The week I met my son...

for the first time without being prescription medicated for his autism and ADHD. There's no doubt that he needed something to help him since he was 3 years old especially if he was going to enter into a scheduled life of learning in public schools. He couldn't control any of the unique and outlandish behaviors, nonstop talking, there's a leaf or squirrel attention span, and anxiety through the roof.

(Quick update for those following our journey in regards to his skull that started back in November; feel free to read here if you haven't before. We have approval for the neurosurgeon, we don't have insurance approval for the plastic surgeon...how is this? Don't ask me! The insurance says it's not medically necessary. I don't call people stupid...but this is the stupidest/dumbest thing I have ever heard. For goodness sake, he's got a hole in his skull with a major vessel exposed. Whatever! They have drained me but they will not get me to quit. I'm guessing it is because we've met our deductible and they will have to cover it all. We are still just tentatively going to have surgery on April 21st. It's been a long time for this momma to wait. I want this over for his sake because he's concerned, and rightfully so.)

He's always had a great personality, but just like the commercial of the girl interviewing for the job...you got to have more than that. His personality, heart, and smile has definitely proven to be contagious if you can get thru the annoyances and quirkiness. It's hard to understand how someone can look so "ok" and so not be. On top of these diagnosis' he has a incurable genetic disorder that was by spontaneous mutation called Neurofibromatosis. If one struggle wasn't enough, when you build these together it's utter chaos. It's not his fault. It's not my fault. It's the cards we're dealt, and the journey that has taught me more than I could ever imagine.

This journey has put me on a path of research, and boy did I hate research papers in school. It's also been years of trial and error, with us still learning about him and ourselves every single day. I'll say some of the greatest discoveries have came thru an accident so to speak, or just flat tripped over it while walking it out. I've never been more thankful for a journey...not thankful he has suffered with all that he has, but what we've all learned from it.

The reason I title this post the way I did is because I really have never had a full week without him living life without prescriptions. Since February 2016 we've been on a quest to remove as many prescriptions as possible due to the abundance of side effects. You take one thing for a symptom, then you take another for the side effect of the first, and then you domino effect into a crash of chaos...that even the dr's can't help with because they don't know. When you are on (at one time over 20 prescriptions when he was on chemo) multiple prescriptions, no one has done studies of what happens when you do a combination of meds. They don't know the side effects of such recipes. His liver, stomach, esophagus, sleep, skin, and behaviors were all affected greatly. The chemicals in these prescriptions on top of the mix of them...was destroying him. We are not against prescriptions...we are against the over prescribing practices and band-aiding a condition without looking for the root.

Busted!

This is what set me out on the quest of finding the alternative. We did that through a long tedious year with multiple times of wanting to just give up. Over the last year we have gotten rid of 11 prescriptions for asthma, EXTREME restless leg syndrome, allergies, nerve pain, etc leaving us with 3 total meds which are for helping with ADHD and Autism. ***It's spring break 2017***...he has be able to prescription free since last Friday am (now Thursday). We got clearance from our doctor to try a full week of no prescriptions...granted he cannot be without help because he still has ADHD, NF, RLS, and autism. These diagnosis' aren't just going away. We have changed his diet, added supplements like magnesium, exercise, joint compressions, massage with raindrop technique, and a whole bunch of love & patience...and Young Living Essential Oils!

(ohhh gosh is supplements a journey in itself because these too have a horrible to great benefits. If you get a hold of an all chemical, cheap brand of supplements you are swallowing "nothing", and they don't absorb properly, hardly have any "whatever it is you need" in it, your body can't metabolize the type it is, etc. Just because it says magnesium...what kind of magnesium is it, and where did it come from?).

I've been 7 years looking for the best bang for my buck when it comes to the oils. Here's our story on that...my Facebook post. So with great welling up in my eyes and crocodile tears flowing down my cheeks, my heart is wrenching in sadness it's taken this long...I've met my son finally at almost 12 years old. I am getting to experience the "real" him, embracing the joy & compassion in his heart, with excitement seeing his passions/desires, fully grasping his creative and intelligent mind because he's calm enough to express himself fully without the distractions of life, anxiety of the world, and a sensory overloaded atmosphere. I have been blessed with insight this week, and all is well with my soul. I just know he's struggled for almost 12 years living this life...and now I can see his truth. No, we won't get to stay on this regime until after school is out due to many things, but I am awaiting summer in hopes all these last prescriptions will go away. I have video documented and photographed his behaviors this week to present to the Dr...so now as spring break ends I know without a shadow of doubt that God's creation of plants, trees, etc were made for our use...and they have benefited us greatly. I've never met a more beautiful person than my son. Thank you God for helping us all through this far!!

I feel like Maury...and, that was a lie! (Part 1)

Sometimes I feel like I'm just one human and there's no way to research, obtain, memorize, and hold up to all that I need to for the sake of our son. He has so many diagnosis' (dx's); Neurofibromatosis (NF1), Autism, ADHD, Restless Leg Syndrome, Auditory Processing Disorder, Periodic Limb Movement Disorder, Mild Hearing Loss, Sensory Processing Disorder, Receptive and Expressive Language Disorder. He's on these medications as of right now (removed 3 RX's in the two months which was Zyrtec, Melatonin and Prilosec, but have been thru many more including chemo); Focalin (3 daily), Clonidine (4), Mirapex (1), Miralax (3), Gabapentin (1), Ambilify (1/2).

Are you tired yet? I am. But I got to tell you...I'm writing this so maybe just maybe one more family doesn't have to do this terrible journey we've been on. I'm hoping I'm able to shed some light or be the transmitter of a light bulb moment.

Without going thru each one of the dx's in this blog...uhm, ain't (I know it's not a word) nobody got time for that; I'm going to focus this part on our first new adventure in getting healthy. The diagnosis' we are starting with here is Restless Leg Syndrome and Periodic Limb Movement Disorder. The reason I'm starting here is because if a person cannot get good quality REM sleep; there is going to be problems with behaviors that can mimic ADHD, Autism, some call being a brat syndrome, whatever. None of it's pretty if one cannot sleep. Is the diagnosis correct?...you must question that. This is just one link/site of hundreds that are an awesome resource for information; I'm not promoting or discrediting the sites, fyi. I'm not on here to gain any money, approval, or anything of the sorts.

You must be the advocate for yourself and your family.

I'm not even going to go into the story from birth up until the diagnosis as that is another blog for another time. So at Koda's IEP in January this year, the teachers had noted the decrease in focus. I said, Ok...well, we've got to go to the sleep clinic in KC then. I had already learned that daytime behaviors can be a result of not getting proper sleep. (Now mind you I have read many comments about upset parents who say; my kid sleeps! Do they really, do you know for sure they are getting REM sleep, are they tossing allover the bed, are they complaining their legs hurt, are uncomfortable, snoring or something else? I just ask that you make sure...the only assured answer is through a sleep study) I also told them the medicine dr. would not increase or change any "adhd/autism" focus medications to help with focus until we do make sure that he's getting proper sleep. So because I already know this...I call to make the appointment.

In the mean time I found out some things about sugar, insulin, and the food industry which made me livid (see my previous post on my new finds here). Mama Bear kicked in and changed everything and Papa Bear proudly supports the new life. Also while waiting...I was finished at my temporary job the first of February; which gave me time to research even more. I may not have a paycheck physically coming in, but I'm saving $ with this new lifestyle and also our lives which is priceless.

Appointment time: I just plainly start off with school's concerns and the lack of sleep Koda had seemed to be getting (he was more restless again). I also shared my concern about how I also know now since Papa Bear was also diagnosed with RLS that the meds to treat it are the type you become addicted to and need more for them to work. Ughhh! I told the dr. I don't want to increase the dose, I want labs done to find deficiencies in vital nutrients. I knew Iron deficiency was one that could be the culprit of RLS. She was happy and agreed, as she didn't like the med but it was our only option at the time (uhm no! Now I know that labs are the first thing that should happen to find deficiencies)...now mind you Mirapex is not approved by the FDA for children (not that any of prescription shouldn't be questioned if it harms more than it helps) so she gladly was ready to help decrease Koda off that med then Gabapentin is next.

Her note was this...It's going to get worse before it gets better. :( The behaviors will increase. The leg pains, cramping, bugs running around will get worse. (So our 10 almost 11 year old gets to go through withdrawals like that of a drug/prescription addict). Momma Bear wants to clean him out, but must admit to the guilt that I feel for having allowed this to happen! He's been on medication since he was 3, it's time for us to get a baseline again.

So we go for labs...the results; Vitamin D deficient (most Americans are), Iron deficient, Calcium, Potassium, and.... I asked for a check on magnesium...guess what? She couldn't do that lab because there's not enough scientific evidence showing in the "medical files" that it has anything to do with sleep. Ok, here's where I grin because I know she only follows exact protocols within her practice. I shared with her that I had a link to "scientific notes" through the National Institute of Health. That got her attention and I got the labs for that too.

What I found on my own was amazing through this website about Magnesium that everyone needs to read. I love how in this journey one thing then leads to another discovery...so I found out that not only does Magnesium or the lack there of cause cramps, tremors, and constipation (each Koda has) it coincides with Calcium deficiency and that the muscles in our body releases that when squeezed. Well guess what? Koda begs for pressure especially at night...he wants squeezed. Hmmm, coincidence I think not; it's his body asking for calcium.

After researching these deficiencies of his...I found more information that just flat makes sense. It is clearly a lack of proper nutrition (and it's not because the boy doesn't eat or that he doesn't choose good foods; loves broccoli, greens, fruit, meat). His body can't absorb the nutrition properly when his gut and kidneys are damaged from the prescription drugs. So we are are on a journey to clean out the gut.  I so should've listened to our wholeness chiropractor back when he was 3; he diagnosed Koda with Leaky Gut. I believe him now. I started the healthy life back then but the lies of the world that we can trust our government, our food supply, our doctors, etc and in the moment was so much cheaper (lie...long term affects on health and lifestyle) to use prescriptions because wholeness chiropractors are not cheap and society said; this wholeness, holistic, organic, approach was "crazy extremists"...well if that's the case we're jumping on that band wagon. Call me CRAZY!

I feel like Maury...and, that was a lie! I just have repeatedly said that over and over since I decided to research and advocate for more than just IEP's, therapy, etc. We want to thrive not just survive. I know without a shadow of a doubt. With great sleep, a healthy gut, exercise, organic clean nutrition (be careful if you garden this year; make sure your seeds are organic as well), and supplements our bodies will heal themselves. We are fearfully and wonderfully made. :)

He will slowly go off the prescriptions as we add in all the vitamins, etc. Now I will say, I also have added in therapeutic essential oils into this because I've seen them work. My husband even has had great results. We are shopping for only the best of the brands of vitamins so we can get the best absorption rate; no preservatives, no gmo's, organic, clean vitamins. READ the ingredients and labels please!!! Iron must be given w/ Vitamin C (organic orange juice is what we decided) for it to absorb correctly. See it's not just as easy to go to Walmart and pick a vitamin. Dang I wouldn't buy a vitamin from Walmart...they are full of sugar (whole other issue) and other not very good things. You are lucky if you absorb 1% of those. Don't waste your money. Until next time...blessings to you.

Please comment here and let me know you're reading, share, and most of all I pray you take something beneficial away from our journey. Embrace some joy! Here's to your health! Hugs!!

~Yvonne

Do you ever wonder...

...how you have ended up where you are today; good or bad? I have numerous times. I honestly live with a lot of regret. I've made some very bad decisions in my life and am not proud of those at all. I can't change what has already happened, but only apologize to those I've hurt in the process.

With that said, something pretty powerful has happened to me within the last few weeks. The reason I  say this is because for once; I'm doing something great! This decision not only changes and helps me but it truly is nothing but positive for everyone around me. It started like this; I decided Rick and I would do something once a month on our "monthly" dates (now that we finally got someone we can trust to take care of our son while we're out) that we've never done before. Trying something new and step out of our comfort zones, so the first date was a hypnosis clinic (don't judge as I'm being authentic in my sharing and don't want this word become a stumbling block in your walk with Christ if that's the case. Questions in regards to Christians and Hypnosis: please read). I won't go into detail about this because that has nothing to do with this post.

I came out of this date a changed person. My thinking of food...is forever changed. Sugar and flour are "Death Dust" to me and there's a big red flashing X internally when I see them. After this I think it was only a day or two later that we watched "Fed Up" on Netflix. I don't think this was a coincidence by any means but only another confirmation to the choice life we were about to take as a family. What we did next was...cleaned out the kitchen of most all labeled foods; yes, the 10 different bottles of salad dressing, canned foods, bags of whatever, boxes of prepared stuff, and all processed meats.

We headed to a local farmer whom has grass-fed beef, poultry, lamb, etc and interviewed their process. We agreed with their way of farming and raising their livestock. This is the only type of meat we will eat. So, going out to eat will be very limited if ever because it's so hard to find clean food out there. Along with the meat, we're buying only organic whole foods until we can get our own garden growing.

The next confirmation comes when our multiply diagnosed and complex son went through some new issues that threw up yet another flashing red "X" in my gut. The chemicals being pushed into his system by all the pharmaceuticals he has to take to function...what the heck am I doing to our son? I couldn't add to the long list of wrongs I have done in my life, so this has to stop. He doesn't have the choice to take them or not; he's been on medication since he was 3 years old and he's 10 now. He's been through one year of chemo as well as all the other drugs that go with that. These episodes put gasoline to the small fire within me that had been wondering how to get him off some of this stuff.

Many nights have been up researching, contemplating, praying, and bouts of crying when I found things I feel I should've already known. So, we first start in regards to him; with the med that isn't approved for kids...yeah, I know you're probably thinking why I would ever give my kid that. Here's why...If a child literally cannot sleep or get "REM" (good) sleep...there's going to be behaviors and a lower executive function. If there's a lower cognitive function & daytime behaviors..then he can't go to school and learn. Without going into that whole story; I'll leave it right there. If you'd like to know more about sleep and daytime behaviors please feel free to leave a comment, and I'll be in touch with you.

Here's another reason why...I trusted his doctors. She was upfront with us about him being on this medication and how she didn't like it one bit, but was the only thing that was going to help since his symptoms were so severe. She did forget to tell me though as time went on he'd need increased doses to keep having relief; well we're to that point now. He starting to tell us of the night time complications and school is reporting daytime focus decreasing. So, this is where we start. We go to see her; she's excited we want him off. We discuss something that I forgot about in the first meetings of this med or she thinks we discussed...vitamin deficiencies. Iron is a big player in this night time issue he has. Due to the chronic and severe cases of constipation we've dealt with over the years; Iron couldn't be given. So she orders some lab work; I ask for a full panel of deficiencies...she agrees. Guess what he not only is severely deficient in iron, he is in others as well.

Is your pain due to vitamin deficiencies?

Back to the research...I go looking into how the body can heal itself if it has the right "atmosphere" in which to do that. All the while; I have been using essential oils for diffusing mostly all these years. The reason I bring this up is that during these last few weeks we got pretty sick at our house; I made up a concoction; and within 24 hours we were better...normally we would've been down 3 days plus. We did not take any OTC meds or go to the doctor, but we did put some high dose probiotics into our system as well. Then my husband gets one of his terrible; put him out of order, gas knots as he calls it. Again I make a concoction, and within 30 mins he's feeling great. :)

Gut health...it all starts there. We're starting there, getting a nutritionist involved, and going to heal from the gut out. I found there are superfoods that will aid in the blood flow so our son doesn't have to take aspirin everyday, and we're adding in other foods/juices for his constipation (I'm assuming most of that is medicine induced constipation to begin with), supplements, and essential oils. We've cut down to using kids plates w/ dividers so we have portion control. We're trying new foods that we've never ate before; for me in particular would be kefir, butternut squash, and lentils. We've replaced pasta for spaghetti squash. All sugar has been removed from our diet except for those foods that are naturally and organically sweetened like fruit.

Guess what...we don't crave sweets! I really don't crave anything and we're hitting only about 4 weeks into this. I don't know if you ever wonder how you got to be where you're at today, but it's always by our choice and ignorance that we don't find ourselves with better outcomes. I was ignorant of all the sugar that is dumped into our foods. How sugar is killing us. There is such a long list of sugar that is named differently so they can list it in the ingredients without scaring everyone; and since more people are looking at the labels.

Names of Sugar :(

I dare you to educate yourself though and watch "Fed Up". It was the final call at our house to make a positive change for our future, our health, and ourselves. I'm only given this body for this lifetime and well I want to enjoy it. I thought food was an enjoyment...that was a lie that sugar gave; an addiction like cocaine. :( All approved by who we thought was there to help us, USDA, FDA, etc...NOT!

I may have made mistakes in the past but this one time...I'm doing something right, positive, and helpful. Oh yeah, and I got a treadmill. Put that sucker right in the living room; can't deny that guilt staring me in the face...so my first log of keeping track was yesterday. 1.6 miles in 33 min. Today was 2 miles in 33 min. 3 is my number so that's why I stop at 33. If you read this, and you would like to see more posts and details about such topics, or to follow our journey; please let me know. I can't read your mind. I also would rather encourage, engage, and entertain my readers; please comment and share.

Thanks for reading until next time. Happy Valentine's Day! Love somebody<3 p="">
Blessings,

Yvonne