Nutrition Consult_Brain Balance #1

So we've started a journey down this road of working on Ayden's autism.  After starting him in speech and occupational therapies at school, Brain Balance was recommended to us as an option for drastically improving his behavior, success, and learning.  We went and had him evaluated (waited until they were running a promo because the cost is steep) and met with the center director.

We were all in to what they were saying, but not into the amount it cost...but we ran the numbers and broke down figures and, honestly, for therapy and nutrition guidance, the cost wasn't too bad (it was just a big number when you add it all together).

So this morning I'm preparing for my first consult with the nutritionist armed with Ayden's "food sensitivity" test -- which showed he's sensitive to almost nothing that he eats, which is GREAT news. And I'm reading through the first week's "homework" with a healthy amount of skepticism about the blanket statements they're making about certain "supplements".  I guess we'll see how it goes, but I'm not much of one to take any sort of supplement/medication unless my doctor tells me I absolutely HAVE to and I'm the same way with Ayden.  Not sure that's the right attitude to have, but I'm protective...what can I say?

One of the supplements they want him to take is "fish oil," which I've ALWAYS been skeptical of, despite the evidence of the benefits.  Can't I get him omega 3s in some other way - ground flax seed or something that isn't a supplement (especially a $55 supplement!!)?  I guess after I speak to the nutritionist, we'll see.  But I am definitely hounding my google account for ways to get Omega-3s without taking that stuff.  Too bad he won't just EAT FISH....argh.

Ayden, I hope you read this one day while you're eating mackerel sushi and laugh your head off.  (Because mackerel is my favorite and I think you'll love it one day.)

"I hate cancer"

“I hate cancer…”

This was the statement, made by my cousin on Facebook that broke me from my reverie.  It’s early on a Sunday morning and I’m not awake yet, but reading that, reality crashed down…hard.  We’ve been dealing with the slow passing of my grandfather who is “transitioning” now (as the hospice nurse described it).  I’ve been ok.  Not crying, not angry, but at peace.  He’s 83 years old and had a great life.  I’m ok that it’s his time.  So why did her statement strike me?  I hate cancer. I hate cancer.  What is it about that statement that has made me sadder than I’ve felt about my grandfather’s passing?  Did it make it more real?  Did I realize that those of my family who can’t come see him are hurting more than I am?  Am I doing what I’ve done with loved ones in the past…pulled away as to not watch them  morph from someone I knew into a shell, hollow and thin without the ability to communicate ?  Truthfully, I’ve not gone to visit him, despite the repeated times my mother has alluded to the shortness of the time he has here.  It’s not because I don’t love him or don’t want to see him, but deep down, I think I don’t want to see him like that.  I’m afraid that the image will be with me and that is how I will remember him – instead of the wise-cracking, card playing, coffee drinking fun that we’ve been having these many years. 

When my father died, it was fast, shocking, and over in minutes.  Massive heart attack at 7:30 in the morning is a hell of a way to wake up.  But I’m not sure which is harder.  Watching helplessly as your loved one goes slowly or springing into fruitless action to try to save your loved one.  Either way, you have no control and can only trust in God to have control over the situation.  I think that’s why I haven’t been sad, angry, or in a hurry.  God has this. I trust him.  I’ve said the things I need to say.  My poppy knows I love him, we’ve spent lots of time together over the years, my son (his great-grandson) sings songs about coming to see him because he’s excited.  There is nothing I regret in my interaction with my grandfather.  I will go and see him to say “I love you” once more, because it’s worth it.

Ah… “I hate this game….” That was what my grandfather and father used to say when they would lose at pinochle to my mom and nana.  That’s what struck me.  Like cancer is some sort of disgusting game that humanity can’t win.  You move forward a few spaces with treatment, take a few tricks, then it comes back and you’re sent to home, “Sorry”, it takes a few tricks.  Even the meds they give you, can make you sick, and he had enough.  At 83, he’s chosen to be home with his wife and family and spent a while enjoying his life as much as possible, instead of being tied to a hospital being sick, bleeding, and tired.  He chose quality over quantity.  He chose.  He chose.  I respect his choice.

I think I will also start thinking of questions…questions to ask my grandmother.  I want to interview her about her life and about my grandfather and make a written record with pictures, so my son will have that when he can’t remember poppy anymore.

Blog writing diary

After a couple of unsuccessful blog attempts over the months, I decided to try again.  I was listening to NPR and there was a writer on the radio talking about writing and the different reasons people write.  I realized, I need to keep a blog for my son.  If I do this, there's no notebooks to move around the world with us, but he can come back to somewhere to read about his life, our life, when he's older and gets curious.  If anyone else reads this, I hope that they would gain something from it, something to apply to their own life.

Thanks for stopping in!