I have actually really enjoyed cooking GFCF this past month. Today, I learned that I love baking GFCF too! I bought a package of GFCF yellow cake mix at the health food store for cupcakes. We’re going to California to see my in-laws for Christmas and I know they’ll have tons of sweets available! I’m hoping to avoid drama when Zack sees all the goodies by having some safe cookies, frosted cupcakes, and marshmallow treats on hand. So, I went to work on the GFCF cupcakes… and they came out great! I mean, really really great! I frosted them with a blend of unsweetened cocoa, powdered sugar, rice milk, and GFCF margarine and they really taste like a non-GFCF treat! Zack is going to love them 
I also broke in my new breadmaker with a GFCF white bread mix. So far, I know it smells delcious but it’s too hot to slice still! I’m hoping it’ll be a hit because Zack really misses his french toast and his PB&J sandwiches.
As any mom knows, you have to have some kind of planning in your home or everything just falls apart by lunchtime. This is 100x more true if you have a child with autism. Zack thrives on structure. He has a daily schedule that he truly does well on and I couldn’t imagine our life without it. I wonder if other autie-loving families rely on their magic erase boards as much as I do…
I am so sorry for my absence! My mother is in town and I haven’t really been on the computer much. But, here’s an update and then I hope to get back to my regular posting. Zack is doing absolutely amazing! His withdrawl symptoms are GONE (knock on wood) and other than his normal screeching when I tell him no about something, he is behaving pretty well too. I’m really happy with him! His language development is on the up and up. We went from a few spontaneous words last week to SO MANY, I’m not able to track how many he uses now! We bought him a tent that we put up in the playroom yesterday because I was told that he might need a private little place to escape to. As soon as he saw it, he grins and says “what’s that?” Words like that just keep popping out of his mouth.
Day 12. My husband seems to be bringing up how Vegas isn’t helping us very much at all when it comes to our son. It’s a rather cold-hearted city where people don’t seem to care about each other much, if at all. We’ve been here since April 2003 and we have only 4 people I would willingly call a friend. Our families are both in other states. I understand his reasoning. He wants to live in a smaller town with a closer-knit community that would join together to care about our son. But, I worry for 2 reasons…
Day 11. I left the IEP meeting with a bittersweet smile today. I’m happy that I finally know how to get my son’s diagnosis beyond the school district’s psychologist but I’m sad that there is only one neuropsychologist in the entire state of Nevada and she just happens to have a crazy long waiting list. So, the waiting game begins.
Day 10. Today is the first day that Zack’s busdriver has had anything negative to say about his behavior on the bus. I’m chalking it up to a long week, a new diet, and a really crabby baby brother that has made things an insy bit harder this week. I was also aghast to discover Zack’s school snack still in his bookbag. I know the teacher occasionally brings goldfish crackers for the kids but I have specifically told her that he is on a special diet and is to eat ONLY what I send with him. I’m irritated. I called her today and she hasn’t called me back yet so I have no idea what my son ate. Perhaps whatever it was is why this was his first bad review on the bus. I’m livid and I cannot wait to ask her tomorrow morning at his IEP meeting.
Days 8 & 9. I didn’t mean to miss a day of posting. It’s crazy during my husband’s “weekends.” We’ve been doing great though! Zack’s preschool teacher’s assistant told me that Zack is still screeching in school but I informed her that she must ignore it. Turn her back on him even and as soon as he stops, give him positive attention for stopping. We’ll see how it’s going on Friday during his IEP meeting.
Day 7. Another day… another word! His English vocabulary has gone from zero initiated words to 3 this week! Zack grabbed a forkful of his quinoa spaghetti and brought it to my husband and said “bite.” This is incredible.
Day 6. Zack’s mood has done a total 180 today. He’s been an angel child! I cannot believe this is the same kid as yesterday! He’s really been great.
Day 5. I take it back. Yesterday was NOT the worst day of my life. Today beats it by far. Argh!!!
