'Tis the Season

   The count down is on... Christmas in 5 days!!  It is such a busy time of year with all the chaotic of preparing for this special day. Getting the presents, traveling, parties, cooking and the list goes on. I will have to admit I just love all the craziness that comes with it. It is one of my favorite holidays to be with those you love most and to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas the birth of Jesus. It is so easy to get caught up in all that "stuff" we have to do for Christmas that we forget the true meaning of what it is really about. For me it's a good time to get out of myself and give to others that may not be able to have a Christmas. The feeling you get when you do something for someone without anything in return is just amazing. I ask God on a daily basis to help me to do his will and to thank him for all the blessings I have received from him.

  This is also a holiday that can be very stressful if you have a hearing loss. Trying to hear the sales clerk when Christmas music is blaring from the speakers. Going to a party and having trouble hearing with all the background noise. Having to make a phone call about an order you may have placed and having to ask the person to repeat what they are saying. This is a good time to ask for help or explain to the person that I am talking to that I am deaf. This is not always easy especially when I am in my poor me attitude I would isolate and miss out on everything. I have learned though self discovery that I had to accept and love myself for who I am in order for me to be comfortable to acknowledge my deafness. Most of the time it is never a problem for people to accommodate my needs and to the people that gave me a hard time I just prayed for them. You never know what someone is going through unless you walk in their shoes that is why I try to be kind and understanding to people I interact with. The acceptance of who I am has led me to believe in myself that I can do anything if I put my mind to it and ask god for help. I am so very grateful to be on this path that god had put in front of me it is not always easy but, its very rewarding.


 This holiday hug your loved ones longer tell them how much they mean to you. Do something kind for someone and not let them know about it. Help someone or a family in need this year for Christmas. Most importantly thank god for all of your blessings you have received. Wishing all of you a very blessed holiday!! Merry Christmas!



 

The Sky's The Limit

 Over the last few weeks I have discovered that there are so many helpful resources out there for the deaf and hard of hearing people. I have found support groups and websites that have given me valuable information on how to help me achieve more out of life. I have found better ways to handle the phone, to enjoy going to the movies, and how to ask for help when I need it. I had a lot of fear about not being able to accomplish things because of my deafness. I was afraid to try something out of my comfort zone that might challenge me. I always had fear of the unknown and the fear of I am not good enough.

  I took a giant leap of faith when I decided to get the cochlear implant. This was a huge change that I knew was going to have big impact in my life. I am so grateful before I choose this path that I renewed my faith in god. I do believe that my faith has helped me in so many ways on this journey that I am on. I have learned about acceptance, patience, compassion and to trust god. To trust him that I will always be cared for and loved by him. It is up to me to do the footwork that I need to do to get that guidance. I know that when I fall he is there to pick me back up and try all over again. There are times when I know what the blessings of being deaf are. To be able to enjoy silence and see the beauty around me and to be able to teach my children anything is possible no matter what your limits are.

  I am learning that the sky's the limit for me now. It's a big world out there with so many opportunities for me now that I ever thought possible. There are always going to be challenges for me but, I have learned anything is possible with god.

A funfilled weekend

 I received an invitation to go to a HLAA (Hearing Loss Association of America) Christmas party over the weekend and what an amazing time that was! It was really neat to meet people with all types of hearing losses and how they manage in the hearing world. To be able to relate with someone who goes through the same difficulties as I do it  is such a relief to know that I am not alone. I sometimes forget how difficult somethings can be when I am doing everything I can to function like a hearing person. I get frustrated when I can't make a simple phone call or when I can't hear what someone is saying. It feels so good to get support from other people who understand how you feel. They made me and my family feel so welcome! They are all such an inspiration to me I am so truly blessed to have met them.
 
 Also last week I got remapped with a new program for my cochlear implant. They added some more deeper tones and it's an adjustment. Sometimes really deep sounds can be very jumbled but, as the days have moved on its getting better. It is always a surprise when I go and get readjusted.  I never know what I might be hearing differently or what new sounds I may hear. I am getting better with talking to someone in a noisy room.  I have a remote that can actually help  fade out some of those background noises. Its a really neat little tool that I have.  I am an avid lipreader and I am trying to turn myself away from the person to try to hear what they are saying. A lot of work for me but, with help from the Harry Potter book CD's I am practicing with my listening. I love Harry Potter books and I will be working my way up the Twilight books on CD's next. I am getting really good hearing the British Accent I just LOVE they way they speak!

To end my great weekend I was able to go out with some great friends and see what dance club music sounded like. It was hard to hear the words but,  I did enjoy feeling the beat under my feet out on the dance floor. One nice advantage that I still have is turning my device down or turning it off if its too much sound for me. It was a great weekend of exploring new sounds and meeting inspiring people!