Ella has started an AMAZING feeding clinic. The program is called STEPS and it's hosted by the Callier Center in Dallas. It's 16 weeks long and requires an hour and a half every Friday. It's set up great and I've learned as much as Ella has, maybe more. For the first 30 minutes we work on Ella's oral motor functions...just stretching out her cheeks, her lips, give her awareness of the parts of her mouth and waking up her tongue. This just gives the kids a chance to really use their mouths without having to work on the food and swallowing aspect of eating. Macy, Ella's therapist (seen here), loves that she can get in E's mouth without any problem 
. Most kids want NO ONE touching inside their mouths and Ella loves it! The next 30 minutes we go separate directions where I learn more about feeding and oral motor issues that may or may not effect Ella (a lot of good information to use with Will as well) and Ella goes with Macy and they work on core strength (since it's so key to Ella eating more safely). The last 30 minutes of the session we work all together to feed Ella new things she has never eaten before...it's SO fun and SOOOO nerve wracking. The first time we gave Ella a spoon full of Spaghetti-O's I held my breath. Ella has gotten cleared to eat so many new and "normal" foods at the house that it changes so much about our day and eating. I still get stuck in a rut at the house and find myself going back to the things that are easy and safe, but this has pushed us so far in the last few months and I can't wait to give you all our "graduation" report!!
. Most kids want NO ONE touching inside their mouths and Ella loves it! The next 30 minutes we go separate directions where I learn more about feeding and oral motor issues that may or may not effect Ella (a lot of good information to use with Will as well) and Ella goes with Macy and they work on core strength (since it's so key to Ella eating more safely). The last 30 minutes of the session we work all together to feed Ella new things she has never eaten before...it's SO fun and SOOOO nerve wracking. The first time we gave Ella a spoon full of Spaghetti-O's I held my breath. Ella has gotten cleared to eat so many new and "normal" foods at the house that it changes so much about our day and eating. I still get stuck in a rut at the house and find myself going back to the things that are easy and safe, but this has pushed us so far in the last few months and I can't wait to give you all our "graduation" report!!