Duddles

Minnie has an excellent vocabulary ... however she can't say the words quite right because she can't hear them quite right.

So for a long time there has been a Minnie way of saying some words:

Duddles = Cuddles
Peyyey = Penny (though she is better at Penny now)
Ukk Adoo/Mayoo/Da/Dayi = Uncle Andrew/Matthew/Dan/David
Art Eka = Aunty Erika
Dawbeej = Strawberries
Pee = Please
I na joo = I love you
Jooj = Shoes

That is a good reflection of how Minnie talks at the moment.  Though she manages to say 'Peppa Pig' with the utmost clarity ... necessity is the mother of all invention!

London Zoo with Pen-Pen

Back in the day, we used to spend all our time together ... just you and me.

It happens very rarely these days.  And I love that you are so close to your sister because you spend so much time together.

But as I would be going into hospital for Minnie's Cochlear Implant operation, we decided that Daddy should take her in for her transfusion before it.  So you and I had a sunny day together, which I thought we could spend at London Zoo.

It was hot hot hot, and lovely to spoil you a little with an ice cream, merry-go-round and your pink lion necklace.

But mostly I loved hearing your thoughts.  Which animals you liked (penguins, butterflies and tigers),  where you wanted to go next, and your meandering pondering.

I love you Pen-Pen and I love the wonderful person you have become.  Not a baby anymore ...

Third Time Lucky!

The first time we went in to the Evelina Children's Hospital in March for Minnie's right Cochlear Implant operation there was an odd blood test result, and the operation they were doing as we re-did the test overran so it couldn't happen that day.

When we tried in May, Minnie had an ear infection so we didn't even get to the hospital that time.

But last Wednesday it happened.  And all pretty smoothly.  Min-Min is recovering well, and the wound already looks so neat and on its way to recovery.

And now I can't wait till switch on (in 4-5 weeks time).  I know it will be a long road before we really see the benefits, but at least now we are on the road ...

RHS Wisley

As Daddy was participating in an advisory board about people and parents affected by PKD, I thought it might be fun to visit RHS Wisley.

Such beautiful gardens, and we had amazing weather too.

Plus it was great to pop in on the Keats on the way home.