sbgrace
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Posts posted by sbgrace
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I have twin boys but one is a full size smaller than the other. He always gets his brother's hand me downs. I buy clothes that stand up to roughness well (some old navy particularly do well here and are cheap on sale to boot). My boys are very different in looks (blond/blue eyes w/light skin and brown hair/hazel eyes w/darker skin). So they look nicer in different colors (they could care, but I do care a little). For that reason I always buy their own "nice" clothes. So the smaller kiddo gets his brother's hand me downs for play clothes and he inherits his brother's nice clothes too. He gets his own nice clothes as well. Most of our clothes budget is play clothes though. They each have about four nice shirts and two or three pairs of dress pants (the pants are hand me downs). He gets his own underwear just because. Jammies rarely hold up long enough from one kid to the next so he usually starts out with his brothers but eventually he gets new jammies too.
FWIW, I've got two friends with older boys who pass down clothing to us. So smaller kiddo is often on the third wearing of clothes by the time he gets them. The right stuff seems to hold up well really. I pass the stuff down to my sister or friend from there if it's in good enough condition. Usually by that time it's things I've purchased though.
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I've got this six year old who seems to be an "aha" can't tell you how he got the answer and didn't take any steps of understanding to get there learner. He's constantly in his imagination. He's creative. He's extremely emotionally sensitive and is intuitive and tuned into others. He's certainly not organized or methodical. He is always into pictures in books rather than the words it seems but he picks out details in pictures rather than the whole. On the other hand, he's very verbal--telling me "stories" he's got going in his head all the time, asking tons of questions, etc. He's not interested in nor especially good with puzzles or mazes or building models or similar. He had very significant visual processing (tracking, convergence) issues that resolved with therapy. He's improved but I don't think visual processing is ever going to be his strong suit. He's right handed.
I'm struggling with him with phonics. He's never been great with rhyming either. Even though we're doing phonics I find him picking out words he recognizes more than trying to sound out things.
Does he sound like a visual-spatial/right brained learner or a kiddo with learning issues or someone who just needs time?
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We live a half mile from a very active dirt race track w/out engine noise restrictions (yuck..should be against the law anywhere imo). It's extremely loud in season, which is most the year, Friday and Saturday nights. We purchased white noise machines for every bedroom. You can still hear it but it muffles the sound enough that it doesn't disturb sleep. Your brain focuses on the constant of the white noise.
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We did vision therapy. You might call the office two hours away and see if they can work with you (you doing a lot at home and maybe going once a month). Something has to be better than nothing. I feel all my son's progress happened at home during our assigned practice.
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My son started formal phonics about a little over a month ago when he turned six. My big fear is I will fail to teach my kids to read so this is stressing me out!
Prior to formal instruction he taught himself to sound out simple (cat) words I suppose via Leapfrog videos and things like that. I've realized since starting with him he thinks in segmented rather than blended sounds. C (pause) a (pause) t, cat. This has obviously been fine for him so far with the limited words he was reading. But I can't seem to get him to do long blending and this is a problem for words like "feels" and anything more complicated than cat or hat really. He says f (pause) ee (pause) l (pause) s (pause) and this is a problem in putting many words together. I've been trying to get him to think ffffffeeeeelllllssss and this is what Headsprout does. He does the long sounds when imitating Headsprout but on his own he reverts back to the pausing and it's just not working for him.
What can I do? No amount of working on this seems to stick so far.
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I started at age 6 for anything formal. My kids learned a lot through natural curiousity/questions they asked/exposure prior to that. They watched leap frog for letter sounds, we did bible stories and crafts, etc. But we didn't start anything I'd consider actual educational curriculum regularly until six.
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Zyrtec messes up my son (emotionally). He does fine with Claritan.
There are other options too (nasal steroid sprays, singlulair, etc.) if other OTC antihistamines won't work for you.
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This post is very timely for me. We just found out that our 5.5 year old DD is alergic to Eggs, Milk, and Wheat. (as well as a few other things) I am just in the information gathering stage of how to eliminate these foods from our diets. I figure if she has to go without then so do I.
I am wondering what people do when they live 45 miles from the closest big city (and by big I mean 100K). There really isn't a lot of choices for us. Does anyone know of any blogs or books that help with eleminating ALL 3 of these things from our diets?
I don't want to hijack your thread, I'm guessing you could use the information as well. I wish you luck, it seems like it's going to be a difficult road (at least for us)
Thanks,
Dawn
Dawn,
We live over an hour away from any place that carries gluten free staples. While you wait to figure things out just think naturally gluten free (baked chicken, side of potato or rice, side of veggie, fruit). My son developed some nut allergies that preclude even stuff available an hour away (or more). So we order basically everything online now. I wish I had discovered that years ago! No travel/hassle and it's almost always cheaper too.
Gluten free Goddess website has a lot of free information including recipes and baking hints. Many are also egg and dairy free. If you google gfcf you'll find a lot of information too often geared toward the autism community (so kid friendly). We've been egg free as well all along. I'm sure it changes the taste but unless a recipe is founded on egg most times you can easily do an egg sub if a recipe calls for egg.
Tinkyada rice pasta is fabulous. Most stores that carry gluten free carry it but you can easily purchase it directly (we do that now). It's wonderful and would be safe for your daughter's allergies.
Your biggest struggle with her is going to be adequate protein likely as most kids get it from dairy and/or egg. Will she eat meat? I'd be weary of soy unless she's regularly consuming it already as many with other allergies (you've got three top eight) are also going to be at risk of developing a soy allergy. Be cautious. Most gluten free stuff has heavy nut or sesame cross contamination. That's not an issue for celiac types usually but for kids who are on wheat free diets for allergy issues may be at risk with those nuts (it's how my son developed nut allergies).
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Magnatiles, legos, regular blocks, and toy cars and trains get the most consistent individual play here with both my (very different) boys. Once we were past the age of putting things in mouths they played a lot with beads too (they are people or ballast for train cars or etc.) They would play with those little counter bears a lot too w/their blocks.
One kids loves Rush Hour Jr. but his brother doesn't. Neither like pattern blocks. I think that type of thing likely varies by kid. I suppose all things do!
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My son is too young for communion but I've thought about this a lot (he has severe allergies). I think I would have his on it's own tray/plate personally if it's important to you that the minister pray over it. Otherwise, I plan to have my son carry his own rice wafer. I would not have it on the same tray with the others (cross contamination issues). Since it's such a tiny congregation, if gluten free is doctrine wise ok (I don't think it is for some) you might look into gluten free wafers for everyone. http://www.churchpartner.com/product/2088/gluten-free-communion-wafers/
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I put this in the other thread but I'd add a vitamin D3 supplement to everyone's diet. That's easy and healthy D levels will greatly reduce the illness levels. I believe there are drops by Carlson if the kids won't take powder or swallow pills that people have great luck with. Kids over one year of age can take up to 2000 IU per day indefinitely. Adults can take up to 9,000 IU per day indefinitely. I found 5,000 IU pills of D3 at either CVS or walmart that my husband and I take. We do 10,000 IU each day for 5 days, one pill on the 6th day, and nothing on the seventh. We average around 9,000 IU per day that way without much trouble at all.
Ideally, you figure out Vitamin D levels (25 OH D) and dose based on that. But short of that dose in those ranges. A rule of thumb is 1000 IU per 25 pounds to maintain current vitamin D levels. Most people are deficient and need way more than that to get to a good level. Given the illness you've had I would imagine you guys, like most of us, are in the deficient category. Either way the above are safe doses.
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I, too, think handling all that illness and trying to go to school/not fall behind would have been worse. At least you can go from where they are when everyone is healthy. They would be incredibly behind if they had been that ill during a school year in public school and catching up in that system is nearly impossible.
It does seem like an open and go curriculum would be the best option along with focusing on the most important things. I like Headsprout too and that wouldn't require much out of you. It can't hurt and might help a lot.
Beyond that I don't know the back story but if all those special needs kids are the same parents (vs. adopted) I'd think there is an underlying issue? Do immune system things go with that underlying whatever? My son with mitochondrial condition struggles with his immune system and we've had an incredibly rough year too with both kids (and myself). :grouphug: We're doing a lot to boost immune systems here (starting with adequate vitamin D and aggressive supplementing of D3--2000 IU per day for kids over one and 9,000 IU per day for adults). My son is also taking epicore and colostrum to try to boost the immune system. But I think optimal (50 to 80, below 40 is suboptimal and 30 and below is very deficient) is the most important key to resistance with those types of bugs.
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Florastor or s. boulardi. Florastor contains lactose but it would be my choice if dairy weren't an issue. Klaire labs makes an allergen free s. boulardi (which is the strain in florastor) that's good quality.
http://www.florastor.com/article8824.html?id=1139 Florastor is good with bacteria (even nasty ones like c. diff that only certain probiotics like florastor, culturelle, VSL3 can combat) but also superior to other probiotics with preventing yeast overgrowth. Because it's a beneficial yeast antibiotics can't kill it. This is different than any other probiotic out there. It increases gut/intestinal immune system (sIgA) components raising resistance to bugs there and overall immunity. It's also got tons of research to support it's potency, effectiveness, and safety. It's the number one used probiotic in the world.
The only downside to florastor is it doesn't colonize. It will die out in two or three days if you don't keep taking it. So if you're looking for something to take sporadically or for a little while and then stop I'd do Klaire labs Therbiotic Complete. http://www.klaire.com/V775-06_proddetail.htm We do both actually with the kids and my husband and I just do Klaire. Our doctor said Klaire is widely considered to be the top probiotic among doctors (he's an integrative med. MD/doesn't sell probiotics at all). I'd still have florastor in the house for emergency hospitalizations and the like.
Most important to me in whatever I select is that I'd want research based proof it survives digestion to populate the gut. Many don't. That's a waste of money no matter how inexpensive the probiotic.
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We love Apologetix here!
A couple of examples (videos people made but you can hear the music)
Bethlehem Rhapsody (Bohemian Rapsody parody)
Ba, We're Lambs (Barbara Ann parody)
What amazes me is how they can parody such a variety of music styles so well.
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Vent away. :grouphug:
I think corn is the single hardest allergy to avoid. My son's are pretty horrific too but I am so thankful he's not got corn and I'm really careful with his corn exposure for that reason.
These in everything allergies do get easier to handle (logistically and emotionally really) in time. His allergies do preclude eating out and all commercial crackers, breads save one not widely available, etc. If you can't find corn free you can make your own crackers very easily and with little time. They are easy.
If you find corn is as pervasive in commercial bread as my son's allergen is and you don't want to just bake your own all the time check into Berlin Street Bakery spelt. We order it online. I know it's the only sesame cross contamination free commercial bread and I have been told it's one of two soy free commercial breads. I would be shocked if they aren't corn free.
I think the hardest thing for you is going to be self care products (toothpaste, shampoo, etc.) if you're sensitive to contact. Many corn allergic people handle things ok unless they are ingesting them (watch supplements with vitamin c, citric acid, etc.).
:grouphug:
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Time helps it not feel so overwhelming and scary. :grouphug: Eat things you made for now so you know it's safe--baked potato w/butter, baked chicken, green beans--that sort of thing. When you get some time call companies to check for sunflower cross contamination via equipment or if it's contained in the product since it doesn't have to be labeled in things you eat.
It's going to be ok. You need the epis now and do some reading on the various signs of anaphylaxis. Education helps w/that overwhelmed terrified feeling at least in time. Quick points--don't hesitate to use the pen even if you're not sure/aren't "that bad" as it's waiting to use it that kills people. Any two symptoms and many allergists would say known exposure alone or with one symptom is an epi pen. Time matters. Also, if you do use the epi you call 911 and ride in the ambulance as they only buy time. You stay in the ER for 4 hours (even if they won't hold you, camp out in the waiting room) in case you have a biphasic reaction.
My son has only had one other anaphylactic reaction and it was nothing close to the severity of the first. Hopefully you'll never experience it again.
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My son is anaphylactic to tree nuts and sesame and he has other allergies and asthma as well. No one else (myself, my husband, his brother) have allergies. However, my father has anaphylactic allergies.
I think some likely causes of increases are:
1. We're a nation of vitamin D deficiency--from pregnancy on. Vitamin D plays a role in autoimmune reactions.
2. Some of it is our food supply. We're simply exposed to a larger range of allergenic foods much more frequently than we would have been in the past. I think it's likely a shock to anyone dealing with life threatening allergies to find how much those things are in our food supply. We are very limited because nuts and sesame are in almost everything. Corn and/or soy are in nearly everything in at least trace amounts. Worse, corn is largely genetically engineered so that we are exposed to exactly the same "genetic" corn each time. That's likely a coming disaster for those predisposed to allergies. Sesame is in all commercial wheat bread, all crackers, etc. Nuts contaminate oils and baked goods. In the past when we made everything from scratch we weren't exposed to these potent allergens every single day in our foods. We also prepared things (say soaked or fermented foods) in ways that probably made hard to digest things like wheat easier to digest. We've changed the way we eat.
3. Kids aren't dealing with infections like parasites like they did in the past. This is why allergies/asthma aren't issues in third world countries (and less, in my understanding, among farm kids as well). I think this, and not dusting, is the true germ theory. I'm not a stellar housekeeper. But my kids weren't/aren't in a life style that has a lot of parasitic exposure.
4. I'd imagine epigenetics may well have something to do with the increase. I believe we're finding that lifestyle choices actual change genetic code affecting future generations.
My kid was born reacting--literally from birth--to things. I know I was vitamin D deficient in pregnancy. But clearly there are genetic things at play. His twin has no allergies. They ate the same foods, lived in the same environment, etc.
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I think he's normal and I think it really varies.
I've got one barely six year old who does great and one who...doesn't! I really think it will come in time for the second. They are just such different kids.
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For the younger who is just beginning I really like RightStart.
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I'm in the same boat with my son. Children's Claritin redi-tabs don't have sucralose. They do have mannitol. You might see about zyrtec redi-tab type thing. I think (for an adult) zyrtec liquid capsules looked like a possibility (sorbitol though).
Vitamin C is a natural antihistamine though I don't think enough for seasonal allergies.
I tried Alergol with him and I need to be regular about using it but my inclination is it's just not going to be enough. You might see if it would do what you need though.
Last year I tried Nasalcrom and it did help but not enough.
Butterbur can reduce allergies in my understanding. I decided I was comfortable with that for kids.
I didn't find any help w/the local honey and after I did research I don't think most will though I know people swear by it.
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Look into Jambalaya. Our recipe is in a cookbook so I can't share it but there are tons of rice Jambalaya recipes on line. We make ours with chicken sausage, peppers, garlic, etc. and it's a one dish meal really.
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We've only needed the ER twice. Both times I knew. I really thinks it's instinct really that the child is in danger or needs hospitalized. In one case I waited too long before taking him in but it was because I wasn't listening to my instincts. I knew something was seriously wrong hours before we actually went.
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We haven't used the microwave for food (or water boiling) in years. I do have a small one though for heating up my rice or buckwheat hot pads. I'd love to get rid of the microwave altogether but I can't think of another way to heat those efficiently.
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Can I ask a question? Do you know, is it good enough to have 'organ donor' on your licence? Does that give permission legally for them to use them? I have told dh that I want them to use any and every part of me possible and I would like to do what I can to make sure that happens.
The organ donation team (liasons in this case I think of some sort initially) were at the trauma ER when my sister arrived as my brother in law was life flighted several hours drive from their home. The organ donation people were contacted by the hospital because he had organ donation on his driver's license and this was a car accident. However, it was her decision to make. There was no pressure or pushing and in fact right up to the moment of the donation they were clear with her that she could back out of the decision. Based on our experience, I believe this is really up to the family no matter the wishes of the person. So you'd want to make sure that in addition to the driver's license family is clear about your wishes.
Thank you for recommending allergy testing!!
in General Education Discussion Board
Posted · Edited by sbgrace
It does get easier (nut anaphylaxis here). We have a no nuts policy in this house.
I wanted to add that you need to call companies when you can. They don't have to list if the product is produced on equipment with nuts, only if it contains nuts directly. Oils had a lot of contamination and so did a lot of my grains (but we're gluten free and that was a large part of it).