Gone Fishin'

Just a quick note to let you know that I am taking a few days off from Autism. There will be no research, no recipe development and no blogging for the rest of the week. I'm going to let Jake be Jake for a while and try to go with the flow. Of course, there will still be diapers to change and safety concerns to stay on top of, but beyond that, I'm going to give my brain a rest. We might even have potato chips and ketchup for breakfast at some point this week. Who knows? Maybe Jake is on to something with his unconventional meal preferences. Either way, Mommy is taking a break!

I'll be back online next week. See you then!

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Boys Will Be Boys

Would you believe that the filthy kid in this picture used to panic when his hands got dirty?

It's true. Jake couldn't stand to get his hands messy. In fact, he used to spend his time outside simply walking the perimeter of the yard. If a speck of dirt somehow found its way to his hand he would come running back to me. I always kept a wet washcloth handy so I could wipe off the offending particle quickly in the hopes of avoiding a meltdown.

Now look at him!

Soft Flax Sandwich Bread

GFCFSFEF Soft Flax Bread

1 bag (22 oz) Bob's Red Mill All-Purpose Gluten-free flour
1 cup powdered milk substitute
1/4 cup ground flax seed
1/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon xanthan gum
1 teaspoon salt
3 packets active dry yeast
2 cups warm water
1/4 cup canola oil
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar

Add dry ingredients to mixing bowl. Whisk well.

Add wet ingredients to dry. Mix on med-high speed for 5 minutes.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Grease 2 - 8 x 4 loaf pans.

Divide dough between loaf pans. Loosely cover with plastic wrap.

Let rise on top of preheating oven for about 30 minutes or until dough rises to top of pans.

Remove plastic wrap. With very wet hands, smooth tops of loaves.

Bake for 50 to 60 minutes. Cover with foil after first 20 minutes of baking to prevent over-browning.

Remove from pans and allow to cool completely before slicing or freezing.

Makes 2 loaves.

More On 'Burning Out'

I am convinced that I have the best readers any blogger could hope for. No matter what I post, so many of you jump in with wonderful comments and emails. I was absolutely overwhelmed by the support received after yesterday's post, "Burning Out".

I know that many of our friends and family were surprised by that post. People who see my kids on a regular basis have not witnessed many of the items I presented in that list. For some reason, my little darlings prefer to reserve their 'best' behavior for Mommy. Even Daddy is spared the diaper changing battles and he is rarely resisted when placing the children in their car seats.

The primary caregivers on the front lines of the autism battle have a story to tell. We are making progress in raising awareness that autism does exist and that it is harder on families than most people can imagine. But, most of us shy away from sharing some of the more difficult aspects of our experience because we don't want to sound like we are whining and complaining. There is also the risk of being negatively judged by those who do not understand. I believe the time has come to let the world in and educate others on the realities of autism. There is so much more to it than meets the eye.

I would also like to add that I am doing well. Yes, I often feel like I am burning out. And, it's true that sometimes even the 'good' days suck. But, I am in this for the long haul. Jake has already progressed more than I ever thought he would. In our earliest days on the spectrum, I would never have imagined that he would one day talk as well as he does now. I am confident that he will continue to improve and eventually, the rest of the pieces will fall into place.

Just be glad that I didn't attempt to write that list two years ago. Those days were REALLY bad.

Thanks again for reading and for the support!

The Judgement on Vaccines Is In???

I just read The Judgement on Vaccines Is In??? by Jim Carrey on the Huffington Post. It is a well thought out, articulate, non-emotional answer to the vaccine controversy. I have wanted to address the subject of vaccines here on my blog, but I'll direct you to Jim's article instead. He said it better than I ever could.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jim-carrey/the-judgment-on-vaccines_b_189777.html

Burning Out

I feel awful most of the time. My whole body hurts. I am tired. I am often so stressed out that I just want to hide from the world. Being a mom is not easy. Being an autism mom is a nearly impossible feat.

I try hard to focus on the progress we are making. I am truly grateful beyond words for the things that are going well around here. But, the fact is, there is still a mountain of difficulties that I face every day with my kids. At a minimum, the daily challenges are exhausting. The physical, mental and emotional demands are unceasing and often seem insurmountable. Some days, it is absolutely soul crushing.

The following is a list of some of the everyday stuff I deal with around here. I am sharing it to help those who do not live with autism have a better understanding of our world. This is also for my fellow autism parents. You're not alone.

• I have 2 children in diapers. Both have chronic diarrhea. Neither are willing participants in diaper changes.
• Like most autism families, we were in a recession long before the rest of the country joined us. Diapers, doctors, tests, therapies, equipment, supplements, diet supplies. Autism is unbelievably expensive.
• My husband is in the tourism industry and works very long hours year round. He has to work even harder during the warmer months. Last summer, he had many days where he didn't even see the kids because he left for work before they woke up and returned home long after they were in bed. This is hard on him and it's hard on me.
• Jake has a new OCD. He is compelled to touch shiny metal objects (hubcaps, door knobs, mixing bowls, etc). This is harmless enough until you consider that my pots and pans are stainless steel. Very shiny. Very metal. Very hot!
• Sarah has several meltdowns a day. She operates on a hair trigger and anything could set her off. I can always count on her screaming for at least 30 minutes to 1 hour every day after waking from her nap.
• I prepare all of our meals from scratch, including bread for sandwiches. This takes a lot of time and planning.
• Every time I open the front door to leave the house with the kids, I have to be extra vigilant about the kids' safety. "Get out of the street! There's a car coming!" means nothing to them. They also appear to have no interest in self-preservation. You can imagine the stress of walking across a parking lot with them.
• Never, EVER do my children simply follow a direct request, demand or instruction from me. Jacob has made some progress on this front as long as I threaten time-out. But, the threat must always be verbalized and usually said multiple times in order to get his attention. I have not yet found ANYTHING to motivate Sarah to comply.
• Jake's new hobby is jumping. He jumps on everything and everyone.
• Both kids have some sensory seeking behavior. Lately, they both have developed a love of body slamming me and each other. This always hurts and someone usually winds up crying.
• Sarah is super sensitive to sunlight while riding in the car. Sunglasses, shades and tinted windows are not enough for her. A car ride on a sunny day is going to be miserable unless I can map out the route to always have the sun at our backs. (Not possible, by the way)
• The house always looks like a tornado came through. The kids throw their toys everywhere, all the time. I have them help with clean up, but it is a constant battle and it takes forever.
• Sleeping through the night for me is a rare luxury. I can usually count on at least one of the kids having an issue at some point during the night.
• The noise level in the house is unbearable at times. One of Jake's stims is an eardrum piercing shriek. Sarah doesn't just cry, she wails and screams. If I had known that autism was coming our way, I would not have bought a house with hardwood floors and cathedral ceilings (acoustics).
• Dad is stressed. Mom is stressed. Not a good combination.
• Every element of every day is a battle. Getting into car seats, getting out of car seats, going outside, coming inside, brushing teeth, bathing, washing hands, brushing hair, meals, naps, bedtime, diaper changes, getting dressed, getting undressed, wiping noses, etc. Add to that the extra time spent on teaching how to communicate and how to play...it is exhausting.

This list is not a complete representation of everything that goes on in a day. There are all the fun extras of bill paying, working, household chores, doctor visits, IEP planning and negotiating as well as research and implementation of new therapies and supplements.

As difficult as this all sounds. It is important to note that we know that our family is one of the lucky ones. We have it easier than a lot of other autism families.

Okay, I'm finished whining. Thanks for reading it.

Take A Walk In Someone Else's Shoes

Here's a terrific music video by Swingset Mamas. The song is called, "Take A Walk In Someone Else's Shoes." As the title suggests, the song is about promoting acceptance and inclusion of all people. This video is a wonderful tool for teaching that important lesson to children.

Autism is a cause near and dear to the hearts of this award winning duo because one of the moms has a child on the spectrum. This month, they are sharing this video in an effort to raise money for Autism Speaks. You can learn more about them at www.SwingSetMamas.com .

Stove Top Chicken and Broccoli

Stove Top Chicken and Broccoli

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound chicken breast or thighs, diced
1 onion, chopped
2 carrots, chopped
1 cup rice, uncooked
2 1/2 cups water
2 cups frozen broccoli florets
1/4 cup warm water + 1 tablespoon of tapioca flour, dissolved
1 teaspoon crushed rosemary
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon rubbed sage
Salt and pepper to taste

Heat oil in large skillet or saucepan. Add onion, carrots and chicken. Saute over medium-high heat until vegetables are tender.

Stir in rosemary, garlic and sage.

Add rice and water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer until most of the water is absorbed.

Stir in broccoli and flour mixture, recover and simmer until rice is tender.

Rice and Flax Waffles

These have a neutral flavor which makes them useful as sandwich bread substitutes.

GFCF Rice and Flax Waffles

1 cup brown rice flour
1/2 cup white rice flour
1/2 cup sweet rice flour (can sub with arrowroot or tapioca)
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons ground flax seed
4 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 can coconut milk
1/4 cup water

Cook according to your waffle iron directions. I found that these worked best on a medium heat setting.

Makes 8 waffles.

A Snob Is Born

Since the onset of his autism, Jake has been a passenger in only our family cars. We have 2 aging vehicles and neither of them are what you would call 'luxurious'. Recently, Jake had the opportunity to ride in a different car. This one was much nicer than what he was used to. I braced myself for the inevitable meltdown that would come from experiencing something new and different, but it didn't happen. In fact, as I loaded Jake into his carseat in the back of the new car, I noticed he was grinning from ear to ear.

"Jake, do you like this car?"

"Yes!" He paused and pointed to my old car, "I think I don't like mommy's car anymore."

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High Protein Waffles

1 cup Garbanzo and Fava bean flour
1/2 cup Quinoa flour
1/2 cup Almond flour
4 tablespoons sugar
3 tablespoons ground flax seeds
4 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 eggs (or substitute)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups milk substitute (I used almond milk)
1/4 cup canola oil

Combine all ingredients in large bowl and mix well. Allow batter to rest while preheating waffle iron. Cook according to your waffle iron's instructions. Note: I found that these worked best on the highest heat setting on my Cuisinart waffle iron.

Makes 10 waffles.

Big Sale on Gluten-Free Products!

Amazon is offering 30% off on select Gluten-Free products. Free shipping on orders over $25.

Click the link below for more information. Looks like a good 'stock up' sale to me!

30% off Gluten-free Products!

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The Tater Hater

Jake and Sarah started on Enhansa several weeks ago. Since then, I have noticed a huge increase in imaginative play and language development in both of them. This was an unexpected benefit of the supplement, but one I'll gladly accept.

Recently, while Sarah played with Mr. Potato Head, a fight broke out. The fight was not between my two children. It was between Sarah and the tater. I cannot begin to guess what the toy did to inspire my daughter's anger. All I know is that I heard Sarah say, "Oh Tato Head, you never play fair!"

I would love to know what sparked the disagreement. But, at the time, I was laughing too hard to ask.

Simmered Cabbage

1 head of cabbage
1 cup chicken broth
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

Chop cabbage to make 1 inch squares.

Place broth, vinegar and cabbage in a large skillet or saucepan. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for about 15 minutes or until cabbage is tender.

Hello Childhood!

A few weeks ago, I found Jake crawling along the floor. My first reaction was panic. Was this another regression? Has he now forgotten how to walk?

"Jake, are you okay?"
"No. I'm being a puma!"

Of course, how foolish of me. He's pretending to be a puma. Wait a minute...he is pretending!

And that, dear readers, was the birth of my son's imagination. At the age of 5, he is just now beginning to enjoy the wonders of pretend play. I have longed for him to gain this skill as fervently as I wanted him to learn how to talk. Imagination is a critical element in childhood development. It is the key to the everyday kid stuff that we all want for our children. I feel like I am dreaming. This new breakthrough for Jake has been one of the most exciting for me. It's an absolute joy to see him discover his collection of long neglected toys.

In recent days, I have watched him roll cars across the floor with a "Vroom! Vroom!" He has launched his sister's Barbie dolls from the couch, politely asking, "Are you ready?" before sending them to their demise. I even overheard him invite a Diego doll out for a pizza.

Last week I heard some loud crashes in his bedroom. I checked on Jake and discovered him orchestrating some sort of battle between his dinosaurs and Matchbox cars. I asked what he was doing and he answered, "I'm just having fun with all of my new ideas." Music to my ears!

A few minutes ago, he came to me, gracefully flapping his 'wings'.
"Hey Mommy, I want to be a beautiful butterfly!"

My sweet boy, you already are.

Buckwheat & Sorghum Blueberry Pancakes

1/2 cup sorghum flour
1/2 cup buckwheat flour
2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon ground flax seed
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk substitute
2 tablespoons oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 egg (or substitute)
1/3 cup fresh blueberries, chopped

Place all ingredients in a bowl and mix until well combined.

Cook pancakes on a pre-heated, non-stick skillet or griddle. Pancakes will be ready to turn when bubbles form and burst on top.

Makes about 16 small pancakes.

Quick Fix Vegetable Soup

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 onion, chopped
1 quart beef broth (or vegetable)
1 6 ounce can tomato paste
2 16 ounce bags frozen mixed vegetables
(mix of carrots, corn, peas & green beans)

In a large pot, saute onion in oil until tender.

Add broth and tomato paste. Bring to a boil.

Stir in veggies. Reduce heat, cover and simmer until ready to eat.

Dairy Free Coffee Creamer

I'm a coffee addict. Given the lack of sleep I've endured these last few years, I honestly can't imagine life without java. I want to fully participate in my children's GFCF lifestyle, but haven't been able to give up milk-based creamer. I like to use flavored creamers because it makes a cup of coffee a real treat for me. Unfortunately, these are often loaded with fat, sugar, dairy and unpronounceable chemicals. So, I set off to make a healthier alternative. This is what I came up with.

Dairy Free Coffee Creamer

1 can coconut milk
1 tablespoon cocoa powder
1 tablespoon sugar (or alternative sweetener)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Combine all ingredients in blender and mix until smooth. Refrigerate.

Note: You can adjust the cocoa powder and sugar amounts to taste.

Spectrum Spirit

I am thrilled to announce the launch of a brand new resource for parents of children with autism. I have teamed up with two fellow autism moms to bring you Spectrum Spirit.

Our team at Spectrum Spirit will provide weekly bible studies designed for parents of children with special needs. This experience is interactive and your participation in the group is welcome. Together we can learn how to focus on faith in our journeys along the spectrum. We will support one another and pray for each other. I know this is a much needed resource for many of you. Please visit us at Spectrum Spirit and join the discussion. I'll see you there!

Spectrum Spirit - Connecting Faith and Autism

Autism Awareness Month

April 2nd is World Autism Awareness Day, the official holiday of my people. This day kicks off a month of Autism Awareness. For many of us, it means we'll see more information regarding autism in the news and on television programs. While I am grateful for the extra press, I think it is important for us to remain vigilant throughout the year. I have no problem sharing the fact that my son has autism with anyone who will listen. It is nothing to be ashamed of. In fact, I am extra proud of his determination to navigate in a world full of people who do not understand the challenges he must overcome in order to take part in everyday life. I believe that the individuals who know our story will pay more attention to the upcoming media blitz regarding autism simply because they know someone who has it. It is my hope that they will all learn something new and maybe share that knowledge with another person. In my opinion, that will go a long way to raise awareness among the average citizens of our society.

Autism Awareness Day will be like any other day for me as I have not once forgotten about autism in the last two years. But, I will wear one of my awareness shirts and continue to take every opportunity to spread the word about the disease that is stealing a generation of children. I hope you will do the same.

Be sure to visit WorldAutismAwarenessDay.org for more information on this important day. They have a list of events around the world and also have free e-cards available to send to friends and family.

Autism Speaks has a list of media appearances that they'll be doing on the 2nd.

Generation Rescue has posted the schedule for Jenny McCarthy's media tour to promote her new book, Healing and Preventing Autism.



On this special day, I hope you will find time to celebrate. No, I'm not suggesting that you celebrate the wonderfulness of autism. I'm saying you should celebrate your accomplishments as the parent of a child on the spectrum. To say it is 'hard work' is a gross understatement. Frankly, I think some of us deserve an award just for getting out of bed every morning. Since we are unlikely to have a parade thrown in our honor, try to remember that you are making a difference in your child's life with your tireless efforts. The rest of the world may not understand what you are going through just yet, but this month, a few more people will come to know your struggles. In the meantime, you've always got me and I think you're awesome.

Let's get out there and educate, inform, enlighten and debunk some myths!