O Canada and Oh, Camp!

Happy birthday, Canada!

Ellie was a little confused yesterday when we started singing the "Happy Birthday Song" to Canada.  She said, "No, only PEOPLE have birthdays!"  It was a perfect opportunity for me, her political scientist mom, to give Ellie a little civics/history/geography lesson!

 

 Showing off her Canada Day t-shirt (is it unreal-cute or what?!)

'Course, continuing her life theme, there was no rest for Miss Jelly B'Ellie on Canada's Birthday...The little Canuck had a fun, hard-working day at The Movement Centre, where she's attending summer "camp" for the month of July.  The good thing is that Ellie LURVES it there!  We had today off (in order to make a long weekend out of the Canada Day holiday) and she was upset that she wasn't able to see her friends.  I'm so thankful for that!  It tears up my mama heart to force Ellie into therapy.  Thank goodness for people like her conductors and therapists and helpers who have devoted their lives to making hard work FUN!

Working hard, walking with her canes while at camp.  (Sorry the picture quality is suspect, but I tried to sneak a shot without Ellie seeing me...)

Spending Canada Day at camp!

Our goals for camp this year are:

*Ellie will be able to get into and out of her walker all by herself.
*Ellie will be able to get on and off the potty by herself or with no lifting from her care-giver.
*Ellie will be able to use scissors with some accuracy.
*Ellie will be able to use utensils in a "less messy" way while eating.

The theme for all these goals, of course, is "kindergarten readiness" (gulp)!  My hope is that Ellie's school aide will be able to get through the afternoon without lifting her AT ALL.  Obviously, the less lifting the aide does, the less lifting I'LL have to do at home too!  Our ultimate goal is for Ellie to be as independent as possible, which means that she'll have to learn how to use her body to do these simple "life tasks" on her own.  I truly believe it's an attainable goal; especially since ELLIE desires independence for herself too.

I'll keep you posted as to the status of these goals....hopefully, along with lots of PICTURES!