The Autism Fog is Lifting

If you ask me about Alec's autistic symptoms I can give you a list of them.  I pay close attention to this list and look for any changes as we do his biomedical treatment.  I've noticed so many changes.  His eye contact is better, he's more focused, he's listening better, his language is exploding, he's using idioms in his language, he has conversations that are more in depth. These are changes I was watching out for, but recently I've noticed something unexpected.  It was unexpected because I never noticed it didn't exist.  It all started last week on the way to my parents house.  We were driving over the bridge that goes over the inter-coastal waterway.  He was staring out the window and then says, "Wow, look at all those boats".  At this point I didn't think much about it, but as the week continued he kept pointing things out to me and to his little sister.  I thought about it, usually when he stares out a window or looks around his environment he is "inside" his head...in his own world.  Now he was noticing the world around him.  When we got home from grandmas house we were playing in his room, a room that we redecorated months ago in an outer space theme, and he says "My outer space room is really cool!".  He then begins to look at specific decorations and talking to me about them.  When he had first seen his room after my husband and I had redecorated it he said "Wow, I like it" and that was the end.  He never mentioned his room again.  I think he just didn't notice his room.  It is truly like a fog has lifted from him and he can see his world clearly.  I can't even begin to imagine what that must be like, but I'm so happy that he's finally getting to enjoy all the little things that we sometimes take for granted.  

Cashew and Coconut Ice Cream

Alec's DAN! doctor wants us to increase medium chain fatty acids in his diet, but it's been so hard because he's such a picky eater.  There's only so many muffins cooked with coconut oil that I can give him and I don't think that's getting enough of it in him.  This is important for improving his brains function and can also help to open his appetite when it comes to trying new food.   In my latest attempt to get him to eat coconut oil I made a cashew and coconut oil ice cream.  He loves vanilla ice cream and only vanilla ice cream, but since he's casein free he can no longer have it.  I have bought coconut milk ice cream, rice milk ice cream, and almond milk ice cream, but he hasn't liked any of them.  I don't know what makes me think he'll like my cashew/coconut oil concoction, but a mom can always dream, right? 

This recipe is adapted from here

Vanilla and Strawberry Cashew and Coconut Oil Ice cream

1/2 cup cashews soaked overnight (discard liquid)
1/2 cup of unrefined virgin coconut oil
2 tbs raw honey
1/4 tsp gluten free vanilla extract
5 frozen strawberries
about 1/4 cup almond milk ( I only added this so my blender would blend the other ingredients and have a smooth consistency.  If you have an awesome blender you might not need this)

Add all ingredients in your blender and blend until smooth.  If you have a really awesome blender, like a Vitamix (I really want one!), then you're done.  If you have a not so awesome blender, like me, then I'd continue to the next step.

-Strain the cream through a fine mesh strainer so that you're left with a smooth cream :)

I like to put my ice creams in little paper cups in the freezer.  They each have about 2 tbs, which should be a good serving of healthy fats for my kids!