Just Cruisin'....

I feel like we have set the cruise control and our sailing down the highway at a comfortable rate of speed.  We have a system and it seems to be working for now.  The first week of Brain Balance sessions went great. The boys absolutely love going.

Our schedule seems to flow nicely and we seem to handle the few bumps in the road that have come up.  I still haven't found a bread recipe, but the boys don't ask anymore.  The new favorite at this house is sweet potato fries and homemade ketchup.  Yep, homemade ketchup.  I didn't like that the ketchup I was buying at Natural Grocers didn't list the spices.  Knowing that RD has a lot of spice intolerance, I decided to find my own.  I searched the internet and found a recipe that had ingredients that were on the "yes" list.  I found the recipe at www.thetolerantvegan.com.  Nathan, Chris and I all like the recipe.  Of course, RD does not.  I am trying a new recipe for him today.  Keeping my fingers crossed that he will like it.  Actually, the new one has less ingredients and takes less time to make.

I have started reading Dr. Robert Melillo's book "Reconnected Kids".  Dr. Melillo is the co-creator of the Brain Balance Centers.  This book is amazing! I am learning so much.  When we started Brain Balance everyone would reference it as if I knew what they were talking about.  After admitting I hadn't read it yet, they would encourage me to get it.  I finally bought a copy at the center on Saturday and began reading, while the boys did their sessions.  I am learning so much more!  This Brain Balance journey has only just begun. Dr. Melillo has 2 books....the first one is "Disconnected Kids".  This one gives you a way at home to test your own kid to see if they are right or left brain delayed.  He also gives you exercises that you could begin at home, that are like those they do at the center.  Definitely worth a read!  The second book is "Reconnected Kids" and is designed for those that are in the center or who have read his first book. Buy both of them!  They were $12 a piece at Brain Balance and I am sure you can pick them up online or at other retailers.

If you have been following my blog and are curious about your own children.....start with the books.  You'll be out $25-$30 at the most, but I believe you will have answers that are priceless.  Answers that I think every parent needs.

"Mom, I can't wait for Thursday!"

Yesterday was our first Brain Balance session.  Both boys loved it.  Alright, so it probably helps that they can earn "Brain Balance Bucks" and then shop in the Brain Balance store, but I'll take it!  They both agreed that it was more fun than the "at home" exercises.  I also believe it was good to associate something different with this Brain Balance journey.  The staff at the facility here in St. George is pretty amazing.  R.D. started first and was partnered with another boy who is also right brain delayed.  Nathan went a half hour later and did his session with just the staff member.  It was funny sitting in the waiting room and listening to the conversations.  Kids talk about their brain delays, they ask if you are right or left brain delay, are you obsessed with certain things....all topics that are fun to hear these kids discuss.  I think it is great for my boys to know that there are others that have the same struggles that they do, and that they are not that different. 

R.D. walked out with 6 Brain Bucks, as we call them.  Not bad for his first day.  And then he handed the nice lady behind the counter a "Brain".  She was shocked!  She asked if he had really earned a brain on his first day....brains are hard to come by and usually not handed out on the first day.  I know you are reading this and thinking, "they hand out brains".  Yes, they do!  Brains are exactly that.....brain shaped cutouts that are orange and green.  One half is green and the other half is orange.  Whenever the kids do something really well they earn a brain.  That brain then hangs in the hallway with their picture.  Each kid is pictured that is in the program and the brains they earn are displayed for all to see and congratulate them.  It's pretty cool to see. 

Nathan came out a half hour later and handed in his 6 Brain Bucks.  No brain earned, but a smile on his face.  The boys were told that they can earn up to 30 Brain Balance Bucks a week and then they get to shop in the new Brain Balance store.  After being given a tour of the store....Nathan announced, "I want to come everyday to Brain Balance and earn Brain Bucks."  They earn their bucks by doing their best in their sessions, doing their at home exercises, and following nutrition.  Ummm, yeah that means mommy can't mess that up anymore!  I can proudly say my boys have not cheated on their diet.  No candy, no unacceptable snacks, no cheating.   Now, I have messed up nutrition for them, but not in the way that would be considered horrible.  Just a part of the learning curve.  I am so proud of my boys!  They are being asked to do a lot, but they have tackled each hurdle we have put in front of them.  I love learning from them....I feel so blessed! 

Now, we will see how I feel when we start having more regression in behavior and other "not so fun" phases that are all a part of this process.  I am expecting them and I will try to prepare to the best of my ability.  Thankfully, I have Jesus Christ as my savior and I know that he will carry any burden that I feel is too heavy.  I plan to be turning to him a lot over the coming months. 

Oops! I did it again!

Oops! I did it again...yeah, I looked for pictures that fit that description, let's just say I won't be using any of those.  Lucky for me, I stumbled on to this quote while trying to find something to go with this post.  I am glad my original idea didn't really work out.  This one is way better.

Now, what did I do again?  Good question, bad answer.  I messed up R.D.'s food, again.  This time with his absolute favorite thing on this earth....BACON!  When R.D. was tested his blood work came back as a mild intolerance to "pork", but because he ate bacon almost daily before the test, they said he couldn't eat it for 3 months.  That is how both boys lost "beef"...it was something they ate several times a week, before the tests.  Any food that was in the "mild intolerance" list that they ate a lot of got moved to the "moderate intolerance" list.  Well, in my looking at his sheet, I failed to notice the line I had drawn from pork to the moderate list.  OOPS! I did it again!  Yesterday, was what had been 4 days since R.D. had bacon.  I let him have it for breakfast, dinner and I even through in a pork steak for good measure.  I mean if you're gonna mess it up, why not do it with style.

Today has been full of a disobeying R.D.  He has not wanted to listen and has been argumentative.  We couldn't figure out what was going on.  Then I was going over menus and noticed that cute little star by bacon and the line going to moderate intolerance.  I might have said some really not "nice" things to myself.  Are you kidding me?  I have to go tell him again, that mommy completely messed up his diet.  After breaking that news to him....it dawned on me. He has been acting up because of the "Bacon".  Seriously, they tell us at Brain Balance to watch for changes in mood, behavior and other things daily.  Today, was clearly a reaction to the bacon.  I learned something new.  I could actually see the change and the result of the diet.  In a crazy way, I think it needed to happen.  It once again gives me more proof that diet plays a huge part in their behavior.

Tomorrow we head down another path....the boys start their actual Brain Balance sessions.  I am beyond excited.  I know it will be tough, but it can't be tougher than telling your son he can't have bacon.....

D'OH

D'OH (head slap included)  This was exactly my reaction last night, when I realized  that since last Friday I had been giving RD oranges.  What's wrong with oranges?  They are on his mild intolerance list.  He is only supposed to get them once every four days.  Along with pineapple, he'd been drinking pineapple juice as well.  Let's just say that I was on the verge of tears.  How did I miss it?  I am a horrible mom!  Why didn't I see it on his list?  Why am I not checking the list twice?  I felt horrible telling him that I had messed up big time.  R.D. had gotten used to his orange/banana smoothie and drinking orange juice with this horrible tasting powder supplement he has to take every day.  And he didn't hold back telling me that I had just taken away his favorite thing.  That he could finally take his medicine in orange juice and like it.  Why was I taking away everything that he liked.  D'OH! 

The only conclusion that I can reach is that I must have looked at Nathan's chart by accident and thought oranges were o.k.  I definitely had some moments last night where I was so mad at myself and I kept apologizing to R.D.  Yes, I know that I had been telling myself that I would mess up and it would be just fine.  No one gets it perfect right away.  It is a process.  But, still how did I miss such an obvious one....the orange!  I mean I understand if I mess up with his spice intolerance, but to mess up the orange.  Today is a new day and R.D. is now getting a strawberry/banana smoothie and apple juice with his supplement. Yes, I have double and triple checked that those are on the "approved" list or in the green section. 

The boys are doing better with the nutrition as far as accepting it.  Nathan even told me he liked it and that kids at school who were eating bad food couldn't focus as well as he can.  My mom even forgot to give him his Concerta (his ADHD meds) on Tuesday, and the teacher said he did an excellent job.  When I figured out he hadn't gotten his meds, I told my mom, "You get to call his teacher and apologize to her."  She actually did just that, and that is when we found out he had been well behaved. 

The steps are small right now, but we are seeing changes.  Looking so forward to beginning the Brain Balance sessions next Tuesday.  This is where I believe the boys will get to see that there are other kids doing the same thing and they aren't alone.  R.D. even asked me the other night if we were the only family who eats this way and does these exercises.  The boys need to be reassured that they are not alone and I believe that starting the sessions will be just what they need. 

Excuse me, I need to go check again that apples, strawberries and bananas are on the approved list....

Is that on the schedule?

It's gotta be on the schedule!

We found early on with our boys, like I am talking since birth, that a schedule is super important.  With Brain Balance it is even that much more important.  Our boys thrive on a schedule and we seem to have one that is working nicely.  They have settled in.  It goes a little something like this:

M-F

6:00 a.m.    Wake Up
6:20 a.m.    Do first set of Brain Balance Exercises
6:50 ish      Start eating breakfast/ take vitamins/take meds
7:45 a.m.    R.D. at intermediate school
8:00 a.m.   Grandma does Nathan's second session of Brain Balance Exercises
9:00 a.m.   Nathan at school

2:00 p.m.    Pick up RD from school
2:30 p.m.   R.D. does second session of Brain Balance Exercises
3:30 p.m.   R.D. does third session of Brain Balance Exercises
3:30 p.m.   Pick up Nathan from school
4:00 p.m.   Nathan does third session of Brain Balance Exercises
4:00 p.m.   R.D. does homework
4:30 p.m.   R.D. has 30 minute computer time
4:30 p.m.   Nathan does homework
5:00 p.m.   Nathan gets 30 minute computer time
5:30 p.m.   Nathan does his fourth Brain Balance Session
5:45 ish      Dinner

6:30 p.m.   Showers start, menu for next day gets planned, lunches get packed, more medicine
6:45 p.m.   Nathan does his fifth Brain Balance Session
7:00 p.m.   Clothes for next day are layed out
7:00-8:00 p.m.  Play time
8:00-8:30 p.m.  Snack time, Nathan's reading time, and bedtime story for all
8:30-9:00 p.m.  Brush teeth, prayer, and bedtime

Saturday

No exercises!  Just 30 minute screen time and vitamins and medicine.

Sunday

9:00, 11:00, 1:00, 3:00 and 5:00  are the exercise times. 
7:00 p.m. is Family Movie Night

There it is in a nutshell....our days.  However, that schedule will be changed beginning next week.  On Tuesday, September 4th we start our official Brain Balance Sessions.  The boys will go every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday for one hour.  This has to be worked in with the rest of the schedule.....yep, we have to find a different one that is gonna work.  They still have to keep the other exercises, plus add the new sessions. 

Is is working?  I am getting asked that a lot lately.  Yes, I believe it is.  Over the past few days there have been some noticeable changes.  Things that others might not notice, but stand out to Chris and I.  Example:  Friday night, Nathan suggested we go to the Washington City Community Center to swim and then go bowling.  Wow!  Nathan never wants to leave the house, except to go to Target.  We ended up going bowling and had a ton of fun!  All thanks to Nathan!   R.D. has been the most organized at school that I've ever seen him. He is taking more care to try and get it right.  We have less mood swings already.  They are performing their exercises better and getting stronger.  I am so excited to start our sessions next week.  The changes are gonna be off the chart, and I can't wait. 

How is the nutrition going?  Well, I bet you don't get this dinner request at your house...."Mom, can you make spaghetti squash with bison meatballs?"  Yeah, those are the kinds of things you hear around our house now.

Let's Make A Deal

I think Yogi Bear sums up what my mom is dealing with this morning.  It is 5:25 a.m. and I have already had two phone calls from my mom.  Nathan woke up as I was leaving for work this morning.  He hasn't done this in forever.  I headed out the door and he headed down to get grandma. 

The first phone call came at 5:00 a.m. with my mom asking me what to do with my "Ravenous" son.  He had been begging her for her cheese roll-ups, or noodles, he'd even settle for a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup.  Grandma resisted his cute little face and desperate pleas, but she didn't know what she could feed him.  I got on the phone with Nathan and  explained why he couldn't have a buffalo burger this morning either.  I then gave him some acceptable choices and he thanked me for giving him options, and that he would take raisins.

Second phone call at 5:15 a.m......Nathan has eaten a bowl of raisins, a granola bar and was working on a bowl of cold quinoa with Ketchup.  He also wanted grandma to know this was NOT his breakfast.  For breakfast he would be trying my granola cereal with almond milk.  Clearly, we are in a growth spurt.  Sadly, I am at work and can't remember his entire "Do Not  Eat" list.  However, I think granola is on the 4 day rotation plan and so is honey.  I guess no more granola for 4 days.  I keep reminding myself that this won't be a perfect science for a few more weeks and we are bound to make mistakes.  We'll learn and move on. 

I think I'll take advantage of this growth spurt and use it to get him to eat foods I normally wouldn't be able to get him to try.....if he's hungry enough, he will eat it.

Say What?

We have been counting down the days until we could meet with the nutritionist.  The day we would find out what foods we got to add back into our diet.  The boys couldn't wait for us to get home to tell them the good news.

Lets just say it wasn't the happy reunion with certain foods that I had seen in my head.  Actually, a look of fear crossed my face and I said to the nutritionist, "Are you going to tell them they CAN'T eat beef?"   I certainly didn't want to be the bearer of that news.  Once again I sat in the office with Chris completely feeling overwhelmed. The nutritionist started the meeting with the urine results, he said parents tend to not be able to focus after the blood results which showed the food intolerance.  Good call!   Now, I can say that their urine tests came back pretty good.  Nathan needs a biotin vitamin, R.D. has to take a powder for what is believed to be "leaky gut".  They both have to have a cream rubbed in on certain pressure points where the skin is thin for a xylene exposure in their body.  We are currently trying to track down the xylene toxin in our home....something is affecting them in high doses.  Trust me it could be worse.  Now, I would love to explain some of this in further detail, but I am a DJ.  I understand what they were saying, but words were used that I wouldn't be able to remember if my life depended on it. 

Alright Doc! Bring on the nutrition....we are ready.  It is amazing how "punches to the gut" can be thrown without someone even lifting their arm.  I swear it felt like I was in the ring with Muhammad Ali....the hits kept coming.  Nathan's nutrition came back first.  Nothing in the "red zone". That is good, means no severe intolerance.  A few things in the "orange zone".  Nothing that Nathan really eats anyhow.  "Yellow Zone" was a different story.  These are "mild intolerance" foods.  The list was much longer.  Doctor told me to put a * by any food he had been eating regularly before we had started the testing.  Beef , broccoli and eggs got *'s.  Any food with a * can't be eaten for 3 months, same as anything in the "orange zone".  Excuse me!  This kid LOVES hamburgers.  He will eat broccoli over any other vegetable.  He loves it as well.  Uh oh!  O.k. lets look at the positives....he gets rice, corn and potatoes back.  He likes rice, but wasn't a big fan of the other two anyhow.  Still no gluten, dairy, eggs, peanuts, or soy.  If foods fall in to the "yellow zone" and I didn't * them....he gets to eat those foods every 4 days.  This is more math than I can handle.  I can't even balance a checkbook.  At the end the Dr. tells me that really Nathan is pretty lucky and not too bad off compared to some other kids.  He says that some kids have "don't eat lists" that are 3 pages long.

R.D. is up next.....we flip open the folder and I see 10 things in the "Red Zone".  12 things in the "Orange Zone"  and way too many things in the "Yellow Zone".  I start *ing those things in the yellow.  Now, he can't have beef, coconut oil, eggs, pork and vanilla for 3 months.  Important note:  Any food already listed in the "orange zone" is a food that can't be eaten for 3 months.  The foods with the * by them in the yellow zone get moved in to the orange zone.  R.D. can't have cinnamon, corn, oats,  peppermint or spearmint for 3 months.  Now there are other foods in there, but they weren't really ones he ever ate anyhow.  The only thing from the "elimination diet" that R.D. gets back is potatoes.  He is very excited!  He has a total of 2 printed out pages of foods he has to avoid.  Poor kid!  So much of this food is affecting his well being.

Please understand that I know that what we are doing is right!  I know that these foods truly impact their bodies. I get it....but, you tell your 8 and 11 year old that you are taking away their favorite food. Beef!  This means no more beef hot dogs, hamburgers, or steaks for 3 months. That is something by the way that has made the elimination diet tolerable.  I understand that 3 months isn't very long.  They don't.  They will deal and they will survive, but it is still hard to see the hurt on their faces.  R.D. also can no longer eat the granola bars and granola cereal that I make that he loved.  He is bummed. 

Also, when I say no gluten....I mean nothing made with wheat, barley, malt, and rye.  We have to avoid these grains as well. It is not as easy as just buying "gluten free" products.  I wish it was.  I guess I will be looking for garbanzo bean flour and bread recipes that call for it.  I have made the promise to both boys that I will find recipes that use the foods they can eat and we will have yummy foods they will like. So, this is a mom on a mission! 

Again, I am excited and thrilled to be doing what we are doing.  It is not easy, but that is o.k.  It is something that is bringing us closer together as a family.  I keep reciting Jeremiah 29:11 and I know that we are very blessed to be doing what we are doing.  Let the "googling" begin!  I've got recipes to find, labels to read and groceries to buy.....