Since we have been home.................

Yes, it has been a long time since I last posted. We have been home with LeahJean for 2 1/2 months. It has been a very busy 2 1/2 months. We got back home from China and had to go into getting ready for school to start mode. That meant getting all three little ones ready for school, as well as getting one 18 year old ready for college. Tanner started to school August 5 and Parker started August 10. After a lot of paper work and extreme stress we got LeahJean in school August 25. She goes to the deaf/hearing impaired school in Clarke county. That is the same school that Parker goes to. He is our other 4 year old that is hearing impaired.
We went to Washington DC August 22-24 for a reunion with the families that we traveled with when we adopted Tanner in 2005. We had such a great time. It was so amazing seeing how all the children had changed. Getting reaquanted with everyone again. We also got to do alittle touring while we were their. Went to the Zoo. The kids had a great time. I had never been to DC, so I really enjoyed it. It was so good spending time with the families and letting the children get to know each other again. They were all so little when we adopted them. Tanner was 10 months old when we adopted him. We had six families in our travel group.
We have had doctors appointments and hospital visits to see exactly where LeahJean stands with her hearing. We have had speech evaluations and psychological evaluations. We had a ABR test done, as well as a CT scan and MRI. What we have found out is not what we expected at all. In fact I am still having a hard time with it all. It was just such a shock. LeahJeans left inner ear did not develop at all, no cochlea and no cochlea nerve. She doesn't qualify for the cochlea implant in the left ear as there is nothing there. The right ear is partially developed. The cochlea is very small and not fully developed and the cochlear nerve doesn't function properly. She is now wearing a hearing aid on the right hear to see if she response to it at all.So far she has not responded to anything. If she doesn't respond to anything, then more than likely she will not qualify for the implant on that ear either. If she response to anything it will be more environmental noises. We have been told that she will probably never recognise voices or be able to talk. If she does get the implant it will be for safety reason, so that she could possibly hear loud noises to warn her that something is going on around her, but never distinguish what the noise really is. This was all such a shock, cause we were so believing that she was a good candidate for the implants, but with no inner ear, there just isn't much they can do. With that all being said, we have all our faith in the Lord and we know this will all work out the way it is suppose to. It is still very hard to deal with. We just have to re focus on the direction we were going in. We know that Gods will, will be done.
LeahJean is a beautiful, precious little girl. Full of energy and very happy. She has adjusted very well to her new family and home. She is very strong will, and determined that no one can out do her. She is a fast and eager learner. She is sweet and loving and also very mean. She does not like to be corrected and wants what she wants when she wants it no matter who has it. She is a typical 4 year old.
We are so blessed to have this precious child in our lives.
LeahJean turned four on September 27. We celebrated her first birthday with her forever family by having friends and family over for a cookout and cake and ice cream. She was as happy as happy could be. She danced around, tried on all her new clothes. She new that she was the light of everybodies eyes and the center of everyones attention.
Our oldest daughter, Heather, will be marring her fiance, Bryan, on October 24. LeahJean will be the flower girl and Tanner and Parker will be ring bearer. Sandy will be the maid of honor and her fiance, Justin, will be a grooms man as well as Keith.
We continue to take one day at a time. With three little ones in the house that is all we can do.
I will try not to take as long next time with my posting. Please continue to remember us in your thoughts and prayers.
Until next time..................
Melissa