Diet Update and Observations

We are still doing the GFCF diet.  And although we have seen A LOT of new and exciting things happening with Chase lately, especially new words, I am still skeptical and hesitant of this diet.  IT'S SO HARD!  I know I am being a total wuss about it.  I give in more times than I want to admit and let him eat regular waffles, or goldfish, or a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.   It's just hard when he's so pick and eats soooo little not to want to give him what I know he likes.  And the times that get me the most are when his eyes well up with tears and he starts crying to eat what he sees Miles eating.  Breaks my heart, and breaks me down...I give in every time.

It's not the end of the world.  His reactions to gluten and casein aren't so severe that it throws our whole household out of whack, but I know it just makes it harder to start over the next day or meal.

The biggest things we have noticed with Chase, regarding when he eats gluten/casein vs. when he doesn't, is his temperament and emotions.  If he eats it he seems to be so much more sensitive (crying at everything) or has more tantrums and stims on his iPad much more.  He seems much more hyper, jumping and flapping around the house.  I have also noticed that he "zones out" more when he's eaten gluten and casein.  He isn't as responsive to us and seems like he's ignoring us when we call his name.  He also isn't as tolerant of Miles and the hitting and pushing resurface.  He's overall just more emotional and you never know how he's going to react to something.  When he's on a good stint of GFCF he's much more predictable and mellow.  The stimming is significantly less and he responds to his name and us asking him to do things MUCH better.

So, I can't deny that this diet is helping Chase.  I know I need to buckle down and be really strict on it, but we are still working on getting him to eat more variety to make that a little easier on us.  Right now his diet consists mainly of fruit, peanut butter, ruffles and GF chicken strips.  He will occasionally eat other things, but he's starting to get to where he won't even eat the chicken (I'm sure he's sick of having it EVERY night for dinner, I know I would be!).  So until we can widen our array of foods, we are doing the best we can to stick to this diet and hoping to see some more awesome progress unfold with Chase! :)