Christmas with AVT

We had a wonderful Christmas on the Philippine island of Cebu.

Isobel got to swim every day, which of course she loved, and I got lots of practise putting in her hearing aids. I think I can get them into her ears in about 30 seconds now. Not bad!

Therapy continued everyday, 10 minutes here and there around the different things we did each day at the resort and hotel. It was lovely to have Isobel actually bring us the bag of toys to go through her Ling Six Sounds.

We did the sound tests, and even with the sounds of waterfalls in the backgrounds she was able to hear each of the sounds.

One really special moment was when Isobel started teaching Estella the different sounds. Now when Estella sees the aeroplane toys she runs around the apartment saying ahhhhhhhhh.

'Naughty Pussy Cat' is coming along. Isobel says Min-now instead of Miaow, but she says is at the right place and likes telling off the cat.

She is also showing a lot more interest in books. It used to be a quick flick through, turning every page at top speed and move on to the next book.

Now she really enjoys the story and likes to talk about what she sees and what is happening.

Another new development is that she has started to sing. Just a few little words, a Korean song about the 3 bears that Halmonie is teaching Estella. She never really did this before, the actions, but never the words. But now, she has started to develop a real singing voice.

We have had such a great time, the four of us together. There have been lots of new words and phrases, and today we got a four word sentence. We are rapidly running out of wall to list Isobel's words. Each day we get excited when she says or hears something new, and there is such joy on her face when she realises she has done something new.

As we look towards a new year and what will be a very 'big' year for us and we cannot help but be filled with hope for all that will come in 2012. Whilst in Cebu City, the hotel had what is called a Tree of hope. You pay your money (which goes to a local children's charity) and add a tree ornament with a message of hope for the future. Of course, we couldn't resist...