So back in September Phoebe had a fancy hearing test called an ABR (Automated Brain Response) down at Egleston to confirm a slight hearing loss in her left ear. The audiologists wanted to keep a close eye on her hearing because these first few years are so important for language and speech development; they are not sure if her loss will deteriorate further or if any type of deficit will develop in her right ear.
The ABR measured her brain response to sound stimuli in each ear. In November, when Phoebe was 3 months old, we went back for a second ABR. They were unable to complete the test at that time because in order to receive accurate results the baby must be very still in a deep state of sleep. As babies get older their sleep becomes more restless. Phoebe was asleep on my lap for the test and it looked to me like she was sound asleep, but apparently she was having enough muscle movement (undetectable to me) to interfere with the test. So at that time they had recommended an sedated ABR. They wanted to artificially sedate her to ensure a deep state of sleep and then repeat the ABR. We said no. I'm not going to sedate my baby to determine IF her very mild hearing loss has deteriorated further.
So instead we opted for a behavioral hearing test, which we had done last week. Unlike the ABR this test is not ear specific or as accurate (at this age) so it will not be able to measure the level of hearing in each ear. But we figured if she has some loss in her left ear, but fully compensates with her right ear, who cares?? So we did several preliminary tests and then went and sat in a sound booth. The audiologist played sounds at different frequencies and "rewarded" Phoebe for turning towards the sound. Phoebe did well and was apparently able to respond appropriately demonstrating a normal hearing using both ears in the sound booth.
Then they put in ear buds to try to test ear specific hearing but they really were not able to get accurate results. She was getting tired and fussy. So now they are recommending follow-up hearing tests in the sound booth every 3-6 months until she is three years old and then I think maybe yearly?? And they want us to follow-up with an ENT. We actually did see an ENT back in September at the request of our pediatrician when Phoebe was about 6 weeks old and it was a complete waste of my time and money.
I'm thinking we will go back to the ENT in April or May after we do our next sound booth test. Chris and I both think she can hear just fine at this point and aren't really concerned about it getting worse. Of course we want to monitor her hearing because this is such a crucial stage for language development, but I'm still not convinced (or maybe just naively hopeful) that her unilateral mild high frequency hearing loss will stunt or harm her language development.
Monday, February 6, 2012
Friday, February 3, 2012
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
AHHHH
Finally Phoebe learned to rollover from her belly to her back. She had rolled over a several times previously, but nothing consistent. The Friday we got Knox is the day she started rolling over consistently! We were so excited. (Its the little things...) She was 5 1/2 months old. Better late than never.
But there are two sides to every coin and the flip side of her new trick is that she doesn't nap as well anymore. Before she knew how to rollover, life was bliss. Phoebe would wake up between 7 and 7:30. She would go back down for a nap at 10am and sleep for about an hour and a half. She would wake up happy eat and play and then go back down for a nap at 1. This time she would sleep 2 - 2 1/2 hours. Most of the time she would take another little cat nap sometime in the late afternoon/early evening and then go to bed at 8pm.
Phoebe naps on her belly or at least used to nap on her belly. Now she rolls over, doesn't go to sleep, cries, and if she does fall asleep she wakes up 30 minutes later on her back- crying. I used to just be able to lay her down in the crib on her belly, walk away, and she would go to sleep on her own. Now I've tried everything- swaddling her for naps, half swaddling her, rocking her, patting her back. And I cannot get this child to nap. So guess who is super cranky. I mean she has screamed and screamed because she is so tired and will not go to sleep. And this child never screams like that. (Well, except from 3-5 weeks when I was continuing to try to nurse and she wouldn't have anything to do with me. So now these tired "I'm fighting sleep" screams are bringing back bad memories.)
I'm going crazy. I have considered getting the duct tape out, taping her arms and legs down and taping her paci in her mouth, but something tells me that's not the best idea. I can't handle much more of this. I really don't like crying babies very much. And right that crying baby is my child which creates somewhat of an internal conflict. Amy Bogue, you sent us a link with a bedtime story for kids who are "having trouble sleeping" I found it amusing but really couldn't relate at the time because Phoebe had always been such a good sleeper. Now I find myself quoting this book in my head ALL THE TIME. (Jesus, forgive me.)
She still sleeps great at night swaddled on her back, but we have GOT to do something about nap time. I am pulling my hair out.
I want my happy baby back...
But there are two sides to every coin and the flip side of her new trick is that she doesn't nap as well anymore. Before she knew how to rollover, life was bliss. Phoebe would wake up between 7 and 7:30. She would go back down for a nap at 10am and sleep for about an hour and a half. She would wake up happy eat and play and then go back down for a nap at 1. This time she would sleep 2 - 2 1/2 hours. Most of the time she would take another little cat nap sometime in the late afternoon/early evening and then go to bed at 8pm.
Phoebe naps on her belly or at least used to nap on her belly. Now she rolls over, doesn't go to sleep, cries, and if she does fall asleep she wakes up 30 minutes later on her back- crying. I used to just be able to lay her down in the crib on her belly, walk away, and she would go to sleep on her own. Now I've tried everything- swaddling her for naps, half swaddling her, rocking her, patting her back. And I cannot get this child to nap. So guess who is super cranky. I mean she has screamed and screamed because she is so tired and will not go to sleep. And this child never screams like that. (Well, except from 3-5 weeks when I was continuing to try to nurse and she wouldn't have anything to do with me. So now these tired "I'm fighting sleep" screams are bringing back bad memories.)
I'm going crazy. I have considered getting the duct tape out, taping her arms and legs down and taping her paci in her mouth, but something tells me that's not the best idea. I can't handle much more of this. I really don't like crying babies very much. And right that crying baby is my child which creates somewhat of an internal conflict. Amy Bogue, you sent us a link with a bedtime story for kids who are "having trouble sleeping" I found it amusing but really couldn't relate at the time because Phoebe had always been such a good sleeper. Now I find myself quoting this book in my head ALL THE TIME. (Jesus, forgive me.)
She still sleeps great at night swaddled on her back, but we have GOT to do something about nap time. I am pulling my hair out.
I want my happy baby back...
Monday, January 30, 2012
RUF
I feel like I still get a lot of questions about Chris' job. What does your husband do again? Is he a youth pastor? Does he work for Kennesaw State University?
Let me break it down briefly- Chris is employed by RUF, Reformed University Fellowship. RUF is the college ministry of the Presbyterian Church of America, PCA. He is a licenced and ordained minister. However, he does not currently work in or at a church. He is essentially a missionary (who's mission field is a college campus) ministering to college students, who are the next generation of church leaders, businessmen, political figures, etc. His current "mission field" is Kennesaw State, yet he could just as easily transfer to another university and "do" RUF there.
Here's a little bit more information about RUF from the RUF website:
What we believe:
As a ministry of the Presbyterian Church in America, RUF holds to the core beliefs of historic Christianity which motivate our heart for God and love for the university. Some of these beliefs include the need for new life in Christ, the authority of the Scriptures, and the mission of the Church to reach and equip all people with the message of the gospel.
What we do:
Although we may be familiar with the basic tenets of Christianity, many of us struggle to understand the full meaning of the gospel of Jesus Christ and to experience it in community with others. The purpose of RUF, therefore, is to build a community on the college campus that reaches students of divergent beliefs and doubts with the message of the gospel and equips them to love and serve Jesus and his Church
So on a daily basis what does he "do"? What does a day look like in the eyes of Chris Bowen? He holds a weekly large group on Tuesday nights on campus where students come together for fellowship and worship. They worship through music; then Chris preaches and everyone goes out somewhere fun afterwards. This semester he is preaching through the Ten Commandments. He also meets with students for one on one discipleship to encourage/promote personal growth to present/reinforce the gospel truths in their life to equip them to love and serve Jesus. He organizes fun events to create community, which is especially important and challenging on a commuter campus. There are of course weekly bible studies and discussion groups. Much of his time is spent reading, studying, praying, and preparing for large groups, discussions, and answering students questions from a Biblical perspective. And then like any job there is the administrative side of things- finances and reports and such.
Chris as well as RUF is supported financially through gifts from churches and individuals. It certainly can be a challenge to raise support, but God has been faithful in providing generous churches and individuals who support the ministry, which confirms Chris' call as a pastor with RUF at KSU.
I have always enjoyed going to large group with Chris and hanging out with the students. Sadly, Phoebe and I attended our last large group for awhile a couple weeks ago. Large group starts at 8pm and since Phoebe is going to bed at 8pm, it is just too much of a disruption of her schedule to keep her awake. I will miss seeing everyone on Tuesdays, but we'll still have students in our house on a pretty regular basis so hopefully we won't miss too much.
We LOVE, LOVE, LOVE RUF as a ministry and as an organization. Chris and I are both very well cared for by RUF. And of course we wholeheartedly love seeing and participating in God's work at KSU.
Let me break it down briefly- Chris is employed by RUF, Reformed University Fellowship. RUF is the college ministry of the Presbyterian Church of America, PCA. He is a licenced and ordained minister. However, he does not currently work in or at a church. He is essentially a missionary (who's mission field is a college campus) ministering to college students, who are the next generation of church leaders, businessmen, political figures, etc. His current "mission field" is Kennesaw State, yet he could just as easily transfer to another university and "do" RUF there.
Here's a little bit more information about RUF from the RUF website:
What we believe:
As a ministry of the Presbyterian Church in America, RUF holds to the core beliefs of historic Christianity which motivate our heart for God and love for the university. Some of these beliefs include the need for new life in Christ, the authority of the Scriptures, and the mission of the Church to reach and equip all people with the message of the gospel.
What we do:
Although we may be familiar with the basic tenets of Christianity, many of us struggle to understand the full meaning of the gospel of Jesus Christ and to experience it in community with others. The purpose of RUF, therefore, is to build a community on the college campus that reaches students of divergent beliefs and doubts with the message of the gospel and equips them to love and serve Jesus and his Church
So on a daily basis what does he "do"? What does a day look like in the eyes of Chris Bowen? He holds a weekly large group on Tuesday nights on campus where students come together for fellowship and worship. They worship through music; then Chris preaches and everyone goes out somewhere fun afterwards. This semester he is preaching through the Ten Commandments. He also meets with students for one on one discipleship to encourage/promote personal growth to present/reinforce the gospel truths in their life to equip them to love and serve Jesus. He organizes fun events to create community, which is especially important and challenging on a commuter campus. There are of course weekly bible studies and discussion groups. Much of his time is spent reading, studying, praying, and preparing for large groups, discussions, and answering students questions from a Biblical perspective. And then like any job there is the administrative side of things- finances and reports and such.
 |
| Worship at Large Group |
 |
| Fall Conference 2011 |
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| Braves Game during Orientation at the beginning of the school year |
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| "White Trash Bash" Birthday Party for Intern Aubra |
Chris as well as RUF is supported financially through gifts from churches and individuals. It certainly can be a challenge to raise support, but God has been faithful in providing generous churches and individuals who support the ministry, which confirms Chris' call as a pastor with RUF at KSU.
I have always enjoyed going to large group with Chris and hanging out with the students. Sadly, Phoebe and I attended our last large group for awhile a couple weeks ago. Large group starts at 8pm and since Phoebe is going to bed at 8pm, it is just too much of a disruption of her schedule to keep her awake. I will miss seeing everyone on Tuesdays, but we'll still have students in our house on a pretty regular basis so hopefully we won't miss too much.
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| Chris Preaching at Large Group |
We LOVE, LOVE, LOVE RUF as a ministry and as an organization. Chris and I are both very well cared for by RUF. And of course we wholeheartedly love seeing and participating in God's work at KSU.
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