Toni y Jose Luis

So, here is another blog about some great kids. These two are brothers, 3 and 4 years old. And absolutely adorable. I have them every day in speech and they have both come such a long way. It's suspected that they have a phonological disorder.

Anyway, they are wonderful. Both are incredibly affectionate. They often jump up to give hugs and kisses. Jose also loves to pretend to be a chucho (which is the Guatemalan word for perro: dog), and it's hilarious. We'll be working and the next thing I know, he's crawling on the floor and barking. Jose is almost always happy and has a great temperament.

Toni is more moody, and also incredibly smart. He also enjoys pretending to a chucho, and helping teach his brother how to speak. Tuesday, Regine (occupational therapist) and I took Toni and Jose to another speech pathologist in Antigua. (When I leave, there isn't another SLP coming to NPH, so luckily they can continue with this woman because their godparents are paying!) Before we left, it was raining, and they were saying "agua"; but Jose pronounced it "guagua". Toni was in his face teaching him how to say it correctly. So cute.

We went to the speech intervention, which went really well. After that we had an hour to kill before the transport could pick us up. So, we took the kids to McDonald's. Bought them happy meals - and then took them to the Play Place. Definitely the best part of my week.

When the saw where we were walking, they both started screaming and jumping up and down with excitement. It made me so happy. And the play place was big enough for me to go in there with them (which I really wanted to do, haha). That was so much fun.

At one point, Toni and Jose ran up to a table of random strangers like they were going to take their food!! "NOOO!!!!!!" I screamed, feeling like an embarassed parent - very strange feeling to have; clearly I am not a parent, nor ready to be one.

Although, it's good that NPH has a no adoption policy - otherwise I'd want to bring these two home with me. (But on second thought, they're so adorable that someone would've probably beaten me to it.)

Then the driver came to pick us up. Regine wanted to stay in Antigua, so the boys both sat on my lap in the van. They kept giving me kisses and Toni wrapped his hand in mine. Eventually, they fell asleep resting on each other's heads.

I love them so much! It's going to be really difficult to leave them next month.