The Great Milk Experiment

And I do mean GREAT!!!!!

Jason came down with pink eye last Friday. As I was doing research on natural remedies for it, I some how happened upon something about the GFCF (gluten free, casein free) diet. It's used as a therapy for autism.

This got me thinking...it probably does not just apply to autistic children. Maybe Addie's drastic mood swings (yes, drastic even for a 2 year old) and Jason's sometimes beyond hyperactivity, could be a reaction to dairy.

Jason had a milk allergy as a baby. If I drank milk, ate cheese, you name it, he had eczema from my breast milk. When he was old enough to eat solids, his lips would break out in hives. When he was old enough to express what was happening, he would tell us his mouth had "boo-boos" on the inside too. Needless to say, I rarely gave him dairy. But over this past year his reactions have become less pronounced, until I thought they were nonexistent. Gradually he began having cheese, yogurt, and very rarely cow milk on his cereal.

Dairy products are an easy way to get protein in their little bodies. I thought I was doing their moods a favor by getting them protein. But the dairy, I now realize, had the opposite effect.

The day, I'm talking within hours, of not giving Addie milk to drink or cheese to eat, she was a stable little two year old. Unbelievable. Her happy and silly little self all day long. I didn't have to listen to her say "No--don't want to/it," for half the day. Usually when she would go on those long jags (they would last for hours) nothing I could say, do, or bribe would bring back her happy mood. And those moods would hit without any warning.

Needless to say, I was blown away--could it really be that simple? Well, amazingly enough...it is for her!!!!!!

I'm not saying she never has tantrums or gets upset, but I am saying she is a totally different little girl. She is her normal self ALL DAY, instead of just half of it.

As for Jason, he has not gone into hyper mode all week. Yippee!

So, I thought they were no longer allergic--but boy was I wrong. Too bad it took me so long to figure it out. But the phrase, "better late, than never" definitely applies here.

It your kiddos exhibit extreme behavior, you should consider what they may be getting too little/or too much of. Maybe they need more protein, no wheat, who knows. I definitely learned that in our family, I can't blame everything on sugar :)

May Flower

Happy Mother's Day!

A great friend emailed this to me earlier in the week and I thought it was too cute not to share :)

WHY GOD MADE MOMS
Answers given by 2nd grade school children to the following questions:

Why did God make mothers?

1. She's the only one who knows where the scotch tape is.
2. Mostly to clean the house.
3. To help us out of there when we were getting born.

How did God make mothers?

1. He used dirt, just like for the rest of us.
2. Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring.
3. God made my Mom just the same like he made me. He just used bigger parts.

What ingredients are mothers made of ?

1. God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in the world and one dab of mean.
2. They had to get their start from men's bones. Then they mostly use string, I think.

Why did God give you your mother and not some other mom?

1. We're related.
2. God knew she likes me a lot more than other people's moms like me.

What kind of little girl was your mom?

1. My Mom has always been my mom and none of that other stuff.
2. I don't know because I wasn't there, but my guess would be pretty bossy.
3. They say she used to be nice.

What did Mom need to know about dad before she married him?

1. His last name.
2. She had to know his background. Like is he a crook? Does he get drunk on beer?
3. Does he make at least $800 a year? Did he say NO to drugs and YES to chores?

Why did your mom marry your dad?

1. My dad makes the best spaghetti in the world. And my Mom eats a lot.
2. She got too old to do anything else with him.
3. My grandma says that Mom didn't have her thinking cap on.

Who's the boss at your house?

1. Mom doesn't want to be boss, but she has to because dad's such a goof ball.
2. Mom. You can tell by room inspection. She sees the stuff under the bed.
3. I guess Mom is, but only because she has a lot more to do than dad.

What's the difference between moms & dads?

1. Moms work at work and work at home and dads just go to work at work.
2. Moms know how to talk to teachers without scaring them.
3. Dads are taller & stronger, but moms have all the real power 'cause that's who you got to ask if you want to sleep over at your friend's.
4. Moms have magic, they make you feel better without medicine.

What does your mom do in her spare time?

1. Mothers don't do spare time.
2. To hear her tell it, she pays bills all day long.

What would it take to make your mom perfect?

1. On the inside she's already perfect. Outside, I think some kind of plastic surgery.
2. Diet. You know, her hair. I'd diet, maybe blue.

If you could change one thing about your mom, what would it be?
1. She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean. I'd get rid of that.
2. I'd make my mom smarter. Then she would know it was my sister who did it and not me.
3. I would like for her to get rid of those invisible eyes on the back of her head.

Chattin' It Up

Addie's 2nd Birthday

Addie woke up knowing it was a special day! She and Jason were wired--having a total ball chasing each other through the house. And completely ignoring Mommy's requests to calm down, LOL!





Although Elmo is now her favorite Sesame Street friend, Cookie Monster was a big hit...and lots of fun for Mommy to make.

Jason was a good "director/helper" when it came time to unwrap presents. She exclaimed a breathless "WOW" every time she emerged a new gift from it's paper.

Some of her immediate favorites were sidewalk chalk and a big ball :)

Earlier in the day we met Daddy at the park near his work for a picnic and play. She loves parks!!!

We had a fun pre-birthday party with lots of family the Sunday before Addie's birthday. Grandma, Aunt Corrie, Gammie, BaPa, Aunt Tara and Uncle Jeff were some of her favorite people there that day.