When hearing loss hits home

I became a mother in January 2003.  It was on my list of best days of my life!  I don't think I could choose between the day I was married, the day I went through the temple and the birth of my children.  So instead I made a list of the "BEST DAYS" of my life!

My little girl was born!  Little did we know she would be the only girl so far among 7 boys on my husbands side of the family!  She was a red headed firecracker straight out of the womb!  She screamed and hollered to let the world know she was here!  FINALLY!  She was 2 weeks overdue and in prego mommy time that's like eternity!

K melted my heart from the beginning.  She nestled into my soul like a long lost friend!  She was that female companion that I knew in the life before this one!  She was my new world.

I didn't wear hearing aids from 6th grade clear until I had my second child.  I quickly learned as time went by that I was missing things.  I would miss her sighs.  I would miss her little noises in the night.  I would miss that sweet little burp and vocalization that she would feel better.  I hear some of this and so I didn't realize that I was missing.  I had no idea until baby number 2 came along.

K passed her hearing test and there were no thoughts of hearing loss.  I didn't even think mine was genetic.  I didn't think of the possibility of passing it on to my kids.  My ignorance or lack of understanding at the time was a sweet and blissful state.

When you have just yourself to worry about you don't worry about your influence!  You have yourself to account to.  But as you have children that all changes.

Little did I know, her personality  ( a firecracker in a little body) was exactly what our family would need in the years to come.  I read this article once and I keep it on my facebook page to refer to.  I want to put a snippet because I think it tells just about why we had this sweet girl first.

M E R I D I A NM A G A Z I N E

Who Are These Children?
By Larry Barkdull

Do we really believe that a long line of spirits waits to be shuffled into families like a dealer dealing cards? Do children simply happen into families by a cosmic roll of the dice? If Heavenly Father’s house is a house of order, if God organizes all the stars in heaven to follow precise orbits so that they might stand “for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and for years,”i if He forms every creation to exist delicately in a balanced ecosystem, if by design He places all truth and intelligence into specified spheres so that they might act for themselvesii —why would God leave the placement of his children to chance?
Of course, He does not. Countless ages of premortal obedience and righteous living determine our children’s mortal placement, which, beyond every other consideration, is meant to reward them and to magnify their opportunity to advance toward exaltation. Even the difficulties they experience can serve to save and exalt them.iii
Elder Neal A. Maxwell declared that the youth of Zion are living here and now by assignment. “These are your days!” he said. “You are in this time and circumstance by Divine appointment. God knows you and he knows what you have the capacity to achieve.”.......we might better endure the challenges by remembering who they really are and why God has strategically placed them in our family.

I was given a blessing once that indicated I would have special children sent to me from heaven to raise and instruct in the ways of the Lord.

These children are sent to our family for a reason.  And many have told me that this little red head would lead and guide our other children.  In the last decade this article has been proven and that blessing has burned its phrase into my mind clear as day.  The word "special" does not mean handicapt or "OH that kid is special" unquote.  Special means that they were held away and kept for a special season.  And that season is going on now.. in my home!  It is a glorious experience that I will forever cherish!