Liam just came and grabbed me by the hand to bring me I'm to the play room, handed me the remote and said - Mama, Team.
So team umizoomi it is
*MINDBLOWN*
(Please PRAY for us, that this progress in speech and communication continues improving and moving forward, for both our boys. Please.)
Thursday, December 12, 2013
Monday, September 16, 2013
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
TACA Autism Journey Blueprints (An excellent resource for your Autism Journey)
This is one of the best resources out there for families just starting thier journey: TACA Autism Journey Blueprints.
I highly recommend it to anyone in need of some guidance or interested in starting Bio Med!
http://www.tacanow.org/family-resources/autism-journey-blueprints/
I highly recommend it to anyone in need of some guidance or interested in starting Bio Med!
http://www.tacanow.org/family-resources/autism-journey-blueprints/
Sunday, August 18, 2013
Updated list of suppliments
***(When we are battling yeast, i give Liam 1 capsule Saccharomyces Boulardi+MOS, in a veggie/fruit pouch *gfcf/organic*- BEFORE his juice and breakfast....i open the capsule and pour it in making sure to mix it up really well so non of the powder is left on the rim of the pouch or else if he tastes it he wont eat it. This is given for about a month)
I give him the following supps in his juice in the a.m. (although sometimes it takes him until the afternoon to drink it up, i just keep refreshing it until its gone....)
1 tsp Kirkman Labs Spectrum complete (flavored powder multi vitamin)
1 tsp. Nordic naturals arctid D cod liver oil
1/4 tsp. Kirkman Labs TMG with folic acid and b-12
1/2 tsp Kirkman Labs Buffered magnesium glycinate powder (2x a day, given again at lunch)
1 capsule Designs for health Oil of Oregano
1/2 teaspoon LevoCarnatine (2 x a day , i give the second dose along with another 1 tsp nordic naturals arctic d cod liver oil during snack time after lunch. Levocarnatine is prescribed by his pediatrician but i think you are able to purchase over counter. putting it through our insurance was cheaper so we did it that way)
With his his breakfast, I pour 1 capsule of the Kavinace in one of those pureed veggie/fruit pouches and just make sure its mixed in well and none of the powder is around the rim and he eats it right up. ***UPDATE*** Kavinace is really strong tasting so lately i have also been syringing in a just a little bit of juice using one of those syringes from like, infant ibuprofin or whatever...after i have added the capsule to flush the powder down into the pouch and help mix it in even more. i give him 1 capsule in a pouch in the morning.
During lunch I refresh his juice and add the additional doses of LevoCarnatine, NN Arctic D and Magnesium (seen above) along with 1 capsule (poured out into drink) Kirkman Labs enzyme complete/ DPP-IV (you are supposed to give an enzyme with every meal but i find more than one upsets his stomach so i do it just once a day for him )
We use Kirkman Labs Pro Bio Gold as a probiotic. I give it to him at night before or during his dinner, also in a pouch. He eats about 4-5 of those pouches a day- 3 to 4 containing supplements and the rest just because he likes them. :)
Side note- never give a probiotic with an enzyme because they cancel each other out....fyi (if i happen to be out and am waiting to re-up i give him gfcf Culturelle probiotic that i keep around just as a backup)
About 30 minutes before bed he gets the final fruit/veggie pouch of the day. This one contains 250 MG of Gaba. This helps promote sleep.
During lunch I refresh his juice and add the additional doses of LevoCarnatine, NN Arctic D and Magnesium (seen above) along with 1 capsule (poured out into drink) Kirkman Labs enzyme complete/ DPP-IV (you are supposed to give an enzyme with every meal but i find more than one upsets his stomach so i do it just once a day for him )
We use Kirkman Labs Pro Bio Gold as a probiotic. I give it to him at night before or during his dinner, also in a pouch. He eats about 4-5 of those pouches a day- 3 to 4 containing supplements and the rest just because he likes them. :)
Side note- never give a probiotic with an enzyme because they cancel each other out....fyi (if i happen to be out and am waiting to re-up i give him gfcf Culturelle probiotic that i keep around just as a backup)
About 30 minutes before bed he gets the final fruit/veggie pouch of the day. This one contains 250 MG of Gaba. This helps promote sleep.
I spent a lot of time researching online and even before we found our bio med pediatrician i began trying supps. Well, technically I starting with the GFCFSF diet intervention (it took us about two weeks to see positive changes from going gfcfsf, for some its quicker and for others longer. the first few weeks were rough but it was well worth it...he began focusing more and it was like a fog lifted to name just a few of the positive changes...) then added the multi vitamin (I began with Kirkman labs super nu thera but have since switched to spectrum complete).
I waited a week between each new addition to let his body adjust and to see if we noticed any changes. Everything he takes now has had some sort of positive effect. Be it keeping yeast at bay (oil of oregano), helping calm him down, with anxiety and with sleep (Kavinace and magnesium).
We have tried some supps that have had not so great reactions as well ( increased hyperactivity or not so great behaviors...) so we stopped. :)
I buy most of my supps online off OurKidsASD.com they have free shipping and their good prices. I occasionally use amazon too.
Supplements on the horizon: Vitamin E, Enhansa, SAM-e, Vit C....
Just thought i would share! And also help me keep track :)
Supplements on the horizon: Vitamin E, Enhansa, SAM-e, Vit C....
Just thought i would share! And also help me keep track :)
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
The Marcus Autism Center- Diagnosis
In April we had our appointment for Liam's official diagnosis.
A piece of paper telling us in writing, all the things we already know.
When it was all said and done, I was not sad, or shocked or any of that.
I was so ready to just get going on so many of the things that we can now apply for with the diagnosis.
Besides, we had already ridden that roller coaster. At this point, we can run, operate and maintain that bitch with one hand tied behind our backs. ;)
I am glad i didn't not wait for an "official diagnosis" to start our own interventions. I am glad that i chose to follow my own gut and intuitions. It was a rocky start, but i feel confident we are and have been, heading int he right direction. Liam is in such a better place now, as are we!
Sure, not ever day is easy. We have some days, weeks even, that are challenging to say the least. But we focus on moving continually forward. On our breakthroughs, smiles and happy days- which thankfully exceed that not so great ones.
I still have moments when I cry, feel scared, all of it....all of it. But you just have to shake all that shit off man. Theres no point in it. It ok to feel it, be in it for a moment, get it out of your system. This is tough stuff. But then shake it off and keep on keeping on.
The staff at The Marcus Autism Center has been fabulous all the way through. The process, although extremely lengthy overall, went smoothly and we were always made to feel at ease.
So, with this paper I have already applied for the Deeming/ Katie Beckett. We are awaiting the approval any day now!
I also applied for a local grant called Maggies Hope. This would help pay for some of the labs we need run that our insurance wont pay for.
I will also be applying for Liam to receive his very own IPad fr the coming school year. This device will ultimately be able to to help him communicate his wants and needs, until he is able to do so verbally.
He recently took a liking (to say the very least) to playing games on my Droid. So much so that i am now on my 4th phone and he is now the proud owner of a Nabi Jr. which totally rocks and he loves.
I had tried in the recent past to engage him with toddler matching/puzzle/number/abc games but he never showed any interest at all. Until a few weeks ago! I had downloaded a game and while he was sitting on my lap we played it, hand over hand for about 10 minutes. Jenny walked in the room and we began talking about something and i set the phone down momentarily. The next thing i know, i look over and see liam sitting on his own playing the game all by himself! Appropriately and correctly!
Not only that, but in watching him play, we came to the realization that he knows his numbers! There were blocks numbered 1 through ten, and they were all scattered and mismatched. He was able to correctly match and line up all the numbers 1-10, over and over! I swear, this kid never fails to AMAZE ME. It doesnt stop there. He is able to do the same with colors, shapes and various other games.
Since we got the Nabi we have also come to find he knows his alphabet, and match the right words to the first letter when prompted. He can [pick the correct animals and other various objects in games when prompted as well.
So proud of my Liam.
We have been able to get some private therapies going for Liam. In addition to the speech and OT he gets at school , he is receiving speech 2 x a week for 1 hr at a time via Childrens Healthcare in Fayette. We are awaiting approval to begin his OT there too.
It is limited and we only have a certain number of visits. My hope is that the Deeming Waiver will pick up when our insurance runs out. Come on Deeming waiver!!!!!!! In the meanwhile the out of pocket is 30 bucks per visit and since we are averaging about 3 visits a week, when you add in the gas its about 150 dollars a week. A little painful to the pocket but well worth it.
We go for our first feeding therapy appointment at the Marcus Autism Center next week. Excited to get this kid eating some new foods!
My goal is to be able to apply the GAPS diet by the end of the year.
Now that he is back in school i think we will begin seeing some real progress in his communication and behaviors. I am siked to see what the rest of this year will bring.
We have also been working with Dr. Jill, our wonderful pediatrician, to get a handle on a few things. What a blessing she has been in our life.
All in all, we have made much progress this year.
I am feeling good about it all.
A piece of paper telling us in writing, all the things we already know.
When it was all said and done, I was not sad, or shocked or any of that.
I was so ready to just get going on so many of the things that we can now apply for with the diagnosis.
Besides, we had already ridden that roller coaster. At this point, we can run, operate and maintain that bitch with one hand tied behind our backs. ;)
I am glad i didn't not wait for an "official diagnosis" to start our own interventions. I am glad that i chose to follow my own gut and intuitions. It was a rocky start, but i feel confident we are and have been, heading int he right direction. Liam is in such a better place now, as are we!
Sure, not ever day is easy. We have some days, weeks even, that are challenging to say the least. But we focus on moving continually forward. On our breakthroughs, smiles and happy days- which thankfully exceed that not so great ones.
I still have moments when I cry, feel scared, all of it....all of it. But you just have to shake all that shit off man. Theres no point in it. It ok to feel it, be in it for a moment, get it out of your system. This is tough stuff. But then shake it off and keep on keeping on.
The staff at The Marcus Autism Center has been fabulous all the way through. The process, although extremely lengthy overall, went smoothly and we were always made to feel at ease.
So, with this paper I have already applied for the Deeming/ Katie Beckett. We are awaiting the approval any day now!
I also applied for a local grant called Maggies Hope. This would help pay for some of the labs we need run that our insurance wont pay for.
I will also be applying for Liam to receive his very own IPad fr the coming school year. This device will ultimately be able to to help him communicate his wants and needs, until he is able to do so verbally.
He recently took a liking (to say the very least) to playing games on my Droid. So much so that i am now on my 4th phone and he is now the proud owner of a Nabi Jr. which totally rocks and he loves.
I had tried in the recent past to engage him with toddler matching/puzzle/number/abc games but he never showed any interest at all. Until a few weeks ago! I had downloaded a game and while he was sitting on my lap we played it, hand over hand for about 10 minutes. Jenny walked in the room and we began talking about something and i set the phone down momentarily. The next thing i know, i look over and see liam sitting on his own playing the game all by himself! Appropriately and correctly!
Not only that, but in watching him play, we came to the realization that he knows his numbers! There were blocks numbered 1 through ten, and they were all scattered and mismatched. He was able to correctly match and line up all the numbers 1-10, over and over! I swear, this kid never fails to AMAZE ME. It doesnt stop there. He is able to do the same with colors, shapes and various other games.
Since we got the Nabi we have also come to find he knows his alphabet, and match the right words to the first letter when prompted. He can [pick the correct animals and other various objects in games when prompted as well.
So proud of my Liam.
We have been able to get some private therapies going for Liam. In addition to the speech and OT he gets at school , he is receiving speech 2 x a week for 1 hr at a time via Childrens Healthcare in Fayette. We are awaiting approval to begin his OT there too.
It is limited and we only have a certain number of visits. My hope is that the Deeming Waiver will pick up when our insurance runs out. Come on Deeming waiver!!!!!!! In the meanwhile the out of pocket is 30 bucks per visit and since we are averaging about 3 visits a week, when you add in the gas its about 150 dollars a week. A little painful to the pocket but well worth it.
We go for our first feeding therapy appointment at the Marcus Autism Center next week. Excited to get this kid eating some new foods!
My goal is to be able to apply the GAPS diet by the end of the year.
Now that he is back in school i think we will begin seeing some real progress in his communication and behaviors. I am siked to see what the rest of this year will bring.
We have also been working with Dr. Jill, our wonderful pediatrician, to get a handle on a few things. What a blessing she has been in our life.
All in all, we have made much progress this year.
I am feeling good about it all.
Love and light,
A
Saturday, June 8, 2013
Walk Now for Autism Speaks and Team Liam's Lions
Showing our support to a great cause, rain or shine
The boys LOVED the Bounce House.
Daisy not so much. She was cool hanging in Daddys arms :)
Our Crew.
Snack time :)
Autism Speaks was one of the very first online resources that I utilized, along with TACA. I still go back to use several of their online tools, resources and to read up on the latest News and information.
The day of the walk, the weatherman predicted lots of rain. And storms.
But there was no way i was going to miss it! I ignored the tv and jason saying over and over how bad the weather was going to be. I refused to believe that we would be rained out!!
As we drove in to the city it began pouring on us. I really thought that we were going to have to turn around and go home. But I just kept praying and saying out loud that the rain was going to stop by the time we got there.
We pulled into Atlanta station.
Rain rain rain.
Debated going to Lenox mall instead...
Then we saw the people.
A HUGE crowd was outside, and walking.
In the rain.
Game on! So what if we got a little wet.
We pulled in the parking garage and began unloading. By the time we made it outside, the rain had stopped! :)
Happy day!
I was impressed with how many people made it out. There were booths everywhere, offering samples of gfcf foods, as well as a ton of information and different products. There was a large stage with a dj, music and a team of dancers. There were like 4 bounce houses and other games for kids to play. Everywhere i looked there were families, just like ours. It felt really good to see so many smiling faces.
We will be coming back again next year! We were really inspired by the other Teams at the walk and next time we will be rocking some Team Liams Lions Tshirts and maybe even a poster/banner or two. Hopefully we will be able to increase and meet our donation goal as well, although we got really close this time around!We collected enough for me to get a free event Tshirt. Aww. ;)
We are so appreciative and grateful for all those who showed support to Team Liams Lions and the Walk Now for Autism Speaks Event.
Thank you! It really meant a lot to us.
Love and Light,
A
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Liam's Georgia Aquarium Adventure!
Thanks for letting me pet you little stingray!
So.
Cool.
Belugas.
This was one of Liam's favorite exhibitions.
The whale shark was gigantically amazing!
Checking out some frogs
I'm coming for you Jennnnayyyyyy.....
Pucker up
Hangin' with some Dolphins
Wicked looking Jellies
All tuckered out :)
***
A few weeks ago Liam, Jenny and I got the opportunity to visit the Georgia Aquarium, for free!
Here is why:
Dear parents –
Georgia Aquarium invites you to participate in a very special event just for families like yours. We know that visiting the aquarium can sometimes be a difficult task, with the large crowds, music and lights. But Georgia Aquarium should be for everyone to enjoy. That’s why we’d like to invite you to visit us, before hours, on Sunday, April 28th, Autism Speaks Day.
On this day, we will open the aquarium two hours early for your family to enjoy smaller crowds, lower lights & music, and special events – with free admission for up to four members of your family. We are limiting the number of free admissions to ensure a smaller crowd, so please register soon, as this will be based on a first come, first served basis. Please be sure that you can attend Georgia Aquarium on Sunday, April 28th from 8-10am before you register.
Pre-registered families of four which include a child on the Autism Spectrum will also enjoy special lectures about dolphins, sea otters, Asian otters and beluga whales. There will even be the opportunity to meet and get a photo taken with the star of AT&T Dolphin Tales, the StarSpinner himself! If you have more than four family members attending during the 8-10am hours, those additional members of your party are invited to purchase a discounted ticket at just $19.95 at the ticket counter.
In addition to these exclusive benefits, we will reserve a special section of our Oceans Ballroom for activities and special animal encounters. This area will also serve as a quiet space for your family to enjoy all day long, if and when you need a break from the hustle and bustle of the aquarium after we are open to the public.
After 10am, when the aquarium opens to the public, some special events will continue, however the offer of free admission is only available to pre-registered guests prior to 10am.
To register, please email ####with the following information by April 19, 2013:
SUBJECT LINE: AUTISM SPEAKS DAY
Name:
Number of guests in your party (up to 4):
Email Address:
Phone Number:
Zip Code:
Referring Organization (choose 1): Georgia Aquarium, Marcus Autism Center OR Autism Speaks
Number of guests in your party (up to 4):
Email Address:
Phone Number:
Zip Code:
Referring Organization (choose 1): Georgia Aquarium, Marcus Autism Center OR Autism Speaks
Thank you and we look forward to hosting your family on Autism Speaks Day!
Best fishes,
Georgia Aquarium Staff
Liam's favorites where the Beluga whales, the Tropical fish and the Dolphins.
Jenny loved the tunnel, the belugas, the dolphins and the big fish in the entryway and the penguins.
I loved the belugas, the whale sharks , the sea otters (even though they totally smelled like wet dog lol), the stingrays (where you can go over the tank and touch them, so cool), the tunnel and the dolphins.
Everyone there was incredible and the turnout was huge!
I was nice to look around and see so many happy families. :)
A big Thank You to our friend Kristen giving us the heads up, and to Autism Speaks and the Georgia Aquarium for holding the event.
We had an awesome adventure!
Love and light, A
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Detailed info for Team Liam's Lions and the Walk Now for Autism Speaks fundraising event
I would have been utterly lost without organizations like Autism Speaks and TACA -just to name a few- which are incredibly helpful resources. Thanks guys!
Click here to reach Team Liam's Lions donation page. Feel free to share!
If you would like to register to walk with us, go to our Team Liam's Lions Donation page and click on the My Team page link, then click on the link that says Join Our Team.
This will bring you to a registration page.
Registration is free!
By filling out the registration page, you are joining Team Liam's Lions and registering to walk with us on on Sunday May 19th 2013 for the Walk Now for Autism Speaks event .
Click here for specific Atlanta Walk Now for Autism Speaks info, such as the date , location etc.
What if you aren't able to walk with us, but still want to help raise funds? Maybe you live far way?Such is the case for a lot of my family. Maybe you just aren't available that day. Or maybe you just hate walking (lol). Thats ok!
When you register under Team Liam's Lions, the site will automatically create a donation page just for you, which is linked to our team as a whole.You can choose to use your own page to get even more donations going for team Liam's Lions and Walk Now for Autism Speaks, from your friends and family..... or not! You can set your own goals....or zero that sucka out and call it a day. No big whoop. :)
If you DO choose to utilize your own donations page to gather funds, and if you reach $150 in donations from your own personal page, you get a free t-shirt. WoooHoooo! lol :)
So many options!
Register just to walk with us!
Or register to collect donations on your own for Team LL AND walk.
Or just collect donations and dont walk!
In the words of The Varsity staff- WHAT'LL YA HAVE WHAT'LL YA HAVE WHAT'LL YA HAVE!?
Either way, you are now registered to walk with Team Liam's Lions!
Hope to see a lot of you there!
Love and Light,
A
Feel free to contact me directly at amp.atl@gmail.com
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Team Liam's Lions and Walk Now For Autism Speaks!
Hi all!
As most of you know, Jason and I are blessed to be the
parents to 3 wonderful and amazing children.
Liam is 3, and twins Sam and Daisy are 17 months old.
Our oldest Liam, is on the Spectrum for Autism.
Our participation in Walk Now for Autism Speaks, is just
one small part of our family journey through Autism.
You can read more about our journey in this blog: Adventuresof The Parch Family- Soaring Above the Spectrum, which highlights our highs and
lows, challenges and successes and also details our Bio Medical Interventions,
Therapies and any other steps we are taking in our fight to give Liam the best
possible outcome in life.
Please join us, and show your support to Team Liam's Lions and Autism Speaks!
You can participate by joining our team and walking with
us, AND/OR making a donation directly to Autism Speaks via our Team Liam's Lions donation page on the Autism Speaks website.
You can also help by collecting donations from your
friends and family to contribute to this cause!
Organizations like Autism Speaks are so important to
families like ours for support, information and research.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions.
You can contact me directly at:
amp.atl@gmail.com
-Alex
I am participating in Walk Now for Autism Speaks to help
find the missing pieces of autism. Autism is the second most common
developmental disorder in the United States affecting one in every 50 children
born today. More children will be diagnosed with autism this year than with
AIDS, diabetes & cancer combined.
Research is crucial. Despite some
promising discoveries, the cause of autism is unknown and a cure does not
exist. Our goal is to change the future
for all who struggle with autism spectrum disorders, and soon.
Walk Now for Autism Speaks is our chance to make a
difference in the fight against autism by raising money for autism research and
heightening public awareness. Please join me in my fight as I raise money to
help fund essential research. You can donate to Walk Now for Autism Speaks
and/or join my team online using the links at the bottom of this page.
Donations can also be mailed to Autism Speaks using the donation form located
on my page or send me a check made out to Autism Speaks.
Thank you for taking an important step in the fight
against autism.
Donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent
allowed by law.
Autism Speaks 501 (C)(3) Tax Id #: 20-2329938
Matching gift program: Many companies provide their
employees with matching gifts. Please consult your employer on its matching
gift guidelines and attach matching gift forms accordingly.
Friday, March 15, 2013
A helpful link on going GFCFSF
Going GFCFSF in 10 weeks, a must read for those just starting out with a diet intervention, off the TACA website.
Happenings and a current list of Liam's supplements and protocol
A few tid bits of information, just to catch up:
Turns out Dr. Jill will still be covered through our insurance, which is a huuuuuuuuge relief.
If you have had any personal experience in dealing with Insurance companies and the treatment of Autism, you know it can be extremely difficult to find and obtain services from pediatricians and therapists specializing in bio medical interventions and treatments, that insurance will actually cover. And, even though our insurance covers her general pediatric services, there are many treatments and testing that are important and recommended which will still have to come out of pocket. Insurance either wont cover at all or will only partially cover. Regardless, her presence, guidance, advice and knowledge is GOLDEN and we are blessed to have her.
About a month ago we had a back and forth with Liam's teacher Ms. Jill (Not to be confused with Dr. Jill lol)
We were requesting more days and OT for Liam. She kept pushing back stating he wasnt ready for more days and that he didn't need the OT.
So a meeting was held, to discuss our "concerns", and go over how Liam was doing up to that point. Overall, the meeting went wonderfully.
I went into it, with a Warrior Mama/Battlegrounds mindset and after the first 10 minutes all of that stress melted away.
I went into it, with a Warrior Mama/Battlegrounds mindset and after the first 10 minutes all of that stress melted away.
Jason and I got to meet his Speech Therapist which i had only met very briefly once before, alng with the Occupational Therapist, and their consultant.
In a nutshell, they went over all of Liams strengths and the things he is struggling with now, which is manly stamina. He sort of fizzles out by 1 pm and is pretty much over it which can lead to meltdowns or just a general lack of interest in participating during that last hour. This is why Ms. Jill was saying that he wasnt ready for more days- she basically was saying that they would like him to be able to make use of the majority of the time he spends there and wanted to build up his stamina a bit more before adding any more days, which we understood. That was pretty much the only struggle at this point.
They said he is no longer delayed in his fine motor skills, for what they require of him at school. In fact he is on par and even more advanced that some 3 year old nuerotypical children his age. he is happy and enjoys school unless he gets tired which usually happens around 1 pm and then if he is, then he is done and doesn't want to be bothered.
They said he is no longer delayed in his fine motor skills, for what they require of him at school. In fact he is on par and even more advanced that some 3 year old nuerotypical children his age. he is happy and enjoys school unless he gets tired which usually happens around 1 pm and then if he is, then he is done and doesn't want to be bothered.
They went over a day to day with him and showed me some of the therapies and projects that he is currently doing. I was wonderfully surprised at many of the things they told me he was doing, because at the time- he was not doing those things at home.(such as puzzles, beading, sitting on potty with no issues, drawing circles and tracing straight lines, coloring within lines, turning knobs, playing with all toys appropriately, etc...)
I realized that i was not giving Liam enough credit and that he was and is more capable than i was giving him credit for. The meeting was a bit of an eye opener for me and i am grateful for that.
They said he "LOVES to work" and any project they put in front of him he dives in to. He focuses well and concentrates when he needs to, as long as he is "in it", and not tired (going back to the 1 pm wall he hits).
When it was all said and done, it was decided that he will be given 1 additional day, in the mornings. So he will be attending Tuesdays at 11, Wednesdays at 830, and Thursdays at 11. If he seems to do better in the early morning then we will switch him to all early morning.
Here at home, we will be working on Liam being more independent. Working with him to go on the potty more often, dress himself (buttons and zippers will be an on going "project for a bit" ) , put his shoes on and off. Since the meeting he has shown interest in puzzles and painting with finger paints, is going on the potty more frequently, he is helping to dress himself, brush his own teeth, and the list goes on- all within the month. Goes to show that, regardless of developmental delays or "special needs"..... "Give a man a fish, and you have fed him once. Teach him how to fish and you have fed him for a lifetime."
They were all extremely informative, helpful and I walked away finally feeling like we were all on board with "Team Liam".
And, while he may not require or qualify for OT at school for THEIR needs, i know he needs it in other aspects, so we will be acquiring it at some point in the every near future, just on our own.
And, while he may not require or qualify for OT at school for THEIR needs, i know he needs it in other aspects, so we will be acquiring it at some point in the every near future, just on our own.
We received his blood work results back and they showed that he had low levels or iron and D. He is also showing higher levels of something (i dont have my notebook in front of me sorry, need to look up the technical jargon) in his bloodstream that is caused by anxiety and stress which is common in people with autism. The unknown is hard for people on the spectrum to deal with and because of difficulties with communication and understanding, it is one of the biggest challenges. Dr Jill recommended Levocarnitine, and an additional iron supplement which he is now taking.
Additionally we introduced a second probiotic, a vegan and generic version of the brand name Florastor (which has dairy so wont work for us), which is called Saccharomyces Boulardii and made by Jarrow Formulas. This particular probiotic helps control the yeast overgrowth in his gut which helps with his leaky gut which in turn helps with behaviors, focus and moods. Only a few days in to taking this additional probiotic he went from going number two up to 5 times a day, to now once or twice a day. Thank God!
A few weeks ago i forwarded a video talking about bio medical interventions and healing for Autism to some family members. In the email i wrote the following:
The first half talks more about recognizing symptoms and the second half goes into testing and bio medical treatment.
We have yet to have his stool and urine tested, which is an important step in knowing his exact deficiencies but unfortunately insurance doesn't cover the testing completely so for the time being it is in hold, but we will be doing this (God willing) sooner than later. Just another step forward to healing our Liam.
I have to say that since starting his dietary intervention (gfcfsf) and along with supplementing the majority of his "stimming", sleep issues and disruptive behaviors have improved dramatically.
This, along with therapies at home and school have also directly attributed to Liam no longer having a fine motor delay. Over the past few months we hanger had numerous "breakthroughs" and these typically occurred shortly after starting a new supplement, pro biotic, or yeast overgrowth treatment. He is improving on a pretty consistent basis these days and i completely believe in the bio medical approach and healing. I am also so grateful to have Dr Jill to help guide and support us. We have a ways to go but have faith and confidence that we are headed in the right direction.
We had a second assessment visit to the Marcus Autism Center this past Monday. The official diagnosis date is April 22. Boy, they sure do make you jump through hoops to get this diagnosis. As I have stated before we need the official diag., in order to apply for the Katie Beckett Waiver/Deeming Waiver. This waiver will make it possible for us to receive the necessary therapies (Speech, OT, Sensory Integration therapy) to be able to give Liam the opportunity to thrive and have the best possible outcomes in life.
I am in the process of registering for the Walk Now for Autism Speaks . It is my hope to be able to raise some money towards this worthy cause. I look forward to participating in the walk and meeting some FELLOW WARRIORS/ families who can relate :)
More on the walk in a later post...
Here is the list of Liam's Supplements and protocol-
A.M. in his Orange Juice:
1 tsp. Nordic Naturals Arctic D Cod Liver Oil
1 tsp. Kirkman Labs Spectrum Complete Multi Vitamin
1 capsule (i open the capsule and pour the powder into his juice) Jarrow Formulas Saccharromyces + MOS
1/2 tsp. Levocarnitine (prescribed by our pediatrician, Dr. Jill)
1/3 tsp. TMG with Folic Acid and B12 powder
First thing in the morning i rub a dab of ASD Kids Magnesium Sulfate cream. I use this cream 4-6 times a day, rubbing a dab on his back and arms or legs.
Lunch time:
1/2 tsp. Levocarnitine
1 capsule Kirkman Labs Iron 5g
1 capsule Kirkman Labs Enzyme Complete DPP-IV (You are supposed to give enzymes with every meal. However, you are not supposed to give enzymes at the same time as probiotics because they will cancel each other out, for lack of a better explanation Since i give him a probiotic in the morning at and night this only leaves me one open window, lunch time. I am still trying to fine tune this, since i would like him to get the full benefits of the enzymes, but there is only so much juice i am willing to give him a day and only so many hours in a day so ....yeah.)
P.M.:
1 capsule Kirkman Labs Pro Bio Gold (Its my understanding this particular probiotic works best given at night, and all by itself.)
We continue to soar!
Additionally we introduced a second probiotic, a vegan and generic version of the brand name Florastor (which has dairy so wont work for us), which is called Saccharomyces Boulardii and made by Jarrow Formulas. This particular probiotic helps control the yeast overgrowth in his gut which helps with his leaky gut which in turn helps with behaviors, focus and moods. Only a few days in to taking this additional probiotic he went from going number two up to 5 times a day, to now once or twice a day. Thank God!
A few weeks ago i forwarded a video talking about bio medical interventions and healing for Autism to some family members. In the email i wrote the following:
The first half talks more about recognizing symptoms and the second half goes into testing and bio medical treatment.
We have yet to have his stool and urine tested, which is an important step in knowing his exact deficiencies but unfortunately insurance doesn't cover the testing completely so for the time being it is in hold, but we will be doing this (God willing) sooner than later. Just another step forward to healing our Liam.
I have to say that since starting his dietary intervention (gfcfsf) and along with supplementing the majority of his "stimming", sleep issues and disruptive behaviors have improved dramatically.
This, along with therapies at home and school have also directly attributed to Liam no longer having a fine motor delay. Over the past few months we hanger had numerous "breakthroughs" and these typically occurred shortly after starting a new supplement, pro biotic, or yeast overgrowth treatment. He is improving on a pretty consistent basis these days and i completely believe in the bio medical approach and healing. I am also so grateful to have Dr Jill to help guide and support us. We have a ways to go but have faith and confidence that we are headed in the right direction.
We had a second assessment visit to the Marcus Autism Center this past Monday. The official diagnosis date is April 22. Boy, they sure do make you jump through hoops to get this diagnosis. As I have stated before we need the official diag., in order to apply for the Katie Beckett Waiver/Deeming Waiver. This waiver will make it possible for us to receive the necessary therapies (Speech, OT, Sensory Integration therapy) to be able to give Liam the opportunity to thrive and have the best possible outcomes in life.
I am in the process of registering for the Walk Now for Autism Speaks . It is my hope to be able to raise some money towards this worthy cause. I look forward to participating in the walk and meeting some FELLOW WARRIORS/ families who can relate :)
More on the walk in a later post...
Here is the list of Liam's Supplements and protocol-
A.M. in his Orange Juice:
1 tsp. Nordic Naturals Arctic D Cod Liver Oil
1 tsp. Kirkman Labs Spectrum Complete Multi Vitamin
1 capsule (i open the capsule and pour the powder into his juice) Jarrow Formulas Saccharromyces + MOS
1/2 tsp. Levocarnitine (prescribed by our pediatrician, Dr. Jill)
1/3 tsp. TMG with Folic Acid and B12 powder
First thing in the morning i rub a dab of ASD Kids Magnesium Sulfate cream. I use this cream 4-6 times a day, rubbing a dab on his back and arms or legs.
Lunch time:
1/2 tsp. Levocarnitine
1 capsule Kirkman Labs Iron 5g
1 capsule Kirkman Labs Enzyme Complete DPP-IV (You are supposed to give enzymes with every meal. However, you are not supposed to give enzymes at the same time as probiotics because they will cancel each other out, for lack of a better explanation Since i give him a probiotic in the morning at and night this only leaves me one open window, lunch time. I am still trying to fine tune this, since i would like him to get the full benefits of the enzymes, but there is only so much juice i am willing to give him a day and only so many hours in a day so ....yeah.)
P.M.:
1 capsule Kirkman Labs Pro Bio Gold (Its my understanding this particular probiotic works best given at night, and all by itself.)
We continue to soar!
Love and light,
A
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