Sunday, December 27, 2009

End of Year Special!

I'm so happy to have discovered Shaklee products this year. And, I'd like to share the experience with all of you. From now until December 31st, I am offering a FREE one year membership (retails for $19.95) to anyone that makes a minimum purchase of $100 through my Shaklee website!

With your new membership, you will enjoy 15% off all Shaklee products for the entire year. Here are a few of the fantastic products offered by Shaklee:

You will love the all natural, non-toxic cleaning supplies in the Get Clean product line. Save a fortune using these super-concentrated formulas and dramatically reduce the toxins in your home at the same time. They are by far the most effective natural cleaning products that I've used.

All of the Healthy Beauty products are outstanding. From skin care to hair care as well as natural daily essentials, everything you need is here.

Lose inches safely with the Cinch Weight Loss Program. It's an easy and delicious way to drop extra pounds.

I'm a huge fan of the Shaklee dietary supplements. These are extraordinarily high quality and super-safe supplements. Take a look at the site and you'll quickly find vitamins, herbal supplements, protein shakes and more.

For families affected by autism, take a look at the children's vitamins, DHA supplements, and non-toxic baby care supplies. You might also consider the digestive enzymes, pre-biotics and pro-biotics.

All Shaklee products come with a 100% money back guarantee!

This free membership offer is available to new Shaklee members only. To claim your membership, place your order of $100 or more on my website: http://www.spectrumwellness.myshaklee.com/. Then, e-mail me at Chrissy@SpectrumHope.com with your name and shipping address. I'll set up your membership and e-mail you with the details. Please do not add the membership to your shopping cart. I'll take care of that for you.

Offer expires December 31, 2009.

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Christmas Miracles

It's the little things that give me hope for my son's future. He seems to be going through a developmental growth spurt right now and I am thrilled to see the changes.

The other day he came to me and asked for rice chips. I felt panic set in because we were out of rice chips and I knew what his reaction would be. I would have to break the news to him and then he would perseverate on the rice chips, saying it over and over again until I could find something to distract him. Much to my surprise, here's how the conversation went:

"I want some rice chips"
"I'm sorry, honey. We are all out of rice chips."
"Well can I have potato chips instead?"
Wow!

Yesterday, he dropped his sippy cup on the floor and a little bit of juice spilled out. Usually he is completely oblivious to a spill and certainly doesn't contribute to any clean up efforts. I grabbed a towel and he said, "Here Mommy, let me help you." Then he took the towel and wiped up the juice all by himself. I'm seeing more and more participation from him around the house such as voluntarily helping with toy pick up and an interest in setting the table for dinner. I love watching these functional skills emerge.

He is beginning to try new foods. He has always self-limited to only a few things. Since the onset of his autism, he has even refused candy. Fruits, vegetables (except for french fries) and meats were always completely out of the question. In the last couple of weeks, he has tried a candy cane, a lollipop and a piece of chocolate. His teacher introduced the class to latkes, which he really enjoyed. Most recently he shocked us by eating a blueberry. I haven't been able to get him to eat another one, but the important thing is that he is trying these things. That is a HUGE improvement, one that we've worked on for a very long time. I am beginning to dream of a day where I don't have to sneak healthy foods into his baked goods.

Yesterday, all of the kindergarten and first grade classes had a Christmas sing-a-long and the parents were invited to attend. As I took my seat in the gym, I assessed the situation. Loud music, crowded room, change in routine...uh-oh. I fully expected a major meltdown. I located the nearest exit and prepared to carry him out when things went bad. You can imagine my surprise (and absolute delight) to see him sing alongside his typical peers. He handled it all wonderfully and had a great time doing it. It was nothing short of overwhelming for me to see him participate in the program. It was all so normal...and beautiful! To see him like that was truly one of the happiest moments of my life. I only wish I had worn waterproof mascara. :-)

This is such an exciting time for us. I can't wait to see what he does next!

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Odds and Ends

Here are a couple of new discoveries for you:

Whiz Kid Games - Sixteen different online games designed for children with autism and they are all FREE! I've been playing them with my kids and I have to say that I am impressed. They are great for teaching a number of different skills, including self-care and recognition of emotions. Two big thumbs up from this autism mom!

Organic B.R.A.T. Wellness Drink - I was thrilled to discovery this after my family's recent bout with the flu. It's a milk substitute based on the BRAT diet (bananas, rice, apples and toast). It's very effective for soothing a troubled tummy and it's free of casein, gluten, corn and soy. We tried the vanilla flavor and my VERY picky son loved it! Organic B.R.A.T. comes in four flavors-original, chocolate honey, vanilla and cinnamon toast. Yummy!

Spectrum Hope on Facebook - I have changed our Facebook group to a fan page. Since the page updates show on home pages, we'll be able to communicate with each other better. We have several active members already and it's great to hear from all of you. If you're on Facebook, join us!