My family has been dealing with a very stressful and very overwhelming realization that our son Marek is most likely Autistic with also a sensory processing disorder. I have putting off blogging about it because i was trying to take everything in and understand what actually is happening to my precious baby boy. If you have been reading my blog for awhile then you know he has always lagged behind his siblings at any milestone that wasn't physically related. He barely talks, he barely non verbally communicates. He has no imaginative play. He flaps his arms and has other "stims" that a typical toddler doesn't have. He walks on his tip toes more than most, and has bowel issues that all relate to a child with autism.
We are going to help him anyway that we can. He has started personal one on one speech therapy twice a month, as well as behavior therapy twice a month. I have applied to the Child Study Center of Fort Worth in hopes of him getting into a special class for autism children that could be very beneficial to him. He hasn't actually been officially diagnosed, but all the therapists agree with my assessment. It's definitely a hard pill to swallow when your worst fears are confirmed. I was hoping that maybe he was just quiet, reserved, a loner, but i now know there is more. My next step after lining up all his therapies, and having the pediatrician refer me to the Child Study Center was to change Marek's diet. After googling like crazy and reading books that parents have written about their children, i have found that many parents have "recovered" or lessened the effects of autism through a strict gluten free, casein free diet. That basically means no wheat, barley, or rye (gluten)
and no dairy or dairy products (casein). Unfortunately for him, its all the good stuff that kids love. He has been on it for about two weeks, and i find that i am still making mistakes. It is hard to find just the right foods that he can eat, as well as that tastes good. The more i research, the more i learn, so i am perfecting his diet daily. Initially i planned on keeping the triplets diet separate. It is very expensive to try to do a gluten free-casein free diet (GFCF). I was going to let Adalynn and Landon keeping eating and drinking regular foods and milk, but i found that it was too hard to watch Marek constantly. If he grabs a chip or cookie he isn't supposed to have or drinks whole milk from a sippy when I'm not looking, it defeats the whole point of the strict diet.
With that i have decided to just change everyones diet at all meals. When i can isolate Landon or Addy from Marek, and can watch them eat, then they can have have dairy or wheat. For example, Landon and Addy are using a fork and spoon now. I can put regular oatmeal and yogurt in a bowl for them. Marek has no interest in using utensils, nor does he attempt to grab from their bowls, so he can have his gluten free pancakes while they have oatmeal for breakfast.
My cousin has a very allergic child who is gluten free and thankfully he pointed me to already kid tested tasteful gluten foods. That has definitely saved us the hassle and money trying various different kinds. I also have a friend who loves cooking, and with her research and mine we have found great options for the kids. This weekend we are going to try and prepare meals to freeze for next week.
In the long run we are going to spend a lot more than the average parent to groceries, but if it helps Marek in any way it will be worth all the money and the fuss. This diet doesn't work for every child of autism, but since being put on the diet i already see subtle changes. Marek has better eye contact, and he jabbers more. He says "mama" more. and a few days ago he grabbed my face with both hands
and gave me a kiss. That might seem simple to most parents, but to me it meant everything.
Marek used to give kisses all the time when asked. For the last several months he has turned his head away from kisses and stopped giving kisses altogether.
I don't know what caused this to happen to Marek. It could have been his vaccines like a lot of parents suspect. It could be that his is a triplet baby born prematurely through an emergency cesarean, who spent two months in the NICU. Maybe it's genetic from somewhere in my husbands family. We will probably never know. Honestly it doesn't matter since it won't change it.
That is where my hard work and tenacity is going to make a difference. If i have to work more hours to pay for therapies, if i have to actually learn how to cook and organically prepare my own meals then i will do whatever it takes.
My babies are my everything. Period.
These photos i tookout in the backyard a few days ago. Its the start of my favorite time of year- Fall!
Happy Fall Y'all
