The Hook-Up and The Tune-Up

I am so so sorry everyone who has been waiting for the Hook-up and tune-up part of my blog. The wait is over!  Here it is and now you can experience what my family witnessed on that day, (March 13th and 14th of 2014). I am so grateful that my Aunt Kathy came from New Jersey, cousin Colleen from Fort Worth, TX (go Horned Toads!), my mom from El Paso, TX and my sister Becky and brother in law, Beto, from Fallbook, CA came all this way to be here for this special moment. My sister Carli hosted us at her home in Houston, TX where the surgery and hook up took place.  

Thank you to all who supported me and prayed for me through out this process.  It has been an incredible success and has made quite a difference in my life.  My hearing and articulation has greatly improved.  Everyday has been a learning moment and each day I hear new sounds and each sound has been a breakthrough.

The biggest problem I have these days are that I hear sounds but have a hard time understanding or making out what I hear.  That is the challenge I face daily but definitely is improving!

I went to two different appointments.  The first appointment was the first time I put on the implant device and was able to hear the first new sounds.  The second day was the tune up of sounds on the device. I went once every two-three weeks to get tuned up to higher and louder sounds during the summer.  Now, I am going every three-six months until I feel I do not need tuned up that often.  Then each year after that I would check in to see if I am set with what I am hearing.

 All set and ready to go get hooked up!

The three sisters together again

 Stopped at the Egg and I for breakfast before the appointment

Going up!

 This is the magnet implanted in my ear/head

 Hooked up to the machine to adjust the suitable volumes to hear

After the hook up we went to Cheesecake Factory to celebrate

 Becky checking it out

 So incredibly grateful my sister and bro in law came all the way from California to be here for this!

We goof off too much

Day two of getting tuned up  (When I say tuned up, I mean tuned up)

The device comes with a switch board which controls the volume and the pitch of the sounds I allow myself to be comfortable with.  We started small then worked our way up to the sounds I hear now.

 My brother in law from CA and my sister from TX

Made my first phone call on the implant to Aunt Kathy and Colleen

The device around my neck is a wireless Bluetooth and headphone connected to my device on my ear which enables me to speak on the phone as well as listen to music.

 Apparently it was a huge moment for my siblings and mom

Talking to Joey on the phone via bluetooth

Trying to figure out songs playing via blue tooth

My bro in law just had to be in the pic

After both appointments, I was exhausted. Hearing in a new way wore me out. Notice my new puppy sleeping with me!

Mimosas to celebrate!

My sister Carli, Cousin from Fort Worth, Colleen, Me, and sister from CA, Becky

 After the implant hook up we did what our family does best when together, play games!

This is the covered lips test to see if I understand what she is asking or saying.  That was hard!

I would like to post more videos but the memory is too great.  Anyone know how to edit videos and be able to reduce the memory to be able to share on here?  It would be so helpful!