Happy 2nd Hearing Birthday!

Dear Lucas,

Today we celebrate 2 years since your 1st cochlear implant was activated. You officially have been "hearing" longer than you haven't been. That first year without sound seemed like an eternity, but now the ratio will keep increasing. You will never remember what it was like to be without your "ears".

You have had another great year of hearing. You never cease to amaze us. You want your ear almost from the moment you wake up, until the moment you go to sleep. You would probably even sleep with it on, if I let you. But, your ears need to charge and dry, and you need a break too. I continue to be struck with awe when you can hear me when your back is to me, and when we're driving in the car. You really hear amazingly well with your first ear. I tell people all the time that they have to see it to believe it.

We took you to the John Tracy Clinic this summer, and you loved every moment of it. You're still talking about it six months later. We learned so much to help you on your journey. We won't forget about it anytime soon either.

We made the decision to get you a 2nd cochlear implant in November. At last year's hearing birthday, we were hoping that it would happen, but it was still just a dream. I guess dreams really do come true. I just hope that you will love your new ear like the first some day and that we made a good decision. We felt like it was now or never. In a few years, you should really reap the benefits.

We enjoy every moment of watching you develop language. You are a little sponge, and you pick up on little phrases all the time. You talk as well as, if not better than kids your age. How incredible is that!

You love going to school, and your teachers, Mrs. C & Mrs. K say that you are a joy. You're always aware of where everyone is and what they're doing. They report that you hear well and keep up with the rest of the class. We couldn't be happier.

You're a big boy now. You've graduated from early intervention. I haven't the heart to tell you that Miss J will not be visiting you anymore. Fortunately, we're going to go and see Miss D at Schreiber, so that's just a change of scenery. On Monday you will begin to work with Miss C. I've heard really great things about her, and it will be the start of a new era.

We had a lot of fun celebrating your special day today. Last year was a lot of fun too. We went to church today, and you really enjoyed yourself. Then we had lunch with Daddy's family. Then you decided to take a nap. It's a good thing that you haven't given up those altogether yet, even if you do negotiate them once in a while. When you woke up, we decided to take you to see a movie. That seems to be your favorite thing to do these days. We saw Tangled. Disney certainly does it right. You were engaged the whole time... or maybe it was just the popcorn. You wanted to stay and watch "House" or "Up", as the rest of the world calls it. We had pizza for supper (one of your favorites), and then we celebrated with some cake, of course.

You happily sung "Happy Birthday" to yourself too...

I'm not sure you can top 2010, but we can't wait for the adventure in 2011. All I ask is that you try and adjust to your new ear. I promise it will start to sound normal soon, you just have to be patient. I know... that's tough for a 3-year-old.

We hope you had as much fun as we did commemorating this special day on which you were given the gift of sound through the miracle that is the cochlear implant. We love you. You inspire us. Life would not be the same without you.

All our love,
Mommy & Daddy