Lions Bear Lake Family Camp for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

This spring I went with Gretta and Carli's Audiologist to a Conference in Lansing for parents of children with hearing loss called GearUp. While at the conference I learned a little about the Lions Bear Lake Family Camp for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. I thought that Gretta wasn't old enough for a week sleep away camp, so they told me about the family camp option. I thought that sounded even better because we could all participate. Sometimes Eliza actually feels left out because she has good hearing. The camp went from Friday afternoon to Sunday afternoon in Lapeer, MI. I wasn't really sure what to expect or if we would even enjoy it. I figured it cost $100 for the weekend, so if it was a bust we would just come home. I was also a little worried about how Carli would do. 

We ended up having a great time and I think we will send Gretta to the week sleep over camp next year. The camp was beautiful and well run. The cabins were great and even had hot showers and electricity. Plus the food was good and the dining hall nice. 

It was great for Gretta to meet other kids who wear hearing aids or have cochlear implants. The Teen Youth counselors were such great examples. Most of them had been campers in the past.  Alexis talked about how she was bullied in Jr High about her hearing aids and how she over came it. She is now an honor student, on student government and plays on the volleyball team. 

The theme was SPACE camp. They split the adults and the kids up most of the time. The kids sure had a great time doing art projects, and out door activities. The Adults did team building and a ropes course.

 It was a great weekend. 

Interesting enough our Cabin mates were actually another LDS family from the Ann Arbor area. They have a 7 year old boy with hearing loss. There is no way they could have known we were both LDS from our applications since really all it had was our name and kids ages. It was fun to get to the Walkers. 

Carli 15 months

Here are some notes I wrote about Carli at 15 months.

Strong willed! She has already thrown  her first temper tantrum. She threw her head back and screamed because I wouldn't give her what she wanted.

Is walking everywhere. I haven't seen her crawl in a long time.

Has to have something in both hands while eating. Wants to feed herself now.

So happy to be eating solid foods again

Good report from Dr Buchman. There might be a little hole in the back right side of her palate, but we won't really know how it all turned out until she is talking more. I haven't seen food come out her noes for a long time, so that is a good sign. 

Wearing hearing aids more and can sure get them off fast

Words. On mama night night ( but it doesn't sound like that yet) hi and lots of grunts

22 lbs 12 oz

33 inches

18 1/2 head circumference

Sleeps from 8:30 to 7:30 - 8:30 everyday. One long nap but mostly because its easier for the family schedule

Super flexible 

Super social loves to go down the rows at church and say hi to everyone 

Has her bottom one year molars.

She has gotten tons of teeth- Now has 8 on bottom and 6 on top.

Curious and seems to be doing things my other kid didn't do, but  all of those things you hear about kids doing, but I didn't believe they did. Got into the window cord and wrapped it around her neck while at Family Camp. Tried to put keys in the electrical outlet. Loves to put her hands on the wheel of the Phil and Ted Stroller. Gets mad if you take her hands away Trying to climb up her sisters bunk bed ladder. Loves to bit for attention.

Loves to do what ever her big sisters are doing. 

She needs constant supervision!

Has a smile that will melt your heart!

We love you Carli! We are so happy you came to our family. 

Love,

Mom

Look How Big I am!

I found a picture that I took of Carli when she got home from the hospital with her pink elephant and then I took one again now and look how much she has grown! Isn't that amazing. She really looks like a toddler and not a baby now. She is also acting like a toddler too:)

We love you Carli!

Carli 15 months

Carli Newborn

U of M

Carli and Gretta had appointments with ENT and Carli had an appointment with Plastics, so the whole family got to go to U of M. It turned out to be kind of a crazier than even planned trip because we were going to drive over and spend the night after in Detroit and then go to the Lions Family Camp for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Kids in Lapeer, MI the next day. But on Wednesday I decided to take the car in for an oil change and to check the breaks an it turned out the breaks were worse than I expected. So we ended up diving a loner car over to U of M and back on Thursday. Meeting with our landlords Thursday night and then driving back across the State to the Camp on Friday. The kids really were troopers in the car especially since the DVD player is broken too. 

The good news is that the appointments went well and we don't have to go back for over 6 months. There is still a part of Carli's palate repair that is questionable, but only time will tell. 

U of M has a family center. Carli enjoyed riding on the dinosaur. Gretta and Eliza enjoyed going to a siblings camp in the afternoon while Carli went to see the Plastic Surgeon. 

Summer Fun!

We meet some friends at the Discovery Zone. Summer break is so much fun!.

 Carli especially liked the hula hoops. I was so cute to see her put them on and try to make them move. Then she would give up and just carry them around.

Gretta's First Over Night Girl Scout Camp

Gretta was lucky enough to get to go to sleep over Girl Scout Camp this year. There are only 5 Daisy's her age, so they will join up with Elizabeth Voglewede's Brownie troop next year. It was decided to help them get to know the Brownies more they could come to the sleep over camp Elizabeth was planning. Gretta was so excited. Gina Cole her co-leader from his year took her up along with her daughter Gracie, who is Gretta's age. It was Friday and Saturday night. I was wondering how she would do away from us for 2 nights, but she did awesome and loved it! We also got a nice report from her leader that she was a joy to have at camp. Way to go Gretta!

She also got her new Brownie uniform for next year and is so excited to be advancing. 

2013 SUP Maiden voyage

Eric took his stand-up paddle board out for its 2013 maiden voyage. The water was a little chilly, but, he still had a great time. Gretta went out on the paddle board with him. She even did it all by herself one time. 

Carli's first paddle board trip

Eric took Carli out on the paddle board for the first time this weekend. She just loves the beach and the paddle board was no different. Eliza tried to stand up on it herself too. 

Lemonade Stand

The girls got this Lemonade Stand for Christmas. They have been begging to have a lemonade sale. I thought it would be good timing for them to sell lemonade during our Neighborhood Garage Sale. 

They were so excited to set everything up, but then once they started working the stand it got boring rather quick! Eliza was mad that not everyone who walked passed bought lemonade and they were bored waiting. I think they had fun for 20 minutes and then were bored for 20 minutes and begging me to let them go inside. We had a talk about how hard work is!
I think they only sold 5 cups. They were pretty disappointed. They haven't begged anymore to do a lemonade stand.  I think it was a good lesson for them to learn how hard it is to earn money. 

Family Pictures