If I had to describe this past year, I'm pretty sure I could do so with one word. Normalcy. I remember speaking to several moms when Sophie was just diagnosed and many of them had deaf children who were a bit older. They told me that eventually I will stop feeling overwhelmed and like my life was turned upside down. And I'll admit - the first year was HARD. We were still learning to be parents, but also learning to be a part of this new world that was absolutely foreign to us. Hearing aids, speech therapy, preparing for implant surgery, and constant worry about the future. The second year was exciting, but also very difficult. Sophie had been implanted and we were working with her each and every day to grow her vocabulary and language skills. It was a fun time as we celebrated each milestone with great enthusiasm, but I still felt a lot of pressure and was worried about the future. This past year has honestly been a breeze and I totally understand what those wise moms were telling me in the beginning of our journey. We have this down. I hardly think twice about Sophie being deaf. She is just a typical toddler that hears differently than most people do. This year has shown me that I have no reason to worry about the future anymore. She is already a success and not even three years old! We have a incredibly smart little girl who is going to do great things in this world and I can't wait to watch her.
Anyway, we have definitely returned to normalcy. The weight of worry being lifted off my shoulders has been exhilarating. I know I will always worry a little as Sophie faces new changes and challenges, but nothing like the beginning of this journey where even the little things were uncertain. We are in such a great place right now and feel like we can move forward with life - especially with welcoming a second child later this year! ;)
While we will always celebrate Sophie's hearing birthday, I feel like this one was extra special because it marked this turning point for us. Who knows what the next year will bring!
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| Happy 2nd Hearing Birthday, Sophie!! |
