New Foods

So, we skipped church today because there was a pot luck afterwards, and I just wasn't ready to put Payton into the position where she was tempted by so many foods she could not have.  I could just see the meltdown happening.  Instead, I stayed home and tried several new recipes recommended by a friend.  One of them was for breakfast.  We tried sausage egg muffins, and they were great.  You can find the recipe at this link:  sausage egg muffins .  They are gluten free but not dairy free (cheese).  We use a cheese substitute or the cabot seriously sharp cheddar because it is naturally lactose free.  The next recipe I tried was black bean brownies.  I had heard great things about them but was still a bit skeptical.  They too were wonderful!  Payton thought they were great, and even Brad liked them.  He did ask me not to tell him what they were made of though!  The recipe for these brownies can be found at this link:  black bean brownies (gluten free).  I have really been enjoying these new recipes and am actually looking forward to trying new things!

New Doctor

So now that I have introduced you to our diet changes, I will introduce you to our new doctor experience.  Payton's therapist recommended that we see a pediatrician in Fredericksburg, Dr. Wells, who looks for the root cause of issues and uses a natural approach.  Let me say, I absolutely love our regular doctor but believe it was time to try something a little different.  We had our first appointment with Dr. Wells last week.  She spent a full 2 hours with us!  Amazing!  We started all the way back at day 1 and did a full history of symptoms and concerns.  Oh what I know now that I wish I knew then.  First, Payton most definitely has a casein (dairy) allergy.  If we had removed casein when she first showed symptoms at two months old, we could have avoided 9 years of gut issues, several years of ear infections and two surgeries for ear tubes.  We live and learn though.  I am not going to live in regret but am going to take all information and move forward.  Dr. Wells confirmed a number of things about the root causes for ADHD which confirmed the research I had already done.  We are doing a LOT of blood work to identify and rule out some possible issues related to ADHD and overall health.

Here is where we are starting with addressing her needs naturally:  homeopathic detox of liver and kidneys with homeopathic drops, probiotics for the gut, flaxseed, multi-vitamin and added fiber (once she starts drinking at least 24 ounces of water a day consistently).  Once we have her blood work back, we will see what other things may need to be addressed.

Starting the homeopathic drops has been a challenge this week.  Payton did not initially want to cooperate, but after explaining why they were important, she actually asked for the drops this morning.  Doing all of this is a challenge and very exhausting yet I know it is what is best for her right now. 

Getting Started with Diet Change

About a month ago, we began a gluten-free and dairy free eating plan to address intestinal issues for both Payton and I and behavioral (ADHD type) issues for Payton.  What a change!  Fortunately, we have received positive feedback from both friends and family related to behavior changes for Payton. 

We got started by using a book called The Kid-Friendly ADHD & Autism Cookbook by Pamela J. Compart, MD and Dana Laake, RDH, MS, LDN.  Thanks to Angela T. for the recommendation!  This book is great!  It gives you the background on the diet, why it works and how to do it along with GREAT recipes!  Every recipe we have tried has been a hit!

The challenging part has been trying to grocery shop for anything outside of ingredients for the recipes in the book.  Reading ingredients to ensure there is no gluten or casein can be time consuming so we have generally opted for all natural foods like fruits and vegetables for snacks.  We have been really excited to find products that are clearly labeled gluten and casein free!  Wegman's is especially helpful because all of the Wegman's brand products are clearly labeled.

Eating out or eating at someone else's house can be challenging.  Thankfully we have supportive family who try to accomodate by making sure gluten/dairy free options are available. 

I hope to use this blog to share our experience (the positive and negatives) to help and inform others.