Our Inspired Journey

Granted, a lot has happened since Gramma's arrival, including Cole's activation! So we've definitely had plenty to keep us busy including speech therapy and mapping appointments every week for Cole. My mom has been wonderful in taking Ryder to story time at the library for the past 2 Tuesdays while John and I take Cole to his first speech therapy sessions with our new therapists and his new "ears!" We will have to take Cole by himself to these sessions in the future as well so that he can focus without his favorite playmate there to distract him, so it's been great for John and I to be able to tag team for now and learn as much as we can about how to help Cole begin learning to listen and speak. He's doing great "vocalizing" (making any noise) when he wants something, learning that his voice has purpose. Every morning when he wakes up, we put his "ears" on and he immediately starts making an "ahhhhh" sound and smiles as if to say, "I can hear! I like my new ears!"

Ryder has also grown in his role as "supporter" and big brother as he holds Cole's hand every where we go now...in the halls at church, in the grocery store, down the halls of ECHO and loves to lead him back on the right path when Cole seems to be forging his own way! Ryder has also deemed himself the one in charge of putting Cole's headpieces back on when they fall off his head (they're magnets) and makes sure we know it by saying, "I can do it!" anytime anyone of us reach down to put them back in place. :) He definitely loves his brother and Cole loves him. Each morning when they see each other for the first time, Cole (usually the first one awake) greets Ryder with an "ahhhhhh!" and walks toward him with arms wide open to give him a big hug around his neck. They stand their for a while patting each other on the back and then run off to play. It's really one of the best sights a mother could see! There of course are moments of tension when someone doesn't want to share, but for the most part they are "for each other" and it is our prayer that this will remain as they grow...differences aside, may they grow to learn that they are on the same side as God-given allies :) I'm so looking forward to seeing how Ryder will continue to support Cole as he grows up with cochlear implants and how Cole will continue to open our eyes to new perspectives on life...we have two amazing boys.

So until our sweet girl decides the time is right, we've been enjoying trips to the library, the indoor playground, SNOW, making new recipes in our new bread maker (John's Christmas gift to himself!), Gramma's cooking and most of all....Gramma!!! She's amazing. I've always loved my mom, but being with her for the past 17 days has given me a new level of respect for all qualities I knew I've always loved. My mom has embraced her new roomate (Ryder) and they're even calling each other "roomies" now! They have become buddies on their trips alone to the library and though Ryder can be a handful sometimes with his strong personality and clear vision of what he wants, my mom has embraced him with the patience and love of one who has mothered well for many years. It's been great to learn alongside her! Cole is our sweet, expressive boy who since gaining hearing has "brightened up" in his expression and intake of the world around him. He responds with reactions that seem to say to the rest of us..."Can you believe this! Life is great!" What a joy to have my mom experience Cole introduction to sound alongside of us. Though he has his moments of throwing himself on the floor and asserting his new voice when things don't go his way, it has been a gift to have my mom experience his sweet personality in person :)

It has been one of the greatest gifts of our time here in Illinois to have John home for the past month as he's been on winter break from school! God couldn't have timed it all better! He's been able to spend some real quality "Daddy time" with the boys who have fallen head over heels in love with their Dad. Cole cries the minute John leaves the house without him for any reason, immediately getting his shoes and bringing them to me in hopes of catching up to his favorite man! John has been able to take Ryder on a few sledding trips during Cole's nap times and has been incredible in letting me rest when I need to, playing Mr. Mom like I've never seen before. Our family has been through so much change in the past few months that this time of concentrated time together has been a true gift and one that I believe has changed the way we do life together. We are really "synced" up in the way we parent, discipline, and have had time to petition God together for his direction for our family and goals He wants us to pursue. This is the best gift I could hope for, really. As my mom has been here so much of this time, her presence and help with cooking, cleaning, and playing with the boys has released just enough of the "domestic" pressure to allow us freedom to enjoy our time as a family without worrying about the dishes piling up and the laundry getting away from us! What a blessing her selfless spirit is!!!