haven't seen you in a while..are you ok ?

Oh My, it has been crazy here..I am so glad it is finally the w/e!! Time to take a break, ya know?

I am very embarrassed to say that I'm prolly like your mom..I am very close to my sister and mother so they tend to know everything that goes on with my kids within a few minutes of it happening. I can't help it tho, my sister is my best friend. She moved two years ago and lives about an hour and a half away. We still talk on the phone constantly! Our husbands joke that they each got two wives.

Funny how the mom always gets to be the referee. Brittany's father comes to get her every other w/e and there always seems to be something that I have to smooth over for her..he doesn't like her new hair cut, or she has gotten it colored. He really IS a stubborn mule. (He always said I was when we were married, haha)

Poor Theo, I know how it is for her. I have been married to my current husband for nine years, but when we first married Brittany was like that. One time our lawn mower was broken and we all went to the store for the part to fix it. Brittany asked where we were going and he said,"To get a part." She thought we were going to get "apart" and started crying hysterically. Looking back now, it was too funny. At the time I felt really bad for her. She has always been my sensitive one.

She has a cousin in Greece that is getting ready to marry a young woman named Theo!

From Brittany - HI!! I was just named, not christened. When I was born my father already had two children that were named after his parents. Since my mother is American, and he says since I was a girl, he told her to name me what she wanted. I was baptized in the Greek church when I was 12. My little sisters still talk about the day they went to the big church and watched me take a bath. My Godparents are so nice to me. My parents have known them for years, they said for a long time before I was born that they wanted to baptize me. I actually got to see them when I was in Greece and flew back to the states with them! Please tell my mom to let me spend the summer there next year!!

OK, enough from her, and I just told her I will think about the whole summer in Greece...Have a great w/e Vivie..Hug Theo and Sofia, they are very lucky to have you..

I feel the same about my brother, he is older than me, but I have always been the "big sister" to him..."Can you take my dry-cleaning, do you mind picking this or that up for me" OR calls me on the phone, "OMG, this or that is going on, what should I do?!" I do love him dearly and for some reason feel the need to take care of him.

I understand about not telling your parents yet and agree. Wait until you have all of the information on your side. My ex (Brittany Nikole's father) is VERY Greek. Sometimes the little things she does get him upset, he is alot older than me and very set in his ways. I know he has her best intersts at heart, but he doesn't always get it. (Not saying that your parents are like that, just saying it is hard to listen to your child - and a daughter at that!) I always end up having to be the referee. I really don't mind. I think the point is that she hasn't learned how to approach him yet...She'll get it someday

Theo and Sofia are so lucky to have you! I have a Mom that is not very affectionate, I think as you get older you get used to it. Probably harder as a child...Why do you worry about Theo?

Funny, Brittany Nikole was just talking to me and said how ironic that we think our own language would be the easiest to speech read, but I do agree with you. I have a limited command of Greek (better than Brittany Nikole) and I think it would be easier. English is such a hard language and the rules make no sense.

She wants me to tell you that yes, she has a large family over there. Mostly all in Karpennnisi. She loved being there this summer. Her father and brother take turns going each year (one has to stay here and run the business). BUT, she is looking forward to going back next year with her brother. They want her to stay for the entire summer, I would miss her so much. (She is still my baby!!)

I feel like we are in a growing/learning phase with Samantha. I just want this path to get us to the right place for her, ya know

What a week!! My brother sometimes stays at my house (he travels a lot for business) and he was here the past two nights. We are very close and I love him, but I think I am just beginning to realize exactly how high maintenance he is!

We are definitely resaerching all of our possibilities well before making any decision. I do not want to regret our next step. (And getting a lot of help from ADers)

I was slightly misleading and I appologize. My oldest (Brittany Nikole) is the one that reads your posts. She is very much trying to get in touch with her "Greek Roots"..I love it. As soon as I said I had been chatting with you, she was all about reading what you write.

I have always tried to make Samantha feel like it isn't correcting , just rephrasing. However, even that gets tiresome for her. (Understandably) So, at the dinner table I have told my husband and Brittany Nikole there are no rules. Samantha is allowed to tell her stories about her day at school in her own words.

I understand how your mother feels. With this new implant my husband thought she should be able to hear immediately on that side. He didn't quite understand since she has been hearing with the other one for so long..(I always tell him I am the brains, he is the brawn..lol) It really is a hard concept to get..

I think the hardest part of being a parent is when you realize that a piece of candy and a kiss won't make it all better for them. Samantha is the strongest willed child I have. I know that as she gets older she will be fine. I worry about the years in between. I know what it was like for my oldest going through middle school, even my own middle school years. They are the worst when all you want is to fit in..I guess I am just being a typical mom. I am sure your mother felt the same.

Also, I am sorry I absolutely used the wrong word. Samantha is definitely a speech reader. It is uncanny how she has the ability to read your body language and know exactly what emotion you are projecting, and/or is able to guess what you are trying to say without having to see your lips move!! Her therapist also became frustrated with that.

I so look forward to these chats, you seem like such a great person. I am glad to have met you, Vivie..

Samantha does have an FM system in school, I think it helps some. When she was implanted we were told not to teach her sign....if only I could turn back time. She does lipread, sometimes too well.....

We started her in school a year late, trying to give her the chance to catch up. It really isn't happening. Her vocabulary is still about 15 months behind her chronological age. She doesn't seem to be closing that gap at all. That's why I wish we would have signed from the beginning...She has such a difficult time trying to get her thoughts across and I feel like we are constantly correcting her.

She doesn't really have any "friends" in school. She is still young enough that her classmates have not yet begun to reject her. (That will come soon) They take care of her. She tends to withdraw. This is the first year that she does not want to go, she cries and begs to stay home with me. Her little sister, Addie, is one year behind her. They actually have recess together, so I know she has someone to play with then. It breaks my heart.

We are looking into the school for the deaf here. I'm hoping to get her somewhere that she can learn ASL and feel like she fits in, ya know? We would have to move though, and my oldest is not happy about that. (She is in 10th grade and has gone to school with the same kids since kindergarten)


Actually, you two have a lot in common, besides the Greek thing ...She is a total bookworm! Has always preferred books over TV.
(She reads all of your replies to me!) After reading your last post she agreed, we have to do whatever is best for Samantha.

Samantha is 8. She is doing great with her CIs, but not so great being mainstreamed. We are looking at other options. So sad that technology has come so far but the school systems and the general population is still so backwards thinking!

How old were you when you got your implant?

It is awesome that you have found a good therapist, that can make all the difference in the world!

At the time he said the same about it being expensive...

They weren't doing bilat when she was born so she only had the left side until now. Her initial stimulation on the right was Aug 18, so last weeks mapping was the first time she heard with it. She was SO excited! I am glad we were able to do it finally..
Good luck with the studies..keep me posted!

My middle daughter was born deaf (bilat CIs now)...I am so jealous of you living in Greece!! I tried to talk my ex-husband into moving back (to his home) when he took me there..Soo beautiful. The people, the country, etc..

We live in USA. North Carolina. Have you been to Lefkada?

I hope you work it out and are able to move to the UK. My oldest daughter is half Greek. She just returned from spending a month in Karpenissi with her father. Are you close to there?