adults who have bilateral CIs, and was just floored by hearing them talk about their experiences. I've also been keeping up with Little Jack's progress, too. I would like MATT to talk with the adults I've met, too, see what "bi-CIs" looks like. I look forward to reading research on improvements in speech recognition and other areas, how bilateral CIs help vs. having one implant. But, come on, I'm thrilled my boys can even do so well with one! Yeah, technology!

I'm a little more on the fence re: bilaterals for the Little Guy, as I wonder if he'll need MRIs in the future. SURE the magnets can be removed for an MRI, and I heard the procedure isn't too difficult, either. But I don't know if I'd want to mess with an MRI and TWO CI magnets. These are my very personal feelings, I wish things were a little different but that's life. I'll talk with his developmental ped doc and CI team more about this, see what they think.

In the meantime, we are ANXIOUSLY awaiting the arrival of the 120-channel programing. I have no clue when it will be released, but I'm patiently waiting. HOW EXCITING! Deb has blogged a little about this, and so has Dan. I can't wait to read more someday!

Oh, wait! The Little Guy may be going to his school five full days a week, maybe with a mainstream pre-K for 2 or 3 days/week if that all works out. I'm looking at other options for him, just to keep my mind open to everything around us.

As a mom, I can't wait for school to start again! Did I type that? Isn't that funny how perspectives change? When I was little, I lived for summers. NOW I'm TRYING to make summer fun for my little ones. I really, really, REALLY appreciate the amazing jobs my boys' teachers have done. I don't think I could thank them enough for their patience and expertise. Sigh... ;)