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.