Just an update, on the health front. As of today, we’ve been on the casein-free diet for 2 weeks, with stumbles, errors, and slip-ups. You would think I would not see a difference, however, we have noticed some changes. To you they might not be much, but to me, they are improvement. The biggest difference has been with Zoe. Now to recap, up through the end of last year, she was not tolerating shirts almost at all. So a journey out involved a huge meltdown thanks to having to wear a shirt and coat for a minute indoors, outdoors, and until the door was safely closed on the van. Often, she’d walk or sit in public places with her hand holding her shirt up. Car rides, even fairly short ones, necessitated a video playing to distract from taking off her seatbelt, which she’d do numerous times without it. Words had been increasing, but still without ending, such as “Duh” to mean “Dad”.
Here’s what we noticed today:
- She had on shirt and coat (a sleeveless winter vest) for a considerable length of minutes while waiting to leave, with no problem or complaint.
- She has not pulled or held her shirt up all week when in public.
- She did not try to take off her seat belt in the car today, despite us playing the radio. (And no, we do not play kiddie music. I have my limits!)
- She is speaking better, for example tonight she very clearly said, “Daddy”.
- She gets on the bus just fine.
- She has been increasingly doing what we tell without incident.
As for Amelia, she had 2 field trips this week and did much better on yesterday’s. She got a 10 out of 10 on her vocab test. She was well behaved out shopping, more or less. She has not been giving me as much difficulty in the morning this week, hurrying to the sink to wash her hands and, miracle of miracles, her face too! Some resistance, but she had a runny nose this week as well as being kept up by Zoe at night.
Finally, we went to dinner and while Chris went to the bathroom, all was ok! No one took off their shirt, tried to leave, had a melt down, etc. (Yes, dinner will be more difficult once we need to restrict more, so let us have it while we can!)
I’m nervous/thrilled/worried about going to the next levels. It’s extremely difficult for me to keep track of stuff like dosage and medications, so I’m going to need on a system that works for me. I already have multiple calendars, paper and electronic. What I need is perhaps a rack / storage center for meds & supplements and a tried & true way to get them administered. I have to do my best to create a system that is foolproof for someone with as lousy a memory as mine.
admin says
Thank you Trish! I’ll need it 🙂
debbie T says
wow, that is fantastic. How encouraging. I wish you lots of luck with this.
It’s gotta be tremendously difficult, but even with your so called mess-ups, it sounds like it’s working. Just keep doing what you’re doing, and give yourself a break if you “mess up” a time or two!
admin says
Thanks Debbie! We’ll be doing our best 🙂
debbie T says
wow, that is fantastic. How encouraging. I wish you lots of luck with this.
It’s gotta be tremendously difficult, but even with your so called mess-ups, it sounds like it’s working. Just keep doing what you’re doing, and give yourself a break if you “mess up” a time or two!
admin says
Thanks Debbie! We’ll be doing our best 🙂
Jessica says
You have got yourself a couple of “responders”!! There is nothing better! The journey is long and often challenging, but the rewards (as you see) are nothing short of miraculous! Enjoy the ride…
Jessica says
You have got yourself a couple of “responders”!! There is nothing better! The journey is long and often challenging, but the rewards (as you see) are nothing short of miraculous! Enjoy the ride…
Jessi says
That’s very exciting news! I can only imagine that the shirt and jacket issue must get annoying and stressful at times. It sounds like you found a solution that will only continue to get better with time! 🙂
admin says
“Annoying” and “stressful” is, yes, the polite way of putting it, lol!!
Jessi says
That’s very exciting news! I can only imagine that the shirt and jacket issue must get annoying and stressful at times. It sounds like you found a solution that will only continue to get better with time! 🙂
admin says
“Annoying” and “stressful” is, yes, the polite way of putting it, lol!!
admin says
Thank you Katherine! I’m already feeling better…we are on a slow and steady path. We will see. I’m not thinking this is easy or quick, but if it is healthy, then that’s the road I want to take. I hope it makes it easier for Zoe, THAT will make it easier on me!
admin says
Thank you Katherine! I’m already feeling better…we are on a slow and steady path. We will see. I’m not thinking this is easy or quick, but if it is healthy, then that’s the road I want to take. I hope it makes it easier for Zoe, THAT will make it easier on me!