the start of 1 vs. 2

The trip to NYC was great! What a neat city. Our trip was even better this time around, and my experience as a CI user as opposed to using hearing aids, was 100% different. The last time we went on the trip, I was very, very dependent on my f.m. system. There is so much noise in the city and on a bus, walking the city streets, in noisy restaurants... I was deafened by the noise last time with hearing aids. I remember loving the city, but not following much and the only way I could participate was through the f.m. system. I followed the shows and enjoyed the music as much as was possible the first time, but so much of the words (especially sung) were hard to follow and little jokes in the show the first time were often over my head. I would laugh when others laughed, but not even know what was funny!
This time... I would say... I felt independent. I conversed easily with our tour guide on the bus and even in noisy restaurants, I could talk on the bus... without an f.m. system. I got probably 95% of the shows, Phantom of the Opera would be a little nutty when 3 singers are all singing their own song at the same time (which happens several times in that show), and honestly a hearing person wouldn't catch it all... What was thrilling for me, is I could even pick out the violin and the flute in the pit of that show. Our second show was hairspray. What a show! I missed very, very little... since I had only been activated less than a week in NYC with my second implant, if I would have taken out the new one for the shows, I probably would have gotten it all, because the new one hadn't been tweaked and it was pretty muddy then.
The day after we returned from NYC, I had a very productive session with my audiologist. I knew what things I needed improved and testing confirmed that. By the end of the session, I was hearing so, so much better.
I have my work cut out for me.. and even have homework to do! But, this week is my Jr. high production of Annie and I had parent teacher conferences, so I was not able to just work on my left (newly implanted) side.
In the coming week, I am going to wear only my new implant at home and Adam and I are going to do some work with pitch with each side and both.
It is hard to describe now the experience of one versus two. Is it better? Yes! Remember it has been just 2 weeks since my activation and 5 weeks since surgery! My dad asked me yesterday if the left is caught up with the right. NO!!!!! I have a lot of work to do! My speech perception will hopefully keep increasing and I pray I can get the left caught up with work and TIME.... What makes it so hard to describe it all is that I don't know how much I am genuinely hearing and how much I make up in my head from my auditory memory. It sounds crazy, but here is a prime example... In the mornings, I wake up early to have some time to myself. I watch the news... Sometimes I hear their voices even though I am only reading the closed captioning. I will forget I am just reading it, and my mind creates those blanks.... I think a lot of my experience as a CI user is so rich because of that strong auditory memory. For example... I know which pitches I can match or come close to matching while singing and if I play the G above middle C and try to sing that pitch, I just cannot get my inner voice around that... I know before I do it, I can't match it... Regardless of some frustrations for me musically, I have noted a huge change with the second, but I will save that for another post!
I also want to describe teaching with one versus two, but that will certainly be its own lengthy entry too! For now, I am just trying to be patient and also trying to enjoy the experience too. I want to be able to keep an accurate account of the changes for myself and for you! All of that initial overwhelmed feeling is gone, I feel blessed.