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!