Lenthy Absence

I must sincerely apologize for my lengthy absence.  It's been a whirlwind.

I was implanted with the Cochlear Freedom Implant with the N5 Processor -  Cochlear Implant on February 29, 2012.  Leap year, leap of faith in technology.  How apropos.  

At first I was disappointed  - - Patience are not my forte...  ::sigh::

Three months later - I am hearing more than I have in twenty years.  Although I rely on bilateral stim, I'm loving hearing the bird calls and wind chimes.  

Understanding speech still proves to be difficult but better than in a long time.  Only gets better!  

Would I do it again? .........   HELL YES.  I plan to. 

....more later.
  

January 1st, 2010

A new year.
Filled with exciting things.

Hearing Loss Association of America.
Rockland County Task Force for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.
Walk 4 Hearing.

Past Semester's grades were FABULOUS!
Needless to say how hard I worked for these grades. (patting self on back)
Sociology A
Acting A
Speech A
Psychology A
English Lit B (my editor was on leave, lol)


Winter session is .... Sociology - Deviant Behavior.

Full Load next semester ~
in addition to extra curricular activities above.


English Lit (children's lit)
Voice and Diction for public speaking
Ballet - yes, Ballet. For the refinement.
Human Sexuality - (tee hee) Required for the sciences.
Tennis - for fun! ...and I need 3 gym credits.

Which leaves ASL 102 the 2nd half of main course and asl 201 (cultural aspects and advanced asl) and two Gym classes...
Hey, I'm saving the best for last!

Then off to .. paid work? More education?
Oh the possibilities!

WOW

I've decided that I'm going to see a group in Westchester NY that has implanted the new Cochlear Nucleus 5 in a friends two year old. Mom seems to love it but implanted baby loves to rip it off! Not used to the wearing of the device yet, i'm sure.
Window shopping - not commiting to anything. Besides, I'm not sure if it's available in purple!! or pink for that matter!
The tinnitus in my left ear is making me crazy. I can't hear over it and when I turn up the volume on my aids, the ringing gets louder.. LOL figures! Which is why I'm visiting the Westchester ENT. If the ringing gets any worse I wont be able to wear hearing aids in that ear anyway, so next step is CI's.
On another note - Officially on the board of the Westchester Chapter HLAA, on the Rockland County Task Force for the Hearing Impaired and Deaf Communities, volunteering, all while packing on 17 credits and getting A's and B's. Who's busy? Me? Hell yeah. But I love it. Wouldn't have it any other way.

Fulfilling a dream next sememster and taking Ballet.

Twitter

You can find me on Twitter I'm @alicen45. Also, keep in mind that I'm trying my damnedest to get my future rolling so if you come across or know anyone who is hearing impaired please let them know about my VOLUNTEER services. and they should contact me at alicen45@hotmail.com.
I will help anyone who needs assistance!

Time

Time. It seems to be something I'm in serious shortage of lately!
With good reason I assure you. I'm helping an elderly couple get back on their feet. Joyce has a bum hip and needs to have a full hip replacement, so I took her for xrays to see how much damage has furthered in the last 11 years since she last saw her orthopedic surgeon. Yeah, she's been waiting forever, and now her right leg is 2" shorter than the left. Arthritis caused this apparently. After the appointment we got her a new walker, because she insists on being independent and not ride in a wheel chair. OK. So were getting blood work done in the am. Gyula too. Gyula has to have a full range of heart testing done tomorrow. When we were at the doctor's last, they did an EKG, and his heart was erratic. So, tomorrow he's getting another ekg, a sonogram, a MRI or catsckan and Did I mention he's Deaf? Yeah, profoundly so. But an Oral Deaf person who needs to read lips or have things written down for him. Which makes things hard for him and communication. I've also gotten in touch with the "center" formerly League for the Hard of Hearing in NY about getting him hearing aids which, are a federal requirement prior to Cochlear Implantation. Already in touch with NYEE about that one. First his heart needs to be under control, then the rest can follow. So tomorrow should be interesting. By the by, did I mention that these are my parents? Oh, well, gotta start somewhere right? So for my first Advocacy role it's MOM and POP. Lots to do, Lot's to do.

Facts About Hearing Loss

FACT: Approximately 10% of the U.S. population or 31 million Americans have a significant hearing loss.

FACT: Over 90% of deaf children are born to hearing parents.

FACT: 30-40% of people over 65 have some type of hearing loss

FACT: 14% of those ages 45-64 have some type of hearing loss

FACT: 15% of children between the ages of 6-19 have a measurable hearing loss in at least one ear.

FACT: Hearing loss occurs in 5 out of every 1,000 newborns.

FACT: Exposure to a noisy subway, for just 15 minutes a day overtime, can cause permanent damage to hearing over time.

FACT: Hearing aids can offer dramatic improvement for most people with hearing loss.

FACT: A mild hearing loss can cause a child to miss as much as 50% of classroom discussion.

FACT: Listening to an MP3 Player at high volumes overtime can cause permanent damage to hearing.

FACT: With early identification and appropriate services, deaf children can develop communication skills at the same rate as their hearing peers.

FACT: Noise is one of the leading causes of hearing loss.

FACT: Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) affects 50 million people in the United States.

FACT: Babies are never too young to have their hearing tested.

FACT: Speechreading is the more current word for lipreading.

FACT: People with hearing loss wait an average of 7 years before seeking help.

FACT: Only 16% of physicians routinely screen for hearing loss.

FACT: 15 million people in the United States with hearing loss avoid seeking help.

FACT: 1 out of 3 people over age 65 have some degree of hearing loss.

FACT: Approximately 3 million children in the U.S. have a hearing loss; 1.3 million of them are under the age of three.

*Copied from the Center for Hearing and Communication @chchearing.org

Robert Pattinson

Currently filming here in the Big Apple,
Mr Pattinson is surrounded by hoards of over active hormonal girls.
They are a constant at the set, disturbing more than just the actors but the production assistants and crew.
I feel bad for the poor kid.
Yeah, he's attractive.
And talented...
I finally found the lyrics to his music on the Twilight CD.
Now, I understand what the guy is saying.
I would love to work on the Twilight next film. I will fly my own ass out there! lol
Having a part of Stephanie's story would be very fulfilling. (Even if it's just an "innocent" witness to the Volturi's Royal flop).

Thank You Stephanie Meyer!
I had a very difficult time putting those books down.
I guess I was obsessed like the rest.
What girl doesn't want a beautiful, talented musician, with a (perfectly reasonable) flare for overdoing things to protect her?

Who doesn't want to be obsessed over?

The real actors that portray the characters we love.
Kid shouldn't have to run, and get tagged by cabs.
Or have to hire body guards to protect him from the masses of teenage flesh.

Don't get me wrong folks, I loved the movie too. But a certain amount of respect for the actors please.
I know this will fall on Deaf ears.... lol

Diets

Oh. My. God. The diet I've been working on for a while now, has me brimming with tears of Joy. I tried on a dress in a smaller size today to find that I needed a SMALLER dress? A size 4?
I haven't been a size 4 since high school! (long time, I assure you).
I am so happy. Now I can eat a bit larger proportions to sustain the current weight.

CI Hybrids

The trial that I mentioned in my last post was a Hybrid technology for users with residual low end hearing. The group that I evaluated with was very optimistic about this trial and have had success with it.
The implant is shorter than the normal for the Trademarked full implant but, it is just as long as other companies full implant.
Hmm... That's kind of weird right?
In any event - I would not have to be re-implanted should the remainder of my hearing deteriorate, (which is highly likely). So it is worth considering. Just one day at a time.
I'm not really being hard on myself. Just allowing for my emotions to surface. I am doing what I can to make my life and my family's lives better.
Educating the masses! Hot deaf chicks rule~!

Cochlear Implants

I bit the bullet and was evaluated for Cochlear Implants.
What an emotional torrent that followed suit!
I'm not being forced into making any decisions but there is definitely pressure to assimilate. 'They' want me to be involved in a trial for my specific hearing loss.
I'm not rushing anything. Dealing with the emotional aspect of this first and foremost.
It's amazing, Humanity that is. How we take things for granted and even poke fun of other people for their disabilities. That is, until it happens to us.
I remember calling my father all sorts of names, and being really nasty to him - because he couldn't hear. The shame I feel now for my actions is almost disabling in itself.
Karma?

Grades and GPA

Let's get things straight first.
Do I really care about the GPA? ................Well, yeah.
Not enough to retake some classes, though. The only class I will retake is the Algebra class, of which I failed by 7/10ths of a point. Ridiculous.
Never the less, I don't fail any classes and my GPA will bounce right back up. Currently my GPA is 2.9 (ick) despite the F in math. So, I imagine once the math is retaken and passed, this will change.
ASL 101 - A
English 102 - b+
Anthropology is a C. ( only because of the sick kids, mind you) English too. It should have and WOULD have been an A, If I had someone to care for them while they were sick. Never mind the car accident.. ugh.
Still thinking about RIT as an option for my masters.

Book

I've decided to write a book. Yeah, I know. Wow. Whether or not it gets picked up and tossed around the summer selection of next years reading list.... yeah, we shall see. I'm clearly looking forward to sharing my insight and information about going deaf and deaf culture. I have editors galore that are looking forward to my success.
I can only promise you that I will write the book, whether or not I will make it fiction, non fiction or something else in between is a whole other story..
More later and ....
thanks for listening.

Lunacy

I think yesterdays little episode correlates directly with the full moon over head. It went way past a silly little sadness, and quite frankly scared the hell out of me. I'm still slightly melancholy today but, workable. The big boys are home today and are a great distraction to emotion outside of the frustration, of course... lol
I guess the anger that stems from being hearing impaired got to me more than I had previously believed. I have scheduled my evaluation for cochlear implants at the end of the month. Magic pill, miracle or vampire venom apart I think this is the only option for me in reality.
On a positive note, the bunnies are out and I caught a great pic, enjoy....

Feeling pathetic

It's amazing how much a movie can affect you. I just watched Twilight again. Now, I feel like a pathetic little girl still searching for the night in shinning armor Or, vampire in glistening skin. I know, I subjected myself to yet another fantasy. A life outside my own. Different - Ethereal, majestic.

Unlike my own which I find rather hum drum.
OK back to reality - that painting is not going to finish itself!

Back with a Vengeance

WTF? Where have I been? OH, my god. (mine not yours). I have been thoroughly inundated with school work, homework, sick kids, sick spouse, car accidents, sick self, and a general malaise that carries over from exhaustion! This school semester I have been completely bogged down with CRUD. Most similar to pond scum, crud is the everyday yuck that can get in the way of a good education or even life. I miss having 2 minutes to think to myself! Alrighty, enough complaining.
Making things better~ reading a lot of books to help me in my career choice of the future and learning as much as possible about deaf culture. I really have learned quite a bit of sign language and wish that I could practice more but way too many people in my life do not know even basic signs. I've instructed my spouse that it's time to learn so I will be practicing in front of him and the children. Like it or not, I'm going deaf. Even if the approval for Cochlear Implants makes it's way over to me, I will still be deaf.
There is no going back (unless of course miracles in science happen).
OK, so I'm off to the Dr. With what I think is Bronchitis.
Vacation week next week so, I expect to get a good bit of reading in and handing in my paper on Deaf Culture to my Anthropology Professor.

Addendum to Rosie

I write this in the wake of Rosie's passing. I write "you" to signify her.

The last time I saw you was at Maddy's 2nd birthday party.
Vivacious as ever and so full of Joy. No thoughts to the battle with Cancer that you fought and won. That's just another piece of you, who you are. Your passing raises a well of tears that cannot be quelled. Taken from earth in a swift slap of fate. I remember you at 18, when we challenged our hair to mysterious heights. Of course, you won every time. You were always a stunning girl. Envied by many~ including me. Not just for your external beauty but the beauty in your heart. The kind of beauty that cannot be conveyed with words. There will never be another human being like you. Unique. Beautiful. Vivacious. Charming. Elegant. Rosie.

Rosie

Rosie,

I will never get to say "Good Bye" to you.

I will not be able to tell you how thoroughly beautiful you are.

I will not be able to tell you how much joy you have brought to others.

I will however, remember you with love in my heart.

Rosie,

Rest now, peacefully.

Still

I have no idea as of yet why those fireworks were set off. That aside, school is great!
I love my classes, especially American Sign Language. I get to use what I know. In addition, I can learn more about it and be able to apply it with friends who are hearing impaired and deaf. It's amazing how life twists and turns, where you end up, what you end up doing with your life.
I'm really glad I'm here. In this place. Now.
I've been informed by my English teacher that I along with the rest of the class, will be starting a new blog on our English readings. I will probably cut and paste some of it for you to read as well.
Really looking forward to an awesome semester.

Fireworks

What reason could there possibly be for fireworks in January? Some one set em off what seemed to have been just a block or two away, and I cant figure out WHY? Yes, they were pretty for the 30 seconds that they were going off through the trees but, it's January folks. Other than the 1st African American President - I cannot think of a reason for such celebration. They were not the back yard flickers either, I'm talking Full scale, floor shaking, lightning style fireworks. I live in suburbia, with a house 500 feet away from me that burned to the ground about 5 years ago. Um, what possessed these creatures to light em off? I will have to find out and report back here because this seems like a dangerous adventure.

Activity?

Non. I have been drone and dull. Save for the various shopping trips and errands, I have been completely inactive. Monday morning will change all of this. Monday school starts up again and I am looking forward to being out of the house yet again. The importance of getting out and speaking with others is relative to ones personality. Mine requires many facets of friendships and social gatherings. Of which I have not fed lately. To feed the machine you need to have sustenance on which it will survive. It's mid winter and there is nothing but snow and ice. Snow and Ice have no vitamins.