Friday, February 10, 2006 - Going Gluten Free
Hubby stayed home today in the end. Not only was he unwell this morning stil, but I was ill through the night.
As the day progressed, though, I felt better and this evening whilst I still feel wiped out, my stomach ache has gone for the first time in days.
The boys concentrated on maths this morning, with an hour at the table working through various worksheets that I had printed out for them. They also carried on with their game from yesterday. As it involveds adding up two dice, and calculating damaged to ships etc, I told them that counts as learning too. The attempts at resolving the inevitable arguements count as learning patience and tolerance 
In the afternoon I needed to go shopping. We are considering going on a gluten and casein free diet to see if this helps S with his aspergers and J with his emotional outburst/AS traits. This has involved a lot of research on the theories, the products and the recipes. I will now have to add a whole new section to our family website cookbook for GF/CF diets! J said I should re-write it all, with an opening page letting people chose between regular, vegetarian, and CF/GF recipes! I'll just pop off and do that then...
Once again, the people on the HE special needs list have been invaluable with advice and recipe ideas. At times like this I feel very positive about the benefits of having the internet.
Anyone with any good recipes - especially dairy-free - using ingredients I can get here in the UK, please, please leave a comment!
Dh is currently goal-setting for the spring. We need to work around the finance issue and find a way to make our income and expenditure match. We have cut back on everything, but he still doesn't earn enough. All our bills are so much lower than most other families that I know, so its not just a case of being frugal. The real, big issue is the debt that we are paying off. Three years ago dh was so ill that he worked for only some 8 months out of 2 years. At that time things got extremely desparate and we resorted to using up credit on store/credit cards to meet the clothing and food needs of the family at times. This now means that over a third of all our monthly outgoings are on debt-repayment. Without that, we would be able to manage on a thrifty budget. I console myself with knowing that we are doing the Christian thing by repaying what we owe, and keep trusting in God to guide us through. If we can keep our eyes fixed on Him, I know that it will all work out according to His purpose.
All prayers gratefully received. 
Comments
Friday, February 10, 2006 - Untitled Comment
Posted by 3FoldChord
god uck! I hear it works for some!
we have not used it for Connor and his Aspergers's or the other boys ASD stuff. Ihad a HARD enough time getting hubby to go along with NO ARTIFICIAL (and those even give Ki HIVES-- something you can see)....
But, Connor doesn't do dairy anyway, he's afrais of it.
anyway...I wish you lots of luck! A strict diet is a lot of work (We do a more intense version of Feingold)
Friday, February 10, 2006 - Untitled Comment
Posted by LouiseJane
I will be praying that you sort your finances out, we are trying to sort ours out too, and it is difficult.
Hope you have a good weekend. x
Friday, February 10, 2006 - Untitled Comment
Posted by flapjacks
Hi and thanks for commenting in my blog! I used to live in Kent and have lovely memories of it.
Many thanks for the link to the French and German teaching sites - I hadn't come across them before so I shall explore them tomorrow (I've bookmarked them.)
I don't know if this is any help to you: http://www.capuk.org/ it's Christians Against Poverty. They are more a northern thing I think, though spreading rapidly. I know someone who works for them and am very impressed.
I hope your family is over the colds soon - we've had them here too and they hit hard.
Sorry my latest post about bread making will be no help at all in your quest for gluten-free, but I hope you get some good recipes.
Alice
Saturday, February 11, 2006 - Hi again!
Posted by flapjacks
I've just realised you haven't got colds but flu - sorry! The same bug has been going the rounds up here too.
Look after yourselves - I hope you feel better soon.
Alice
Saturday, February 11, 2006 - YES!
Posted by lvg4him
Oh I have done a LOT of research on healthy living. A GF/CF diet will definately help yourr son if he has Asperger's. It will take time though (to get all the G and C out of his system, but DON'T GIVE UP!). There is a GREAT book that I hope you can get a hold of called UNRAVELING THE MYSTERY OF AUTISM AND PERSUASIVE DEVELOPMENT DISORDER. Asperger's is considered to be on the autism scale. My nephew has Asperger's and has seen WONDERFUL results on the GF/CF diet. There are yahoo groups out there for parents of kids who are on the GF/CF diet. There is also a yahoo recipe group for GF/CF. I used to be on them when we were doing GF/CF diet for my daughter (who had mild apraxia - also considered to be on the autism scale). We still do GF/CF but have actually started doing a high percentage of raw foods (long story) and seen better results with that. I would be SO HAPPY to talk to you (but living in the US I have no UK resources BUT can help you find the groups which I know has UK parents on it). I will be praying for you. Those who need a GF/CF diet are usually addicted to G and C filled foods and that makes the change difficult on child AND especially Mommy.
Sunday, February 12, 2006 - I hope you feel well soon.
Posted by 3feistykids
I am sorry for your financial struggles. We are going through the same thing. We are paying off an olf debt, and can't make dh's income stretch to cover our expenses, no matter how we try. I will keep you in my thoughts & prayers.
Sunday, February 12, 2006 - I wanted to add...
Posted by 3feistykids
that I have been contemplated the GFCF diet for some time now. Like you, I have a child with Asperger's and another who has some mild traits.
