Our tickets went missing today, and we couldn't find them... still can't. After a frantic two hour search behind book-cases and the refrigerator, and tearing things apart, we called Northwest Airlines, dreading the discussion. I'll cut to the chase and eliminate the tension. Although the tickets we'd received looked like paper tickets, they were just receipts for e-tickets. So, our discussion with Northwest was some of the best news I'd received in awhile. I could have done without that stress, but I'm glad we got the tickets all straightened out, and really glad they're e-tickets.

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Sunday, July 1

Lost tickets

Our tickets went missing today, and we couldn't find them... still can't. After a frantic two hour search behind book-cases and the refrigerator, and tearing things apart, we called Northwest Airlines, dreading the discussion. I'll cut to the chase and eliminate the tension. Although the tickets we'd received looked like paper tickets, they were just receipts for e-tickets. So, our discussion with Northwest was some of the best news I'd received in awhile. I could have done without that stress, but I'm glad we got the tickets all straightened out, and really glad they're e-tickets.

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Well our lost 'tickets' finally (!!) surfaced today. Of all the places we looked, and all the things we have done since returning, we found the 'tickets' in a place we use everyday. They were in the bread drawer. Now before you get visions of old moldy bread just sitting in a drawer for three months, let me explain our bread drawer. Not only does it hold our bread, which is a staple in a family of six, it also holds our aprons (which we rarely use). Therein lies the mystery of the tickets. Today a glass of milk got spilled in the drawer (Don't ask, it is just life with two preschoolers). Of course I had to empty everything out, including the aprons which had milk on them. Lo and behold, there was the envelope from the travel agency. How it ever wound up in the bread drawer under a stack of apron, I have no idea.

Preschool

Robby finished his second week of preschool yesterday. He is attending "Praise Express Preschool" at our church. He attends Mon. Tues. and Wen. and absolutely loves it! In fact, last Thursday he was putting on his shoes and said "school". When I told him there was no school that day, he got mad and threw his shoes across the room. Every day when I pick him up he is full of grins. Tuesday he was the 'helper' and was able to bring something to share. I sent in the photo album that we had sent him in China. I thought he might talk about the pictures since he loves the album. Mrs T, his teacher, said he did a great job and named everyone in the pictures. He also did the counting and other helper duties. This is really great since he has not been talking at school. In fact one of the kids asked me on Monday if Robby could talk. I told him Robby didn't talk much because he had only been learning English for two months, while the child had four years to learn English. He said that made sense. Robby doesn't participate much in the circle time activities (books etc), most likely because he doesn't understand what is being said. He does play and do the art etc.

7 and 0

No that is not the score of a game, nor a team's record. Seven and Zero are the results of Robby's CT Scan. The Doctor rates each ear on a scale of 1-10 in order to determine whether or not surgery to open the ear canal is a viable option. He looks at a lot of different factors regarding the formation of the inner ear. Obviously Robby's ears are vastly different. His right ear rates a 7, meaning he is a good candidate for surgery and the canal repair should improve his hearing, possibly to near normal levels. His right ear rated a zero, as the doctor's assistant told us his inner ear on the left is "abysmal": the bones are fused together etc.
What this all means is that Robby will have surgery to open his right ear canal and will have a BAHA hearing aid implanted on his left side. This is a 'bone anchored hearing aid'. As soon as we find a good site that describes the BAHA we will post a link. The nice thing about the BAHA is that even though it is on his left side, because it conducts sound through the bone, it will help the hearing in his right ear as well.
Robby's surgery is scheduled for November 1, 2007 in Palo Alto, California. Dr. Roberson will be performing the surgery. Robby will have the atresia surgery (canal opening) and the BAHA surgery at the same time. We will stay in Palo Alto for a week so Robby can have follow up visits. We will provide more details as we get closer to the date.

CT Scan

Robby had his CT Scan done on Friday. We then sent the images to a surgeon in California who will evaluate them to see if surgery will be beneficial to Robby. This would be a surgery to open up his ear canals. Robby did great for the CT Scan. He laid still enough that we did not have to sedate him; quite an accomplishment for a four year old who has no idea what is going on. I think part of the reason he laid so still was because he was apprehensive and a bit scared. Mom was able to be right beside him the whole time so that helped. We are expecting to hear from the surgeon this week.
Robby also saw the dentist this week...his teeth look great. No problems, unlike Rachael who had two small cavities.