tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67930873476750832062024-03-13T17:52:52.941-03:00The Adventures of KennedyChronicling the adventures of one amazing, funny, sweet, outrageous young lady, who happens to have CHARGE syndrome!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13927097159499432650noreply@blogger.comBlogger156125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6793087347675083206.post-87634131814557274302016-01-03T22:57:00.003-04:002016-01-03T22:57:30.911-04:00So this is happening in a few months...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-txAw6tYBXyI/VonZ4Ysn1lI/AAAAAAAAEq4/hUvBEAn9YbI/s1600/kkgrad2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-txAw6tYBXyI/VonZ4Ysn1lI/AAAAAAAAEq4/hUvBEAn9YbI/s320/kkgrad2016.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Well it's hard to believe it - she is<span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="background-color: yellow;">graduating</span></span> in June of this year. Now that 2016 has rolled around, it's even more real than it was in the fall when we had her graduation pictures taken. It's just surreal!<br />
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So it's been a year of "lasts" - the last first day of school, last Remembrance Day concert, last holiday show, last high school musical, etc. We are enjoying every minute of it as we know things will be different after this year although she is determined to stay involved with music and the arts through community choirs & theater groups.<br />
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This year's musical was "Anything Goes" - I wasn't too excited when they announced what it was going to be but the show literally was mind-blowing. What the director was able to elicit from these high school students in an intense, six-week rehearsal time-frame was astonishing—truly a great way to end her high school musical career. More updates as the year progresses but for now, I'll leave this link for the album for the musical photos for all the non-facebookers who might be checking in (you don't need a fb account to view these):<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10153558884260428.1073741854.587985427&type=1&l=642ac6dca9">2015-2016 Harbour View High School Musical Photos: Anything Goes </a></h3>
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Kennedy delivering her "I'm a sinner!" line during Reno Sweeney's nightclub/sermon act.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13927097159499432650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6793087347675083206.post-14569188510246086692015-02-11T22:23:00.002-04:002015-02-11T22:23:39.394-04:00Segregation and Discrimination - Alive and Well in St. Augustine, Florida<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I so wanted this to be wrong when I saw the headline for this video a friend of mine (well, several actually) shared today on Facebook. I felt like I was in the middle of that video with the boy who'd been to the dentist and while still coming out of anesthetic, kept asking, "Is this real life?" <br />
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Please take a minute to watch this newscast: <br />
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<object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,47,0" height="392" id="flashObj" width="615"><param name="movie" value="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="flashVars" value="videoId=4043861452001&linkBaseURL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wsbtv.com%2Fvideos%2Fnews%2Fmother-girl-scout-troop-wont-accept-deaf-daughter%2FvDFnXQ%2F&playerID=2503332981001&playerKey=AQ~~,AAACG-Z7hDk~,mkwlxmFZxJU1j5JweTbFlORrLvbtxm8s&domain=embed&dynamicStreaming=true" /><param name="base" value="http://admin.brightcove.com" /><param name="seamlesstabbing" value="false" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="swLiveConnect" value="true" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><embed src="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashVars="videoId=4043861452001&linkBaseURL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wsbtv.com%2Fvideos%2Fnews%2Fmother-girl-scout-troop-wont-accept-deaf-daughter%2FvDFnXQ%2F&playerID=2503332981001&playerKey=AQ~~,AAACG-Z7hDk~,mkwlxmFZxJU1j5JweTbFlORrLvbtxm8s&domain=embed&dynamicStreaming=true" base="http://admin.brightcove.com" name="flashObj" width="615" height="392" seamlesstabbing="false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" swLiveConnect="true" allowScriptAccess="always" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash"></embed></object> <br />
<a href="http://www.wsbtv.com/news/news/national/mother-says-girl-scouts-discriminated-against-her-/nj8hg/" target="_blank">http://www.wsbtv.com/news/news/national/mother-says-girl-scouts-discriminated-against-her-/nj8hg/</a><br />
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<b>Is this real? </b><br />
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<b>In 2015? </b><br />
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Action News reached out to the CEO of the Girl Scouts troop in
Jacksonville, and she said she wasn't aware of the situation, but said
they now have a troop for deaf students. They released this statement: <span></span><br />
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<strong><span>As
inclusion is a core value in Girl Scouts, Girl Scouts of Gateway
Council is thrilled to be working with the Florida School for the Deaf
and Blind to establish a second Girl Scout troop at the school for day
students. We partner with the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind to
deliver the Girl Scout program to resident students. Anyone interested
in volunteering as an interpreter for the second troop should contact
the Girl Scouts of Gateway Council office.</span></strong></div>
</blockquote>
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Um... er... newsflash: that's <i>not</i> inclusion. <a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inclusion" target="_blank">Merriam Webster</a> defines inclusion as: <span class="ssens">the act of <a class="formulaic" href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/including">including</a> <strong>:</strong> the state of being <a class="formulaic" href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/included">included</a>. Rounding </span>up all the girls who are deaf and grouping them together is the <i>opposite</i> of inclusion. Yeah. Our inclusion means those girls who are deaf don't need to interact with anyone else except other kids who are deaf. <br />
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This makes me LIVID! (in case you hadn't already picked up on that)<br />
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What's next? Maybe there should be a "caucasian troop" or an "african american troop" or a "blue-eyed troop"... maybe an "asian group"...you get my drift. This is absolutely abhorrent in 2015. Girl Scouts USA you ought to be ASHAMED if this discriminatory policy is how you operate! <br />
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I am ever so thankful that Girl Guides Canada was <i>nothing</i> like this and were absolutely incredible about ensuring that our daughter Kennedy was part of her neighbourhood Girl Guide Troop, from Sparks to Brownies, to Guides. There was <i>never</i> a question as to whether Kennedy "could" be a part of it, she just was, from the moment she walked in the door. What are you teaching these girls, Girl Scouts of Gateway Council? That if you're different, you don't belong? Or you only belong to <i>your</i> group. With <i>your</i> kind. This makes me sick. You need to do better. You need to apologize to this mother and to this child and to all of the other children who have been discriminated against. I can't believe you need to be told this but holy smokes, do you ever need to be told. <br />
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Kennedy, a proud and welcomed member of her local Brownie troop (above) and Girl Guide Troop (below), who also happens to have a severe-profound hearing loss amongst other medical and sensory conditions as part of CHARGE syndrome. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br /><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13927097159499432650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6793087347675083206.post-59315744745072223992015-02-10T10:43:00.004-04:002015-02-10T10:47:35.006-04:00Happy Heartversary Kennedy <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Rq4nSFsXB7k/VNoZFAcJlnI/AAAAAAAAEOI/87tgLn8TQEc/s1600/February%2B7-%2B14th%2Bis%2BCongenital%2BHeart.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Rq4nSFsXB7k/VNoZFAcJlnI/AAAAAAAAEOI/87tgLn8TQEc/s1600/February%2B7-%2B14th%2Bis%2BCongenital%2BHeart.png" height="335" width="400" /></a></div>
Canadian Congenital Heart Disease Awareness Week: <a href="http://www.cchaforlife.org/events/chd-awareness-week/chd-awareness-week-feb-7-14">http://www.cchaforlife.org/events/chd-awareness-week/chd-awareness-week-feb-7-14</a><br />
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Support Team Kennedy for CHARGE: <a href="http://csfseventhannual.kintera.org/teamkennedy">http://CSFseventhannual.kintera.org/teamkennedy</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13927097159499432650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6793087347675083206.post-72132111753099994812014-10-08T08:16:00.001-03:002014-10-08T16:34:54.423-03:00Guys and Dolls - Fall Production at HVHS<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eQnEn0nsi5s/VDUaOdIvUyI/AAAAAAAAEII/kbLGWXWGQlg/s1600/kkdoll.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eQnEn0nsi5s/VDUaOdIvUyI/AAAAAAAAEII/kbLGWXWGQlg/s1600/kkdoll.jpg" height="200" width="149" /></a>Well theatre production week is upon us and both we and Kennedy are running ragged between early morning calls for school shows then evening tech/dress rehearsals and then three night shows. And we are loving every minute of it. The last two weeks parents volunteer to cook and feed the cast and crew each night - musical suppers are a beloved tradition at Kennedy's high school. Either Graeme and/or I were there every single night. We love seeing and being around all the energetic teens who are working their tails off to put this show together.<br />
Most nights she (and we) will be at school until about 11pm. It's so wonderful seeing her participate and enjoy this experience though! Her director & music director are so dedicated to making them so professional, it's a phenomenal show (I may be a little biased...) If you're anywhere near us, come for a visit and see the show this Thursday, Friday or Saturday night!<br />
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Here are some shots of the scenes my New York "doll"is in from the tech dress rehearsal (she's in a grey dress with black hat). You can click on the picture to enlarge it. <br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13927097159499432650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6793087347675083206.post-46663055475388379302014-08-23T20:44:00.000-03:002014-08-23T20:56:01.063-03:00Pies & Ice - the IceBucket Challenge with a CHARGE Twist<div id="fb-root">
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GNNlCl5OjoY/U_kp63Nb_wI/AAAAAAAAEGI/FjcNZ6WsXkQ/s1600/pie2.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GNNlCl5OjoY/U_kp63Nb_wI/AAAAAAAAEGI/FjcNZ6WsXkQ/s1600/pie2.bmp" height="160" width="320" /></a></div>
<script>(function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_GB/all.js#xfbml=1"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); }(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));</script>Check out this video where I take a pie in the face for every surgery Kennedy has ever had for CHARGE awareness and then an ice bucket for ALS! Click on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10152613350050428">this Post</a> to view.<br />
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Visit chargesyndrome.org to learn more and/or donate to support the CHARGE Syndrome Foundation!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13927097159499432650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6793087347675083206.post-60057245619789084252014-08-18T19:32:00.000-03:002014-08-18T19:32:06.226-03:00CHARGE Through The Year 2015 CalendarOne of the phenomenal moms I have met through the online CHARGE syndrome world, Anna Miller, has put together the 2nd <a href="http://www.chargecalendar.com/" target="_blank">CHARGE Through The Year calendar</a> for 2015. This was a sell-out fundraiser and awareness raiser for CHARGE syndrome and the <a href="http://www.chargesyndrome.org/" target="_blank">CHARGE Syndrome Foundation</a> last year and promises to be another huge success this year. <br />
<br />
I sent in Kennedy's photo for consideration and was pleased to see she made the cut - woohoo! So many cute kiddos, it must've been hard choosing! For only twenty bucks, you can get your very own copy of the calendar to support the CHARGE Syndrome Foundation and promote awareness of CHARGE. <br />
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Sneak peek of the video featuring the <i>supermodels</i> of the 2015 calendar is available on the website or on the video below - enjoy & share with your friends and family!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/JLukCq7LrI4" width="420"></iframe><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13927097159499432650noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6793087347675083206.post-3571018010896750782014-07-18T22:06:00.000-03:002014-07-18T22:09:06.130-03:00Girls Trip 2014Over the years, we've forged many friendships through the world of CHARGE syndrome. It's definitely been a highlight to have others who get it with whom we can talk, share feelings and spend time. <a href="http://chargesyndrome.info/kkmac.html" target="_blank">Kennedy and MacKenzie </a>have been close pretty much since birth, as have Jeanie & I, after nurses connected us in 1998 when the girls were both in hospital together. Over the years, we've met many other moms, including Colleen and her daughter Clare, who we've connected with at the CHARGE conferences over the years. The three gals have had a great time together at recent conferences but we always lamented the fact it was 2 years between the times when the girls would see each other again. Clare and her family lived in Ohio and Jeanie, MacKenzie, Kennedy and I in Atlantic Canada.<br />
<br />
We sought to rectify that this year and we did a short trip to Old Orchard Beach, ME. Because of scheduling conflicts, we would only have 3 days together but it was just magical to see the girls connecting, chatting away, laughing and having fun. As I mentioned in a Facebook post I did with one of the pictures of them chatting away at breakfast,<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">Some
of my favourite times during this trip involved just seeing the girls
communicating. They always sat at a separate table for meals and just
chatted away. Three friends, all with various levels of hearing loss,
each with different technology (BAHA, CI, BTEs) and different
communication styles yet they all signed, spoke, gestured and made it
work. Made my summer. </span></span></blockquote>
<br />
377 days until <a href="http://chargesyndrome.org/conference-2015.asp" target="_blank">conference</a>...can't wait for Chicago! <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gU36H2tApsc/U8mmRrvt-qI/AAAAAAAAEDo/liRaORkkhio/s1600/1momsdaughters.jpg" height="240" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jeanie, MacKenzie, Kennedy & Lisa ready to head to the USA!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6vFlzRZCfKE/U8mmS8phA0I/AAAAAAAAED4/mC60AqYZpmM/s1600/chat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6vFlzRZCfKE/U8mmS8phA0I/AAAAAAAAED4/mC60AqYZpmM/s1600/chat.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 3 gals ate at a separate table at all meals so they could yak...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hrPXGeWdc_A/U8mmR4eQR6I/AAAAAAAAED0/eTkEy0_0tqI/s1600/2w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hrPXGeWdc_A/U8mmR4eQR6I/AAAAAAAAED0/eTkEy0_0tqI/s1600/2w.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old Orchard Beach, ME - lots of fun on rides...</td></tr>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZTChU0cXob4/U8mmSfBsg8I/AAAAAAAAEEE/dCwfzzJ1kSY/s1600/3rided3s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZTChU0cXob4/U8mmSfBsg8I/AAAAAAAAEEE/dCwfzzJ1kSY/s1600/3rided3s.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sXQfCBOI76g/U8mmTb2z_7I/AAAAAAAAEEY/RvZptNB6SqE/s1600/ily.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sXQfCBOI76g/U8mmTb2z_7I/AAAAAAAAEEY/RvZptNB6SqE/s1600/ily.jpg" height="262" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Saying their I Love Yous at Old Orchard</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TrbTEX8224M/U8mmTluJ93I/AAAAAAAAEEI/s6Tr8ClW170/s1600/lighthouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TrbTEX8224M/U8mmTluJ93I/AAAAAAAAEEI/s6Tr8ClW170/s1600/lighthouse.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Visiting a beautiful lighthouse at Cape Elizabeth - the Portland Head Light</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XK3zqRk4Og0/U8mmUOt8-fI/AAAAAAAAEEM/ZoNLM4EZcKk/s1600/swim.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XK3zqRk4Og0/U8mmUOt8-fI/AAAAAAAAEEM/ZoNLM4EZcKk/s1600/swim.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swim time!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EKbVPpNG4c8/U8mmVnDF-qI/AAAAAAAAEEc/O4oIjg9aK4Y/s1600/zamigos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EKbVPpNG4c8/U8mmVnDF-qI/AAAAAAAAEEc/O4oIjg9aK4Y/s1600/zamigos.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Always tough to say good bye...until next summer!</td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13927097159499432650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6793087347675083206.post-37101193836913993732014-06-16T22:37:00.000-03:002014-06-16T22:37:10.758-03:00Cineplex, You Can Do BetterI've written many good reviews lately on Urbanspoon, etc. Lengthy,
detailed reviews, outlining the really awesome things about places I
love. I really don't just complain without sharing the love as well when
it's deserved. Tonight's experience with our local movie theater,
however, calls for a "You Can Do Better" post. I've shared this with
Cineplex, hopefully they'll respond and even more hopefully, they'll fix
the CaptiView machines.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dear Cineplex, <span style="mso-tab-count: 9;">
</span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tonight my daughter wanted to go and see “The Fault in our
Stars”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Being proactive, we called ahead
to make sure CaptiView was available for the movie (she has a severe-profound
hearing loss) and purchased our tickets ahead of time in the optimal spot for
the CaptiView to work, according to the manager with whom I spoke.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We arrived, made our way to the “Yay-for-not-waiting-in-line-handy-dandy-Mobile
Pick-Up machine” and...this was our first oops of the evening:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--LTt5w1pfy0/U5-YxznxxjI/AAAAAAAAEBw/YPuUQpvWuis/s1600/mobile+pickupfail.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--LTt5w1pfy0/U5-YxznxxjI/AAAAAAAAEBw/YPuUQpvWuis/s1600/mobile+pickupfail.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
In case you can't read it, that's an Out of Order sign. <br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
No sweat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s Monday
night, not too busy, so we made our way over to the box office, picked up the
tickets and a CaptiView machine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We rely
on the machines so I’m not signing all night and can enjoy the movie as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Want some butter on your popcorn?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well get in line because the second broken
machine of the night had the dreaded “out of order” sign on it:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4IXhiJSjPnA/U5-Yz8v2EtI/AAAAAAAAEB4/1YQl-WsFhew/s1600/butterfail.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4IXhiJSjPnA/U5-Yz8v2EtI/AAAAAAAAEB4/1YQl-WsFhew/s1600/butterfail.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Again, not a huge deal but it was just starting to look odd,
seeing all these out of order signs on machines – really hoping the movie would
actually play when we got in there. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Well we finally settled in for the movie (yes, it did play)
and guess what?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I ended up signing over <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">three-quarters </i>of the movie because the
CaptiView bombed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It would work great
for a couple of lines then skip to about every fifth line of dialogue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was certainly not conducive to following
the story line.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Why didn’t you leave
and ask for a new one?” you might ask.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Well then she misses the words <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">and</i>
my signing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They also had to turn about five
on at the box office to find one charged and working when we picked ours up, so
my hope that another one would be available, charged and actually working was
less than optimal as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At the end of the movie, I went out to talk to a manager (we
went to the 6:45 show – surely someone would still be around afterward, right?)
about the CaptiView, how neither of us really got to see the full movie because
I was acting as her interpreter, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yep…you guessed it:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LdEeEXlRQnc/U5-Y0Hnj3bI/AAAAAAAAEB8/R8CabRez6YM/s1600/managerfail.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LdEeEXlRQnc/U5-Y0Hnj3bI/AAAAAAAAEB8/R8CabRez6YM/s1600/managerfail.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s awesome that I can go over and let the 16-year-olds who
are slinging the popcorn and sodas know of my concerns.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Needless to say, Cineplex, it looks pretty unprofessional
with all these out of order signs, machines not working, no manager on duty,
etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These are minor inconveniences
though, and all pale in comparison to the poor quality CaptiView machines (this
is not our first CaptiView dilemma, unfortunately). If you’re going to have
accommodations there for folks with disabilities, they need to work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We pay equal pricing for her to go to that
movie and she deserves the same access as other people in attendance. We paid
for two admissions and between us, took in about 60-70% of the movie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Not cool, Cineplex. I honestly think you can do better.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sincerely,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Lisa & Kennedy Weir</span></span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13927097159499432650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6793087347675083206.post-78951105260522110752014-06-01T21:47:00.001-03:002014-06-01T21:48:38.267-03:00Teach a Girl to Fish...Kennedy caught her first trout today. Prior to this, she'd only caught smelt during ice-fishing. I think the look on her face as she snagged that first one says it all. She caught two of the three in the other picture. I'd say that's a great haul!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oQb5_f3BYtY/U4vJNNuszAI/AAAAAAAAD_I/0d4sECUvAxY/s1600/kktrout.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oQb5_f3BYtY/U4vJNNuszAI/AAAAAAAAD_I/0d4sECUvAxY/s400/kktrout.jpg" /></a></div>
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZXo2ISPH6to/U4vJNLd7sqI/AAAAAAAAD_E/P0MyKMjrvlU/s1600/kktrout2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZXo2ISPH6to/U4vJNLd7sqI/AAAAAAAAD_E/P0MyKMjrvlU/s400/kktrout2.jpg" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13927097159499432650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6793087347675083206.post-4062998466619682292014-05-29T22:01:00.000-03:002014-05-30T23:06:15.205-03:00HVHS Chorale Ensemble Spring ConcertTonight was the spring concert - Kennedy is on the far right of the front row in each of the three videos.<br />
<br />
<center>
Changamano (Join Together) by Sally K. Albrecht</center>
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<center>Dona Nobis Pacem (Traditional)</center>
<object width="400" height="225"><param name="movie" value="//www.youtube.com/v/i_P1MwBYUG8?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="//www.youtube.com/v/i_P1MwBYUG8?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="400" height="225" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>
<center>Some Nights by Fun</center>
<object width="400" height="225"><param name="movie" value="//www.youtube.com/v/FjZYcQgsW-s?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="//www.youtube.com/v/FjZYcQgsW-s?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="400" height="225" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13927097159499432650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6793087347675083206.post-84671577219943217152014-05-28T16:27:00.002-03:002014-05-28T16:31:49.921-03:00Kennedy's 2013-2014<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5c73vaVORhc/U4Ywtc_MHhI/AAAAAAAAD64/wndv4g2hSyk/s1600/KKhappy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5c73vaVORhc/U4Ywtc_MHhI/AAAAAAAAD64/wndv4g2hSyk/s1600/KKhappy.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a>This has become pretty drastic - over a year since I've last posted. I know with the ease of posting to Facebook that many blogs have gone by the wayside. It's also indicative of our busy lives and not making the time to write as much or as often as I'd once had. I still feel it's important to update though because so many folks are not on Facebook and there might be someone out there who follows us via the blog only so I just wanted to share a few photos of Kennedy and a little about how she's been doing. </div>
<br />
Last summer we had an amazing trip to Arizona for the CHARGE Syndrome Conference. Last year, K decided not to attend the camp but to come to the information sessions. She sat with a big group of teens who were interested in learning more. She also did some volunteer work at the conference sales table. Along with a blast at conference meeting old friends and new, we had an unforgettable trip to Sedona and the Grand Canyon. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fMME-Gb-1pc/U4Ywu82G5JI/AAAAAAAAD7Q/iOFUzEs1RxI/s1600/kkgc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fMME-Gb-1pc/U4Ywu82G5JI/AAAAAAAAD7Q/iOFUzEs1RxI/s1600/kkgc.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My beauty surrounded by the Grand Canyon</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aAV0eLy5qMY/U4Yw1MXTA-I/AAAAAAAAD9Q/Ve76BkWdmDQ/s1600/kkvolunteer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aAV0eLy5qMY/U4Yw1MXTA-I/AAAAAAAAD9Q/Ve76BkWdmDQ/s1600/kkvolunteer.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Volunteering at the CHARGE Conference</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GTrY5inMVyM/U4YwuUCihxI/AAAAAAAAD74/BBM9hLQLxM0/s1600/kkclare.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GTrY5inMVyM/U4YwuUCihxI/AAAAAAAAD74/BBM9hLQLxM0/s1600/kkclare.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">With her buddy Clare at the conference</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f9uCBARKnW0/U4YwyMvnwOI/AAAAAAAAD8Q/cNiWW_wjeVU/s1600/kkpicsgc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f9uCBARKnW0/U4YwyMvnwOI/AAAAAAAAD8Q/cNiWW_wjeVU/s1600/kkpicsgc.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taking pics at the Grand Canyon</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poolside in Arizona</td></tr>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xmjSBjO9beQ/U4YwzgkrE-I/AAAAAAAAD80/pT1Q1_juFzE/s1600/kkschool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xmjSBjO9beQ/U4YwzgkrE-I/AAAAAAAAD80/pT1Q1_juFzE/s1600/kkschool.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a>In the fall, it was back to school - she's now in grade 10 at HVHS and loves her school to pieces - a very proud Viking! This year she also has no educational assistant for the first time. She was ready. We were brave. She has done amazing in terms of making sure she is where she needs to be, has what she needs, and advocating for herself by asking the teachers or talking things out with us here at home. We are so incredibly proud of her giant leaps in independence. <br />
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She also received an academic achievement medal in the fall at an awards ceremony for attaining honors for the 2012-2013 school year.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Kennedy in Oliver! (front row, pink sweater on the right side)</span></td></tr>
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This year saw her perform once again in the school's annual musical, which was Oliver! She once again worked extremely hard to manage all of her school work along with the intense rehearsal schedule. I feel she learns so much independence from going to practices, managing time, making sure everything is done, etc. It's such an important part of her schooling experience for so many reasons beyond the artistic outlet.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fa-XAbFfDVc/U4Y4JGTPESI/AAAAAAAAD-I/VtulCf9-y5s/s1600/kkcastmate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fa-XAbFfDVc/U4Y4JGTPESI/AAAAAAAAD-I/VtulCf9-y5s/s1600/kkcastmate.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kennedy with her castmate, "Mr. Bumble"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mXC7PUHAutA/U4YwxsUIOGI/AAAAAAAAD8I/BqWNw0budxo/s1600/kkoliver.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mXC7PUHAutA/U4YwxsUIOGI/AAAAAAAAD8I/BqWNw0budxo/s1600/kkoliver.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: left;">Kennedy as a poor workhouse girl in Oliver! (center group, first row, far right)</span></td></tr>
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In October '13, we had a trip to Boston with her pal MacKenzie to see Selena Gomez - lots of fun and an amazing show! </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: left;">Winter - fireside + homework = a typical night...</span></td></tr>
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She continues to enjoy her role as Auntie, playing, reading and basically doing whatever the kids want, including being their personal jungle gym!<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bjTT9-DdaQs/U4YwzB9PmyI/AAAAAAAAD8g/0NajVVz9TaI/s1600/kkread.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bjTT9-DdaQs/U4YwzB9PmyI/AAAAAAAAD8g/0NajVVz9TaI/s1600/kkread.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-umDMu--MF9w/U4Yw0QkYPuI/AAAAAAAAD88/qhn36MX8HDE/s1600/kksummer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-umDMu--MF9w/U4Yw0QkYPuI/AAAAAAAAD88/qhn36MX8HDE/s1600/kksummer.jpg" height="320" width="221" /></a></div>
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One other thing new this year has been that she joined the HVHS Chorale. She's been very faithful to practices and has enjoyed performing with the Chorale in public. Her next show is tomorrow night!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kennedy, front row center</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kennedy, front row center just to the director's left</td></tr>
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In March of 2014 we took a short trip to Halifax, NS for some girl time with Kennedy's BFF MacKenzie & her mom, Jeanie. It was a belated celebration for Kennedy's 16th birthday in January!<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6Yy9M2wtie8/U4YwtR1RH2I/AAAAAAAAD7A/pKcRsHc0_VU/s1600/kkbreakfast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6Yy9M2wtie8/U4YwtR1RH2I/AAAAAAAAD7A/pKcRsHc0_VU/s1600/kkbreakfast.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QSis5mOrd-s/U4Yww-62TdI/AAAAAAAAD78/eEXYXrikXcs/s1600/kkmacmarch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QSis5mOrd-s/U4Yww-62TdI/AAAAAAAAD78/eEXYXrikXcs/s1600/kkmacmarch.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a><br />
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In April, Kennedy raised over $100 and participated in the Relay for Life at her school, an all-night event where they put the "fun" in fundraising for a great cause. Here she is in the photo booth with a couple of pals.<br />
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She also took music/band class this year and was thrilled to be a part of the percussion section. She performed just last night and, for a group of students who just began in January, they were amazing!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Band Blitz - May 2014! Kennedy, in back center on drums</td></tr>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zKAZ8xw1SUw/U4Yw1OKFAOI/AAAAAAAAD9U/gRAWz3hkqaE/s1600/kktrampoline.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zKAZ8xw1SUw/U4Yw1OKFAOI/AAAAAAAAD9U/gRAWz3hkqaE/s1600/kktrampoline.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a><br />
We are closing in on summer now so lots of time for joyful jumping on the trampoline, lazy days at the trailer and lots of fun. Hopefully our next update will be much earlier than a year from now!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13927097159499432650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6793087347675083206.post-25219138087868579362013-04-15T00:14:00.001-03:002013-04-15T00:14:50.992-03:00Fiddler on the Roof - HVHS 2013Kennedy auditioned for and secured a spot in the cast of the 2013 Harbour View High School production of "Fiddler on the Roof". She's been in lots of shows with InterAction Children's Theater but there's just something different/amazing about seeing her in her first high school production. I love seeing her so happy, so expressive during the scenes she's involved with and seeing her come home from 12 hour school days that include long practices into the evenings and just drop into bed. It's wonderful!<br />
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Kennedy (with the pink sweater) sings along to the Sabbath Prayer</div>
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This link to the pictures taken on the dress rehearsal night should work for anyone, even those who are not on Facebook. Let me know if you have any troubles. <br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151583386090428.1073741825.587985427&type=1&l=015626fa67">https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151583386090428.1073741825.587985427&type=1&l=015626fa67</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13927097159499432650noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6793087347675083206.post-62096545975427420502013-02-26T11:41:00.002-04:002013-02-26T13:06:03.665-04:00Kennedy's Kookies...Coming Soon! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Kennedy is starting her first business venture - "Kennedy's Kookies" - she will be making and selling delicious homemade dog treats this summer. We've worked together to design her business cards and we have <a href="http://kennedyskookies.blogspot.com/">started a blog called Kennedy's Kookies</a> for updates on the product, etc. 50% of the proceeds from each bag sold will go to the <a href="http://www.chargesyndrome.org/"> CHARGE Syndrome Foundation </a> and the rest will go to her savings for post-high school plans. Stay tuned for more info on her latest doggie-delicious adventure. <br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13927097159499432650noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6793087347675083206.post-16874510981784150822012-12-07T23:39:00.002-04:002012-12-07T23:39:25.744-04:00Everybody Cut Footloose!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxK4XsEapdDE7fpaCN5n-utkNjfYndBzna2-IXCnksTKNmBnREzi7104Xd9IGeh5u6gxgf_hrMo9wYTMI8_Yg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
Kennedy with her "Scenes" group from HVHS, performing in Footloose!<br />
First stage performance of high school...we were super proud. Best part? She had a BALL! Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13927097159499432650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6793087347675083206.post-78200497411085278922012-10-11T22:10:00.002-03:002012-10-11T22:10:51.476-03:00Quick Updates and Some Pics...Has it really been four and a half months since my last update??? Eek! I guess with the proliferation of sharing on Facebook now, there's less and less time for the blog. But just for the three of you who still read the blog (*cough* Sandy *cough*) I thought I'd post a quick update.
Kennedy is in high school now!!! The transition has gone smoothly and she has already been trying out for the cheer team, has joined the yearbook committee, and an acting group at the school. I predict she'll be continue to stay very busy knowing my gal.
Krissy is getting ready to get a CI! She is going for her clinic appointment in late October and we'll know the exact surgery date after that. She found her 'true love' this summer and they have been dating for months and are very happy. So happy in fact, that we barely see her some days!
Kennedy and I travelled to British Columbia this summer to visit Ryan & his family. When we arrived, Ryan had gotten a job in Alberta and had left! We had a great time visiting Felicia, Marissa and Seth and seeing the western part of the country. Chilliwack was a beautiful place!
This past weekend, we took a Thanksgiving trip to Cape Breton to visit Taylor for her fourth birthday - can't believe it's been four years! After our visit with her, we visited Fortress Louisbourg and slept in a train car converted to a hotel in Tatamagouche, NS. It was a short but very fun and relaxing family get-away.
As always, a few pictures from recent months...
Kennedy on top of Cypress Mountain near Vancouver, British Columbia
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Krissy, Jarren and Kennedy at the Exhibition
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Summer Visit with MacKenzie
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Snuggles with Felicia, Marissa & Seth in BC
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Kennedy with a soldier at Fortress Louisbourg
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Kennedy & Krissy's first day of High School together
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13927097159499432650noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6793087347675083206.post-13108593550995555582012-05-27T18:20:00.000-03:002012-05-27T18:20:09.185-03:00A Few UpdatesWell as you can see, it's been a long while since I last updated K's blog once again. I know many of you read updates and see pictures on Facebook but for those who don't I still like to update here when I can. There's been a lot happening - the biggest news is that we have a lovely young lady, Krissy, now living with us. Krissy & Kennedy met each other at Deaf Camp back in 2006 and have been at several camps together since then, so they've known each other for a while. We wondered how it might change the dynamic of the family/household but everything has just fallen into place like it's always been that way. An added bonus has been seeing the two of them together, they have really bonded. We're happy to have her join our family.
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<b>Trampoline Time</b> <BR>
The first weekend Krissy arrived, the trampoline went up and the jumping began!<BR>
(oh and cat-grooming on the trampoline as well, a chore that the two Ks do together)<BR>
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<b>Summer chat together on the wharf at Hatfield Point...</b><BR>
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<I>High School???</i><BR>
In other news, Kennedy is getting ready for high school - she recently went on a tour and had a great time. She was so excited the night before, I didn't know if she would be able to sleep (thankfully, she did). I am quite optimistic about the move to high school and infinitely more relaxed about it than I was when she was making the switch to middle school. She will attend the high school where her Papa and Uncle Scott went and the high school where her Grampie taught, <a href="http://web1.nbed.nb.ca/sites/district8/schools/hvhs/Pages/home2.aspx">Harbour View High School</a>. She is very eager to be the best VIKING she can be.
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<b> Go VIKINGS!</b> <BR>
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<I>Cheer</i><BR>
Another year of cheerleading has finished - she actually won all-star at one of the competitions! At the Provincial Championships, she got an award for dedication, determination, and courage in the face of adversity. All the teams and the whole audience gave her a standing ovation, it was very touching - very nice award from the NBJCA. They had a good team and a strong year - I hope her cheerleading career continues in high school because she is full of spirit and ready to show it. It's been a wonderful experience over the past three years.
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<b>Kennedy's 2012 Cheer Pic</b><BR>
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<b>With her All-Star award</b><BR><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Getting her award from the NBJCA at Provincials</b><BR>
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<b>Team Pictures</b><BR>
The grade eight girls - their last year as a "Star"<BR>
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The whole team taking a jump at the year-end photo shoot (Kennedy is far right)<BR>
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<i>Theatre</i><BR>
Theatre concluded in May with a production of "<a href="http://www.iactspa.com/News/News/tabid/370/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/106/Jacob-TwoTwo-Meets-the-Hooded-Fang.aspx">Jacob Two-Two Meets the Hooded Fang: The Rock Musical</a>" at the <a href="http://imperialtheatre.nb.ca/">Imperial Theatre</a>. Once again, a fine bunch of kids from <a href="http://www.iactspa.com/Home/tabid/335/Default.aspx">IACT</a> put on a spectacular and entertaining show. <BR>
<b> K outside the Imperial after the show</b><BR>
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<i>Trailer Time</i><BR>
With Victoria Day weekend, came the opening of our trailer at Pirate's Cove in beautiful Belleisle Bay. For two glorious sunny weekends, we have enjoyed kicking back and forgetting about the world for a couple of days. It will be lovely when summer vacation is here and we can be up for longer periods. Krissy & Kennedy even took a dip in the bay yesterday - although it was sunny, the water was too chilly for my courage level!
<b>The two Ks after their dip in the bay!</b><BR>
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<b>First campfire of the season</b><BR>
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<b> Cool blue light-up shades from neighbors at the campground</b><BR>
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<i>Mom's Graduation</i><BR>
On May 18th, Mom graduated from Mount Saint Vincent University with an M.Ed. in the education of students who are deaf or hard of hearing. It will be nice to have that off the plate and have more time to be a mom. It was a sunny, celebratory day and 9 people from the family were able to attend - including Kennedy, the inspiration for <i>everything</i>...<BR>
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More news & pictures to come...June is shaping up to be busy as ever with a school trip to Ottawa and Quebec as well as graduation from middle school.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13927097159499432650noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6793087347675083206.post-56204017608201225522011-12-22T00:36:00.003-04:002011-12-24T08:55:13.803-04:00EMNS Middle School Sign Language Club Holiday Concert Performance<object width="400" height="300" ><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="movie" value="http://www.facebook.com/v/10150538803990428" /><embed src="http://www.facebook.com/v/10150538803990428" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="300"></embed></object><br />Kennedy with her Sign Language Club, performing "Mary's Boy Child"...you'll notice she's the one to give a big bow, wave to the crowd and make a 'heart hand' to them. No shyness here...;)<br /><br />For those of you not on facebook, here is the link to the youtube video:<br />http://youtu.be/6xlp2NO52R0<br /><br />Enjoy!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13927097159499432650noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6793087347675083206.post-89719416151393244662011-11-28T20:18:00.005-04:002011-11-28T20:35:26.524-04:00Empty Stocking Fund 2011Here is a video of Kennedy singing with her choir on TV this past weekend - they sang, "Somewhere in My Memory" (from Home Alone). This telethon has run each year for the past 75 years in Saint John to raise money to help families give their kids a xmas when they might otherwise not have one. I was also on the telethon with choirs when I was her age - glad she is continuing the tradition. This is a video her dad took while we were there live. She's the first one on the bottom row on the right... Enjoy!<br />PS - it does zoom in after a bit so you can actually see her better! <BR><center><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzAf7GA3Idotrx295yETAqnviKpZw9ig0X1m2nWpEjvfAvdPQSOL3pb1tib5AAh0Bp-x9JzI685Rz1hw8Msnw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></center>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13927097159499432650noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6793087347675083206.post-50734405353350846122011-11-17T06:50:00.005-04:002011-11-17T08:03:30.646-04:00Kennedy Channeling Sally BrownThought I would share this video from last night's theatre class - the parents were invited back to see the little thespians perform monologues at the last class of 2011. I also thought I better try for at least one more post before the end of 2011 - it's been sparse this year! Not that we haven't been doing too much, I have just been doing too much, that's the problem. <br /><br />Kennedy's monologue is a classic piece from <span style="font-style:italic;">The Great Pumpkin</span>, where Sally rakes Linus over the coals for making her miss out on Halloween. Here is the text so you can follow along if your audio isn't the best:<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Sally Brown:</span> <span style="font-style:italic;">I was robbed! I spent the whole night waiting for the Great Pumpkin when I could have been out for tricks or treats! Halloween is over and I missed it! You blockhead! You kept me up all night waiting for the Great Pumpkin and all that came was a beagle! I didn't get a chance to go out for tricks or treats! And it was all your fault! I'll sue! What a fool I was. And could have had candy apples and gum! And cookies and money and all sorts of things! But no, I had to listen to you! You blockhead. What a fool I was. Trick or treats come only once a year. And I miss it by sitting in a pumpkin patch with a blockhead. You owe me restitution!</span><br /><iframe width="400" height="233" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Bf0CpFBS3is" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13927097159499432650noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6793087347675083206.post-35548647373753295242011-05-15T09:29:00.004-03:002011-05-15T09:37:11.353-03:00Kennedy is an Auntie again!Last Saturday at 2:59am, we welcomed little Seth into the world. Auntie Kennedy was very excited to see him on Friday and hold him for the first time.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gkSOfJNm4Fk/Tc_IOliViTI/AAAAAAAAC1E/9qoj3B8-L7s/s1600/IMG_6694.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gkSOfJNm4Fk/Tc_IOliViTI/AAAAAAAAC1E/9qoj3B8-L7s/s320/IMG_6694.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606920214019410226" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13927097159499432650noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6793087347675083206.post-46471164334754098492011-03-07T19:48:00.005-04:002011-03-07T19:54:35.543-04:00Winter Carnival 2011To update my last post, Kennedy's appointment was canceled at cardiology because of her bad cold/fever. We will see them again in June hopefully. I will be sure to update everyone after that appointment is over. <br /><br />Last week was Kennedy's Winter Carnival at her school and on Friday, which was also 80s Day, there was a Gong Show in the afternoon. Kennedy choreographed and practiced her heart out on this dance number - she didn't get a single gong! She brought down the house. Now to continue practicing for cheer competitions, her spring theater performance and of course, CHARGE Conference Idol 2011! <br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="360" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/xZ32mkNuSz0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13927097159499432650noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6793087347675083206.post-71961434456732874632011-02-22T15:16:00.007-04:002011-02-22T16:25:25.118-04:00February is for Hearts...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0kwKmrqTmcw/TWQVPv3b18I/AAAAAAAAC0M/ZBWHN7iuGg4/s1600/hearts.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0kwKmrqTmcw/TWQVPv3b18I/AAAAAAAAC0M/ZBWHN7iuGg4/s400/hearts.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576605598882715586" /></a><br />Well it's that time of year...or I guess I should now say, every-other-year. It's time for Kennedy's cardiology check-up tomorrow afternoon. She's done so well over the years that she has been reduced to being seen only once every other year, which is a great thing. She has been home from school today with a fever and cough so I'm hoping she is okay to make it and we aren't deferred, especially since she only sees them every other year now.<br /><br />The routine begins: a letter arrives from the <a href="http://www.iwk.nshealth.ca/index.cfm?objectid=B2B9F409-D291-878D-1A6F8F89710FDC83">IWK Health Centre</a> with instructions: "Kennedy will be seen on February 23rd, 2011 for a cardiology appointment. She will also have an ECHO before the appointment. Please arrange for an ECG at least two weeks before the appointment." She had her <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ECG">ECG</a> a few weeks ago and tomorrow will be the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Echocardiography">ECHO</a> and the general cardiology appointment with the <a href="http://www.iwk.nshealth.ca/index.cfm?objectid=887F669D-DEEC-09F2-AC6E1443F739F959">IWK travelling clinic</a>. I'm not anticipating anything major but history has taught me that I need to be prepared...<br /><br />When she had her first open-heart surgery at 9 days old, we were in the shell-shocked stage still. Too stupefied to truly realize what was happening. I thought, though, that when that was over. One thing to check off the <a href="http://chargesyndrome.org/about-charge.asp">CHARGE syndrome</a> list: we were done with heart issues except for regular check-ups. Sometime in late 2003 when she was five, however, during one of those regularly scheduled check-ups, I got <strike>hit by a Mack truck</strike> blindsided by the clinic doc who nonchalantly told me, "Yeah, so we're looking at another surgery in a few months for..." Needless to say, I don't remember much of the rest of that appointment. In fact, I remember driving to a nearby park and, after arriving, I couldn't remember driving there at all. My mind was just a numb blur of astonishment. I just kept thinking, "Another <span style="font-style:italic;">heart</span> surgery? What? We were done with <i>that</i> part four years ago! That part was <i>before</i> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Choanal_atresia">choanal atresia</a> surgeries, <i>before</i> hearing aids, glasses and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eyepatch#Amblyopia">eye patches</a>, <i>before</i> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gastrostomy_tube#Gastric_feeding_tube">gastric feeding tubes</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nissen_fundoplication">Nissen fundoplications</a>. This was just supposed to be an in/out/forget-about appointment." My mind was whirling but I did manage to get myself together enough to call a friend who lived near the park and carefully drive us over there so I could continue the murky journey back to coherence. Nobody had ever told us there might be a need for a second surgery so it really did throw my naïve brain for a loop. <br /><br />The second heart surgery was definitely harder for us because Kennedy was so much more 'knowing' at that point. She fought tooth and nail going into the O.R. and even whacked me in the face because she was so upset. But, in true Kennedy fashion, she came through the surgery just like she always does and we got through it too - after a month away in Toronto for everything that needed to be done (cardiac cath, two-week wait, and surgery.) After that surgery, the surgeon did tell us there might be a possibility of her needing another surgery at some point in the future.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rUxMCsW5yyo/TWQWcKiCGuI/AAAAAAAAC0U/ck4oPLiwWuI/s1600/kkheart2011.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rUxMCsW5yyo/TWQWcKiCGuI/AAAAAAAAC0U/ck4oPLiwWuI/s320/kkheart2011.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576606911710763746" /></a>At her last checkup, I spoke to the IWK cardiologist about the possibility of another heart surgery and he told me that things looked really good and that it wasn't definitive that she would need one, which allayed my concerns somewhat. I had been operating under the assumption that it was just a matter of time. Nevertheless, each year, I wonder if I'll hear the news I don't want to hear, or if we will once again coast under the radar with a healthy check-up and go on with the status quo for another two years until the next appointment letter arrives. I don't dwell on the what-ifs because it just isn't productive in the day-to-day hustle and bustle of our lives but this particular every-other-year appointment does make me stop and consider the possibility of another what-if. <br /><br />So, with all that being said, do me a favour and please keep a very special & precious heart in your thoughts tomorrow and hope we get to coast for another couple of years.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13927097159499432650noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6793087347675083206.post-45181529663989817672011-02-13T12:23:00.004-04:002011-02-13T13:22:59.983-04:00Ponto!Since Kennedy was six, she has had a <a href="http://chargesyndrome.info/baha.html">BAHA Divino hearing aid implant</a>. She has done fairly well with it, however, it has required many repairs to the tune of almost $600 each time. Seeing as it is getting to be almost seven years old, we began looking into replacing it last year. I was informed by Cochlear Canada that they will no longer be making the Divino and it will be hard to get parts for, etc. in the near future so it became a little more important for us to find something sooner rather than later. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0G7pCreTx6s/TVgS3mUv_OI/AAAAAAAACzk/QHcTfgWHZak/s1600/BP100.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 276px; height: 234px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0G7pCreTx6s/TVgS3mUv_OI/AAAAAAAACzk/QHcTfgWHZak/s400/BP100.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573225285260672226" /></a><br />So, we learned about their new BAHA, which was originally called the BP100, then the Baha 3 (the names are still interspersed at the website so I'm not really sure what it's supposed to be officially called now). We were happy to learn it would be programmable, instead of just boosting everything straight across, we would be able to customize it to her individualized hearing loss. There were also other improvements, such as GORTEX moisture protection, for example. We secured a BP 100 loaner for Kennedy to try last year and, unfortunately, we did <span style="font-style:italic;">not</span> like it at all. Both the audiologist and myself had trouble getting it turned on - not a good sign when both an audiologist and a teacher for students who are deaf/hard of hearing find the turning on of a hearing instrument to be bizarre and inconsistent. Unlike the Divino, the <a href="http://products.cochlearamericas.com/baha/baha-system-and-accessories">BP100/Baha3</a> also did not have a volume dial, so Kennedy was unable to adjust her own volume, which she does quite frequently, depending on the situation. She did not hear better with the BP 100 or the Baha 3 (we tried both of these) but Cochear reports on their <a href="http://products.cochlearamericas.com/baha/baha-system-and-accessories">website</a> that in their study, "patients showed better hearing in noise, using a Baha 3. The average improvement was equivalent to about 25% better performance than with their Divino listening with both ears." Another strike against the new BP100/Baha 3 was that the configuration of the three-pin electrical input designed for connecting external equipment was changed on the bottom of the BP100/Baha 3 to "Europin" design, which was different than the Divino. This meant that the accessory connector we paid more than $300 for with her Divino and that she uses daily, would also have to be replaced. Also, her receivers for her FM at school would have to be replaced. Difficulty with working the buttons to turn it on/off and operating the volume control meant less independence for Kennedy and more frustration for us; this coupled with the fact that we would have to replace other needed equipment led to the decision to hold off because we had heard that in November of 2010, there would be a new BAHA product available in Canada through Oticon. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x2XW-GmPtUs/TVgR30k1jHI/AAAAAAAACzc/IzTkLbOT0RM/s1600/ponto.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 151px; height: 123px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x2XW-GmPtUs/TVgR30k1jHI/AAAAAAAACzc/IzTkLbOT0RM/s400/ponto.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573224189574614130" /></a>In late December, we got a loaner <a href="http://www.oticonmedical.com/">Oticon Ponto</a> and Kennedy has been doing great with it. We find she is hearing very well with it and her teacher for students who are deaf/hard of hearing reports that she notices Kennedy is not asking her to repeat herself at all since she got the Ponto. We have tweaked the settings a couple of times with her audiologist to get it just right. The audio connectors are the same as from the Divino, so she has been able to try it out with the computer/iPod as well and likes it. The number one reason we have been thrilled with the Ponto, though, is the level of independence Kennedy has been able to achieve with it. For the first time since she was six years old, Kennedy can put her own BAHA on herself! The design of how the Ponto fits onto the abutment is different than the Divino. Whereas you had to get a small rim into the inside of the abutment with the Divino, the part that goes onto the abutment on the Ponto is bigger, to fit 'around' the abutment. This was huge in terms of her independence. Not only could she put it on herself, all you have to do to turn the Ponto on is put the battery in and close the battery door! No pushing and holding buttons and waiting for beeps multiple times, just put the battery in and it's on. She is also able to operate the volume control very easily. She can put the accessory connector on and off herself so when she wakes up early and wants to listen to Justin Bieber on the computer or iPod, she can get the implant on, attach the connector and adjust her own volume. YAHOO! One last bonus in my opinion for the Ponto was its design. It's not square/boxy, but a nice, teardrop design. While it doesn't have the same colour options available that the Baha 3 does, the chroma beige colour fits in really nicely with K's blonde hair and I do like the shape of it quite a bit better. <br /><br />So for us, the Ponto is the way we're going to go. We are looking into funding options at the moment so we can order one. I know a lot of people will do well with the new Baha 3, but it really was just not for us. When you're 13, you want optimum independence, so that's why we are going with the Ponto. It's nice to have a choice now - with behind the ear aids, there have always been multiple options, but with BAHA, there has been only one for a long time. Thank you Oticon! :)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13927097159499432650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6793087347675083206.post-85436988406924413552011-01-27T09:06:00.006-04:002011-01-27T09:56:22.996-04:00A Well-Deserved Snow Day<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5c3ni9v_jXw/TUFxSOUTQ7I/AAAAAAAACy8/z6TKczBLxwI/s1600/happy-13th-birthday-helium-balloon-909-p.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5c3ni9v_jXw/TUFxSOUTQ7I/AAAAAAAACy8/z6TKczBLxwI/s400/happy-13th-birthday-helium-balloon-909-p.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566855172301472690" /></a><br /><br />How fortuitous to wake up this morning, the morning of Kennedy’s 13th birthday, to learn it would be a snow day. This meant both she and I would be staying home together today. I think it is a well-deserved snow day and only fitting, given the events of her original ‘birth’ day – January 27, 1998.<br /><br />We were living in Pennfield at the time. It was just a few short weeks after the <a href="http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0009646">horrific ice storm</a> that crippled much of Ontario, Quebec and the Atlantic provinces. It was said that the ice storm of 1998 “directly affected more people than any other previous weather event in Canadian history.” Like that ice storm, another January event would forever profoundly change the course of our lives.<br /><br />Knowing how quickly I had delivered my second child, Kyle (about 50 minutes start to finish), and knowing we lived about 45 minutes from the hospital, we had planned to come up to Saint John to stay with Graeme’s grandmother within a week of my due date. Kennedy, however, had other plans. She decided to make her entrance thirteen days early. <br /><br />Graeme and I had settled in to bed on the night of the 26th, where we both slept soundly until about 4:15am, when I awoke with the need to use the washroom. Seeing the tell-tale pink when I was finished, I summoned Graeme with a, “You need to get up NOW!”. We prepared ourselves quickly and made our way, excitedly and apprehensively, to the car. <br /><br />Believe it or not, we both remained as calm as the still dark night we were driving through on the way up to the city, despite the dwindling amount of minutes between my contractions. We made it to the hospital and my doctor was called. We were pleased he was able to make it before she was born. I believe his familiar and calm presence was one of the things that helped us through what was to come. <br /><br />The labour was going very well. I was very calm, concentrating on my breathing with a musical, back and forth, conductor-like hand movement indicating the commencement and conclusion of each contraction. Graeme held my hand and comforted me throughout each one. The nurse remarked that he and I should give lessons. We all had a laugh about that. One oddity occurred that neither Graeme nor I thought much of but, I am sure, alerted knowing hospital staff that something may be not quite right. When my water broke, it kept coming. And coming. And coming. It was like Niagara Falls compared to what I’d experienced with my other two babies. (it turns out this condition, <a href="http://www.babycentre.co.uk/pregnancy/complications/polyhydramnios/#2">polyhydraminos</a>, aka “lots ‘o’ water”, can be an indication that there are swallowing issues that have been present in utero ).<br /><br />6:59am. The moment arrived. That moment that is simultaneously terrifying and exciting. It’s like the feeling you get as you inch up to the top of that first incline on a rollercoaster and prepare yourself for the crazy ride that will ensue once you’ve reached that apex. There’s no turning back now. And so, with very few pushes, our beautiful baby girl made her grand entrance into the arms of my family doctor. We held our breath and waited. Nothing. The only sounds in that small contrived-to-look-homey room were the scrambling noises of the nurse and my doctor as they whisked her over to a little table and began to work on her. To their credit, they were incredibly calm and reassuring, given the fact that the baby in front of them was cyanotic, her skin getting darker and darker before their eyes. “We just need to clear her nose out.” Then, “We’re going to take her down the hall to get her nose cleaned out”. That was the last thing I remembered hearing. <br /><br />A half hour or so later, Graeme helped me up off the bed so I could get cleaned up. I was still laying there in the same position I’d been in since she was born. I was dressed and sitting up on the bed. We called a few people to give them the wonderful news, “It’s a girl!” “Yes, everything is fine, they are just cleaning her nose out. There was a lot of <span style="font-style:italic;">vernix</span>. Yeah, you know, that white, thick gunk that’s all over babies when they’re born.” As the minutes passed, though, we looked at each other, still cautiously optimistic, still blissfully ignorant, but wondering what was really going on and when they’d bring her back to us. <br /><br />We eventually were taken down to a room on the floor, out of the Labour and Delivery Unit. The minutes seemed to take forever as we waited for word, all the while listening to the ebb and flow of the busy floor: nurses bringing babies from the nursery to parents, babies crying, and parents caring for them. <br /><br />We finally received news sometime around noon, or maybe it was a bit after that. The day from that point on becomes a little blurry for me to recollect. It seems their attempts to pass a catheter up her nostrils to clean out her nose were futile. She had a condition called ‘bilateral choanal atresia’. I remember spending much of the afternoon worrying and crying. Crying because I didn’t know what the future would hold for my beautiful daughter, crying because there was something wrong that I didn’t quite understand, crying because I’d given birth 6 or 7 hours ago and still hadn’t seen her and crying because I couldn’t even pronounce the name of the darn condition the doctor had told us.<br /><br />Late in the afternoon, we finally got to go down to the neonatal intensive care unit to see her for the first time. There she was. A big, 7lb 14 oz baby, looking so huge in the little incubator next to all the preemies around her for whom the incubators were designed. She had a large black contraption in her mouth to keep it open so she could breathe from her mouth and was hooked up to what seemed like a zillion tubes and electrodes. Yet, despite all the hospital paraphernalia, she was our beautiful baby girl. I knew, in that moment when we first laid eyes on her, that our lives would be forever changed but I also knew that we would love her more than any words could ever express. We would go to the ends of Earth and back for her. No matter what was to come, we would get through it. And we did. <br /><br />Fast forward to today: it is January 27th, 2011 and we have reached yet another amazing milestone. Kennedy is a <span style="font-weight:bold;">teenager</span>. She has survived 20 surgeries, hundreds of appointments and tests, hours and hours and hours of therapy and remains one of the happiest people I have met in my entire life. She is a cheerleader. She is an actor. She sings and dances. She gives speeches. She runs and jumps. She loves movies. She loves games. She loves the Wii. She loves Facebook and chatting with friends on the computer. She loves Justin Bieber and Glee. She loves her cell phone and her iPod. She has done so much more than we could have ever possibly dreamed on that very first day. She has an exuberance for life and energy that would lift the spirits of even the most cantankerous curmudgeon. <br /> <br />And so here we are. It is a snow day. I am a teacher and Kennedy is a student. We will be <span style="font-weight:bold;">together</span> all day today, which I feel is most deserving, considering the amount of time we spent <span style="font-weight:bold;">apart</span> on her very first day. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5c3ni9v_jXw/TUFxH-za13I/AAAAAAAACy0/meJ-XErwdSI/s1600/us3.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 220px; height: 165px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5c3ni9v_jXw/TUFxH-za13I/AAAAAAAACy0/meJ-XErwdSI/s400/us3.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566854996338333554" /></a><br />It is truly a <span style="font-style:italic;">gift</span> to be her parents. She makes us happy every day. <br /><br />We love you, Kennedy. <br />Happy 13th Birthday.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13927097159499432650noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6793087347675083206.post-51462669954553683362010-12-26T12:29:00.005-04:002010-12-26T13:07:37.069-04:00The Holiday SeasonTo everyone reading this blog, no matter what you celebrate, I hope it was healthy, restful, relaxing and joyful. We had everyone here except for Taylor, who was with her mom in Nova Scotia but is thankfully coming to Moncton later this week so we will see her next weekend. <br /><br />In other news, I am due to fly out tomorrow morning to Orlando for some meetings but from the look of the impending <a href="http://www.theweathernetwork.com/news/storm_watch_stories3&stormfile=noreaster_coming_to_atlanti_251210&eccode=WWCANB0016&warningdisplay=ec&warningtype=sw?ref=stormwatch_city">Nor'easter</a> heading this way and having already received word from <a href="http://www.aircanada.com/en/travelinfo/before/operation/index.html">Air Canada</a> to expect delays and cancellations, I'm not sure what will happen tomorrow. I'm only scheduled to be there until Thursday morning so a 1-2 delay will render the trip useless. I'm pretty sure they don't refund for situations like this either. On the bright side, my sister and her hubby and my niece Kendra are traveling home right now and should be here before the big bomb hits! Please be safe if you are traveling today or tomorrow - it's better to stay home and miss something and be safe! <br /><br />The best gift of all was having all three of my babies under the same roof and the special times spent together to celebrate family. That's what the holidays are all about to me. <br />My babies & I on Dec. 24th<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5c3ni9v_jXw/TRdz5PECQKI/AAAAAAAACx8/Dhkex3COYcI/s1600/IMG_6194.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5c3ni9v_jXw/TRdz5PECQKI/AAAAAAAACx8/Dhkex3COYcI/s400/IMG_6194.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555036092517990562" /></a><br /><br />Brother Scott, Kyle, nephew Stephen, Ryan and Dad posing for a festive photo on Dec. 24th.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5c3ni9v_jXw/TRd0ZoZGcoI/AAAAAAAACyE/0_krpIthKtI/s1600/IMG_6206.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5c3ni9v_jXw/TRd0ZoZGcoI/AAAAAAAACyE/0_krpIthKtI/s400/IMG_6206.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555036649073046146" /></a><br /><br />Kyle and I on Dec. 25th at mom's house for dinner<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5c3ni9v_jXw/TRdzc8TAkeI/AAAAAAAACx0/NOVOptfUqoo/s1600/mom%2Bkyle%2Bdec%2B25%2B2010%2Bedit.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5c3ni9v_jXw/TRdzc8TAkeI/AAAAAAAACx0/NOVOptfUqoo/s400/mom%2Bkyle%2Bdec%2B25%2B2010%2Bedit.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555035606444184034" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13927097159499432650noreply@blogger.com3