so what has it been like??

***************************************************

the last several weeks have been so much fun. annie's therapist, dr.caraway told me many months ago that she really believed i would be so surprised to see immediate advances in annie's motor skill development when her cochlear implant was turned on. she explained that "hearing" is the "glue" that holds so much of development together. before walking through this last year i had absolutely no grid whatsoever what that meant. over the last several weeks it has been most evident what she meant. annie is all over the place and into everything. lainey and beau have nicknamed her, "miss curious" it is awesome for me to watch her as she hears something in the next room and takes off to check it out. she is pulling up on anything that she can get a grasp on. her balance is getting stronger i feel like everyday. mike gets tickled each time he thinks about her walking. it is still aways off. but she is getting closer day by day. it reminds us off our sweet friend, sophie doke. she is so tiny yet walking....just sooo cute:))

********************************************************************************

it is always amazing to me how God is pouring out His grace, continually teaching me how to celebrate and truly enjoy every step in the wild journey with Him, if im willing to engage minute by minute with Him. even going to the store is a fun new adventure for annie. all the new sounds...what incredible opportunities to "listen" (and respond if we are willing:) and it never fails that God allows us to have sweet conversations with complete strangers whom soon turn into a new friend. annie seems to be a magnet anywhere we go to tell of God's goodness. she so enjoyes sitting in the grocery seat...like a big girl
the other pic is at the library. lainey is so great with annie. we all grow up with our "normals" for lainey and beau annie's "new ear" is normal. even at their young ages i can see how God is giving such depth of grace to their character and compassion for others. so this pic above is of lainey helping annie see the gerbils at the library. annie so enjoys animals. its so funny how excited she gets when she sees any animal...esp. dogs:))

******************************************************************************its also really funny how anytime the fridge gets opened annie is making a b-line to it and standing up in to explore all the fascinating treasures. i really enjoy it...she can be in the living room and i think she hears the fridge door open and its like a call to her to come into the kitchen and get in the fridge:))

the other evening mom-mom came over to have dinner with us when mike was gone and papa was on his way home from dallas. we had dinner and then were out in the pool with the kids. a huge metlife blimp was flying over. it was so loud and big. annie started making noise and pointing up as if to say, "do you guys see that??" it was awesome!!