It costs Nola's school -Memphis Oral School for the Deaf- $40,000 per year per child for all the services they provide!!!
Check it out! http://www.mosdkids.org/
Check it out! http://www.mosdkids.org/
1.31.2010
Snow Day 2010!!!
It snowed at my house!! Mommy and I had a lovely snow day off from school on Friday. Daddy got over the flu (yuck!)- so we went out for just a little while so I could play in it!
My favorite part was eating the snow! Yum, yum!
1.22.2010
Check your Commercial Appeal!!
My Daddy's essay- "Why Me, Why Her, Why Us?"- will be in the Commercial Appeal on Sunday January 31!! It will be on the front page of the M Section!!! Check it out! Mommy and I are so excited for him!
1.17.2010
Something to look forward to....
A note from my Mommy:
As you all who follow the blog or our dear family who have been on this journey with us know, Nola's first shunt placement was at 4 days old, then shunt revision at 10 months old, then second shunt revision at 20 months. I am sure you can see the pattern.... we seem to have a revision every 10 months. So I am holding my breath! We have been 7 months since the last revision and her last CT showed 99% brain. Everything is going great in terms of the hydrocephalus journey. I guess I am posting this to say- I have 3 more months to hold my breath and we will have beaten the every 10 month pattern!
If we make it without a revision for a year, get your party hats ready because we will have a Revision Free for a Year party!!!
As you all who follow the blog or our dear family who have been on this journey with us know, Nola's first shunt placement was at 4 days old, then shunt revision at 10 months old, then second shunt revision at 20 months. I am sure you can see the pattern.... we seem to have a revision every 10 months. So I am holding my breath! We have been 7 months since the last revision and her last CT showed 99% brain. Everything is going great in terms of the hydrocephalus journey. I guess I am posting this to say- I have 3 more months to hold my breath and we will have beaten the every 10 month pattern!
If we make it without a revision for a year, get your party hats ready because we will have a Revision Free for a Year party!!!
1.16.2010
1.13.2010
Photo Shoot
Local businesses will be selling the hearts with my picture and the fundraiser saying. Please look for them and purchase ALOT!! They go to help sweet children like me who have to face challenges that no child should ever have to.
Check back for pictures and a list of the local businesses that will be selling the hearts!!
1.11.2010
My Cochlear Implants
From Mommy:
Nola has done such a tremendous job with her implants! She lets us know if one of the ear pieces falls off... her ear is so little the ear piece doesn't want to stay on very well. She is learning to listen and hears the different sounds that are all new to her. We are so excited about this journey and thank all of you for coming along with us!!
Pictures to follow soon!!
Nola has done such a tremendous job with her implants! She lets us know if one of the ear pieces falls off... her ear is so little the ear piece doesn't want to stay on very well. She is learning to listen and hears the different sounds that are all new to her. We are so excited about this journey and thank all of you for coming along with us!!
Pictures to follow soon!!
1.02.2010
Get Your Kleenex Ready!
My Daddy wrote the essay below. Warning: You will need a kleenex.
“Why Me?, Why Us?, Why Her?”
How often does the thought “Why Me?” cross your mind? Well, for me, it seems to cross my mind every day. Most often I find myself driving to work, alone, and start to think about all of the things going on in my life – college, the family business, my wife, …but mainly my daughter Nola. It never fails that when the thought of her enters my mind I begin to cry. These tears are tears of heartache and sadness mixed with tears of triumph and happiness. I always wonder “why her”. Why does such a sweet little girl, MY daughter, have to deal with all of these issues? Why did she have to be born with Hydrocephalus? Why did she have to endure shunt surgery to relieve the pressure in her head at two days old? Why two more additional surgeries in less than 2 years for this same issue? Why now, on top of this, does she have to be profoundly deaf? Were these decisions already made for me early on in my life? If so, why was I not prepared?
For the greater part of two years she has been unable to hear her mom and dad say “I Love You”. I am positive she knows that I love her, but I want her to really hear me say it and truly understand the meaning behind the words. She has been unable to hear the little things in life that people, like myself, take for granted. How does such a little word like “Why?” have such a difficult meaning and so hard to understand? I am just wanting to know “Why Her?”. I know I will never receive the answers to these questions, but for some reason I seek them anyway. Some days it makes me angry when I think about these things. It makes me angry that Nola will have a steeper hill to climb than her peers. It makes me angry to see what she has been through in only two short years. Now, at two years old she will endure another surgery, a surgery longer than the previous three combined. Yes this surgery will be a monumental one because she will be able to hear me say “I Love You”, but it will also be a long process. Nola will receive the gift of hearing through Cochlear Implants. I could not begin to imagine what all of this would be like without the support of my wife and our families. I truly understand the meaning of family, more now than I ever did, and will be forever grateful for both my wife’s parents and my own.
It is easy for the sadness to fade away when I begin to think about how amazing MY daughter is. She has overcome many obstacles and there are many more to come. She touches the hearts of everyone that meets her. She is extremely intelligent and is exceeding every milestone. This is just the beginning of the life of an amazing little girl.
People may look at my family and feel sorry for us. I hope this never happens – be happy that my wife and I have the most amazing little girl anyone could ever ask for. These past two years have been an amazing journey, so thank you to those who have been riding along with us.
How often does the thought “Why Me?” cross your mind? Well, for me, it seems to cross my mind every day. Most often I find myself driving to work, alone, and start to think about all of the things going on in my life – college, the family business, my wife, …but mainly my daughter Nola. It never fails that when the thought of her enters my mind I begin to cry. These tears are tears of heartache and sadness mixed with tears of triumph and happiness. I always wonder “why her”. Why does such a sweet little girl, MY daughter, have to deal with all of these issues? Why did she have to be born with Hydrocephalus? Why did she have to endure shunt surgery to relieve the pressure in her head at two days old? Why two more additional surgeries in less than 2 years for this same issue? Why now, on top of this, does she have to be profoundly deaf? Were these decisions already made for me early on in my life? If so, why was I not prepared?
For the greater part of two years she has been unable to hear her mom and dad say “I Love You”. I am positive she knows that I love her, but I want her to really hear me say it and truly understand the meaning behind the words. She has been unable to hear the little things in life that people, like myself, take for granted. How does such a little word like “Why?” have such a difficult meaning and so hard to understand? I am just wanting to know “Why Her?”. I know I will never receive the answers to these questions, but for some reason I seek them anyway. Some days it makes me angry when I think about these things. It makes me angry that Nola will have a steeper hill to climb than her peers. It makes me angry to see what she has been through in only two short years. Now, at two years old she will endure another surgery, a surgery longer than the previous three combined. Yes this surgery will be a monumental one because she will be able to hear me say “I Love You”, but it will also be a long process. Nola will receive the gift of hearing through Cochlear Implants. I could not begin to imagine what all of this would be like without the support of my wife and our families. I truly understand the meaning of family, more now than I ever did, and will be forever grateful for both my wife’s parents and my own.
It is easy for the sadness to fade away when I begin to think about how amazing MY daughter is. She has overcome many obstacles and there are many more to come. She touches the hearts of everyone that meets her. She is extremely intelligent and is exceeding every milestone. This is just the beginning of the life of an amazing little girl.
People may look at my family and feel sorry for us. I hope this never happens – be happy that my wife and I have the most amazing little girl anyone could ever ask for. These past two years have been an amazing journey, so thank you to those who have been riding along with us.
1.01.2010
Merry Christmas Part 2
Christmas Part 2 was at Nanny's house. Then we went to Honey & Poppa's house. Aunt Ne was there too of course!
My new mittens
Future Photographer!
Here Comes Santa!
Here are just a few pictures from my morning after Santa came! I got lots of goodies. Santa even left me a message on my easel!
Merry Christmas Part 1
Christmas Part 1 was at Mimi & Big Dad's house! We were joined by Uncle Chris, Aunt Amber, Tristan, Addison, Aunt Lindsay, Uncle Nick, Billy, & Grandma Perkins!
Fantasy Flight to the North Pole
I had a most wonderful experience thanks to LeBonheur and Delta Airlines! All of us got on an airplane and took a "fantasy flight" to the North Pole. When we got off the plane we were greeted by Santa! I, of course, did not like Santa!
Christmas Party at Memphis Oral School for the Deaf
Honey & Poppa's church(Pott's Chapel) raised money for my school! Here is me and Honey presenting the check to Mrs. Teresa!!
Me & Mimi by MOSD's Christmas Tree!
I did not like Santa! I still do not like Santa! He scares me! I had to bury my face in Daddy's shoulder!
Children's Museum of Memphis
Mommy and Daddy took me to the CMOM. We actually went before my cochlear implant surgery.
There was a green screen and you could be in a music video or in a hurricane!!
Playing dress up
Crayon, play-doh, cutting, and glue fun!
Shopping at Kroger!
Water toys
My first try at a hula hoop!!
There was a green screen and you could be in a music video or in a hurricane!! 
Playing dress up
Mommy played dress up too!!
Crayon, play-doh, cutting, and glue fun!
Shopping at Kroger!
Water toys
My first try at a hula hoop!!
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