Don’t you just love the originality of my titles? ;o)  I truly cannot think of anything witty or catchy it seems.  My brain just doesn’t go there!  Anyway…it seems that the changes that we’ve been making with our special needs child…eliminating sugar in her diet, digestive enzymes, Diflucan, have continued to prove to be positive!   It’s been much easier for me to tell what is going on with her as well.  Instead of everything being a jumbled up emotional mess.  Think about it, when you have a massive headache or the flu, and you’re still expected to function in life…how well does that go over???  That is exactly what our daughter has been trying to do for months and months…years now.  She still has her issues.  She’s nonverbal and she has a strong personality.  Put those two things together and you’ll get a child that will yell at times and do “naughty” things just to get mom’s attention.  Because in a house with 5 other chatty kids…it’s hard to get anyone’s attention unless you do something a tad bit drastic :)   Our daughter also has a hard time with her routine coming undone.  She loves our weekdays.  It’s more structured and she gets her schooling in.  Weekends are harder for her.  She very much needs reassurance that we love her and that we know she is there on the weekends.  When daddy is home…he is typically more a fly-by-the-seat-of-his-pants type of person.  Things can get challenging then.  Our daughter also has a hard time when company comes and her siblings hoard the attention.  We’re still learning how to handle this.  Feel free to share any of your kid challenges with me!  ;o)

Oh, but the good things!  Our days have been much more peaceful!  Our daughter hasn’t been as tired…not even wanting her afternoon quiet times.  That means mommy’s downtime consists of Cedarmont Kids music (not dvd’s…I won’t allow those during quiet time.)  It’s not too bad.  It’s fun seeing my daughter being able follow thru with simple commands when I am teaching her.  This is big for us.  Our daughter can touch her feet when I ask her to.  She’s been learning more about the concept of ‘self.’  She loves our hand mirror.  She likes to admire herself and touch her head when I ask her to.  Today she told herself, “hiiiiii!” in the mirror.  That is something she’s also been saying more.  I’m teaching our daughter the concepts of ‘tall’ and ‘small.’  Today, she lifted her arms up above her head for ‘tall.’  She’s been really stubborn about wanting to do this.  I think our daughter would do well now with trying a few communication devices.  Wow, when a person feels well, LIFE can begin to happen more!

So, I am currently reading a book on the stomach, enzymes,  and how it affects people with autism and neuroligical conditions.  I am LOVING it.  I am also wanting to read another book that looks at how enzymes impact the gut even more.  PLEASE keep praying for us!  It is God’s doing and wisdom  making this difference.  How I would love to be able to keep sharing with all of you about God’s goodness and answered prayer in our daughter’s life.

And not to leave out my other kids!  There are never, every any favorites in our family.  I’d love to post more about them.  But, when certain kids tend to have more issues…they tend to get talked about more.  You moms know exactly what I mean!  We have a birthday coming up at the end of this week.  We’re all excited!  I’ll post pictures of the cake and birthday girl.  Cannot believe my ‘Bug’ is going to be 3!