All my blessings this Thanksgiving

I am still loving my implant. It has returned so much of my like to me. Situations that would have caused me much stress I now engage in with little to no thought. I started Nursing school in early October and am doing very well. Medical term are giving me a fit, some are so close in sound and spelling. It also appears that the medical field has an unspoken rule. (The simplest idea or concept must have no less than 7.4 words that could be used, depending on but not limited to, core body temperature, pupils and type of ambulation the patient is capable of... blah blah blah) Oh please it could even confuse a hearing person! LOL I am really enjoying being out in the real world with people who know little of my hearing history the one's that learn of it are shocked, saying they would never have known.
I have made a precious new friend that I believe has been brought to me by God himself. Her name is Pebbles and yes she is that cute. Her life lessons are speaking to me in many ways, so she is a great study partner on lessons of life and nursing. (Thanks Pebbles)
I must add a note about life outside of school. I MISS IT!!!! All I do is study, study and more studying. I have so many treasured friendships that have fallen to the side because of school. Please forgive me Dear Ones.
Katrina Note: Walter, Denise and James are back home in New Orleans, with very mixed emotions. It is home and they love that side of it but they say it is now so different. Their friends and loved one's are spread all over the country. The simple normalcy's of life are gone. Walter is working nonstop and being there is taking a toll on all of their health. Scott and Michelle are settling in well, they miss home but know it is best to be here, at least till after the baby is born.
It's time to hit the books again!!!

T-link or T-coil for phone

I am in heaven!!!! My great audie has really hooked me up this time! (Susie, thank you so much for this latest find). I have been talking on the phone and doing ok but I have to use a head-set or speaker phone and then I have it so loud that everyone can hear my conversation. The weight of the head-set causes my ci hook to cut into my ear and that hurts. Well no more!! I now have a silhouette t-coil with mic that sends the voice right into my ear (head). I am still learning to hear and some people are harder that others, but with time I know I will be successful with all voice types.

Picture dates!%#@#@%&^^*^**

For some strange reason the date on my camera got reset, they were all taken at the same time. Sorry for the confusion, and Beth "Half Runner" you look marvelous as do you Debbie "Mary Poppins" and Phyllis "Pochahonas".

I stepped on a sound!!!

For many years, I have hiked to LeConte Lodge in the Great Smoky Mountains in near silence. Once I wore hearing aids and had a frightening experience with a jet that sounded like a bear to me. My aids had over-amplified an already loud and too close jet (I was at 6,593 feet altitude - the jet, at maybe 6,800 feet (way to close)). The aids did nothing to very little, in the way of helping me understand my hiking buddies. After that, I gave up on hearing my friends when we hike. Once we arrived at the lodge I could face them and speech read until night fall; the rest of the evening would resemble scenes from the "Blair Witch Project". (I would have to have a flashlight shining on their mouths).

Ok, I understood I was missing out on conversation but I had no idea I was missing so many wonderful sounds of nature. I did two hikes to the lodge this summer, one week apart. The first trip was with Mark, Matt, the Whites, a bunch of Matt's friends and Hurricane Dennis. Dennis showed up for the last leg of our hike, the steepest 2 miles of a five mile trip. The hike was rich with new sound experiences; birds, mountain streams and water run-offs. I loved being a part of the chit-chat in our group as well as descending hikers. When the rain started I suited up to protect my processor (hat and poncho)then I heard the rain "splatting" on the brim of my rain hat. It sounded so great and I was washed in memories of my childhood.

My next trip was with "the girls", Beth joined me for her first stay at the lodge. The sound that stood out to me the most, was the sound of my own steps. The stones under my boots, the squash of the earth & water under my feet, no matter where I stepped.... I just kept stepping on sounds! :~) It's amazing to me how much I forgot about sound and what makes it. There is a rock cliff where red squirrels come for handouts and I was able to hear their chatter! Evening at the lodge is rich with sound, from the noisy dining room, the roll sounds of the wooden rocking chairs, to the slam of the screen door and the squeak of the swing. I am delighting in all this familiar newness.

After our hike, Beth and I stayed a night in Cobbley Nob. The next morning I was up early on the porch reading, when I heard what sounded like a snake moving over the ground and to my surprise my ear was right!

Another trip to New Orleans

I am still having so much fun hearing. I have the most wonderful big sister and brother-in-law, who open their home to me and the kids when ever we ask. This trip we brought along one of Matt's friends, Alex. The boys are so into their music and jazz that we had to show them the musical side of N.O. This gave me more practice with my ci and I have found the more distance I put between myself and the band the better. I am enjoying it a little more but still hoping for additional improvement.
Denise and I had the best time, talking and being girlfriends. We stayed up late whispering and telling secrets! There where a few times I was to soft for her to hear, the whole while I am hearing her beautifully. One night we were in the Quarters and stopped to see a street artist playing tunes on wine glasses. He played "When the Saints go marching in" and "Rocky Top" (for Alex our Vols fan!). Denise had to tell me what he was playing but I was able to hear the sounds even if I could not decipher the tune.