Where oh where is baby Ella?

We have been busy the last month or so preparing for Miss Ella Jo to make her appearance. Brody keeps talking to my belly saying, "GET OUT BABY ELLA!" It's not working though. :( My doctor put me on maternity leave already because they were pretty certain she would have made her way into the world by now. She has her own agenda though!

Brody is so ready to love on his little sister. He sings to her every night and gives her (my belly) a kiss, fist bump, high five, and another kiss before bed. We went to a siblings class at Baptist Hospital where we will be delivering. Brody surprised me and did really well. The instructor had the kids sit on the floor around her. They talked about bottles and pacifiers. Brody knew the vocabulary and was answering all her questions. They also talked about how babies eat milk and can't eat big brother food. The instructor also showed them that if a toy is too little and can fit in a toilet paper roll, then the baby can't play with it. Brody remembered all that they talked about and was able to tell my mom some of it. I was super impressed with his answering questions and staying on topic with an unfamiliar person! 

He's doing a good job with conversations with adults. We're still working on conversations with other kids.

http://youtu.be/89_rShwCFLA

We cashed in Brody's Christmas present and went to Disney on Ice in Lexington. He thought we were going to Disney World. Oops! He had so much fun once we got there! Brody's favorite part was anything with Mickey and Goofy. 

Jordan had Good Friday off and spent the day with Brody. They went and saw Zootopia. Jordan said that Brody did really good sitting until the very end.

We also went to the Frankfort Ave Easter Parade. Brody had a blast! He got way too much candy!

He's getting really good at his handwriting. He even decided to make his mark in the kitchen table. He was so proud of his "good little d." Ugh!

Jordan, Brody, and I went to Cincinnati Children's to see Dr. Mike and get a new mapping for Brody's processors. Typically when he has a growth spurt, he needs a new program to keep his hearing up in the normal range. In the two and a half years that we have been going, we have never had trouble with Brody working and doing what Dr. Mike asked. He was horrible this time! He absolutely refused to let Dr. Mike hook the processors up to the computer. I made the mistake of saying he needed to fix them. Of course Brody responded with, "they aren't broken." Ugh! We tried everything! Bribery, discipline, begging...nothing worked. It was so frustrating! We're going back at the end of May to try again. Hopefully he will let Dr. Mike program them then. Fingers crossed! He is missing some speech sounds now and is saying, "what you say?" a lot. 

Brody's gotten into baseball again this year. He chose his Cardinals shirt over his Reds shirt the other day. :) Sorry Jordan! We went to opening night at the Louisville Bats game. Miss Nikki taught Brody, "Hey batter, batter, batter...SWING!" Now he says it all the time when baseball is on. 

Brody is obsessed with birthdays. Has been for awhile now. He can tell you everyone in the families birthday month including my cousins and aunts/uncles. My birthday was last week. He made me a sign on the driveway and went with grandma to get me flowers. 

Happy CI Day 2016

Because of cochlear implants, Brody's life has been changed. Without the implants, he wouldn't have any access to sound. With hearing aids, the sound had to be as loud as a train horn for him to hear. Even then, we weren't sure if he was actually hearing it or just reacting to the vibrations caused by a sound that loud. He wouldn't hear us say we love him, wouldn't hear his baby sister's heartbeat, wouldn't hear "uptown funk you up," and wouldn't hear everyday speech that has allowed him to function in a regular education world with little supports.

Receiving the implants weren't the only piece to the puzzle that was missing. With the surgery came intense therapy. Not just having a therapist (or 3 or 4) come work with him for an hour a week. We have "therapy" all waking hours. During meatimes, bath time, playing, even when watching tv, we are bombarding Brody with vocabulary, drawing his attention to things happening, explaining what he may miss, and assisting (not doing it for him) when he needs help. He still misses things and is still learning.

Brody has become an advocate for himself. When he knows he has missed something in conversation, he will cup his hand around his ear and say, "what did you say?" When he doesn't understand a word, he will ask "what's that mean?" Brody knows that without his processors on he can't hear you. He recognizes that they help him have access to the hearing world. 

We went to a mother son dance on Tuesday at his preschool. He danced the entire time.  Not only danced, but he sang along to the words. He did motions when it said to do so. He sat and talked with a little friend and was able to have a short 3 year old conversation even with the loud background music.

Would I want his life to be easier? Yes of course. Do I wish Brody didn't have to deal with the challenges that are brought on because of his deafness? Duh! Would I change the fact that this amazing kid who is deaf was given to us? Not in a million years! He deafness makes him who he is. The cochlear implants assist in allowing him to reach his highest potential in this world! He can do anything he wants (well other than be an astronaut like he wants...but maybe by the time he becomes a rocket scientist there will be newer technology that allows him to fly in space)!

Who better than Brody to tell y'all why he loves his cochlear implants!

We love you JoJo!

My grandmother, Jo Massey, has lived with Alzheimer's for the last few years. While she was in good health for many years, her mind was not where it used to be. What I remember most about JoJo is her story telling. When we were younger, she would tell us stories of her and the family growing up as our bedtime stories. She always had a Southern flair to add to those stories. Most included something on a farm or food. Getting older in life, I've been informed that I may have combined and embellished some stories in my mind. My grandfather was not a bootlegger, he did however drive a fast car!

JoJo brought her Southern hospitality and charm from Alabama to Chicago, St. Louis, and Louisville. I never saw her without her pocketbook and lipstick tube. She opened her house to anyone that needed a meal or a hug. When our family moved to Louisville from Memphis, she opened her bedrooms to us for over a year even though she was already overwhelmed with her own Mother-in-law and husband's care. She even taught me to drive when my own parents were too scared to get in the car with me. 

Even in her last week here on earth, JoJo was a light to those around her. She continued to be silly and loving. Brody loved getting to spend time with JoJo and her friends at the nursing home dancing, singing, and playing ball. She left us with memories to last a lifetime and lessons that only a grandmother can fill you with. 

Jojo and Brody had a special bond from the beginning. I was the first grand daughter to give her a great grand child. She was so excited at all of my showers and all of the preparations. My mom watches Brody during the work day for Jordan and I. Before Brody started preschool in August, they visited with JoJo almost everyday. They gained a special relationship. JoJo could be having a bad day, but the moment Brody stopped by, she would light up. Even within the last month when she barely talked and seemed like she wasn't paying attention, she would become giddy when Brody entered to entertain her.

My mom

We will miss JoJo very much, but know that she is reunited with her family and heaven is rejoicing!

http://m.legacy.com/dignity-memorial/obituary-preview.aspx?n=Josephine-Massey&lc=4599&pid=177409668&mid=6769380&locale=en_US

Brody sayings of 2015

I've been documenting Brody's "sayings" on Facebook this year. We started off in January with him saying "mama watch Brody." Three words together clear as day. We were ecstatic. Now, he never shuts up! Who would have thought I would need peace and quiet from my deaf child! Here are some other Brody sayings...

"Make happy face"

"I a monster!"

"Brody, ready to go to sleep?"-Jordan

"No thank you!"-brody 

"Brody wear mama boot"

Brody woke up from his nap after I got home from work. His first question, "where is grandma?" His second question, "daddy bring pizza?" 

Just starting off the day arguing with the three year old that our last name is Fromholt and not Farm-goat. 

Brody's been coming up with some pretty creative reasons not to go to bed (He needs a shower. There's something on his tongue. He forgot to shut the playroom door. Etc.) Tonight he informed us he was a penguin (as he waddled out of his room) and couldn't sleep. 

We were watching the Garfield movie where he's at a castle. The castle had a golden dome. 

"Hey! I seen a gold dome!"-Brody

"Where?"-me

"Notre Dame have gold dome!"-Brody

Brody's been learning the Pledge at school. Still a work in progress. He argued that it's "Dalmatian under God."

Today's "brody-ism." I always tell him "sometimes life is hard" when he's whining or crying without a good reason. He started crying on the way home today. 

Me: "Why are you crying?"

Brody: "Life is hard."

Reasons Brody couldn't help Jordan take the seeds out of the pumpkin:

1. There's too much food in his belly. 

2. He got stuck on the couch and couldn't move. 

3. He forgot he was supposed to take a bath. 

4. It's too yucky. 

5. He needed to scratch his belly.

"Hold on a second. I can't pass germs. I need to wash my hands."-Brody's current bedtime excuse.

Brody talking to Jordan on his pretend phone:

"I'm playing and watching tv and playing with cars and umm I'm breathing too."

Me: "I love you to the moon and back!"

Brody: "I love you to the moon, NOT back!"

"Call they tole me, a pumpkin Papa."-Brody

He's almost learned the words to the "Little Drummer Boy."

Brody can't put his pants on because there's too much poop in his belly. 

Aunt Sara was a cherry-aider (cheerleader). 

Brody said "grandma take off your jacket it doesn't look good."

Incase anyone was wondering..."jammas" aren't clothes. We wear clothes to school. We wear "jammas" when we stay home. 

According to brody: It's a bathroom table not counter. Counters are long and tables are short. 

Brody got robot pajamas that have an on/off switch on the back. He woke up and got on all fours, looked at Jordan and said, "daddy turn on the robot."

After Jordan told Brody that we were going to stay home all day in our pajamas: He said "I can't wear pajamas tomorrow because when we go to the gas station the man will say 'Hey! You can't wear Ninja Turtle jammies!'

It's been a very progressive year with Brody's expressive language. Three words to a 24 word run on sentence! We'll take it! 

Merry Christmas!

Lil Frommy #2 is a...

Brody is super excited to be a big brother. Not so much to have a sister. I think she'll grow on him! 

Brody Update!

We have had a busy few months! Brody's language is exploding! We have to tell him to please be quiet so we can have a turn to talk! He is coming up with the funniest things to say that always throw us for a loop!

Brody has been the standing entertainment at JoJo's (my grandmother) nursing home. The women on her wing gather around him to see what he's going to do that day. JoJo is very quiet now days, but when Brody shows up, she shouts out, "HELLO! My great grandson is here!" Brody has been using JoJo's cane as his microphone. He loves to sing songs in it to her and the other women. He also gets into their activities closet and gets out balls and basketball hoops. He has all the women join in!

 

Brody continues to LOVE his preschool. His teacher is awesome and sends me updated pictures. This was during center time. He's at the science center. His Aunt Jodi was happy to see a possible fellow scientist in the future! Brody has made true friends and talks about them every night. One of his IEP goals was to work on socialization skills. We just got his progress report. He's up to 80% mastery in most areas including the socialization. When we are out with friends or at the park, he joins right in like any other kid! So amazing!

A new favorite past time is building forts in the living room. It's a boys only fort. Bear was allowed but I was told to stay on the couch to watch the movie. :)

Brody is completely obsessed with my Uncle Edward, or as he calls him Uncle Eggward. He talks about their visit this summer all the time, prays for him every night, and asks questions about him often. In person though, he only stared!

We have been going to Southern Lights at the Kentucky Horse Park for the last few years. We go the Tuesday before Thanksgiving when there is no one else there. It's so nice! They have Christmas lights set up throughout the campsites. Then inside, they have Santa and model trains. Outside, they have a train and petting zoo.

We spent Thanksgiving in Louisville at my parents' house. We brought my grandmother from her nursing home for a few hours. Brody loved having JoJo there! He helped prepare her food and even got her to play his Curious George Zoo game and Bingo!

Over Thanksgiving break, we took Brody to his first movie in the movie theater. He did really good until the last 10 minutes or so. He loved the popcorn and icee too!

Someone got a RingPop for doing a great job at his dance class. He was pretending to be a baby and making the RingPop his paci, but ended up falling asleep with it.

Brody loves the Christmas decorations! He even convinced Jordan to put Christmas lights up outside this year. 

No tears this year with Santa Claus! He loved it. He wants a Mickey Mouse camper, space shoes (He's decided to be an astronaut when he grows up.), and a Snoopy toy.

We went to Cincinnati Children's on Friday to see Dr. Mike. Brody's mapping was only slightly changed. We also added the SCAN program to try out. It's really only for adults, but coming for kids. Brody gets to try it out! So far we love it! It will scan the environment Brody is in and then his processors will adjust volume and what not to make his hearing the best in that situation. He hasn't complained about the toilet flushing since Friday. A good thing since he usually screams! We also added the slow to wake program. It slowly turns on the processor when it first is turned on so that the sound gradually gets louder and not all at once. We don't like it though. We have it set up to do 3 minutes. We might try a minute instead. We have trouble when he wants to talk right away and can't hear us! It's been a little frustrating for him and us. 

Brody's imaginary play skills are expanding like crazy! He comes up with the coolest scenarios to play.  His cars go to the movies or to get ice cream. The other day his potato heads went to the Science Center. Today he was painting his boat at home.

We found out if Brody is having a brother or a sister yesterday...but we sent it out in Christmas cards. So you'll have to stay tuned!