Halloween 2014

Noah had a great week. He went to the parade and had fun hearing all the great sounds.

He went to the Youth Group Halloween Party and Emily helped him carve a pumpkin

Noah went as a Minion.. He had a great time listening to the band, but at one point Emily had to turn his implant down because it was too loud. I'm so glad he is able to enjoy the hearing world.

He had fun being Noah from Noah's Ark for our church's Trunk or Treat.

Stan Runs 4 Noah

On Sunday morning we left the house at 6:30am, to go watch the Nationwide Columbus Children's Hospital Marathon.I'm so glad I found this awesome warm blanket for Noah. It attaches to his chair and he doesn't have to wear a big winter coat. It keeps him snug as bug in a rug. Thankgoodness because it was 38 degrees when we started whatching the race.

We parked at my brother Dan's  house and walked down to Schiller Park. It was right between the 10th and 11th mile mark.

Little over a year ago Stan Roberts started dedicating his races to Noah. He runs for Noah because he is unable. Stan ran his very first marathon Sunday morning. As I was watching all the runners run by, I thought about how awesome it would be to run with Noah. I would need a three wheel stroller and get in shape. Stan has inspired many people, I just wish I had more confidence in myself.

Stan, thank you so much for running for Noah. It means more to us than you will ever know.

Emily's good friend Justice's Mom also ran her first marathon.

Congratulations Mindi you rocked it. We are so proud of you.

Noah was excited to recieve a football from Deanie Kerhes. She had carried it for 10 1/2 miles during her running of her half marathon.I just wish I would have gotten a pictue of you with Noah. The football was from her son, Tristan. He is one of Noah's basketball buddies. He now plays football for Ohio Domincan College. Thank you Tristan and Deanie for your kindness, Noah defintley appreciates it.

 

Great job Stan!!!! You finsihed a marathon. What a inspiration you are.

A Night With the Columbus Bluejackets

Friday night we went to see the Columbus Bluejackets. We got tickets from A Kid Again, its an organization that plans fun activities for Wish families. Noah's first stop was getting his picture with one of the pretty ladies that cleans the ice during breaks.

Friday night was also Stamp Out Cancer night. They honored some children that are fighting cancer.

It was a great game, the Bluejackets won 3-2.

Noah, Emily and I had a fun time. When the game first started, Noah let us know that it was too loud. Thank goodness we were able to turn his implant down. He was then able to enjoy his first hockey game.

Our seats weren't handicap access able, unless we wanted to sit behind all the other seats in folding chairs. I carried Noah down to our seats and he sat really well between us.

When we arrived at the game, we were given these signs to fill out. United We Fight Cancer For: Daddy, Grandma and Grandpa Sheaffer and our cousin Tiki.

Youth Group Goes to the Pumpkin Patch

Emily is a youth group adviser at church, she was telling a couple of boys in Noah's class about the youth group going to a pumpkin patch  on Sunday and invited them to come along. Noah started crying and she couldn't figure out why. Emily then asked him if he wanted to go to the pumpkin patch and he blinked for yes. Isn't that awesome he heard Emily invite someone else and he didn't want to be left out.

Noah had a great time when he went to the pumpkin patch. He was lifted up into the wagon so he could enjoy a hayride with everyone else.

It was a bumpy ride but he enjoyed hearing new sounds around him.

Inclusion, Something I Struggle With

Noah has every right to be included in his world. But, it's something I struggle with sometimes. For an example: Our church has been doing a new program called 3G, it takes place of Sunday School. It is more like children's church, it is a great opportunity for kids to learn about God. I took Noah this last week, for the most part he seemed to enjoy all the fun around him.

What I struggle with: it sometimes feels like Noah doesn't fit in anywhere. Do teens his age really see him as one of them?  Over the last couple of years, I've seen small changes on how Noah is accepted, but we have a long way to go.

When kids grow up with someone with a disability they see the person and not the disability. Noah's little cousins are a great example of that. They see him as the coolest kid in town and fight over who gets to sit beside him or who gets to push him.

Unlike the little girl who sat beside Noah during one of the games and kept moving her chair farther and farther away from him. It just hurts to see someone react that way to Noah and I wonder how much more I can do to help Noah to be included as well as accepted in his world.

New Things to Hear

Noah went swimming with his class today. He has a special case that we can put his processor in and a special coil to wear so he can still hear when he is swimming. He seemed to really enjoy the new sounds he was hearing while swimming with his friends.

The last couple of weeks has been so amazing watching Noah experience  his world through sound. When I look at the last picture I see a boy turning his head just a bit to take in the sound and try to figure out what he is hearing. He not only got to feel the warmth of a bonfire on his face but he also got to hear what it sounds like too.