More Slimy Ear

Since Demi has a history of "slimy ear" (fungal ear infection), I'll relate our latest episode.

A couple of weeks before Christmas, we ran out of ThreeLac, one of the supplements we use to fight yeast. Just three days later, Demi started complaining that her ear hurt.

Based on previous results, I immediately gave her some ibuprofen for pain and swabbed her ear with anti-fungal cream. That night, she woke up twice in quite a bit of pain. I comforted her as best I could, giving her a bit more ibuprofen and another swab each time.

The next morning, she was pain free and went to school as normal. (Good thing, since her big Christmas party was that day!) We continued that routine for the next couple of days. I thought it was taken care of.

A few days after stopping, the pain came back, in both ears this time. I repeated the same thing once again, but kept it up for a week after the pain dissapated.

No problems since.

Truvia?

I just got a couple of sampler packets of a new sweetener called Truvia. Anybody heard of it?
It says it's made with erythritol.

So, onto the internet. What's it all about? Is it truly "natural?" Any harmful effects? Here's what I've found so far:

• derived from sugar, just like xylitol
• 60-70% as sweet as sugar
• .2 calories per gram ("almost" calorie free)
• absorbed by the small intestines and less likely to cause any negative side effect like xylitol or maltitol (unless consumed in excessive quantities)
• does not cause cavities (like xylitol)
  does not sound like it's great to bake with as it tends to dry things out, doesn't dissolve as well as sugar, and may not give the desired consistency
• although it's been around for awhile (FDA GRAS status since 1997), it's not widely available (Maybe Truvia will change that?)

I tried the Truvia sample packets in my tea this morning. Tastes ok to me. I didn't find anything negative about, but perhaps I didn't look hard enough. Anyone have additional information?

I found a 1lb bag of erythritol here:

Supplements Need More Recognition

Nutrition in general and supplements are way under-rated. I guess because you can't pack them into a single pill (just lots of little pills taken regularly). They also aren't come by easily, unless you happen to be blessed with health-conscious parents who drum it into you from day one. If you aren't that lucky (as most of us aren't), it takes a considerable life style adjustment to eat the right foods and take the right supplements. I'm speaking primarily about health challenged kids/people who could benefit so mightily from good nutrition and supplements rather than drugs.

I've mentioned KSN before, a group I regularly follow since Demi has Kabuki. I've recently met a poster there who really gets it. I hope others in the group pick up on the benefit that nutrition (like Juice Plus, gfcf diet, allergen awareness, organic, etc) and supplements (fish oil (most of them do this already), melatonin, ALA, probiotics, yeast fighters, etc., etc.) could have on their children. Yes, it takes some effort (mostly in the learning, not the doing!), but it's SO much better than drugs with side effects and unknown long term effects.

I've learned most of it from the AutismNCD group, even though Demi doesn't have autism. She still has toxins and yeast issues that affect behavior. I specifically started her on Natural Cellular Defense because I thought it might improve cognition. I had no idea that I would discover so much more about nutrition and supplements that would benefit her.

My suggestion for a parent wanting to start but not knowing where: Just start! It usually doesn't matter where. NCD is easy to start with. Probiotics are easy to start. Just start with ONE THING and then build from there. It's not that hard once you get started!!

Moments of Brilliance?

Ok, maybe not brilliance, but brightness at least. Math is not Demi's strong point, but occasionally while doing homework, she seems to "get it." There's that moment of brightness. At least the answers come a bit more quickly and naturally. Rarely and for a very short burst. But they come.

I wonder where they come from? How do these moments of understanding happen?

Just today, I spoke to her resource (aka special ed) teacher who said she just doesn't get numbers. I guess she hasn't yet been dazzled by one of Dem's "moments of brilliance." While I recognize that's true most of the time, why does she get it sometimes and not others. It would be nice to know...

Roller Coaster Ride

This is one roller coaster ride I'd rather get off.
I'm sure I can't be alone.

One day it seems that things might be getting better. She's doing a little better. Maybe she's turned a corner. Maybe...
The next day, she can't seem to grasp the most basic concept that I repeat five or eight times. Her attention is totally gone; she can't focus for more than 2 microseconds. Then I get frustrated. Then I feel bad.

I get reports from everyone else who works with her that she does everything so willingly, she's so sweet, never complains. I guess she saves all that other stuff for me.
I wonder why no one else gets as frustrated with her as I do. Is it because they don't let the uncertain future cloud their emotions today? I try very hard to do that but often fail.

She IS wonderfully sweet and my heart practically bursts when just looking at her sometimes, fully enjoying the joy that she is today.

But then we have homework... :(