The Hands of Time...Window for Autism Recovery

I often wondered and worried why my 3 year old became fascinated with clocks. Everywhere we went, he would ask people if they knew what time it was, whether or not they were wearing a watch or what time does this start and that end. The moment we would walk into new psychologist's office, he could point out 8 clocks without 5 seconds going by. As parents, we often wondered why is he stimming on time?

For a good year and a half, he only wanted clocks for presents, gifts, rewards, etc. By the age of 4, he could tell time down to the exact minute. Surely he was destined to be a clock-maker as his collection of all different types of watches, clocks and time machines grew.

As time passed on, he waned slowly away from his fixation with these measurement marvels. My wife and I are still trying to figure out what has caused him to "let go" of the time machines. We ask ourselves, is it because he has mastered the art of telling time or because he is reacting positively to our ASD recovery efforts or just grew out of a phase? We know he is gifted in so many ways, but we wonder if he has been trying to tell us something.

Today, I told him we could draw a clock and paste it on the Internet. He was very happy that he was actually encouraged to make his own picture of a clock.

The picture was drawn at age 5.

As I gave my son a bath tonight, the answer to the question of why is my son so into clocks came to me. He's been telling us all along that his window for recovery is currently open and there is no time to waste. Although we began recovery efforts at 28 months old, over time, I became content and stale. I needed a message of hope that his recovery is happening. Comparing where he is now (waning from clockville) to where he was two years ago (stimming on time); I think he is no longer worried that the hands of time will beat autism. With renewed energy, focus and faith, I know we will beat autism before our time is up.

The message of this blog is to remind us that "the hands of time" is always ticking on the window for autism recovery.

BioMed Support Coming

WARN! Window for Autism Recovery Network will be launching a new donation campaign to help families in need of gaining free access to biomedical approaches to recovery. Be on the look out for this around Valentines Day! With love, we can all keep the window for autism recovery open longer.

Food Allergy vs. Food Intolerance

So how do you know what the difference is between a food allergy and a food intolerance? Both can give a person mild symptoms such as stomach pain, nausea and diarrhea. But an allergy may trigger more severe reactions ranging from hives to anaphylaxis.


A food allergy is an immune system response.

A food intolerance is a digestive system response.


ALLERGY SUMMARY:
Since the body mistakes a food ingredient as harmful, it creates a defense system (antibodies) to fight it. The symptoms develop when the antibodies (IgE or immunoglobulin) are battling the "invading" food. The allergies arise from sensitivity to chemical compounds (proteins) in food. When we eat those foods again the IgE is released with other chemicals, including histamine. The symptoms depend on where the histamine is released (i.e. itchy nose, trouble breathing, etc.). Peanut allergy is common.


INTOLERANCE SUMMARY:

Something in a food irritates a person's digestive system or when a person is unable to properly digest or breakdown the food. Usually a person lacks the chemicals (enzymes) necessary to properly digest certain proteins found in food. Lactose intolerant is common.


How to test between the two?
Allergy testing is usually performed through an IgE panel for known allergens (strawberry, nuts, etc.). Intolerance testing is usually just food avoidance.


Summary: I like to think that a true allergy is more of an immediate response of symptoms and an intolerance is one where a delayed reaction or response is observed.

Simple Chicken Nuggets

1 lb. Chicken Breast (cut into 2 inch squares)

1 cup Flour (I use ½ brown and ½ white rice flour but any should do)

¼ tsp Salt

Milk (separate bowl) (Vance's Potato Milk works great)
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Combine flour and salt in one medium bowl and keep another medium bowl of milk separate.

Dip chicken into milk bowl and then transfer chicken to flour bowl and coat well.

Heat olive oil over medium-high heat (I use approx. 1/3 – ½ cup of oil).

Place coated chicken in a stove top pan and rotate the chicken nuggets every 4 minutes until fully cooked (usually 15 mins.).

Place on drying rack until served.


Great as turkey nuggets too!!!

2009 Walk Now for Autism

We attended this event for the first time and it was really fun to see all of the kids and their families support Autism.

http://www.walknowforautism.org/faf/home/default.asp?ievent=303534

Garbanzo Bean Waffles without Egg

1 cup Garfava
1/2 cup potato starch flour (use arrowroot starch if potatoes are out)
1/4 cup tapioca flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. guar gum
1 Tbsp. Agave Nectar
2 Tbsp. Olive Oil
1 Tbsp. Lemon Juice (freshly squeezed) with enough milk substitute to equal 1 1/4 cups (as buttermilk substitute)

In a small bowl, mix together flours, baking soda, salt, guar gum. Whisk in oil, buttermilk substitute. Heat waffle iron. Pour 1/4 of batter on heated waffle iron. Follow manufacturer's directions for your waffle iron. Close and bake until steaming stops, about 4-6 mins.

--special diet celebrations

Teff Pancakes/Flat Bread

I use these for Turkey sandwiches with Agave Nectar and Lettuce. I usually cut this in half and freeze them for future use. 3 grams of fiber per pancake!!!

Ingredients:
2 cups Teff Flour (Bob's Red Mill)
4 tsp Baking Powder
1/2 tsp Sea Salt
2 cups Water
2 Tb Olive Oil

Directions:
Mix dry ingredients in a bowl. Add liquids and whisk to mix.
Preheat pancake griddle until a drop of water will "dance" on it. (Oil griddle as needed).
Spoon batter (about 2 Tbs) onto hot griddle to pancakes about 4"-5" across. Turn when edges seem dry (they won't brown much because they don't contain sugar).
NOTE: Batter may thicken as it stands. Add 1-2 Tbs of water as needed.
Makes about 12 pancakes.
--Bob's Red Mill--