Our Aspie Story

Finding a Mesothelioma Lawyer

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Lindsey) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 02:26:00 +0000

My grandfather suffered from mesothelioma when he was alive, and later died from lung cancer. This was years ago, before enough was known about the dangers of working with asbestos... something he handled daily for many years.

Today we know how harmful this material is. Consequently, we don't have to accept loss of life due to lack of accountability, carelessness, or unsafe working conditions. Are you or someone you love suffering from lung damage as the result of working with asbestos? Are you looking for mesothelioma lawyers?

I sincerely hope you'll find a mesothelioma law firm where you and your loved one's best interests are met.

Btw, asbestos isn't only a hazard to the person working directly with the material. Did you know if someone you love has come into contact with asbestos, they are likely bringing it home with them? If you're handling their laundry for example, you're breathing it too.

A Penny Saved

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Lindsey) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 02:49:00 +0000

Thanks for the article from Isaiah Gaines

You have to know what you are getting into when you marry a finance-major. To my husband, every decision comes down to numbers. How much is this going to cost? How much more expensive is this brand versus another? Is this the best value for our dollar? These are all questions I hear on a daily basis. When we started to compare our satellite service, we went online to directv vs dish to see where the best value for our buck was going to lie. We took into account the number and variety of channels offered for the price. In a side-by-side comparison, it was clear to see that Direct TV was a better value. Local channels were offered in even the most basic of packages and to upgrade to a premium line-up to include movie channels was not that much more expensive. To the joy of my finance-major husband, we made the right (and most economical choice) in our satellite programming. At least for now, the dollar signs won’t be flashing in front of his eyes each time we turn the T. V. on.

The above is a guest post and not written by...

Classy Recliners at Prices You'll Love!

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Lindsey) — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 04:24:00 +0000

This is a classy recliner. No two ways about it. I've been all over Wholesale Furniture Broker's website today and have seen no fewer than 10 recliners I'd love to try. The Alameda Leather Swivel pictured here is one of my favorites. I like the slick contemporary design, and love the color. I'm sorta into earth tones!

Last Summer I acquired my very first recliner and it was from none-other than Wholesale Furniture Broker's or gowfb.com. I had a very positive experience with this online retailer of wholesale furniture and hope to do business with them again. Loved their customer service and user-friendly website!

I'm wishing I could afford to replace my entire living room ensemble... loveseat and sofa are shot. They're old and falling apart... purchased in '94, they've seen better days. What's more they're mauve! I didn't buy them, my husband did! lol As a bachelor. What was he thinking? I still don't know.

When that day happens, that new set will likely come from Wholesale Furniture Brokers. I know I can trust them to deliver quality products at affordable prices, and often times they offer free shipping to boot!

This recliner with ottoman is the one I acquired last Summer... it retails for just under $450 and shipped free! Don't you love it? It's been a good friend! lol It's incredibly comfortable and I of course love the color... given it's an earth tone. lol

Where do you shop for furniture? Are you in the market for a new recliner and would you ever purchase furniture online?

This post reflects my own experiences and opinions of Wholesale Furniture Brokers. I have not been compensated for this post.

Have You Seen The Horse Boy?

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Lindsey) — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 04:00:00 +0000

So, I'd heard such wonderful things About Temple Grandin's movie that I finally placed my order on Amazon.com, but of course needed more in my cart than one DVD if I were going to take advantage of the super-saver shipping. I found a handful of interesting movies to choose from, under the title of autism and somehow landed on The Horse Boy: A Father's Quest to Heal His Son, thinking it was a movie about Asperger's.

On Friday my movies came and I went to bed with The Horse Boy playing in my DVD player. The first thing I realized was that The Horse Boy wasn't exactly a movie... but rather a documentary shot by the family of a son on the autism spectrum. The second thing I discovered was that their son didn't have Asperger's, but a more severe form of autism. Still, this boy reminded me of Max quite a lot... especially the intense tantruming.

I have mixed feelings on the film, but I'm not sorry for watching it and I don't regret having made the purchase. If you've seen it you can probably guess why! The family made an odd decision (perhaps out of desperation) to take their 4 year-old autistic son (who seemed to have a special bond with animals, namely a horse) to Mongolia in search of various Shaman for healing.... or for a miracle. As a Westerner who puts a lot of weight into modern medicine and licensed practitioners, this seemed beyond bizarre. At the same time, I found their experiences fascinating and marveled at the dedication this couple had for their boy. They basically took their son to the other side of the globe just on the off chance that perhaps healing could be found.

Imagine taking your family to an unfamiliar country, where you don't speak the language or know the culture, and hand over your son to mysterious Shaman for healing? Imagine taking part in unfamiliar rituals with the Shaman, trusting him as he hits you and your spouse with a vine, pulls an unseen darkness from your son, and asks you to do bizarre things such as wash a private area of your body to bring healing to your son. Would you do it? Does this all sound a bit crazy?

They slept in tents, traveled by van and horseback across miles and miles of open countryside with a boy who couldn't handle a trip to the store without a tantrum and who wasn't toilet trained.

If you have a child on the spectrum, you'll likely relate to the struggles this family endures and you'll appreciate the depths of the love they show their son. At the same time, you may find yourself a bit dumbfounded. Who does this? lol Who can even afford to take such a trip? I think what moved me more than anything else was the fact that this boys father was willing to do whatever it took to help his boy. Regardless of how ridiculous his wife thought it sounded, or how he might be viewed by friends and family, he was up for the adventure. Equally impressive to me was that his wife went for it!

I won't tell you how this movie ends. I'll let you watch for yourself. I'd like to know how this boy is doing today. This film was released nearly 3 years ago, so his story should still be in the making!

The boy on the cover of this DVD is "the boy" who the story is about. There are no actors in this film. It's the real family, real autism, their real story. It's heartwarming, heartbreaking, and full of hope and love; I hope you'll see it and stop back here to tell me what you think!

Answered Prayers Don't Always Look the Way You Expect

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Lindsey) — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 01:58:00 +0000

I've been AWOL for far too long and for that, I do apologize! Life's been rather busy with a side of crazy that I haven't been handling all that well. We're all so tired, swimming upstream without a paddle. We'll not entirely. I take the Lord with me everywhere I go. Or at least I try. Sometimes I try to run the show though, and that's when I get into trouble.

Having a son with a disability keeps me praying. Praying for strength, wisdom, and direction. Also, for things like sleep and relaxation... time away from the stress of life, which sometimes means time away from home all by my lonesome... or with a good friend. Other times, it means time with the source of the stress. That beloved child you wish you knew how to help, but haven't figured out yet. It means time with the source, but without the stress. As in, let's spend time together and not do anything that might cause you to melt. It's your day Max... there's no better gift to a boy like mine than giving him a day, just for him. How do I do that though?

Funny thing about God. He doesn't always answer the way we'd like and sometimes it feels like He doesn't answer at all. We pray and wait... wait and pray, then there are times like Sunday evening when I breathed a short prayer about my worn out son. He'd had such a stressful weekend. Cried and screamed enough that our entire family was thinking we'd completely lost this battle. I thought to myself... what if I just called into work on Monday and told my boss I needed a mental health day with my son? Would this be ok? Did he need that break or did I? Maybe we both needed the break?

I wasn't sure, but asked God for some sort of confirmation. About 45 minutes later my son threw up in bed! lol It was bad too... no two ways about it. Not my choice of ways to gain confirmation from God, but there was no doubt but that my boy needed to stay home with me on Monday. He ended up being completely fine come morning. Not a thing wrong with him. I let him have his free day... no homework, no reading, no chores, nothing whatsoever other than the appointment with his psychiatrist that afternoon. I think it did him (and me) a world of good!

So, God you're awesome for giving us that gift of a little down time! I don't quite get that way you delivered the answer except to say this... I'm just that blind that You had to hit me over the head with a gallon of vomit to get me to realize that staying home was the right thing to do. Well... it wasn't in the head, but my point is the same. ; )

A New School Year, Aspie Mom is Back

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Lindsey) — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 15:01:00 +0000

I've been gone for some amount of time... for that I apologize! I've started another blog and have also been trying to increase traffic to several other sites I manage. A lot of work, and so little time. This blog was supposed to be my main concentration though. Then life got crazy.

Well... actually it's always been crazy. Who am I kidding? It's not that I don't have a lot to share with everyone. I do. Any Aspie Mom would. My son is still my son. We still have our challenges. He's just started 5th grade and has been a mix of amazing and a complete basket case. So many tears, so much anticipation and excitement, and so very overwhelmed by it all. That leaves me a bit overwhelmed too. I'm chasing my tail trying to figure it all out. What works one day doesn't always work the next. I'm sort of coasting through life feeling accomplished at the end of the day if no one goes to bed crying. Ever been there?

I won't say I don't have high expectations for my children, but so long as my son can just do his best and feel good about who God made him to be.... that's all I need. I want Max to recognize how truly amazing he is. I remind him all the time, but I see him struggling with self-confidence.

I think for a 10 year old boy, it's as much about what his peers think of him as it is what mom and dad think. That's just the unfortunate truth. Max has friends and what a blessing that is! I prayed this for him so long ago and God sent him a best friend who loves Max for who he is. I wish this for every child on the spectrum. What a gift! We're getting ready to head to church, so more later! I'm going to be sharing our school year with you all, my battle of the bulge (blah!), and educational info. Of course there will be much info about Autism here too. Since that is why we're here!

Blessings friends!

Asperger Mom... Falling Apart!

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Lindsey) — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 13:59:00 +0000

I'm gaining weight, I'm tired most the time, and I'm having joint pain. I think I've been neglecting my health and consequently I'm starting to fall apart.... somewhat. With just a few weeks left before the kids go back to school and I go back to work, I decided to start paying more attention to my health. After all, what good am I to my kids if my health goes down the drain?

Over the past week I've been to my OBGYN for my well-woman exam (glad to have that behind me) and yesterday had my first mammogram (ouch)... so there are two boxes checked. On Monday I'm going to have my thyroid checked and the joint pain in my right knee and hip looked at. As for my weight.... I'm not sure what to do. If I walk (my favorite exercise) I will likely make my pain worse. If I don't walk, the weight isn't going to come off without dietary changes. I've been on so many diets and generally do well on them for a period of time, but then I get it in my head that I can take a vacation from responsible eating and it always comes back to bite me in the butt. lol

So my last vacation started after Thanksgiving last year and I'm still paying the price. I need to lose 20 lbs minimum, but it would do me well to lose more like 30 lbs. If I even lost 10 lbs all my clothes would fit again, but in my current state I've actually had to hit the department store to buy bigger tops. If I can't shake at least 10 before I go back to work, I'll be buying bigger pants too! Augh!

I'll keep you all posted on my aging body.... I'm sure you're all sitting on the edge of your seats. lol I'll be 40 in just a few months and have to wonder if my issues have to do with my age? I'm praying the issues with my right knee and hip aren't what I think they are. I suspect I'm losing cartilage. My right knee has been crunchy for 2 years now!

Max's Newest Obsession

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Lindsey) — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 18:22:00 +0000

Max has transitioned from one love to another and like many children with Asperger's generally obsesses over his passions. Typically it's all Star Wars all the time, or all Pokemon all the time, all astronomy, or all geology, and there was even a time when it was all flags all the time. Rarely do his fascinations run together.

For the past 9 months or so, he's been obsessed with Pokemon and it's grown old. I really shouldn't complain. Still, it's sorta fun watching him put the trading cards and Nintendo DS to the side to explore a new interest. That new interest is card tricks! lol I have to think learning slight of hand tricks has some benefit as a mental exercise. The other thing that I can't help but love? It only sets us back a deck of cards. Well... so far anyway!

Over the past 5 days or so Max has been learning card tricks on YouTube, then performing them for the family. He's really good too! This morning he amazed me with his ability to find my 8 of diamonds by stacking and restacking what started off as three stacks of cards. There was a bit of math involved... which of course I found rather exciting too!

This is so much more fun than hearing him ramble about all the Pokemon's strengths and weaknesses or hearing him cry because his little sister won't battle with him on their Nintendo game systems. Oh, that was getting old. Max was a living and breathing Pokemon channel... all Pokemon all the time!

I felt guilty for disliking something he was so passionate about, so most times I'd listen... and listen and listen... and listen. lol Sometimes his Pokemon lectures would surpass an hour's time. At some point I'd have to excuse myself to make a phone call or use the restroom. If my break took more than 5 minutes, he'd generally stop talking. If less than 5, he'd pick up where he left off and on and on he'd go. What a little talker he is! Well, at nearly 5' he's not all that little anymore.

Max Gets His Expander Out Thrusday! Oh... and the Cutest Scrubs

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Lindsey) — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 16:34:00 +0000

What? lol Ok, so Max had a pallet expander plastered into his mouth in December and it's done it's job... plus a little extra, meaning it impedes his speech and I think it's somehow made his stutter worse. I can't wait till they pull that thing out of his mouth! lol

The orthodontist he goes to has the most awesome staff. They really try to make it a fun place for the kids to visit, giving out prizes for good hygiene and grades, and they even give all their patients a really cool t-shirt, this of course is an advertising gimmick, but when the kids wear the shirt to their office visits, they get Smile Miles that can be redeemed for some pretty cool prizes.

The other thing I enjoy about their visits are the scrubs the staff wear. They all wear the same dental office uniforms, of the same color, on the same day... and talk about color! lol Some days we go in and they're all wearing lime green, other days it's orange, or blue. Very vibrant and fun for children, and even some adults (like say me for instance). lol

I found some very cute scrubs at http://www.blueskyscrubs.com/ . I've been to there site a time or two before looking at their figure flattering styles that are so unlike what I typically see in hospitals and doctor's offices. I've had dreams of going back to school and gaining a degree in nursing... if that day happens, you can bet I'll be shopping for stylish scrubs!

A few years back my husband and I dressed up like medical professionals by purchasing scrubs, inexpensive stethoscopes, and a couple of homemade name badges. We looked a little too convincing and fooled a few strangers. lol

So, let's hope Max will sound less lispy and perhaps less stuttery??? I'm hoping! His stutter has really become bad. It came and went there for awhile, and now it's not uncommon for him just to say "forget it" after getting hung up on a sentence and not being able to get it out. Makes me sad.

When to Ditch the Lakes and Dyes

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Lindsey) — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 16:16:00 +0000

We started Max on the GFCF (Gluten-Free Casein-Free) Diet back in April, but I still haven't eliminated the lakes and dyes. It's so hard! I think I'm going to take that next step sometime next week. I don't think he's consuming a lot of products with food colorings, but he's definitely getting them.

He has a favorite fountain drink at Quick Trip that just happens to be Strawberry Fanta. So, this is going to be a hard sell. To my surprise Max hasn't wanted to depart from the gluten and casein free diet... at all. I've asked him on a couple of occasions, if he'd like to have something with dairy, just to see what happens and he tells me no. I can't really mesh that answer with the question I get from time to time about "how long do I have to do this mom?".

I told him awhile back that at some point I would allow him to try something with casein to see if we noticed a difference. The casein leaves the body much faster than gluten, so If we're going to experiment, it would be with dairy, not wheat. I know what the books say, but I guess I'm hoping that casein isn't a problem for Max. It's a lot easier to just eliminate the gluten, but things like cheese and real ice cream are so hard to let go of forever. We found a casein-free cheese that tastes reasonably well if melted over another food, but on it's own? Nasty! lol

Overall, we've adjusted very well to Max's diet. We've learned a lot and have found suitable substitutes for so much of what he loves. The lakes and dyes are the next to go, and I'll admit I haven't switched over his laundry soap yet either. If you read the books on the Autism Diet, they all tell you to do this! lol

Baby steps. It has to be baby steps. It seems like we've been on this path for years, but it's been less than 3 months! That's crazy!

Teaching Max to Ride a Bike

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Lindsey) — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 15:29:00 +0000

Yesterday my husband went out and bought Max his 3rd bicycle. The previous 2 are in mint condition as they've barely been touched... just outgrown! One has been passed down to his sister, the other sits in a corner of our garage longing for someone to take it for a ride.

Max has never learned to ride a bike without training wheels, but we're determined to give it our best shot this Summer. Yesterday was all about learning to coast on the bike without peddling. In fact, his dad took the peddles off and allowed Max to coast up and down the cul-de-sac (ours is 20 houses long!), using a feet-to-sidewalk technique to give the bike it's momentum. He went back and forth some 20 times... we think he might just be ready to kick it up a notch! lol

I'll let you know how it goes... maybe even post a couple photos! Wish Max luck! He'll be wearing knee and elbow pads (just in case) and always a helmet!

Enchanting Pinocchio

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Lindsey) — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 15:20:00 +0000

Thanks for the guest post, Benito Trevino

Pinocchio is an enchanting story--and my all-time favorite--about a little wooden boy who wishes to become a real boy. I was delighted to discover it on one of my www.directstartv.com this morning, and I sat right down to watch it. It's such a charming program, and I don't mind admitting that I watched it all by myself. There wasn't a child in sight.

Pinocchio teaches a lot of great lessons, even to adults. It teaches honesty and patience and kindness. I think, too, that it teaches children to be wary of strangers, even seemingly friendly strangers such as the foxy character J. Worthington Foulfellow. Personally, I learned that the very best place to find dreams coming true is in my own home.

That might sound kind of goofy (no pun intended), but I think that most of the Disney classic animated movies offer gentle lessons to children and adults alike. We could all learn from the lessons that the characters in these movies learn. Even us grownups.

I'm glad I stumbled on my favorite animated program this morning. Pinocchio has stood the test of time and doesn't seem dated at all. I'm sure that it--and other Disney classics--will stand the test of time for many decades to come. At least, for the sake of future children, I hope so.

Update on Max's Gluten-Free Casein-Free Diet

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Lindsey) — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 15:13:00 +0000

It's been a couple months (seems much longer, lol) since we started Max on the GFCF Autism Diet and I still don't know if it's helping or not. I wish I could say that I'm noticing a night and day difference, but I really can't. It could be that it's too soon.... could be we're not doing the diet right (oh so possible!), and it could be that this isn't the answer we've been looking for.

His stomach seems to be much better than before, but it's hard to know whether to credit the diet or the fact that we're on Summer break. If his stomach issues were the result of anxiety, it could be that he just feels more relaxed at home.

Here's what we can't help but notice though... and we can't attribute this to the school year ending... Max has lost about 7 lbs. He's nearly 5' tall and up until starting this diet he weighed 119 lbs. That's a lot for 10 year old boy. Now he's around 112! If anything else, Max is much healthier than ever before. He's eating less fat, fewer processed foods, and eating more at home and less fast food. It's just too difficult to monitor what touches his plate when going out to eat, so with the exception of the occasional trip to Chik-Fil-A (some offer gluten free waffle fries, prepared in an independent frier and he has a grilled chicken fillet with no bun), we don't eat out all the much.

I was hoping to see him less emotional and angry with this diet, but I don't see any difference there at all. He seems like the same boy, just thinner! lol Oh, and well, in less stomach pain. You might remember that before he was having what appeared to be horrible irritable bowl issues and gastric reflux. He had heartburn and a lot of pain just above his navel. We've had him scoped and all that was found was a bit of inflammation. Max has been on Prilosec for some time now, and was taking another medication to coat his stomach for a couple months. The Prilosec will likely remain part of our morning ritual as it does seem to help him. If we forget to take it, my son can definitely tell.

One thing I do want to mention about our approach to the GFCF Diet is this.... I'm still learning and I haven't cut everything out the books recommend that you do. Things like dye's and food colorings aren't things we've eliminated just yet. It's really hard to put a 10 year old on such a restrictive diet. I'll also share that some of the foods we allow him to have although labeled as gluten and casein free, aren't always produced in gluten and dairy free facilities. We purchase a lot of Frito Lay products because there are so many produced without gluten and casein... however, they even admit on their website that they can't guarantee against cross-contamination.

Then there's this... the rest of the family still eats wheat and dairy. It's incredibly difficult to cook for both diets, in 1 kitchen, on 1 stove. I drive myself crazy trying to keep things separate, but I'd be kidding myself if I really thought Max had never had a crumb of wheat hit his plate from time to time. Hard as I try, it's going to happen.

So, that's my update! I need to start blogging more often. I tend to visit this blog in spurts! lol

Before I scram for the day I did want to mention that you will begin seeing some amount of advertising on this site. I have recently posted a disclosure statement at the top of this page... you'll see the new tab under my header. I wasn't initially going to monetize this blog, but it will surely help to bring in some extra money... especially this Summer when I'm not working outside the home. I'll always share my honest opinions when reviewing a product or service and if I've not actually tried the product or service, I'll disclose this in my post.

Blessings!

Asperger's... Oh the Treatments We've Tried

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Lindsey) — Sat, 07 May 2011 15:58:00 +0000

Problem: Max's anxiety is in overdrive and despite my best efforts to help him relax and allow his body to heal, he's experiencing a daily cycle of meltdowns, ongoing stomach pain, vomiting, despair, and depression.

A year ago April and May we were in a similar place. My husband and I strongly suspect changes at school (end of year testing, lack of routine, and interrupted schedules) as likely causes for Max's increased anxiety, which we assume to be the reason for his angry outbursts and missed days of school related to digestive issues. Last night Max ran at his dad with fists drawn and a fierce snarl across his face. He was out of control and didn't regain control of his emotions until well after midnight. Sigh

Asperger's for Max translates to super-high anxiety and ongoing stomach pain. He also suffers with other Asperger related issues such as brain fog, lack of attention, sleep issues (although not as bad as before he received his weighted blanket), lack of respect for authority, a desire to be completely independent, pacing, one-sided conversations that go on for extensive periods of time, obsession with a single area of interest (currently Pokemon), and frustration with anyone not wanting to talk "exclusive" Pokemon.

Here's where we're at treating Max:

Abilify: Max has been on 2mg of Abilify since December of 2010. I'm not sure if it's the right medication for him. He's somewhat less aggressive, but I haven't noticed a decline in his anxiety. I'd like to knock it down a few more notches. He's also taking a generic sedative, but rarely. I don't see any difference in his behavior when he takes the light sedative so have a hard time justifying giving him the pills, despite his psychiatrist telling me too.

Prilosec: Max takes this first thing in the morning, 30 minutes before breakfast to help with stomach acid. He also takes a medication after meals to coat his stomach.

Weighted Blanket: A couple months ago Max rec'd his blanket from Affordable Weighted Blankets
(now one of our amazing sponsors!) . This is one of the few things that DOES help him. He is sleeping better than ever before. He loves this blanket and I only wish we'd known about weighted blankets and how they benefit children and adults with sensory issues long ago. Well worth the money. Sometimes I think I'd benefit from one myself. Visit my post on this wonderful blanket to see Max receiving and enjoying the blanket.

Fitted Lycra Sheet: This too has helped. Not as much as the weighted blanket, but the fitted sheet hugs your child as they sleep. They can kick and punch the sheet (for fun or to relieve tension), tent it, or burrow under it and not hurt the sheet in the slightest. It's reasonably priced if you shop around too. Visit my post on the lycra sheet to read my review and view photos. We bought ours from Laceandfabric.com.

Compression Vest: Different from a weighted vest and provides pressure to an anxious child... like a hug. My son didn't take to the vest, which I'm not considering selling on eBay. I paid $75 for the vest, but would consider $50. It was made for my then 9 year old son. Let me know if you're interested and I'll email you photos. It's a black vest with velcro closures around the trunk, making it adjustable.

GFCF (Gluten-Free, Casein-Free) Diet (also known as the Autism Diet): We started this diet a few weeks ago and honestly I think it's too early to really know how well it's working. Just when I think my son's stomach is doing better, he misses yet another day of school. Max tells me he does feel better though and actually likes this new diet. He told me the other day that he's clearer headed. One of the biggest struggles for Max in the 4th grade has been composing stories or even a single sentence out of his own head. When asked to describe or relay information in his own words he normally has a brain block. Apparently this task has become easier for the first time and remarkably he attributes the foggy brain lift to this diet. I love it when he gives me this kind of feedback... it's not often he shares this way.

Krill Oil: I started giving Max Krill oil last week out of desperation (or perhaps lack of patience). I've had a handful of moms of special needs kids tell me krill oil helps their children... so, why not? It's expensive... like everything else we've done. I'm in the red and fully expect that to be the way for awhile.

Psychologist and a Psychiatrist: He sees both. I'm going to try and take him to see his psychologist more often. He enjoys visiting with her, trusts her, confides in her, and she's wonderful to him. I couldn't ask for better than that. I only wish I felt as positive about his psychiatrist. The jury's still out on whether we'll continue to take him to see that particular professional, or find another.

Prayer!: This really shouldn't be at the bottom of my list! I have family, a Bible study, and a group of special needs moms praying for us. Even with the Lord driving this car, the road to healing won't necessarily be a short one. I firmly believe that through Max, I'm supposed to help others. So... who knows what tomorrow will look like? We're in His hands (such a comforting place to be!) and trust that this knot in time is nothing compared to the eternity of a life with Jesus. Faith isn't based on what we can see, or what we can feel... it's so much more than that. I have great faith... but I'm also soooo very human, and tired! lol

Thanks for reading my babble-ish update and light whining. I know I'm not alone, Max is AWESOME, and God has perfect plans for all of us!

Happy Resurrection Sunday!

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Lindsey) — Sun, 24 Apr 2011 23:16:00 +0000

Today marks one of the most important celebrations of the Christian faith and yet I almost didn't think to pop in and say Happy Easter!

It's been a blue day for me, despite having so much to celebrate. I feel like there's a bit of a dark cloud hanging over me. The sermon at church this morning was on worry. When we worry, we're lacking faith. An excellent message. The pastor was quick to point out that every time the Bible mentions worry... the word worry is proceeded by two words of instruction. Those words are "Do not". I guess I'm just not ready to let go of the heaviness I feel today. It's been building in me over the past few weeks and sitting here in the dark isn't helping anything.

Christians aren't perfect, we're just forgiven. That said, I know my Father will forgive me for doubting His Faithfulness to me from time to time. It's a heart and brain struggle. My brain says "of course He's ALWAYS faithful", my heart says... "where are you Lord?". I've been praying for a certain miracle... unrelated to Max for years now. I've not seen the answer I'd hoped for. It's never too late and I know better than to think God is my puppet. His will be done and in His perfect time. Still... I'm heavy-hearted and admittedly impatient.

Thank you sweet Jesus for dying for my sins, for loving me through my sinful nature and giving me redemption. Your grace is sufficient, your ways are perfect. You are my Father and I'm your child forever and ever!

Now... what could be better than knowing a truth so great as this? Nothing on earth. Nothing.

Day 4 Casein Free... And I've Already Goofed

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Lindsey) — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 22:18:00 +0000

So, this would be Max's 4th day off Casein, but uh... well I already messed up. lol The plan was to give up dairy for 2 weeks, then remove gluten. That's still the plan, but we're starting over.

I'd been packing his lunches for school, feeling quite confident in my decisions about what I'd selected when today I realized the buns he was eating had milk in them. Nice. He's been eating deli sandwiches all week and always with the same brand of bun. I noticed my mistake this afternoon when choosing a new bag of buns to bring home for hamburgers and home made fries. Something made me look at the ingredients. I've been doing that a lot lately... part of the dealio! Still... I'd somehow not looked at the ingredients on those buns before today. There it was... milk!

The only bag of buns I could find that didn't contain casein were the Oroweat brand buns. Yay for Oroweat! Boo for Maggie! lol If you're looking for wheat buns without dairy, I still suggest checking the ingredients. They could change things at any time. And... this post will be out there in cyberspace for Lord knows how long. :)

Here's a great link I discovered for finding dairy ingredients. It's awesome! I've printed it off and will be keeping it in my purse, in my husband's wallet, grandma and grandpa's will be receiving it too. :)

I'll keep you posted on our progress. Pray for us! This is challenging. I expected as much, but I'm still beating myself up over those darn buns! lol

GFCF Diet Books & Cookbooks

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Lindsey) — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 02:14:00 +0000

In my previous post I mentioned I'd received a few books from Amazon.com today (with my would-be Kindle money... oh well) on how to successfully implement a gluten-free/casein-free diet. I'm very happy with what I've read so far and wanted to share the books I'm reviewing with my readers. So here goes!

The book I am the most excited about is called "Cooking for Isaiah". I find this particular cookbook hard to put down as the recipes look amazingly delicious... special diet or not! I let Max look through it and he agreed that perhaps this diet wouldn't be so challenging after all. If you love cookbooks with photos, this is for you. I'd like to encourage you to click on the book and read the fabulous reviews provided by previous buyers. I'll have my own review once we start cooking! It really feels good to be on a path that's been well trotted by so many before us. I feel less the guinea pigs I imagined and more the student to moms who've been there done that. Who knew there were so many fabulous books and recipes that could make up for some pretty drastic dietary restrictions?

The next book I purchased is "The Kid-Friendly ADHD and Autism Cookbook" which accompanies another book which I also now have called "The Autism & ADHD Diet".

The cook book isn't loaded with photos like "Cooking for Isaiah", but it has a lot of great information on label reading and preparing kid friendly meals. There's even a section on packing sack lunches. Before I go any further I'll tell you that I've just started reading through these two books and don't feel quite ready to expand on what they contain! lol
I'll be sure to share a complete review once I've had more time and will of course let you know what I think of the recipes, once we've had time to play... oh, and eat! :)

The Casein-Free Diet Starts Today

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Lindsey) — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 20:27:00 +0000

Once again Max is home sick from school and I'm missing much needed income. I found out this morning that I might not have a job next Fall, when the school year resumes. I've missed far too many days to be considered a quality candidate (despite excellent service while at work) for the school district. I'm not worried yet. My son comes before my job, and God is in control. If they don't renew my contract, I'll assume something more suitable to our situation will present itself in due time.

We started the casein-free diet today and will remove all gluten within a couple weeks time. I'm learning as I go and it's quite the adventure. I've never been much of a label reader, so I feel much like a student again. Researching what it all means, reading my new books (including 2 cookbooks) on the Autism diet... also known as the GFCF Diet (Gluten Free, Casein Free). I am so filled with hope today for a calmer, happier, less anxious Max that the thought of possibly losing my job doesn't even phase me.

I took my ill boy to Walmart today (he's not contagious after all) and we bought our first half gallon of soy milk. A friend told me that chocolate Silk is awesome, and she was so right. Max slammed it down, even after I urged him to sip on it slowly... he has a sore stomach and it's a new food... so you know. Then he had a bowl of gluten free rice cereal... just to get him used to phase 2 of the diet.

I also bought Earth Balance brand butter substitute, which is shelved near other butter substitutes such as Smart Balance and margarine. It's the only brand I know of that is completely dairy or casein free. Not bad either! Of course I had to try it out.

Tonight for dinner, we're having breakfast (don't you just love breakfast for dinner?) which will consist of hashed brown potatoes (made from scratch, seasoned with just onion powder, black pepper and salt), scrambled eggs (without the usual milk and cheese thrown in), and Oscar Meyer brand turkey bacon, which looks to be safe to me. Hopefully I'm not missing anything there! We always eat turkey bacon, but only Oscar Meyer brand. I don't especially like the rubbery texture of some of the other brands we've tried. Bacon shouldn't be stretchy, rubbery, or impossible to chew. What are those other companies thinking? lol

Autism Spectrum Disorders... Gluten and Casein Free Diets

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Lindsey) — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 01:47:00 +0000

There’s much discussion these days of the suggested benefits (recognized by some, dismissed or unaccepted by others) of a gluten free, casein free diet with regard to autism spectrum disorders. I’ve lost track of how many friends and acquaintances have taken me by the hand and asked… “hey, did you know?” or who’ve shared… “I have a friend whose son is autistic and….”. After much reluctance and some amount of fear (you want us to do what?), I’ve decided to take a gigantic leap from letting such advice enter one ear and spill out the other. In fact, I’ve even taken a step past simply considering this new diet for Max. We’re actually going for it.

This choice was not only made to hopefully calm my crazy-loud, highly emotional Max, but also to combat chronic stomach problems. Max has inflammation in his gut and esophagus (found by scope a couple weeks ago) and his doctor suspects IBS as the cause for lower GI issues. He’s in pain most of the time, possibly related to a food allergy. It’s simply not fair to allow his pain to continue without implementing dietary changes… which could relieve the pain and frequent trips to the restroom. If we see fewer symptoms of Asperger’s in the process of trying to heal his gut, all the better.

We are doing this… definitely. I don’t know which version of the diet to try, but I'm leaning towards what they call the GFCF (gluten-free, casein-free) diet… others are just a bit too radical for my taste. I was looking at the GAPS Diet for instance which doesn’t even allow rice in the diet as it's a complex carbohydrate. If my Max can’t have gluten or rice, I fully suspect a freaked out boy. There will be very little peace in our home should such an announcement be made. So, I wonder if I should try a diet that permits rice (the answer is yes)?

I’ve read that dairy allergies are quick to rule out as milk proteins pass through the body relatively quickly… whereas it could take as long as 6 months to see the full benefits of removing gluten (although I just read a blurb written by a mom of a spectrum child who swore her child seemed calmer after just 1 week off gluten). We could start with dairy, then work our way up to gluten… but I think I’m just going to go for it all at once. Jump in with both feet? Why not? Sigh. I still can’t believe we’re doing this. Max and I love our bread. Oh… did I forget to mention I’ll be on this diet too? Lol I promised Max that he wouldn’t have to go it alone. If he’s going to suffer through it, I’ll tag along for the ride. Hopefully the pseudo bread won’t be too horribly bad!

Well... I was saving Amazon.com gift certificates won through SwagBucks and entering online giveaways (I’m up to $70 now) to purchase a much sought after Kindle (I'd hoped to use at Bible study), but now I’ll likely be using savings for a couple cookbooks filled with what I hope to be awesome gluten-free, casein-free recipes. I suspect the balance of my Amazon.com earnings will go towards gluten free flours… as I see they sell them in their marketplace. This is going to be expensive! God help us. Seriously… could use some prayers for additional income sources. Even just a couple hundred a month would make a tremendous difference.

Why Does My Son's Face Tense Up When He Stutters?

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Lindsey) — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 18:11:00 +0000

He's been a stutterer for years now... sometimes it's really bad other times it barely interferes with his conversation. However, just over the past few months I've notice something new. I don't know if his face is simply displaying a deep concentration on what he intends to say, of if he's twitching.

He'll get stuck on a word and his eyes close tight and he makes a grimacing face almost like he's in pain and then proceeds to stutter hard until he has the complete word out. I don't know if this could be a symptom of tourettes? Or am I being silly? I know the two disorders can run together though. I think about the young man on American Idol this year who I currently find myself rooting for... he has both Asperger's and Tourettes and I so want him to win. It would be awesome if people could learn more about these conditions through an accomplished young performer... who by the way has an awesome voice.

I guess I don't know the answer to my question. I don't know if it's normal for stutterers to make this face and I haven't found anyone who can tell me. If you have any experience with this, let me know? I'd even just like to know how to word my Internet search so I can find more information on this. He's troubled by his stutter, which leads to more stress, and consequently more stuttering. We don't bring it up when it happens for this reason. The scrunch-face thing is something I'm worried about though. I don't know why... just seems odd for him. It's not something we used to see and I guess I'd like to know if there's something we should be doing to help him.

Replies would be awesome. I still have a fairly small audience here, so if you're new... please be sure to subscribe, follow me on Google Friend Connect, or even just leave me a comment telling me you were here!

Max with His Weighted Blanket

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Lindsey) — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 19:15:00 +0000

As promised, here are a handful of photos of Max with his beloved weighted blanket from Affordable Weighted Blankets. They make such awesome products and I hope you'll catch a glimpse of their quality via a few photographs!

Here you see Max opening his much anticipated box! He was elated to find it sitting by the couch upon coming home from school. Max has sensory issues and is high strung, emotional, and has multiple daily meltdowns. We rightly suspected a weighted blanket might help him to relax.

I asked him to give it a try... so he sat down and wrapped it around his shoulders, then gave me 2 thumbs up! He picked out the fabrics... both the cool space pattern and the wild green color on the blanket's backside.

Since the above photos were taken, Max has had a much needed haircut... as you see here:

And so ok... he wasn't yet asleep in that photo, but he was resting peacefully and happily. This blanket really does relief stress. I've tried it! I love that it's heavy and soft at the same time. It has a wonderful cushy feel, is warm, and very comfortable. To my surprise, over the past 2 nights Max has been hijacking my comforter and lying that atop his weighted blanket. When I asked him why, he said he was still cold. I think he runs cold blooded like I do! lol This tells me he'll probably be plenty comfy with his weighted blanket come Summer. I don't think the weight or fluffy happiness will leave him too warm.

Isn't he adorable! I'm a bit biased, but when he smiles my heart melts.

Thank you Donna from Affordable Weighted Blankets for creating such an awesome blanket for Max. I posted this for my readers as well as for Donna to see... I wanted her to see firsthand how receptive Max was to the blanket and how much he loves it.

Max Finally Receives His Weighted Blanket

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Lindsey) — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 01:33:00 +0000

Once again, it appears I "checked out" for a few weeks. I'm still here and boy do I have a lot of information to bring my readers up to date on. One of my greatest joys of the past week was receiving a custom made weighted blanket for Max. It's so well made, fit for a boy of 115 lbs (Max is nearly 113, so we rounded up!) and he picked out the fabric of his choice from the seller's website, both front and back. Max being the long-time astronomy guru of course went with a solar system theme and a pretty green backing. It looks awesome in his Star Wars room.

This week I'll be sharing photos and giving a lot of much deserved praise to Donna at Affordable Weighted Blankets for creating such well constructed blankets to children with sensory issues like Max. She sells a variety of weighted blankets and lap pads and does so quickly and with great care. The blankets are professionally made and are incredibly comfortable. Honestly, I wouldn't mind having one for my own bed. Just to see what it felt like, I crawled under his weighted blanket and I couldn't help but notice the stress of my own day slipping away. They do make these for adults... just in case you're wondering. ; )

The first night Max had his blanket and every night sense, he's slept like a baby. Not the baby he was as a baby either, but the baby everyone hopes their baby will be. lol Max didn't sleep well as an infant, toddler, little boy, 4th grader... you get the idea. Between his Abilify which he started in mid-December and his cozy weighted blanket... night time seems to be relaxing to him and to the rest of the family.

God has truly answered yet another prayer!! I know my Max will always have struggles I don't completely relate too, but I also trust God has a specific plan in store for my son. Max is an amazing child. Additionally, I give much praise to my creator for all the awesome people I've had the pleasure of meeting through my son's disability. Since Max was diagnosed, I've been experiencing a flood of support from outside my family. Interestingly, I can tell you (no lie here) more often than not when I meet someone knew, even if it's outside the autism realm, they either have a close relative on the spectrum or they're a para or resource teacher. lol I've learned so much from these seemingly random friendships I've acquired. Of course, I don't believe for a second any of this is random.

Please continue to follow our journey! I really want you to catch a glimpse of how a weighted blanket can benefit a child on the spectrum. It's so worth the investment. There have been two products I've acquired that I've definitely seen beneficial... the sock-like bed sheet I wrote about in an earlier post, and this weighted blanket.

Visit me again throughout the week and if you have any questions at all don't hesitate to ask away. I'm more than happy to share and in fact, that's why I'm here!

Blessings....

On Loneliness and Autism

noreply@blogger.com (Maggie) — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 04:11:00 +0000

I LOVE these words on loneliness from author Beverly Linder and with her permission I'd like to share them with you! I'm confident you'll find her words to be encouraging and full of Biblical wisdom on helping our special children overcome the isolation they live with on a daily basis. Thank you Beverly for allowing me to share these words, your website, and your book with my readers.

Oh, So All Alone...

"Isolation--that feeling of being so all alone--is the number one biggest problem, frustration, and heartache for the individual who has special needs. Kids feel alone on the playground; they feel alone at school and Sunday school; they feel alone in a chattery conversation that moves too fast for them; older kids feel alone observing and constantly hearing of the achievements and privileges of their peers--privileges such as driving or having the attention of the opposite sex. The kid with limitations lives with a feeling that he or she is different, and somehow unable to be accepted and included. (The families of these kids feel isolated too, but that is a subject for another time.

In my last note, I asked for feedback from parents and caregivers about the needs of special kids, and isolation came up each time there was a response.

There is an old saying that I'm sure you are familiar with: "You can give a starving man a fish, or you can teach him how to fish." As I think about the solutions to the dilemma of isolation that comes with having limitations, I think of this saying...for there are solutions such as buddy systems. Finding a buddy for your child is a great idea, just as giving a fish to a hungry person would be. But much better and much more lasting is to teach your special child to "fish" for himself or herself.

How to do that? Making a broad statement on this subject is a little tricky, for there are so many different conditions, which involve so many complicated differences in children with various issues. But allow me to make this overall statement: More than anything--more than academics, more than coping skills, more than various therapies, more than anything in this world, teach your child to be sensitive to the needs and feelings of those around him; this is the best cure for loneliness.

There are kids on the autism spectrum who seem to not be able to relate at all. There are kids who have cognitive challenges who are not very responsive. What about them? Two things come to mind. First, no one who is made in the image of God is stagnant and unable to change and to grow, even if the growth is very slow and painstaking.

The second thing that comes to mind is a piece of advice that I feel confident to give: Go to the Word of God for your wisdom much more than to the professionals. Dr. John Lee, M.D. has said, "When I hear comments like 'nine out of ten doctors recommend such and such...' I usually ask myself, what does that one doctor know that the other nine don't!" The point is that truth and wisdom are not necessarily validated by numbers, and there are many professionals who will downplay or simply be completely unaware of your child's potential to grow as a giving contributor to his world.

There is only One person who knows the soul of your child, and God's Word is universal. If you look closely in His Word, you won't see any exceptions to His encouragements, commands, instructions, and promises.

This doesn't mean that God doesn't "get" the uniqueness of your child. It means that within your child's own style, bent, and even limitations, somehow, His Word applies--and the image of God that is part of his or her very being can learn to be expressed.

Start with the book of Proverbs and know that God's wisdom presented in its pages does apply to your special child.

God did not permit individuals to have disabilities so that they could forever be an object of pity or an unceasing burden to those around them. Just the opposite. He has allowed this so that His own glory could show forth in a special way.

The disciples once asked Jesus concerning a blind man, "Who sinned, this man or his parents that he should be born blind?" I'm so glad that Jesus immediately corrected their erroneous thinking by saying quite clearly, "It was neither that this man sinned nor his parents, but so that the works of God might be displayed in him" (John 9:1-3). In this case, Jesus displayed the works of God by healing the man. More often now, he displays the works of God in a person who has a disability by showing forth His character in a powerful way--by demonstrating in him or her that having limitations does not cancel out the person's ability to bless, inspire, and encourage others.

That lonely, all-alone feeling, unfortunately, is a reality for individuals who are unable to participate in life's typical experiences the way most others do--or for the person who looks or acts "different." There is no 100% solution to the problem.

But we can help our kids immeasurably to be accepted, valued, and enjoyed by others when we gently lead them along a path of being others-aware and by giving them practical how-to's in making others feel valued by them. For it is true: respect tends to be contagious."

Visit Bev Linder at:
www.special-heart.com

How Learning Disabilities Effect Reading Skills... a Free eBook

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Lindsey) — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 01:25:00 +0000

I was recently contacted by Learning Horizons with a link to a free eBook on learning disabilities effect on reading skills. Covered in these 35 pages is critical information on spectrum children.

My son excels in reading and a year ago tested out of 7th grade reading. At that time he was 8. However, there has been some question as to what he actually understands when he reads. He seems to have somewhat of a photographic memory and can nearly recite word for word what he's read, but if you ask him to explain what it means, he's sometimes at a loss. He has difficulty pulling out the main idea of a story or summarizing the authors main point.

I'm still working my way through this free eBook, which I believe will be of some benefit to parents of spectrum children, or for those with Down's Syndrome, ADHD, Dyslexia, Auditory Processing Disorders, Specific Language Impairment, Dysgraphia, or Discaluculia.

When You Feel Overwhelmed Where Do You Turn?

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Lindsey) — Sun, 06 Feb 2011 04:47:00 +0000

When you have a rough day... (and we have them don't we?) where do you turn for comfort? Is it a friend or relative, maybe food, perhaps alcohol or a prescription mediation? I wonder how many mom's of special needs kids are themselves on anti-depressants and/or anti-anxiety meds?

Have you ever felt as though you were in a place where you had no one to turn to? I have. Even as a Christian (who btw, does take an anti-anxiety medication) I sometimes find myself praying and yet feeling very much alone and empty. I wonder why? That feeling of loneliness does subside in time. I usually do feel God's love for me in some form through prayer... but sometimes it comes later. I have no doubt He's there, holding me, collecting my tears, and as David Crowder sings... He "never lets go". He's carrying us even when we can't feel it. I guess what I'm saying is that I wish I could feel it. Physically feel it. Sometimes the other side of eternity seems so far away.

When you reach for that phone and no one answers, it might just be your opportunity to remember that God should really be the first place you turn. Not your gal pals... not your sister or your mom, but Him. He knows the plan... knows the pain, knows the frustration you're feeling. He gives us friends to laugh and cry with... but our friends can't love or know us the way our creator does. They can't know where the path we're on leads or why we're even on it. Why we were chosen to be moms to such wonderful and amazing kids with special needs... and sometimes special husbands (oh... Lord, my heart is heavy for my husband, but that's another post).

This has been a very stressful week at our house. I'm not only having mommy pains, I'm having marital pains. These pains seem to be intertwined into one huge mess of a situation that replays itself over and over again. I am not in a marital relationship that allows me to openly express my frustrations... even my hopes and dreams without criticism or confusion. It's complicated, but I often feel the pings of loneliness. That's not something I expected to feel as a wife and mother.

Tonight I was blessed with a mommy break for about 90 minutes. I went to the store and bought some diet foods and walked around the store. I thought about my prayer life a lot, thought about the song I'd heard on the radio moments before... and wanted to share it with you here: