We easily managed to fill 2 days at the park and also had a character lunch - great food, and a guaranteed photo with Mickey! I have to confess I was a little nervous about how Isobel would do at the park, there are pretty long noisy queues and lots going on to stimulate the senses. I just couldn't be sure how well she was going to cope and how I was going to try and control some of those situations.
Lucky for us, Disney had it all figured out. On our first day at the park, we stopped by Guest Services to see what could be done about getting seats for the shows so that Isobel could hear and see them properly. We sat her up on the counter and explained that she wore a cochlear implant and that she would find it difficult to appreciate the shows if she were off to the side or too far back. To our surprise, the very nice 'cast member' filled us out an 'accessibility' pass - yep, the one that also allows to to bypass the queues. It doesn't get you straight on the ride, but it significantly reduces the wait time.
We were not expecting this pass at all, but totally loved using it! Because we didn't have to queue for hours to get on rides, we were able to get photos and autographs with the Princesses, which of course Isobel just loved. She had an absolutely fantastic time, and not a melt down in sight, she coped remarkably well.
The New Year flew by with Estella's 3rd birthday and travelling back to Korea. School resumed, Isobel turned 5 and we celebrated with, of course, a Princess and Knights themed Party. Busy is an understatement!
Now all that is over, a calm moment to reflect on events from the past year, and look to what 2013 will bring.
All parents know, and will tell you, that their children are amazing, but I have to say Isobel amazes me. She is not a perfect child by any means and we still have some really tough days and unpleasant parenting to dish out, but there is something that she shows me each day that amazes me. She has worked so hard this last year, quite possibly without even realising it, this is taken from her Auditory Verbal progress report.
...In this approach (AV) the child is taught developmentally and all teaching is done through audition alone. The child’s hearing age is taken into account when setting goals and the child progresses through all developmental milestones in audition, speech and language. Isobel began at the beginning, with goals set that are typical for a child less than one year of age even though she was nearly four years old. She has progressed nicely since receiving her hearing devices and has gained approximately three years growth in only 14 months...
...She entered school with no language and now speaks in short phrases. She is less frustrated at home and communicates verbally rather than non-verbally. She can, for the first time in her life, talk to her parents about events and friends at school.
On our way to school this morning, she skipped along holding my hand, and recited the whole of 'No More Monkey's Jumping on the Bed'. Nick and I haven't taught her that particular song. The cool thing about this is that Estella taught her that one. I'm looking forward to 2013 bringing more of these experiences where two sisters can learn from each other and grow together.
I'd like to think that they'll be there for one another in the future as this truly inspirational boy is there for his brother.
I'd like to think that they'll be there for one another in the future as this truly inspirational boy is there for his brother.
