Is that a lawnmower?? I'm ON!

Hi All,
Sorry I didn't post last night, it was a long tiring day. Both my kids had baseball games in the evening. By the time we got home, settled down and finish up everything, all I wanted to do was lay on the couch and watch a little TV.
So, here goes:
Had a 1:30pm appointment at UW and after running some test and listening for beeps and sounds (kinda like a hearing test) to see if all my electrodes are running and working, and they were, I was turned on. Turn on time was about 2:45pm.
The first thing I heard was my Audiologist, (I think she is a Audiologist, or I should say, mapping girl:)) Anyway, I could understand her very well, caught most of what she said. The only thing odd, which a lot of people have said, the voices sound robotic, and everyone sounds the same. Robotic meaning, like Mickey Mouse, or someone just inhaling helium and then talking. That is still going on now and probably for some time. But I am understanding! They gave me a little hearing test as far as understanding words, I would look at a group of words, four of them, all sounding similar, my Audio would say one, with her mouth covered and me looking down and I would have to repeat the word she said or the word I think she said, and also some sentences tests. I scored 25 out of 35. Said I was doing very well. YESSSSSSSSSSS!
After all that, they did a few settings and volume controls, showed me how everything works and so on. Then off I went into the hearing, or I should say, noisy world :)
I heard many things, but it is hard to make out what it is. At the office I heard the computer running, the pen clicking in and out, my hand running across the table softly. Many more things, but think about that, my hand running softly on the table and I could hear that, totally awesome.
I have many sounds going on, some seem in the way of hearing others. It is sometimes like a little chaos going on inside my head, but I just keep reminding myself, it's only day one, and it's the long run that will be different. A few sounds that I found funny. Running water and a motorcycle engine sound like popcorn popping in the microwave :) Heard a bird chirping outside, thought it was a crow, my wife said no just a regular bird, he kind of sounded like a duck:) , but I heard him! Heard the lawn mower guys today, not just outside my window, but a distance away, that also has a popping sound, even as I type the sound is popping. Remember, all this is with just my Cochlear, not wearing my hearing aid anymore, which is what did get me by, if that did anything as far as understanding things. So it is pretty amazing. One more thing that I found truly incredible. I have not understood anything on the radio as far as commercial talk, sometimes I even thought there was a song going on, but my son would say, "it's not a song, it's a commercial", feeling stupid I would go oh.....:) But yesterday on the way to baseball, I put the radio on and listened to a song, sound pretty good, but could not make out the words yet, but a commercial came on, and I knew it right away that it was a commercial, just sounds different, someone was talking. The amazing part was, I understood him or her, not sure :) saying "tomorrow from five to seven", I sat there and smiled after hearing that.
Today at 1:00pm I go for my second mapping, adjust a few things. I had to write down what I heard and recognised and describe the sound or anything unusual. Right now someone is outside with the weed whacker as I call it :)
Anyway, thanks so much for caring and waiting to hear from me, it is really great that you guys care so much. Your are all becoming my second family, and we are all really like family in a way.
Well, that's how I feel anyway:)
I will let you know how it goes
Talk (type) to you soon.
Billy

In a week!

Well it's less then a week before they turn me on. Love that saying!
For three weeks after the surgery I didn't feel great, not bad, but not great. On and off ear aches, and some head aches. When I did overdo it, like walking to much:), or playing some sport, afterwards I became, light headed, nauseous, and tired, w/ pain around my ear area. Most of those symptoms have now gone, just some light ear aches. Can do pretty much what I want now, but I try not to lift heavy or do a lot of bending over. I guess I was one of the slower healing cases:) But everything is cool, less then a month after having a hole drilled in my head I'm feeling ok, I guess I can't complain :)
I posted a picture of my family and I, dog too. It was a self portrait of us down on the Washington coast, Moclips, Wa. to be exact (last year) kids are bigger now. We love to go down there, not too many tourist:)
We also love the Oregon Coast, I highly recommend Cannon beach in Oregon if your ever looking to get away to a beautiful place. Haystack Rock, awesome!
Anyway, hope you are all having a great week, and ready to have a awesome Memorial Day weekend, anybody camping?
Enjoy,
Billy

One week checkup

Day 8,
Hard to believe it's already a week.
Got the rest of my stitches that didn't dissolve taken out today. Doc said everything looks good. Feel a bit better too. I also found out today that the reason for my ear being so numb is that when they made the incision, the cut a nerve, a ear nerve I assume :) and they said that my numb ear will stay like that. Bummer. The lob itself has felling, just the top half of my ear is going to be numb. Oh well. Could be worse.
Anyway, everything else is cool. Hope your all having a good week. Friday tomorrow, yeah baby!

Day 6, after surgery

Hi All,
Ok, this is day #6. Almost a week already after my surgery. How am I feeling, here's the word that most properly fits the description, "crappy". I'm still feeling like I just drank a quart of Jack Daniels, meaning light headed, dizzy (sometimes) and my right ear is just a bit bigger, making me look like Mr. Potatoe head, It's still very bruised and sensitive to touch. My taste buds are not the same and most food doesn't taste to appealing at the moment, hoping that changes back to the way it was. I'm overall in a edgy crabby mood as the wife says:) Always tired and hate the fact I need to sleep so much. I guess the weather has a lot to do with that, looking out the window and seeing a nice sunny day with temps in the 70's. I have slept a little outside on the lounge chair. I feel in no way ready to go back to work, which was supposed to be next Monday, I think I will take another week off, especially considering my work has a lot of lifting and bending involved. How much work did the most of you miss, just wondering. I guess I can't get a grip on the fact that I just had MAJOR surgery. The head is a delicate part of the body, probably the most, never realized how sensitive it is.
Overall, I guess things are going as planned. I get my stitches taken out on Thursday. Hope that doesn't hurt too much:) I'm a baby!
Anyway, that's about it for now, just sleeping, watching TV, taking my pain killers for the many ear aches I get, and doing some more sleeping :)
Thanks for looking
Billy g

Cochlear implant in

Hey,
I'm a bit sore but I'm gonna do a quick post. Surgery went great, I am now a cyborg :) Had it done on may 2
went home same day, but have been very light headed and sleepy.
Will post more w/some detail.
Billy