Apologies for no blogging for a bit, we have had a horrible winter in regards to health!  It feels like we have had every infection/disease possible, and today has been the first time all kids have slept through the night, had no medical appointments and that we haven’t spent our entire income at the pharmacy (leap for joy)! So why does my body feel deathly tired? It might take some getting used to if it continues!

This week has been one that has hurt my brain, so much information to process and make decisions on. My husband has had extra-long hours at work, and the reality of domestic duties and the time that they take has set in. I feel like if I did nothing else but housework and cooking I still might never get on top of it all! My eldest is going through a growth spurt and wants to constantly eat, that middle child of mine only wants bananas and cheese sticks and now the toddler has found that wonderful independent will where the answer to everything is NO followed by a tantrum….

Also this week the OT made a suggestion that we try the “brushing technique” which is to help train the neural pathways in kids with SID/SPD and provide the sensory feedback the brain is desperately seeking. Apparently some kids have a great response to it and some it’s entirely unhelpful for. But considering Beau’s deep physical pressure seeking activities (getting his big brother to throw basket ball’s at his face, banging his head on the trampoline and falling off objects on purpose) it might really help. I start feeling hopeful after hearing the possible benefits until I hear the time requirements- every 2 hours during the day for 4 weeks by the same person. Um say what now? EVERY 2 hours? By me? So I have been mental preparing myself for the commitment and how it might work.

As well as investigating this therapy, my wonderful Aunt gave me a book to read called “Healing the New Childhood Epidemics: Autism, ADHD, Asthma and Allergies”. It’s about a doctor in the US who has had complete recovers from the four A’s, all of which my kids seem to have to varying degrees. Reading the story at the start was a bit emotional in that it was so close to my experience. But the book does provide hope, with a dietary and supplementation method for giving your child’s body the best chance at restoring nutritional balance and helping brain neural transmission and thus improving behavior and health.

But it all seems too hard! The recommendation is to start with a gluten and casein free diet- so no wheat or dairy ouch. It’s amazing to look at what our kids eat, almost all of their favourite food has a combination of the two! I know its going to be tough but I feel I must give it a go- what have we got to lose, our kids are worth it!

So this week our family embarks on a new season, trying to find gluten and dairy free products and recipes. Please help me out with any tried and tested recipes- I’ll let you know how it goes! (The pic to the right is a wheat and dairy free quiche I attempted last night.... while the kids did eat it my pastry recipe will need some adjusting it was so gross!)