Music to the Ears

Hi Dad,

Today Paul came and installed the new oven. He let me listen to his headphones which have music coming out of them. I was very sleepy at school because of the anaesthetic from yesterday.

Eleanor came to my school with mum so that she knows where to come when you are both away. I was very excited to see her there.

I did the sign for 'toilet' today when I was on the toilet. Mum was very excited and gave me a sticker for being a good girl.

love Rosie XXXX

Hearing Test at the Hospital

dear Morgan,

Today mum took me to the hospital for a hearing test. I had to go under full anaesthetic. My hearing is fine but I feel pretty doped up and a bit pissed off this afternoon. Guess this is the price you pay for not always paying attention to your parents.

We get to do trampolining at school and at my friend, Holly's place. I still love being bounced like at your place.

When are you coming over here again?

love Rosiepo XX

Artistic Aspirations

Hi Dad,

The video of my third birthday is on the TV. You let me go on a merry go round because I wasn't having those big seizures anymore. I pushed Julian away when he tried to give me a present. I wouldn't do that now. I still love swimming as much as I did then with blowing bubbles and playing in the toddlers pool. I still love it when Bill plays ukelele.

I just started using chalk on the board. Not quite sure what to do yet.

Lots of love Rosie XX

Afternoon Tea in the Box

Hi dad,

Are you sleeping after flying so far away? I be it is very very hot outside.

Mum let me have afternoon tea in the box. This morning I was taken to Tiny Town and played in the Little Tykes cars. However I am getting more fussy and only want to play in the purple ones. I don't know why. After Tiny Town, Holly came to play. We watched a music video but I was so tired I fell asleep and left Briony and mum to play with Holly. When I woke up we went to the car wash. I kept signing more but the car wash stopped.

Love Rosie.

Row Boat

dear Marsha,

Did you know I have started school? Mum and Dad still remember when I arrived in Paris and George and you brought us over a big chicken dinner. It was so generous and thoughtful. My school is very small and just for children with disabilities. There is a taxi service to the school but at the moment mum and dad are driving me there and picking me up.

This photo is at a city park. There has been a lot of bad weather but this day was beautiful and I was taken here after school. Love Rosie XX

Having a Haircut

dear Diane,

Thankyou for the haircut. My fringe was getting too long. I don't remember but mum and dad say that when I first came to see you, it took three people to hold on to me. Now I am staunch and just sit. Resistance is useless.

Today when I arrived at school it was time for fitness in the playground. I had my goggles at school today as we are studying the letter 'g' and I was allowed to wear them all day. At one stage I tried wearing goggles and glasses at the same time. I had to hold my head very very still so they wouldn't fall off.

love

Rosie XX

Music Therapy

Hi Sabian,

This is my music therapist. Her name is Carolyn. She comes twice a week to my home and teaches me basic communication skills like taking turns, choosing songs using photos, and using appropriate actions, like clapping hands. She also lets me play her guitar and xylophone.

Did you know I am at school now. I go to a really great school. There are only 6 kids in my class and we do lots of different things like trampoline, trike riding, playdoh and computer games. Love Rosie

Riding a trike

Dear Godmother,

I am glad you are coming to see me soon. I was allowed to wear the jacket you knitted me to school today and everyone thinks it is gorgeous. I went to swimming lesson with Eleanor and am improving on my kicking. This is the bike I can ride for at least 3 metres.

Today at school we did stretching exercises in the spa and I think that helped with the swimming and my riding my swing car this evening.

My niece came to dinner. She is older than me but she doesn't like curry food.

Love Rosie

Cool Playground

Dear Grandma,

It is the start of my second week at school. Carolyn came to school this afternoon so I could show the work we are doing in music therapy. I had to come in from the playground and was a little distracted, however I think we did fine. I am going to learn the PECs system and also some signs so that I can communicate with people.

How is Robbie? I don't have a photo of him. Thankyou for having me to stay,

love Rosie

Music Box

Dear Jamie,

Yesterday my mother bought the latest Harry Potter. She spent all day in bed today reading it. Luckily Dad was here to look after me. We went to visit my uncle's place and in the afternoon Briony came and played with me. She had a hard job understanding what I wanted from the freezer. I want Ice and I also want a glass to put my icecube in. It is just a whim of mine.

As a special treat I am allowed to play my music box. If you see Beata then show her this. She gave me this music box from Parc Asterix 3 years ago.

Love

Rosie

Yasmine came to play

dear Yasmine,

Thankyou for visiting me this morning. I miss you. I hope you come to my school for morning tea when we are allowed to invite a special person. After you left Holly come over to play and Eleanor came also. We played in the big box that the dishwasher arrived in and we had a teddy bears picnic on the deck. Afterwards we went to the park and played on the swing car. Love Rosiepo XX

Pumpkin Patch

Dear Julian,

Mum took me to the pumpkin patch sale yesterday and we chose this sweater. I also chose lots of other things off the racks but as I started to take them to the counter, mum would just take them off me and hang them up again.

I am sitting on top of the new oven. The builder is coming next week to install it.

Did your dad tell you that I go to school now. It is a very small school with only 30 students but with lots of teachers and others helping out. I am learning to ride a trike. It is one where your feet can be strapped in.

Come and visit again soon, love Rosie

Weighing In

Dear Jeanette,

I am sorry I had to go to bed so soon after you arrived for dinner tonight. I could smell the curries that mum was cooking today for you all to eat. Dad tried to feed me the chicken with peri sauce. I mean, what were they thinking? That a five year old would eat food laced with chilli!

I love school. Today there was assembly and I was introduced to the everybody. Mum and Dad came and met the team that will be teaching me. It is hard to believe but they have said that socialisation is the number one goal. I think I am very socialised- it is a little insulting. Love Rosiepo. XX

Sparklers

Dear Fatima, Today was my third day at school. A music man came and had drums and let me play piano. The speech therapist thinks I might be able to learn PECS. This is a form of communication where you exchange pictures for what you want. I think I can probably learn this. This morning I managed to ride the special bike at school for 3 metres. After school I went to Holly's and her mum had sparklers which she lit and then we sang twinkle twinkle little star. They were very cool. Are your school exams going well? Love Rosie XX

School time

Hi,
Today was my second day at school. I didn't look back as mum left. I love it. My teacher reads to me. There is a touchscreen to play with. Other children surround me and there are many older people to play with as well. When mum came to collect me, I was busy in a staff meeting, drinking my water as I wandered around the room pontificating. I really didn't notice her. Then it was on to swimming lesson which Eleanor took me to. All and all a very busy day as I was up since 5.30am. Love Rosie XXXX

p.s. the photo was taken in the small plane we travelled in.

First Day at School

Hi,

Today I went to school. I got up at my grandparents place, got on a plane and arrived at school late morning. I loved it. In my room there are only maybe 5 kids. When I got there I went straight to the keyboard and started playing. My teacher thought I was so settled I was allowed to go to the big primary school to play outdoors in the afternoon. When mum and dad arrived to collect me I didn't even want to leave as my teacher was playing with me and it was too much fun. Lots of Love Rosie

Hot Rod Girl

Dear Max,

Thankyou for letting me ride in your car. It was so exciting. This morning I went up to the old mine and saw the incline steep off the hill. I had lots of rides on grandma's trolley she uses for gardening. I also visited Aunty Jenny and played piano. But I must say that the most fun was riding in your car. Love Rosie

Hector Pottery

dear Alison,
Today we took a drive up the coast to Hector Pottery. The artist showed us his paintings and talked about where his inspiration comes from. Mum bought lots of pieces for gifts. There was the biggest ginger cat in the world there. In the morning I walked up town for coffee past the lagoon and all the fishing boats. I had another ride on the duck and helped grandad in the shop. Are you still coming to visit in September? Love Rosiepo

Daddy Arrives

Hi Fairy Godmother,
Daddy arrived this evening on the small plane that we came on two days ago. It was exciting to see him come off the plane. Today I walked all the way up town to Grandad's shop, though I had to have lots of rests. I also went for coffee with mum's friends, Fiona and Shelley and I sat at the table with Fiona's son's friends and ate chips with them. I am enjoying playing with Mr Potato. Love Rosiepo

Winter on the West Coast

Hi dad,
I am glad you are back in the country and flying down here tomorrow. The skies are blue, air crisp and sun is shining. I walked heaps to visit mum's friend's home, though I had to be carried for some of the way. I just got tired. I played with Robbie. He likes me to drop a stick and then he picks it up. He never gets sick of doing this. Lots of love Rosie XX

Flying in a Small Plane

Dear Helene,

Remember a year ago when you flew in that very small plane with my dad. This afternoon I flew in it to see my Grandma and Grandad. There were only seats for seven passengers and I was strapped in to my car seat. This let me see out the window and see the mountains covered in snow and the coastline with the sun setting over the sea. It was very bumpy on takeoff but I thought this very exciting. The flight took an hour and luckily mum had bought sandwiches and museli bars for me to eat which did slow me down a little. I was sitting in the emergency seat and managed to identify the lever that I would need to pull. I wanted to have a practice but mum wouldn't let me. In fact she got quite nervous and wouldn't let me turn on the lights or get leverage of the seat in front of me when I wanted to get up and look around. Love Rosie XX

Thankyou Jenny

Dear Aunty Jenny,

Thankyou for the present that arrived in the mail today. Eleanor put the hairclips in my hair and I helped use the brush to brush my doll's hair.

Eleanor looked after me all day. We went swimming. She put me in the large cold pool with arm bands on so that I would kick but it was a bit too cold today. We had fun in the warm pool and then afterwards had baked beans for lunch at her home.

This afternoon was music therapy again and it was lots of fun because Gael and Eleanor were there are well as mummy and Carolyn. We were showing Gael all the things Carolyn had taught me; like taking turns, strumming guitar, using shakers, exchanging photos in return for particular songs. Tomorrow we are coming on a small plane to come and visit you. Love Rosie XXX

Tenika came to Music Therapy

Hi Dad,

Today Tenika came to music therapy and I let her have turns on the guitar and with the xylophone. I also used a washboard for the first time that I got for my birthday last year. I was able to use both hands. I spent the day with Tenika and Tonya at their place but we couldn't go to the beach as it is very very wet outside. I am glad you are coming home soon. Lots of love Rosie XX

Busy Baking

Dear Georgie,

Today another cousin, Christian, came to visit. Grandma is looking after him for the week while his dad is away. He made muffins and iced them with fairy sparkles. Then he tried out Dad's hand lawnmower and got so enthusiastic that he mowed the whole lawn. He let me have his drink can when he had finished drinking it.

The hat on my head is my frog hat. Remember when you came to visit? I wore it in music therapy and we sang 'Garumph goes the little green frog'. I now have a crab hat and a flamingo hat as well.

love

Rosie

Happy Birthday Mimsi

Hi, I hope you have a fun day and get lots of nice presents. These balloons are leftover from my 5th birthday party. My dad is coming to stay at your home on Sunday and Monday. He is working with your dad. They have been travelling together. I miss my dad when he is away. You must miss your dad too. Did you know that it is Winter at my home now? There is lots of rain and cold winds that come from Antartica. Inside our house is warm, most of the time. Lots of hugs, Rosie XX

Amber

Dear Amber,
When I was born mum posted out many photos. You gathered them up from around your home and made a collage which even five years later was hanging in your bedroom. Today would have been your 19th birthday. It has been five weeks since your funeral and we remember you always.

Thankyou for playing music with me, love you, Rosiepo.

Swing Bike

Hi Fairy Godmother,
Look at my swing bike. It goes very fast down the sloping footpath at the park. Eleanor fits on it with me and then we go super fast. I use it more like a ride on.
Today I went to Holly's birthday party. It was at the museum in the story space. There were lots of other children. I couldn't sit still for the story but there were lots of toys to play with and a magic bridge to climb over. After the party we went to see the ducks- heaps of ducks. I wanted to get in and swim with them but mum wouldn't let me.

Lots of love Rosie

Doodle board

dear Jude,

Thankyou for the doodle board you gave me a long time ago. It has taken a couple of years but in the past few days I have learned to use the lever to clean off the board and the magnets to make marks which I then clean off again. It is fun specially in the very early morning.

Today I also made my first sign. It was the sign for 'finish'. I haven't got the thumb action going right yet but I can do a clenched fist with the wrist action. Mum and Eleanor were very excited. So I thought I would follow this up with rolling playdoh... it was a good day, love Rosiepo

End of an Era

Hi,

I know mummy and daddy gave you chocolates but that is not enough to really say thankyou for all the support you have them both. Even if working with me has been extremely easy, I know that my parents can be quite intense. I shall miss the watercooler, handbasins in rooms, venetian blinds and your diaries which I have had such good access to. But I will also miss the complete attention you gave me which helped me to increase my attention and the guidance that has helped me use my hands and communicate a little. I hope in future you can come to my new school and that you stay in touch. Lots of love Rosie.

p.s. sorry mummy trashed the painting- she has no idea.

Spaceman

Hi Jamie, How is Fluffy? Or did you discard him when you grew up? Is he now lying in a corner of your bedroom unwanted and very sad? Happy birthday.

This spaceman is at a supermarket we go to- the one with the mango jelly that I love. Dad let me have 4 rides in a row last time we went. I got angry when mum and dad came and carried me to the car and protested for half the trip home. It is my first big protest I have made in my 5 years and they didn't even turn the car around. Love Rosie