Time

At bedtime last night:

Me: Adam, speed it up - put the toys away so you can get into bed.
Adam: Cleaning up takes some time. You can't speed up time Mom.

Read more!

To Have Gluten Or Not, That Is The Question

A little more than 2 years ago we put Adam on the Gluten Free Casein Free (GFCF)diet. He was allowed no gluten (wheat, barely, rye) or dairy. None. Zip. Luckily we live in an area where finding alternative foods was easy. We soon found there really was nothing he couldn't have - just had to be a GFCF version.

We did this because in the Autism Community there is a lot of talk of improvement with this diet. My thought was hey - I'm not putting something in him, so it can't hurt. And it didn't. And we noticed improvements. Within 3 weeks. Small things - like he stopped chewing on his shirts. He sat when doing classwork. He reduced his random noises big time. He reduced his focus/preoccupation on nontraditional/developmental appropriate objects. He started asking for playdates. And he knew every one's name in his class for the first time. Little things that impeded his communication, social development and behavior faded away. His teacher noticed a difference too. There were a few days I'd give him something he shouldn't have had and not told his teacher. Sure enough those days she came by my room to let me know he had been 'off' that day.

As much as we believed the diet was leading to this significant and positive outcomes, I always questioned it. I mean really. You take out gluten and casein and autism 'symptoms' go away? And why?

The rational behind the diet is Leaky Gut Syndrome. Basically it means that your stomach has holes, and that because of the holes, nutrients - the protein from gluten and casein - leak into the bloodstream when they shouldn't. This then causes an opiate effect on the person. There are studies that show this with mice. Lots of folks think its the vaccinations that are tearing up the insides of these kids stomachs. I remembered that Adam had 2 of 3 shots of a Rotovirus vaccination that was recalled before he got the 3rd one due to stomach obtrusion in some kids. He also had Cdiff when he was 6 months and on his first round of antibiotics.

So it made sense that his stomach was torn up and needed healing. But I always thought, if gluten and casein proteins go through the holes, wouldn't other stuff and wouldn't that also have some kind of effect? Yet, on the other hand, he was doing well. Really, really well. And we hadn't changed anything else medication, educationally or behaviorally.

Every 6 months we'd let him cheat to see how he reacted. And within 45 min his ears were bright red, and he was acted more 'autistic' for the next day or so. But the last cheat, last spring, the ears were only red for 30 min and the behavior effects only lasted about 2 hours. Yea, I noticed something, but not much different than when a kid goes to a birthday party and has a lot of sugar.

Over the summer we decided to do some medical investigation. We took him to a Ped Gast who we liked immediately. He didn't dispute that kids on the spectrum often have stomach/bowel issues. But he didn't know why either. The scientific evidence just simply isn't there (yet). With the testing we found out he had the gene for Celiacs. But so do a lot of people. The only true way to find out if he had Celiacs would be to dump gluten in him, wait for a reaction and scope him. Something we really aren't willing to put him through.

But on the other hand, I really (and Adam) wanted to know if he would always have to be on this diet. So we let him having dairy - slowly at first. Maybe it was Celiacs and dairy would b fine. There were no negative reactions. He stayed the same behaviorally. So maybe it was just the gluten I thought. Maybe he really does have Celiacs, and because of the Aspergers, it exhibits a little different behaviorally than in others.

Before Christmas we were out of town at a holiday party. I forgot to pack breakfast for him. So he had regular cereal at our friends house. I didn't tell hubby because I knew I would be looking for a reaction, but he didn't know he was supposed to be. And there was no reaction. Neither of us noticed anything. (and yes I did tell him later that day).

So, we started letting him have gluten. Really slowly. Like cereals that only had a trace of it. Then a small portion of something gluten based. And we still haven't seen a reaction.

So. Now I'm wondering. Did he have Leaky Gut Syndrome and it has healed (websites report it takes about 2 years to heal). Did I fall victim to a fad diet? Am I wishfully thinking that all is fine now? Or, over the next few months as the gluten continues to pass through his stomach will we start seeing regression in his behavior and/or bowels.

I know that while he was on it he made significant progress in so many areas that were deficits due to Aspergers. I don't know if it was because of the diet. And I don't know what the future has in store for his eating.

Right now he is on a point system at school. He's been having problems focusing. I'm not attributing it to dairy. I'm attributing it to the fact that this year he is one of 32 in a trailer. His teacher has little experience with Aspergers. He was an organizational mess, not completing assignments and classwork, and a drop in his grades. He puzzled his teacher because when she asked him something he always knew the answer. His pretest scores on district tests aimed at the entire year of curriculum were a 97. On topics he hadn't been taught yet. So why did he have a few C's? So we put him on a point system more so I knew SHE was monitoring him more. She doesn't know that he is having gluten right now. We've been doing the point system for the 3 weeks before break. I'm really curious what this and next weeks points are going to look like.

Read more!

Going Pink

One of my New Year's resolutions it to help others more. Whether it's holding a door for a stranger behind me, going greener to help us all live in our environment or helping a cause that is important to my friends and myself.

Yesterday we decided that the vacuum cleaner we had died. We could no longer be in denial. It was dead. It was time for a new one. So off to Target I went.

I'm not really picky about vacuum cleaners. This time I ended up with a Dyson. And it's pink. It's pink because Dyson is contributing a portion of the sales to help fight Breast Cancer. And you know what? I feel like I've already made a difference this year. A small difference, but a difference none the least.

And I chose to go pink because of my friend WhyMommy and all the great stuff she's doing to raise awareness. I don't like to vacuum. Who does really?!? But now when I am vacuuming with my pink vacuum I am hopeful that someone else is also able to vacuum because they too are a survivor thanks to awareness and research. And the fact that someone else IS vacuuming because they are survivor is something to be very thankful for. Because if they are vacuuming, they are also living.

Read more!

The Mommy Blogger Who Cried Wolf

Remember the story of the little boy who cried wolf? Kept saying there was a wolf, the village got all scared and there was no wolf. Rinse. Repeat. Several times. And then when there really was a wolf no one believed him?

Since I've gone back to work, on top of taking a grad class and being a Mommy and Wife, blogging has gone out the window. But I kept promising I'd come back. Rinse. Repeat. And I don't. I'm beginning to feel like the Mommy Blogger Who Cried Wolf. And that when I actually post some Real Content no one will be here to believe me.

So - here goes some Real Content. And yes, it's New Years Eve and here I am blogging. But that's because our New Years Eve event got cancelled. Our neighborhood has a count down to 8:15pm each New Years Eve. Roasting hot dogs and marshmallows on the fire pit in the cul-de-sac. Kids running around with glow sticks and silly string. And at 8:14pm the countdown to 8:15 begins. (this allows little ones to go to bed having participated in a modified count down and/or parents to head out to the adult parties).

But OhMyGod! it's cold out. And OhMyGod! it's windy out. So it was cancelled. Which I was actually quite pleased about.

So, me and my warm hot chocolate with butterscotch schnapps are inside the house chilling in front of the TV with Adam who is drinking his hot chocolate. And we're getting ready to watch Stonehenge on the Smithsonian channel.

Yea, we're kinda geeky like that sometimes.

Read more!

And I'm Back!!

I'm back!! My class is now finished and wow - this weekend has gone by sooo slow!! It's amazing how much time that class sucked up! Loved it. Learned so much. And best of all, I'm really able to apply the behavior stuff to my job (and Adam). I really got something out of the class personally.



So, watch out. Now that I'm back I'm also going to have time posting all that exciting stuff going on in my life, just as it is!

Read more!

Mommy's High Heel Shoes

I fellow co-writer of the SV Mom's Group has written a delightful children's book. Kristie offered me a copy to review.

I didn't read this to Adam, it just wasn't quite his type of book. BUT, my 2 1/2 year old niece - totally perfect for her! Especially since she just had a new sister arrive at her house and her Mom is getting ready to go back to work full time. And especially because ever since she could crawl she has a constant obsession for getting into any adult female shoe, especially work shoes! I couldn't have asked for a better book to read to my niece.

Although the story itself was a little above her head, the pictures are very engaging. In the story Mommy leaves to go to work. Her young daughter has fun staying behind playing with Mom's shoes. My nieces favorite part was finding the cupcake, ladybug and heart that are hidden on each page. She also loved all the different types of shoes.

My sister reports it has become one of her favorite books to look through. I know in the next few months she'll be able to grasp the story plot more and more, and each reading will engage her more and more in different ways.

Kristie Finnan also has a blog and website related to the book. Be sure to check out the shop to buy accessories to the book!

And Kristie - my sister and I both thank you for this children's book. We can't wait to see your next one!!

Cross posted to Yup - Another Review Blog.

Read more!

Advice please?

OK. Seriously. How do people work and find time to do everything else and then time to blog? I'm swamped over here! But it's taking every hour of each day to stay afloat and still not leaving enough time in the day for fun stuff (like blogging!).
So, seriously - HOW do you people maintain blogs when you work full time on top of being a mommy?

Read more!