Hearing Test at Children's: Day 58 (2/2/11)

Hannah sitting in the infant seat. All the kids have used this same seat.  The little blanket on top of Hannah was made by Valerie.

Hannah's weight: 5lbs 14oz

Hannah's Height: 18in

Hearing Test at Children's

Today Hannah had two appointments at Children's. At 11:30am test for her ear structure.  At 1:30 test for her actual hearing. 

I decided to take Valerie and Nathan.  with me and Hannah to Children's Hospital for Hannah's hearing tests.  I wanted them to be apart of Hannah's tests and doctor appointments.  Next week I will take Heidi and Terri Lynn with me to Children's for another appointment for Hannah. 

We left home for Children's around 9am.  I wanted to make sure I am at the hospital in time for the appointment and in time to park also.  I had all the things I needed to make sure I could pump breast milk for her and I had all the feeding stuff with us also.  I did not pack lunch for Valerie, Nathan and I, I planned to buy lunch just for fun at the cafeteria. 

On the drive down to Children's Valerie got Hannah all hooked up with her feeding equipment and started her feeding pump.  Valerie is so proud of herself that she could do this for Hannah.  I pumped breast milk one breast at a time while I was driving down to Seattle.  I have been so blessed by the use of this battery operated breast pump.  I feel like I can actually freely go places and pump in the van when I don't know where to pump. 

We arrive at Children's in plenty of time.  We get all checked in and wait.  We had to wait extra long for some reason.  It was ok.  Nathan, Valerie, Hannah and I had fun playing card games and reading books.  We planned for a wait in the waiting room so we had cards and books to read.  Finally, Hannah's name was called.  She was first weighed and measured.  Then we were put in a room.  We waited again for a long time.  I was getting worried how will we be able get lunch in the cafeteria because her next appointment was coming up soon.  The nurse came in to update me that the doctor who would check Hannah's ear canals and her ear structure was still busy and could not come.  I then asked the nurse it if was ok to go to the cafeteria for a bit.  He said it was ok.  So we headed down to the cafeteria and grabbed our food and headed back to the room in record time. 

It was again time to fed Hannah and I needed to pump.  I fed Hannah first and let Valerie hold Hannah also while she was being fed.  I then pumped breast milk for Hannah.  All while we waited for the doctor to come into the room.  So far in the room we all ate lunch, I pumped milk and fed Hannah.  We also played cards.  Finally, the doctor came into the room.  She used her tools to look in Hannah's ears.  Hannah's cried, she did not like how the doctor was trying to look into her ears.  The doctor looked in both ears.  The doctor then told me Hannah's ear canals are just too small.  She could not see Hannah's ear drums so we need to come back in 3 months for another check.  We waited just a little bit  for Hannah's next test. We just sat again in this room and waited only a little bit. 

 The audiologist  came to the room.  We followed her into the room for testing her hearing.  She was a bit concerned about Valerie and Nathan being with.  She was afraid they'd be noisy.  I assured her they would be quiet.  She was willing to give it a try.  We got into the room, I got the special chair because I got to hold Hannah.  It was a rocking chair.  Hannah was sleeping right now.  It was ok for her to sleep. Actually the audiologist wanted her to sleep.  It helps get a better and more accurate test.  The audiologist got Hannah all hooked up with the monitors and ear piece.  Hannah's ear is so unique that she had alot of trouble fitting it in her ear.  I forgot to mention the audiologist had a student with her and the student did most of the work on hooking Hannah up. 

Nathan and Valerie played quietly on the floor, they did not make a noise the whole time.  It was like an hour and half in the room total.  They were extremely good and well behaved.  They colored and played card games (war).  I am proud of them. 

While Hannah was doing her test, she slept most of the time but not all of the time.  The Audiologist seemed to be frustrated with the test.  Things didn't seem to go well.  They had to change ear piece in both ears.  The computer runs through the test.  But Hannah was not passing any of the sounds.  They were not done with the test but Hannah was getting fussy.  I was trying to calm her down.  The Audiologist decided to stop  the test.  She said we will try again in 3 months when Hannah comes for anther ear check.  It was ok with me, I was tired of sitting so quietly and Nathan and Valerie were also getting tired of being quiet. 

So the Audiologist basically told me Hannah can hear the sound of a chain saw sawing.  She is profoundly deaf in both ears.  Anyway I didn't care whether Hannah can hear or not.  I will do what I can to give Hannah the best quality of life she can have!  We love Hannah exactly the way she is! 

When the test was done, the audiologist told Valerie and Nathan how impressed she was in how quiet they were.  She wanted us to wait a bit she had a treat for them.  In a few minutes she came back with 2 stuffed animals.  Nathan got a Zebra and Valerie got a pink monkey.  They treasure these stuffed animals very much.  It is a Hannah memory. 

We got all loaded up in the van.  We head out. While we were in the U district.  Valerie says in a worried voice.  Hannah is turning blue!  I pull over quickly in a car selling parking lot.  I didn't care who I was blocking in, I needed to check on my baby.   I whip her out of her car seat quickly.  I decided she must of turned blue because she was pooping.  I am thankful she is not blue anymore and doing good.  I held her in my arm after I changed her diaper.  I needed to calm down.  I was stressed and worried for my baby.  We get home after I made Hannah wait and extra 30 minutes to eat.  I wanted to sit comfortably with her in my arms while I fed her and pumped breast milk for her. 

I tell Martin and Sam that Hannah can't hear very good basically the sound of a chain saw.  A bit later while they were holding her. I see out of the corner of my eye, Martin and Sam yelling at the top of their voices, "HANNAH CAN YOU HEAR US? WE LOVE YOU!"  I will never forget this seeing her big brothers yelling at her they wanted to make sure that she could hear their love for her! 

Proverbs: 31:10-31

   ¹⁰ Who can find a virtuous wife?
For her worth is far above rubies.
¹¹ The heart of her husband safely trusts her;
So he will have no lack of gain.
¹² She does him good and not evil
All the days of her life.
¹³ She seeks wool and flax,
And willingly works with her hands.
¹⁴ She is like the merchant ships,
She brings her food from afar.
¹⁵ She also rises while it is yet night,
And provides food for her household,
And a portion for her maidservants.
¹⁶ She considers a field and buys it;
From her profits she plants a vineyard.
¹⁷ She girds herself with strength,
And strengthens her arms.
¹⁸ She perceives that her merchandise is good,
And her lamp does not go out by night.
¹⁹ She stretches out her hands to the distaff,
And her hand holds the spindle.
²⁰ She extends her hand to the poor,
Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.
²¹ She is not afraid of snow for her household,
For all her household is clothed with scarlet.
²² She makes tapestry for herself;
Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
²³ Her husband is known in the gates,
When he sits among the elders of the land.
²⁴ She makes linen garments and sells them,
And supplies sashes for the merchants.
²⁵ Strength and honor are her clothing;
She shall rejoice in time to come.
²⁶ She opens her mouth with wisdom,
And on her tongue is the law of kindness.
²⁷ She watches over the ways of her household,
And does not eat the bread of idleness.
²⁸ Her children rise up and call her blessed;
Her husband also, and he praises her:
²⁹“ Many daughters have done well,
But you excel them all.”
³⁰ Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,
But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.
³¹ Give her of the fruit of her hands, And let her own works praise her in the gates.

Love, Sandra Kwant (Hannah's mommy)