Big Girl Turn 4

Should have done this a week ago but well....

Mary Turned 4 on the 15 June. We had a big party in the hosue with 15 children in total in attendance. Mostly just a disco type affair, musical bumps and statues, make a sword or a crown, pass the parcel, a little picnic and lots of noise. Mary had a fabulous time. There was one minor strop when midway throught the party she wanted the TV one. But well what is a party without the strop. Looking at all the children you would not have picked Mary out. She had 2 of her Deaf friends in attendance too. They all mixed in and the other children were al happy to play.

Washing Machines and Cars

Yesterday, One of the most important dates in the calendar for the Shaw family, namely the birthday of Big Sister Katy, we were getting ready to go to Daddy's house. I was putting washing in the machine and Mary was helping. Then I notice she is making the "pshhhttttt" sound exactly as the water sounds when it first enters the machine. Her copying sounds is really coming on.

Once the washing had been sorted I then proceeded to get the girls and all their things ready. Mary kept insisting we were going by bike. I have purchased her a tagalong for my bike which she thinks is absolutely fabulous. So we have to cycle everywhere. Alas though Daddy's house is about 2 miles away and I have not yet plucked up the courage to do more than the school run and to the local shop. Not to mention Katy would have a epileptic fit if i suggested cycling so far and where would we put all the stuff! So as I was putting Mary's shoes on, she is avidly signing "bicycle" I say to her "No we are going in the car. The car." Pleasee note My hands were busy and so I was talking. I was also talking down not looking at her face. She immediately signs "car". So she heard and understood and showed she understood. Well done Mary. Then when we get in the car particularly if she is in the front she makes all the actions as if switching on and driving the car and the "rmmmmmm" noise of the engine.

Another step forward is that now we say "Shoooos offfff" whenever we come in the house and I ask all the kids to take their shoes and coats off. Mary thinks it is sufficient to say this and stick her foot up at me. But we are making progress. She does take her "shooooos offf" when the mood takes her.

Words/Sounds

Pssssshhhhhhtttt - water noise going into washing machine
Rmmmmmmmm - car
Shhhoooos offff - Shoes off

Aeroplanes, Trains and Wool

Last Thursday after feeling Mary was more deaf than she needed to be we had a tuning appointment at teh Emmeline. She performed brilliantly for the hearing test. I think we are finally grasping the idea of it all. She heard very well at 30Db in the middle frequencies but you could see her struggling to hear 35-40Db in the higher and lower frequencies. She also did each ear seprately which we have been unable to do previously. Anyway they turned her up and she is much more responsive and seems to want the ears on even more. She also likes them on in the car now.

Over the weekend she listened intently to Twinkle Twinkle and even sang "up above". Just the once but it was very clear.

Today when we got back from school drop off, her sister had gone for a hospital appointment of her own and this upset Mary greatly. She knows all about hospitals. Anyway she signed her sister's sign name and said "aty". For Katy! I do believe she understood where Katy was and was concerned for her.

Over the weekend I instigated a game of aeroplanes and trains and boats using the sounds from her SALT game, to try and get her to eat her protein. Still struggling with that a little but it is getting there. Anyway tonight she initiated the game herself. Going "aaaaaa" for the plane and "chooo choooo" for the train. She is so clever. And coming along so quickly now. She is signing more and more and pointing out things. Like the dog walking past the park yesterday. Was a distraction to me as she was being told off at the time for pushing another little girl over. But hey she pointed to the dog and signed dog.

Now to the wool you cry... Well she unravelled my ball of wool all over the lounge floor. I started to try and find the end so I can wind it up again and she started to "help". The last thing I needed. Anyway I signed "No" and said "No" both very firmly. After the 3rd time I really showed my anger. She did not like this at all so took herself upstairs for a time. Even these moments are good, showing she is understanding that she cannot do everything she wants to do. We did make up when she came back down because well, Tom and Jerry were on the telly.

What a wonderful day with Mary. She is even enjoying her homework these days.

She listens to music...

Here I am tidying up after dinner and Mary is fiddling with my computer. She wants the media player on. We liked "We Built this City", I had to stop and dance to it. She was not too keen on the Blues Brothers. Now we like the drum beat of Africa, Toto.

She is making more vocalisations and I swear she said Helllo Mum this morning, while lying in her bed. Not repeated so cannot be sure.

We have probably sorted out her schooling. Hopefully she will be dual placed. Who knows will let you all know in time. She will hopefully start January 2011. OOO my girl is growing up.

Banana

I must record this cos it is so fab. I have been working on the first letter sounds of words of things Mary is really interested in. She had been watching and trying to copy. Well one thing she lilked was "B" so Banana got the full treatment and now she says "Bababa" or somtimes the "n" comes in and she says "Banaba". So fab.

New spoken word
Banana _ "Babana"

Other words
Up
Mum
Byebye
Round

Booo (k) Please!

Last Wednesday evening 24 February 2010, I was rushing out to sign class and my good friend was babysitting the two girls. For ease of my friend's life I thought to put Mary in bed for her. She can be a monkey at bedtime. I laid mary on her bed covered her up. gave her some milk. When she finished her milk I waved bye and made to go. She signed to me "book" and said "Booo plea". What could I do? My clever girl had asked for using voice and sign for a book. So I read her a story. Made me late for sign but well Mary is so clever and needs her rewards when she asks for things so nicely.

New Words:
Booo - Book.

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

This really should have been two posts but I forgot!
A few nights ago I was signing Mary's favourite lullaby "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" she joined in with both the signs and vocalisations and we had a lovely time.

Then last night she went to bed with her processors still on. After her milk she turned over and faced her wall. I thought while she could hear I would sing Twinkle Twinkle to her which I did. No signing and Mary was facing the wrong way in the dark. After the first couple of lines Mary turned to me and did the "Twinkle Twinkle" signs for the start of the song. I was so proud. Not only did she hear me but she understood the sound and showed me that she had understood. She then turned back. I finished the song and left her to go to sleep. Wow!