tubes
we started to suspect garrett was having trouble hearing. at first we thought he was just ignoring us. but he was ignoring things like, hey g want a cookie? he insisted he could hear fine of course. the doctor said his inner ear was full of fluid but was not infected. if it persists he should probably get tubes put in to drain the fluid. he didn't like the idea at first. then he started to realize he really couldn't hear well. and he hates to feel like he's missing out on anything. we were walking down the hallway from his room. i told him to tell me when he could hear the music. he said, what music? halfway down the hall. there's no music. we're practically on top of the stereo before he hears a song he knows well and likes to dance to. later i hear him tell his little friends he's going to get tubes in his ears in a scary operation that won't hurt. and he did. and it didn't. now he can hear just fine. and is happy as a clam. though he had to put wax plugs in his ears to boogie board in hawaii. which had the added benefit of also keeping the sand out. unlike the rest of us.