Gabi: Fun Day

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Fun Day

Today we went to the Jelly Belly jellybean factory. Auntie Meme said that a president made Jelly Beans popular so we decided that she is really smart. I bought my class some presents. I'm going to give a speech on Jelly Belly's when I get back. If Mrs. Kiergaard says it's ok.

This is a picture of me at a store in a valley. It's the same valley that had Jelly Belly in it. At this store we bought Dad a present.

This is me getting my pedicure. The lady who did it for me was really nice. She did my nails too and I didn't even ask her to do those! I have purple toes and fingers with white stripes like a tiger.

This is a picture of me in my 3D glasses. Mom and I went to see Avitar at the Imax theater today. Avitar was SOOOOO good.

Love, Movie Theater Gabi

4 comments:

AnonymousFebruary 3, 2010 at 11:58 PM
Oh my goodness, you are so beautiful! Friday cannot come soon enough!!! Looks like you had a great day. Live it up, you might be coming back to SNOW.

I love you, Dad
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Auntie MeMeFebruary 4, 2010 at 6:40 AM
Dear Movie Theatre Gabi:
Sounds like things are starting to be a little fun in California for you! That's great! It's a good thing the surgeon's office wasn't in some boring state. I am happy you are feeling better and enjoying your time with your Mama. Tomorrow you get to come home. I bet Chloe is especially excited to see you. She has had to get off the bus by herself this week! I bet she misses her big sister. Have a safe trip home sweetness.

I love you, and love your mommy too!
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Kim KiergaardFebruary 4, 2010 at 11:06 AM
Greetings, Gabi! It looks like the Jelly Belly factory would have been really exciting. We were wondering if the picture of Ronald Regan is made out of jelly beans. Mrs.Kiergaard said she would love to hear your speech and so would we. We are glad to know that your tube appointment went well. The girls are jealous of your pampering session. :)
From, Your Class and Mrs.Kiergaard
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SophieFebruary 4, 2010 at 3:03 PM
Yes it is made out of jellybeans.
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Add comment

Why the surgery?

Gabi has been taught to love her little ear, but there comes a time to make some decisions. Gabi's hearing aide is the type that has to be on a headband that she wears everyday until she grows big enough to have it surgically implanted into her bone. The headband is made for toddlers, with the idea that the hearing aide will eventually be surgically implanted. If there's one thing we've learned from her teachers, it's that she always does much much better when that hearing aide is working properly. We hear it every single year.

Decision number one...Do we continue with hearing aides and have it implanted? If we have it implanted, then she can't do the construction of the outer ear. It's a decision we would be making that would last her lifetime. The outer construction has to be done with "virgin" skin, meaning no previous holes or surgeries or anything.

Decision number two...Do we open that canal up so she can hear without a hearing aide? Again, if we open it up then we have to do the outer construction first. You can't do the ear canal and then decide later that you want to construct an outer ear.

Decision number three...do we just leave well enough alone and do nothing? We could...and that is what we have done the last eight years. Now that Gabi is eight we are faced with another issue. Teasing. Kids are cruel. Gabi started wanting to hide her ear. She started saying that she "only loves her little ear if other people can't see it."

The constructive surgery for an ear is an amazingly difficult process. You really have to be both a surgeon and an artist. There are only a handful of people in the country that are successfully doing the surgery. Another issue...if you don't do it right, then the ear is lost. One chance. There aren't any doctors in this state that are even doing the surgery.

After many years of diliberation, our insurance company gave the word that they saw the surgery as "medically necessary." Off we go to California to the doctor who pioneered the surgery and has had many many successful surgeries. After she is done with outer construction, she can have her ear canal opened with her doctor at the Mayo in Rochester, and throw the hearing aide in the toilet (or maybe donate it to someone else) and be done with it.

We're actually sad to say goodbye to our little ear...but looking forward to hearing without complications. :)

Gabi

Gabi and big sister Sophie

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Fun Day

4 comments:

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