Happy Halloween and More...

The Three Little Princesses for Halloween

Maria, Ariana, Chio, cousin Elyn

Hat Day

Our new Bunkbeds (changing table that the kids LOVE playing on)

We had a fun visit from our friends Luis (in the pic) and German Rojas de Panama

Story time with Daddy

Life is good. The girls have all settled in well and seem much more secure and confident. They seem to be fighting less, although I think that has alot to do with Rocio being in school now. Maria and Ariana play better together when it is just the two of them. Maria feels the need to protect Rocio from Ariana when they are all together, even though Rocio is learning to defend herself pretty well on her own. Rocio is at the deaf pre-school 4 times a week and even though school is only four hours long, she has an hour and 15 minute ride each way, so she´s gone 6 and a half hours. It´s weird having her gone so long, but it is also nice to have a calmer home environment.

Rocio

Hmmm...I don´t think sponge rollers are the way to go for Chio

Rocio is learning sign language well. She is such a happier child now that she can express herself. Most of her behavioral problems she had before have resolved themselves with communication. It was so frustrating before, for me, but even more so for her when we couldn´t communicate well. She loves school and the therapies they do with her there. She is scheduled to have the cochlear implant surgery in Feburary. I wish it could be earlier, but the insurance requires that she use the hearing aids for six months, even though she recieves no benefit from them. But in the meantime, we are continuing speach therapy and signing.

Maria

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARIA 3 Yrs Old on Sept 30th

Maria is a sweetheart. She is still very motherly to everyone around including to me. She is totally fluent in Spanish and English now, and as fluent as I am in Sign Language. She´s learning her alphabet and numbers in all three languages too. She´s a smarty! Everytime I dress her to go out, she always says, I so cute mom! I so pretty! She´s definately not lacking confidence. She also helps me dress when I am trying on outfits, ¨That cute mom... that not cute... ew, no mom, you not pretty in that¨. She seems to have a good sense of style.

Ariana´s true colors ;)

Princess Ari, not just on Halloween

Ariana. Whew, Ariana is a handful. An adorable one though. She is so curious, loves to tease and is becoming very independent. Her favorite phrase is the two year old classic, ¨I do it¨. She is talking a TON, already forming sentences. She repeats everything that Maria says, and most of what I say. Sometimes I don´t understand what she is saying, but she uses sign language for almost everything also, so it helps me know exactly what she is asking for. Her advances in communication is also helping with her tantrums, but she is still quite dramatic, and uses the other two year old classic of throwing herself on the floor kicking and screaming if I tell her no. Or she stick her finger out at me and say no back. How do you unspoil a spoiled terrible twoer? It´s a good thing she is so irresistable and adorable.

Overall, we are all happy and healthy!