It's been almost a month since I posted. Things have been pretty steady on the home front lately. Chase is continuing to make lots of progress and say lots of new words EVERY day (at therapy). It has been truly amazing to see such a change in him.
I have been reflecting back a lot lately about how far we have come. It's easy to get caught up in the day to day craziness, carpooling, grocery shopping/cooking, and refereeing between the boys, to notice the changes. But when I think back to this time last year, a month in to our move to Nashville and a month in to therapy at BCA, I am truly amazed at how far Chase has come.
In the last year:
*He stopped having meltdowns over minor things (and most everything for that matter - tantrums are very rare these days)...and transitions are so much smoother.
*He stopped hitting Miles when he gets mad or annoyed at him (which is quite often). ;)
*He has learned to communicate through his iPad for 1000s of things reducing his frustrations even more.
*He recently overcame his fear of the swing...just this week he has started requesting for us to PUSH him high in the swing! He has not wanted us near him on a swing in over 2 years. This is something we have worked on in OT for over a year now, tolerating being on a swing.
*Stemming is at a minimum these days. He used to do the flapping and would also hop/jump or run around the house aimlessly yelling or making incessant noises just for sensory input. He doesn't seem to need NEAR as much sensory input lately.
*He is falling asleep without Melatonin and sleeping solid through the night (AND NOT WAKING UP AT 4 or 5am!!!) and waking up around 6:30-6:45 now. (THIS IS HUGE...we were sooooo tired for so long)
*And on that note, has given up his pacifier JUST THIS WEEK!!!
*He has become potty trained (for the most part - #1, but not #2).
*He has shifted to a gluten free/casein free diet amazingly well and is in feeding therapy, learning to eat lots of new foods (slowly but surely).
*He is no longer laughing or crying over "nothing". He used to laugh hysterically at nothing in particular or cry for no apparent reason (I think this is gluten related, but more on that later).
*He plays with toys he has never shown interest in before and LOVES to cut and glue and do arts and crafts!
*He is more engaged and aware of his surroundings and seeks out interaction with peers more than he ever has.
*He and Miles actually laugh and interact and play with each other, and it warms my heart.
*He does not run off or elope in stressful or new situations anymore. I used to not be able to take him and Miles anywhere "open" by myself for fear he would bolt in the opposite direction from me if I let go of his hand. Parks without fences were not an option. Now he stays close, and obeys me when I say "come back/here". This is a huge relief!
*He is happy and pleasant and calm almost all the time now. Chase has always been a sweet happy child, but now I can just see it in his eyes, he feels good, and he's HAPPY.
*HE HAS WORDS!!!! This is the prayer we have prayed the hardest for. And in the last 2-3 months he has started saying words!!!
On top of his amazing therapies he is receiving at BCA, we started Chase on a GFCF diet back in June. I wrote about it here and here and here. And I have to say, I am taken aback at how much the diet (anyone's diet) can truly affect their entire body and mind. I honestly think, that had we not put Chase on such a strict diet, he would not have made such giant gains in the last few months.
We have recently started phasing out all processed foods in an attempt to get Chase (and our whole family) on a more whole food/organic diet. No more processed, store bought foods, no preservatives, no GMOs, no MSGs, no gluten, no casein, no soy. We have also cut out all supplements except for a probiotic in an attempt to heal the gut and get all the good bacteria back on track in his system, in a natural way.
CANDIDA! Both the boys have had TERRIBLE yeast rashes around their mouths and bottoms for over 2 months now. I have tried everything. We started with Lotrimin and Hydrocortisone creams (did nothing), so I took them back to the pediatrician who Rx'd an antibiotic. I opted not to give it because I knew it would not help the yeast and would probably strip their gut of even more good bacteria, only making it worse, so I researched and started using Oregano Oil and Coconut oil (rubbed on the bottom of their feet). This helped clear up Chase's some, but not all the way so I made an appt. with an allergist.
I wanted to have him tested for allergies as well as get his IgG and IgE blood panels done, but after 2.5 hours in the office we left after the skin test (which all came back negative - as I suspected it would). The doctor did tell me he had Candida rash and eczema (which I wasn't aware of) which could also be caused by an allergy/sensitivity to foods. The allergist doctor gave me a Rx for Nystatin Cream (FINALLY, this is what I had originally asked his pediatrician for 6-7 weeks earlier). I started using in along with Oregano oil on the bottoms of their feet and Chase's rash cleared up in a matter of days.
Miles was a different story. He had not been on any special diet before all this. In fact, he ate HORRIBLE. He lived on "snacks": goldfish, pretzels, Cheetos, cookies, all kinds of sugary junk. I started using the Nystatin cream on him too and after 2-3 weeks it was still not getting any better. His mouth was nasty looking! After talking with lots of mom's and reading lots of things on the good ole' internet, I decided to put Miles on the same GFCF diet as Chase and try to cut out as much sugar as possible (natural and not). I didn't cut it out 100%, maybe more like 75%.
Sunday a week ago we started, and the first 3 days were HELL! Miles cried and whined and fussed all. day. long. for those first few days. He woke up every morning crying hysterically, begging for pretzels, Cheetos and goldfish for breakfast. It was miserable. I didn't really think about it at the time, but I honestly think it was "yeast die off". His rash got worse during that time too. He was even asking me to give him medicine (Motrin) because it is sweet! He was pitiful...begging for popsicles and ice cream. It was like sugar was coming out of his words! :) But after about 4-5 days his rash has started going away, almost not even noticeable anymore, and his behavior is better. He is waking up happier in the mornings. It's crazy to me how much a person's gut can be affected by the foods you eat (and how unhealthy the options at the grocery store are...don't even get me started on that right now).
So for now, our household is spending HUNDREDS of dollars each week on organic/whole food groceries. I have to look at this way...we spent hundreds of dollars each month in doctor co-pays last year because my kids were so sick all the time, and (knock on wood) we have not been to the doctor for any illness, other than the rash, since last spring!!! No colds, no stomach bugs, nothing. My boys are healthier and happier than they have ever been and it makes this mamma so happy too! :)
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