More GFCF cooking

This weekend was a big cooking weekend.  I would like to plan maybe 1 weekend a month to really spend time in the kitchen and cook up a bunch of food for the freezer.  This makes it easy for everyone in our household, staff included, to grab something quickly out of the fridge or freezer for Aohdan.  It also makes it possible for me to stay OUT of the kitchen during the week so I can concentrate on other things. 

So far this weekend we have made...

2 dozen homemade 'Reese's cups'

3 pounds of chicken tenders

16 homemade pizzas, this is the dough during the 'rising' process

The assembly line..

I didn't get pictures of everything, but here's the tally of food made.

*3lbs chicken tenders
*3 dozen pancakes
*1 dozen reese's cups
*10 quarts pasta sauce
*7 quarts canned tomatoes (and 2 more bushels left to can!)
*16 homemade pizzas

Sunday Dinner...our way

I thought some of you might find it interesting to see what goes into a home-cooked meal at our house.  Although it may look like a lot of work, it's really not that bad once you get used to it.  Having a family meal after church on Sunday is a tradition at our house.  And we usually go to Bob Evans, but sometimes I like to just stay home and relax.  So today I decided to make Spaghetti with meat sauce and garlic-y bread sticks.

This is what went into making it. 

First, I picked some tomatoes from my garden.  The picture below is a combination of my tomatoes and the ones I picked up in amish country.  There is about 1/2 bushel in this picture.  They were grown in organic soil with no pesticides, etc. 

Then I boiled them, peeled them, and began the long simmering process.  All of this was completed last night.  At least the boiling and peeling.  I let them simmer on low all night and then finished letting it cook down today after church.

Next, I browned deer hamburger.  Go head, get all your "Eeewwwws!" out.  A lot of people don't like deer burger but there are a couple things to keep in mind. 

1st:  Deer is naturally hormone-free, antibiotic-free, and they only eat good greens

2nd:  It is verrry low in fat.  It would be the equivilent to buying the 96/4 lean hamburger in the store.

3rd:  And it does taste good, so get over yourself and try it!

As far as the pasta I chose, I have tried different brands and to be honest most gluten-free does not have a great texture.  And I'm a big texture person.  This is my fav brand and as you can see it is free of all the most common food allergens..AND it is delicious with a great texture!

Next for the bread sticks I used a bag of Bob's gluten-free pizza dough mix.  One pizza mix made MORE than enough bread sticks for all 5 of us!  The cool thing is, since I am doing weight watchers, I calculated out the points values and, as long as I stay away from all the cheese, 3 breadsticks were only 5 points-yippee!!  So I made 2 pans with cheese and 2 pans without cheese.  They were delish!!

This is what they looked like before they went into the oven...

And this is what the finished product (with cheese) looked like...

Needless to say we all ate and enjoyed ourselves immensely!  The cool thing about today's meal was the dent on my wallet.  Eating healthy can be expensive, but here's the breakdown on today's meal.

Tomatoes = free from my own garden
Deer burger = ummm, yeah that was free.  Kenny shot a deer on the last day of hunting season out the back door of our house!  Lol!
Breadsticks = $4.69 for (1) Bob's pizza crust mix
Cheese = $2 and it was amish country made from raw milk!
Pasta = $3.69

Grand total for a great homemade meal for 5?  a little over $10=')

Oh and the best part is we had (5) gladware containers of the sauce leftover for the freezer.  And each container is enough for one dinner.  Very cool huh?

So the last picture, check out my homemade canned goods=')  I have 20quarts of organic canned tomatoes in the basement, and I'm getting ready to can probably 40 more.  It cost me $28 for 2 heaping bushels of tomatoes from amish country, which will yield 40 quarts.  This is MORE than enough to last an entire year and can be made into homemade pasta sauce, and a slew of other great recipes.  Tomatoes are so healthy too!

Aren't they pretty?

I'm just so tired...

I've always considered myself a pretty healthy person, but it seems over the past few years my system is less resilient than it once was.  I know that stress can weaken a person's system and allow things to happen.  I just feel sometimes like I can't quite catch my breath enough to stop and really take care of ME.  Ahhh...  And in this case it happens to be mental stress and worry.  After Aohdan's diagnosis I started to feel overwhelmed with all the things that needed done for him, school, possibly transporting him to Dublin every day, cooking all his food.  And sure enough, on Wednesday of this week I got sick.  Like laying around on the couch all day sick.  Then today I'm sitting at my brother's office and started feeling clammy and shaky like low blood sugar type symptoms.  And it didn't really go away until I got outside and walked around in the fresh air.  I HATE HATE HATE feeling unhealthy, like my system is weak.

I broke down crying earlier this week when I felt myself getting sick, I told Kenny "I cannot afford to get sick!  This family needs a healthy mom!"  He just looked at me and shook his head and asssured me that it was 'okay' if I got sick.  In my own little perfect world, I would like to only handle one bad thing at a time.  Can I order that up God?  Ahhh...I really miss my mom.  It just seems like everything hits at once ya know?  I get done with school, and then we're hit with Aohdan's diagnosis, medicaid trying to cut corners, and then my body decides to protest.  RRRrrrr!!!  Ok did I mention I need a beach?  On top of all this, I've been desparately trying to lose 30lbs.  I gained 30 lbs with Ava's pregnancy, then lost it, then gained it all back again.  Really?  And I have definitely figured out that stress does not have a good effect on my eating habits OR my ability to lose weight.  Besides WANTING to lose weight, it does not help any health issues I have right now.  Oh, did I mention I was diagnosed with GERD last week too? 

So I really need to catch a break.  I need to be healthy, I WANT to be healthy, to have the strength to fight the battles ahead with my kids and life in general.  I feel like these last few years have really aged me.  I used to take more pride in my appearance, now sometimes I got out in public in outfits that would make a teenager cringe.  Sometimes I feel like I run so much that there is no time for doing my hair, or shaving, or make-up,,what is that?  I remember one day last week I out on lip gloss, mascara, and actually combed my hair.  Our nurse looks at me and goes, "Awwww you look sooo pretty!"  It's because I NEVER get dolled up anymore!  By the way if whining bothers you, you should probably visit another blog.  Cuz I'm in a whining kinda mood tonight.  I feel fat, tired, old, and I wish I had healthy kids.  Ok pity party over...lol.

Lord please send some favor my way.  Show me what to do.  I pray Your hand guide me in all things.  Thank you Lord. 

Filling out enrollment paperwork today, hoping for an open spot!

I'm heading up to Haugland's today to fill out an enrollment application.  I was told there were little to no spots available in the kindergarten class.  They explained that they will do what they can to get him in but that he may have to go on a waiting list. 

Worst case scenario we will have to go ahead and enroll him in our local school district and wait for a spot to open up at Haugland's.  Praying that we do not have to put him in regular school, but if we do then so be it I guess. 

So we're leaving out here in a bit, wish us luck!

Another quick GFCF update

For the past week or so Aohdan has had more 'depth' of conversation than he ever has, but he has also had more intense meltdowns.  All of this I was told could be expected during the early days of the GFCF diet.  So I guess you could say there's been more 'good' AND more 'bad.'  In the car business I was always used to using the term the 'J curve.'  Basically it means it's gonna get worse before it gets better, that's just how it goes.  So in the midst of his angry spells and mouthiness, I am starting to see the 'fog' lift a bit.  It's still very early in the game though.

A day in the life of a GFCF (Gluten Free Casein Free) Mommy

Well it's been a pretty crazy week, but today was a good day.  Felt like I got quite a bit accomplished.  I called Haugland's and set up an appointment to visit, and I'm also taking Aohdan this Thursday to fill out an enrollment application.  They will do a screen to see what grade level he tests out of and see if there is a spot for him in the school.  I am soooo excited! 
So I mentioned the other day that we were approved for the Generation Rescue Family Grant.  To qualify for the grant we are required to adhere to a strict gluten-free casein-free diet during the 90-day grant period.  For those of you who do not know what the GFCF diet is, here's a crash course.  'Gluten' is found in wheat products, and 'casein' is a protein found in dairy products.  Up to this point we were [sort of] following the GFCF diet, with the exception of raw dairy products.  To qualify for the grant we will have to be strictly casein free-no dairy at all-for the 90 day grant period.
Which leads me to tonight's blog title.
Aohdan currently has a very narrow food range.  He only wants chicken nuggets, pizza, french fries, reese's cups, and applesauce.  Oh and PB&J=)  So wanting him to still be able to enjoy his favorite foods, I've had to make-from-scratch pizza, chicken nuggets, reese's cups, and bread for PB&J's.  This has been no small feat as EVERYTHING seems to have wheat and dairy in it!  The reese's cups [for example] I had to seek out special chocolate chips that have no dairy and still taste good!  The brand?  Enjoy Life Foods makes a delicious chocolate chip that tastes JUST like the real thing.  So just to allow my son the enjoyment of the occasional reese's cup, here's the recipe:

(1) Jar Smucker's Natural Creamy Peanut Butter
1/2 Cup Powdered Sugar
(1) Bag Enjoy Life Chocolate Chips
1/2 Bar Bakers Wax
12 Large Cupcake Cups

Mix PB and Sugar until well blended, set aside
Melt Chocolate Chips and Wax together over a double boiler set up

Spoon 2 Tbsp melted chocolate into each paper cupcake cup
Spoon 1 Heaping Tbsp PB mixture on top
Press down until flat
Spoon 2 more Tbsp melted chocolate on top
Allow to cool and
Voila!
12 Large 'Reese's Cups'
These freeze very well:)

So this is just one example.  I want Aohdan to be able to enjoy eating out with us, and he likes to order the kids pizza and fries when he visits the local Denny's with his PaPa.  So I've learned to sneak one of his GFCF pizzas in a lunch box to the server.  The staff has been wonderful about working with us.  They throw my homemade pizza in the oven or microwave, and bring it out on a plate with fries so he still gets to enjoy eating out.  The funny thing is he knows it's my pizza, but he still enjoys it anyway.  So about twice a month (or more) I have a cooking party where I make-from-scratch chicken nuggets, pancakes, reese's cups, pizza, oh and I did I mention ice cream?  Home made ice cream is Delish!  Though I need to find a good recipe that uses coconut or almond milk...

So going GFCF is no small feat.  But it is WORTH it for my baby!  One of our nurse's who has an autistic son went GFCF over a year ago, and I remember thinking that she was a little over-the-top about it all.  But you know what, now I get it!  I don't believe the GFCF diet is a cure all, but definitely a piece of the puzzle I feel.  I am anxious and excited to begin the journey of biomedical intervention.  And I am verrrry curious to see what the lab results will say is in Aohdan's system.  I will be posting about all of it.  I believe it is an important journey to share.




 

2011 River Car Rally Video

We Got Approved for the Generation Rescue Grant!

The day after Aohdan got his autism diagnosis I applied for the Family Grant from Generation Rescue.  I applied on 8/17 and today I got an email that WE WERE APPROVED!  I am SOOOO excited!  This is a big deal because it pays for us to take Aohdan to a DAN! Dr.  DAN! Dr's do tons of testing for heavy metals and other toxins and work with the parents to create a treatment plan catered to your child.  A typical pediatrician won't even test for heavy metals...because mainstream medicine doesn't believe that autism can be anything but a neurological disorder.

The fact is that most autistic kids that are actually tested end up having heavy metal toxicity, yeast overgrowth, and leaky gut syndrome.  Ugghh... 

I am just soooo grateful to get approved for this grant, because Kenny and I DO NOT have the money to pay for a DAN! Dr.  Insurance does not pay for it because it is outside of mainstream protocol, and the average first visit is $575, and the lab testing can run in the neighborhood of $700-$1200.  So believe me when I tell you I am beyond elated to get approved for this grant! 

Feels like I'm getting sick

It seems like the last couple times I've been through a stressful time in life I've ended up getting sick.  It seems it may be happening again, but this time it's a little different.  For the past several months I've had the feeling of thickness in my throat, and have to keepo clearing it.  It started out mild, but the last week it's really kicked up a few notches.  I actually drove myself to the hospital yesterday and the ER doc told me she things I have esophageal reflux.  Prescribed me reflux meds, then told me to go see ENT.  Ahhh...  I am so sick of Dr's, really I am.

If you're reading this I would appreciate sending some prayer my way.  I need all the energy I can get for the months to come.

Small apology

I want to apologize if anyone is offended as some of my posts I have a few harsh words.  But I feel I need to be real and not sugar coat my emotions.  I love the Lord Jesus with all my heart and he knows I'm hurting right now.  He knows what's in my heart.  No sense trying to be all soft and proper on the outside when that's not how I'm feeling inside.  My mom used to always tell me, "Let it out," so that's what I'm doin. 

Vicki 

Reality sets in, now decisions to ponder

So.  Now that we have an official diagnosis there are some upsides to this.  Aohdan now qualifies for 'The Autism Scholarship' which entitles him to $20,000/year towards anything he needs basically.  This can be therapies, special school, anything to help him really.  I don't think it pays for any specialty Dr's, but it does pay for lots of other stuff.  I have also applied to receive the family grant from Generation Rescue, which is the foundation started by Jenny McCarthy.  The grant will help us pay for special Dr's for Aohdan.  The frustrating thing is that autism is STILL considered a behavioral disorder and not a physical disorder.  Even though it's been shown over and over that autistic kids almost always have major gut problems that affect their whole system.

So one of the really tough things I am struggling with is figuring out how Aohdan learns, what is his learning style?  I was looking over his testing results last night, and it made me really down.  His IQ scores were below the 5th percentile.  Which anyone who knows him, knows that he is smart.  He comes up with some really deep questions and comments at times.  But everytime they have tested him he fails miserably.  So then I am left feeling more kicked around, like we have somehow failed him.  The Dr kept trying to get Kenny and I to go to a parenting class, and was talking about teaching him at home.  Blah blah blah blah.  Really buddy?  So the reason I mentioned the IQ thing is because I am seriously considering sending him to a special school for the first few years to see if we can figure out how he learns best so he can learn to flourish instead of always feeling panicked.  The thought of sending him to a mainstream school is absolutely terrifying.  I know I have to step back and allow him to experience to 'real world' but this is a little different.  He doesn't see the world like we do, in fact I don't know how he sees the world, but I want to figure that out...

When a Dr gives you a bunch of paperwork and tells you to contact your county mrdd...it is a kick in the gut.  I actually felt nauseous.  But as I was so kindly reminded by my friend Theresa this morning, I know those results don't give an accurate picture of Aohdan.  I know he's smart, but he does not know how to show that when they do these stupid intelligence tests.  Listening to the cocky bastard sitting across from me tell me that the Stanford Binet is the "Gold standard" for IQ testing.  This is same man who sat across from me and told me that the Gluten-free Casein-free diet is 'folk medicine; and that parents who "think they see results are really just seeing a placebo effect."  I just wanted to yank his dumb a--- across that desk and shove all the documentation in his face proving that most autistic children benefit from the diet, not all granted, but most.  I felt my blood start to boil when he started knocking biomedical, but I kept my cool.  What an idiot...  I was actually talking to him in my head, it just didn't come out of my mouth, lol.  My thoughts would have sounded something like, "Just give me the paperwork you cocky bastard.  And take your prideful know-it-all-attitude and shove it where the son don't shine.  I shall make you eat your words.

But is it hard, so so hard, to hear someone tell you these things.  I started to feel those old feelings of being overwhelmed creeping up on me last night.  It was like deja vu, back to when Ava was born.  Here I was feeling like I am starting this special needs journey all over again.  I am looking at my already-packed planner and trying to figure out time to sit down and fill out a gazillion online forms, visit the school and make decisions about that, make more GFCF goodies for the freezer, oh and buy him more clothes for school and supplies I'm sure.  Wait, I almost forgot, I still have to study and take my state boards for nursing this month.  Ahhh, someone please, Calgon, anyway, take me away.  I need a beach, and sand, and wine, lots of it, lololol. 

But seriously everyone, just keep praying for us.  I know God is there walking us through this, but I gotta have the occasional pity party!

Love you all and thank you for reading my updates! 

One more thing...

I just want to add that this will be an adjustment for all of us.  But I want to ask everyone to please remember that Aohdan is, well, still just Aohdan.  He is the same funny, witty, loving boy, now he just has a diagnosis of autism.  I just wanted to add that...

Aohdan has officially been diagnosed as Autistic

It is sort of surreal to be typing this post.  Our focus for most of the past 3 years has been Ava.  I never imagined in a million years that I would have to one day say that my little girl has CP and my son is Autistic.  I've been mentally preparing for this diagnosis of Aohdan's for quite some time.  Something in me just knew there was something a-miss. 

My first memory of something being wrong was when Aohdan was about 18 months.  He only had about 5-10 words, mama, dada, papa, bye-bye, etc,etc.  Also I noticed that he didn'y play with his toys like other kids.  His big cars he would flip over and spin the wheels.  He would sit and watch the washing machine spin.  And he would open and close doors constantly, open-close-open-close-open-close, and watch the hinges while he was doing it.

At the time this was going on I was about 6 1/2 months pregnant with Ava, but I remember picking up Jenny McCarthy's book about her son Evan.  It was brand new on the shelves at the time.  And I remember Kenny asking why I bought a book about an Autistic child.  I couldn't explain why, except that I had read her other books on pregnancy and thought she was hilarious.  So I read this book, and had my first "Ah hah" moment about the doors, and the spinning objects.  I remember the next Sunday at church I literally BAWLED the entire service.  Like snotty, sobbing, swollen eyes bawling.  Kenny knew I was upset about thinking Aohdan might be Autistic, but honestly I think he figured the pregnancy hormones were getting the better of me as well.

Shortly after Aohdan turned 2 in November 2007, his language took off.  He went from barely speaking to speaking in fuill sentances.  So I was like, "Phew" guess he's not autistic!  Then as you all know our world was rocked beyond belief in December 2007 with Ava's traumatic birth.  2008 really was a big blur.  Ava spent all year in and out of children's hospital, we lost our house, life was pretty messy.  And honestly as long as Aohdan was eating and not sick, we couldn't focus on more than his basic needs. 

So shortly after we moved to Ashley in early 2009, and life settled down a bit, I finally was able to put more focus on Aohdan.  I noticed more quirky behaviors.  But there was always someone there to say, "Oh that's just a boy thing," or, "that's how all of the boys in our family behaved," or "he'll grow out of it let him be a kid."  All in all it took me going to FOUR specialists to finally get him, and us, the help he needs by finally getting a diagnosis.  The Dr who finally saw it explained that his autism is unique because he DOES have a lot of language, but doesn't always understand things... if that makes sense.  He DOES pick up on emotion, something most autistic kiddos don't, but he does not know how to act around peers his own age.  He stated that he felt his autism,  called PDD-NOS by the medical world, was likely reversable with intervention. 

So thank God for friends around me who have already experienced this that can help, and the knowledge I've required through my own research.  But this was a hard, hard pill to swallow.  I remember when Aohdan was 3 and I really started to suspect he was on the spectrum, I remember talking to God saying, "Please God, not Aohdan.  Please just let me enjoy ONE healthy child that doesn't have a medical diagnosis, that doesn't need to see a bunch of Dr's.  But that is not that hand we were dealt.  And who am I to question the God who got us through SO MUCH in 2008, and still is.  I know He has our situation under control, and I am prepared to battle this thing called autism.  We have already made radical changes to Aohdan's diet, and have already witnessed some great improvements.

But I guess what I really need is just to say a little prayer for our family.  It IS hard, I won't lie.  I know there will be good and bad days, and there will be days Kenny and I will need some encouragement.  I just pray for strength to keep pressing on. 

MMMmmm Buckeye!!

So uhhh Mom...which ones are mine? Hands down a family favorite at the Ballengers.

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Tomorrow we FINALLY find out

 

There is a LOT of history to this post.  Too much to go into right now.  But Kenny and I have been suspicious for quite some time that Aohdan has been battling something...something that we have not been able to put our fingers on.  He is a wonderfully bright, funny, loving little boy.  But he struggles.  He struggles with conversation.  He does not seem to quite 'fit in' with kids his age.  As a mom it is as if there is some kind of block.  So I'll go more in detail about this topic at a later time.  When I actually have time to sort out my thoughts more.  But please keep Aohdan in your prayers as we struggle to figure out how to help him with his language, communication, and social skills.