Thanks.

You truly have your hands full with helping your son along with everything else! I have two daughters, and at 16 and 20 (almost 21!) we have our situations still, and they keep me busy, but not as much as when they were little.
Hope you don't mind, but I stole your list of descriptions about yourself---there are a few I need to change, (exerciser? what's that ;)), but recently was trying to compose a similar description for myself, and seeing how it was late at night, was only able to come up with 3!
Thanks for the inspiration!

Good for you for getting to meet others in a support group. Good luck with getting an appointment. I highly believe in diet and vitamins in aiding many conditions... hoping they can help you figure it out. Your list is so true for many of us and yes there is many more you could add to it I am sure.

The support group sounds like a great step. It never hurts to have people who know what you are dealing with on a daily basis.

That is so exciting that you are getting ready to set up your first DAN! appointment. A good DAN! doctor on your team will make all of the difference in the world. It makes navigating the world of supplements and vitamins so much easier!
We have been doing the protocol for a year and a half now and our son who had no measurable receptive/expressive language, no eye contact, would not point, open & closed doors all day long, repetitively banged his head at 18 months of age is now talking/communicating above age level, has great eye contact, and likes to play with toys. We still have social issues we are working on- so the fight is not over, but biomedical intervention played a HUGE part in helping him get to where he is today.
We think the world of Dr. Bradstreet's office (Melbourne, Florida). Their website is:
www.icdrc.org
We have been doing phone consultations with them for over a year now. They prescribe the tests, we get the tests (ie: blood) done locally and the results are sent directly to them. So if for some reason you are unable to get an appointment in the time frame you had hoped, I wanted to let you know that there are other DAN! doctors out there who are willing to do phone consults with out-of-state patients.
Hope tonight's meeting goes well! I will be thinking of you guys-
Take care- Nicole

Oh, special diets are never easy. Matthew had so-- many food allergies when he was younger (dairy, wheat, eggs, nuts, etc.). Fortunately for us, he was ok with soy and he still loves tofu to this day (eats it almost daily actually). He's still highly allergic to anything dairy but has gotten over wheat and eggs. Wishing you all the best as you try to figure all this out. You'll get into a groove soon enough. Just hang in there in the meantime.

Thanks for the link on the hotdogs Ali - I found out they sell them at Whole Foods near me in Roswell, GA! Yeah, I'm going this weekend!

I think support groups make things realer than we'd like to admit they are.
We went to a biracial family support group once and they were making things seem really difficult (we haven't had difficulties) and I felt weird there.
I hope that your group is welcoming and really helps you find answers or at least real support!

Hi Ali! I didn't check your hot dog link but I wanted you - and anyone reading this - to know that most hot dogs contain casein. Casein is a dairy product and it's a sneaky little bugger. That and whey. Either or both of these ingredients are often in soy cheese and other dairy look-alikes. I'm allergic to dairy and it drives me crazy when I pick up a "Dairy Free" cookbook or recipe only to see them call for Soy Cheese. I have yet to find a soy cheese I can actually eat.
I can, however, eat goat cheese with no problem. Apparently, that is pretty common. So if you're looking for a good substitute, sometimes goat cheese will do the trick.
Valerie, a lurker coming out of the woodwork

Ali, I can only imagine how overwhelmed you feel, but know I'm praying for you. And I can't believe your list, I never thought of classifying oneself as so many things!

Hey Ali! I'm coming out of lurkdom and posting!I'm also praying for you and your family. Great "weenie" news. I've been on an Ali High for the past few days since I've discovered your galleries at 2peas. Very inspirational. You have a gift, my friend!

You definitely have a lot on your plate right now! Seems so overwhelming at times doesn't it? So glad the support group was a success. It is always comforting to meet other people who are in the same boat.

good job, ali...you guys are working so hard to help simon...that's what it's all about isn't it?...doing the best we can to help our little guys and make their lives work...that's why God gave them to us...so we're not always thinking of ourselves(i'm still working on that one a lot!)...bless your sweet family...

thanks for the hot dog info. ;) been looking for some that aren't meat-free. i'll have to check into those.
on another note... really loving your naming list. wonder how that could work it's way into a creative something-or-other.

Ali,
I am a kindergarten teacher. Last year I had a little guy who was diagnosed as autistic and had been on a gluten/casein free diet for a few years. His dad is a research doc and they searched high and low for help and ended up with a DAN doc. They have been following their protocol for a few years. When he was in my class there was NO indication that there ever was a problem. None whatsoever! They followed the diet religiously and it was amazing. Be encouraged. I think there is so much HOPE!

You go girl. We just got Alex's diagnosis on Monday, PDD, so we are going back on the diet, hard core. I would love to meet up with doctors, will have to see what our monthly meetings have for us. Thanks for the heads up!

You are so wise to seek out a speicialist. We have a Devlopmental Pediatrician that we take David to. He was the first person in like a 2 year span that looked at him and marveled at what he could do intead of what he couldn't. We have never done the support group thing. When I am with other Moms - it does give me perspective that our situation could always be different or more severe. Best wishes with the new diet. I am def. going to look for those hot dogs. I bet their sale go!
kellicrowe

Just dropping by to encourage you and Chris on your journey. I applaud you for being so proactive in gathering all the information you can on autism.
You may get discouraged along the way, but you have a tremendous online support system - it's friend therapy!

Breathe! Sometimes when we are all in the thick of it, we forget to do that! Prayers for you and your family as you begin your journey. To repeat what your masthead says.... Enjoy Life! As moms, we take on everything and say, "Hey, I should be doing more!" It's crazy when I actually say that out loud. But, your capacity to achieve more is off the charts. And, you probably (as I do) thrive on it. It doesn't mean you always have to. Take care of yourself, your son, your family and the rest will fall into place. Prayers coming your way.... Lisa

[quote]"Right now Simon's diet consists of soy milk, OJ, popcorn, gluten-free cereal, crackers, oranges, apples, applesauce, french fries (natural ones :)), sugar free fruit pops, gluten free waffles, nitrate free hot dogs, bananas, peanut butter, refried beans (sometimes), corn tortilla chips...and probably a couple other things I am forgetting right now.
Are most two-three year olds like this?"[/quote]
My 3 year-old nephew is the fussiest eater! When I had him for a week in April...all he wanted to eat was applesauce, milk, and plain bread. Thank goodness he went home everyday at 5 pm and his mother got to feed him dinner. Yes, all kids I believe have their eating phases!