The most exciting day is coming for Alex...cochlear implant surgery on Thursday. I should be ecstatic, instead, I am so nervous! My son has the cutest, most perfect little head. I can't stand to think about it being cut into a flap and then sewn back together. I hate the idea of walking him down to surgery and then handing him over to someone else. I know he'll be scared and confused and feel downright terrible when he comes out of anesthesia. If I didn't really have confidence that this was the best course for Alex, I would SO back out.
When Alex had his baby blessing, he was blessed that he would have many opportunities to serve, receive an education, and have the life that we want for him. Alex received this blessing a few days after he had passed the newborn hearing screening in one ear. We were so relieved! Then, the day after his blessing I took him back to have the second ear tested. Surely, that darn fluid would be gone by now. The test took FOREVER! I waited in the foyer with the kids watching Tom and Jerry cartoons while Spencer went back with the audiologist. I started to get nervous about the length of time, but then, you never know with doctors. When they finally came back, it was all bad news. Not only had the second ear failed again, but the first ear had been re-tested and failed. How could this be? My son? Deaf? What? I couldn't believe it. I remember bawling with my baby in my arms, waking up in the middle of the night and bawling some more, trying to explain to my other kids how this could be...and not coming up with any of those inspiring or thoughtful answers. I remember Googling Cochlear Implants and calling Spencer at work to tell him about it. And all I could do was remember his blessing, given by a faithful priesthood holder (his Dad) which outlined wonderful opportunities for Alex. I am so glad that Heavenly Father worked it out so that we had some inspiration before the bad news. And now, a year later, I am still hanging on to that blessing. I know that the surgery is the right choice for him. My son will hear with his CI. I know he'll still be deaf, but he will hear birds, crickets, phones, grandparents, teachers, employers, and music. I can't back out, but you'll know I'll be bawling when I hand him over to those surgeons. He really does have a perfect little head. Please pray for my son on Thursday.
from the Children's Hospital this morning around 8:30 am. He now has a state-of-the-art Cochlear Implant installed on the right side. The surgeon said it all went well and that this new device (approved by the FDA on Sept 8th) is nice and thin. This means that you can hardly feel it under his skin. Yesterday Alex was so miserable and his incision was still draining so much that I couldn't imagine that he would be ready to come home today. But, oh, what a difference a day can make. He didn't even come home with a bandage around his head. He is crawling around and back to practicing his standing up skills. His face is swollen--and continues to swell. He always needs to be careful to not catch a cold until his ear is healed so that he doesn't have any more pressure in those cavities. I'll attach some photos from yesterday and today.
Maybe Vivaldi's Spring can help us.
ing the loss of being able to wear a ponytail.
We made it to Disneyland! It was fun and exhausting. Our family's favorite ride was Soaring over California--very cool. I was hanging onto my seat with white knuckles. The kids couldn't believe it when they saw Bert and Mary 
Poppins walking 
down Main Street. The part that I'll always remember is getting the phone call from my friend--just as we were about to enter Mickey's Clubhouse--that the firetrucks were at our house and all of the smoke detectors were going off. That started the adrenaline pumping! It turned out fine--a dirty smoke alarm had set off the whole system. I was relieved that we had all made our beds before we left the trip since firemen went through the whole house. The miracle of it all was that I just happened to turn on my cell phone--which I usually leave off--the very moment that the firemen were about to break a window. Yes, we would have loved to have them get in the house any way they could in an emergency, but as it happened, I 'm thrilled I don't have to go window shopping right now. Here are some pics of our Disneyland trip and visit with Aunt Andrea and my cousin Phillip and wife Allison.
I think Spencer had this photo taken for something official at school. It turns out that I don't have pictures in my photo folder of just him--or me--for that matter, so I'll post this formal picture. (I guess we always focus the camera on the kids.) However, it's February...and time to focus on my spouse. So, Spencer, here are ten reasons why I love you.
