New changes..for the better.

In Dec my husband had surgery for reoccurring polyps and was diagnosed with Samter's triad. He was told to follow a salicylic acid free diet. At the same time our kids were very hyper (two on ADHD medication) and I was leaning toward trying the Feindgold diet. So on February 22nd we purged our cabinets and haven't looked back. At first shopping was overwhelming for us. - Searching through our new "bible" to see if a product was approved while Tink, Hulk and Doc were running up and down aisles. Cold lunches would soon be added to the daily routine as well.

Mr. Holland and I noticed a calmness come over us after about one weeks fully on it. As for the kiddos it took them about 3 weeks. I love spending my weekends with them now. - Normally our weekends would consist of shipping some of them to Horsey's house aka grandma. They are happier & calmer than I have seen them in a long time.

Last Friday I decided (with Doctors ok) to try and take Tink off her ADHD medication (Vyvance). - We suspect that she does not have ADHD, but may have SPD. We have tried this in the past, unsuccessfully. The weekend went very well (to my surprise), but Monday was what I was dreading. What would her journal say when she got home that afternoon?! - I had this on my mind all day. When she got home not only did her journal say "Great Day!", But her report card also had improvements since last quater. Yay! Happy day.

It's really scary! - the stuff they say is "OK" to put in foods and in cleaning & hygiene supplies these days. Artificial colors, flavors, fragrances and sweeteners. None of this NEEDS to be in what we consume or use, SO why is it? How many more children NEED to be diagnosed with ASD, ADHD, SPD and many other issues and problems till they stop adding it?! Just food for thought....

When one door closes, you can reopen it. No seriously that’s how doors work.

It was a Monday, one of those days where you sit down around 3pm and say to yourself "Well, that wasn't so bad.." as you knock on some wood before you jinx it! Except I must of knocked on some fiberboard or somthing plastic with grained contacted paper on it, because that's around the time everything changed. It was Hulk's first Monday night wrestling practice, normally it's on Tuesday. Mr. Holland would be taking him after dinner. Everyone sat down and started eating, Doc asked her normal question "Can I have something else?" and we gave her toast with butter, her usual. Hey.. we tried, right? After Mr. H was done eating he started getting ready to leave. Hulk ran up and down the stairs a few time to get what he needed, because one trip is not his thing. In the middle of all of this Doc had secretly gotten ready and was waiting in the mud room. During the day I had explained to her that daddy was taking Hulk tonight so I could stay h...

Tornado in Holland..

Anyone who loves someone with ASD knows that routines, sameness, schedules, and rituals are extremely important to them. The slightest change in something we may think to be minor could cause major meltdowns that last for days. For the them, these things are more than a need... they are a requirement! Routines, schedules, rituals and habits all provides comfort and predictability in a world that is, all too often, chaotic and unpredictable. We all resist change regardless of our mental status. It keeps chaos at bay, so we get the peace of mind that we need. " According to Dr. Laura Markham (Elkins, n.d.), routines offer additional advantages of reducing or eliminating power struggles, initiating cooperation, teaching/learning to manage one’s own activities, teaching/learning the concept of anticipation, help adherence to schedule, and help paren...

Preparing for the future

For the past week I have been trying to keep my mind off the results of Doc's evaluation, still waiting for the phone call. I have been working on some ideas for the new sensory/therapy room. S ensory bins are wonderful hands on fun for many ages including toddlers and preschoolers! Many skills can be learned and explored through sensory bin play including social and emotional communication, literacy, fine motor skills, and more! Sensory bins provide an outlet for children to engage in a meaningful way and also receive sensory input that their little minds and bodies crave. Exploring through touch and feel can be a positive experience for most children. Sensory input from sensory bins works with your child's nervous system. Some fillers may be preferable to others, so don't give up trying! Let your child be your guide! Use a sensory bin to talk with your child about what he or she is sensing! Great com...

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