My sweet sensitive boy...

We have really been looking into Jack's issues a little more now that he is a bit older. We have had concerns since he was born, but most times voicing our concerns led to doctors just saying to wait because things could change. Things have changed...some things are just a tad bit better and some things are worse. His newest things are taking his clothes off (a lot), gagging himself, throwing himself into people, hitting and throwing himself down on the ground a lot. We had an appointment with a neurologist who basically felt the "big picture was a boy with Autism" and gave us some recommendations on where to take him to be tested. This past week the school did a sensory profile on him. To no ones surprise, he has some sensory dysfunction. I am glad that this has been found so we can help him. The occupational therapist was extremely impressed with the fact that his emotional/social scores were normal. She says usually when you have behavorial dysfunction due to sensory processing you have emotional/social issues as well. She said that is a huge indication of how we handle things at home with him. I said....that's no surprise...he's normal and I'm the one with the emotional/social disorder..ha ha. Anybody that has children with special needs knows how HARD and EXHAUSTING it can be at times. I am very glad that we are recognizing his sensory needs before it does become more emotional/social issues. Jack has proprioceptive sensory disorder so it makes him EXTREMELY active. He throws himself and runs into people trying to gain some input. His brain does not regulate senses properly. He seeks to fix what he does not feel right within him. After a nice long conference with the team which included occupational therapist, social worker, speech therapist and his teacher we are going to try working on fixing his sensory needs....I suppose putting him on a sensory diet. He will require certain techniques or playing throughout the day to help regulate his brain. The trick will be trying to find what sensory input will help not make him more hyper or upset. I feel so overwhelmed by all the information. I can't imagine being able to do everything that is required to help Jack. I keep thinking that when he gets to heaven...none of this will matter....he will be perfect. Earth is so temporary....our bodies are temporary. It still hurts though. I'm not gonna lie. I have a hard time finding my energy in God when I have no brain to seek God in the first place. Does that make sense? I feel God all around me during the day. Sometimes he seems to be just like the dishes that sit in the sink...waiting to be washed. He is on my to do list. I know that, that is not how it should be. I'm just exisiting at times...breathing. I sometimes find myself saying...Lord, I'm just breathing, just breathing. I need more than just breathing. Sigh...I'm done venting. I just thought I would catch up on Jack. My littlest one is now climbed up on the chair and is batting around the lamp. My little family circus....

Facebook

There are reasons why I love Facebook. I love the pages I have joined to see shopping deals or the blogs that update through Facebook. There are the few close friends I have that I can chat with about recipes or what's the latest crazy things our kids did. I love being able to share in their joys and sorrows. I also love being able to converse with people I went to high school or church with.

But.......

Does anyone else feel like Facebook makes them into an evil thoughts monster at times? There are times that I have to take a step back and just separate from it. I find I don't like the person I become when I'm using it. The times when I realize I need a break are when I find myself thinking very negatively in regards to the "friends" I have on Facebook. I also hate how people just think they can write whatever. I feel like I have nothing together when I'm seeing status' about how some are able to handle one million things and I can't handle ONE thing. Oh and there is always feeling ignored by certain people....ever feel like that? I start thinking...this is ridiculous that I am letting these lies fill my head.

This is when it's time for a Facebook break! Kind of a reset from my ungodly thinking.

Anyone else need to take occasional breaks from Facebook?

I Don't Have To Be Strong Enough

I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength....I don't have to be strong enough....

Spreading Some Pumpkin Love

I roasted a pumpkin in my crockpot this week after following The Happy Housewife's directions here.

Pumpkin is soooo good for you and very much a part of Fall. I went around the web looking for some good recipes to incorporate into this Falls menu planning.

Sweet:
Pumpkin Pancakes
Baked Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal
Spiced Pumpkin Waffles
Down East Maine Pumpkin Bread
Starbucks Pumpkin Scones
Pumpkin Bread Pudding
Pumpkin Pie Crunch

Savory:
Penne-Wise Pumpkin Pasta
Pumpkin Stew
Smoky Braised Mexican Pumpkin
Curried Pumpkin Soup
Creamy Pumpkin Pasta

Beverages:
Pumpkin Spice Latte
Pumpkin Pie Smoothie

Treat for our four-legged friends:
Pumpkin Dog Biscuits

Hmmmm, maybe next up should be apple recipes...another favorite of mine.

This has been linked up with Grocery Cart Challenge Recipe Swap HERE

Friday Photo Flashback

Posting this picture seems appropriate after the nice conversation I had with my brother last night. I've been finding it difficult to feel normal lately with the issues we have been dealing with in regards to Jack and his special needs. Sometimes I feel like if I avoid family/friend situations all together it's easier because Jack doesn't always make group situations comfortable. I spilled my guts about how I feel to my brother and he made me feel like everything would be okay. Sometimes you just need to know that everything will be okay! You need to know that you and your situation are accepted exactly the way they are. Thanks Nick!

Testing

Sigh...I know just enough computer stuff to make me a danger to myself ;) I decided to change my web address to Stumbling Along Faithfully versus what it is now. It obviously fits my title better. I did that without thinking about what that would do to my feed. I read about how doing that would basically make me lost to anyone who had befriended me in the past (of course I read this AFTER I did the deed). Anyway, I put my blog address back to the normal address and I'm not sure if everything is okay. Those of you who have me added and see me come up in your feeds....could you let me know that you can see this??

Wordless Wednesday & Outdoor Wednesday

October Already

We had a crazy summer. We had started on changes with our diet and to be honest, I could not keep up with it. Not to mention, I got super tired of eating mostly meat. I got to the point if I looked at another chicken breast I might get sick. Our diet is not kinda in the middle between whatever we want and meats and veggies only. I do try to stay away from high fructose corn syrup, white sugar and flour in my cooking. We are all a lot happier with the balance we have found.

Different changes came our way with the start of September. The eldest went off to college up north.

Anderson decided that he wanted to try school (versus homeschool). He is attending a local charter school and is very much enjoying himself. I am very pleased with the school.

Jack is back to school and is doing great. He receives speech therapy as well as other therapies to deal with the issues he has.

Oliver loves having his mornings free of everyone else to enjoy time with Mommy.

I've taken up a new hobby of making candles. You can find my Etsy shop HERE.

 

Whew, that was a lot and still not everything ;) Bill and I have resolved to get back on Weight Watchers so I hope to start posting recipes that we try soon.

June 2011 Pics

Life

We have been busy. Oliver and Courtney just had their birthday. Oliver turned 1 and Court turned 20. It sure is crazy how time passes. Having one that turned 20 in the blink of an eye sure puts things into perspective when thinking about the 1 year old. It just goes by toooo fast! Jack will be 3 coming up in August. That is totally amazing to me too. He still is having some difficulties which is my primary reason for not being able to blog as much. Actually...him combined with having an even littler one is why I don't find the time as often. I sure would like to be better about it. I have so much to tell. Ever since Jack was little, he has seemed a bit spectrumish and yet we don't have a diagnosis of Autism. It has been a hard road the past couple years trying to figure out how to help him. He started with the Early Development group through our school system and it just really was a playgroup but it did give him some speech therapy. He just seemed to be having a lot of fun :D. Anyway, he did that for a while and when he turned 2 1/2, they suggested he start going to the classroom and taking a bus. I was mortified!!! My little guy on a bus...my little guy who cannot talk!!! How will he tell me that they were speeding or that they were mean to him...ha ha. Anyway, he went on the bus a couple times, but we just decided driving him would be easier considering we felt very pushed for time in getting him out to the bus on time. He does not like being pushed. Things went so-so with the class. No real big improvements. Only going twice a week I knew would not bring about huge changes. He had definite behavior issues. Would get frustrated easily (I don't blame him...I mean he cannot express how he is feeling verbally). We tried sign language and we tried to use a picture exchange system, but he just really did not seem interested. On top of that, his stomach issues which he has had since he was a baby were getting super worse. I tried gluten free and it just really did not make a difference and I really felt like there had to be more to help him. I have researched like crazy to try to help him. About a year ago I came across the GAPS diet which at the time I was overwhelmed by even the thought of implementing. Anyone who knows anything about it knows what I am talking about. I just had to do something for him though. We threw out all processed food, all flour, sugar, any types of boxed sides, cereals, pretty much everything that was not meat, fruit or veggies. We decided as a family we were ALL going to do this. It's been hard. My dear friend just said to me today that it is kinda like saying goodbye to the american dream...you know the dream that has kids drinking slurpees on a hot day and laughing. Those crazy rushed days where happy meals are brought home to cheering kids. I miss those things!! Not to mention being chained to my kitchen cause you have to cook everything. We decided to start out on the Specific Carbohydrate Diet as I really believed that would be an easier start for Jack. It is kinda like a previous version of the GAPS diet. The GAPS is the new and improved diet. So, what do we eat now? Honestly, it has taken many different forms. Basically, we are a no grains, milk, sugar, processed food kinda family. We love our good fats like butter and coconut oil, grass fed meat, fermented cod liver oil and I bake with coconut flour and almond flour. The diets (or way of life) that would explain more about this way of eating are the GAPS, Specific Carbohydrate Diet, Paleo, Primal or Makers Diets. Jack is on more a GAPS regimen. The baby is not given any grains either...he is our primal baby :D My oldest son follows it pretty faithfully and he actually had the worst die off of anybody. Within a day of starting the diet, he had a high fever and the following day threw up, but then was a new boy the following day. I noticed he is a lot more with it mentally and his allergy shiners...you know the bags and dark circles under the eyes, are considerable improved. He has always had serious issues with constipation and heartburn and he has said how he has had NONE of those issues. The BIGGEST BIGGEST BIGGEST thing is Jack started talking...and A LOT...within a week, he was saying things he had not said. His demeanor changed (he still has his moments). I had a lot less temper tantrums. He went from pointing to what he wanted or pulling our hands to get us to what he wanted to actually talking. He is not saying sentences yet, but he definitely is able to let us know what is going on and what he needs better. He still has horrible issues with his receptive language skills, meaning he does not understand any directives...like, don't do that, bring that to me, DON'T RUN INTO THE STREET! That really makes it difficult because he is as active (even more so) than any other almost three year old, but is not safe if left alone. My husband and I are exhausted. He works so hard and comes home to help with the little ones. We balance pretty well, but we are definately running on "E"! I wonder what the future holds for our family and Jack especially, but I have not sat and pondered it for long because there is no time to sit...ha ha. I hope to turn this blog into a place where people who are dealing with the same issues can come and feel supported. I will be posting blogs that I love to visit and that give me encouragement. I hope to pass on the information that God has brought to my attention. Stay tuned...more to come!

Remodeling Life and Blog (more to come)

Excuse the dust while I remodel. A lot of changes going on in my family and changes are coming to this blog as well. Stay tuned!!

Picture Updates

The Blizzard of 2011...Fun with Dad



Indy LOVES the snow.



Making a snow fort (covering my picnic table in snow)



Hard to believe we got Indy a year ago. He is the best dog.



My sis with her daughter. She was born on the COLDEST day of January and warmed everyone's hearts.







We are in love!!





Court with flowers from a secret admirer ;)



A few pics of my boys.






Brothers


These two share a birthday, 19 years apart!! Ollie sure loves his sister.





Oliver is getting bigger. 6 months old here.






Jack with one of his favorite toys.



My sis, pregnant with her first. At this point, we did not know what she was having. She was almost ready to deliver here.



My brother with Ollie. He rarely gets to visit and was able to make it into town for Christmas with his family.



My gorgeous daughter.



Courtney and Oliver



WHEW....that was quite the post. Thanks for sticking with it :) Hopefully everyone feels updated. Let's hope I get with it and post more frequently so as to avoid bombarding you all with so many pictures.

Thanks for visiting...