Addee's Hearing Aids

Addallee and Carlin Bates

Addallee Bates: "The biggest difference in the new hearing aids is probably that I don't pick up so much background noise.

Kelly Bates: "Ya ‘cause there’s a lot of noise going on here all the time. There’s always background noise!"

Last night on Bringing Up Bates (check out our recap), we watched Addallee visit the otolaryngologist for a reevaluation of her hearing. Addee really likes her new children's hearing aids because they work better and are less bulky, and her family says they have boosted her confidence levels. They have also helped improve her speech and her ability to play piano (video below).

Addee's was born premature and stopped breathing soon after for several minutes, causing Gil to begin CPR while they waited for the Medford Volunteer Fire Department, which the Bates credit for saving their daughter's life. Addee was in the intensive care unit for a week, but miraculously, she doesn't have any other medical problems, aside from her hearing difficulties.

The three double letters in Addallee's name symbolize the second chance at life that God gave her. Her situation inspired young Zach, Michael, and Nathan to join the volunteer fire department.

Photo/video courtesy of UPtv

Epic Bates Water Fight

As we shared earlier this week, the Bates are hosting a car wash tonight on Bringing Up Bates, but during their lesson with Zach, chaos breaks loose, and everyone gets soaked. Check out these epic action shots. (You can double click each photo to enlarge it.)

And here are a few more snapshots from the episode. To help ease Gil and Kelly's fears of another house fire, members of the Medford Volunteer Fire Department come out to show the kids how to use a fire extinguisher and teach them other fire safety tips.

When the day of the car wash arrives, everyone pitches in to make it a huge success.

And when Carlin Bates' boyfriend, Evan Stewart, shows up announced, she is elated.

The show starts tonight at 9pm ET/8pm CT. Visit our Showtimes page for more details.

Photos courtesy of UP

Recap: "The Big Chili"

Bringing Up Bates "The Big Chili"...

• Every year, the local fire department hosts a fundraising event that consists of a chili supper, an auction, and entertainment. The Bates always lend a hand, as a thank you to the fire department for saving Addallee’s life 10 years ago.
• “When Addee was born, I had something called beta strep, and it affects a newborn baby up to, I think like 48-72 hours after they are born, and it can be life-threatening, literally, for them,” Kelly explains.
• Soon after Addallee's birth, her heart and lungs stopped working. Gil began administering CPR, and the Medford Volunteer Fire Department arrived with oxygen eight minutes later and ended up saving Addallee’s life.
• Addee was admitted into intensive care for a week, and during that time, Gil chose the perfect name for his eight daughter. To this day, when Addallee spells her name, she explains that the three sets of double letters symbolize the second chance at life that God gave her. Gil tears up as he recalls this.
• The situation with Addallee inspired Zach, Michael, and Nathan to join the volunteer fire department. “For me, that was never an option, just ‘cause I can’t stand blood,” laughs Erin.
• The married Bates arrive to help out with the event. Lawson seeks fashion advice from Alyssa, Carlin, and Josie, as he plans his wardrobe for his musical performance at the chili supper. The girls freak out when Lawson jokingly tries on a bright red shirt with wolves on it. “It’s a good thing he got some advice,” chuckles Nathan.
• According to Gil, Lawson always has that “cool guy look about him.”
• Kelly asks expert seamstress Michael to take in the waists of a few skirts. Michael notices that two of the skirts have adjustable waistbands and shows them to her mom. “I feel really dumb when you’re around,” says Kelly, smiling.
• The event goes off without a hitch. Before Lawson’s performance, the entire family joins him on stage to sing. Gil explains why the Bates are so grateful for the volunteer fire department.