and all is right with the world

milk, no milk, milk, no milk

So as I stated in a couple of posts, Saturday was super milk infestation day (I think I will now forever refer to the consumption of milk by Boy as an "infestation") and Sunday we paid the price. Yesterday was a no milk day and we had a great day. This morning was a great morning also.

Could it really be that the elimination of milk products (casein specifically) produces such a dramatic affect in behavior?

From what I have read, here are the supposed reasons:
When you consume casein (in milk products), your body breaks it down into by products that some believe are leaked through the intestines and into the blood -- studies show that autistic children are more likely to have gastrointestinal issues including leakage. (We certainly have gastrointestinal issues with boy!) There have been studies done that show that these by products are more commonly found in the urine of autistic children versus non-autistic children. "Casein has been documented to break down to produce the peptide casomorphin, an opioid that appears to act primarily as a histamine releaser." -- wikipedia.

So basically - children consume milk, aren't able to break it down and rid their body of the casein by products...those by products may be leaked into their blood or it could just be the fact that it doesn't pass through their systems normally and behavioral issues arise. From what I have read, the opioid act like a drug in their systems.

I swear I have been extremely skeptic about all of this, but I've seen results. Could the changes between Saturday/Sunday be just a coincidence? I'm not sure. I will certainly test the theory again in a few weeks and introduce milk products again to see if we get the same results.

When checking ingredients for milk, look for these items: milk, milk protein, casein, sodium caseinate, calcium caseinate.

cute pictures of boy - age 2, 3 & 4

"It is easier to build strong children than to repair a broken man." -- Frederick Douglass


Such a sweet boy!!!

boy, bites, & benedryl

"Learning to live in the present moment is part of the path of joy." -- Sarah Ban Breathnach

Saturday night Boy was bit by something while we were at the fireworks, but we didn't realize it until yesterday morning when he woke up and his ankle and foot were swollen and red. By 10pm last night the swelling was pretty bad on his foot, ankle and calf and covered red. Of course urgent care was closed at that time and I didn't think it was bad enough to warrant a trip to the ER so we held out until this morning to see our Pediatrician.

I'm glad we didn't freak and do an emergency visit somewhere because there isn't much they could do. Apparently he had an allergic reaction to whatever bit him and it wasn't infected so that was good. The treatment for this is a liquid medicine STRONGER than Benedryl, which to some people may sound like a blessing -- my pediatrician stated that they sometimes use this as a sedative for kids...hmm...not my kid!

Benedryl and Boy do not go together. He has the total opposite reaction to Benedryl, where most kids get tired from it or even can't keep their eyes open....Boy stays up ALL NIGHT LONG. Seriously, all night...

...long...

This happened to us last year or the year before when he happened to need to take some due to a cold that he had. He stayed up around the clock, couldn't sleep. 2am, 3am, 5am rolled around and he was still up. 7am still up...finally at 11am he fell asleep and I nearly did a dance of joy....until 2 hours later he was up again and ready to go for the day.

So, Benedryl is bad, very very bad in our house and now my Pediatrician has prescribed something even STRONGER than Benedryl to help with this weirdo bug allergic reaction thing. However, I must say that so far he is not all hyped up, but it is 10:45 and we are still battling him to fall asleep...

I will let everyone know in the morning...wish me luck please!!

our week coming up

"People grow through experience if they meet life honestly and courageously. This is how character is built." - Eleanor Roosevelt

Boy got some weird kind of bite at the fireworks party last night and his entire foot/ankle are swollen and red. It doesn't look serious enough for an ER visit (although everytime I look at it I nearly pack him up to go!), but he needs to go in first thing in the morning.

Wednesday is our first official sensory therapy since our evaluation. I need to ask if I get an official report on what his sensory issues are.

I need to contact the Pedi-Gastro doctor to find out if we see him before the appointment we set up for the 6th.

Need to get ready for vacation -- King's Island on the 7th!

got milk?

Yesterday we had several parties to go to and I was unsure how to handle telling the hosts that boy was milk free and couldn't eat the various treats being served. I didn't want to be rude when we aren't even 100% sure it's helping.

So, I let him eat pizza and cookies and cake and more cookies...let him enjoy himself.

Well, we are paying the price today!! He has been bouncing off the walls today and his indecision levels are off the charts.

So, lesson learned? We are back to milk free and will continue to monitor to see if it's making a difference or not.

It's all about trial & error and it really annoys me!

(blogging from my phone)

bowling master

Today we had a bowling birthday party and boy did an awesome job bowling! I am not exactly sure how he did so well considering how he would crinch up his entire body and wouldn't extend his arm to actually throw the ball...but that gave him the magic touch apparently!

He didn't have to bowl "normally" to be good at it...just further proof that "normal" isn't always best!!!

long day...

I think today is going to be a very long day...