Logs from Woody Acres
Welcome to my neck of the woods!
My big project for the summer is to start my journey to better hearing by getting a cochlear implant! Here I will log about my travels along the trail, including the thorny parts that I expect to encounter. I anticipate that this will be a long, but very worthwhile journey!
If you just started reading about my journey, and would like to start from my first post, click on the archived posts link to the right. Thanks for joining me!
Cochlear Implant links
Things to Do
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Tag Board
Bonnie:
Hi, Heidi.Have you given up on your blog? I'd love to know how you're doing by now - August 4th!
Danielle:
Heidi, Your blog is amazing! You shouldn't play it down when people ask about it like you did with me. I can't wait for Ivy to experience all the incredible things you talk about. I've read from 01/16/07 to current in one sitting. Hope all is well. See you soon.
Heidi:
Hey, Bonnie, I just noticed your message on this tag board, and it's already the new year! I hope your Thanksgiving and Christmas was filled with blessings! Thank you so much for keeping in touch!
Bonnie:
Heidi, I've been out of town and haven't checked your log in about 3 weeks. Thanks for answering my question. It's such interesting technology. It's cool to think that it can continue to improve over time.Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving. You have something new to be thankful for now! Hallelujah!
Mary Ann:
Way to go Heidi!! Glad the nerve is responding! Take it easy1
Shelly:
I'm excited for you and your Cochlear Implant surgery. You will be able to hear a bit better. Do welcome many exciting sounds to ur CI ear.
me--Heidi:
Some of you have asked about this tag board. It can be whatever--any of you are more than welcome to post here! There are many options on my blog to drop in and stay "hi!" The interaction makes it even more fun for me to blog! Thanks again for all of your support.
Joe:
We are pleased to hear that the surgery went well and hope that the dizziness goes away soon.
Ruth:
Friday, June 22 8:30 amHeidi is feeling better today-she says she doesn't have any pain but is still dizzy. She hasn't eaten much but says she doesn't feel hungry. She is staying in bed - Michael gave her a bell but I am not sure that I will hear it from the family room. I told her to yell--"Mom" and I will come running. I will keep checking every so often!! When she is feeling better, I am sure that she will be writing an update.
Ruth (Heid's mother):
Heidi wanted me to send a short message saying that she got home around 4. Everything went well --according to the doctor the surgery couldn't have gone better. She is still dizzy when she tries to get up--she needs help-but basically is feeling good. (Looks better now than when she first came home) We will update more tomorrow.
Saturday, March 8th 2008
8:06 PM
Contrasts
- Weather: Nice!
Pictures taken today!
Dowe's place in Ohio
my place in Oregon
What a contrast between the two pictures taken on the same day. My brother sent the snow picture--his county is on a level 3 snow emergency meaning that all roads are closed to non-emergency personnel. Meanwhile I have been enjoying the nice weather outside and took several walks throughout the day in our forest. Lots of tiny wildflowers were on the trails (see picture above), but I don't know the name of that particular variety. I did see one daffodil blooming! I enjoyed hearing the frogs by the pond. It was neat being able to hear them so loudly from a distance. Spring is in the air out here! (Not to make any of you Ohio folks jealous or anything!)
As I was thinking about the contrast between my two ears, at first I was thinking that my two ears are still at very different levels. After thinking about it, I realize that really my two ears are much more alike now than it has ever has been before my surgery. I can hear many sounds with my ears, either separately or together. I can actually hear more sounds with my implanted ear in comparison with my hearing aid ear. Speech is still much more clearer with my hearing aid ear, but I am optimistic that will balance out eventually. I haven't been working too hard these days on my auditory therapy, but I finally figured out a way that I can work on that without a big time investment. Instead of listening and reading along with the corresponding book, I also just listen without the book. While I am not picking out what is being said, I do pick up some words if I am focused. This way I can be doing other things while listening instead of being tied to a book and give my brain more stimulation from my implanted ear. Right now I am listening to The World of Winnie-the-Pooh. I can easily tell when there are sound effects or when the narrator is reading. When I first got turned on last summer, I couldn't do that--words and sound effects all sounded the same. While listening without the book, the words sound pretty natural now--I just can't quite make them out yet! Sometimes I feel like my brain is similar to that of Winnie-the-Pooh!
Dowe's place in Ohio
my place in Oregon
What a contrast between the two pictures taken on the same day. My brother sent the snow picture--his county is on a level 3 snow emergency meaning that all roads are closed to non-emergency personnel. Meanwhile I have been enjoying the nice weather outside and took several walks throughout the day in our forest. Lots of tiny wildflowers were on the trails (see picture above), but I don't know the name of that particular variety. I did see one daffodil blooming! I enjoyed hearing the frogs by the pond. It was neat being able to hear them so loudly from a distance. Spring is in the air out here! (Not to make any of you Ohio folks jealous or anything!)
As I was thinking about the contrast between my two ears, at first I was thinking that my two ears are still at very different levels. After thinking about it, I realize that really my two ears are much more alike now than it has ever has been before my surgery. I can hear many sounds with my ears, either separately or together. I can actually hear more sounds with my implanted ear in comparison with my hearing aid ear. Speech is still much more clearer with my hearing aid ear, but I am optimistic that will balance out eventually. I haven't been working too hard these days on my auditory therapy, but I finally figured out a way that I can work on that without a big time investment. Instead of listening and reading along with the corresponding book, I also just listen without the book. While I am not picking out what is being said, I do pick up some words if I am focused. This way I can be doing other things while listening instead of being tied to a book and give my brain more stimulation from my implanted ear. Right now I am listening to The World of Winnie-the-Pooh. I can easily tell when there are sound effects or when the narrator is reading. When I first got turned on last summer, I couldn't do that--words and sound effects all sounded the same. While listening without the book, the words sound pretty natural now--I just can't quite make them out yet! Sometimes I feel like my brain is similar to that of Winnie-the-Pooh!
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