Life with boys

What Island are you on?

2011-05-19T17:06:00.000-06:00

As I was reading the lastest blog post on "a mom's view of ADHD" today, I could relate to each of the different islands described because at one time or another, I have been there, done that. Currently I feel like I am on Gilligan's Island and keep getting sucked back onto the island and just not sure when I will ever get off! Check out the article: The ADHD Islands

Diet and ADHD

2011-03-20T15:01:00.000-06:00

It is quite a controversial topic...

Here are the results from a recent study conducted by INCA - Impact of Nutrition on Children with ADHD:

http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736%2810%2962227-1/abstract

Their conclusion was that "A strictly supervised restricted elimination diet is a valuable instrument to assess whether ADHD is induced by food."

Does Diet really affect ADHD symptoms? Everyone has got their own thoughts and theories...

http://chaddleadershipblog.blogspot.com/2011/03/elimination-diets-for-adhd-not-ready.html

http://www.foodrenegade.com/new-research-confirms-adhd-caused-by-food/

All I know is what I have experienced with my own son who was diagnosed with ADHD and I would say that it definitely made a difference for him.

Let's take a trip down memory lane... it's first grade and my son is having daily issues at school - he can't sit still, he can't focus, he is easily frustrated and melts down quickly when things don't go his way. He has regressed and is hiding under his desk when things don't go as expected. He is exhibiting behavior that clearly illustrates that he feels like everyone is against him. When something happens, he immediately moves into a "fight or flight" type reaction and is unable to reason or logic through any situation until he is given time to calm down. He is being suspended for his behavior in the classroom and no one at school is able to help us. We did want any desparate parent would do, we scheduled an appointment with the psychiatrist to get some answers. Originally it was not clear if the behaviors were related to ADHD or just anxiety or a combination of both. We tried anxiety meds first, but that didn't quite solve the problems... so we tried ADHD meds instead, but that didn't quite solve the problems either. We ended up using meds for both anxiety and ADHD and that seemed to be the magic combination for my son at the time. We had no reason to believe that he had food allergies or sensitivites at this point.

Then my sister was diagnosed with a number of food allergies and in a quest to find a cookbook for her, I ran across a special cookbook for kids with ADHD. As I started to research this diet and the science behind it, it made sense to me. I started seeking out recipes and ran across several Yahoo groups and several wonderful blogs of parents who were already doing the diet and sharing all their converted recipes. I decided it was worth a shot to give it a try and so we started by eliminating gluten & dairy from my family's diet. I located a doctor in our city who was helping parents with this type of intervention for kids with ADHD, Asperger's and Autism and with his help, we discovered additional food allergies/sensitivities and eliminated all known problem foods. As part of this we also began making all our food at home which removes all the processed foods, preservatives, food colorings, etc. which can also cause problems for many kids today.

Fast forward back to the present... my son has been on his special diet for 2 and 1/2 years now and it isn't very complicated, it has become second nature to cook differently and our entire family is healthier because of it. We make most of our own meals at home which saves us alot of money on eating out. We had taken my son of both of his medications the summer between 2nd and 3rd grade and he was doing well without them. My son ended up transferring schools this year due to a change in school boundaries and I think the stress of the changes affected him. We ended up taking him back to the psychiatrist because we were seeing some of those old behaviors and the doctor said it sounds like his anxiety has relapsed. We started him back on anxiety meds and he is a different child. His teacher is amazed at the change in him at school and I no longer get daily communications regarding problems from the teacher. The interesting thing is that he is not exhibiting the significant focus issues that he had in 1st grade. He is on the same anxiety med as back then, but there is no need for the ADHD stimulant medication this time. He is able to focus and complete his work at school. The only difference now is his diet.

When we were first starting out with the food allergy/sensitivity discovery, I read a book that I highly recommend to any parent contemplating a change in diet. Healing the New Childhood Epidemics: Autism, ADHD, Asthma, and Allergies by Kenneth Bock. Doctor Bock explains the science behind the food sensitivities and how it can affect our children and their behavior.

If you are thinking about taking the plunge and trying a removal of gluten & dairy from your child's diet, I highly recommend the book The Autism & ADHD Diet: A Step-by-Step Guide to Hope and Healing by Living Gluten Free and Casein Free (GFCF) and Other Interventions by Barrie Silberberg. I wish I had this book when I first started, it would have made my life alot easier.

With that all being said... I do not believe that diet is the ONLY thing that has helped us overcome the focus issues. He has gone to countless OT appointments to help with many different challenges. We have done Brain Integration Therapy which has helped in certain areas. We have done biofeedback. He receives assistance at school through interventions as needed. We are also supplementing key things that we found him to be low on like Vit D, B12, and Folate. Overall we have done many different things to help him be successful at school and home and his diet is just one piece of the puzzle. As parents of kids with ADHD, we have to have alot of different tools in our toolbox, and this is just one tool that I find useful in helping my son.

I encourage you all to do your own research and decide for yourselves if diet will help your child. There are several different diets that can benefit ADHD symptoms. The one advice I would give is, don't give up too soon! If at first it seems that the diet isn't working, stick with it for several weeks and allow them to rid their systems of all the things that were causing a problem before you decide if it is working or not. Sometimes things get worse before they get better - kind of like an addict going through withdrawls. Keeping a food journal is also very helpful. Remember it can take 24-72 hours to see behavioral effects from a food that is eaten and with a food journal it will be easier for you to track down any behaviors related to food. Best of luck and let me know if you have any questions!

Tips for educating students affected by ADHD

2011-02-20T20:22:00.000-07:00

Oh how I wish that I could share this very practical blog with every parent and teacher who has a kid affected by ADHD! If you are looking for practical ways to help your child, OR for that matter, ALL CHILDREN, then you have got to check out this blog.

http://adhdteacher.wordpress.com/2011/02/18/help-my-gear-shift-is-stuck/

Then when you are done with this entry, check out the other entries on the blog. It will be time well spent!

Anxiety Sucks!

2011-01-21T17:38:00.000-07:00

I just have to tell you that anxiety really sucks! We finally got in to see the psychiatrist and I took the following list of concerning behvaiors to share with him so that I wouldn't have to tell him all these "bad" things in front of my son and make him feel even worse about himself.

- Meltdowns when he doesn’t get his way. This can happen over the smallest of things. Little things get blown way out of proportion.

- Impulsivity – no control over his actions when upset, will say inappropriate things or act out.

- Lack of focus – has a hard time starting a task and staying on task – easily bored with school work.

- Poor self image and lack of self confidence – will often feel like everyone hates him at school and when he gets in trouble at home, he immediately says we hate him when he receives consequences for his actions. Many times when he starts to get out of control, we ask him to take some time in his room to calm down, he refuses and then when we insist he go calm down, he escalates and yells and stomps up the stairs saying we hate him. Sometimes when he is really upset, he says he wishes he was never born or that he would just die.

- Aggressive – He either tries to hurt a classmate or his brother or makes threats to hurt them. He has been suspended twice this school year 2010-2011 – first time for choking another child who was picking on him, second time for threatening to hit another child that was annoying him.

- Homework is a daily battle – he doesn’t want to do it, takes forever to get it done, and requires a significant amount of redirection to get it done. It is often a source of frustration and meltdowns at home.

I also received feedback from his teacher with what they were seeing as his biggest challenges at school... "We tend to see cycles of highs and lows. Days of extremes…a day in which he is respectful and on task, and then other days he is defiant and hyper-sensitive to others. So, we’re seeing emotional swings at the extreme ends of the spectrum. Academic frustrations don’t seem to be the root cause of the behaviors. We’re specifically concerned about interpersonal relationships and being accepting of consequences."

The psychiatrist took one look at the long list of behaviors and said "sounds like he has relapsed into an anxiety condition". He suggested trying the same med that we used before for anxiety since it seemed to work well and it has little to no side effects. It was hard as a parent to accept the fact that he needed to take medication again, but we are so desparate to help him, we just had to do something! Anxiety sucks and I feel so bad for my son when it seems no matter what we try and do to help him, it just doesn't help.

I realized how bad the anxiety really was when we (the Special Ed teacher, his teacher and I) were all trying to be encouraging to him and tell him he can do it... it back fired and caused him to have an awful day after almost a week of really good days. It was like the pressure was too much and when one little thing went wrong, it just went downhill from there and he couldn't bring it around. The school has been fabulous at trying different things to help him and working with the teacher and supporting her as well.

Things are turning around now that he has been on the medication for a little over 3 weeks now. At home we are seeing less meltdowns and they are not as intense when they do happen. I also received a wonderful note from his teacher this week when I checked in with her... "These past couple of days have been markedly better overall…he just seems more compliant and, overall, is following through on assigned task certainly much better than before. To me, he seems to be getting a general look of calmness in his demeanor…like he doesn’t look so aggravated to have to be sitting in school."

I am so relieved that the medication is working and helping him. He even told his teacher that he feels more focused and it is easier to stay on track. Anxiety has a way of making everything you do more difficult... who can focus and stay on task when you are worried all the time? Have you ever lost your keys and been fractically looking for them, feeling anxious about finding them, and you can't think about anything else? That is what it is like all the time when you have anxiety, you just can't focus on anything else than what you are worried about... anxiety sucks!

Groundhog day...

2010-11-29T21:19:00.000-07:00

Have you ever had one of those feelings like you have been there, done that, lived through something already? Just like the poor guy on the movie Groundhog Day where he has to live the same day over and over again. You know that you have done so much to make things different, make things better, fought so hard... and then to find yourself basically right back where you started is just agonizing!

This school year was going to be different, this school year was going to be the best one yet... and in a matter of days and weeks I feel like we are right back where we were 3 years ago when this all started in 1st grade. He is impulsive with his emotions and actions, he can't focus and doesn't care. All the accomodations aren't helping. He hates school, he thinks that everyone at school hates him. He is having meltdowns all the time and we never know what is going to set him off. Homework is our daily hour of frustration and tears. He throws a fit every time he doesn't get his way. He is rude and disrespectful and gets in trouble on a daily basis.

What changed? What happened? Where did we go wrong? I have been racking my brains trying to figure out what is different now than just a couple of months ago - why have we regressed so far back? He knows he should make a different choice and is very remorseful after an incident, but he can't stop himself in the moment - his impulsiveness cannot be controlled. It is as if he has no control... something is not right in his brain and it is just not working the way it should. When I talk to him after an incident he is upset because he is out of control and he can't stop himself. My heart just breaks... I can't imagine feeling so out of control and how scary that must be for him.

We are going back to the basics... retesting his neurotransmitters to see what is out of whack and needs to be adjusted. I have even thought about medicating him again to bring him back to a baseline so that he can cope through this situation and get things back on track. There are a couple of things I am going to look into this time... chiropractic sessions, a special Doctor of Osteopathy that has some different methods to help, and probably will go back to doing biofeedback to help him get in touch with his emotions and triggers and how to handle situations differently.

I know that everything happens for a reason and this too will work out in the end. I have faith that God will bring the right resources at the right times to help us through this rough spot. I am just hoping and praying that tomorrow will be the day that I wake up and don't have to re-live my own "groundhog day" again.

Starting the school year off on the right foot

2010-08-05T14:26:00.000-06:00

I recently attended a training session on IEP's put on by the PEAK Parent Center and I had a big "ah-ha" moment. I realized that too often when I approach a person who will be working with my son, I basically start with the laundry list of challenges that he has or the negative side of his ADHD and basically give them the impression that my child has alot of issues and problems. If I was my son's teacher, I would be dreading having him in my class and assume that he is going to be a problem child. I have sabotaged him so many times without even realizing what I was doing. I guess I just thought it better that the teacher know everything so they can respond appropriately to help him. During this training, the speaker asked what we would tell other people about our best friend? Would we talk about all the bad qualities of our friend? NO! We would talk about all the good qualities of our friend and so we should do the same about our children.

I decided to put together a "Profile" for my son with ADHD. This is a concept that I had read about last year in an article in the CHADD Magazine, where you give your child's new teacher something that helps them to get to know your child better and states what works well for them.

The point of the "Student Profile" is to give the teachers a proper view of all of our child's strengths and then positively state effective strategies for the areas where they need help. What a difference that might make in our children's school lives if we begin to approach things in this manner! So I would like to share with you the "Profile" I put together and have given to my son's teacher.

At the top of the one-page Profile you can include information like your child's name, age, grade, date of birth. Names of the parents and siblings. Any basic information that the teacher might find helpful.

-------------------------------------

Areas of Student Strength/Interest:
- Andrew is friendly and outgoing and has a great sense of humor. He is intuitive and enjoys helping others. He makes friends easily and loves to be part of a group. He values strong relationships with adults.
- Andrew is very bright and typically scores high on assessments. He enjoys a good challenge and friendly competition. He works well with a schedule and warnings for transitions.
- Andrew knows a lot about dinosaurs and animals. He loves the outdoors, camping, fishing, and anything related to nature. He takes very good care of our garden at home.
- Andrew loves science and hands on experiments. He likes to understand how things work.
- Andrew is very creative and loves to tell stories.

Successful Learning Strategies/Modifications/Accommodations Needed:
- Planner & Homework reminders help ensure that work is completed and handed in on time.
- Transition warnings are helpful when moving from one task to another.
- Have students work in pairs or groups when possible.
- Use peer supports.
- Give subtle cues & reminders to maintain focus: touch shoulder, gentle tap on desk, ask him a question.
- Ask him to be a helper with the class assignment or another student.
- Give him time to calm himself when frustrated or upset.
- Have him restate the objective of an assignment.
- Wait 10-15 seconds after giving a direction before repeating and use touch the second time.
- Give movement/heavy lifting breaks when needed – errands (box of books) to the office, library, other teachers, etc.
- Allow him to take tests first thing in the morning.

Communication Strategies:
- Email works best for communication, phone calls are always welcome. Frequency based on an as needed basis – recommend at least once a week to ensure that Andrew is being successful.
- Andrew is most responsive to parental coaching when he can remember what happened and we prefer to talk to him that same day.

Positive Behavior Support Strategies:
- Andrew responds well to a token rewards system and parents are willing to provide rewards and motivation as needed.
- Encouragement and positive praise in the same way as given to others.
- Springs Ranch Psychologist had lunch with him once a week to check in with him and reinforce his successes and provided guidance in challenging areas.

Grading and Assessment Accommodations:
- Andrew sometimes needs extra time for classroom tests and CSAP testing.

Important Family/Health Information:
- Andrew has food sensitivities to gluten, dairy, eggs, soy, citrus, garlic, almonds. These are NOT anaphylactic type reactions, but can cause an upset stomach, and behavior issues.
- We enjoy spending time together as a family going on bike rides, camping, fishing, watching movies, playing games, and always try to eat dinner together each night.

Jiffy Potatoes - Allergen Free!

2010-04-03T16:24:00.005-06:00

Jiffy Potatoes is a recipe that my Grandma Peterson used to make at all our holiday dinners... it is the creamiest potato casserole you have ever tasted and you can make them up in a jiffy! Since we have food allergies now, I wasn't sure we could EVER eat Jiffy Potatoes again... but thanks to my Vitamix blender, we are now able to eat Jiffy Potatoes (Allergen Free) for our Easter Dinner tomorrow.

Here is the original recipe (in case you don't have food allergies)

Jiffy Potatoes - Original Recipe
2 lbs frozen hashbrowns (country-style diced) - thawed
1 cup milk
1 cup sour cream
1 can cream of potato soup
1 can cream of celery soup
minced onion
parsley
shredded cheddar cheese

Combine all ingredients in a 9x13 pan. Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour. Top with shredded cheddar cheese and melt. Serve and enjoy!

Here is my NEW and IMPROVED ALLERGEN FREE recipe:

Jiffy Potatoes - Allergen Free
2 lbs frozen hashbrowns (country-style diced) - thawed
2 1/2 cups milk substitute, divided (I use unsweetened original hemp milk)
2 cups raw cashews, soaked in water for at least 30 minutes
2 tsp apple cider vinegar
2 Tbsp butter substitute (I use Earth Balance - soy free)
4-6 stalks celery, sliced
1/2 onion, finely diced
6 mushrooms sliced
1/2 cup fresh parsley, chopped
2 tsp onion salt
Daiya Cheddar Cheese (www.daiyafoods.com)

1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2) Saute celery, onion, and mushrooms in butter until soft (approx 10 minutes) stirring occassionally.
3) While the celery, onions, and mushrooms are cooking, drain and rinse the raw cashews and place them in the Vitamix blender. Add 1 cup milk and blend until smooth (approx 2 minutes).
4) Leave the cashew mixture in the blender and add the celery, onion, and mushrooms to the blender and blend slightly to break up the veggies and incorporate them into the cashew mixture.
5) Combine cashew mixture, 1 1/2 cups milk, apple cider vinegar, fresh parsley and onion salt.
6) Spread potatoes out in a 9x13 pan and pour mixture over them - stir slightly to coat.
7) Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour
8) Top with Daiya Cheddar Cheese and melt. Serve and enjoy!

Note: You could try this recipe with another type of blender or a food processor, but I found that it doesn't quite make as smooth of a cashew mixture. If you are not using a high powered blender like a Vitamix blender, I would soak the cashews longer or overnight to make them softer to work with in your food processor or other blender.

Teaching Kids with ADHD

2010-03-10T15:47:00.005-07:00

If I had a dime for everytime I heard one of these phrases... I would be a millionaire by now!

"He has shown me he can do it, he just chooses not to."
"He can do it if he wants to."
"He has a hard time getting started."
"He has a hard time staying on task."
"He keeps getting up and walking around, touching things he shouldn't be touching."
"He isn't paying attention and looking around."
"He is playing with instead of doing his work."

and the list goes on... I am sure you all could add a few to the list of things that teachers say when they just don't understand.

Then, because the teacher thinks that the child has control over the situation at all times, they see it as a behavior that they must eradicate and the negative consequences begin. The teacher is convinced if they are just firm and swift with consequences, they will just snap out of it!

The snowball effect takes over and picks up speed as it goes down the ADHD hill... the child is very intuitive and starts to believe that the teacher doesn't like them, or thinks that the teacher thinks they are stupid. They give up trying at school, because after all, what's the point? They are getting in trouble for something they can't control and it affects their self confidence. They want so badly to please the teacher and do what is right, but they just can't control it 100% of the time.

This is a scene that is played out every day for so many kids around the country. It breaks a mother's heart to know their kid endures this kind of treatment at school. They try and stand up for their child and request that the school make accomodations for their child to help them be successful. Sometimes they are met with willing participants and many times it is a no win battle. As a parent, we can never give up and we must persist until the school does what is right for our child. I have lived through this far more times than I would like to count (and my son is only in 3rd grade!) I know that the battle will continue for many years to come... but what if teachers were better educated? What if they understood what ADHD means for a kid in the classroom? What if they could implement effective teaching styles that would help ALL kids learn better in the classroom?

Who is going to do this educating of the teachers? Who is going to stand up for our kids and make sure teachers understand? It is our responsibility as their parents to educate the teachers. It shouldn't be this way, but unfortunately it is. I decided to go searching for information on how to teach kids with ADHD in an effort to help my son's teacher understand better how to help him. I found that there is not much information out there about teaching kids with ADHD... lots of documents on identifying ADHD, possible accomodations for ADHD kids, but what about classroom strategies that help? I did find one document on the Department of Education's site that would help a teacher get started.

http://www2.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs/adhd/adhd-teaching-2008.pdf

It talks about Academic Instruction, Behavioral Interventions, and Classroom Accomodations. The great thing is that it gives teachers practical things they can implement in their classrooms to make it easier for kids with ADHD and all the other kids in the class.

There is another website that I think all teachers should go through that helps them understand what it might feel like to have ADHD... I would highly recommend sharing it with your child's teacher. It is a site put together by PBS called "Misunderstood Minds".

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/misunderstoodminds/intro.html

On the left hand side there are different areas where ADHD kids struggle - ie. Attention, Reading, Writing, Mathematics. If you click on each of those, there are examples and simulations of what it feels like to be a kid with ADHD. It was very eye openning for me, and really helped me better understand what it feels like for my son.

I have thought about creating a 30 minute talk about ADHD, what it means for a kid, and practical things that teachers can do to help... then setting up a "Lunch & Learn" for teachers during their lunch break or staff meetings to start educating teachers on ADHD. If I could just help a couple of teachers understand, imagine how many kids I could help!

"When you're a kid, school is your career. And if you go out of business in school, if your business goes bankrupt, if you're not having any success, you're left with almost nothing. You are poverty-stricken. Where do you go from there?"
--Dr. Mel Levine (Founder of All Kinds of Minds)

The day that changed our lives...

2010-03-07T17:15:00.004-07:00

I will never forget the day that my son was diagnosed with ADHD. It was a day that changed our lives forever... and I would like to think that our lives were changed for the better.

First, let's back up a few months... to see where it all started. Andrew had some problems in Kindergarten but after working with the teacher, he seemed to do better in school. Then first grade came and we switched him to a charter school because they were supposed to teach to the multiple intelligences. I had done alot of research and reading and knew that my son needed to be taught in a different way in order for him to completely engage in a subject. I thought this charter school would be the answer! I was wrong.

After the first week of school his first grade teacher said that I might want to have him tested for ADHD. I was shocked and in major denial - how dare she suggest that my son have ADHD? Things got worse for Andrew and the immature teacher did not help the situation. It got so bad that they had put Andrew in his own desk with a box of tape around the floor surrounding his desk - to help him "stay in his space". Poor classroom management led to meltdowns for my son in the classroom and he would crawl under his desk and retreat from the scary classroom situations. Of course this was "disruptive" and "distracting" for the other kids, so the administration would try and remove him from classroom and of course he would not go willingly. The teacher ended up leaving the school but things did not get better. My son had learned behaviors in an effort to try and cope with situations where he didn't know how to solve his own problems.

After being suspended a couple of times due to the charter school's "no tolerance" policy, we realized that something had to change. There was little to no support at the charter school and in an effort to find out what was really going on with him, we put him back into the public school and scheduled an appointment with a psychiatrist. The psychiatrist thought that it was most likely anxiety but since the teachers were pushing us to look at ADHD, we started with ADHD meds and a thorough evaluation by a psychologist.

After filing out alot of paperwork for our visit, Andrew and I spent an entire day at the psychologist's office where he took many different tests. I was convinced that my did NOT have ADHD and these tests would prove it! After all, he could sit and play a board game or something that interested him for hours - with no signs of inattention or hyperactivity!

Then that day came... and my husband and I went back to see the psychologist to get Andrew's test results. I was nervous, but I knew that we would finally have some answers! They were not the answers I was expecting... I remember looking at the impulsivity test results and coming face to face with the fact that Andrew scored very high and there was no more denying the fact that he had ADHD. I remember the fear and uncertainty that I felt - "Now what do we do?" At least we had an explanation for the behaviors that we had been dealing with.

The psychologist recommended a book to get us started... Driven to Distraction by Ed Hallowell. That began my plight to read everything I could about ADHD and learn all I could so that I could support my son. We have tried many different things to help him be successful in school, some worked, some didn't... but we still keep on looking for anything that might help. I have come to realize there is no "cure" for ADHD, but that I have to have many different tools in my toolbox. It takes a combination of interventions to help my son.

As I look back and think about how far we have come, I wouldn't change it for the world. I prefer to look on the bright side. Yes, my son has ADHD but that does not define him. Andrew is so fun and creative. He is outgoing and fun-loving. He is funny and sweet. He is the kindest kid you will ever find. He has a HUGE heart for others. Our life will never be "normal" as some would define it... but it is "normal" to us.

How did your child's diagnosis change your life?

The words I would say...

2010-02-24T21:43:00.003-07:00

My absolute favorite song right now is by Sidewalk Prophets... The words I would say. I sing it to my kids every time it comes on the radio. They know all the words and sing it right along with me!

Three in the morning,
And I'm still awake,
So I picked up a pen and a page,
And I started writing,
Just what I'd say,
If we were face to face,
I'd tell you just what you mean to me,
I'd tell you these simple truths,

Be strong in the Lord and,
Never give up hope,
You're going to do great things,
I already know,
God's got His hand on you so,
Don't live life in fear,
Forgive and forget,
But don't forget why you're here,
Take your time and pray,
These are the words I would say,

Last time we spoke,
You said you were hurting,
And I felt your pain in my heart,
I want to tell you,
That I keep on praying,
Love will find you where you are,
I know cause I've already been there,
So please hear these simple truths,

Be strong in the Lord and,
Never give up hope,
You're going to do great things,
I already know,
God's got His hand on you so,
Don't live life in fear,
Forgive and forget,
But don't forget why you're here,
Take your time and pray,
These are the words I would say,

From one simple life to another,
I will say,
Come find peace in the Father,

Be strong in the Lord and,
Never give up hope,
You're going to do great things,
I already know,
God's got His hand on you so,
Don't live life in fear,
Forgive and forget,
But don't forget why you're here,
Take your time and pray,
Thank God for each day,
His love will find a way,
These are the words I would say

******************************

What words would you say???

Back in the Saddle again!

2010-02-24T21:32:00.002-07:00

Well after taking a couple months off from our ADHD Parent Support Group while I was looking for a new place for our meetings... and dealing with some family "stuff" (long story that I might share one day when it isn't all so fresh in my history)... We are finally back on track with meetings scheduled through the end of the year! YIPPEE!!!

Here is our schedule - we will meet the first Tuesday of each month - 6:30-8:30pm:
March 2nd, April 6th, May 4th, June 1st, July 6th, Aug 3rd, Sept 7th, Oct 5th, Nov 2nd, Dec 7th

Our new meeting place is at the Stetson Hills Division Police Department Community Room at 4110 Tutt Blvd, Colorado Springs, CO - just east of Powers between Barnes & N. Carefree.

I have even secured a special speaker for April 6th meeting from Learning RX to help explain to parents how kids brains work on a different level and the areas that most ADHD kids tend to struggle with and what you can do to help... without medication! We recently had my son evaluated and are trying to figure out when we can begin his special training to help him "Train his brain" to be more successful at school!

Still looking for other special guest speakers, so if you know someone who would be willing to speak to the parents, please let me know!

Sledding

2009-11-01T21:32:00.010-07:00

Sledding at Mueller State Park... it was a beautiful day! It was 65 in town and 55 in the mountains. The sun was shining, the snow was glistening, and the sledding was awesome! We had the sledding hill to ourselves.

And then a snowball fight broke out... Daniel & Andrew against Dad!

It was a fun time and we were sad to see it end... we will be back again soon!

Pumpkin Carvings

2009-11-01T21:22:00.007-07:00

My very talented husband created a fabulous display of pumpkins for Halloween. It was the boys favorite part of the whole weekend! They worked hard to clean out their pumpkins so that Dad could carve them up. Andrew picked a spider, Daniel picked a puppy, Mom picked Frankenstein, and Dad picked the last one... We got lots of compliments from all the trick-or-treaters! Dave only has a few cuts on his hands to show for his work.

Pumpkin Patch

2009-11-01T21:15:00.008-07:00

We took a trip to Diana's Pumpkin Patch in Canon City to pick out our Halloween Pumpkins this year. They also had a corn maze which the boys really enjoyed. We wandered for about 15 minutes before finding our way out.

Breakfast Buddies

2009-11-01T21:05:00.006-07:00

Some mornings I struggle to get the kids to eat breakfast... so we started making fun faces and designs with their food. They love to come up with new designs and make different faces and because they make it themselves, they are inclined to eat their masterpieces!

Mouth - Banana cut in half lengthwise, Nose - Grape cut in half, Eyes - Shelton's Turkey Sausage Patties with Vital Zymes (digestive enzymes), Eyebrows - Apple slices

Mouth - Banana cut in half lengthwise, Nose - grape cut in half, Eyes - Shelton's Turkey Sausage Patties with Vital Zymes (digestive enzymes), Eyebrows - grapes

Cantaloupe, frozen red grapes, Applegate Genoa Salami, Hormel All Natural ham - design by Daniel

Bluebirds

2009-11-01T20:56:00.003-07:00

Andrew had to do a special science project on a forest animal and he chose the bluebird. He loves all animals and nature and was very passionate about this project. He collected tree branches, sand, rocks, grass, etc. for his diorama and it turned out great. He was so proud. He even dressed up for the special day. This project allowed him to showcase the positive sides of ADHD... creativity, love for nature & animals, sharing with others and his outgoing personality.

Tater-Tot Casserole

2009-09-29T18:27:00.005-06:00

This is an old family favorite that I converted to meet our dietary restrictions... YUMMY! I ended up doubling the recipe because my kids used to eat it all several years ago and they eat more now!

Tater-Tot Casserole
1/2 cup tomato sauce
1 lb ground beef or buffalo
1/4 tsp salt
dash pepper
1/2 tsp crushed oregano
1-2 Tblsp minced onion
1 can cream of mushroom soup (I made my own - see below)
1 small pkg tater-tots

Combine the tomato sauce, ground beef, salt, pepper, and oregano and put into a 9x9 baking dish. Cover with minced onion and top with 1 can cream of mushroom soup. Cover top with tater-tots. Bake uncovered at 375 for 45 minutes.

Cream of Mushroom Soup
3 Tblsp butter (Earth Balance soy-free)
1 small onion diced
12-14 baby portabello mushrooms
1 tsp thyme
1 tsp onion salt
1/2 tsp savory
1 tsp basil
salt & pepper
2 1/2 cups chicken broth
1 cup cashews (soaked for 30 minutes)
1 Tblsp potato starch

Heat butter, onion and sliced mushrooms in pan and saute for 10 minutes. Add 2 cups of broth, spices and simmer for another 10 minutes or so. While this is cooking, take the cup of cashews and the remaining 1/2 cup broth and puree in blender or food processor until smooth. Add the broth mixture into the blender and pulse a few times. Return to pan and heat to simmer again. Add potato starch and stir to thicken slightly. Adjust spices, salt & pepper as needed.

You won't need all the soup on the casserole - one can of soup is around 15 ounces I think - which would be almost 2 cups???

Note: If making real cream of mushroom soup for eating, I wouldn't add the extra potato starch and would probably add another cup or two of broth to make it more of a liquid soup. I wanted mine thicker to mimic the cream of mushroom soup right out of the can.

After it came out of the oven, I realized that the buffalo shrunk and the soup went around the edges and drowned the tater-tots. I also think I used too much soup, but it was a hit and everyone had seconds! Glad I doubled the recipe!

Totally ADD

2009-09-23T14:06:00.002-06:00

Wonderful new documentary on ADD!

http://totallyadd.com/

There is a link on the first page where you can view the documentary online until September 25, 2009 so go watch it right away!

working on a project...

2009-09-23T09:06:00.004-06:00

Last week I got the opportunity to hear Rhonda Anderson - founder of Creative Memories - speak at a local hotel. She is so down to earth and her passion for telling stories and leaving a legacy is contagious. She has recently come out with a book to help you tell your stories and I ordered it as fast as I could. I have been wanting to do something for my kids that tells them how special they are and how much I love them. The lightbulb went off and I can't wait to find some time to get started on this project.

Our world is so full of negativity that our kids have got to feel defeated on a regular basis. I try to lift them up and encourage them, but sometimes the negative world has taken over their self-talk. I hear my kids say things about themselves that just aren't true, but are clearly the result of living in this world... I am stupid, I don't have any friends, no one loves me, etc. I think that having ADHD makes it harder to fight off the negative self talk.

So here is my project... I am going to make a small album (if I can keep it small) about each of my kids... to tell them how special and unique they are, how much their parents love them, and just celebrate their personality, ADHD and their life! I want it to be a comfort to them when they have a bad day. A reminder that they are special and loved. AND hopefully begin to combat the negative self talk and replace it with positive statements about themselves.

I have begun making a list of all the positive qualities of my kids, and notes about stories that help demonstrate some of these qualities or their fun personalities. I will post a link to my album online once I finish it. I am doing it all digitally online, so it should be quick and easy!

Anyone else want to join me in celebrating their child's life? If you need help getting started, email me at beckypeal@hotmail.com. I would be happy to help!

Do they know?

2009-09-17T14:20:00.000-06:00

The other day, as I was watching all the kids get on the school bus outside our front door, I dreamed about having a "normal" kid... a kid who gets themselves ready in the morning without 100 reminders or redirections... a kid who does their homework without complaining and completes it in a normal amount of time... a kid who doesn't have a meltdown every time he doesn't get his way... and the list goes on and on.

Then I wondered... Do they know?

Do the other parents know what we go through on a daily basis, just to get ready for school?
Do the other parents know what we go through every night when we have to do homework?
Do they realize how good they really have it? Do they appreciate their kids?

I love my kids with all my heart and I wouldn't trade them for the world... but some days I just wish for some semblance of normalcy. What is our "normal" you may ask - here are just a few glimpses of what it is like to be a parent of a kid with ADHD:

- Simple tasks like getting dressed, making a bed, or brushing their teeth require numerous reminders and redirections and it takes 10 times longer than it should.
- Sometimes I just help them get dressed, eventhough they can do it by themselves, just so that it won't take so long.
- Decisions like what to eat for breakfast become a long drawn out discussion and are a cause for frustration and meltdowns because they can't decide what they want to eat.
- While eating any meal, keeping them seated in their chair is next to impossible... they get up to look at something or get involved in other activities going on around them. There is always at least one trip to the bathroom during each meal. When they are seated, it is not on their bottom, there is a knee above the table or they are sitting on their knees.
- Homework requires chewing gum, an exercise ball, a timer, and at least one parent.
- The mention of the work homework causes pain for both kid and parent.
- Every time the phone rings while the kids are at school, I pray it is not the school calling and if it is the school calling, my heart falls into my stomach.
- I know all the special ed teachers, counselor, psychologist, school administrators on a first name basis.
- A simple email communication between parent & teacher normally has the principal & vice principal cc'd on the email.

There are so many more - but it is making me tired just thinking about it all!

Then on the flip side, there are all the benefits of having a kid with ADHD...
- Endless amounts of energy!
- Creativity
- Empathy beyond understanding
- Caring and loving unconditionally
- Endless amounts of energy!
- Determination
- Love of nature and animals
- oh and can't forget... Endless amounts of energy!

Today when your kids get home from school... give them a big hug and tell them how much you appreciate them!

Feel free to share some of your family's "normal" ADHD routines.

feel the rushing wind

2009-09-11T09:03:00.003-06:00

It is really windy today... storm must be moving in. As I sit here watching the big trees in my back yard being tossed around like twigs, I can empathize with the trees. I have felt like the wind of life is just tossing me around in the storm... I feel windblown and run down. Living with two kids that have ADHD can really drag your branches down. It is almost as if it is so much I can't hardly hold my branches up some days.

I have several good friends who are also going through a hard time in their lives and it is so easy to get discouraged. I had lunch with a good friend yesterday who shared some of her struggles with me and as I was getting in the car to drive away, this song came on the radio and I wanted to share the part that gave me comfort in my life's storm.

"When you see the rushing wind, feel the pouring rain
hear the thunder now as the clouds roll in
and you’re blinded by the lightning
do you also hear that still, small voice saying
It’s okay, you’re not alone, you may be scared to death,
But I won’t let you go
You may think the sky above is falling
But can you hear Jesus calling"

- Excerpt taken from the song Jesus Calling by 33 Miles

Easy Essays

2009-09-11T08:57:00.002-06:00

I stumbled upon this site this week and it has been a huge help to my older son who is not formally diagnosed but has mild ADHD symptoms. He really struggles with planning his thoughts and getting started on writing. He is in 5th grade this year and they are doing weekly essays - yeah more work for mom! I had a discussion with him yesterday about needing to do his essay before soccer practice and he complained that it would take too long and there was no way he could get it done before soccer... but when I got home, the essay was completed thanks to this wonderful FREE site! He said he did it in less than 30 minutes and it was the first time the essay actually flowed properly. Three cheers for The Easy Essay website!

www.theeasyessay.com

growing up... glasses

2009-08-31T22:10:00.003-06:00

Daniel is growing up so fast... he got his first pair of glasses today.

They make him look so much older!

just brush the teeth you want to keep...

2009-08-14T21:25:00.004-06:00

Is it just me or do other mom's have to remind their kids over and over and over again to brush their teeth? I tell them... "You just have to brush the ones you want to keep!" It always feel we are running out of time before the bus arrives and I have to quickly send them upstairs to get their teeth brushed before they head out the door. For once, it would be nice if they just went upstairs and did what they were asked without playing, distracting each other, or getting into a fight! Ah... Life with boys!

Today my youngest son (who has ADHD) decided he was going to put on a show for me when I asked him to brush his teeth. He was being just plain silly! Being the mom that I am... I told him to stop playing and start brushing! Then afterwards... I thought, why are we always in a hurry? My son has the right idea... to add some FUN to a boring every day activity! Why do we just have to brush our teeth... it is soooo boring! Why not liven things up a bit? Normally I have them hum a tune like "Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer" or something while they are brushing their teeth, but we have gotten out of that routine. It gets them to do it longer than 20 seconds and they have fun while they are brushing.

We all should take a lesson from my son... why live your life just going through the motions? Why not mix things up a bit and take an every day activity and make it FUN? What are you going to do to have some FUN today?

just can't go there again...

2009-08-12T22:52:00.005-06:00

Do you ever feel like... you just can't go there again. You have been there before and you know you don't want to go back there... all the pain and heartache... all the fighting for what is right... feeling like you have no control, but yet desparately seeking someone who understands... someone who can make a difference.

Every new school year, there is a new teacher for your ADHD kid and you sit on pins and needles waiting to see how things will turn out. Will there ever be a year when the teacher actually understands? Will there ever be a year when your kid actually enjoys going to school? Will there ever be a year you don't have to fight to get your child what they need?

You think this year is going to be different... only to have your hopes dashed within the first week of school. You want to scream and yell - "You just don't understand!" "He is different and you can't treat him like all the other kids!" "Haven't you read his IEP?"

I recently read an article that talked about the reason that teachers resist... and it all boils down to behavioral vs. academics models of disability. Source = CHADD Parent to Parent Workbook - Article "Why Teachers Resist - Understanding Teacher Attitudes about ADHD"

In the behavior model, the teacher observes the student to have a behavior problem and that it is linked to their motivation. They believe that the behavior is deliberate which leads the teacher to try and eliminate the bad behavior with consequences - sometimes severe. It suggests that the student is the one that must do the changing. The focus is on stopping the behavior instead of teaching them new skills. They feel there is no need to make special accommodations for a kid with ADHD.

In the academic model, the student is observed to have a learning problem and the teacher understands that it is related to a neurological issue. They believe the student would do better if they could and thus the circumstances are beyond their control. The teacher works to help the child fix their learning problem. In this model, the educational system accepts responsibility for the student's change and the focus is on building new skills and positive reinforcement will be used to reinforce their progress.

I know that as a parent of a kid with ADHD, I even find myself applying the behavioral model with my son and get upset with him for things that are beyond his control. I can completely understand how a teacher might come to the conclusion that it is a behavior problem that needs to be dealt with... because I fall into that trap as well.

I just pray that God will give me the right words and that the teacher will be open when we finally get to meet so that we can work together as a team to help my child be successful.

I am the parent of an ADHD kid... and it is my job to advocate for him. It's just life with boys... and ADHD.

Make your own Pasta Salad

2009-07-31T20:35:00.002-06:00

This was a regular meal at my house when I was growing up... it is a fun twist on pasta salad!

Make your own pasta salad
1 pkg pasta cooked and cooled (we use tinkyada brown rice pasta)
4 chicken breasts, cubed, cooked & cooled
1 red or green pepper diced
1 small onion diced or green onions
1 can black olives, sliced
1 zucchinni, cubed
1 tomato, diced
Any other veggies you want to add to your salad!
Dressing - ranch, italian, honey dijon, etc.

Serve all ingredients separately and allow each person to build their own pasta salad with the toppings they chose and then drizzle some dressing and mix!

Chicken & Green Chile

2009-07-27T20:15:00.003-06:00

This has been a family favorite for quite awhile... chicken in a green chile sauce served over rice. I used to be able to just open a few cans of green chile sauce and dump them in the pan - oh the days of convenient foods! Since we have gone gluten-free, we have not been able ot use those same cans of green chile.

Tonight I was struggling with what to eat and just kind of making it up as I went along... and I ended up making a gluten-free version of our chicken & green chile dish. I borrowed the green chile sauce from this yummy enchilada recipe:
http://glutenfreegoddess.blogspot.com/2006/01/chicken-enchiladas-new-mexico-style.html

Chicken & Green Chile
3-4 chicken breasts (boneless, skinless), cubed
1 onion, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
1 cup brown rice (prepared as directed on package)

Green Chile Sauce (from link above)
2 cups chicken broth
3 Tblsp sweet rice or sorghum flour
a good dash of cumin, to taste
a good dash of hot pepper, smoky chipotle, or cayenne, to taste
1 cup chopped fire roasted green chiles (mild or hot), to taste

Cut the chicken into cubes and cook with some olive oil. Add onion & green pepper and cook until softened. Remove from pan or use another pan to begin the green chile sauce.

Heat the chicken broth to almost a simmer. Save 1/3 cup of broth and mix well with flour. (I use a small tupperware and just shake really well to break up all the lumps from the flour.) Add the flour/broth mixture to the rest of the broth and stir while the sauce thickens. Add the cumin, hot pepper and green chiles and stir well to combine. Add the chicken/onion/green pepper mixture back to the sauce and heat thoroughly.

Serve over brown rice.

Eye Contact

2009-07-27T15:24:00.002-06:00

Does your child look away when you ask them a question?

Sometimes I get frustrated with my ADHD son because he will not look me in the face when I am talking to him... but I am learning that there might be a reason why he looks away. Take a look at this blog update from a specialist:

http://eideneurolearningblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/eye-contact-look-away-to-think-and.html

Just look natural...

2009-07-23T23:10:00.004-06:00

I have such fond memories of going to Bethany Beach Michigan when I was young and spending time with my extended family. My Grandma Peterson was one of 5 girls and on several occassions all the sisters and their families would have a reunion at the beach. My Great Uncle Pete was always taking pictures and he would always tell us to "just look natural." He was so kind and giving. He always had a smile and a story to tell. My Great Uncle Pete was 96 years old and he went to be with his creator this morning. He will be dearly missed. He has been reunited with his sweetheart, my Great Aunt Ollie, and there is a celebration in heaven tonight as they welcome him with open arms.

We love you Uncle Pete!

Peach Crisp

2009-07-11T16:00:00.005-06:00

We are having a family picnic tomorrow and since my son's recent list of food allergies has increased, I was searching for a dessert that is gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, egg-free, and sugar-free. Many of my friends on the gfcf yahoo group suggested a cobbler or crisp and so here is what I found...

I started with the recipe from the following blog:

http://glutenfreegoddess.blogspot.com/2007/07/peach-crisp.html

Then made a few substitutions...
- Instead of light brown sugar, I used 1/4 cup of xylitol
- For the baking mix I used Bob's Red Mill Baking & Biscuit Mix
- For the vegan buttery spread I used Earth Balance Soy-free

I basically doubled the recipe for a 9x13 pan and used extra peaches cause I wanted to. The only ingredient I did not double was the shortening/butter spread when making the topping.

My husband thinks we should eat this one at home and try again... yeah right! I think he just wants to have it all to himself to eat because peaches are his favorite!

Dump Cake

2009-07-11T12:53:00.009-06:00

This is a gf twist on an old favorite...

Cherry Pie Filling
2 cups fresh pitted cherries
1/2 cup water
1/2 sugar (I used agave instead)
2 Tbsp cornstarch

Dump Cake
cherry pie filling
1 can crushed pineapple
1 white/yellow cake mix (gf)
1 stick butter (or cf sub - I used earth balance soy free)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix cherry pie filling and crushed pineapple together. Pour into 9x13 glass dish. Sprinkle with white cake mix. Place pats of butter evenly over the cake mix. Bake for 30 minutes or until hot and bubbly.

Ours wasn't quite as sweet as I remember it, but still yummy! I think it was because I made the pie filling with agave and canned pie filling probably has alot more sugar.

Great served with ice cream (dairy free of course!)

Food Allergies

2009-07-11T09:54:00.005-06:00

Well it is official... Andrew has food allergies. He is allergic to wheat, gluten, garlic, eggs, lemon, orange, grapefruit, almond, pinto beans, soy, string beans, and spelt. Dairy did not come up on his allergy list, but on another test we had done, we know that he has casein peptides in his system. The casein peptides tell us that he has a "leaky gut" and the partially digested milk proteins are making it into his blood stream which causes ADHD symptoms when it reaches the brain. So we will continue our gluten-free, casein-free (dairy protein) diet and now will avoid the other foods he is also allergic to until we can heal his gut. There is a good possibility that he will be able to eat dairy every once in awhile after things get back to normal. We are working on getting stuff corrected this month so that he will have an easier time in school this year.

Of the latest list of food allergies, the two that will be the hardest are eggs and garlic. They are both in EVERYTHING! I had no idea how often they are used in products - just like when we went gluten-free, casein-free - it can be overwhelming. I cook with garlic on a regular basis - it is good for you and adds wonderful flavor to any dish. I think I am going to have to use some other fresh herbs to help flavor our food. I bought my first egg replacer and will attempt to do some baking with it. I was lucky to find a bread that is gfcfef that the boys like so that will help with toast and sandwiches.

My son also had a high level of mercury in his blood, which suggests a recent exposure... and as I talked with the dr, it became evident that it was probably the sushi he had been eating. We go about once a week because it is one of very few restaurants where we can get a gluten-free, casein-free meal without having to worry about cross contamination. Tuna is probably the main culprit and we are not sure of the source of their salmon which could also contain mercury. So, we won't be eating sushi again for quite awhile - at least at a restaurant. We have already tried making home-made sushi at home and should be able to make some rolls with acceptable fish so that we can have a treat every once in awhile.

The other test results show he is deficient in Vitamin D and some other key minerals and vitamins, so we will be adding some supplements to his daily regime to help balance those out.

It is definitely a relief to know all of his food allergies!

What is Executive Function?

2009-07-09T15:01:00.003-06:00

Many times people don't understand why kids or adults with ADHD act they way they do... and many times it is related to executive function. What is Executive Function anyways? Why are they so impulsive? Why can't they think before they act? Why do they do the same things over and over, eventhough they know it will get them in trouble?

"Executive Function (EF) refers to brain functions that activate, organize, integrate and manage other functions. It enables individuals to account for short and long term consequences of their actions and to plan for those results. It also allows individuals to make real time evaluations of their actions, and make necessary adjustments if those actions are not achieving the desired result."

According to Russell Barkley, PhD, it is the inability to "self-regulate lie at the root of many challenges faced by individuals with AD/HD. He puts forth that they are unable to delay responses, thus acting impulsively, and without adequate consideration of future consequences -- beneficial or negative."

As a parent of a child with ADHD, it is important for me to remember this. Many times I feel like I am punishing my child for something that he does not necessarily have control over. I need to be teaching him strategies to cope with and overcome these challenges. I have been looking for some good techniques on helping my child with executive functions and will definitely share if I find something. Likewise if you have any suggestions or things you have tried, I welcome any suggestions.

Quotes above were taken from the following FAQ on ADHD and Executive Function:
http://www.help4adhd.org/faq.cfm?fid=40&tid=9&varLang=en

New Adult ADHD Blog

2009-07-09T14:53:00.003-06:00

It is a well known fact that ADHD can be hereditary. Many adults go undiagnosed until they have a child with ADHD and realize that they once struggled with many of the same things as their child.

CHADD is in the process of setting up some new blogs to help people in all different situations who are dealing with ADHD. Here is the latest one for Adults with ADHD or those in a relationship with another adult who has ADHD:

http://adultadhdrelationships.blogspot.com/

It might also be helpful for those who have teenagers with ADHD to help them with situations that they may encounter in the future. The first entry is about ADHD and sleep and I found it very interesting.

Creative Parenting ADHD Kids

2009-06-24T13:30:00.005-06:00

CHADD is happy to announce the launch of Creative
Parenting, a new blog written by Nadine
Taylor-Barnes. Nadine is the mother of Blake
Taylor, the author of ADHD & Me.

Nadine will post her blog on the fourth Tuesday
of every month. Click below to read the blog.
A link to the blog is also currently in the
"big box" on the CHADD website.  Happy reading!

Please share this with others who may be interested.

http://nadine-creativeparenting.blogspot.com/

Life with boys... baseball

2009-06-17T15:39:00.003-06:00

My youngest son is playing baseball in the local park & rec league this year. He is so proud of his uniform - team shirt, baseball pants, team hat... and his "protective gear." The coach recommended that we get him some protection since the kids are getting older and hitting harder. This morning as we were getting reay for Occupational Therapy, he asked if he could wear his uniform to show them. I agreed and told him he didn't need to wear his cup. He proceeded to tell me that he wanted to wear it, so he could take it out and show it to his therapist. I had to explain that we don't show other people our "cup" and that it was kind of like underwear - it is something we keep to ourselves!

Ah... Life with boys!

Birthdays in... Kansas?

2009-06-14T23:02:00.015-06:00

Well at least it felt like Kansas with all the wind... I think we even saw Dorothy's house fly by!

Last weekend we decided to meet in Castle Rock at a park to celebrate my Mom & Brother-in-law's birthdays. Dave and Daniel had gone up earlier to ride in the Elephant Rock Ride - their mountain bike course was approx 30 miles long. Daniel was such a trooper - climbing hills and keeping up with his dad. They finished in a little over 3 hours and then met us at the park for lunch.

Papa kept saying - "The cold front is moving in" but little did we know how big of a front was moving in. Just about the time the chicken was finishing up on the grill, it got so windy, we had to quickly pack everything up and throw it into the cars! Half of us hadn't eaten, and we didn't get a chance to exchange gifts, so we ended up at Red Robin instead. That was the same day there were tornados in south Denver - no wonder it was so windy!

Before the storm ruined our picnic, the kids had a great time playing at the park...

Andrew acting like a monkey!

Zoe liked going down the slide...

but she had to be sitting on Aunt Becky's lap!

Danny swinging high!

Zoe swinging too!
Check out the clouds behind her!

Aunt Kristi & Abrielle swinging

Even the BIG KID had some fun!

Abrielle loves balloons just like her sister!

What a couple of goofballs!

Birthday boy enjoying his sundae - Happy Birthday Tim!

Papa & Nana - Happy Birthday Nana!

It's a bird, no it's a plane!

2009-06-14T22:43:00.010-06:00

Life with boys... they found some sticks and went to work.

It was really a TEAM effort!

They were both so proud of their plane.

A little demonstration of how it would fly...

Adding the finishing touches.

What an imagination!

It's a bird, no it's a plane!

It certainly wasn't Superman...

but whatever it was, it sure used up alot of tape!

Messy Marvin

2009-06-14T22:24:00.004-06:00

One of the things we love most about summer is the fresh fruit! We picked up some sweet yummy cherries last week... and the juice made for one MESSY MARVIN!

French Bread

2009-06-06T23:06:00.005-06:00

We are having a birthday celebration for my Mom & my Brother-in-law on Sunday and I am bringing appetizers. I decided on a Roasted Red Pepper Dip and an Olive Tapenade with fresh veggies and french bread. Since a good percentage of us in the family are gluten free I went looking for a good gluten-free french bread recipe. I think I have found it! The bread is cooling now and I already sliced into it and it is YUMMY! I realized that I probably need those french bread pans like the pictures show - so I ordered some on Amazon so that I can use them for the next time. My loaves are kind of flat and it is more the thickness (or should I say thin-ness) of biscotti, but it tastes like real french bread! Here is the link to the recipe:

http://glutenfreesoxfan.wordpress.com/2008/01/09/you-asked-for-it-gf-french-bread/

Dress it up!

2009-06-06T14:29:00.004-06:00

One of my biggest complaints about the gluten-free, casein-free (dairy-free) diet is the lack of good salad dressings! I have tried several times to make my own ranch, only to be severly disappointed! We tried a bottled gfcf ranch dressing... and well... let's just say it wasn't very good - actually it was awful! Glad I tasted it first before putting it all over my salad!

I am not one to give up and saw this as an opportunity to expand my horizon in the world of salad dressings! Before the gfcf diet, the ONLY type of dressing I ever really ate was Ranch! So I decided to branch out first to vinagrettes first because I knew they were gfcf. My sister can whip up a magnificent vinagrette at the drop of a hat and make it look oh so easy... mine just never turn out as good as hers! Time is another obstacle... cause I am already making most of our meals from scratch and need a dressing that does not require me to prepare it!

Last week while I was at my Mom's house she had a dressing that had no oil in it but it was pretty good - Cilantro Lime - but I couldn't find it at any of the local stores! While I was looking, I stumbled upon "Simply Boulder Culinary Sauces" and I quickly read the label of the Honey Dijon Culinary Sauce... gluten free, sweetened with agave, made with extra virgin olive oil, low sodium, vegetarian, dairy free, soy free, nut free... sounds ok to me! So I picked two of their "culinary sauces" - Honey Dijon and Coconut Peanut (this other one does contain soy and peanuts). I am in LOVE with these new culinary sauces!

Now normally when I make a salad at home, it rarely tastes as good as a salad from a restaurant... there's just something about not making the salad and it just tastes so good! Today I made a salad that would put a restaurant salad to shame! Here is what I threw together...

handful of mixed greens
several slices of cucumber - quartered
small handful of raw walnut pieces
quarter of an avocado - cubed
a little green onion - diced
a bunch of cilantro - chopped
and then I "dressed it up" with the Coconut Peanut Culinary Sauce

YUMMY, YUMMY in my TUMMY!

Maybe it is the fact that they call it a "Culinary Sauce" that makes it taste so much better than just a plain old salad dressing!

Now you are probably asking, where can I get mine? I found mine at my local Vitamin Cottage - Natural Grocer's Store. Simply Boulder also have a website that will show you where you can buy them or you can order them online with "FREE SHIPPING!" (but I am pretty sure I paid less than 6.99 at the store for mine!) Here is their website so you can check them out yourselves:

http://www.simplyboulder.com/

Now I have only tried these scrumptious culinary sauces as salad dressings, but they also say you can also use them as marinades, or drizzles on pasta or sandwiches!

Sesame Asparagus

2009-06-02T21:04:00.004-06:00

Thanks to good old Betty Crocker... we had an old favorite tonight.

Sesame Asparagus

3/4 lb asparagus spears
1 Tblsp margarine or butter (or butter sub)
1 Tblsp sesame seeds
1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms (I used Baby Bellas)
1 tsp lemon juice
1/4 tsp sesame oil

Snap off and discard woody bases from fresh asparagus. Cut into 1 inch pieces. Cook, covered, in a small amount of boiling water for 6-8 minutes or till crisp-tender. (I fill it with water to just cover them in the pot.) Drain; remove asparagus from pot.

In the same pot, melt margarine; add sesame seeds. Cook and stir for 2-3 mins or till toasted. Add mushrooms; cook and stir until tender. Add lemon juice and sesame oil. Add asparagus; toss to coat. Heat through. Serves 4.

Note on the butter sub... I absolutely love the new "soy-free" version of the earth balance buttery spread - it totally rocks!

Speaking of Betty Crocker... My dad told my youngest son this joke last weekend:
Papa: Did you hear Betty Crocker is in the hospital?
Andrew: No, what happened?
Papa: She burnt her buns!

That joke is probably older than my dad! Andrew got it and started laughing hysterically. Ah... Life with boys! I wouldn't trade it for the world!

Where's the bunny?

2009-06-02T20:33:00.004-06:00

A few weeks ago, we had a bunny in our backyard trying to dig a burrow in the kids sandbox. I chased him off, filled up the hole but within an hour he was back digging again. This time I let our dog, Colby, out to meet our new visitor. Colby is a whippet and just like all other sight-hounds they love a good chase! He ran as fast as he could, but the bunny was faster and he slid under the fence and out of the back yard just like Peter Rabbit leaving McGregor's Garden! A little later in the day, the bunny was back and since it was obvious that the bunny was too fast for him, I let Colby out and he chased him again. The bunny has been back to visit several times since then and everytime, Colby gives it his best shot, but he just can't turn as fast as the bunny and loses speed when the bunny changes course. It is rather humorous to watch as he tries to turn sharp at a high speed in the rocks... almost like in a cartoon!

We just realized that he has associated the word "bunny" with the actual chasing of the bunny and will get all excited and go to the back door and look for the bunny! So any word that sounds like bunny... money, funny, sunny - all get a perk of his cute little ears! But when you say "Where's the bunny?" - he gets so excited that he is shaking with anticipation of the chase!

I am not sure what he would do with it if he ever actually caught that bunny! I think he just wants to play with the bunny! Several years ago, we had a birds nest and a baby bird had jumped from it's nest a little early and was just laying in the grass. We didn't realize it when we let Colby outside, but we soon found him lying next to the bird, just licking the baby bird and giving it a bath. It was so sweet.

I am wondering if the bunny has finally figured it out, because we haven't seen him in a couple of days. Where's Peter Rabbit? Where's that rascally rabbit? Where's the bunny?

I am not a child anymore!

2009-06-02T20:27:00.003-06:00

Tonight at dinner, as I was explaining to my oldest son that you must eat your vegetables to grow up big and strong... he replied "I am NOT a child anymore. I know that when Papa says we should eat something to get hair on my chest, it is not true." He was implying that he didn't believe me that vegetables make you grow up big and strong... he isn't falling for it anymore! I told him that whether or not he believed me, vegetables DO make you grow up big and strong!

Pretty soon he will say that he doesn't believe in Santa Claus! Gasp! Let the record show... Daniel is NOT a child anymore at the ripe old age of 10!

I have a better idea!

2009-05-29T08:45:00.004-06:00

Last night some dear friends were packing up to move to another state... the boys and I stopped by to say our last good-byes. The kids played a little and then we all went to get some late night ice cream. When getting in the car, my oldest son said - "Why do we celebrate when people move away? It is sad." I explained that we celebrate our fun times with them.

We went to Cold Stone and the boys were able to get some sorbet and really enjoyed that! As we were getting in the car after saying our last good-bye's... my oldest says

"I have a better idea!"
"How about Cole stays with us, and the rest of them move?"

It was so sweet but really shows how we all feel... WHY do our friends have to move away? I told him that they would come back and visit and now we have a reason to visit Iowa. We have never been to Iowa and my friend tells me that it is only 10 hours away! I see a road trip in our near future!

I sure hope the mattresses fit in the moving truck!

Praying for safe travels today and tomorrow - have asked for the most uneventful road trip ever! You guys deserve it! Miss you already!

Happy Birthday Dad

2009-05-27T21:17:00.004-06:00

So this morning, I gathered the boys up and we went into the bathroom to sing "Happy Birthday" to my husband... and we get through the first line

"Happy Birthday to you!"

and Andrew sings... "I'm in my undergrunts"

and we all started laughing so hard, we could barely finish singing Happy Birthday!

Ah... Life with boys!

You are what you eat!

2009-05-26T11:57:00.004-06:00

Last December, after several "ah-ha" moments, we decided as a family to remove gluten & casein from our diets. We went cold turkey and I was completely overwhelmed with the whole process! My sister had recently travelled the same road and she was a huge help in getting me started, but I was searching for a book or article or something that would tell me what I need to know... well that book now exists!

The Autism & ADHD DIET by Barrie Silberberg
a Step-by-Step guide to hope and healing by living gluten free and casein free (gfcf) and other interventions

It was a very easy read and it contained everything I was wondering about when we first started on this journey. It has pages of references and web pages with information on stores that carry gfcf foods, eating in different countries, message boards & forums, interventions, supplements, and other disability services available. The part I would have found the most helpful when I first started out is the menu ideas with some recipes where she gives you two full weeks of ideas for what to eat! The bottom line is that we all should be eating healthier.

You are what you eat!

I would highly recommend this book to anyone contemplating making dietary changes for their ADHD child. I will be adding this book to my ADHD Tool box!

ADHD Magazines

2009-05-26T11:28:00.005-06:00

This weekend while we were stuck in the camper and it was raining outside, I had a wonderful opportunity to get some reading done that I had been meaning to do for months! I am currently subscribed to two ADHD Magazines:

1) Attention Magazine http://chadd.org
Specific for CHADD members, this magazine is produced six times per year. Articles include topics varying from parenting to treatment to coping strategies. Attention keeps readers updated on the latest information, research, background and issues relating to AD/HD.

Here is a list of the other benefits of being a CHADD member:
http://www.chadd.org/Content/CHADD/Membership/TypesandBenefits/FamilyIndividualbenefits/default.htm

Since the magazine is part of the CHADD Membership, you can only access the featured article online unless you are a member. Members have access to all previous issues and articles. Here is a link to the featured article from Attention Magazine:

http://www.chadd.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Attention_Magazine&Template=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=9744

2) ADDitude http://www.additudemag.com/
Additude Magazine provides daily updates on its website in addition to a newsletter and quarterly magazine subscription. Complete with blogs and expert advice, Additude provides well-organized, informational resources with specific sections for parents and their children.

Article #1 - 7 Quick Fixes for ADHD Meltdowns
http://www.additudemag.com/adhd/article/5762.html
There were a couple of strategies here that we will be trying since meltdowns are something we struggle with on a daily basis and in certain weekly situations. I'll keep you posted!

Article #2 - The Truth About Your ADHD Child's Lying
http://www.additudemag.com/adhd/article/5705.html
This gave me a different outlook on the lies that I sometimes get from my son. "Some ADHD kids are not dishonest, but victims of uncontrolled symptoms. A better treatment plan may put an end to the untruths." So many times I take the lie at face value and don't take a step back and look for a possible cause for the lie so that I can help him avoid additional lies which are a result of his ADHD symptoms.

Survival Camp

2009-05-25T21:03:00.013-06:00

Last weekend was a momentous occassion for our family... our oldest son spent the weekend away from home at "Survival Camp." He has spent the night at a friends house before, but that was never very far away from home. He went to Camp Elim which is about 1 hour from our house up in the mountains. I think I was the one who was the most nervous about the whole thing. I really wanted him to have a good time and enjoy camp. I have such good memories of camp from my childhood and I just wanted him to have a fun time!

Here he is with his buddies - getting ready to get on the bus, with his counselor standing in the background... boy was he in for tiring weekend!

He really enjoyed the zip-line... and took a picture of his friend Connor on the zip-line complete with a finger shadow in the upper right corner.

He really enjoyed hanging out with his friends from church - here he is with Zach.

And Connor - they spent alot of time together - photo by Daniel

Survival Camp Group Picture

And who could forget his favorite Sunday School Teacher... photo by Daniel

We had sent him with two disposable cameras to take pictures while at camp... and out of the 54 pictures, we got about 16 which were even visible. Apparently he thought the little hole in the front of the camera (the actual camera lens) was a place to put his finger... so we had a lot of pictures of his finger! Thank goodness his counselor explained it to him, otherwise we wouldn't have gotten any pictures from his trip!

He had such a good time and can't wait to go back again next year!

Life with boys... camping in the rain

2009-05-25T19:55:00.015-06:00

Life with boys... camping is quite an experience. If you have never taken young boys camping, then you are missing out! We hooked up the camper and headed for Taylor Reservoir for the Memorial Day Weekend. As we drove up Cottonwood Pass, it started to rain and it barely stopped the whole weekend! Life with boys... couped up in a camper... oh fun! Then when the rain did stop for a few minutes... it became LIFE WITH MUDDY BOYS!

We did manage to spend a little time outside at the campfire on Sunday night.

Here are the highlights of Life with boys... and camping in the rain...

If there is a "BUMP" sign, there is probably a big bump and you should slow down!

Lots of earthworms all over the ground... fun to jump on and squish them!

Running water is always like a magnet to boys and no matter how many times mom said to stay out of the water, they somehow seem to get wet!

Don't let the dog in your sleeping bag, or you will be stuck with just the blanket and freeze all night!

Crocs and mud do not mix... but at least they are easier to clean!

Andrew came in with mud all over his feet and when I asked what happened, he said that he was trying to keep up with his brother so he "had" to run in the mud... which just squished through the holes in his crocs into his toes... which resulted in a prompt soaking of his litle muddy feet in the little tub.

Earthworms are fun to throw into the campfire - thanks Dad!

(look closely on top of the grate in the middle of the picture)

Roasted marshmallows are the BEST!

When playing outside and mom yells your name, run the other direction and act like you didn't hear her!

When dad whistles, you'd better come a running!

Mom says "If you are taking your cars outside, make sure not to get them dirty." sounds much different to a kid... "Sure you can take your cars outside and play in the mud with them!"

BOYS WILL BE BOYS!

Danny got his first taste of fly fishing with real waders & boots in the stream... and it wasn't 5 minutes before he had taken his first fall and had filled his hip waders with water! Then it was just COLD! He hooked a BIG ONE... but held onto the line when it tried to swim away and SNAP... the fish was gone! :(

BE PREPARED when going out of the camper. Just because the rain has stopped, doesn't mean it will not start again! Always wear your raincoat!

The boys talked Dad into going back over Cottonwood Pass (dirt/muddy road) and thought that all the mud splashing all over the truck and camper was way cool!

Star Wars noises in the car... can get really annoying!

Lesson reinforced... ALWAYS bring extra socks, pants, and shoes!!!

Papa's new saying... "that's howie do it!"

Nana is the best grandma ever!

Camping is always best in beautiful Colorado Mountains!

My Forever Friend

2009-05-19T21:58:00.004-06:00

The Lord has blessed me with some very special friends who have been through many ups and downs with me over the last year... and one of my dearest friends is moving away. I dedicate this song to her, my forever friend.

Friends by Michael W. Smith

Packing up the dreams God planted
In the fertile soil of you
Cant believe the hopes hes granted
Means a chapter in your life is through
But well keep you close as always
It wont even seem youve gone
cause our hearts in big and small ways
Will keep the love that keeps us strong

Chorus:
And friends are friends forever
If the lords the lord of them
And a friend will not say never
cause the welcome will not end
Though its hard to let you go
In the fathers hands we know
That a lifetimes not too long to live as friends.

With the faith and love gods given
Springing from the hope we know
We will pray the joy youll live in
Is the strength that now you show

But well keep you close as always
It wont even seem youve gone
cause our hearts in big and small ways
Will keep the love that keeps us strong

Life with boys... and a sick mom

2009-05-14T14:11:00.003-06:00

Earlier this week I took a little trip to the hospital with abdominal pain... which turned into a 2.5 day stay at the "resort". Meanwhile, hubby had to take care of the boys while Mom was away. As far as I can tell, they were fed, clothed appropriately, and taken care of... but I think we would all agree, it just wasn't the same without Mom. They boys came to visit me at the "resort" each night and it was about all we could do to convince them that they could not stay and sleep on the sofa. There were soccer games, mandatory parent meetings, kids appts, a night out with the girls, and so many other things going on, it just wasn't a good week for mom to get sick! I was forced to slow down and just let others take care of me.

My youngest son asked my husband what he could do to show him he was responsible enough to have a cell phone! He is in 2nd grade! 2nd graders don't need cell phones. He rationalized it like this... if he had a cell phone, then dad could call him and tell him when Mom was getting out of the hospital. Awww, how sweet is he? Still, Dad did not let him have a cell phone. I did email his teacher that day and asked her to tell him that Mom was leaving the hospital... that was about as close as he was going to get!

In looking back on the whole thing... I took some time to reflect on everything I am grateful for... here are just a few:
- Hospital facilities with well trained doctors and nurses.
- Wonderful friends and family and their kind thoughts and prayers.
- That I didn't have to have an operation.
- Home cooked food - I am so glad I don't have to eat at the hospital cafeteria all the time - I would most certainly lose those last few pounds!
- My boys love me and miss me when I am away.
- Life is so precious - don't ever take it for granted. Live every day like it is your last!
- Stop putting off all those things that need to get done, and just do them!
- God is in control, he was there in the waiting for test results, he was there through all my pain, he was my comforter, my rock, my healer, my everything.

While we were waiting for test results in the ER, I just kept cyring... and hubby would ask what was wrong? I told him... Moms are supposed to be the ones who take care of others... Mom's aren't supposed to get sick! (but it is nice to know that when they do, there are people who take care of them!)

1st Support Group

2009-05-12T19:20:00.004-06:00

First, I want to say 'Thank You' to all my friends and family who have supported me in my endeavors to start the first Colorado Springs ADHD Parent Support Group. I appreciate all your kind thoughts, prayers, and for helping me spread the word!

We had 5 parents show up and I had a great time getting to know them and finding out more about their kids with ADHD. We had some great discussions and I have a couple of ideas for some guest speakers to start working on. I am looking forward to our next meeting on June 4th from 7-9pm at Penrose Main Hospital, Cactus Room. For more details, check out our CHADD Colorado Springs Satellite Webpage:
http://chadd.net/303

The best part is that a few more parents know that they are NOT alone! What a relief!

I believe...

2009-04-26T12:41:00.003-06:00

I believe in the sun, even when it is not shining.
I believe in love, even when I do not feel it.
I believe in God, even when He is silent.
- Author Unknown

These were words etched on a prison wall in the Nazi concentration camp.

Childhood Epidemics?

2009-04-24T12:15:00.009-06:00

There has been an increase in the number of children with Autism, ADHD, Ashtma, and Allergies.

"Autism has increased, according to most estimates, from approximately one in every 2,500 to 10, 000 births to one in every 150-166 births, over just the past twenty years. This is a fiteen-fold to sixty-fold increase: 1,500 percent to 6,000 percent. Now at least a half-million American children have autism-spectrum disorders, and some experts believe it to be as high as 1.5 million."

"ADHD has increased by at least 400 percent over the same twenty years. Now, 3.5 million children suffer from it. The very worst symptoms of ADHD are similar to those of children on the autism spectrum."

"Asthma has increased by 300 percent over the same time period, and asthma deaths have increased by 56 percent, despite improvements in acute crisis care. Now 6 million American kids have asthma."

"Allergies have increaed by 400 percent over this period. Now approximately 20 percent of all kids have some type of allergy. Peanut allergy, one of the most common fatal food allergies, has more than doubled since 1997. Two hundred people, many of them children, now die from food allergies every year."

- quotes taken from "Healing the New Childhood Epidemics" by Kenneth Bock, M.D. and Cameron Stauth

Are they really epidemics? What is an epidemic?

ep-i-dem-ic - (taken from Dictionary.com unabridged - based on Random House Dictionary)
- adjective
1. affecting many persons at the same time, and spreading from person to person in a locality where the disease is not permanently prevalent.
2. extremely prevalent; widespread.
-noun
3. a temporary prevalence of a disease.
4. a rapid spread or increase in the occurrence of something: an epidemic of riots.

Wikipedia defines an epidemic as:
In epidemiology, an epidemic (from Greek epi- upon + demos people) occurs when new cases of a certain disease occur in a given human population, during a given period, substantially exceed what is "expected," based on recent experience (the number of new cases in the population during a specified period of time is called the "incidence rate"). (An epizootic is the analogous circumstance within an animal population.) In recent usages, the disease is not required to be communicable.

So did the increase in numbers exceed what is "expected"?
Would an increase of 100% be "expected"? How about 50%? 10%? Who would say that any percentage of increase is acceptable or "expected"? But the bigger question is what are we going to do about it? How do we bring those numbers back down for future generations? What happens if the numbers continue to increase?

I highly recommend the book quoted above: "Healing the New Childhood Epidemics" by Kenneth Bock, M.D. and Cameron Stauth.

I am determined to help my children in any way that I can. I understand that there is no miracle cure or program that will completely eliminate these issues, but I do feel better equipped to help my children and do my part to make a difference in their lives.

Hamantaschen!

2009-04-20T19:30:00.004-06:00

This week is our last week of Beth Moore's Esther Study and she offered a recipe for the special cookie, Hamantaschen (Haman's Ears).

I went searching for a GFCF version I could make for my friend and I since we are both doing GFCF... and one of my favorite bloggers had just the perfect recipe for us:

http://www.elanaspantry.com/hamantaschen/

I did not make the special currant filling, but picked up some apricot fruit spread and used that in the center instead. They turned out great! What a nice treat to finish our study out! Thanks Elana!

Neurofeedback

2009-04-17T12:20:00.003-06:00

CHADD Calls for Increased Funding for Research on Neurofeedback
Read the article here:
http://www.chadd.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Press_Releases1&TEMPLATE=/CM/HTMLDisplay.cfm&CONTENTID=8960

Colorado Springs ADHD Parent Support Group

2009-04-16T15:24:00.008-06:00

Please pass this information along to anyone you know that might be interested in joining us!

Do You Have a Child with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder?

Do You Want to Learn More about AD/HD?

JOIN US!

DATE: May 7th, 2009
TIME: 7 pm – 9 pm
PLACE: Penrose Hospital Main
Cactus Room
2222 N. Nevada Ave

CONTACT: Becky Peal
colorado-springs@chadd.net

Colorado Springs CHADD Support Group Website: www.chadd.net/303

"I am stupid"

2009-04-15T13:18:00.005-06:00

Lately when my youngest son gets in trouble for making a poor choice he will say "I am stupid!" It just breaks my heart to hear him say this about himself. I reassure him he is not stupid, in fact he is actually very smart, but that he just made a bad choice. We always talk about what we could have done differently. I think this is a result of the guilt he feels over not being able to control his impulsivity and he has reasoned that if he can't control himself, he must just be stupid. I am not sure where this has come from, but I don't much care for it and I am trying to figure out how to help change his negative self talk.

I guess it is time to bump a few of the books up on my reading list... "The Gift of ADHD" and "Superparenting for ADD" Both of these books approach it from the positive side and talk about focusing on their strengths. Hopefully I can find some pratical things that we can do to help him see his ADHD as a gift instead of a problem.

New Stroganoff with Mimic Creme

2009-04-13T14:52:00.003-06:00

I am trying to limit the soy in the family's diet as well and after discovering a wonderful cream substitute, I decided to give it a try in Stroganoff. It turned out great!

1 Tbsp Olive Oil
1 onion chopped
1 green pepper chopped
10-12 mushrooms, sliced
2 cloves garlic
1 lb ground beef or buffalo
1 to 1 1/2 cups Mimic Creme
1 Tbsp Tapioca or Potato Starch
garlic salt, pepper, onion powder to taste
1 bag brown rice pasta, cooked

Saute the onion, green pepper, mushrooms & garlic in olive oil. Add ground beef and cook until done. Add Mimic Creme tapioca/potato starch and seasonings and stir over low heat until thickened. Serve over brown rice pasta.

Sometimes I add cooked green beans to make sure they get more veggies.

ADHD Drugs No Long-Term Benefits?

2009-04-06T08:33:00.002-06:00

Just wanted to share an interesting article...

The 8 year follow-up data from the ADHD MTA Study (Multisite Multimodal Treatment Study of Children With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder)are out and the results argue against the use of ADHD drugs longer than 2 years. Most families tended to stopped the drugs by two years anyway, but some vocal medication-proponents had suggested this was endangering children's health. In fact, besides medications having less symptomatic benefit with chronic use, the latest study also comments on observation that long-term medication may also impair growth (children who took medication for 36 months or longer were 6 lbs lighter and one inch shorter).

Read the rest of the article at:

http://eideneurolearningblog.blogspot.com/2009/04/adhd-drugs-no-long-term-benefits.html

Green Chile

2009-04-05T21:39:00.003-06:00

This week while making a quick stop at Walmart, I found green chiles in the freezer section... it has been so long since I have had green chile... and not sure I have ever actually made it, but it sounded good, so I grabbed a bag. On the back it had the following recipe:

Green Chile
1/2 cup oil - I used less, probably more like 1/4 cup
1 lb cubed pork
6 garlic cloves
1/2 cup flour - I used sweet rice flour
1 (14.5oz) can crushed tomatoes (optional) - I used Muir Glen Organice Fire Roasted
1 (30oz) Select Green Chile - I used the mild ones
6 cups water
1/4 cup chicken bullion

Instructions:
Heat oil in pot, add diced pork and cook, lower heat and add minced garlic, cook 5 minutes, add flour and clightly brown, add tomatoes, green chile, simmer 15 minutes, add water and chicken bullion, cook 30 minutes.

Green chiles were from New Mexico Distributing in Denver, CO - www.nmdist.com

I followed it for the most part, but had to make some minor adjustments...
I only did 4 cups of water, and they added 2 cups chicken broth. Then I realized the recipe probably meant 1/4 cup of the powder that makes chicken bullion (which I did not have) so I added two cubes of Rapunzel Vegan Vegetable Bouillon with Sea Salt. I also added some garlic salt and cumin to taste.

I made some homemade tortillas to go with it and it was a big hit! They were talking about how they were going to put it on the eggs in the morning!

Day without the boys...

2009-03-28T12:07:00.003-06:00

Boy it sure is quiet when all the boys are NOT at home! I enjoyed a cup of pomegranite green tea with honey, finished my Esther study for the week and caught up on some emails. My husband was so sweet to take the boys to Art Class this morning and then off sledding to Mueller State Park for the afternoon. They were so excited. I sent the camera with... hope to get some fun shots since I couldn't go with. I am on pager duty this weekend and going to the mountains where the cell phone doesn't work isn't an option. Instead I am headed to a good friends house and she is going to show me how to scrapbook digitally! I can't wait to spend some "girl" time and work on my albums on my new laptop! This is some much needed "mommy" time to relax and refresh so that I can go back to taking care of everyone else.

When was the last time you took some time for yourself? What did you do? Do you have a plan to take regular time for yourself? You should!

M.Y. H.U.S.B.A.N.D. R.O.C.K.S.

2009-03-27T07:23:00.002-06:00

M... is for My Soul Mate.

Y... is for Young at Heart - his young spirit keeps me feeling young too.

H... is for Hilarious - he always knows how to make me laugh!

U... is for Understanding - he understands me when no one else does.

S... is for Sweet - he suprises me with flowers or a card occassionally that make my day!

B... is for Beautiful, Wonderful, Child of God.

A... is for Alto - that's spanish for "tall" and he is so sweet to reach the stuff on the top shelf for me when I am too short to reach it.

N... is for Night in Shining Armour - he was, and is, and always will be!

D... is for Dishwasher - he loves me so much that he does all my dishes when I cook... even when I make more dishes than really necessary.

R... is for Real - he is very logical and down to earth in this thinking and I love that about him.

O... is for Outgoing - he is very friendly and outgoing - everywhere we go, he runs into someone he knows.

C... is for Committed - he gives 110% of himself all the time, in every situation.

K... is for Kind - he is always looking for ways to help others.

S... is for Sincere - he always puts his heart into every little thing he does.

...MY HUSBAND ROCKS!

It's in the mail!

2009-03-22T07:44:00.002-06:00

Two weeks ago I wrote about "taking the plunge" and starting a Colorado Springs ADHD Support Group... well I am pleased to report that the paperwork is officially in the mail to CHADD!

Now I need your help... if you know anyone in the Colorado Springs or surrounding areas who has a kid with ADHD and would be interested in a support group, please send them my direction! They can email me at csadhdsupportgroup@gmail.com and I will put them on our mailing list for more information. Thanks in advance for your help!

In addition, if you have any ideas on how I can quickly and easily get the word out, please feel free to email me or post a comment on my blog.

Strawberry Milk

2009-03-20T14:35:00.003-06:00

I had a hankering for something sweet this afternoon... and here is what I came up with -

Strawberry Milk
4 large frozen strawberries
4-6 oz Hemp Vanilla Milk
1/4 tsp Stevia Powder
1/2 tsp GF Vanilla

Place 4 frozen strawberries in a cup (I used the cup that came with my hand blender), microwave them for 30 seconds to soften them slightly. Add milk until it reaches about the 8oz mark. Add stevia & vanillla. Blend with hand blender until strawberries are well blended. Enjoy!

Sweet, cold, refreshing, and healthy snack!

Granola Goodness...

2009-03-20T10:52:00.005-06:00

A few weeks back I found this recipe for Granola:

http://glutenfree.wordpress.com/2008/12/22/gluten-free-granola-vanilla-maple-granola/

After making it several times, I decided to mix things up a bit and following is my modified recipe for some yummy granola:

YUMMY GRANOLA
1 cup unsweetened coconut, finely shredded
1/2 cup quinoa flakes
4 Tbsp Hemp Vanilla Protein Powder (I prefer Living Harvest)
3 cups GF oats
1 cup raw pumpkin seeds
1 cup slivered almonds
1/2 cup flax seed meal
2 tsp cinnamon
3 Tbsp butter, melted (gfcf)
1 cup maple syrup
2 Tbsp brown sugar
1 tsp GF vanilla

Directions:
- Preheat oven to 325F.
- Line two baking sheets (15 1/4 x 10 1/4) with parchment paper.
- Combine dry ingredients (except for brown sugar) and mix well
- Melt butter in separate bowl or glass measuring cup in the microwave.
- Add maple syrup and brown sugar to the melted butter - return to microwave to help the brown sugar melt. Add vanilla and mix.
- Pour maple syrup mixture over the dry ingredients and mix well to coat everything evenly.
- Split the mixture between the two baking sheets.
- Bake for a total of 24 minutes - stirring every 8 minutes or until toasted brown.
- Cool and store in an air-tight container.

Enjoy!

The Quest for Yummy Energy Bars

2009-03-20T10:17:00.013-06:00

We will be doing the Elephant Rock Ride in June with Daniel - we signed up for a 25 mile bike ride. Daniel is so excited and up for the challenge. He has on occassion done over 20 miles on bike rides with Dad and so he can't wait to participate in an actual ride!

Normally we would pack Cliff Bars for our ride to provide energy but since we have gone gluten-free, casein-free, we cannot eat Cliff Bars anymore. :(

Thus begins the quest for an Energy Bar that tastes good and the kids like! I went to Whole Foods and stood in the bar aisle for a good 20 minutes reading labels and sifting through the hundred or so different bars they carry. Here are the bars I came home with and the "official review" by the VIP Taste-Testers (Daniel & Andrew):

Bar #1 - Keerunch - Chocolate Brownie Crunch Organic Food Bar
100% certified organic, no refined sugar, nothing artificial, healthy fats, dairy free, no rice syrup, no high fructose corn syrup, prepared fresh daily, peanut free, gluten free, no gmo's, vegan.
http://www.organicfoodbarkids.com/
Andrew - YUCK!
Daniel - YUCK!
Mom - Not so good - weird after taste.

Bar #2 - ReBAR - Caramel - Nutritional supplement energy bar
12 vitamins & minerals, 12g protein, 4 servings veggies & fruit, gluten free, gmo free, vegan
http://www.rebar-canada.com/
Andrew - Ok at first - then too sweet
Daniel - YUM!
Mom - This one's a keeper!

Bar #3 - Oohmega - Cherry Pie Organic Food Bar
100% certified organic, no refined sugar, nothing artificial, healthy fats, dairy free, no rice syrup, no high fructose corn syrup, prepared fresh daily, peanut free, gluten free, no gmo's, vegan. http://www.organicfoodbarkids.com/
Andrew -
Daniel - eeewww!
Mom - YUCK!

Bar #4 - Oooatmeal - Apple Pie Organic Food Bar
100% certified organic, no refined sugar, nothing artificial, healthy fats, dairy free, no rice syrup, no high fructose corn syrup, prepared fresh daily, peanut free, gluten free, no gmo's, vegan. http://www.organicfoodbarkids.com/
Andrew - copied his brother and said he didn't like apple pie - I think he needs to try it again! He normally loves apple cinnamon type bars.
Daniel - says he doesn't like apples... whatever!
Mom - YUMMY!

Bar #5 - Fiona's All Natural Granola Bar - Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter
wheat free, dairy free, vegan, rich in omega3, high in fiber.
It does contain oats - so that is probably why it does not say gluten free.
http://www.fionasgranola.com/
Andrew -
Daniel - not too bad
Mom - better than some of the others!

Bar #6 - Organic Food Bar - Protein
no preservatives, additives, coatings, soy, peanuts, or dairy, gluten free.
80% raw, 22g organic protein, 9g dietary fiber, alkaline forming, no soy, non-gmo, no trans fat, no refined sugars, no dairy, endurance, gluten-free, 2000mg phytonutrient rich sprouts
http://www.organicfoodbar.com/
Andrew -
Daniel - blech!
Mom - not so good - not sure what it tastes like... but doesn't taste good!

Bar #7 - Raw Revolution Organic Live Food Bar with sprouted flax seeds - Chocolate & Coconut
no artificial ingredients, no preservatives, gluten free, dairy free, vegan, kosher, uncooked, no refined sugars, non gmo, soy free
http://www.rawindulgence.com/
Andrew - wouldn't try it
Daniel - not so good
Mom - kind of bland at first - not very sweet but you get used to it - like the coconut.

Bar #8 - Bumble Bar Organic Energy - Chocolate Crisp
gluten free, vegan, dairy free
http://www.bumblebar.com/
Andrew -
Daniel - horrid!
Mom - not very good

Then I also picked up some of the Sharkies Organic Energy Sports Chews...
Natural source of electrolytes, real fruit for energy & endurance, gluten free, wheat free, dairy free, vegetarian
http://www.sharkiesinc.com/
Citrus - Yummy!
Fruit - Yummy!
Berry Blast - Yummy!
Watermelon Scream - not so good
Peach Tea Breeze - YUCK!

Note: After several bars, Andrew refused to try new ones based on the not to desirable tasting ones he had already tried.

THE VERDICT: We have a winner...
ReBAR - Caramel - Nutritional supplement energy bar12 vitamins & minerals, 12g protein, 4 servings veggies & fruit, gluten free, gmo free, vegan
http://www.rebar-canada.com/

Taking the plunge! ADHD Support Group

2009-03-08T22:03:00.007-06:00

I strongly believe that everything happens for a reason... sometimes it is hard to know or understand what that reason could be, but I trust God and I know he will guide my path.

I have felt all along that having a son diagnosed with ADHD happened for a reason. We have been through so much with the school, teachers, therapy, doctors, medications, etc. - that if my experiences could in some way help other families, it would somehow be part of a bigger plan. I have been thinking about starting an actual ADHD Support Group locally since it is a HUGE need and there currently are none that I could find. A couple months ago, I even requested an information packet from CHADD (National Organization for ADD/ADHD) about starting a support group. It has been sitting in a pile of "Things to do when I get the time" for quite a few weeks now. I have really felt the Lord nudging me towards taking action on the application and Beth Moore has sealed it for me these last couple weeks in my Esther Bible Study. For the last 3 weeks after Bible Study, I have said, "I am going to fill out that paperwork and send it in tomorrow"... and then life happens and I forget.

Well today, I got an email from someone who ran across my ADHD Toolbox Blog entry and asked about "that support group" that I mentioned. We had been meeting with the Parent-to-Parent Trainer for a few months but have not been meeting these last two months. OK Lord... I pulled out the paperwork and filled it out the best I could. Tomorrow I need to look for a location and date/times, but then I am mailing the paperwork off (by the end of the week at the latest!)

I keep wondering if I am the right person to start this group, but any parent who has gone through life with an ADHD child is qualified to host a group where parents can get together and share their challenges and successes and encourage one another. I realized that I don't have to know it all and I can find others to talk to the group or share information with them. I trust that God will continue to bring the right people & resources to assist me with this support group... therefore, I am taking the plunge! I will be the Facilitator for the Colorado Springs CHADD Satellite ADHD Parent Support Group.

We are getting ready to take the CHADD Parent-to-Parent Class in a couple of weeks. It starts on March 18th and meets every Wednesday for 6 weeks. I am looking forward to learning more from an organization who has helped so many kids and families and a fellow Mom who has been through life with ADHD. Email me if you are interested in either the Colorado Springs ADHD Support Group or the Parent-to-Parent Class at csadhdsupportgroup@gmail.com and I will send you more details.

If you know anyone in Colorado Springs that would be interested in an ADHD Support Group, please feel free to share my blog and/or email address with them. We would love to have them in our group!

http://www.chadd.org/

Spinach & Portobello Meatballs

2009-02-27T20:27:00.004-07:00

A big thanks goes to Juan-Carlos Cruz on Calorie Commando for his recipe:

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/juan-carlos-cruz/meatball-and-parmesan-sub-sandwiches-recipe/index.html

This is a family favorite around our house... and it is chocked with spinach and mushrooms!

We make the meatballs and cover them in some Newmann's Own Organic Tomato Basil Spaghetti Sauce and serve it over Brown Rice Pasta (Tinyada is our favorite brand.) YUMMY and fairly healthy too!

Crockpot Turkey Meatloaf

2009-02-25T21:36:00.003-07:00

I tried this recipe tonight... it has some sneaky vegetables! My oldest son didn't even notice the carrots and snarfed it down in record time - he is not normally a fan of metaloaf! My youngest son saw the carrots right away and eventhough he likes carrots, he didn't want to eat it until we smothered it in ketchup. Then he had second helpings! It was pretty easy to make - I shredded the zucchinni and carrots, instead of trying to chop them and substituted GFCF pretzel crumbs for the bread crumbs, but it turned out good! I think we will be making this one again.

http://www.livingwithout.com/erecipes/meatloaf_lwo_2.19.09.html

Fettuccini Alfredo... and it's GFCF too?

2009-02-24T10:32:00.004-07:00

I ordered some MimicCreme and we tried this recipe last night:

http://www.mimiccreme.com/recipe-VeganFettucciniAlfredo.html

I was very pleasantly surprised and how good it was... and the hubby who is a big Fettuccini Alfredo fan really liked it too! The whole family gave it a two thumbs up!

We are not vegans though, so I did cook some chicken (seasoned with basil, garlic salt, and Mrs. Dash's Onion & Herb Seasoning) to go with the Fettuccini Alfredo. I had planned to steam some broccoli as well but since we were rushed to get out the door to the Handball game, I spaced it out.

This one will definitely make it on the regular menu list! I will have to try and get one of the local stores to carry it or we will just have to drive to Denver to buy MimicCreme by the case!

Here is the MimicCreme Website: www.mimiccreme.com

I want to try the pudding and ice cream too... stay tuned!

Handball...

2009-02-23T21:50:00.009-07:00

Daniel - Team Handball - Landsharks Silver Team #6

Daniel taking a rest on the bench with Coach Ingram.

Daniel's Handball Team won the game 8 to 7. Daniel was able to make three of the shots for his team. He had a great time and we enjoyed watching the game. We didn't understand some of the rules, so need to do our homework before next weeks game so we will understand better what is going on!

Lettuce Wraps - better than PF Chang's!

2009-02-20T19:57:00.002-07:00

I think we have found a new favorite at our house... Lettuce Wraps. This recipe is so flavorful and yummy, I think they are better than PF Chang's Lettuce Wraps!

I got the original recipe from here:

http://glutenfree.wordpress.com/2008/12/09/gf-chicken-lettuce-wraps/

and since I am one to mix things up a bit... I added about 10-12 baby bella mushrooms, chopped when I added the red pepper in step 4.

The hubby and the kids gobbled them up! I even received a round of applause! :)

Lasagne

2009-02-12T20:44:00.004-07:00

1 box gluten-free lasagne noodles (Tinyada)
32 oz spaghetti sauce (Newman's Organic)
2-4 cups fresh spinach, washed & chopped
1 lb ground beef
1 - 16oz package firm tofu, drained
2 Tbsp olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 onion, chopped
1 red pepper, chopped
1 cup carrots, chopped
1 cup celery, chopped
1-2 zucchini, sliced and quartered
garlic salt
oregano
basil

Cook lasagne noodles, drain and rinse. Grease 9x13 baking pan. Drain tofu. Puree tofu in a food processor with 1/4 cup water to make a mizture the consistency of ricotta cheese, and set aside. Saute the onion, red pepper, carrots, celery, and zucchini in olive oil until soft. Brown ground beef and add vegetables and spaghetti sauce, garlic salt, oregano and basil and simmer for 5-10 minutes. In a separate pan, cook the spinach enough to wilt. Add garlic to spinach and cook a couple more minutes.

Place a small amount of the spaghetti sauce mixture in the bottom of the greased pan. Place a layer of noodles, then a layer pureed tofu, then the spinach, and finally a layer of the spaghetti sauce mixture. Repeat layers two additional times.

Bake at 375 degrees for 30-40 minutes or until hot and bubbly.

Can we have this again tomorrow night for dinner?

2009-02-12T08:49:00.008-07:00

Those are words I don't hear too often since starting the GFCF Diet with the family. I was really struggling on how to make Chicken Enchiladas without cheese! I decided that the Melty Cheese we made earlier in the week might go well with the other spices in an enchilada casserole of some sort, but I wasn't sure where to start. I found a recipe from Karina's Kitchen - she always has such yummy recipes - and decided to give it a try... YUMMY! Both the boys were asking... "Can we have this again tomorrow night for dinner?" and Danny was ready to throw down with his dad over the leftovers! Here is the link to the recipe:

http://glutenfreegoddess.blogspot.com/2006/01/chicken-enchiladas-new-mexico-style.html

I didn't add the artichokes the first time around because I wasn't sure how the kids would like it, but I am sure Dave would have loved it even more! Artichokes are one of his favorites! I also made my own corn tortillas from the recipe on the masa harina bag. Other minor changes I made was to use garlic salt instead of actual garlic (I was just running short on time!) and I used a few spoonfuls of the Melty Cheese leftovers from earlier in the week instead of the cheddar cheese. I just mixed the Melty Cheese in with the chicken mixture but didn't put it on top.

Melty Cheese Recipe is here: http://thepealfamily.blogspot.com/2009/02/melty-cheese.html

Chocolate Cake & Frosting

2009-02-09T20:26:00.003-07:00

Lisa Ackerman's Chocolate Cake
1 cup white rice flour
1/2 cup sorghum flour
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp zanthan gum
1/2 cup oil
1/2 cup milk substitute
1/2 cup hot water
2 tsp vanilla (gf)

Preheat ove to 350 degrees.

Mix together dry ingredients and stir to combine. Then add liquid ingredients and stir until well mixed.

Pour batter into a greased and floured 8x8 cake pan. Bake for 30 minutes or until the cake tests done with a toothpick. (Bake 2025 minutes for cupcakes.)

Chocolate Frosting

1/4 cup gfcf margarine, softened
1/3 cup cocoa powder
1 tsp vanilla (gf)
2 cups confectioner's sugar
4 Tbsp water

Beat margarine until fluffy, and then lower mixer speed and beat in cocoa and vanilla. Gradually beat in sugar, alternating with water, until desired thickness is acheived.

Recipes from "Special Diets for Special Kids Two" by Lisa Lewis, Ph.D.

Melty Cheese

2009-02-09T18:44:00.008-07:00

I received the following recipe from a good friend:

My mother introduced me to this recipe. It's great; and wonderful on macaroni and steam vegetables. I used salt. My mother and I both have Vitamix blenders so I'm not sure what the consistency will be in a standard blender. But, we got creamy no chunk cheese sauce.

My Note: I have a cuisinart blender and it did just fine - no chunks.

Blend well:

1 cup water

1/2 cup raw cashews (not the salted roasted kind)

4 oz. pimentos or sweet red peppers

1/4 cup oatmeal (or 1/2 cup if used as a spread)

2 teaspoon salt or liquid aminos

1/4 cup nutritional yeast

1 teaspoon onion powder

1 1/2 T lemon juice

Add 1 1/2 cup boiling water and re-blend. Pour into heavy sauce pan and bring to a boil for 2 minutes.

We had it over brown rice pasta and my boys ate it... one loved it and the other said it was ok - but it passes for a cheese sauce in our house! It had a little too much red pepper taste for me to pass as a real cheese sauce - I think I might cut back slightly on it next time.

Meatloaf

2009-02-09T17:36:00.005-07:00

This recipe comes my my Mother-in-law. She gave me a dozen recipes or so when I married her son, they were all his favorite dishes. I was able to easily convert it to GFCF.

Meatloaf
2 lbs ground beef
1/2 cup saltines (crushed) - or 1/2 cup Glutino Pretzels (crushed)
salt & pepper
pinch of savory
1 egg
1/2 cup milk or milk substitute (I used Dari-free)
onions (1/2 - 1 onion depending on how much onion you like)

Mix well and bake for 1 - 1 1/4 hours at 350 degrees.

It turned out ok - but kind of fell apart while I was cutting it. I think I need to add more crushed pretzels or flour or something to help it bind together better.

Jambalaya

2009-02-08T19:03:00.005-07:00

2 Tbsp olive oil
1 onion, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
4 stalks celery, sliced
1 green pepper, diced
2 packages of Wellshire Smoked Turkey Kielbasa sausage, sliced and cut in half
1 lb cooked shrimp, tails removed (cooked & already peeled and deveined)
1 bay leaf
2 tsp or 1 Tbsp Tony Chachere's Cajun Seasoning
2 cups rice (uncooked)
2 - 14oz cans S&W Organic Fire Roasted Tomatoes (can use plain if not available)
3 - 14oz cans red beans

Heat olive oil in large soup pot over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, celery, green pepper - stir and cook for 2-3 minutes. Add Sausage and continue stirring while you add the spices. When meat is browned, add rice and stir so the spices and juices are mixed with the rice. Add the tomatoes & beans, and 4 cans of water using the tomato can. Bring to a boil and simmer on medium-low heat for 20 minutes or until rice is cooked.

Add more Tony Chachere's Cajun Seasoning as needed.

Original recipe from:
http://ourgaggleofgirls.com/recipes/2007/12/06/jambalaya-gumbo-rice/

My Husband Rocks - Memories

2009-02-06T14:20:00.008-07:00

Tell the story of a memory about your husband that brings you a smile and a giggle every time you think about it!

One of the things that first attracted me to my husband was his ability to make me laugh! He has a great sense of humor and always bringing a lighter side to things. He has funny voices and personalities that seem to appear out of no where and liven up any normal daily activities. He is like my Dad in that - all my friends like to hang around him because he always makes them laugh!

I think two of my favorite memories are watching my husband hold his boys for the first time... the love that you could see in his eyes, the love that only a father can know... big smile

There are several "characters" (voices/personalities that my husband will imitate) that show up on a regular basis are an Aussie, a Brit, a Pirate, and tonight after eating spaghetti he started talking like an Italian Mobster! It is never a dull moment - he is always making us laugh!

My husband has a great sense of humor... My Husband Rocks!

Andrew's 2nd Grade Performance

2009-02-06T08:54:00.011-07:00

Andrew had his very first speaking part in the 2nd grade Performance. It was a small part but he did a fabulous job! His line was... "The next song we sing reveals just how good it feels." They sang 6 songs and all of them had hand motions and Andrew was very into his singing and at times got very animated... here are a few highlights from his Performance

Love you too Andrew!

Sing it honey!

Smiling right there with ya!

On and you can't forget the "air guitar"

Taking a bow - Performance well done!

Tequila Lime Marinade

2009-02-01T16:18:00.002-07:00

3 Tbsp Orange Juice Concentrate (thawed)
3 Tbsp Tequila (or water)
2 Tbsp Lime Juice
1 tsp grated ginger root
1/2 tsp dried oregano, crushed
1/8 tsp salt
1/8 tsp ground red pepper
1 clove garlic, minced

Marinate chicken or beef for 30 minutes at room temperature or 4 hours in refrigerator.

Great marinade for fajitas!

Why me?

2009-01-28T12:02:00.006-07:00

Do you ever find yourself asking... "Why me?" "Why did this have to happen to me?" "Why is this happening to me?" "What did I do to deserve this?" "Why my child?"

I have asked these questions alot over the last couple of years in dealing with and coming to terms with ADHD and it's effect on our lives. I strongly believe that everything happens for a reason and the Lord has been so faithful to bring us through these trials. It is far from over and more of a journey at this point, but I trust that he will continue to guide us and direct us in the ways that we should go.

In Bible Study last night (Esther Session 2 by Beth Moore), Beth said something that echoed in my soul:

"You can't amputate your history from your destiny"

She went onto explain that it is part of who you are and will be part of the destiny that the Lord fulfills in you.

Jeremiah 29:11 - "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Beth explained that the word translated as "future" here in this verse has meanings of both past and future - they are from the same root word. It is the Lord who uses our pasts, our history, our baggage, our trails, and all our circumstances to fulfill our destinies through Him. Without our pasts, we would not be who we are today, and we would not become who He wants us to be in the future. I trust that God is in control of all of our futures, and he will complete in us the good works he has already begun.

MY-OH-MY - Frito Pie!

2009-01-24T18:53:00.002-07:00

Recipe from Special Diet for Special Kids Two by Lisa Lewis, Ph.D.

Frito Pie
--------------
1 lb lean ground beef
1 onion chopped fine
1 clove garlic
1 28oz can tomatoes (I used diced)
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp salt
1 19oz can refried beans (preferably fat free)
2 cups Fritos Corn Chips (or other brand, preferably additive free)
1 cup GFCF "cheese," shredded (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cook the beef in a skillet, and add the onions and garlic once some fat has been released into the pan. Cook until the meat loses its pink color, and the onions are getting soft. Drain excess fat and then add the tomatoes (with juice) and the seasonings. Simmer for about 30 minutes, and then stir in the refried beans and mix thoroughly.

Cover the bottom of a 9x13 baking pan with one cup of chips. Cover with chili and GFCF cheese if desired. Use remaining chips for the top. Bake for 20 minutes.

--------------------------------------------------------------

My kids loved it! Hope yours do too!

Sopa de Maize (Corn Soup)

2009-01-22T18:05:00.003-07:00

3 1/2 cups frozen corn
1 cups chicken broth
4 T butter or margarine (or butter sub)
2 cups milk (or milk sub)
1 tsp ground cumin
1 clove garlic, minced
4 oz can green chiles, chopped
2 cups chicken, cooked
salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic to taste.

Puree corn and hot chicken broth in blender. Melt butter in pot, add puree and simmer on low heat, stiring constantly. Stir in milk, cumin, and garlic and heat to boiling. Reduce heat and stir in green chiles, and spices.

Serve with toppings: corn chips, tomatoes, salsa, black olives, sour cream (tofutti is gfcf), green onions, avocado, etc.

I make a double batch so that we have leftovers.

Stroganoff

2009-01-22T11:10:00.005-07:00

2 lbs. ground beef
1 onion, diced
1 green pepper, diced
10-12 fresh mushrooms, sliced or 4 oz can of sliced mushrooms
1 pkg Tofutti Cream Cheese
1/2 cup Tofutti Sour Cream
1/2 cup water
garlic, salt, pepper, onion powder to taste

Brown the ground beef. Add onion, green pepper, and mushrooms and cook until onions are translucent. Add cream cheese, sour cream, water, and spices and simmer for another 5 minutes.

Serve over Brown Rice Pasta.

Serves 4-6.

Quick & Easy Spaghetti

2009-01-18T19:00:00.005-07:00

Olive Oil
1-2 small zucchini - sliced and halved or quartered
1 small yellow squash - sliced and halved or quartered
1 green pepper, diced
1 onion, diced
2 packages Shelton's Turkey Italian Sausage, cooked and sliced
1 jar Newman's Own Organic Tomato Basil Pasta Sauce
1 can S&W Organic Tomato Sauce
1 can S&W Organic Fire Roasted Tomatoes
Basil, Oregano, Garlic Salt, Onion Powder, Pepper to taste.
Brown Rice Pasta - we use Tinkyada and the kids can't tell the difference.

You can also add sliced carrots, mushrooms, or anything else you would like to hide in the spaghetti. You could go as far as to cook the veggies and throw them in the food processor to puree them and add them to the sauce - the kids would never know. My kids are used to having these veggies in their spaghetti sauce and honestly don't even taste them, but I know some kids have veggie radar and can see them a mile away!

Note: Shelton's Turkey Italian Sausage take approx 30 minutes to cook, so plan ahead.

Saute the veggies in some olive oil until they are cooked, add the sauces, tomatoes, and spices and simmer for 10 minutes. Serve over Pasta.

Honey Roasted Sesame Pork

2009-01-18T14:03:00.004-07:00

1 Pork Tenderloin (approx 3/4 lb)

Marinade for 1 hour or more in the following:
1/4 cup soy sauce (or wheat free tamari)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 piece of ginger root (2 inches), sliced thin

Drain tenderloin and roll in 1/4 cup honey, then roll in 1 cup toasted sesame seeds. Since my husband hates it when I dirty excess dishes, I just put the pork loins in the pan it was going to be cooked in, drizzled honey over them, sprinkled sesame seeds on them and then flipped them over and did the same. Bake in oven at 400 degrees for 20 minutes or until no longer pink. Let stand for 5 minutes and slice on the diagonal.

Serves 2-4

You can put 2 or 3 tenderloins in the marinade to serve more.

GFCF Chocolate Chip Cookies

2009-01-17T16:04:00.009-07:00

Recently I made Bob's Red Mill Chocolate Chip cookies from the mix and my husband was not impressed. I didn't think they were too bad, but he has been spoiled by my special chocolate chip cookies... he was wishing they were more like the old ones with gluten and casein! Well, I consulted with an experienced baker and she said I could use Bette Hagman's Gluten-free Flour Mix and it should work... so I tried my first gluten-free, casein-free chocolate chip cookies using my old recipe with GF Flour Mix. The dough seemed a little lacking in thickness, but we put a few on the baking stone and hoped for the best. The cookies spread very quickly and were big and flat... and they just crumbled apart!

So I started to look for something else to add to make it right... and I found a section in Chapter 5 of Special Diets for Special Kids by Lisa Lewis Ph.D. that talked about baking and flowers, etc. Lisa said that you could use Bette Hagman's GF Flour Mix as a substitute for white flour and that you should add 1 tsp of xanthan gum for each cup of flour. Ah-ha! The missing link! So I quickly mixed in some xanthan gum and the cookies were just perfect!

The other trick I learned from the cookbook was to use parchment paper.

Becky's GFCF Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 cup butter (sub) softened
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla (gfcf)
2 eggs
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
2 cups white rice flour
2/3 cup potato starch
1/3 cup tapioca starch
3 tsp xanthan gum
1 pkg Enjoy Chocolate Chips
Parchment Paper

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cream together butter, sugars, and vanilla. Beat and add the eggs, mix well. Mix together the flours, baking soda, salt & xanthan gum and then add to wet mixture. Mix thoroughly. Add chocolate chip and mix. Drop batter by well rounded spoon onto parchment paper covered cookie sheet (I used my baking stone.) Bake for 8-10 minutes at 375 until the edges just start to slightly brown. I tend to under cook them slightly so they stay soft and gooey on the inside. Remove and cool and enjoy! Makes 3-4 dozen.

These cookies got two thumbs up from the hubby and kiddos! My first GFCF Baking (from scratch) success!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Just in case you were looking for Bette's GF Flour Mix - here it is:

Bette Hagman's GF Flour Mix - suitable substitute for white flour
2 cups white rice flour
2/3 cup potato starch
1/3 cup tapioca starch
3 tsp xanthan gum

My Husband Rocks!

2009-01-16T20:32:00.003-07:00

My husband is so handy around the house. He is Mr. Fix-it... he fixes cars, bicycles, motorcycles, toys... he replaces sinks and installs garbage disposals & faucets... he replaces smoke detectors... he changes the oil in our cars & replaces the brakes... he has this innate sense of space that allows him to pack and organize stuff in a way that no one else could ever do! He saves us so much money... and he willingly helps out family and friends with their projects too! He is my hero!

Soapy Grapes

2009-01-12T20:01:00.003-07:00

My husband had taken the grapes off the vine and put "Fit" (produce soap) on them and left them to sit for a few minutes near the sink. My oldest son came up and grabbed a grape and started to take a bite out of it and to his dismay it was rather "soapy". We joked with him that he was washing his own mouth out with soap! I think next time the grape feels a little slippery, he will check first before putting it in his mouth!

My ADHD Toolbox

2009-01-11T20:42:00.020-07:00

Our Journey with ADHD has been a long and challenging road. Once we got over the denial that it was actually ADHD, I began a search for something, anything, that could help my son. Anyone who has traveled down this road knows the heartaches and hopelessness that often is so overwhelming that you just want to throw your hands in the air and scream "I GIVE UP!" But you can't give up, because it is your sweet little child who desparately needs your help and you find a way to go on.

There is lots of information out there but I didn't find a good place that consolidated all the different resources and things that should be considered when embarking on this journey. In my ADHD Support Group we talk alot about using the tools in our toolbox - because it doesn't always work for all kids, and sometimes requires a combination of things in order to help a child. The best thing you can do is equip yourself properly and gather all possible tools so that when needed you can pull them out of your toolbox and use them as they fit the situation. The following is the beginning of "My ADHD Toolbox" - a list of things that I wish someone had given me at the beginning. The list may seem long and a little overwhelming, but I have tried to put the basic information first, so start with the first few resources and then come back for more later. Feel free to add anything in the comments that has helped you that I might not have listed!

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor or any type of trained professional, just a concerned parent that is willing to go to the ends of the earth to help my son. There is a wealth of information out there and this is by no means a complete list. This is merely a collection of resources that I have found on my journey in the hopes that it may help another parent on their journey.

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CHADD - Children and Adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
CHADD is a national US based non-profit organization providing education, advocacy and support for individuals with AD/HD. In addition to their informative Web site, CHADD also publishes a variety of printed materials to keep members and professionals current on research advances, medications and treatments affecting individuals with AD/HD. These materials include Attention! magazine, the CHADD Information and Resource Guide to AD/HD, News From CHADD, a free electronically mailed current events newsletter, as well as other publications of specific interest to educators, professionals and parents.
http://www.chadd.org/

There is alot of great information under the link "Understanding ADHD" and I used the "Finding Support" link to find a local gal who does Parent to Parent classes who has also started a support group that I attend monthly.
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Support Groups - find one or create your own!
If you live in Colorado Springs, we are meeting once a month at Penrose Hospital Main and we would love to have you join us! Send me an email and I will give you more details - csadhdsupportgroup@gmail.com. Ours is coordinated by Jane Anderson who is a Parent-to-Parent Teacher trained by CHADD. They are a good source when looking for a support group. You can also check with some of the local church organizations, they may have their own support groups.

It has been helpful, encouraging, and so validating to have some other mom's who understand exactly what we are going through and they always have suggestions or recommendations that have helped. They have been there, done that, and it is so refreshing to talk to someone who understands! You have to take care of yourself and this is one outlet I highly recommend!
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Books - There are so many, how do I chose one to start with?
When my son was diagnosed by the Psychologist with ADHD, he recommended the following book and said it was written by a couple of guys who have ADHD themselves:
- Driven to Distraction by Edward Hallowell
It was a great book to start with and really helped me to understand more about ADHD and how to begin to help my son.

After that I have gone on to read the following books:
- Delivered from Distraction by Edward Hallowell
- Answers to Distraction by Edward Hallowell
- Healing ADD by Daniel Amen
- Dyslexia and ADHD - The Miracle Cure by Wynford Dore
- Boys & Girls Learn Differently by Michael Gurian

BOOKS TO BE READ LIST:
- Meeting the Challenge by Jim Fay & Foster Cline
- The Out-of-Sync Child by Carol Stock Kranowitz
- Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Coleman
- Why ADHD Doesn't Mean Disaster by Dennis Swanberg
- Getting to YES by Roger Fisher
- The Gift of ADHD by Lara Honos-Webb
- The Gift of ADHD Activity Book by Lara Honos-Webb

I am currently reading the latest book by Edward Hallowell called "Superparenting for ADD" since I have become very clearly aware that parenting strategies that one would use with normal kids go completely out the window when dealing with a kid with ADHD. Trust me, I have read so many parenting books and articles and tried them all... with very little or no success! Their minds just think differently, and thus parenting should be adjusted accordingly.
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Psychiatrists, Psychologists & Therapists... Oh My!
We started out seeing a Psychiatrist and he is the doctor who has prescribed the medications we are currently using with our son. He was recommended by friends and our Pediatrician and has alot of experience working with children and ADHD. He has helped us navigate the way with Medications. Although I would prefer that we did not have to use medications, it was necessary in order to help my son come back to a neutral state so that we could begin to teach him some coping skills.

We used a Psychologist (recommended by the Psychiatrist) to do the evalutation and IQ testing to determine if our son had any learning disabilities and better understand his educational needs. We determined that he was a very bright child, on the verge of genius but his common sense scores were low - which makes sense because it was those logical, common sense situations at school and home that cause the biggest frustrations and meltdowns for him!

We also took our son to a Child Therapist weekly for awhile to help him work through some things and help us get an idea of how he was doing emotionally. She would do sand play with him and be able to share insights on how he was feeling or how he was dealing with issues at school.

How do I find someone?
Talk to your friends and family members.
Ask your pediatrician who they recommend.
Contact your Mental Health Insurance Company and get a list of providers on your plan, then call and interview them and ask them questions to make sure they will be a good fit.
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IDEA(IEP)/504 - What are they and do I need them?
CHADD has a good website that explains the differences and provides information to help you determine if this is needed for your child.
http://www.help4adhd.org/en/education/rights/WWK4

Each child is different and may or may not qualify for either an IEP or 504 plan, but you should read and know your rights so that you can have this as part of your toolbox when dealing with the school systems.
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Anxiety & Depression - similar symptoms to ADHD
I know personally that when I am anxious about something, I have a hard time focusing - say you are late for an important appointment and you can't find your keys - they could be right in front of you but because you are anxious, you can't focus well enough to locate them!

Many times Anxiety and Depression can accompany ADHD or exhibit ADHD like symptoms so it is important to be informed and not make this determination on your own. You should consult with a trained professional or psychiatrist to properly diagnose your child.

Here are some links to some sites that explain Anxiety and Depression as it applies to children of different ages. As you can see, a good number of the symptoms are similar to those of ADHD:
http://www.keepkidshealthy.com/welcome/conditions/Anxiety_Disorders.html
http://www.keepkidshealthy.com/welcome/conditions/depression.html

My son has both Anxiety and ADHD but we have worked closely with our Psychiatrist and tried treating both of them separately to see if one issue was causing the other issue. We determined that just treating one or the other was not a complete solution, but this was not something we could have determined on our own.
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Sensory Integration Issues & Occupational Therapy (OT)
If a child has ADHD symptoms, his nervous system may have additional issues with sensory integration. A child with sensory-integration issues finds it difficult to process or deal with external stimuli, as does a child with attention deficits. Sensory integration issues often manifest as tantrums over socks that don't 'fit', shirts with collars or tags, a desire to wear sweats, meltdowns in active environments, auditory defensiveness in regard to noisyenvironments, etc. To learn more about children who have issues with both ADHD and sensory integration, I highly recommend "The Out of Sync Child", by Carol Kranowitz.
Excerpt taken from URL:
http://www.learningabledkids.com/learning_disability_LD/ADD_ADHD.htm
Note: This book is also on my list of books to read.

Here is another link that talks more about Sensory Integration Issues with definitions:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sensory_Integration_Dysfunction

I looked for local centers who provide Occupational Therapy and found the Child Development Center in Colorado Springs. They evaluated my son and we have now begun weekly OT appointments to help him with fine motor skills issues related to writing. We go once a week for 30 minutes and my son gets to have some fun, while working on his skills. Here is the link for the Child Development Center:
http://www.cdcpedsrehab.com/
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Therapeutic Listening
Therapeutic Listening is a structured program of listening to specially designed music that is individually selected for each client by a trained therapist. It is a helpful therapy for those with sensory processing disorders such as autism or attention deficit disorders (ADD or ADHD), and those suffering the effects of fetal alcohol syndrome.

Following is a link to a handout we received from the Child Development Center in Colorado Springs with information on Therapeutic Listening:
http://www.sensationalkidsot.com.au/downloads/VitalLinksParentInfo.pdf

We purchased the Sennheiser HD500A Headphones from Vital Sounds (vitalsounds.com) and we just started our Listening Program this week.
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Brain Integration
My mom stumbled upon this while researching treatment options for my son. Based on the research I have done and what I understand about our brains, it makes alot of sense.
http://www.crossinology.com/index.html

I located a gal locally in Colorado Springs who offers this Brain Integration and we had it done with my son. It took 24 hours and we have seen improvements in several areas. He finally started riding his bike after years of being too scared to ride. His reading has improved and he actually enjoys reading now. Here is her website:
http://www.amazingbrain.net/index.htm
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Biofeedback
I first heard about biofeedback in one of Hallowell's books. I kind of stumbled upon this when I was looking for a therapist who specializes in ADHD to help with the treatement for my son. I had called my Mental Health Insurance Company and they gave me a list of therapists and I found a therapist who also uses Biofeedback. Here is a link to her page with some basic information:
http://therapists.psychologytoday.com/rms/name/Lindsay_Wallace_Dougherty_LPC,BCIAC,NCC,LLC_Colorado+Springs_Colorado_55669

Biofeedback is helping my son to learn to self manage his emotions and we are also working on relaxation techniques. He is doing better and better each week with his emotions and meltdowns.
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Diet - does it really make a difference?
Recently my sister was diagnosed with allergies to gluten and casein and in my quest to find a good cookbook for her for Christmas, I stumbled upon the cookbook "The Kid-Friendly ADHD & Autism Cookbook" by Pamela Compart & Dana Laake. I bought it for myself and began to do some research. After reading alot online about it and reading the beginning part of the book, it all made sense. My children could have allergies to gluten and/or casein based on my genes and they have ADHD as well so I figured it couldn't hurt to give it a try! The week before Christmas Break we started on the gluten-free, casein-free diet. At first I didn't really notice a difference and there were days that seemed worse but it has slowly and consistently gotten better and better. We are seeing less meltdowns and behavior issues and both my boys are just in a better mood! We decided to do it as a family because it is not fair for one person to be able to eat cheese and the others not be able to. We are over 1 month GFCF and it is getting easier and easier to cook meals. It is a challenge to go out to eat because the kids see all the stuff on the menu they really would rather eat, but have to chose something else that is GFCF. Here are some resources that I have found helpful regarding the GFCF Diet:
http://www.gfcfdiet.com/
http://www.gfcfdiet.com/unacceptable.htm
http://www.talkaboutcuringautism.org/gfcf-diet/gfcf-in-10-weeks.htm
http://recipecircus.com/recipes/Writermom77/
http://www.generationrescue.org/resource/GF-CF-Diet-Intervention.htm
http://www.gfcfrecipes.com/

There are tons of blogs of people who are gluten-free and/or casein free, but here are a few of my favorites:
http://www.elanaspantry.com/
http://karinasrecipes.blogspot.com/2007/09/gfcf-goodness.html
http://blog.puttingyourkidsfirst.com/
http://myaspergersgirl.blogspot.com/

There are also 2 Yahoo Groups with some very knowledgeable parents who are always willing to help answer questions or provide recommendations based on their experiences:
- GFCFKids
- GFCFRecipes

I have the following cookbooks:
- The Kid-Friendly ADHD & Autism Cookbook by Pamela Compart & Dana Laake
- The Super Allergy Girl GF, CF, NF Allergy & Celiac Cookbook by Lisa Lundy
- Special Diets for Special Kids by Lisa Lewis
- Special Diets for Special Kids Two by Lisa Lewis
There are also alot of recipes online (some links above) and you can search for what you want to make with "GFCF" in the search string and you can normally find a suitable recipe with substitutions.

NEW BOOK - MUST HAVE!
The Autism & ADHD Diet by Barrie Silberberg
It is a very easy read and has everything you need to know or wanted to ask about starting the gluten-free, casein-free diet! Lots of resources, menu ideas, info on reading labels and so much more! I highly recommend this book if you are contemplating changing your child's diet.

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Supplements
Based on my research and information I have read in some of the books I mention above, there are theories that children with ADHD are deficient in several minerals like Omega3-6's, Zinc, Magnesium, etc. I have only begun to try and figure out this side of the treatment. I do give my son an over the counter Omega supplement and recently started a Children's Zinc Supplement. We also give him a good multi-vitamin.

I am hoping to find a local doctor who can help determine what supplements my son needs and the dosages required to help him.
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Writing
My son has struggle with writing since Kindergarten. He is a perfectionist and there were times when he would be rushed by his teacher and he began to equate rushed writing with bad writing. It got to the point where he wouldn't even start writing if he felt he didn't have enough time to do it right. Even in 2nd grade he is still reversing letters and numbers and it is as if the formation of the letters is not 100% automatic to him still - and thus it requires even more concentration to form them correctly, let alone remember what he was writing too! We had hime tested for Dyslexia but there are no signs at this point. He is beginning to recognize his reversed letters and correct them but still struggles with it on a regular basis. Many times I have to do the writing for him on his homework because he has just shutdown and can't do it anymore. We have been concerned because the further he goes in school, the more writing that will be required of him.

In one of the many books I read, it actually validated the fact that writing can be a common issue for kids with ADHD. They even had a formal name for it, but I cannot find the book and section in which it talked about this right now.
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Famous People with ADHD
There are many lists of famous people who have ADHD and have become highly successful people - sometimes it is helpful to let children know they are not alone and find someone on the list that they look up to or can set a good example for them. Many are not aware that Michael Phelps, the swimmer who set a new world record and won 8 gold medals in the 2008 Olympics has ADHD. My son thinks he is so cool and even dressed up like him for Halloween last year - not in his speedo, but the warmup suit he wears over his speedo! :)

Here are some of the lists... you might be suprised who you find!
http://adhdtexas.com/famouspeople.htm
http://add.about.com/od/famouspeoplewithadhd/a/famouspeople.htm
http://unboundpotentials.com/id111.html
Do your own search and see who else you can find!
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Think outside the box - use their interests to your advantage
It is no secret that my son loves dinosaurs. I think he would be perfectly happy to have a pet Tyranasarus Rex! Recently I have used this to my advantage in the mornings in getting him to decide on a breakfast - I have renamed normal breakfasts to involve these ancient creatures. For example, we have Velociraptor eggs with Ankylosaurus sausage scrambled together and Pteradactyl Juice! It makes a boring breakfast fun and interesting! Be creative and have fun with it...
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Take Care of Yourself!
As a loving parent, we often make sacrifices to help out our kids. You can't be the best parent you can be if you don't take the time to take care of yourself. Everyone deserves a break once in awhile. Find a hobby or just setup regular outings with your friends. Even if it is a couple of hours every week, you have to do something to de-stress and unwind so that you can be the best parent you can be for your child! Find a work-out buddy, take a yoga class, find a reading club, anything that gives you that well deserved break!

I have found that attending a weekly Bible Study is just what I need to have that break each week and take some time for me. My friends in my Bible Study group have been wonderful and so supportive of everything we have gone through. They also help celebrate the successes and make it all seem that much more bearable. I appreciate my Bible Study friends... more than they will ever know!
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I will continue to add to this list as I remember other things we have tried or find more information to share, so you might want to check back occassionally and see if there is anything new. I will try and post it at the bottom and label it with a date added so that it is easy for you to find. Good Luck on your journey and remember, YOU ARE NOT ALONE!

Updated 5-26-09 to add reference to new book "The Autism & ADHD Diet" by Barrie Silberberg under the Diet section.

White Chicken Chili

2009-01-05T22:00:00.005-07:00

Now that we have removed gluten and casein, I think we have found another allergy that Daniel has and we are eliminating things to see if tomatoes is really the cause of the slight rash he has on his chest and legs. It was cold on Sunday and I wanted to make a big pot of chili, but it has tomatoes... so I came up with a different kind of chili instead!

White Chicken Chili

4 chicken breasts, cooked and cubed
1 box chicken broth
2 cups water
3-4 potatoes, cut into small cubes
1 onion, diced
3 celery stalks, diced
1 green pepper, diced
1 can green chiles (optional)
Cilantro (optional)
2 cans White Beans

Season to taste with Garlic Salt, Onion Salt, Cumin, Pepper, etc.

Put all the ingredients in a big pot and simmer for approximately 30 minutes or until the potatoes are soft.

Serve with Chips, black olives, tofutti gfcf sour cream, hot sauce. Could even try some vegan gfcf cheese on it too!

I scream, you scream...

2009-01-01T19:35:00.005-07:00

We all scream for ICE CREAM!

I will say besides being completely overwhelmed at removing gluten and casein from my family's diet, I was really, really sad that included ice cream! I love ice cream, it is one of my favorite foods and luckily there is a company that makes a wonderful replacement called Coconut Bliss... The Mint Galactica is to die for! You can find them at Vitamin Cottage or Sammy's locally and they have quite a few different flavors... and all the ones I have tried have been excellent. Check them out: www.coconutbliss.com

They even say that coconut is good for you... http://www.coconutresearchcenter.org/

Coconut Bliss... How do I love thee? Let me count the ways!

Our Favorite Christmas Memories...

2008-12-31T16:14:00.011-07:00

My favorite christmas memory is
getting a new bike. It is the coolest
bike ever. It is blue and silver. My
new bike is a 26'' mountain bike.

BY: Daniel Peal

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Becky's Christmas Memories of years gone by...
- The new stereo that was in a big box under the tree... Dad said it was a new bowling ball for Mom... Good one Dad!
- Having both Grandmas at all our Christmas Celebrations when we were growing up... we were truly blessed! It's not the same with out you Grm P and Grm Mac! We miss you but we know that you are here in spirit.
- Who could forget Grandma Peterson's unique gifts (that she bought all year long, on clearance at Target!) That little fake bunny rabbit is still on my front porch!
- The family games played at Christmas Eve dinners with all the cousins... and the Groovy Grandmas!
- The first Christmas without Dave... while he was in Iraq and the dozen roses that were delivered.
- The first Christmas in our new house...
- The first Christmas away from home - when we traveled to Florida to be with Dave's Mom and she ended up in the hospital. It wasn't quite the same, but we had a great time at DisneyWorld!
- The look on the boys faces every year when they open their gifts from Santa... because if you don't believe, you don't receive!
- The love of our Magnificent God that he would send his only son to earth to save us all! We are so grateful for all His wonderful gifts... because they are the best gifts of all!

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Andrew's Favorite Christmas Memory is the family tradition of cutting down our own Christmas Tree in the forest. He loves to yell "TIMBER!"

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David's Favorite Christmas Memory...
Christmas in Florida @ Disney World and the tiny bubbles that flooded Main Street at night that gave an appearance of snowflakes falling on the Christmas Light Parade.

GFCF - what does that really mean?

2008-12-23T22:04:00.009-07:00

GFCF stands for Gluten-Free, Casein-Free. Most of you are saying, "Yeah but what does that stand for?" "What does it really mean?" Well gluten is found in just about everything - white/wheat bread and many places you wouldn't even think! Casein is the protein in milk - which is found in alot of food as well. This means no tortillas, bread, cookies, barley, rye, wheat... no milk, butter, yogurt, cheese or any food with milk ingredients. The laundry list of ingredients you need to watch out for is HUGE!

Recently my youngest sister was diagnosed with allergies to gluten and casein and it has been quite an adjustment for her. I drew her name for a Christmas present and so I set out to find her the best gluten-free casein-free cookbook to help make it easier on her. In my searching I stumbled upon something that sparked my interest... the title read:

"The Kid-Friendly ADHD & Autism Cookbook - The Ultimate Guide to the Gluten-Free, Casein-Free Diet"

Since my son had been diagnosed with ADHD and I was still searching for more answers, I started to do some research and found that there is a whole school of thought on food as medicine which can be traced back to Hippocrates! It has long been recognized that food can affect your health - for the good or bad. So, I forgot about my hunt for a cookbook for my sister and order it for me! (Don't worry, I did find her something else for Christmas!)

The cookbook was so much more than a cookbook, it is written by a pediatrician and nurse and they explained how they received very little training in medical school and if they hadn't seen the results with their own eyes by parents who tried the special diets, they wouldn't believe it was true. They go on to explain why it makes sense and thus the decision was made to give it a try... and I was completely overwhelmed... to the point of tears.

My sister helped get me some recipes to get started and told me to just start cleaning out the pantry/fridge and take it one step at a time. That was the easy part... the hard part is being prepared to make a healthy meal every night that my kids will eat. We decided to do this as a family, because we are all in it together! I have talked to the boys about how this could make a difference in their lives and they understand for the most part... until the craving for a quesadilla hits and they can't think of anything else to eat! Giving up the gluten is no big deal - there are so many suitable substitutes and so many fabulous mixes and recipes... the hard part is giving up the cheese!

We are gluten-free casein-free for 1.5 weeks now and I notice a difference in their behaviors, and so did my Mom. We are just going to stick with it for a few more weeks and then try introducing each on separately to see if there are any behavioral sensitivities.

I have learned that this would not be an "allergy" like you would think of a normal allergy, because those types of allergies have immediate responses and can be measured by the tested performed by a standard allergist. This is more of a "sensitivity" which causes problems 1-3 days after it is eaten, making it next to impossible to narrow down the problem! There are tests that can be done to determine if you have a sensitivity but they are not covered by insurance and honestly, just doing a trial removal diet is the best way to determine if there is a sensitivity to a food.

I have found several great blogs on gluten-free casein-free diet with tons of recipes and mothers just like me who are looking for answers to help their children with all kinds of issues from ADHD, to Aspergers, to Autism. The Lord just continues to bring the right resources into our lives as we need them and we continue to be grateful for his guidance and blessings.

Now it is Life with boys... gluten-free and casein-free... oh my!

Nothing to do...

2008-12-22T21:24:00.003-07:00

Remember when you were in school and you always looked forward to Christmas Break with tons of anticipation... little did we know what our parents were thinking at the time. Now that I am a parent of two boys, I don't look forward to it with quite the same anticipation... It is only Monday of the first week and I can't tell you how many times I have heard "I'm bored, there's nothing to do!" already. I can give them a list of 50 activities but somehow there is still "NOTHING TO DO!" Nothing to do that is, unless you count annoying your brother... I think that was the most popular activity of the day. If I had a dollar for every time I said "Please don't argue with your brother", I would be on my way to being a millionaire! Oh the joy of Life with Boys!

Now I look forward to the day when they go back to school - Jan 5th, 2009! I love my kids, I just love them even more when they are at school.

Daniel's Baptism

2008-12-20T20:55:00.008-07:00

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Daniel Peal - age 10
My life before Jesus was very hard and I had no hope. The way Jesus came into my life is that at AWANA, my leader asked if I had accepted Jesus and that night I accepted Him into my heart. Now I have so much hope and it's easier to live. I wish to be baptized becuase I want everyone to know that I have accepted Jesus.

What a special thing to witness, your first born being baptized. Words cannot explain the feelings... tears of joy... a true gift from God.

Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
Mark 16:16

The blessing... in disguise

2008-12-12T09:13:00.008-07:00

The dictionary defines a 'blessing' as:
- a special favor, mercy, or benefit: the blessings of liberty
- a favor or gift bestowed by God, thereby bringing happiness

It all started a couple years ago... my youngest son was in half-day Kindergarten and was having some problems at school. The teacher would say, "He is always up walking around and touching things he shouldn't be touching." That should have been our first clue, but he is a boy and school is not conducive to the real needs for movement that most boys have. He was also having outright meltdowns over writing, which were further complicated by a perfectionism trait in our wonderful son.

After what seemed like endless obstacles and conflicting information at every turn, we finally ended up with a diagnosis of ADHD. I won't go into all the struggles, but I will say that I would not wish it on my worst enemy! I can't imagine how many other parents are going through the same exact struggles, not sure who to believe, not sure where to get help, ready to pull their last hair out! I truly believe that everything happens for a reason and if my struggles can help any other parents out there, it has not been for nothing.

Once we had a diagnosis, I set out to educate myself and have now read over 6 books on ADHD... and the Lord is faithful and continues to bring the right people and resources into our lives at the right time. I am currently reading a book that is called "The Gift of ADHD" and it is helping me to re-frame my thinking about ADHD. It is a "a favor or gift bestowed by God, thereby bringing happiness" - my son is very creative, extremely smart, and has an unusual intuition. I just have to change my thinking and help him embrace his wonderful strengths and differences!

The Lord has given my comfort in this verse...
I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me. -Philippians 4:13