Ella in school

I've had a few people lately ask what kind of school Ella goes to and what she does there. Ella goes to Spokane Guilds' School and Neuromusclar Center, and we love it, it is one of the main reasons that we decided to move to Spokane. It is for children birth to three, and they see kids with a wide range of disabilities. Ella goes 2 days a week for 2 hours each day. She is in a toddler group and is doing really well. There are 6 kids in her class, including recently her boyfriend Riley! Watching over the 6 kiddos are 5 adults, a special education teacher, a physical therapist, an occupational therapist, a speech therapist and an aide, and they are so wonderful! Her day goes like this, when we arrive in her classroom she has to go over to the circle and find her picture and sit down (she was just moved to sitting on a round bolster so that she really has to practice her balance the whole time and does great!). During circle they sing songs, with movements of course, then they get stamps which Ella loves, then head off to their various therapies. On Wednesdays Ella has 45 minutes of physical therapy and 15 minutes of speech therapy, between those times she "plays" with the special education teacher. During the last 20 minutes they eat lunch together as a group, which is so funny to watch, so that they can practice using their utensils and drinking from a cup, wash hands then go home. On Fridays Ella has 45 minutes of occupational therapy and 15 of speech and the rest is the same. Ella has been going to this school for 6 months now and I don't even know where to begin on all that she has learned, she did have her OT evaluation today so I'll be sure to post the results of that when I get them. As a side note let me warn you that I'm sure I will not be happy about the results, I hate evaluations they just bring you back to reality... Anyhow, with that here are some pics.

Getting her stamp

Brushing her skin to wake

up her muscles!

Swinging, working on her

core strength

Climbing the ramp

Reaching and getting up on

her toes

Working on the

scooter board

Going for a ride

Putting up stickers, while

still on the scooter

"I've had enough" I took this

right before she did the turtle

when she is done she flips herself

on to her back and yells.

Playing with bubbles during

speech therapy

Climbing the stairs to wash

So big!

These my friend Mary (Riley's mom) took today, not sure why I can't get them bigger.

circle time

Riley dancing!

Crawling through the tunnel

Ella's favorite time, lunch time!!