summer vacation

Thomas, Nick and Lexi posing on a dino at the zoo

Baba and Thomas having fun at McD's

Thomas at the Irish Festival ~ he heard the Pipe Band and we had to go and find them.

The dinosaur exhibit at the zoo. Thomas was a bit hesitant to stand so close to the dino.

Lexi, Nick and Thomas in front of the date display.
Let me tell you that Lexi is a FANTASTIC babysitter. She is only 15 but knows how to handle Thomas' processors and she is my go to girl when Thomas wants to go swimming! Love ya Lexi!!!!

I can't believe Jonathan starts school in a few weeks ~ where the heck has the summer gone? It's almost August and today is the first day we put our air on ~ it just doesn't seem like summer with temps in the low 70's and rain.

Oh well, we leave for South Carolina in a few days ~ we'll be gone for 2 weeks. 1 week visiting my sister in law and the next week in Myrtle Beach. A few months ago while we were planning our summer getaway we weren't sure where we were going to stay. Last year we had a really nice condo with a kiddie pool (that was too small for Thomas) but he wanted to spend more time in the big pool. Problem 1~ he didn't want to be held and there were no stairs, a constant struggle. With no ears it was even harder trying to explain to him that we HAD to hold on to him. Problem 2 ~ there were kids everywhere and they kept trying to talk to Thomas (while he graced them with his presence in the kiddie pool) and there were a few times when I heard "don't play with that kid ~ he doesn't listen to us" or "whats his problem?".....as the days went by and we seen the same kids all the time I was able to tell them that he was deaf and couldn't hear them ~ they really didn't care so that didn't change the fact that they still didn't want to play with them. All the while my little man stood there not understanding why he couldn't join in the fun (don't get me wrong...there were a few kids that did play with him...one little girl's older brother was deaf and had CI's so she understood).

This year we ended up renting a house with a private pool. No worries about the other kids and their comments (even though Thomas couldn't hear them ~ I could) and the fact that everyone that is in the pool with him will know that he is deaf and can't hear them in the pool and they don't care.

This may not be the best approach ~ but I really don't care. It REALLY stressed me out last year and I didn't want to have to worry about it this year. We will still be spending alot of time at the beach, so he will get plenty of socializing with other people and kids. We are also bringing our foodsaver, swim cap and neoprene head band ~ just in case Thomas wants to hear at the beach.

We tried it a few times at the waterpark and it worked pretty well , but each time I forgot to tighten the magnet so it kept falling off. I am keeping my fingers crossed that Cochlear is close to producing a water safe processor.