To update on the last few months:

Sophie’s Health
Sophie’s health has been reasonably stable over winter so far. She did catch one cold just before Christmas which really knocked her for a few weeks. With antibiotics, nebulisers , physio, oxygen and increased help from her ventilator she managed to fight it off.

Before Christmas we all breathed a huge sigh of relief after having the swine flu jab as the consequences of Sophie not having the jab were far worse than the possible risks involved.

All of Sophie’s teeth are coming through at once at the moment which has been very frustrating for her, she has learnt to hold her hands together over her face so she can use them to rub her face and nose!

Little Holiday
In October we took Sophie away for a couple of days to Bognor Regis, where we stayed in a huge adapted bungalow. It was great fun having so much space and being able to run up and down the corridors with Sophie in her buggy, which made us realise how small our house is! We took Sophie for walks along the seafront and the pier and into the amusement arcades, where Sophie took a great fascination in a little character called a ‘Gummy Bear’ and we had lots of smiles! We took her kite flying on the beach, Sophie had a go at holding the kite which she enjoyed but the reaction she got from us when she let go of it and it flew away was funnier to her than holding it! It wasn't long before the kite string was in a big knot! It would be great to be able to take Sophie away again this year, we just need to find the money to fund the night care. It was a lovely break, to see photos click here.


Huge smiles for the Gummy Bear in the Amusement Arcades!

Legoland
We took Sophie to Legoland with Auntie Becky which was a great day, we even managed to get Sophie on a little ride! Sophie enjoyed the 3D Bob the Builder show most of all and wriggled and smiled lots at things flying out of the screen towards her! To see photos from the day please click here.


With Auntie Becky and Thomas the Tank Engine at Legoland

Christmas
Sophie had a lovely Christmas. She managed to meet Father Christmas five times this year! What a lucky girl she was.

We had a brilliant time at the CHASE Winter Wonderland day where we got to meet the ‘proper’ Father Christmas and Frosty the Snowman and see the CHASE garden all covered in snow!


Sophie at CHASE with a very realistic Santa!

Sophie’s Nanny Lynn and Grandad Dave visited us a couple of times over Christmas and New Year which Sophie enjoyed – especially when Grandad Dave turned himself into Father Christmas to deliver some presents!


Sophie gets a visit from a special Father Christmas - he looks a
little like Grandad Dave!

Sophie had some lovely switch toys for Christmas which Daddy switch adapted so she could play with them herself, these included a singing / dancing Bob the Builder, a penguin run and a dog that moves and barks. She also has a Thomas the tank engine train set which she enjoyed watching – it just needs to be adapted so she can do it herself! She had lots and lots of other lovely presents - a huge thank you to all our friends and family for them all!

Communication
Sophie’s communication is coming on in leaps and bounds – we now find that she is really wanting to talk and make noises and she is so happy when she is able to be vocal. This is usually at bedtime when we listen to her happily ‘singing’ away for a hour or so before going to sleep!

Sophie can now nod and shake her head for yes and no and use eye pointing for things she wants – usually the DVDs on her bedroom shelf! We always let her choose which DVD she wants to watch and her current favourite is 'Teletubbies'. She cleverly always throws the DVDs she isn't watching on the floor and holds onto the one she is!

Sophie is using switches really well, for toys and also to play on the computer, she enjoys her Bob the Builder game and she loves 'you tube'. Sophie really loves nursery rhymes and has a musical Tweenies book which she LOVES! She insists that everyone joins in singing the songs in it and so on a Sunday night when Nanny Julia and Grandad Frank visit all you can hear is everyone singing ‘I Hear Thunder’ and ‘Oh Dear, What can the Matter Be' over and over again!!’


Sophie loves it when everyone sings Tweenies songs!