Autism Clay Update

I will post this on both blogs.

First I have to confess that we have not been diligent lately on the gfcf diet. My son seemed oblivious at first to the fact that his food was different than the other kids.

Now he is getting more aware of these things and it is getting harder to divert his attention with a "safe" food.

I haven't noticed a huge difference in behavior. We have had a bit more of the arm flapping but that is it.

Yesterday in the pediatrician's office, he pointed out a painted butterfly on the wall. He used a four word sentence to do it. For him, that's big.

Now to the main topic. I ordered the clay that is supposed to clean environmental toxins out of the body.

It came with a packet to mix in it. You use a whisk to mix the ingredients. You're supposed to wear a face mask so you don't breathe in clay.

I mixed it outside with my shirt over my mouth.

The clay sounds like it gets really gunky in the tub. I didn't want to pay four extra bucks per bath for the special clay cleaning agent.

Since my son is small, I mixed a third cup of clay in one of those round galvanized metal tubs. He had to stay in four minutes.

Then I rinsed him off in the shower.

My husband and I weren't sure if there was a difference.

He was super calm after the bath but any bath can do that, I think.

Today he said, "I play outside." Again, this is a big sentence for him. But yesterday he was using big sentences.

In conclusion, I just don't know if it has helped yet. We will continue to give him the baths. I think he gets one every two weeks.

I will keep everybody updated.

To Add Casein or Not Add Casein - That Is The Question!

In the last week, my son has had some dairy products.

We are postive that he has an adverse wheat reaction, but we weren't sure on the dairy.

My husband had kept telling me that we should let him try some dairy. So the day my son found the yogurt in the fridge and brought it to me, became the day.

Here is where it gets hard. I'm not sure if the dairy is good or bad.

We got more annoying poop behaviors. Instead of telling me when he has pooped and laying down to get changed, my son says, "Poopins." Unfortunately this is usually after he has thrown it on the floor or the wall or played in it. Yick.

But his teacher at pre-school mentioned how sociable he was that day. He has seemed happier and more upbeat at home also.

Today "J" from California First Five came to the house and said he was much more focused. But that could be from all the sleep he got yesterday. He was running a high temp and slept until two in the afternoon, waking up occasionally to nurse.

In fact, he got ice cream yesterday to bring down his temp.

After "J" left today, he was a real turd. When I went to pick up the girls from school, he kept shouting out words I didn't understand and becoming agitated. He did not want to ride in the van.

So I'm torn on the dairy. It is a great protein source.

Any advice from anybody familiar with this would be greatly appreciated.

And my clay bath is on the way. I will let everyone know how that works.

Little Sick Guy

My guy is running a temp today.

He just wants to sleep and it is already noon.

Last night I hauled out my copy of "It Takes Two To Talk."

The book said to lean forward silently and watch your child until they start to communicate with you.

So I put down the newspaper and watched him play.

He caught my eye and showed me his helicoptor. Then I took a turn with it.

Then he had me pretend to make it fly and crash repeatedly.

When he said, "Again," I reminded him to look at me, not the helicoptor.

I need to do these kind of things more. Hopefully my poor guy feels better soon.

Pity Party Warning

You've been warned. Read no farther unless you want to be privy to a pity party.



Okay. This sucks.

It sucks having a child who is trying to tell me something and I do not understand him. I am frustrated. He is frustrated.

His speech has quit progressing. Forty minutes a week of speech therapy is not enough.

His motor skills are taking off but I think speech is a bit more important.

I can't have a conversation with my child.

When I ask him a question, he can't say "yes". He always says "no."

He doesn't understand "after A we will do B."

He is a pain to take in public.

I can't go to the library at all. If I visit friends, he runs around tearing up their house while I chase him. I never know how the grocery store will go.

He is forty inches tall. He can reach everything. Nothing is safe from his grasp. It's like babyproofing for King Kong - it isn't going to do you any good.

There. I wrote it and I feel I am no less frustrated. Maybe it's because he got up at four freaking twenty in the morning. I want some sleep and maybe a weekend off from this child, maybe even a week.

Does this make me a bad Mom?