Summer Vacation AT LAST!!

Well this summer has thus far been a great relaxation time for Caleb. He's in much better spirits just from relaxing! We also have implemented selenium (the methionine kind) and valerian root sprinkles (since it doesn't make Caleb tired), and both have been helping with mood. We're also S--L--O--W--L--Y adding in some yeast support. He's responding well to this as long as we also give OLE for bacteria when we give yeast stuff (and vice versa). However, all in all it's starting to look like another good summer with lots of good improvements. If only we could get it to stop raining.....! (**Caleb's the one squinting in the background **)

Scripting.....Oh how tiresome Buzz Lightyear gets!!

These past few days have been nothing but "Buzz Lightyear". My son has been carrying around every Toy Story toy that we have. He frequently says a line that Sid says in the move...."whatever she says, it's not true! Hannah....Hannah..." Believe me, it gets ANNOYING! Now after a search on many yahoo groups, I'm trying folic acid, bacteria fighters, and of course yeast fighters (my last resort since Caleb's yeast has been such an issue).

The folic acid (combined with GABA so to not have to much excitotoxin and/or histamine release) at 800 mcg seemed to do something. The scripting is still there, but Caleb's not thinking only about Toy Story & nothing else. I shall keep you all posted as to what I discover :) Tomorrow I will up the folic dose and possibly add in OLE and a probiotic culturelle to attack some of the bacteria.

If anyone out in cyberland has a suggestion on what to do about scripting or obsessiveness....let me know!

It's GAME DAY!

Caleb had his first t-ball game after being rained out of two (which didn't really disappoint me that much). I helped him when fielding, since there's no way he'd stay put in one spot and pay attention. However, his hitting and throwing improved a lot, much to our amazement. It ended up being a fun time! I've included a few pictures of Game Day. There's one at the very bottom of my blog page, so check that out too :)

We figured out the Screaming!

Well...it's taken a month or so, but we've finally figured out the screaming! Hooray! Come to find out...any yeast fighter is just plain causing Caleb to scream. Prescription or natural...doesn't matter. It all causes screaming. Not sure why, but when I took them all away, life got much easier :) We still see yeast on occasion (marked by silly laughing for no reason, or waving his hands in front of his eyes), and we're still trying to figure out what to do for that...but Caleb's mood has improved TREMENDOUSLY and the yeast clues don't last for long. He's once again getting good reports at school, and he is more fun to be around.

There's still lots to keep working on, such as speech, and social conversation/appropriate behavior. However, I'm really going to try to focus on homeopathy and also a bit of Amy Yasko's approach (www.ch3nutrigenomics.com) as adding in the ammonia RNA at 1 drop twice daily has really helped. I'm wondering if his "yeasty behavior" isn't just a cause of high ammonia or some other gut issue that throws off his yeast/bacteria balance in his intestines. It certainly isn't being helped by yeast meds! Keep in mind (for those who are thinking it might just be die-off), that Caleb's been on different things for yeast for months and years! I truly don't see die-off any more. Also, his BMs are normal, and food is much less of an issue now. I've explored so many things for yeast, that I'm really hoping to find the cause, not just the symptom of how his gut gets so unbalanced.

Anyhow....yay for now :)

Still Screaming.....grrr!

Caleb has still been screaming about anything and everything :( I can say, "It's time for dinner", and he MUST emit a high pitched shriek just because. It can really grate on the nerves when you spend any amount of time with him. Our DAN doctor thinks it's probably yeast, and I'm not so sure. We're going the homeopathy route while adding in some yeast med (diflucan) to see if one of these will help. It's not a willful behavior, just a bit compulsive; like he just HAS to get it out. I've tried imitating his scream back at him, and he smiles or laughs because he knows it's annoying....but it doesn't stop him from screaming again.....sigh.... Oh, the joys of autism :)

Flu Season Hits!

Well, we just made it through this year's flu. Glad to feel alive again! I have to tell you that I discovered the most amazing thing about homeopathy through this flu! Nothing was touching the body aches, headache, queasy feeling.....not motrin, not icyhot, nothing. That is until I happened to remember that I bought this homeopathic remedy on clearance last time I went grocery shopping. It said it was safe and effective to either prevent the flu or fight the flu. Thus, I decided to put it to the test, and hope for the best. I read the ingredients and was pleasantly surprised that it was just the influenzinum nosode. Anyhow.....I took it, and gave it to Caleb and my other young son who all felt rotten. Lo and behold, within a 1/2 hour, we all were up and around. Caleb was no longer so flushed, and he was up playing and talking! I gave us another dose a few hours later, and we again continued to feel better. Every few hours and another dose of the remedy, and a day later we're all feeling normal! Hooray :) Caleb went to school and I'm eating again & doing the things I normally do. I feel like myself once again! Again, in case you've all forgotten.....I LOVE homeopathy!

Safe TOY links

Trying to think of a great birthday gift for Caleb as his 6th b-day is coming quickly...Feb. 26th. I want it to be educational, fun, and SAFE! Here's some lead-safe toys sites that I've found:

www.bluedominos.com
http://www.fatbraintoys.com
http://toysamerican.com
http://www.coolmompicks.com/safertoy07/
http://safetoyinfo.blogspot.com/

A few sites also contain American Made toys. I'm thinking of getting something different to build and construct with since Caleb loves to build houses, and is VERY good at it. We say that someday he's going to be an architect! If anyone has any additional websites to add to this list....let me know :)