The day is almost here...

This Friday is February 1, 2013 and Samantha will be getting one of her BIG ears! 

Dr. John Reinisch will perform the surgery at the Cedars Sinai Surgery Center in Los Angeles, CA.

Mike and I are both nervous and excited.  Sam just seems to be excited.  This is a good thing and definitely makes us feel better about the decision we've made for her.  For being a petite little girl, she sure is strong! 

Love her.

Sweet Samantha

This little girl of mine is pretty special.  She is so beautiful, smart, funny, courageous, the list goes on and on!  She makes me proud every day.  Today was no exception.  She had a pretty big ENT appointment and handled it like a star!  We received some unexpected news about one of her little ears.  We now hope to finalize her surgery plan in the next few days.  

school days

Sam is so lucky to have such an amazing, inspiring, loving Kindergarten teacher. 

fun times

This little lady started up gymnastics again yesterday.  She was super excited about it.  Still won't "go upside-down" aka somersault, but did let the teacher lift her up to the bars.  

Sami loves gymnastics too, but we can't find a class this session that works in her busy schedule. 

structure

My little Sam loves structure and routine.  Two years ago, I came up with the idea to create a giant calendar for her to see what was happening in the month.  Sam loves this and looks forward to making it each month.  It started out with her just adding stickers to it, but now she is not only drawing pictures, she draws scenes.  I also have her writing the month at the top with her own writing skills.  

 

a little alone time

Today was the last day of Winter Break.  Not too much going on, but Ella did get a little time alone to play while Sam was at a birthday party.  She was so cute playing independently and I overheard her say (as she is "making the people talk"), "you are my most favorite yellow Gigi".  Gigi is what the girls call my Mom and she is "yellow" because of the cast she has been wearing for her broken elbow! 

 

it's cold!

It has been really cold (for California) here in SF.  Waking up to 30 degrees with ice on the windshield, with a high of 50 degrees.  Lately, Ella has been very particular with what SHE wants to wear.  Today it was flip flops.  After suggesting something else because it was freezing out, she went into a full blown tantrum.  Mike walks in and say's, "ok, wear your flip flops".  Happy as a clam, she puts them on and the tears disappear.  

She's got style...

My little Ella certainly has her own style.

Sporting leg warmers on her legs AND arms!

Friends

Good friends really make everything in life so much better.  Today we hung out with some friends whom we probably would've never met if our daughter's didn't have hearing loss.  We both live in the Bay Area, but on opposite sides of the bay.  We met at an amazing school where our little girls learned to listen and talk.  Jean Weingarten Peninsula Oral School for the Deaf, is a place neither of us thought we would be, but in the end, we made a lifelong friendship!  Today we spent the morning at the zoo, while our little ones ran around, listened to all the animal sounds!

words of wisdom

Today, my Grandparents are celebrating 69 years of marriage.  I feel so blessed that they are both still in my life.  I asked my Grandma today what her secret was and she said, "Laugh when something bothers you and cry only when you are happy."

Welcome 2013

I've wanted to start a blog for a long time now, but just haven't figured out how to add one more thing into my life.  As we begin this year 2013, I'm going to make an effort!  I don't expect anyone to read it, I just want to jot down my thoughts, hopes and experiences.   

This is my little family.  Me, Katie, my wonderful, supportive husband, Mike and our two beautiful girls, Samantha and Ella.

My 5 year old is Samantha.  She is a beautiful, smart, curious little girl who happens to have hearing loss.  Sam, was born with a rare birth defect called Microtia Atresia, which means her outer ears did not form properly.  In her case, it affected both sides (bilateral).  Sam wears a bone conduction hearing device that gives her access to sound.  She is so amazing and has worked so hard in her 5 years, she is truly an inspiration.  

My little Ella is 2 years old and is super spunky!  She wants to do everything her big sister does and loves a good snuggle. Ella is becoming very independent lately and wants to do EVERYTHING herself.  She is always making us laugh!

I named my blog, "Attached at the hip" because sometimes I feel like my two delightful girls are, "attached to my hip".  I am a SAHM, so I am with them all the time.  I guess it's a good thing they like to be with me!