Here We Go Again.....

Here we go again.....

The boys have started another 36 sessions of Brain Balance.  Most of you probably just "sighed" and maybe felt a little sorry for us.  Don't!

I am excited!  Why? The answer is simple....after seeing how far our boys came in just 3 months, I can't wait to see what the next 3 months will bring.  How can this be a bad thing?

Trust me I am well aware of the HARD work that we have in front of us for the next 3 months, but at least I don't have to start over with the diet.  Ha, Ha!

Here is the deal....the boys made AMAZING advances, but aren't quite there yet.  They still have some of their primitive reflexes which are affecting their daily lives.  Nathan is still struggling with smells, math, and comprehension.  R.D. is still struggling with a few things as well.  But why oh why would we quit now!  We told the boys it would be like climbing Mt. Everest and stopping just short of the top.  They have come so far that we can't stop now!

One big change is that Nathan's brain has basically strengthened on the right side, but it has now exposed how delayed his left brain is.  So we now have a "left brain" delay to work with.  This means different music, different smells, different eye patch and different activities.  We were rockin' the right brain delay stuff, and now R.D. and Nathan can't be in the same room to do their exercises.  Neither one of them is supposed to listen to the others music.  I consider this my "challenge" for this round of Brain Balance Sessions.  I am pretty comfortable with the diet now and we are reintroducing foods, so everything in that department is awesome.  But now I have to remember to make Nathan stimulate his left brain.....exact opposite of everything we've done for the last 3 months and opposite of what R.D. will be doing.  Challenge accepted!

It works if you work the program....I will keep saying this.  If you are considering Brain Balance, do it! Just make sure you are ready to make your child and this program your TOP priority.  We have seen results and they have amazed us.  We wouldn't have signed up, paid for, and committed to another 3 months if the results we saw weren't worth it.  The totally amazing little boys that I knew were in there, are starting to shine!  I honestly can't talk to people about our experience without shedding some tears...it is an emotional journey for us. 

I am just hoping that working with a "right brain delay" and a "left brain delay" will balance out my brain a little.....

Signs, signs...everywhere there's signs

Signs, signs everywhere, there's signs
Blocking up the scenery, breaking my mind
Do this, don't do that, can't you read the sign?

I don't know why, but this song is stuck in my head.  It probably has to do with the fact that yesterday was R.D.'s last session at Brain Balance before his assessment.  Nathan has his last session tomorrow.  I sat yesterday in the waiting area while the boys did sessions and filled out paperwork.  It is the same paperwork I filled out before the boys started.  I had been told that this is often the point when you realize the changes that have been made.  They weren't kidding!

As I sat there filling out the paperwork on each boy, I was shocked by how much I hadn't noticed had changed.  It's like being with that person who loses a lot of weight and you don't notice because you are with them everyday.  They were things that I just hadn't noticed....literally there were signs all around me, but I hadn't seen them all.  We have seen many changes for the better and almost daily see more advancement.  R.D. is more responsible.  He makes his bed now, he doesn't fight when I clip his fingernails, his ability to follow multi-step directions is getting better.  He is acting more like an 11 year old.  He just seemed to make the change to doing things that others take for granted overnight.  He just all the sudden does the "normal" thing and he's not even aware of it.  It is amazing to watch.  Often I have to stop myself from cheering, because I don't want to bring attention to it.

Nathan is having the same great results.  He is not a disruption in class and is getting back to playing with friends.  He now wants to be social again.  They like to play outside, they are more active, and they are less likely to whine every time we do something different.  Now, they still have their moments but don't most kids.

Both boys are on the lowest dosing of their medicine.  They are taking 18 mg of Concerta.  R.D. started at 45 mg in August. Nathan began the journey at 36 mg.  Their pediatrician is excited and genuinely impressed by their improvement.  He just saw both boys in the last week for their well checks and couldn't believe what he was seeing.  The changes were noticeable to him.  He wants to learn more and do what he can to help other parents.  He told us he sees kids with ADHD, Autism and other learning disorders all day long.  Their doctor believes that in just a few months (or sooner) they will be completely off the meds.  That is one of our goals!  Teachers are giving good feedback and letting us know the changes they are seeing as well.

We have to wait till after their assessment to know if they need 3 more months, a few more sessions, or if they are done.  By done I only mean that their sessions at Brain Balance would be over.  They will still have a certain number of at home exercises to do for awhile.  They also will remain on their diet.  No gluten, No soy, No dairy, and No Casein.  Yes, they have told me they want to keep eating the food we eat...they like it.  As we continue to introduce more foods from their "intolerant" list, the happier they get.  My boys know they feel better and our whole family has made the change.  We like it!  I am anxious to continue learning new recipes and becoming a better cook.  Can I just say that we have never been healthier.  No doctor visits this fall.  No medicines.  A lot of the weird runny noses, congestion and other issues are no longer occurring.

If we need more sessions, we will make it happen.  I have chosen to view the at home exercises as a great time to be with my boys.  Yes, it is exhausting. Yes, it is a lot of WORK.  Yes, we have sacrificed.  Yes, we have struggled.  Yes, the food changes were HARD.

But....I would do it over again!  I have been able to put my family first.  I know that I have given them everything I have. I have learned more about them and spent precious time with them.  Our boys will not have to wonder if we care about them.  They know!  Even on those days when I didn't want to cook a meal, pack a lunch, or do another session....I tried to remind myself that this is precious time, to slow down and to live in the moment.  I have been so PROUD of them in this journey that I can't help but shed tears when I think of how hard they have worked.  I don't believe they would have worked as hard as they did if they didn't want to fix their brains, and felt that the whole process was working.

Brain Balance works, if you work the program.  Don't skip anything they tell you to do!  We have learned to go against the norm.  It's made our family stronger.  I am excited to see the future my boys have.  I feel like they have a better chance of success now.

Our sign says...."Just Getting Started!"

This one hurt...

We have been cruising right along with our Brain Balance journey. Anyone who asks me about it, probably regrets it 45 minutes later when I stop talking.  I believe in the program. If you work the program it will work for you.  I continue to tell people it is NOT easy!

Last night there were a lot of tears....

People are always complimenting me with how well our boys have been doing on the diet.  They can't believe they don't cheat.  The boys work hard on this diet.  I am so proud of them.

Last night Nathan broke my heart.....

All afternoon and evening he had been acting up.  We knew something wasn't right.  We went over what he had eaten the day before, what he had eaten yesterday.  Nothing stood out.

We put the boys to bed and went to bed ourself.  I heard a ruckus in Nathan's room and went to investigate.  He had thrown his drawing notebook on the floor and was sitting in bed. Angry.

I asked him what was wrong. His response, "I can't think of anything to draw." I knew this wasn't the problem.  He had been acting up all night out of frustration.  I asked him again, "What is wrong?"  This time he told me he wanted to quit the Brain Balance diet as soon as we finished the program.  We've had this discussion before, but I knew last night was different.  After a few more questions....I got it out of him.  

Tears and lots of them started flowing.....

Nathan's table of 6 kids at school had received a special award from their teacher.  They earned it for being quiet, clean, doing their homework, etc.  The award is bringing treats for each other and sitting all together at the back of the room for a special party.  Nathan decided to take all of his friends some of his chocolate bars.  This is where it goes wrong....

As Nathan through tears shared with me his story, I couldn't help but feel my heart break for him.
Apparently not everyone liked his chocolate, but what hurt Nathan was when his friend took some chocolate and then threw the rest in the garbage.  Nathan was so upset that his friend didn't give the chocolate back to him.  He was sad that his friends didn't like his treat.  Also, one of the little girls had thought of Nathan and brought a gluten free cookie with frosting for him.  You guessed it, he can't eat that.  It has eggs and sugar...things on his intolerance list.  Nathan wanted that cookie SO bad!

He didn't cheat, but he felt cheated.  His feelings were so hurt by no one liking his chocolate and someone thinking of him and he still couldn't eat it.  This is where my heart broke in two!  He so desperately wanted his friends to like his healthy food.  He wanted to be kind to the little girl and eat the cookie that looked so delicious, but he didn't.

Big brother heard Nathan crying and came in to cheer him up.  He shared his own troubles at Intermediate School, like how they had pumpkin pie the other day.  R.D. loves pumpkin pie.  How they have 3 lines for lunch with burritos, chicken sandwiches and pizza.  R.D. told Nathan, "If your friend is going to throw your chocolate in the trash, you don't need to be friends."  Not exactly the right advice, but advice given from a very protective big brother.

I told Nathan his friend didn't mean to hurt his feelings and probably didn't even know he had.  He just didn't like the chocolate so he threw it away.  No harm. No foul.  I told him that next time someone gives him something he can't eat, that he can thank them and bring it home.  I will check the ingredients.  We will either eat it or save it till we can.  He felt so bad saying, "no".

Today is a new day! Today we will continue our journey.  Today we will have a better day. Yesterday we learned that when he acted up, it wasn't related to his diet or probably even anything with his ADHD.  He was acting up because he had his feelings hurt.  Believe it or not while this was hard to hear, it was also a blessing.  Nathan was acting out like anyone who gets their feelings hurt.  He was having normal emotions.  He didn't know how to deal with those emotions just yet.  He wasn't sure how to share those emotions, so they came out in frustrating ways yesterday.  This is all part of the process.  What I love...is when the lightbulb goes off above my head and I figure this out.  We are progressing!

The Little Things....

Anyone else see story problems like this?  My boys do!  One of the right brain weaknesses is "story problems".  Ugh....I despise story problems.  I would rather clean toilets than try to figure out a story problem, yet this is one of the things that we are supposed to be helping our boys with.  Ha, Ha!  I guess all of my past math teachers are getting their revenge. 

The wonderful part of our Brain Balance journey is how much we are all learning.  Not just the boys, but Chris, myself and grandma.  We are also sharing what we learn with the boys teachers.  I feel the more that we all learn the better able to help the boys all of us will be.  Every single day I have an ah-ha moment.  I love it! 

Now to brag! 

R.D. was invited to his best friends birthday party a couple of weeks ago....as a mom, I worried.  How do you send your 11 year old to a birthday party where he can't eat or drink anything?  First, you talk with the parents of the other child.  You find out what is going to be happening over the 3 hours that your child will be there.  Next, you let the other parent know that your child can't eat any of what they are serving.  But, that you will be glad to send food with your child.  Hang up phone and talk with your kid.  We explained to R.D. what was going to happen at the party and the food that would be served that he couldn't eat.  We gave R.D. his food choices....what would be similar to what everyone else was going to be eating. Pack lunch box.  Included in our lunch box was a bison patty with seasoning (ready for grilling), a bag of grandpa's potato chips, apple and the glorious gluten, soy and dairy free chocolate bar. 

An empty lunch box was brought home, as well as a kid who had a blast with his best friend.  He wasn't ashamed of his food and his friends were super accepting of it.  Some of you may be asking yourself, "How does she know he didn't sneak food he wasn't supposed to have?"   First, R.D. told me he didn't.  I believe him.  Second, if he had snuck something he wasn't supposed to....we would have noticed.  Behavior changes,stomach ache, and other noticeable things would have occurred.  That's the beauty of the diet we follow....if you stray from it, you notice it. 

Now to brag on Nathan!  The other day at Brain Balance while R.D. was doing his session, Nathan and I headed to the car to do homework.  As soon as we got in the car, Nathan had to go to the bathroom....bad!  I told him to run back in and go.  He jumped out of the car and then did something that almost made me cry.....he got to the back of the car and stopped.  He then looked both ways before running across the parking lot.  I know it sounds silly to most, but both boys usually just run out completely unaware of what is going on.  He didn't get hit by a car...he stopped and looked.  Hallelujah! 

I also just noticed last night that the boys seem more calm at night.  Usually, when their medicine wears off at night, we get all the pent up craziness. 

I know there are lots of things that have changed, and I have yet to notice.  It's like when you live with someone who loses a lot of weight, but you don't really notice until you leave for a week or so and then come back and see them.  When you live and spend so much time together, things change and you don't even notice.  I can't wait to fill out the same questionaires at the end, that I filled out in the beginning.  I am anxious to have certain achievements brought to my attention that I am overlooking. 

I would encourage anyone struggling with a child with ADHD, Asperger's, Autism, Dyslexia, or a number of other developmental delays to visit a Brain Balance Center.  However, don't think that this is just a simple "cut sugar out" of their diets plan....it's not.  It's work, HARD work!  It's a commitment.  You have to do what they tell you and stick to the plan.  So far, I have NO regrets!  I have HOPE for the future of my boys.  I feel that I have knowledge that is priceless.  I have two boys who have increasing self-esteems, the chance to get off medicine, and a belief that they can do something that is hard and succeed.  I have two boys who I LOVE with all my HEART!

Just Keep Learning, Just Keep Learning....

All I can hear in my head is Dory from "Finding Nemo", but instead of "just keep swimming".... I hear, "just keep learning"!

Last night I went to a 2 hour presentation from Dr. Scire.  He is one of the owners of some of the Brain Balance Centers in Georgia.  He also works very closely with Dr. Melillo (creator of Brain Balance).  Our local center had encouraged us to attend, because they had been learning so much from Dr. Scire.  I get up at 3:50 a.m.......staying out past 9:00 is HUGE for me.  But, I knew I had to be there.  I am so HAPPY that I was.  I learned so much more and heard some very humorous stories of others journeys. Trust me....when you are doing exercises 5 times a day, strict diet, 30 minute screen time, sessions at Brain Balance, homework, cooking, work and just regular life...you need some humor in your life.

As I sat through the presentation, I was beginning to question if R.D. really was right brain delayed.  He fell into so many of the left brain delay traits that I was nervous.  Had they gotten it right?  After the presentation I found the director and expressed my concerns.  They said that what I was suspecting was partially true....R.D. has what they call a "bilateral delay".  I had heard this term mentioned before in a progress report, but I didn't really ask what it meant.  They told me that in his initial assessment, they had studied his results closely to determine the right brain delay.  Apparently, they had also talked with Dr. Scire about R.D. specifically.  Here is the deal....since the right brain develops faster from 0-3 years and then kind of goes into hibernation while the left brain develops for the next few years, they need to stimulate the right brain first and get it up to speed and then they will move to R.D.'s left brain.  This is exciting for me.  Things that I saw that were left brain, but that weren't changing yet, are going to!  I know they are.

How do I know?  Because we see changes daily in our boys.  It will seem very small and trivial to most of you, but if you have a child with ADD or ADHD...you probably understand what I am about to describe.  R.D. is 11 years old.  He has never been able to hang a towel up on a hook or towel rack.  Simple to most, but unattainable for R.D.  He just couldn't get his brain to connect the dots and make it happen.  This week....it happened!  We weren't telling him to, honestly we gave that battle up a long time ago.  We just noticed that his towel is now hung on the hook after his shower.  He does it and doesn't even know he is doing it.  Just the way it is supposed to be.

Nathan has just started this week to "get" math better.  All of the sudden he can figure out math problems in his head.  He understands some of the concepts better.  It blew me away.  I asked him the other night as we did his homework in the car, outside of the Brain Balance center..."How did you get so smart in math?"  He looked at me, pointed to the Brain Balance sign and said, "Duh mom, it's because of Brain Balance and I heard one of their commercials on the radio this morning." Who says radio doesn't work...(shameless plug).  They know the program is working and that is why they are working so hard.  The diet has become "what we do".  They get it.

So we will "just keep learning, just keep learning".....

So Many Blessings!

Wow!  We've had so many great things happening. Where to start....

Lets start with the fact that the boys have had their ADD/ADHD medicine dosage lowered.  I wanted to see for myself if what we were doing might be making a difference.   We have lowered Nathan from 36 mg of Concerta to 27 mg and R.D. from 45 mg to 27 mg.  So far so good.  They definitely still need some medicine, but I am encouraged with dropping the dosage.  Their pediatrician was VERY excited to find out they were doing the Brain Balance program.  He doesn't currently have any other patients doing the program and is very interested in monitoring the boys progress.  He was more than willing to lower their dosage.  It was great to have the support from their pediatrician.  We really love him and it just feels good to know he is supporting the process.  

We had their first progress report this week and the boys are doing great!  R.D. has come so far in his vision exercises.  He tells me that it is making it easier for him to do work from the board, since he started the eye exercises.  They are progressing just like they should.  Nathan also had some great achievements in several different areas.  The coaches put really positive feedback about the behavior of both boys and how great they were to work with.  Always nice to hear that they are a joy to work with.  Nathan did have one area where he tested lower than his initial assessment, but they aren't concerned yet. Their grip and strength has improved quite a bit, which is going to help with their penmanship and a lot of other things.  

Both boys have exhibited some behaviors we've never seen with them before.  Nathan had about a week of being sneaky...something he's never done.  However, it is a stage he should have gone through as a toddler.  Both boys are loving to read and draw.  The coaches are excited they have taken to drawing....very good for right brain delays.  R.D.'s ability to draw has grown leaps and bounds.  He never has liked to draw....apparently for right brain delays it is difficult, so they avoid it.  Makes sense to me....I avoid the things I can't do well.  

On Saturday we went to Vegas for the NASCAR truck series and survived the tailgate and concessions.  We packed a cooler with quinoa flatbread, roasted turkey, homemade ketchup and apples.  We also had grandpa's homemade potato chips and fruit leather.  I can assure you that of the thousands and thousands of people there, we were the only ones eating healthy.  It felt great!  
We avoided spending tons of money on the concession foods.  The only thing that we all agreed on was that we sure would like a lemonade.  They have yummy lemonade there, but we all resisted.  

Finally, we have found a couple of successful recipes this week that were hits! 
First off, we created our own healthy fried chicken.  I took chicken breasts and sliced them like chicken tenderloins and then soaked them in almond milk for 30 minutes.  I then mixed together a cup of quinoa flour and a teaspoon of garlic salt.  I heated a frying pan with sesame oil in it and then rolled each piece of chicken in the flour mixture and put it in the frying pan.  It was crispy on the outside and they boys couldn't get enough.  Definitely, doing that one every week.

The second recipe I found in a recipe book that they have on the counter at Brain Balance.  Better-Than-Bisquick Pancakes from the book "The Kid Friendly ADHD and Autism Cookbook.  

2 cups quinoa flour
2 tablespoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
2 tablespoons light-flavored oil, such as sunflower
1/2 cup raw cashews
2 cups warm water
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon lemon juice or 1/4 teaspoon ascorbic acid crystals dissolved in 2 tablespoons water
1 teaspoon maple syrup

In a mixing bowl, whisk together quinoa flour, baking powder, and baking soda.  In a blender, grind nuts to a fine powder, pausing to scrape under the blades 2 to 3 times.  Add water, vanilla extract, lemon juice, and maple syrup to a blender and blend 3 to 4 minutes.  Pour liquid over dry ingredients and whisk a few times, eliminating lumps.  If batter is too thick, add water as necessary.

Pour a scant 1/4 cup batter onto hot non-stick griddle (heated until water dances on it) for each pancake.  Serve with fruit or applesauce.

Variations:  Add 1-2 tablespoons flaxseed to blender with the cashews.  For a heartier, buckwheat sourdough pancake, replace up to 1 cup quinoa flour with buckwheat flour.

I had to use olive oil, since Nathan has a sunflower intolerance.   I also didn't use vanilla since R.D has an intolerance to that.  I did add an extra teaspoon of maple syrup.  The recipe doesn't state where to use the oil, but I added it to the batter and it came out really good.  

Enjoy!  We certainly are!  

We did it!

We did it!  We survived watching "Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs" for our movie night.  Nathan has been begging to watch this movie.  He finally convinced his brother to have it be their movie for movie night on Sunday.  I was nervous....we were going to watch a movie filled with all kinds of food that we don't eat anymore.  How was this gonna work out?  I chose the picture with cheeseburgers for this post, because it is Nathan's favorite food and one of R.D.'s top picks.  It is also what has been the hardest for them to give up.  It is the reason we eat bison and ostrich burgers....they are very similar.  I knew when those cheeseburgers started falling from the sky we were in for our own food storm....I was prepared!  I had made their favorite sweet potato fries for dinner that night....we had leftovers.  I had the bowls of sweet potato fries and homemade ketchup ready.  We followed that up with grandpa's homemade fruit leather and a bowl of raisins.  Just like that....we survived the food storm.  Yes, it really was that simple.  For me, I had to eat grandpa's homemade potato chips and fruit leather. 

My dad's homemade fruit leather and homemade potato chips have been one of our favorite treats.  All four of us LOVE the fruit leather.  No, I don't know how he makes it.  What I do know is it is only 2 ingredients.....pureed apples/strawberries or pureed pears/apples or pureed granny smith apples/bananas.  He only puts a light coating of olive oil on the dehydrator plates to make it easier to pull off and then the fruit.  Nothing else.  No sugars. No preservatives. No sweeteners.  Just fruit, that's it!  It is delicious!  Now, for the potato chips....I know he makes them in the microwave.  He slices them and then dehydrates them in the microwave. Only potatoes. Nothing else, absolutely nothing else.  I have no clue how.  I really should find out and share with everyone, right?  I will do that, but for now it is so handy having grandpa make it.  It also makes grandpa feel good.  He feels like this is his own personal way to support the boys journey.  They can only get it from grandpa.  I guess that's why I haven't been in a hurry to figure it out. 

One of the things that seems to stress out parents, including myself is "school lunch".  I would stress about what to put in their lunch each day.  Finally, it dawned on me.....quit stressing.  They have never been big school lunch eaters.  They have always been more interested in visiting and getting to recess.  So, I asked them what do you want?  They now get anything from sliced carrots, raisins, sweet potato fries, fruit leather, buffalo burgers, and oranges.  Lunch for today (Wednesday, September 19) is for R.D. ---- Buffalo burger, fruit leather, raisins, and water.  Nathan ---- Buffalo burger, sweet potato fries, homemade ketchup, fruit leather, raisins and water. Since I quit worrying about it....lunch boxes come home empty.  Here was my thought process....They get a very nutritional breakfast.  One designed to fuel their body.  They get a healthy snack at home after school.  Dinner is healthy and full of what they need.  Put stuff in their lunch that they are sure to eat.  They don't want to eat a lot at lunch anyhow.  They are not starving.  What they get for lunch is a lot healthier than what some kids are receiving in their lunches from home.

We are over 7 weeks in to this diet and it is just routine.  We don't stray too much from what we know works...that gets dangerous for me.  Actually, more for R.D. than for me.  Since it is usually his menu I mess up the most.  He likes to remind me of that whenever he can.  ; )  The boys have done 7 sessions at Brain Balance.  They never argue about going and are enjoying it.  R.D. did 100 military sit ups on Sunday night and couldn't wait for me to text my dear friend/trainer/Rockstar athlete, Colleen to tell her his achievement.  This kid couldn't do 5 of them when we started this journey.  Nathan is up to 30 sit ups!  They are changing....so, for those who ask have we seen changes....YES!  We absolutely are seeing changes.  Subtle to anyone else, but huge to us.  Is this easy...NO!  But, like anything else, if you want it bad enough....you will make it happen.

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.....

Jeremiah 29:11 is the Bible verse I rely on a lot in my life.  I love it!  It reminds me that God has my back.  I think of it often.

On Friday afternoon when I was helping Nathan with one of his last exercises for the evening, it dawned on me to enjoy the time.  Yeah, it does get monotonous and it sometimes seems to get in the way, but in that moment I remembered to enjoy the moment with Nathan.  Sadly, they are growing up fast and it won't be long until they won't want to hang out with me.  I made up my mind that I will enjoy these times with them.  Now tackling the exercises 5x a day has even more purpose for me.

Another thing that I love is the lack of TV and computer games in this household now.  We got rid of our Directv back in July and only have Netflix on Wii.  Before Brain Balance we found ourselves still filling our time with watching the screen.  We weren't watching Directv anymore, but we were still camping in front of our television.  With Brain Balance we have all but eliminated it.  I like this, a lot! I enjoy the laughter of my boys finding creative activities to do together.  I love finding them reading a book.  They have dug out forgotten toys from the toy box and they are playing and using their imaginations.  We do more together now than ever before.  I can tell that the limited screen time is helping with behavior and their sleeping.  The arguing has diminished.  My favorite lines, "Just one more minute" or "Just let me finish this level" aren't heard anymore.  As I type this they both just came out to show me the Pokemon book they were putting together for Nathan.  R.D. was giving him a bunch of cards to get him started.  They want to play together.  About an hour ago, Chris had taken Nathan storm chasing and R.D. said to me, "I miss Nathan, I would be sad if he wasn't around."  Yes, they are brothers....by the way R.D. also through in there that he still wants a sister.  Ummm, lets just stick to Brain Balance for now.

A second question that people ask me a lot is about the cost of food.  Yes, it is more expensive.  We buy organic, unprocessed, fresh food.  I am keeping Natural Grocers in business!  But, what Chris and I have found is that we haven't eaten out since August 3 (referred to as the Last Supper, since it was before Brain Balance started).  We also don't waste food.  I used to throw so much out in the garbage.  We prepare it fresh and whatever is left over we eat the next day.  I just mentioned to Chris how nice it was to use what we prepare.  Also, we don't eat as much food.  The foods we eat are filling and full of nutrition.  I don't crave crappy food anymore.

If you haven't watched "Forks Over Knives" or "Food Inc." yet, I would encourage you to.  It has really made it a lot easier to stick to this lifestyle change.

I am pretty pleased with how my Sunday has gone.  I got the granola cereal prepared, the granola bars in the fridge and roasted a chicken.  We are ready for the week ahead.   What a great feeling!  My mom even roasted a turkey on Saturday and we have that as well.  I am looking forward to this week.  We are getting closer to Brain Balance sessions starting, and I can't wait to report that progress.

Better go check on my acorn squash that is baking with coconut oil and 100% pure Maple syrup for dinner....it should go nicely with our fresh roasted turkey.

Where do cupcakes fit into this diet?

They don't.  No cupcakes, not yet anyhow.  My boys think that "screen time" is the hardest.  Mom and dad think the "diet" is the hardest.  If you know me, you know I LOVE food!  Bacon, frosting, cupcakes, pop tarts, chips, candy, cereal, bread, cheese....the list goes on.  The shorter list is things I don't like to eat....mincemeat pie.  There you go, the one thing I don't like.

I knew going into Brain Balance that it was gluten and dairy free.  We can do that, right?  The first meeting with the nutritionist revealed this list....No dairy, no gluten, no soy, no eggs, no potatoes, no peanut butter, no rice and no corn.  Yeah, I said the same thing, "What are we going to eat?"  That is the first question anyone asks me when I explain the "no" list.  I call it the "Twigs and Berries Diet", but it really is more than that.  Absolutely nothing processed is in our fridge or in our pantry.  If you can sit it on the shelf and it won't die, then we don't have it.

The nutritionist informed us that this only for 3 weeks.  It is an elimination diet of sorts.  After the blood and urine labs come back then our diet will completely change again.  O.k. so only 3 weeks...we can do this.

Wait? This means I have to cook, like really cook.  Not open the Hamburger Helper box and cook.  This is real cooking.  I have to clean ingredients. I have to plan ahead.  I have to shop a lot more.  I have to be PREPARED!  I've tried this route before....that is why we have Ramen Noodles in the cupboard.  I remember a time about a year ago when I suggested to Chris that maybe we try a stricter diet for the boys.  We talked it out, and both agreed how would I ever be able to cook that way and stick to it.  To quote Maya Angelou....“When you know better you do better.” 

Alright, lets start simple.  The boys love broccoli.  Buy that.  They like lunch meat.  Buy the organic Applegate brand (I can pronounce everything in the ingredient list).  They like fruit.  Buy that.  Now, we got something.  I added organic Hot Dogs, chicken, and hamburger.  Good start.  Tried out Quinoa, one boy likes it the other doesn't.  Tried out pinto beans, the one who likes Quinoa won't eat beans, the one who dislikes Quinoa will eat pinto beans.  We're on a roll now..... a gluten free "roll" of course.

Thankfully, the crew at Brain Balance gave me some recipes and one of them was for homemade granola.  My husband's words to me..."Make sure we always have that made up.  If we don't I am driving to McDonald's and getting french fries."  That was his subtle way of saying that stuff is going to be my saving grace and if we are gonna do this diet, then that better always be on hand. I gave the recipe to my mom and told her make sure we never run out of this.  Yes, I make it as well.  It is so easy.
You want the recipe now, don't you?  Well, here you go......

Tammy's Granola

6 cups Gluten Free oats (Bob's Red Mill)
3/4 cup honey
3/4 cup Coconut Oil

Mix all ingredients in a bowl and toss until coated.  Pour onto a baking sheet that is covered in Parchment paper.  (If you do not use the paper, it will stick horribly!)  Bake for 30 minutes at 300 degrees taking it out every 10 minutes to stir.  Then mix an additional 1/2 cup honey and 3 tablespoons vanilla and pout over granola and stir again and put back in for 10 minutes. You can add fruit, nuts or coconut as well.  Make sure if you use fruit, it is not dried fruit with added sugar.


We are officially 2 weeks in to this "elimination diet".  We have not cheated one time.  It is not an option.  This is to help our boys.  To me it is like a lifesaving way of life.  There is no going back.  No option B.  The boys take their lunches and have special snacks for school.  They are doing AWESOME!  I had a headache the first couple of days, because you do go through withdrawal symptoms.  My husband and I agree that food has never tasted better, we've never felt better and we eat less.  The boys still occasionally ask for a McDonald's hamburger, but the feeling passes and we usually find a way to distract them.....they are ADD and ADHD, it isn't that hard to distract them. Ha, Ha!  Our oldest told me the other day he feels "normal" eating this diet.

Thanks buddy, that is just what mommy wanted to hear.

Today I was going to write about the day they told us about the nutrition plan, but other things have happened.

It was the second day of school and it has been a little rough.  We are supposed to control their screen time, but everything they learn is taught on giant screens now.  They don't really use chalkboards anymore.  I am not going to make them wear a patch on their eye during school and they can't avoid screen time.  Also, when they get home they want to have 30 minutes of their own screen time....something that they want to do.  Not school work!

R.D. (our oldest) was on too long.  Dad set a timer and then left to go pick up Nathan from school.  I was coming home from a nail appointment.  R.D. met me at the garage door to tell me he had stayed on a couple of minutes too long.  Something didn't sound right, and he had a friend here.  He also got upset when I told him that he couldn't watch his friend on the screen, that goes against the screen time rules.  Well, it turns out that he had been on the computer for about 17 minutes too long.  The first time we have really broken screen time rules.  It upset me that R.D. didn't shut down the computer when he was supposed to.  Remember, this is the hardest part of Brain Balance for my boys.  The limited screen time is taking more supervision than the diet.

Nathan broke down and started crying while doing his last two sets of exercises.  He says he hates this time of day.  He comes home from school and does exercises, eats dinner, does more exercise, and then does more exercises, showers and then goes to bed.  He wants to play!  I can't wait till we add the homework.  He doesn't understand why he is crying and is getting frustrated. I know it is part of the process and that he just has a lot of emotions going through his body right now.  Including reverting back to when he was younger and couldn't control things as well.  But, how do you explain it to an 8 year old?

He also didn't eat his lunch.  He ate the raisins, that was it.  Now, he is eating everything he can tonight.  I've tried explaining how important his lunch is to his ability to do good school work, he promised he will eat it tomorrow.  I sure hope so!

We did get the call that the nutritionist has our results so we can meet with him next Wednesday. That is one meeting I am really looking forward to, but terrified for as well.  Depending on what their intolerances are, the diet will get a complete revamp next week.  I know we can do it, we have to do it!

One bright spot happened yesterday with R.D.  While doing his exercises he was telling me about his first day of 6th grade.  Apparently, they got candy.  I asked him if he had any.  "No, mom. I can't." He told me he took 3 pieces and that I would find them in his backpack.  We talked about why he couldn't eat them and that it must have been really hard to say "no".  He said it was difficult, but he then told me..."I feel normal".  He told me that this diet is helping to make him feel normal!  Wow!  That was worth everything.....he can feel the difference.   We are doing something right!

Back Up!

This blog is about our family journey through Brain Balance and learning to deal with ADD and ADHD.

We have an 8 year old son (Nathan) with ADHD and an 11 year old son (R.D.) with ADD.  Long story short...our oldest son was diagnosed in 3rd grade and our youngest son when he was in 1st grade.  They have both been on medicine and are currently still taking it.  I won't go in to how we diagnosed them, but lets just say that "motherly instinct" knew that something wasn't right.  

I don't want this first post to get to lengthy, and trust me it could.  As I continue posting I will try to include the "why's" the "what for's" and the "how come's" into why we have chosen to do what we are doing.  If you have a child with ADD or ADHD, I don't have to tell you what it's like.  You know.

Why the title of "Back Up"?  First, our 8 year old is obsessed with the show "Storm Chasers".  He LOVES weather and tornadoes.  We discovered the show on our Netflix and I think watched 3 episodes before any of us even knew what had just happened.  In one of the episodes our favorite character (Reed) yells at the top of his lungs and with sheer fear on his face....BACK UP, BACK UP, BACK UP!  He is desperately trying to get away from a tornado.

Well, we are trying to get away from the tornado that seems to be sucking us all up as a family.  It is terrifying.  To get away... we have to "Back Up" from what we have been doing and start all over.  We have to find a different road, one that isn't cluttered with "Detour" signs.

I learned about Brain Balance after doing a live broadcast to showcase their Grand Opening.  For those that don't know, I am a radio announcer.  My husband (Chris) who does the show with me was instantly nervous.  I remember him saying, "We are going to be signed up before the end of this broadcast."  I had more restraint than that....it was 2 months after.  Ha, Ha!  Had to prove him wrong somehow.  What I did do was talk to parents that were there about the program and their personal experiences.  I learned a lot.  I was eager to find out more.  

The convincing speech that I worked up for Chris was this...."If they needed a life saving surgery, would we worry about cost?"  It may sound extreme, but I literally view this as something that will help our boys achieve, succeed, and become who they are destined to be.  There is so much potential in each of them.  Mainly, I knew they weren't feeling like "normal" little boys and that pained me to my core.  Chris agreed and I made the phone call.

Assessment day was a Saturday and Nathan was happy to inform me that he didn't need Brain Balance.  He felt just fine on his medicine, as a matter of fact he liked it.  "Can't we just stay on medicine?", he whined.  I promised him it would be over quickly.  Both boys went at the same time, however they were tested differently.  R.D. did his cognitive first and Nathan did the physical tests first.  I sat in the lobby and got writers cramp.  They spent close to 2 hours testing.  I spent those same hours filling out the paperwork.  We took a lunch break and came back for more.  If I would have known that more paperwork was in store for me, we never would have come back.  The boys both enjoyed the testing and were actually kind of excited.  Now, we wait.....

Test results came back and we met with the director.  That was a 2.5 hour meeting....my husband with ADD was struggling to stay seated.   A lot of information all at once.  Everything I had done from the time they were babies was apparently wrong, but it was what everyone else had done to.  I wasn't alone, but it sure felt like it.  I know you would probably like to hear every detail, but trust me it would take foorrrreeeeverrrrrr to type out.  

Both of our boys are "right brain delayed"....it means their right brain just isn't working to its fullest potential.  In some things my boys scored at a 4 year old level.  That explains why our oldest still insists on eating with his fingers, even though we remind him he is 11 and not a baby.  They physically and mentally CAN'T act their age.  They don't disobey to be mean or to anger us, they just can't get their brains to do what they want them to.  

Remember Nathan's obsession with tornadoes....well, that is something that commonly happens with these kids...obsession!  Last year it was states and countries.  What did we do as parents, of course we encouraged it.  Learning something important has to be better than watching something that has no learning value whatsoever, right?  Wrong!  Our boys are only strengthening the "Left Side" of the brain by pursuing these types of factual things.  See the "left side" is analytical and logical.  The "right side" is creative and serves a huge purpose.  We were instructed to not let them get into factual things. If we watch something it has to be serving no purpose.  Just entertainment.  Wow!  

At this point my brain is ready to EXPLODE!  We have learned more about our boys in this 2.5 hours than ever before.  It answered questions...the ones that had nagged me for so  long.  It confirmed why the quirks that just didn't seem right were there.  I was thrilled to have the answers.  

Now to commit....

This is where we literally had to "Back Up".  We have to overcome things that will take us back to when they were babies.  Yes, primitive reflexes that we must retrain their brains. They warn you that when you start the program you may see them revert back.  Yes, we have.  Our 8 year old began wetting the bed again, a common reaction.

What is involved in the Brain Balance commitment for our boys?  A question that I am asked a lot.  Well, here you go.....

1) Exercises daily. Targeted to their specific needs.  Nathan does them 5x, R.D. does them    3x. 

2) Diet.  No gluten, soy, dairy, corn, rice, peanuts, eggs, or artificial sweeteners.  Nothing processed. If it can sit on your shelf and "not die", we can't eat it.  This is for the first 3 weeks. After their blood and urine tests come back we will be able to add back things. It is all based on what their intolerances are.  

3) Screen Time. (My boys would probably refer to this as Hell, if they could swear)  The boys get 30 minutes of screen time a day.  Doesn't matter if it is TV, iPod, computer or whatever.  If it is a screen, it counts.  Not only is this limited it also requires that they wear an eye patch on their right eye and a ear plug in their right ear. 

4) Brain Balance Sessions.  Our boys will begin these in September.  3x a week and an hour each time.  Super intense for 3 months.   

There you go....a quick (ha,ha) overview.  I will post more soon about our experiences since we started 2 weeks ago on this journey.  I have so much rattling in my brain that I need to get out for my own sanity, but I also hope it will help others.  People have requested that I blog this journey.  They want to know how we do it.  I will post every gritty detail.  I have nothing to hide and I hope that our journey can benefit others who may feel as lost as we did.  

However, right now I need to go cook our quinoa in organic chicken broth to go with our organic hamburgers and steamed cauliflower.  Yeah, my kids LOVE this stuff now.  Proving when you get hungry enough you will eat anything.