The before and after shots look pretty good...

After a little while of controlling her diet, you can see how bright eyed and cheerful she is becoming! I'm a happy mommy today! These pictures were taken a few months apart, you can see the dark circles under her eyes in the first one.

Wanted to give it a while before posting.

Some good things have happened. I haven't been strict on the gluten/dairy free diet so much as I'm just contolling what she eats. Packing her lunches with food I can trust and eating healthy at home have actually made an impact! She's more alert, talkative and attentive. She's telling stories she finds funny, giggling and actively using her imagination while playing. Granted, she's still not what anyone would consider 'normal,' but she certainly seems better. Even her conversations are more streamlined.

The autism specialist for Sarasota county called me last week and said that aside from being a little odd (and yes, he actually used that word) that she was fine. He recommended we do the Applied Behavioral Therapy in the evenings because she is one of those kids that functions well enough to not really be noticed by the school as needeing help and she could slip throught the crack. Sounds familiar.

We've been getting more exercise at home, yoga and a little light jogging for the kids and that seems to help as well.

So for Hannah, I can safely say that a healthier diet in general, meaning no McDonalds or crappy school lunches (although better than they used to be) is making a big difference. She still has lots of time where she is inattentive and spaced out. But even the dark circles under her eyes have diminished.

All in all...progress is good!

One week, and so far so good.

This week was discovery. We discovered she doesn't like soy yogurt, but she likes the home made gluten free bread. I also discovered that my grocery store carries gluten free pasta, Bisquick makes a gluten free mix for pancakes and such, and that I really like my local Richards Whole Foods store. Today is Sunday and she has been on this diet for a week. Not all of the gluten and dairy have been removed, but it's been dramatically reduced.

This evening she was great! We worked on some math problems and word recognition and she focused longer than usual and picked it up very nicely. She knows this stuff, she just has a hard time using it. She also was in a wonderful mood. Giggly, huggy, helpful, polite, talkative...happy! Now, she does have random days in which she seems completely normal (well, mostly, there is still the obsession with ants) and it could have just been one of those days.

At this point, restricting her diet can't hurt. If nothing else, it limits choices and forces us to incorporate more fruits, vegees and organic foods. No crap like extra sugar, artificial sweeteners or food dyes. Tomorrow she gets breakfast, oatmeal, with soymilk and a tiny bit of natural unrefined sugar, fruit and juice. Lunch, PBJ on home made bread, hard boiled egg, no sugar added apple juice, carrots and an apple. Tomorrow's dinner is Spaghetti and meat sauce with gluten free pasta, with a leafy green salad. Snack is seedless black grapes and chocolate soy milk.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed. There is no cure for Autism in any form, even as mild as Asperger's, but living a clean life certainly won't hurt!

Half way through week #!

Okay, so after one failed loaf of gluten free bread, I did manage to make one that was edible. So far, this week the food we have been providing is gluten free and minimal on the dairy. She's not complaining about the food, but I did not care too much for added increase in the grocery bill! I found a bread mix that included the yeast, just add eggs and milk but it was over $4. I ruined the first loaf and let the second rise too long, then moved it, so it wasn't quite as fluffy as it should be. Lesson learned! The soy milk is going over okay, but aside from frustration over personal space invastion by little sister and the dogs, or disruption of the organization of toys she doesn't complain too much.

This next trip to the store won't be so bad. I can get away with one loaf of gluten free bread for lunches (I hope) and she'll always eat fruits and vegees, a healthier alternative to other snacks. And she seems fine eating the organic soy yogurt. I successfully avoided overly processed foods for the menu as well.

However...Thanksgiving will put a damper on that. I did, however get assigned the turkey and stuffing...so I'll do may part and use the messed up gluten free bread for the stuffing. It should be fine and it tastes okay. She does however, adore crescent rolls. I don't have the heart to deny her one if she wants it.

I supposed slowly intergrating this new diet and allowing her to indulge once in a while may not be too bad.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Starting a new diet to combat ADD and Aspberger's

Okay. Today I will be hitting the stores for our weeks worth of groceries. Our 5 year old Daughter Hannah has been diagnosed with Asperger's Disorder and ADHD, inattentive type. There have been a few articles I've read online in regards to removing gluten and dairy from her diet and I thought it might help her focus. If not, it will at least be worth a shot.

Now, our 4 year old Hailey doesn't seen to have those problems, but appears to be sensitive to food  coloring and sugar. She is very social, smart and energetic, but can be a little hard to handle after eating junk food.

To make a long story not so long, I have decided to go organic (with in reason and budget) start trying gluten free foods and using soy milk for most things. I'll buy natural products and try as best as I can to use unrefined products. This will be expensive no doubt, and frustrating as well as more work for me. Hannah will be packing her lunch now, and I have found a few recipies for pasta and bread that I'd like to try.

I have to hit the local GNC for Xhantan gum and I found a gluten free bread flour mix at Publix. I'll swap out the breakfast cerial for fruit and protien such as eggs and maybe sausage or possibly gluten free waffles, if they are not too expensive.

I'll blog this process as a way to track the potential progress. Maybe if it works, this might come in handy for others who are facing similar issues.

Hannah is smart, she knows what she should but she is having a very hard time using what she knows and social situations are a bit hard for her. She finally saw Santa and even though she wouldn't talk to him or sit with him, she did at least stand next to his chair and allow her picture to be taken, though she wouldn't smile. Her current obesssions are ants and skunks.

Hailey did good, she sat with Santa and told him she wanted a unicorn. She had a very hard time following instructions during the day and even giggled when I took her for time outs outside of stores while we were out yesterday.

I did realize this morning that I need to spend more one on onetime with Hailey, playing games and such. It's hard for me because i also have Asperger's. But for her, I'm willing to do anything. So, out come the preschool suitable board games and the barbies!

I'll post again later in the week.