29th of August, 2022.
"Mummy!" Emi squealed as I walked into the kitchen. Her 3-year old hands reached from her dry Cheerios that Harry was feeding her, up to me. I waved to her and kissed her cheek. I sat down to eat breakfast when little Harry ran into the kitchen, his school uniform on and his curls a mess. His speech hadn't been perfected, so he was at a school for children with speech delays similar to his.
"Mum! Harr- I forgot a-about school!" he wailed.
I quickly ran over to hug him, he was very emotional and didn't like seeing others unhappy either.
"Shh, shh, it's okay. Remember, I told you! Today you don't have to go to school, it is a special day for Emi." I patted his hair.
"Oh no mummy, I almost forgot!" he giggled, kissing my cheek. He was very affectionate and dependent on Harry and I compared to most 7-year olds.
"How about you head upstairs and put on some regular play clothes and comb your hair while Mum and Daddy get your sister ready?" I suggested. He nodded and sprinted up the stairs.
"We must remind him to WALK up stairs like most people. He is going to end up hurt!" Harry chuckled.
"Who's idea was it to get Mr. Olympic Mc Speed, Liam, to train him in sprinting?" I poked.
Harry stuck up his hands in defense.
"You know how close he is to Brayden! And I mean, Brayden is such a good kid, being Liam's son and all, he is a good and innocent example for Haz."
I nodded in agreement. I watched as Harry fed Emi. He was now 28, myself 27. His eyes had a bit more age to them and he had become even manlier...if that made sense.
I turned to Emilie and stuck my hands to my chest and stroked downwards as if I was brushing dust off my shirt, the sign language symbol for getting dressed.
She nodded and pushed away her food bowl towards Harry and he looked to me and nodded. I picked her up in one swift motion and carried her off towards her room.
I bathed her and dried her quickly, dressing her in a pink dress and polka-dot tights with little Toms from Uncle Lou.
Harry and I decided to wait until she was 3 for her cochlear implants with hopes she would be able to sign or talk by then. However Emilie was beyond that. She could read lips and talk with only a hint of a stutter and could understand the sign language, however couldn't make all the symbols herself with her chubby baby hands. She was a very gifted child, she was walking at 9 months and signing food, water, and potty weeks later.
Harry enjoyed having someone elae around, but had to remember that she was a BABY. He picked up most signs relatively quickly and loved the symbol for "I love you." the most, flashing at her before he ran out the door for school.
The fans were shocked when news was released that our baby was deaf, and the fans trended #WeLoveEmiStyles on the world trends for a week after her birth, gaining her the nickname Emi not just with the fans, but also with family and friends.
Starting school for Harry was strange at first. Since most of the fans were in college, swarms weren't common at his school. He was very confused as to why everyone was excited to see his daddy, mummy, and 4 aunties amd uncles all the time. We explained it in a way he'd understand, Daddy and his uncles were like The Wiggles. And what would he do if he met The Wiggles? Exactly. However, since he is older he understands that his dad is a singer and such.
Today was the day Emilie would be getting her cochlear implants. After 4 months of trials, fittings, appointments, tears, and frustration, she would be able to hear.
We loaded our kids in the car and drove to the ear specialist. The check-in was fast, due to Harry's fame status, and we were seated in the room facing Dr. Gallagher.
She quickly stuck the small implants on Emilie's ears.
"Okay, I am going to put it low, and gradually build up sound, it will hurt her ears, but she will get accustomed to hearing within days."
We nodded as she watched Emilie build with the Lego's and eat crackers. She then nodded that they were on level 1. Emilie shrugged and scratched at her ears. She whined and rubbed her head.
I looked over to her and she frowned. "Crack." she moaned.
"At this point all she will hear is crackling, like a static radio signal. I am going to move it up, and she will hear us as if we were mumbling with our mouths covered." she said, clicking the notch on the computer.
Emilie blinked a few times and looked at her Lego's.
"Hello!" Harry chirped. She looked over to his and gasped, throwing Lego's. I laughed and she looked to me.
"Mumma! Mumma!" she squealed. She touched her throat and her eyes widened.
"Muuuuuummmmaaaa." She felt her throat vibrate as she listened to herself talk.
"It is now on 4, she can hear us clearly, but someone down the hall is a bit fuzzy." Dr. Gallagher told us.
"Is it hurting her yet?" I asked.
"No mumma. I okay." she replied.
It was my turn to gasp at the fact that I was CONVERSING with my deaf daughter.
"Emilie! Come f-finish our building!" Harry called to her.
She turned over to face him and ran over, picking up Lego's. Harry's face twisted and his lip quivered.
"She can h-hear Harr-me now?" he cried.
I nodded and he cried more as I handed him tissues. Emilie pouted and waddled over to him and hugged him.
"No cry, Hubby." she said as he giggled.
"Harry. Say Harry." he explained.
"No cry....Haaaarry?" she repeated.
He nodded as they ran off to play.
"She is doing amazing! Better than anyone I have ever seen! They are now on 5, so she has the same amount of hearing as you and I."
Harry's phone rang and Emilie jumped up as he stepped into the hall.
"What?" she asked me, pointing to the door.
"That was the noise a phone makes when it rings." I said slowly. She nodded and turned to the toys.
Harry began walking down the hall.
"Yeah mate, she can hear, I will call you later. Alright bye." he said from the hall.
Emilie pulled at my jacket. "Daddy is bye-bye?"
"Yes, daddy is out in the hall." I said. Dr. Gallagher nodded.
"You are all done! We will email you all the instructions and they'll be ready by the time you're home!" she said, shaking my hand.
I picked up Emilie and Harry grabbed his junior.
"Ready?" I asked Emilie.
"C'mon mumma. Go home!"
