"...God's gift to him was silence..."

"...He was born a little less than perfect, at least in that doctors' eyes..."

They labeled him 'deaf/mute' in China.  That was Jace's 'special need'.

Tomorrow we meet with Jace's team at his new school.  We meet with his teacher, PT, OT, Psychologist, and Audiologist.  We learn his IEP (Individual Education Plan).  These are the goals set for Jace from the experts within his school.

Tuesday is another day altogether (beside the fact that it is Nick's 5th birthday)... we meet with the cochlear implant audiologist and surgeon at John's Hopkins Listening Center to see if Jace is, in fact, a candidate for a cochlear implant.  Now...I must say, I have been researching cochlear implants (CI) like crazy.  What I have learned is not completely exciting.  I have learned that these devices are best prescribed within the first 2 years of life.  And that they are by no means the 'ears' that hear as we do--and that there is a facial nerve so close to where the surgeon works that if interrupted during surgery, may cause temporary or permanent facial paralysis.

"...God's gift to him was silence; in this world so full of noise..."


Noise.  Think about that for a minute.  Noise is everywhere.  Noise can be as loud as a jet plane, or as soft as the sounds of the keys I am typing this very moment, in this quiet/sleeping house.  And what about the birds outside our windows that wake us early in the morning?  Or our children laughing?  Even sounds as irritating as our children whining--can you imagine never hearing that?  Whatever the noise is-we take it for granted.  Just once I would LOVE to hear my Jace say "MaMa", and know he was speaking to me.  Just once would I love to know he heard the beating of my heart as he lay peacefully sleeping on my chest...or  that he heard his brother and sister's call his name.  But are these sounds really 'noise'?  Think about that...

...  Think about the 'noise' in this life.  The rush of everyday noise.  The sound of the horn of a car, and the irritation in the 'hurry up and wait' life of rush hour traffic; the noise of a mom yelling at her children (me), the noise of racial slurs (too close to home for me to mention) from ignorant persons who have NO clue about life and love.  The noise that we would LOVE to turn off...

..."And he sings with his smile...talks with his hands... he listens with his heart, so he always understands..."


Anyone who has met our Jace knows that this is a true and fair statement.  The boy's heart is right where it should be.  He never met a stranger.  He smiles non-stop.  He picks up signs faster than I can teach him.  He listens to momma with his heart and he shows compassion for anyone who is hurting.  This boy understands life no matter the hearing loss.


"...He believes there's more to life, than the sounds that it makes...he's PERFECT that way..."

The life Jace knows (for the most part) is a nurturing one.  Hugs and kisses.  Praises and scolding.  'Way-to-go's and 'don't you dare's...and yes, there are many spankings....but each spanking ends with an explanation and a 'kiss-and-make-up-with-mom' session...There IS more to life than the sounds it makes.  Sometimes I am glad he doesn't hear the 'sounds' of life.  One thing for sure...He is PERFECT that way.... God NEVER makes mistakes.   And I pray He leads me to this (CI) decision...which HE will...I am confident in that.  

Thank you, Lord for these children you have given me...and for the confidence you bestow in me...and for the compassion you have given me for each one of Your children...Amen...