Thoughtful House

*This is after the first day of school. Exhausted is an understatement.

Bubba's first week of school ended with a quick overnight stay in Austin. He had a long week, so he didn't mind an early end to the school day on Thursday or missing Friday. I picked up Bubba on Thursday, swung by for Evander, and headed to Austin.

I found the Thoughtful House Clinic while searching for "answers" on Google. I have become a professional Googler since receiving our diagnosis, so I knew there had to be a place that specialized in defeating autism. The Thoughtful House clinic is a non-profit clinic in Austin that treats children on the autism spectrum. Their goal, along with many other DAN! (Defeat Autism Now!) Doctors, is to find the chronic issues that are affecting children on the spectrum and treat them via diet, supplements, therapies, etc.

We arrived at 10:00 am and waited for 15 minutes before the doctor greeted us in the lobby. We spent two hours with this "autism specialist" (I will call him) and were inundated with information. We discussed everything from medical history to the inner workings of Bubba's mitochondria (which is, of course, out of whack). We found out that Bubba's cells are unable to produce appropriate amounts of energy because of toxin build-up (from things like mercury). We also found out that Bubba's gut contains NO good bacteria, but it is growing E Coli, staph, and yeast (all of which are obviously not good). We learned that Bubba is unable to digest certain acids and foods properly, leaving him with major vitamin deficits. If I were to type all that we learned, I would be here for a while.

The hope is, once we start to address these issues, we will see even more improvement in Bubba. We have a "course of action" now; the first step being to treat and heal his gut. Then we will begin introducing supplements which will help to build up his system. We will start treatment on Tuesday and will let you know how it goes. We were told that we should have a pretty horrible 3-4 days after beginning treatment because his body will be going through a "die-off" period (so we may see major regression, aggression, and upset stomach). I will keep you posted.

Thing 1 and Thing 2

We have officially received two opinions from two separate neurosurgeons in two separate towns. Here's the lowdown:
We saw Thing 1 on Monday at Children's Hospital in Dallas. After waiting 1 1/2 hours for him to even show up to the office, in a pediatric waiting room that did not allow food or drink, we saw him. Now, if I were to see this man in a dark alley, I would probably run the other way (even if he were wearing the same wrinkly scrubs). His hair was frightful, as if he had just woken up, towel dried his thinning wavy hair, and forgot to brush it. He had huge glasses with thick black rims that he nervously adjusted as he spoke to us, and barely looked at the Baby before rendering an opinion.
His opinion was that while he is "not going to diagnosis her with hydrocephalus" he "is not going to rule it out" (because that makes total sense). He diagnosed her with ventriculomegalie (large ventricles). He wants to see her in 3 months and do an MRI at that point.
Now, I obviously do not have a medical degree and do not have the expertise that others do, but I do have my common sense and a mother's intuition. The last of which is what prevented me from feeling better after Thing 1's non-diagnosis diagnosis.
We saw Thing 2 today at Cook Children's Hospital in Fort Worth and simply waiting was a much more pleasurable experience. The staff was friendly, and Baby ate a snack while we waited (although the wait was only 15 minutes). The nurse came in before Thing 2 (yes...Thing 1 had no nurse, just him, rushing in) to go over our information and check height, weight, and head circumference (yes...Thing 1 didn't check any of these things). When the doctor arrived, he was friendly, clean, and his hair was nice. I believe he had even brushed his teeth for us, which is always a nice touch. He shook my hand and my dad's (Grandaddy went with us today), then turned his attention to the Baby. His "bedside manner" with her was so much more gentle than Thing 1, and he knew exactly how to get her to cooperate without screaming. He examined her VERY thoroughly, looked at all the information we had given and rendered an opinion.
His opinion was that he also does not believe she has hydrocephalus, but he wants to do an MRI to be certain there is no pressure building up in the enlarged ventricles. We have an MRI scheduled for October and will go from there. Assuming nothing is wrong, he said we will probably have to have a small-scale MRI every 6 months to 1 year to ensure that everything is working as it should.
This was a huge relief to me. I just felt better that he was actually examining her and looking at her entire history. I also would rather know there is no issue, instead of worrying that one could arise at any moment. In the mean time, both doctors have told us to watch for the danger signs of hydrocephalus and rush to the ER if we notice them.
Thanks to everyone who has called to check on us and been there to support us!! While this issue is not over, at least we have some peace of mind.

Suiting Up For Battle

I have noticed, over the past few months, that each time I tell someone Bubba is autistic, they put their sad face on and tell me how sorry they are. Then they tell me one of 2 things (and I am puzzled by both).
1. It will be ok. Last I checked, God is the only one who knows what the future holds.
2. Well...he doesn't look autistic. I am not sure that autism comes with a physical description, but if it does and we don't fit it, then please let me know how we can get this changed.
When we were told about Bubba's diagnosis, we didn't get the opportunity to break out the sad faces. I had to put my big girl panties on and suit up for battle, because we were (and are) going to fight this thing. If a child is diagnosed with cancer, the parents don't wait around to see what might happen. They attack, and that is just what we are doing...attacking.
Up to this point, we have made the whole family gluten-free casein-free, been in occupational therapy for 6 months, speech therapy for 2 months, begun Under the Umbrella (school for autistic children), had 2 nutrition consults, and go to Austin on Thursday to be examined by a doctor from Thoughtful House (a clinic dedicated to helping children on the autistic spectrum).
Through all of this we have seen Bubba begin to speak in sentences, answer questions appropriately, gain 4 pounds, and have appropriate emotional responses. It has really been amazing to watch his transformation. We are continuing to fight and look for new opportunities for Bubba. We are currently looking for a music therapist and are enrolling in gymnastics (good team-like individual sport where he can put his sensory needs to good use). Bubba also starts back to school on Monday.
Evander and I could not have gotten this far without the support of our family and friends. Our parents have stepped up in ways that no one can imagine and helped us with whatever we may need. Our other family members (sisters, brothers, in-laws, niece, and aunt) have been so supportive and caring. My friend, mama bird (this is what I will call her because she always checks up on me and her last name is a bird), is always there when I need to talk, and I know I can count on her to keep the Baby while I am off with Bubba. She has been very supportive and positive through this whole experience. My other good friend, Guat mama (also previous blog-hater and current house mover), is also always there to listen to me complain if we are having a bad day. She makes me feel better by making fun of a stranger who made a ridiculous comment or laughs when my sailor's mouth gets to out of control. This would be so much harder without all of you. We do not tell you enough but...Thank you!

My Baby

*The pics are of Baby and Bubba "helping" to cook dinner.

Thank you to everyone who has had our Baby in your thoughts and prayers over the last few days. While we are hoping nothing invasive has to be done, we are still unsure and appreciate everything you all are doing.

Tonight I got the Baby out of the luke-warm bath, wrapped her up tightly in her towel, and rushed her to the bed. The bed is her transitional spot, where she drinks her milk as I (or Evander) busily put on her tiny Hanes socks with the faded pink toes and the stained bottoms (because she always likes to walk outside as soon as she wakes in the morning), her "night-night diaper", and her jammies (which tonight happens to be a NEW exquisite purple Disney Princess nightgown). Then, as she always does, she said goodnight to Bubba, Belle, and her Mermaid movie on the mantle as I whisked her down the hallway and into her candy pink room. I tucked her tightly underneath her Mermaid blanket, kissed Lambie (who is really a baby doll), Cinderella, and finally Baby as I whispered, "Night-night! I love you!"

Up until her fall, every night has transpired in exactly this order, leaving nothing to the imagination and no room for spontaneity (thanks to her Bubba). And, every night up until her fall, she has peacefully drifted off to sleep. However, tonight, like the other three nights since her fall, she began to cry as I left the room. I hear her in the monitor crying, "Mommy! Mommy! Up please Mommy!" With Bubba, this is nothing unusual and easily ignored, but with the Baby, MY baby, it is not.

As thoughts of vomit and head swelling entered my mind, I managed to keep it together for 20 minutes before racing in to find her lying on her cotton pink sheet, just as I had left her, with the exception of big alligator tears streaming down her sweet chubby cheeks. She rested her head on her mattress and stopped crying as I stroked her head. As I sat with her in silence, listening to her every breath, wondering if I should even be touching her head, a tear slowly started to fall down my own face. At that very moment (as I was thinking Get It Together Mom), the Baby reached out her tiny little hand and tightly wrapped her fingers around my pinkie. She looked right into my eyes and smiled at me, as if to say, "Don't worry! I will be OK!"

If you know me at all, you know that I worry, and to say that I am worried is an understatement. I am worried about what is to come, and I am worried about everything that is happening now. I am even worried about making myself more worried. I know...it will be alright. I know...we will make it through, and yes, I know...I am strong, but none of those things matter when your Baby is sick.

No Rest For the Worried

Well...the old saying, "If it isn't one thing, it's another" rings true at the Gregory house. Just when we get things going in the right direction with one child, something happens with the other.
I still wasn't happy with the way the Baby was acting yesterday, so I took her to our pediatrician. The pediatrician also wasn't happy with her symptoms and thought she might have a concussion, so off we went to have a head CT. Between the two children, I have seen more scans, x-rays, and tests than I ever care to, but this wasn't that bad. I did have to restrain her and they did tape her head down, but it only lasted a few minutes. I tried singing and playing peek-a-boo, but that seemed to make her crying and moving worse. How are you supposed to keep a 17 month old from moving her head? For some reason I started barking like a dog, which she thought was hysterical and started barking back at me in between chuckles.
At 5:00 we got the call from our pediatrician with the results and I knew, when she said, "Your children always keep it interesting!" that we were in for something unexpected. She went on to explain that the Baby's head, from the perspective of brain trauma and the fall, was perfectly fine. "The radiologist did, however, find something unrelated that we need to be concerned about." The baby's left and right ventricles in her brain are enlarged and dilated (The right one is larger than the left). Long story short, she has hydrocephalus (otherwise known as fluid on the brain). She could have been born with this, but no one is sure. We were told to watch her closely for any signs of head swelling, vomiting, seizures, or dizziness.
About one hour after the phone call, we noticed that the Baby's eyes and brow were swollen, her stomach was upset and we immediately panicked. May Be and boyfriend came as fast as they could to sit with Bubba while we frantically sped to the ER. Where, after four hours, they decided to let us go home and follow-up with a pediatric neurosurgeon.
We have an appointment on Monday afternoon, which also happens to be the first day that Bubba starts school. While I am not certain what the future holds for us, I am certain that this will be a long sleepless worrisome four days.
I would also like to amend my previous statement that God doesn't give you more than you can handle. If anyone talks to Him, could you please let him know that my tank is full.

Minor Head Injury

My attempt at taking a bruise photo.

My post for today was going to be about how well Bubba and Baby played with one another today, but I will start with the most recent incident of the night. About 3 hours ago, Baby was playing on the couch when she fell off and landed face first on the tile floor. Had she screamed instantly and been angry at herself for falling (as she usually is), I would not have been concerned.

That, however, did not happen. She laid in the floor for a moment with a dazed look on her face, as if to ask, "What just happened?" It was only when I ran over and scooped her up that she started to sob. If this were Bubba, I would have shrugged it off as typical, but the Baby is Miss Drama Queen and squeezes out a tear when her name is said wrong. I watched closely as an interesting bruise quickly began to take shape on her temple. It was a red and black circle, about the size of a quarter (maybe slightly larger), that was white and indented in the middle. I continued to observe over the next hour that she wasn't eating or drinking, seemed lethargic, and gag (but never vomit).

I, then, called Evander who was out to dinner. He said to do what I thought was best and let him know. Then I called my mother. I knew what my mother would say, even before I called, but I called anyway to get the affirmation I needed to get the ball rolling. She, of course, said get her to the ER, so I called May Be, what the Baby affectionately calls my niece, and she (and her boyfriend) came running over without hesitation. My excitement over her being here is for another post, but knowing that I can call her and she will drop everything for me, is invaluable.

Back to the Baby...long story short. Baby and I end up at the Acute Pediatric Clinic, where they do not calm my frazzled nerves. The doctor looks at her and says, "Well, her pupils are good." Then proceeds to tell me that, with the Baby's other symptoms, she is concerned about a major head trauma and possible delayed brain bleed. WHAT!!!??? Her advice...take her home and watch her very closely. Wake her every 2 hours and if symptoms continue or worsen take her to the ER. She seemed to be perking up before bed, but I plan on sleeping outside her door tonight just in case.

On a different and lighter note, Bubba and Baby were playing exceptionally well together today. They were making messes, pretending to be in a rain storm, and taking care of babies. It was so nice to see that they are starting to play together.

What Did You Say?

Over the past 12 hours, Bubba has done some remarkable and exciting things. While they might not be exciting to everyone, we find them an amazing accomplishment that would have never taken place a few months ago.

I will start with yesterday on our dog walk (although as you can see from the picture, she rides with everyone else). Bubba noticed that a construction worker had spray painted on the sidewalk and grass. He said, "Oh no Mommy. That man painted grass. NO NO MAN!! NO PAINT GRASS!!" I was utterly stunned. Not only did Bubba notice that the grass was different from usual, he put the entire sequence of events together. We did not see the man paint the grass, but he saw the man walking with the can of paint. Two months ago, Bubba would not have even noticed the grass, period. The other fantastic thing was, you guessed it, he said a complete sentence!!

While this little phenomenon was enough of a pat on the back for everyone, it continued later that night. As Evander was reading Bubba and the Baby a book, Bubba began reciting the words before they could be read. Amazing! Now, I obviously know that he wasn't reading, but he had been paying attention all those times I read it before and was actually showing it now (not to mention he sat while several books were read).

Bubba and I awoke before the roosters and took Belle for her morning outing. As we were waiting for her to do her thing, I said, "I'm chilly!" and Bubba responded, "Mommy, need a coat?"

What did he say? Did he ask if I needed a coat? REALLY?? He went from not knowing what is hot and what is cold to knowing all of a sudden what chilly means and that I might need a coat!! I was floored and wanted to tell someone immediately, but at 5:40 am there is no one awake but myself, the dog, and my little Guatling prince.

It just goes to show that, with a little bad over the last few days, comes a lot of good. These might not be exciting to some, but they are miracles to me. God doesn't give me more than I can handle, but he sure does know how to make me squirm.

Change = Anxiety = Bad Behavior

It just hit me while I was peeling an apple for their snack. I have been attributing Bubba's change in mood, decrease in speech, and increase in self-injurious behavior to his lack of sleep. Before he was diagnosed I often blamed his symptoms on his lack of sleep, and I should know better by now.
It is the change! We introduced his new bed at the same time that school ended for him. HELLO!!! Where have I been? Evander and I are always careful about introducing several new things at once. I think it didn't register because I really didn't have a choice as to when the bed was delivered. I bought the bed when he was still in school, so it just didn't register that it would come when he wasn't. He has also been asking me everyday if he goes to school, but we still have one more week until it starts up again.
Funny story:
This morning it was raining very hard and Bubba is very frightened of the rain (not just thunder but rain itself). He looked out the window and exclaimed, "OH NO! It's Raining! Mommy, GET THE BOAT!!!" and ran from the room.

Reality Strikes

This is the kind of day that few experience, but often hear about. The kind of day where I only want to talk to my husband and my mother (because they have witnessed it and understand and I might sound like a lunatic to anyone else). The kind of day where every part of my being is pushed to the max, just to keep it together until bedtime.
With all the great and positive things Bubba is doing and accomplishing, there is also the autistic side that is always there, but lately has been lurking in the shadows. It takes a day like today to jerk me back to reality, and autistic reality. A reality that says, "Don't set your goals TOO high and don't put TOO much pressure on him because your heart will be broken when he doesn't meet them." I don't mean to sound like autism spectrum disorders are the end of the world or a horrible thing, but there are days when it slaps me in the face.
I debated discussing this on here, but then I decided you all need both sides.
We were having a relatively good day. He was going to the potty, wearing underwear, and playing with Baby. At the grocery store, however, all hell broke loose when he pushed Baby out of the grocery cart (the little car in the front) and onto the floor screaming "NO! No! NO!" because she had moved to close to him (this is after he closed-fisted punched her in the face yesterday in the mall for turning around in the stroller). After quietly composing ourselves (as much as one can at that point) we continued grocery shopping, but he was screaming again (this time I don't know why). We evidently made such a spectacle of ourselves (despite my best efforts) that a man from the grocery store came over and offered cookies to shut them up. I thanked him but explained that we werew GFCF, at which point he returned with GFCF cookies, opened them up and said "They are on the house!" I managed, Dale Earnheart style, to get groceries and pray to GOD that I never see those people again.
Later in the day, he chose not to take a nap, despite an hour of trying to get him to sleep. When I brought him into the den, he decided that he wanted a sucker but refused to use his words to tell me. He was screaming, grunting, and pointing at the pantry door, but when I wouldn't open the door until he spoke, he began throwing cars at me. After a brief stint in timeout, we continued these types of behaviors throughout the afternoon (I'll spare you the details).
I'm sure many of you are thinking that kids just do those things sometimes, and it's not a big deal, but it's different. The Baby gets frustrated and tired sometimes, so she acts out, but Bubba's acting out is at a whole different level with such intense emotion. Please trust me when I say that I am not overreacting to his behavior and I am not "blaming" bad behavior on autism.
He is now fast asleep in bed, and we will see how tonight goes. Please do not feel bad for us, this is just how it is. If you feel bad for anyone, feel bad for the Baby. She is the one who takes the brunt of his aggression on days like these. I desperately try to protect her, and it kills me that I can't. It also pains me to see how scared she is of her brother. I know she sees the good in him, just as Evander and I do, but she always has to keep her guard up.
I also know that these days are few and far between, as opposed to how it used to be. I never again want to see the day that I have to physically restrain my child to keep him from hurting himself.
I will end on a positive note. I found GFCF honey oat (certified gluten-free oats) bread at Whole Foods that tastes like the closest thing to real bread I have had in a long time. It is fabulous!! The kids and I scarfed it down like we hadn't eaten in days!

My Pappy, My Pal

Three weeks ago, we took the Baby's pappies from her. We had tried the slow, weaning method but that didn't go so well. That's when we decided that she would have to go cold turkey. After two days of torture for her, she went on about her business, only asking for pappies in the car or when it was time for bed.

Well...this morning the Gregory tornado whirled into the vet and out in record time and hurried on its way (which is a story unto itself). We all poured into the house and right out the back door so Belle could go potty quickly. That is when I heard it, "PAPPY!" I immediately thought that the Baby must be looking at a book that I had made for her and dismissed it.

Then I saw her. Her mouth was obstructed by a clear and turquoise pacifier, but I could see her wide cat-like grin shining out underneath. "Oh no!" I exclaimed, "WHERE did THAT come from?" She ignored my crazy outcry and continued to talk through the pappy.

All I could think is, one is going forward and one just stepped back. AAAHHH!! I'm hoping to steal it back from her before nap time, because I'm afraid what may happen if she sleeps with it again!

Sweet Success and Suckers!

I was afraid of what might happen last night, after Bubba insisted on going to bed at 6:15 pm. I knew he was tired from the night before, but I was hoping to keep him up a little longer. He awoke at 11:00 on the nose and was out the door and down the hall in record time.
I picked him up and swiftly carried him back to bed. When he asked me to sit (meaning sit in the floor until he falls asleep), I said "No, Mommy is going night-night in her bed and Bubba is going night-night in Bubba's bed, but I will be back to check on you." Then I hurried about grabbing a blanket and pillows for what I expected would be another long night. I collected my sleeping pack and realized that there was no Bubba. He wasn't behind me, or in the chair, or in the kitchen, or in the hallway. I carefully peaked into his room to find him fast asleep.
He awoke this morning at 5:30 am after sleeping in his bed all night and ran into our room shouting, "Sucker? Milk? YEA Spencer!" Evander and I praised him repeatedly for staying in his big boy bed, and of course we got that sucker!

Brother and Sister

Since Bubba has begun his transformation into an amazing little boy, he has also begun to be more of a typical little brother. Now, he and the baby play better together, laugh together, and pick on one another in a normal way. It is nice to see that they are, indeed, able to get along. She is still frightened of him and knows when to push and when to back down, but she is occasionally letting her guard down to interact with him.

She wants to do everything that he does, but she stays 3 or 4 steps behind, just to be sure she is safe.

The Third Day is Always the Worst

When recovering from surgery, getting over strep throat, and post-baby delivery I frequently heard the saying, "The third day is always the worst". Well...through a variety of things with Bubba, I have decided this saying applies to all that he does, and he is yet to prove me wrong.
So, last night being the dreaded third day, I knew I would have a busy night. I also knew it would be bad when Evander and I were slipping into bed and he said "I have a good feeling about tonight". It was cursed for sure!! This, my friends, is an understatement.
Bubba awoke at 11:40 pm, walking as fast as his little bird legs could carry him. He stopped dead in his tracks when he encountered me and quickly pivoted to return to bed. I watched as he hastily climbed back into bed, but 5 seconds later he was out again. I decided that maybe I should sit with him until he falls asleep and see what happens.
Well...30 minutes later, I believe I was drowsier than he was, so I left, and he followed. I again threatened to close the door as I slipped him underneath his furry blanket. One would think that since he was afraid of the door being closed he would stay in bed. Oooohhhh nnnoooo! He didn't stay. At 1:00 am I made the decision to get my pillows and a blanket and camp in the hall. It would, afterall, cut down on my midnight rendezvous in the hall. I would be there already.
Bubba was not pleased with my new night-night location. He jumped back out of bed, sat in his floor, and stared me down for 30 minutes. He finally gave up and went to be at 1:30 am, but was back up and at um' at 2:00 am. I will give it to him...he is persistent!
He was up from 2:00 to 2:30 and again from 4:00-5:30 am, but he never left his room. I crawled to bed at 6:00 am, just as Evander was getting up for work. As soon as the shower went on, there was Bubba, at the door asking for milk.
I know some of you might say, why don't you just sleep with him or let him sleep in your room again, but you don't understand. He sleeps horribly. He grinds his teeth, thrashes around, sits up, moans, cries, kicks, etc in his sleep, making it impossible for anyone else to get any rest. I also don't want him to get comfortable with someone sleeping in his room. He needs to sleep alone and if it means that I sleep in the hall for a week, then so be it!

We Made the Move Part 2

I really don't know what to say about last night. Bubba took a great nap in his big boy bed yesterday afternoon, so I had a glimmer of hope for the night ahead. At 10:20 pm Evander arrived home from traveling, so we locked up and went to bed. At 10:40 Bubba was up and headed down the hall.
I put him back in his bed, but he was up instantly. He was getting up as fast as I could put him to bed. At least the night before, he was giving me a few minutes to breathe. Now, I was standing in the hallway waiting for his next escape.
Finally, at 11:03 I warned him that if he got out of bed I would close his bedroom door. I know...scare tactics should not be used but I was desperate. At 11:04 he was out of bed, so I put him back and closed the door. I minor meltdown occurred, followed by Bubba jumping off the bed and flailing around on the floor.
At 11:06 I put him in his bed and went to sleep. I woke up in a panic, though, when I realized that I hadn't been up with him and it was 4:30 am. Could he have stayed in his bed ALL night? DOUBTFUL! I crept out to the den to find Bubba, kitty cat, and Lambie asleep on the love seat. I'm ashamed to say that I don't know how long he had been there, but I guess I was SO exhausted that I didn't hear him.
Since 4:30 is a potential waking time for him, I decided to let him sleep it out on the couch. Afterall, at least he was sleeping. At 5:00 am I was awoken by a blood-curdling scream from the Baby, followed by a slaming door. If I had awoken in a panic earlier, this awakening had heart attack potential. I jumped out of bed and ran down the hall to find Bubba exiting the Baby's room. The Baby was asleep again, so I think his presence in her room just frightened her. I grabbed him and we hurried down the hall to our room.
I have decided that it must be a control issue with Bubba. If he were afraid wouldn't he come into our room to sleep as he did before? Short of sleeping in the hallway, like a jail cell guard, I don't know how to keep him in his room. It is not ok to have him sleeping on the couch and especially roaming the house while everyone else is sleeping.

GFCF

I will say that I am by no means a gluten-free, casein-free expert (we have only been on the diet for a month), but I will say that I believe in it with all of my heart. Since beginning the diet, I have had several people ask for more info, so I decided (while the kiddos are sleeping) I would share what little I do know here. Hopefully making it easier for me to direct others.
If your child is on the autism spectrum, read Jenny McCarthy's Book Louder Than Words. Before Bubba was diagnosed with PDD-NOS, I brushed this book aside, thinking she was a little bit of a kook, but (shortly after the diagnosis) a good friend encouraged me to read it, and I am so glad that I did. I couldn't read for continually thinking, "that sounds just like Bubba" or "that is exactly how I feel". With so many similarities, I began to give this mom some credibility, and I decided to start the diet and pursue so many other avenues. The book really encouraged me and gave me hope that I didn't have!
There is so much out there for GFCF; you just have to find it. Google is my best resource. GFCFdiet.com has lots of info on foods to avoid, as well as brands that are GFCF. Their shopping guide is also great to help you get started.
talkaboutcuringautismnow.com is another great source and gives an excellent 10 week guide to going GFCF (but we did it in a week).
GFCFmommy.blogspot.com is one of my favorite blogs. She has great recipes and ideas.
autismndi.com is fabulous too.

It is not an easy decision to make or a simple conversion for the family, but it is worth it. We decided to have our entire family go GFCF and we have seen amazing results from everyone. Three days after beginning the diet, Bubba began speaking in complete sentences, and 7 days later counting to 3 and singing. Now, he laughs at the funny parts of a movie, sits to watch a movie, asks questions, and notices things. The baby eats more of a variety of foods and seems to be speaking more (2-3 word phrases), as well. Evander (we will call my husband since he is now into boxing) has lost over 5 lbs and feels better overall, and I am definitely more relaxed and have more energy.
While this diet may not work for everyone, it worked for us. Good luck!

We Made the Move

Well...last night was a huge step for Bubba. He made the move from his little car bed in our room, to his new, super-cool fort bed in his room.

To prepare for the big event, I painted his room dark blue, bought Cars stickers for the wall, and took down the baby pics. It is truly a big boy room, now!

When the bed arrived, the Baby and Bubba played on it for what seemed like an hour, climbing, sliding, and hiding, but when the time came to actually sleep in this wonderful playland, he was less than thrilled. As I began to carefully lay him down to what I imagined would be a long-awaited peaceful nights sleep, he screamed the most horrible of screams.

I tried calming him, but he seemed to be afraid for his life. How, I wondered, could it be so horrible to sleep alone? He was terrified, but I reassured him that I would leave the door open and his Mater night light would stay on ALL night.

At 11:40 pm I heard a thud, followed by little footsteps scurrying down the hall, and that is where I found Bubba, kitty cat, and Lambie. I scooped him up and put him back in his bed. This little midnight walk in the dark continued for the better part of an hour before he decided to stay (or so I thought) in his bed at 12:40.

At 1:06 am I again heard a diaper rumpling down the hall as the child it was attached to walked quickly and quietly. I found him in the kitchen just staring at the reflection of light pouring onto the wall from the outside. Again I scooped him up. At 1:13 I found him by the couch, at 1:18 sitting with the dog, at 1:26 lying in the hallway. This went on until 1:40, at which time I limped into bed, exhausted from being up since 4:30 the day before.

At 2:40 I can't tell you much except that we did the same thing again, but I have no idea how many times I took him back to bed or how long we were up. All I do know is that I woke up at 5:45 am to the Baby whimpering in her sleep and thanking God that he was still asleep.

At 6:15 I heard a sigh coming from the den, and when I went to investigate, I found Bubba trying to use Kitty cat as a pillow as he exclaimed "I poo-pooed!!!"

And to think, the Baby and Belle slept through it all!

Last Day of Camp

Today was Bubba's last day of camp, and he will have 2 weeks off before starting school. I am amazed at how far he has come in the three weeks since starting camp. He has flourished into such a little boy and is becoming a great big brother.
Now instead of pushing the Baby after he hits her, he now gives her a hug and says "you ok baby?" He is also calling her by name more than ever before. He has gained 4 pounds in one month since starting the diet and has really started to have more of an appetite. He is also eating more of a variety of foods. I never thought I'd see the day when my two children would eat carrots for a snack, but they both are doing amazingly well.
I have even seen changes in the baby. She is also eating more of a variety and is eating more in general (if possible). She doesn't be as congested as usual either.
It continues to amaze me that a change in diet can have such an effect!

Our story

I find this extremely ironic. For years, my friend (who will remain nameless) and I have consistently made fun of those dorky bloggers who post silly things about their daily lives (spider encounters, what's for lunch, etc), and now I am one of those dorks who is blogging.
I decided to start this so everyone could see the progress that our little man is making with therapy, his new diet, and school, without harrassing you with non-stop emails that I find absolutely rivoting, but others might find slightly bothersome and boring. This way, I will post when I can and you can look if you are interested. No pressure!!
Our camera is currently broken, though, so don't expect photos right now. I am also going to try to avoid using names, but we will see how that works out.
For those who don't know everything, Bubba was diagnosed with PDD-NOS (on the autism spectrum) a few months ago. Since then, we have continued occupational and speech therapies, begun a gluten-free, casein-free diet, and enrolled in a new school for children on the autism spectrum. Since beginning the diet, Bubba has started speaking in sentences, counting to 3, singing, and actually laughing at funny things every now and then. He also now waves at me when I pick him up, gives the occasional hug and kiss, and calls his sister by her name. He screaming and tantrums have decreased, and things are looking up!