
Tuesday, 6 March 2012
Keep Sick Kids Out of School

Wednesday, 29 February 2012
Pica and Autism: One Family's Solution!

Pica ~ An eating disorder characterized by the consumption of non-food items for more than a month.
PICA AND AUTISM, our history...
I used to ask myself, "How can she eat TOILET PAPER, CARDBOARD, FOIL, PAINT CHIPS (and more) and not eat the meals I carefully and lovingly prepare for her????
No one had an answer to this question..... some offered judgmental expressions; as if my mothering her wasn't up to snuff. And yet the contempt in others' voices was present, as they questioned how she got the object or substance in her mouth in the first place.
I ignored them of course... Any sensible person would know better than to compound a mother's desperation as She waded forward in a world of special needs with no guide book!!
I think aside fleeing....... PICA was the most undeniably frustrating and fear inducing behavior we have faced in our Autism Journey! For years, we have prayed for answers. In fact, I remember in toddler-hood commenting how easy we had it with our older daughter, who never put ANYTHING in her mouth, but what I didn't know was that what we were seeing was the early signs of pica .... a disorder sometimes, maybe often, coupled with autism!
There was Constant 24 hour supervision because of the fleeing and pica, but even then... you couldn't keep your eyes on her every single moment of the day.
(I have learned to forgive myself; I am only human after-all!)
Her tears... My tears... Pica, without discrimination, punched wholes in my heart every time I had to pry her mouth open and swoop my finger with the high chance of being bitten (hard!!) to extract the checker,marble, eraser, stone, paint, rock!!
It would literally take nano-seconds for her to get the desired substance within her mouth. Which is what happened when the night we ended up in the ER under the suspicion that she had swallowed Connect Four Checker. Yes, she was sitting right in front of me on the bed.... read that story here.
BUT, at that time she was non-verbal.... so we didn't know if she really swallowed it or not.... and to be safer than sorry, we went to the ER. Which is when I learned checkers do not show up on x-rays... therefore that night I added to my resume, "Poop Sifter!".
AS IF IT COULDN'T GET WORSE
5 months ago.... new risks emerged; swallowing a Polly Pocket dress WHOLE at school and attempting to eat the baggie in her lunch box. Even then, the only recommendation from the Doctor's Nurse was to watch her poop....... we never did find the dress!! But the level of supervision intensified.

Just a few weeks later, we discovered she was eating the eraser and metal off of pencils ......... she was prying them off with her teeth, chewing it up in to tiny tiny pieces and swallowing them!!
Then the dentist found a scar on her front upper gum; assumed to be a cut from the metal.
And she was cleaver... but not because she was trying to be deviant, But because when your body craves something like METAL... you will do anything to consume whatever will give you the biological relief your body so desperately needs.
This had become a medical issue!!!
We knew some people attributed pica to mineral deficiencies..... specifically zinc. But others suggested iron..... and her ashened complexion was consistent with anemia. So we decided to take her to a new doctor, one that looked at the biological aspects of Autism......
THE BIG DECISION
...... but just as I feared this medical doctor ordered 42 tests!!!!!
Mind you, in the state of Ohio insurance companies are not required to pay for anything coded as Autism. ( I know this because despite having Speech Therapy benefits on our policy, they send us a denial based on the Autism diagnosis every month!!)
So, I crunched the numbers. I calculated what it would cost us... THOUSANDS!
No, not figuratively, but very literally.
So we were left feeling helpless, confused and mostly angry about what to do.....
Choice 1: Bite the bullet and get the tests and budget in monthly payments to pay this off ...... for the next... well, forever!! But, even if we did that.... then we couldn't afford any of the supplements that the doctor would suggest to address the Pica, because of the exorbitant costs of the tests. Yet alone, the nagging thought in the back of my head... even if they prescribe supplements, HOW would we get them in her?
Then there was...
Choice 2: Take a huge chance and put her on a Whole Food Nutrition Infused Supplement that we had been considering for the past16 months..... and basically cross our fingers and hope for the best. Yes, A Shot In The Dark!!
NINGXIA RED, A SOLUTION?
Just 1 ounce is like drinking...
- 4 lbs of Carrots (2 qts of carrot juice)
- 8 Oranges (1 pint of orange juice)
- 2 lbs. of Raw Beets (2 cups of beet juice)
- 3 cups of Blueberries
- 2 cups of Raspberries
What it really has in it...
- Ningxia Wolfberry Puree
- Blueberry Juice
- Pomegranate Juice
- Raspberry Juice
- Lemon and Orange Essential Oils
- Agave Nectar
- 18 Amino Acides
- 21 Trace Minerals
- 6 Essential Fatty Acids
- Vitamin B1, B2, B6, E
- Antioxdants
- Phytonutrients
Ningxia Wolfberry Nutrient Summary...
- 67 times the Thiamin (vitamin B1) of Brown Rice
- 2 times the Niacin (Vitamin B3) of Baker's Yeast
- 3 times the Vitamin C of raw oranges
- 2 times the Beta Carotene of Raw Spinach
Ningxia Wolfberry Minerals...
- Calcium
- Chromium
- Magnesium
- Potassium
- Copper
- Zinc
- Iron
WE WENT WITH DOOR #2
I Tried to get her to drink it plain.... with no success. However, her older sister LOVED it that way so much, we bought the single serving packets to put in HER lunch box.

However, we had to get creative... well, not too creative. We started by adding a tiny bit, like 1/4 ounce to her Organic Strawberry Smoothies (main part of her diet)... and she didn't detect it. We have since slowly increased the amount to 1 ounce per smoothie. This timeline demonstrates her consuming 1 - 3 ounces per day.
2 MONTH TIMELINE:
Earlier in December we put both kids on Ningxia Red for a week... we saw a 90% reduction in pica episodes (Note: She had been consuming various non-food items numerous times a day... including METAL and PLASTIC!!) But, we ran out and didn't buy more... I was still unsure whether or not I want to do this or the medical tests and labs. BUT THE PICA CAME BACK 100% AND I DECIDED THEN TO BUY MORE!
Here are my FaceBook Ningxia Red Related Statuses over the next several weeks...
12/30 Pica doesn't vacation .... even At grandma's! We need to go do that lab work ... so we can start the nutritional support!
1/08 Reintroduced Ningxia Red..... Whole Food Nutritional Antioxident Drink...... No pica this weekend and she ate Chicken, broccoli and noodles for dinner! This happened the first time we introduced it, so we Decided to hold off on labs since this is our desired outcome anyways!
1/10 Last night Sahara ate 25 shrimp, 3 apples, 5 cookies and 3 glasses of water.... Every time we introduce Ningxia Red she becomes this eating power house!! No PICA episodes since Saturday! ....And on a side note, Emily warms my heart!!
1/15 Sahara has been consistently on Ningxia Red for a week; 1-2 ounces a day..... A couple things I have noticed in just a week! .... Only 1 PICA incident all week, but not metal... In fact it was the eraser and she left the metal alone on the pencil and brought it to me (HUGE), her appetite has increased, she is sleeping better (laying down immediately, not Stimming by running in circles in the room and) the best for last..... Her color in her face is this beautiful blush pink (her OT noted 2 weeks ago she looked anemic in her face coloring.... I said I knew that!) Not only have I noticed this, but Jim and Emily noted it as well..... I am very optimistic in our choice to use the funds on this instead of labs... Stay tuned :)
1/17 Spent all morning researching Ningxia Red (YL's nutrition infused drink) and the Wolf-Berry...... prompted by the immediate results we are seeing w the girls. Even w YL products I have to do my research. #impressed
1/18 The BBC News reported that wolfberries may provide more dietary iron than steak. The Chinese Wolfberry has 9mg iron per 100 Grams.... Seen as one of the best plant sources of iron!! I KNEW HER COMPLEXION WAS BETTER FOR A REASON!!! YAHOOO.... #Ningxia Red
1/20 On a positive note .... Ningxia Red update... she is now refusing Wendy French Fries... She has eaten them 5 days a week for 2 years! (I know, I know, but my excuse was poison her or starve her) 1-2 ounces a day of infused nutrition!!!! Can make a huge difference! She wants NR instead!! Better nutrition, Slightly Pink cheeks, no pica, falling sleep better..... Why did I wait so long?
1/23 Day 16..... Sahara's complexion is 'normal' tonight!!! No pica!! I am going to schedule a gathering in Feb about this amazing drink!!!
1/26 I think the Ningxia Red is making her crave REAL food.... she hasn't touched a French Fry in over a week and now she is refusing bacon. #happydance
1/27 "Both the mineral profile and mineral balance of the Ningxia wolf-berry is without equal in the plant kingdom, with magnesium to calcium ratios at almost 1:1, zinc to copper ratios at 2:1 and potassium to magnesium rations at 8:1."
2/12 PICA update..... I can't believe it has been 5 weeks!!!!! I don't want to be premature, but I think we have resolved this issue. I still shudder thinking about how she was eating plastic and metal!! That was the worse..... fearing her choking or having internal injuries. THANK YOU Ningxia Red.... I am still in disbelief that this worked...... definitely a gift from our Creator!! *grateful tears*
2/12 PICA update: We ran out of Ningxia Red!!!! Sahara hasn't had any for 56 hours... Yes, I counted! She has lost the color she was getting in her complexion... So ashen (anemic looking!) and she was mouthing rocks again, first time in 5 weeks!! And she is craving junk food again.... THAT FAST! CONCLUSION: the NR is working for the PICA, anemia and appetite! And we will NOT run out again!
2/15 Dear PICA, I loathe you!! And be warned... the Ningxia Red (nutrition infused puree) will be here Friday and I will NEVER EVER run out again!!!! And therefore youwill be eradicated!! My daughter is off limits to you from that point on!!!Got it?? Signed, Me
2/17 FED EX IS HERE!! Woot Woot!!
2/19 PICA UPDATE: Back on Ningxia Red for 48 hrs. 1 confirmed incident of sucking on plastic. Her ashened color is gone and is an eating machine again! I need to write up this time line ... It is amazing to see first hand.
2/25 Morning Gratitude: 1 week back on Ningxia Red and the pica is gone againand her cheeks were pink last night..... This purée is a miracle! I thank God for providing us with everything we need, we just have to be willing to listen and take action.
2/27 Went through my posts over the last 2 months and pulled all of my updates on PICA and NINGXIA RED for my blog post.... SO GLAD I post about our milestones and struggles... My daughter's quality of life is better bc of Young Living and ningxia red.
CONCLUSION
I am not saying Ningxia Red treated or cured my daughter's Pica or other issues stemming from the Autism, but I will say, WE WILL ALWAYS HAVE NINGXIA RED IN OUR HOME AND I WILL MAKE SURE WE NEVER RUN OUT AGAIN!!!
I am convinced the Ningxia Red supported her body and gave her the nutrition she needed to deal with this very scary situation: PICA!! But, other observations are evident too: Decrease in Anxiety and Stimming, Improved Sleep, Immune System Enhancement.... and more. The results our entire family has had in the past 2 months has been staggering!!!
I don't know of anyone else who has used Ningxia Red with a child (or adult) with Pica; however I decided to do this when I learned about the zinc and iron content in the Wolfberry. In retrospect, I wish I had done the tests..... then put her on this product to see what really was happening at a phisiological. However, I am not willing to stop to see the regression just for statistics. Her daily progress and the halt of the consumption of metal, plastic, paper, etc is proof enough to me that this worked for us.
Do your own research... here are some places to start:
Ningxia Red: Ancient History part 1
Product Description and Studies

Friday, 2 December 2011
What Essential Oils does Alterna-Mom Use?

I have been asked several times lately which essential oils I use with my family. I only trust and use Young Living Essential Oils because I know how they are planted, farmed, harvested, and steam distilled... They are FDA approved for internal consumption and my little ones benefit from diffusing and topical application as well, which is the easiest way to reap the benefits of therapeutic/food grade essential oils.
We have used essential oils to address a wide variety of issues including (but not limited to):
- autism
- anxiety
- nutritional support
- sleep issues
- ring worm
- kidney stones
- poison ivy
- flu and cold
- pink eye
- wound care
- constipation
- academic support
- liver support
- immune enhancement
- melt downs
- and many many more!!!!
If you are wondering how to get started with Young Living Essential Oils. It’s really easy:
- Go to www.youngliving.org/alterna-mom
- Click the “sign up here” tab on the right hand side
- Click “Independent Distributor” to purchase all your Young Living products at the wholesale price
- Click "I Agree" on the distributor application. Note: As a wholesale customer the only part of the agreement that applies to you is you must have a minimum of 50PV / $50 worth of purchases a year, to maintain your wholesale pricing – That’s it! That is ALL you have to do to maintain your wholesale pricing discount.
- Please use my enroller and sponsor number “#1183617” to be a part of my team and a member of the Young Living Success Group (this is a group of people just like you taking charge of their emotional and physical health).
- Choose your “starter kit” …there are 5 to choose from. I personally started with the Everyday Oil kit.
- When your kit arrives I will go though it with you, show you how to use your $40 diffuser coupon and answer all your questions.
____________________________________________________________________________
Distributors/Wholesale Customers enjoy:
- Saving 24 percent off retail prices.
- Buy what you want, when you want.
- No required packs to buy.
- No obligation to sell anything, ever!
- No annual fee
- A $40 off mail-in coupon on a diffuser in every Start Living kit
Optional Savings
If you enjoy saving even more be sure to read about Essential Rewards to learn how you can earn free product!
I look forward to growing our Young Living community…please let me know if you have ANY questions about getting started with Young Living or which essential oils are best for your unique situation.
If you would like a skype consult... let me know that too. :)
Wednesday, 27 July 2011
Dear Autistic Friends... My Gratitude, Frustrations and Empowerment

Friday, 27 May 2011
Why I Blog
Monday, 11 April 2011
Still Autism Awareness Month: Your beliefs are important.

Friday, 1 April 2011
Autism Awareness Day: In a nutshell

I am a proud mother of 2 daughters; one who is exceptional beyond this label, and the other, a sibling who is just as spectacular. It took us 4 years to get 'professionals' to listen to us bc of gender issues. We are addressing Autism naturally without ABA nor meds... want to know more about autism or how it affects females.... ask me any day not just on this hallmark day!! I have met the most diverse and supportive folks on this journey... to you I am eternally grateful. My husband is supports me and the girls unconditionally on this journey. Autism has strengthened our relationship. We have learned, over tears and triumphs, that Autism isn't the end of dreams, but a beginning of new ones... I have high expectations for both of my children and am busting through the limitations certain 'professionals' put on them. Yes, having autism in our lives sucks at times, but it also is extraordinary. My daughter is incredible and has taught us more than you can imagine. Thank you for sharing this journey with my family.
Tuesday, 22 February 2011
More than I Bargained For

Sunday, 20 February 2011
Kidney Stone, Coke and Oil

Wednesday, 2 February 2011
Everyday Reiki Class for Special Needs Parents & Advocates

Tuesday, 1 February 2011
Book Review: A Course in Weight Loss

A Course in Weight Loss
21 Spiritual Lessons for Surrendering Your Weight Forever
By Marianne Williamson
Our body image… or rather our perception of our body image can be fundamental in the development of positive self-imagery within our children and teens. It is vital for us to model not only a positive sense of self, but to work through the emotions, traumas and experiences that might have contributed to our weight gain. This process will unleash the opportunity to mirror to our children solid foundations for a healthy imagery of their own.
I am not suggesting going on a diet and making positive affirmations in the mirror every morning. Besides the concept of a ‘diet’ being a charged utterance triggering emotional responses, ‘diet’ also implies a magic bullet that when combined with unnerving willpower, can get you to your desired weight; leaving you with the faulty expectation that the issue is resolved prompting you to return to your former lifestyle without further action… setting us up for huge disappointment and often failure… only further compacting the psyche of ourselves (and our kids) around body image.
I suggest a new refreshing approach… one that will lovingly persuade you to go introspective into the heart of your real weight issues: Marianne Williamson’s A Course in Weight Loss ~ 21 Spiritual Lessons for Surrendering Your Weight Forever. This is not a quick fix program. In fact, I venture to say that this program that must be done full-heartedly and precisely as Williamson presents it in order to obtain all of the growth and benefits that it suggests.
Without hesitation, I will firmly adhere to the stance that if you mindfully work through Williamson’s lessons addressing the physical and emotional issues residing within you, you most certainly will obtain true optimum health; a balance of physical, emotional and spiritual expressions of the self … which is really the goal right? And as you obtain this definition of true optimum health, you will be well on your way to your desired weight and physical goals without scales, diets and intense exercise regiments.
In Marianne Williamson’s A Course in Weight Loss, she not only addresses our self image and emotional experiences around our weight, but interlaces a deeper healing tool; 21 spiritual lessons that are intimate to the root of your weight issues. As we heal on this spiritual level, our pain which has been encoded on a cellular level is released. This is when and where true healing takes place.
Like Williamson, I believe that our life experiences can be held in the energetic essence and cells of our bodies which then manifests our physical form. As I explored her 21 spiritual lessons, I found myself facing life experiences that undoubtedly resulted in my weight gain. I inadvertently unveiled parts of me that had been dormant within my core for decades that had originated before being overweight was an issue... in fact, they stemmed from when I was dramatically underweight. All in which most certainly contributed to my current self-image.
You can explore these concepts at your own pace; discovering and growing beyond your weight issues… while uncovering the defenses that have unconsciously masked your pain as unwanted pounds. As you venture through this process you will begin to Remember who you really are… a spiritual being, perfect in the eyes of God and deserving of the ideal body you desire.
At the end of each lesson, Williamson presents a reflection and prayer. I believe this is the where the ultimate transformation really takes place. After the sometimes raw self-exploration is complete, you find yourself sitting in silence mirroring your true self stripped of the labels, expectations, defenses and manifestations of your life circumstances. It is in this moment of the lesson that you embrace the authentic you which allows real change to occur.
As we obtain our ideal weight and heal from our past wounds, we provide our children with healthy self-imagery. And it is in our positive sense of self that we can create within them unlimited opportunities to embrace healthy choices and processing of their life circumstances.
“Marianne Williamson is an internationally acclaimed lecturer and the best-seller author of numerous books. To learn more about her work, and to join her e-mail list for notices regarding her lectures and events, visit her website: www.marianne.com.”
Monday, 24 January 2011
Psst... Guess What??

I have a new love interest...
Yup, It's true and it all started this past summer.
I was passing another kidney stone while at Mamapalooza Columbus. I had taken Percocet the night before with no relief. After a sleepless night, I told hubby (as a committee coordinator) I was going to the festival regardless of the pain or not… besides being up and moving was the best way to get this stone to pass naturally.
At the festival, the stone caused a constant dull pain with moments of sharp jabs. I walked around with my hand on my side… I think 2 people (including a MD) asked if I was pregnant. (**shakes head**) The MD advised me how to clean up my diet to prevent more stones, but that wasn’t going to rid the pain I had in the moment.
I happened to stop at the essential oils booth and was talking about autism (Of course!). I found out they had an autism protocol… completely skeptical, I kindly took some info and walked on. However, If you know me, you know that I am inquisitive… so as the day went on I went back to this booth numerous times to ask questions about this “autism protocol”.
Finally, early afternoon, the girl at the booth asked if I was okay… I nonchalantly said, “You don’t happen to have anything for kidney stone pain, do you?” She gave me a smile and said, “Let’s find out.” She pulled out this huge reference guide to Young Living’s Essential Oils and was flipping through the pages…
“Here try this… Eucalyptus Blue.”
I put 1 drop where my pain was, talked to her briefly some more about the business side of the company… and moved on. About 15 minutes later I was chatting with another vendor who complimented me on how good I smelled… I chuckled and pointed to the oils booth and said, “It is an oil from their booth. Apparently Eucalyptus is supposed to help with kidney stone pain………Holy Shit… My pain is completely gone!!” Why is this so amazing... read this, this and this about my chronic kidney stones.
TRUE STORY!!
… and that is how I found out about Young Living’s Medical Grade Essential Oils.
Since then I have tried other oils with amazingly similar results.
Eucalyptus Blue… 1 drop continues to eliminate the pain the comes with my chronic kidney stones. However, this weekend I applied some with olive oil on my daughter’s chest and back and within minutes her croupy cough subsided and she was sound asleep for the first time in 2 weeks.
Thieves… Said to have anti-viral, antiseptic properties... Weber State University (Ogden, UT – 1997) studies showed anti-bacterial effectiveness against airborne microorganisms. Like I said, my daughter has been pretty sick for the past 2 weeks; fever, croupy cough, aches, pains, ear ache, etc. After 3 applications of thieves on her feet, she was up and walking about… slowly, but was up nonetheless. Oh, and this morning I ran out of laundry soap… we already had those magnets you can put in your washer, so I used those with a drop of the Thieves oil and ‘wa-la’… clean nice smelling clothes without the use of harsh chemicals. Have to love it!!
Peppermint… We have used for indigestion, muscle pain after falling on the ice, and for mental alertness.
Lavender… 1 drop on a cotton ball put in our daughter’s bedroom and she is asleep within 30 minutes. This is our ASD child that has had chronic sleep issues since birth!! We have also used this one for muscle aches and ear aches.
Peace and Calming… 1 drop on a cotton ball in the Master Bedroom melts away the stress of the day for myself and hubby. Have also used this over the liver (Blue Tansy is said to cleanse the liver.)
Valor… A few drops mixed with olive oil rubbed along the spine is fantastic… they don’t call it a chiropractor in a bottle for nothing… love love love this one. I have also used this one for grounding myself before reiki sessions and for self-confidence building for myself and children.
So, these are the testimonies I have so far in my own household… I plan to document more on this blog as we explore more. In fact, I am so excited about the outcomes that I have signed up to be a distributor… but be sure that that isn’t because I am looking for a quick buck… this product line is exceptional and meets my standards and ethics.
Oh, and about that autism protocol… I haven’t done anything with it yet, but am still looking into it. One of my concerns was that Sahara doesn’t like to get wet (sensory issues), but I have found that putting the oil on a cotton ball or on her feet works well. I am going to a class this week to hear a mom talk about what oils she used successfully with her ASD child… I will let you know what I find out on another post.
In the meantime, if you are interested in learning more visit http://www.youngliving.com . If you decide you would like to place an order, would you be so kindly to reference my number 1183617
Sunday, 14 March 2010
Kidney Stone Update...

The CAT scan revealed I had a total of 18 kidney stones.
5 on the right side, ranging 2-4 millimeters.
13 on the left ranging side, 2-8 millimeters.
They blasted the 6 & 8 millimeter ones on the left with sound waves... I have been passing gravel since Ground Hog’s Day.
The remaining ones have to be passed ‘naturally’. Tonight I am in severe pain and am pretty sure that I am passing one of the larger ones on the right. All I can do is drink water since the remaining stones are all 4 millimeters or less. But, do not let that size mislead you... it hurts.
I am perplexed as to how I got so many, and am darn annoyed with how much water I have to drink. All I can do is drink, send Reiki, and try to stay active... activity helps move them. However, tonight I choose to park it on the couch.
Saturday, 13 February 2010
Stoned and Unemployed
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Thursday, 8 October 2009
My Name Is Not Autism!
