Saturday, April 21, 2012

Updates

SO many wonderful breakthroughs to report!

Immune Function and GI Health
This week, my 20 month old daughter contracted viral gastroenteritis.  She barfed 13 times on monday, and 7 times on tuesday. Its now saturday and she is starting to eat solids, and have regular bowel movements.  My son on the other hand started showing symptoms on tues night, at the same time as myself. We both barfed, slept all day wed. However, by thursday, his appetite and bowel movements were back to normal, he was hungry and ready to eat. I could only tolerate jello and ginger ale (I know, I know, don't judge me for the HFCS/red dye).  So, before Feb 2011, all through Charlie's infancy, toddler and preschool years he was constantly ill (average 2X per month) frequent vomit and loose stools. Now, when a really bad GI virus hits the family, he only showed symptoms for 24hrs, and recovered to full health, while the rest of the family suffered for 3-5 days!  I've got the rest of the family on a modified supplement program to boost our gut health and immunity (probiotics, anti-fungals, B vit, vit C, vit E, Selenium, Omega 3s).  I'm kinda jealous of how amazing his immune and GI systems are functioning!

Eye Contact, When Autism Disappears
The next morning after his MB12 shot and his methylation supporting supplements, we get to see this sweet, sensitive, caring, funny, happy, social boy.  These are my favourite momments. These are the times when I start imagining the possibilities for him.  This is the kid I want everyone to see. This is the poster child for early biomedical intervention.  Yesterday, at the park when his sister was sad after she had fallen, Charlie brought her a toy doll to cheer her up.  Autism disappeared. That is empathy and concern for his sisters feeling and wellbeing.  Yesterday, he shared his last sushi roll with me, instead of hoarding it.  Autism Disappeared. Sometimes he'll have a long conversation with me, and maintain eye contact for the entire time. Autism Disappears. Its eerie, I'm not used to it.  His eyes are so big and green, and just like mine. I wish everyone could see those eyes.

Mainstreaming
This year for March Break we took a risk and put him in a Parks and Recreation camp without an aide. Charlie has been doing gymnastics though Parks and Rec for several years, so he was used to the space, and the routine and activity.  He did so well without an aide. He made a new friend. They played together in the park after, and last week he went to a birthday party and his new friend was there. They stayed for hours playing.  The only time Charlie became upset at the camp was when his friend was late showing up on the last day. 

He's attending gymnastics without an aide this session, and its going really well. I've signed him up for French Immersion at Humewood in September.  I will request an EA until he becomes familiar with the space, people and routine, then he may not need one.

Current diet and supplements
I've backed off the huge supplement list, for now. Just to give him a break, and to focus more on diet. At school(Canadian School of Natural Nutrition) we learn to promote the NAG diet first. Natural Alive and Good Quality.  I'm receiving an organic produce box on fridays. We dig into that box, he loves the apples.  The strawberries were amazing too, and brocolli and asparagus are his favorite vegetables.  He's becoming very structured with his eating habits. Its frustrating for us, but I'm proud of how much control and ownership he's taking over his diet. When we go grocery shopping at Fiesta Farms, he insists on having his own cart.  I let him choose what ever he wants.  He usually picks watermellon, bananas, cucumber, brocolli, cauliflower, frozen mixed veg, beef, turkey, juice. Sometimes I'm realy grateful for his choices. Like last week he wanted to buy us some portobello mushrooms. I usually don't buy them anymore cause the kids won't eat them, but I was so thank full he thought of us. They were delicious grilled with a striploin steak.  He eats a LOT of sushi. He'd eat maki and hand rolls for lunch and dinner if we gave into it. I need to start making more at home, cause its getting expensive.  His other faves are mini-pizzas (made on gf tortillas/english muffins topped with sauce meat, mixed veg and brocolli) smoothies (coconut yogurt and milk, fruit), gf oatmeal, eggs, oatmeal pancakes, almond butter sandwiches, Rowe Farms breakfast sausages, fried rice, gf pasta, fish, turkey esp legs, chicken legs/wings, lamb, mini burgers.  I keep everything very simple at home. Minimal ingredients, minimal processing, minimal cooking.  Its easier, healther and quicker. Also if there is an herb or spice he doesn't like, it will turn him off the whole meal, so I keep it super simple. 

We go out to eat maybe 1-2 times per week. Our current faves are sushi, of course. He likes Ajimi at Yonge and Davisville, the all you can eat lunch is very good and affordable. We also love the neighbourhood spot Mazz. He orders the maki boat, with dynamite rolls and rainbow rolls. I'm not thrilled with the amount of farmed salmon he's eating, so I'll try to steer him towards green dragons instead, and cucumber/avocado maki and rolls. I'm also encouraging him to choose brown rice rolls. Which he likes. I order the seaweed salad when we go for sushi. Amazing source of minerals, vitamins, and n antioxident rich liver loving food!

He also likes Vietnamese. We went to Golden Turtle last night and it was perfect. He'll eat spring rolls and pho. I love the dish with grilled shrimp, veg and rice vermicelli with a sweet/sour vinagrette and cold rolls.

We also go out for South Indian Dosas.  Dosa Hut at Bloor and Landsdowne makes an egg dosa the kids love. My fave is the Masala Dosa. They also have a gluten free chickpea/lentil fritter that Charlie really likes. Their samosas are super cheap, but I know they are made with shortening/margarine. I'm avoiding north indian, because casein is a major trigger for him. he'll gorge on Naan and ignore the other dishes, and if I don't order Naan, he'll just eat pappadums. So, we don't bother, I'll just make pappadums at home for now.

Last week after swimming and the park at Trinity CRC, we were hungry and went out for Fish and Chips at Chippy's. Bad move, I think they put buttermilk in the batter. He was miserable the next day. Headache, crying, bad behavior, stomach ache.  A little bit of gluten in a batter (like a tempura shrimp) won't ruin the day, but any casein and we see such a regression!

His supplement routine is now:

MB12 shot every 3 nights, he's been on it for a year....15months is the suggested duration...I'm starting to worry about what we'll do when his scrip runs out. I want to keep going.
oral mb12 on day 3 or 4, SISU 1000mcg
fish oil at night when he's sleeping, we can't get it in any other way

1st juice daily
1/2 SISU magnesium (50mg)
1Kirkman folinc (800mcg)
1/2 P5P (25 mg)
1/3 SISU super B complex, this one has MB12, and P5P

2nd juice
probiotics

Last juice
melatonin - though he doesn't need it everynight, he's sleeping through the night, has consistent wake times!

Occationally- I've been focusing on methylation, so reducing the following, so not everyday anymore
SISU calcium chewable stars
Vit C
Vit D
Zinc
Selenium
Vit E

*NOTE* I've gone back to my product development job I had before Charlie was born, but part time in the early mornings while he's at school, 6am-10:30am.  I take the SISU  Super Bcomplex and folinic and feel wonderful, without caffeine I have energy, clarity.  I'm sure that I have MTHFR and methylation mutations, and they are partly responsible for Charlie's Autism, in combination to the genetic predisposition from his father's side.

Dr. Yasko
I've taken the plunge and ordered Dr. Yasko's genetic test kit.  Her testing will reveal which specific mutations and parts of methylation biochemistry require support. I'm eager to take his methylation support to the next level, now that his gut and immune function is superb, I'm ready to focus on methylation and detoxing. For more info, her book is published on her website.


Accepting Other Caregivers and Kids!
Charlie has been asking lots of questions about Daycare, and watching Toy Story 3. Yesterday he asked if he could go to daycare!!! This is the kid, who one year ago attempted and refused 4 preschools, and would not accept any other caregivers beside myself, Dan and my mom. A few weeks ago he let me leave him with Clara's nanny while he played with some friends.  He wants to go to school or daycare full day so he can have 2 recesses, and more time to play outside. This is the same kid who would cry and scream in the playground in the fall and was afraid of any playground that had children in it up until now.  I have to thank the amazing teachers at Holland Bloorview. His teacher Allison is the most caring, loving, smart, calm, experienced, brilliant teacher a kid with ASD could hope for.  She helps him build, create, socialize, imagine, plan, play, create, communicate, laugh, and most of all she accepts him, includes him and celebrates his successes.  

Charlie will continue to go to Holland Bloorview for camp this summer and for afternoon kindergarten next year, then camp the summer after that.  

At times, when he hasn't had any diet offenders, and his supplements are on track, and its day one after MB12, he is not autistic, no one would be able to tell. My hope is that he loses his diagnosis, everyday.