Our IonCleanse Journey

We are thrilled to be embarking on the next level of healing and detox through the IonCleanse from A Major Difference. We got the unit on 12/26 and started using it 12/27. I will chronicle our experiences and also collaborate it with an Organic Acids Test that I ran on my son prior to the start of the program (12/22).

Cleanse 1 - WOW! The results for our whole family varied and really fell in line with our own health issues as you will see below.

My son's session (20 mins):

Halfway into the session

The end of the session, some foam (lymph), lots of brown/red colored flecks.

My Daughter's session (10 mins):

Not much, very light orange/brown (liver)

My session (30 mins):

Tons of foam (lymph, I have an enlarged lymph node)

Lots of red flecks (blood issues)

Green tinge (Gallbladder - I had a gallbladder attack about 5 years ago)

My husband's session (30 mins):

So dark you can't even see his feet!! Very brown/orange (Liver - he was on statins for over a decade, YIKES)

Lots of foam (lymph), green tinge (gallbladder)

Black flecks (heavy metals, no shocker here)

Within 40 minutes of the first cleanse, he rejoined our family at the dining room table (where we were all sitting) and proactively grabbed a difficult puzzle ball he rec'd for Christmas. Previously he wanted nothing to do with it and would only use it with hand over hand guidance from me. This time he calmly got the ball, sat down and started working on it intently. Later that day he also proactively suggested a game of "eye spy" in the car with his sister, also very atypical behavior. There have been some behavioral indicators of die off as well (irritability, defiance, etc.)

Cleanse #2

My son's session (20 mins):

Similar to the first session, maybe a little lighter

Much more lymph "foam" which makes sense as he is fighting a small cold

 My session (30 mins):

Much less red flecks and about the same number of lymph "foam". Still quite green.

Autism Recovery and Friendships: You Made It Out of Holland, Now What?

Recovery doesn't mean perfection and while our kiddos have navigated many hurdles, the social component can still be a struggle. Please read my latest The Thinking Moms' Revolution blog and share with anyone who may be facing something similar with their child.

Read the blog here.

GMOs, Organics and Food Allergies: How To Feed Your Family Without Losing Your Mind eConference 2014

Anyone who has been following my blog for a while now knows how important food has been in my son's recovery from autism. I truly believe our diet is foundational and helps almost every other therapy you are doing with your child when you are feeding them healthy, healing, nutritious foods. You may be thinking "Yeah, that's just great Terri but who has TIME?" Or "Yeah but MY child has so many food allergies that you just don't understand." Or maybe "Who are you kidding, my child eats 3 foods!". Guess what? I've been there, done that. Mealtime battles were a constant for us for many years. We have navigated many food allergies, intolerances and issues like high oxalates which seem to make an already restrictive diet even more restrictive. My son self selected foods, mainly that he was intolerant too (much of what we crave we have issues with). And even "healthy foods" can be harmful to an individual if they have an allergy or intolerance to them. I was about as "Standard American Diet" as one could get. Yep, me, the crazy food lady who even considers whether my children have had too much fruit in one day. I was not always the way I am today.

My evolution took about 7 years and had a lot of helpers along the way. But the best part is seeing the change in my son and in our whole family really. All of our health has improved and we continue to refine our diets based on lab testing but also on how we feel and have learned to tune in to the vital messages.

The Thinking Moms' Revolution is putting on an eConference related to food! The speakers are leaders in the world of nutrition, especially in regards to individuals with specialized nutritional needs. Julie Matthews is among the speakers and she is one of my dear friends whom I learn from every time I listen to her speak. She started us on our trek to navigating a severely restricted diet and I can never thank her enough for her wisdom and guidance (or being such a wonderful friend!!).

So who are all of the presenters?

• Jeffrey Smith
• Stephanie Seneff
• Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride
• Heather Fraser
• Julie Matthews
• Kris Barrett

I told you, amazing, right?

What is going to be covered?

Feeding your family has become really complicated, time consuming and expensive. The data is piling up quickly that lots of ingredients in processed food are making us fat, sick and unhappy. Grocery stores are full of Genetically Modified food and today’s children are diagnosed with food allergies and behavioral problems at alarming rates. This is creating a climate of fear around something that used to be so simple – feeding your family.

The Thinking Moms’ Revolution has put together an online conference featuring six dynamic and internationally renowned experts in the areas of nutrition, children’s health and the science of food to empower us with education so we can make great food choices for our families. Not only will this conference tackle the issues of what to avoid, covering the topics of GMOs and RoundUp in our food, but we will also go in depth to the sources of the explosion in children’s food allergies and what happens to children’s growth and development when they eat food they can’t digest. Getting down to brass tacks, we offer a live cooking demonstration and some reality-based logistics on budget and time when cooking for special diets. This eConference will be packed with science based nutrition information to help you feel confident and calm about nurturing the people you love with food.


Highlights 

• You can watch live.
• Great giveaways.
• Watch anytime for up to a year afterwards! 
• You get a free cookbook with recipes from many of our TMR sisters, yes including some of MINE (if that isn't incentive enough.....) 

And the best part?? I get to give one registration away FREE! 

That's right! And all you have to do is:

1) Leave me a comment below about your hardest struggle with food, your greatest food breakthrough, what you hope to get out of the conference most, etc.

2) SHARE this blog! That's right, use those nifty share buttons and spread the healthy food love so more people can learn about this amazing resource.

My winner will be drawn October 3rd and announced on this very post below. Good luck and share, share, share!!

And if you don't win, you can always register here.

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Congrats to Kami on being our winner!!

Help Autism Mom Fight Breast Cancer

It is with a heavy heart that I write this blog. One of our own, a Thinking Mom, has had her cancer return for the 3rd time. Her son has severe autism. Every parent fears leaving their child but when that child has a disability that is magnified. Please join us in supporting their family in this time of need. We know Melanie has so much faith, love and healing energy behind her and this will surely help as well. Please say a prayer for her and her family now too. And Melanie, aka Booty Kicker, we love you and are here for you!!

If you would like to donate to our fundraising campaign to support Mel and her family please DONATE HERE: http://t.co/LeZ12VJ2Q4

Easy Paleo Waffles

Back to school means more planning for healthy and nutritious (but fast) breakfasts. That's where this waffle recipe comes in! It is pretty easy to make, freezes well and reheats well for those busy school mornings.

• 3 egg yolks, room temperature
• 3 egg whites, room temperature
• 1/4 cup coconut milk or water 
• 1/2 cup ground sunflower seeds
• 1/2 cup ground pumpkin seeds
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 tablespoons melted coconut oil
• Tallow or coconut oil for waffle iron

Directions:

Preheat waffle iron, I use cast iron so I put it on medium heat as I begin the recipe to ensure it is hot enough. In a medium bowl, whisk egg yolks and milk. Add flour and salt. Combine until smooth. Add melted coconut oil. Add vanilla. Whisk egg whites until they form moist, stiff peaks. Fold about ¼ of egg whites into batter. Fold batter into remaining egg whites in three parts. Scoop 1/2 c. of batter onto a preheated and greased waffle iron depending on your waffle iron size. Close the lid gently! Cook until golden brown. If it sticks, it is not quite done (hard lesson learned). Double and store leftovers in freezer. Enjoy!

Another option for lab test ordering and interpretation from Dr. Kurt Woeller

I get asked all the time how to go about getting testing ordered when you either don't have a Dr. willing to order them or you aren't currently working with a Dr. Some Drs. refuse to order tests because they are not familiar with specialized testing options for hard to treat issues like autism, auto-immunity, Hashimoto's, food allergies, etc. And even worse, many will tell you they are a waste of time! Many families like mine know the power of testing when it comes to treating underlying issues of these hard to treat disorders. Below is a guest post from Dr. Kurt Woeller on lab testing options for those who may need it.
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Lab tests give us the ability to test our body’s chemistry, and are critical for overall optimal health. There are many benefits to lab testing, yet many people overlook the absolute necessity of this type of internal evaluation.

For example, we can surmise that a person’s hormone levels are low based on an individual’s complaint about how they feel, but obtaining the absolute value is impossible without diagnostic assessment. Lab tests help to determine the exact level of hormones such as estrogen, progesterone and testosterone. Why this is important is when using therapy such as hormone replacement medication. In order to know how much hormone to give, we must know how low the hormone is in the first place, then guide our therapy over time with symptom improvement, along with laboratory data to show whether the hormone levels have become optimal, are still too low, or too high. A particular lab test to help in this process is the Functional Adrenal Stress Profile plus V (five), from BioHealth, available at Lab Tests Plus. This salivary test is an accurate way of determining excess or deficiency of various hormones such as progesterone, estrogen and testosterone. Also, evaluated from the #205 panel is adrenal function through cortisol measurement. Adrenal exhaustion is a common pattern with many people and affects energy levels, mood, sleep, and immunity. Without knowing exactly what your particular values are the implementation of specific hormone and adrenal therapy is just a guessing game.

Another example of the importance of lab testing is for chronic infections. Often people suffer from chronic digestive complaints such as bloating, gas, pain, diarrhea or constipation. These types of complaints can persist for months and years and many times individuals try various supplements and medications to no avail. Stool pathogen testing can be very important to rule out an infection in the digestive system that is compromising health. The #401-H Gastrointestinal Pathogen Screen from BioHealth is an excellent stool test to look for chronic infections such as parasites, bacteria, and yeast. Without the data from a stool test many people suffer needlessly when their issue could be resolved quickly through appropriate treatment of an intestinal parasite.

It cannot be overstated that the role of lab testing in health assessment is critical. Only treating of symptoms wastes valuable time and can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars. Laboratory testing is able to identify problems and allow for more appropriate intervention, ultimately saving time and money.

 Lab Tests Plus is a specialized lab ordering service for health education and information. If you have questions about lab testing or which lab test may be most appropriate for your situation, you can post your questions through the “Which Test” section of www.labtestsplus.com.

Kaibab Veterinary Clinic, Best in Flagstaff for Service and Care

So I know the power of social media, and I know the power of blogging and keywords. I also know the power of great customer service and the power of word of mouth when you get bad customer service. I don't want to just focus on the negative so I do have a good story to share as well. Here goes.....

We decide to make a quick trip to the store for our 4th of July celebrations tomorrow. We all jump in the car and the dog goes outside (it was raining so of course he was next to me as I worked at my desk this afternoon). We live on acres and he RUNS. He greets cars, runs along them as they enter and leave our property, it is his thing. I don't know why he does it, he just does. People think they are going to hit him all the time. But, he always seems to know the limits of the car, of himself, it is slightly odd really, a little Jedi-esque. He also knows what to do when we back up to leave. He always gets out of the way. Always. Except today. The unimaginable happened. As my husband made frantic calls to Kaibab Vet to make sure they were still open, it is a Thursday evening before a holiday after all, I cried and tended to our dog. No bones seemed broken. I administered Arnica in pellet form. We verified Kaibab Vet was open and would be for 2 more hours. We put him in the car and rushed there.

After getting us seen immediately Kaibab Vet went right to work with IV fluids, pain meds and xrays. It was determined he has lung contusions. He needs an oxygen cage for the best chance at recovery. OK, so where do we find one in Flagstaff?? Well there is only one vet hospital that has that, Canyon Pet Hospital, literally across the street from where we are. Yes, this would be a downside to small town living. OK I say, let's get them on the phone and get me prices. I need to know what to expect. The vet looks at me and says "OK....I will call them" she knows something she is not telling me. She calls, they refuse to quote her. They say I need to transport my now stable animal across the street for THEM to do the same assessment Kaibab Vet has already done? Why would Canyon Pet Hospital need to do another assessment when he has already been assessed and has minutes old xrays? The vet at Kaibab Vet tells me that they held off on one additional xray in case we do want to transport him to Canyon Pet Hospital. Why? Well because in the past when Kaibab Vet has sent patients to Canyon Pet Hospital they have required patients to do another one even though they already did one. Hmmmm......shadiness abounds.

So they won't tell a vet at Kaibab Vet Clinic pricing, I kind of get that. So I call. No dice. I get a little "Shawty" on them. Yeah, that's right. I just friggin hit my own dog and you won't tell me what it will cost to put him in your nifty oxygen crate??? Canyon Pet Hospital "No maam we need to assess him first". "He's BEEN ASSESSED AND IS STABLE NOW, I know what he needs, you can't tell me how much that will cost me?". Canyon Pet Hospital "No we cannot quote price until we assess him". "Ah so let me get this straight, you want to charge me for something I have already paid for to get the same info Kaibab Vet can tell you right now, you want me to move my now-stable dog to your facility to have you tell me that what I need is too expensive and then I have the tough decision of deciding whether to do it or not, that is SHADY business practices right there!". Canyon Pet Hospital "Let me get our nurse on the line to see if she can get you a price". Then I sit on hold with Canyon Pet Hospital for about 5 minutes when I say "F this" and hang up. When I vent my frustration to the vet at Kaibab Vet all she can say is "That is a very common thing we hear and often we send an animal over with a catheter and tell them we just put it in, they will take it out and put in a new one". I get it, every vet is different and they have their own style but seriously? That seems shady, sheisty and just plain bad business Canyon Pet Hospital!!!!!!

So where is my dog?? He is at Kaibab Vet where they are improvising for us. Then we have been able to secure oxygen for tomorrow and I will be making my OWN oxygen crate for him and will monitor him myself. By the time we left him, about 3 hours after we got there, I gave him another dose of Arnica, he was on oxygen the whole time with a dedicated, caring vet tech and we have a plan for the night/morning. He was already looking better, gums were looking better and tongue less purple. He even tried to stand up at one point and turned his head when he heard me talking in the hall. We all gave him tons of pets, hugs and kisses the whole time we were there. I have no doubt that Kaibab Vet Clinic will take wonderful care of our Rudy. And as for Canyon Pet Hospital I say animal owner beware. As an animal parent in distress this afternoon they did NOTHING to provide any help during a very stressful time. So yeah, Canyon Pet Hospital receptionist, I was the one who unleashed on you this afternoon. I am sure you will find as many people giving them rave reviews, I however will not be. Nor will I EVER take any of my (many and varied) animals to them.

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Update: At 6:30 am on July 4th Kaibab Vet Dr. Penrod called to tell us the sad news that Rudy passed earlier that morning. We are all heartbroken at the loss of our dear friend. We miss his doggie smile as he greeted us at our gate, seeing him each morning right outside our bedroom door, sleeping next to one of the kids in their room, laying next to me as I worked, seeing him running after crows and squirrels, etc.  He was a true companion who without fail would get up and follow me wherever I went. I wish we could have just one more day with him to show him how much he meant to our family. Rest in peace sweet Rudy, you have changed our hearts and souls forever. We love you!

Evolution of a Revolution: From Hope to Healing: How Thinking Parents are Recovering their Children and Uncovering the Truth

The day has come, our book has been published!! I cannot quite describe the pride I feel knowing MY son's journey has been documented. It lays among the other stories of brave, fearless, passionate, driven and loving mothers recovering their children too, healing the new "normal" of chronically ill children. Wow. And we always knew it would be an eBook but thanks once again to this same amazing group of women, it will be published in hard copy very soon as well. As of today, it is available on Kindle. Each purchase helps other families! This is why I did this, so others can get grants to fund the real treatments that help our children. Many are very expensive and families often cannot bear the brunt of those costs. ALL proceeds go to this grant program.

So please consider purchasing a copy for someone you know who needs some encouragement that autism recovery is real. The link to the Kindle version is below, Nook and hard copy coming soon.

Evolution of a Revolution: From Hope to Healing: How Thinking Parents are Recovering their Children and Uncovering the Truth [Kindle Edition]

(HOLY CRAP I AM AN AUTHOR NOW!!!!!!)

Wonder Woman Complex and the New “Normal” of Autism, Allergies, Asthma, and ADHD

My 2nd blog on The Thinking Moms Revolution was published today. Please head on over, read and share it. Sometimes we all need a little pat on the back and the acknowledgement that we are kicking butt while healing our children and families!! So here it is!

Team TMR helps families fund autism treatments

Please watch and share the latest Team TMR video. This video gives HOPE to other families that autism treatment and recovery is possible. My son, and many, many other children are proof. And yet we all know how expensive treatments are. That is why I am so proud to be involved with Team TMR which is a non profit specifically created to help families fund autism treatments. Our eBook will be coming out soon which will feature my son's story of his journey in and out of autism as we figured out what his biomedical challenges were. All proceeds of our eBook will benefit others helping to recover their children as well. Team TMR is something I am so thrilled to be a part of, it has taken my own personal drive to help others to another level and has grown into something (already) that I never could have imagined. This is a dedicated group of warrior moms and we are hell bent on changing this world for YOUR child as much as for our own!! So please encourage others to share the message that Team TMR has and if they are inclined, donate to this non profit. And let me know if you spot my little cutie and our family in the video.

My Thinking Moms blog!

Hey, head on over to The Thinking Moms Revolution and check out my guest blog. I am honored to be among these women and included in their next ebook that is currently in the works! You will get to read stories of hope, recovery and perseverance from some really kick ass moms! But in the meantime, I was asked to write a guest blog so click HERE, go read it and leave me a comment! Please share with others as we all need to support one another and starting with ourselves is the first step! I know it can be hard as a mom in general and especially with special needs children, but it is imperative. Ok, enough giving it away, get on over there, read it and give me some feedback. Oh and Namaste! ;)

Paleo, grain, gluten, dairy, soy free pop overs (pop tart)

As my son gets ready to head off on a sleep over field trip, I am in full meal prep/planning mode. I start with breakfast. It has to be something simple, easy to eat, not require refrigeration or reheating. OK. I think through some of my recipes, especially since a new round of IgG testing have made us rethink our "normal" ingredients.

I decide to try the Fig Newton recipe I've posted in the past but with a few modifications. For lack of a better term they make a really good, healthy pop tart. I am not a fan of trying to recreate junk food just for the sake of it (I will however make an exception for chocolate chip cookies). Otherwise I like to keep things as close to nature, and besides my kids have never eaten a pop tart so it is not like they are begging for them but that helps you envision what they would replace!!

In a food processor grind 2 cups pumpkin seeds (preferably soaked/dehydrated). Add in 2 cups potato starch, 4 tbsp melted coconut oil, 1/2 cup coconut nectar or organic, grade B maple syrup, 1 tsp vanilla extract, 1/4 tsp baking powder, 1/4 tsp salt. ** Note - I usually add in all the dry ingredients and mix a few times to ensure that it is all evenly mixed before adding in the "sticky" stuff.

Combine until a dough forms and sticks together. Divide in half. Roll out between two pieces of parchment paper, make into a long rectangle. Spoon a layer of jam/jelly (for lower sugar content use a xylitol sweetened jam/jelly) or like I did, mashed pears with a sprinkle of cinnamon on the lower half of the rectangle so as not to over fill. Leave a border around the edges.

Fold the top half of the dough onto the lower half so you now have a long skinny rectangle. Gently pinch edges to seal. Square the edges. Using a sharp knife, cut into 6 tarts. Cook in a 325 degree oven for 12 minutes (DO NOT OVER BAKE!!). Repeat with other half of the dough! Enjoy!!

The picture above is from the blog I did on the Fig Newton style cookies using almond flour. The pumpkin seeds do have a green color and the pop tarts are much bigger than this but it gives you an idea!