Danice has been prompting me to make a virtual appearance here on our blog. The semester was quite hectic and although my desire to write in this venue was high, the requirement to read and write about the progressivists, traditionalists, aesthetics and praxialists were required and therefore took precedence....please accept my sincerest apologies...it is not personal :)
So, what to write about- the pressure is enormous to cultivate some entry of quality as the quantity of my entries are limited. The nature of blogging lends itself to one way communication, doesn’t it? The writer is the producer and the reader is the consumer. It allows you the reader to be here in anonymity- which may be a good thing. It allows you space to think, process and experience at your own pace. But the danger is that without interaction, all of our interactions are less rich and enjoyable. Subsequently, this is your chance to REALLY reply. You can comment underneath this entry. Let’s all be producers and consumers in this experience! So here is what I’d like to hear about from you....
This Friday, January 2nd, Cole will receive the external components of his cochlear implants and hear for the first time. Although cochlear implants do not exactly reproduce the sound that regular hearing does, let’s imagine that it does and you too will be hearing for the first time.....all of a sudden- not gradually. Instantaneously your ears begin to hear. What do you want to be the first sounds you hear?
Realistically Cole will not understand the meaning of his first sounds as his brain has not worked through the meanings of sounds yet, so you may take it any direction you want....you are able to initially comprehend the “sound meanings” or you aren’t....
What do you want to be the first sound you hear? What sound(s) would be most beneficial, most meaningful, would it be words, songs, sounds of nature? A verse? Which one? A song? Which one? A voice? Who’s? Would it be “I love you”? God loves you? Welcome to the first administration.....(insert your own Obama joke here).
Who would you want to share this experience with?
On January 2nd when we get Cole’s external processor hooked up and we do go through this situation I feel like I should take it seriously. Not often do you have this unique of an opportunity- to choose what your son hears for the first time. I haven’t decided yet how to approach the situation and I would like to hear all of your input...for the sake of Coley’s first hearing experience and for the sake of our little virtual community, please participate!
So what do you think? What to hear first? I look forward to your thoughts!
So, what to write about- the pressure is enormous to cultivate some entry of quality as the quantity of my entries are limited. The nature of blogging lends itself to one way communication, doesn’t it? The writer is the producer and the reader is the consumer. It allows you the reader to be here in anonymity- which may be a good thing. It allows you space to think, process and experience at your own pace. But the danger is that without interaction, all of our interactions are less rich and enjoyable. Subsequently, this is your chance to REALLY reply. You can comment underneath this entry. Let’s all be producers and consumers in this experience! So here is what I’d like to hear about from you....
This Friday, January 2nd, Cole will receive the external components of his cochlear implants and hear for the first time. Although cochlear implants do not exactly reproduce the sound that regular hearing does, let’s imagine that it does and you too will be hearing for the first time.....all of a sudden- not gradually. Instantaneously your ears begin to hear. What do you want to be the first sounds you hear?
Realistically Cole will not understand the meaning of his first sounds as his brain has not worked through the meanings of sounds yet, so you may take it any direction you want....you are able to initially comprehend the “sound meanings” or you aren’t....
What do you want to be the first sound you hear? What sound(s) would be most beneficial, most meaningful, would it be words, songs, sounds of nature? A verse? Which one? A song? Which one? A voice? Who’s? Would it be “I love you”? God loves you? Welcome to the first administration.....(insert your own Obama joke here).
Who would you want to share this experience with?
On January 2nd when we get Cole’s external processor hooked up and we do go through this situation I feel like I should take it seriously. Not often do you have this unique of an opportunity- to choose what your son hears for the first time. I haven’t decided yet how to approach the situation and I would like to hear all of your input...for the sake of Coley’s first hearing experience and for the sake of our little virtual community, please participate!
So what do you think? What to hear first? I look forward to your thoughts!
Grammie & Papa Burdett suggest:
You all point to Danice and say "Mommy"
Then you point to John and say
"Daddy"
As you point to Ryder you say
"Ryder"
Then in unison you say,
"We love you!"
What an opportunity you guys...Glucks vote for music of some sort. Daniel thought something Tommy Walker (He knows my name) may be appropriate. Counting down with you...can't wait to celebrate. love you friends!
How long does it take for the brain to work out that those signals mean sounds? This is uncharted territory for all of us, the best any of us can do is offer ideas which you can pick up, and turn around, and look at from all sides, and take or leave as you like.
For my part, I think it's impossible to find anything else in creation that approximates the warmth and love of a mothers voice. For the first sound, the very first sound he will ever hear? Maybe it should be the first sound he would've heard in the womb, if he'd been able to hear then. Just Danice. Humming, maybe?
Whatever you do will be right. :)
Hmmmm great thoughts, John.... I think Cole knows something of God's silent whispers of love, deep in his soul, in ways that those of us who can hear with our ears have never heard before. We spend a life time trying to listen with our souls for God's whispers of Love. Coley has something to teach the rest of us. And I think his first sounds with his ears will only enhance God's voice that Cole already hears.... "I LOVE YOU SO MUCH, COLE!
I'm excited for him to hear laughter!
-Christiana
Hi John,
The first thing I thought of was either "I love you" or just his parents' voices. How sweet it will be for him to get to have a new way to recieve your love - to hear it in your voices and to hear you say it!
Praying all goes well - Traci
I vote for what Grammie Burdett suggests. Mommy's voice, Daddy's voice and then Ryder's voice. I can only imagine what he will be feeling to hear those he loves and who are closest to him, to know that have sounds too! We love you Coley! Love Auntie Ine!