It is 2012.

Holy Cow. It's 2012. I feel like yesterday it was 1996 and I was dreaming of getting my license in 2000.

But nay, it is in fact 2012.

I will write about the whirlwind of the last year. Once I start to make sense of the adventure we've taken on.

But for now I will write about The Prince.

I wrote a post almost a year ago to the day filled with regret and heartache.
Seth was a mess of health issues and questions.

Three nights ago he had his first ear infection in a year. It lasted one night exactly.
I lay in bed beside him trying to push aside all the fears that suddenly smacked me in the face once again. Only this time so very far away from free health care… And decided fear will not win.

One year ago I cried and sat bewildered at my kitchen table, hopeless planning the chaos that would most certainly follow no medication for an ADHD child. Now I sit on my patio, in another country, with plans of park trips and library visits.

A wise mother emailed me after she read my rant. Then we chatted on the phone. I heard hope. And I responded.

Seth has now been Gluten/Casein Free for one year this weekend. ONE YEAR.

I have a different child then before. I know now that for him there is an allergy to gluten/casein that sets of the intense, damaging behaviour. If you don't believe it, give him a glass of milk and watch him fall apart and come back together over a two week period. (Though he'd probably refuse to drink it in the first place.) It's happened enough that we can pinpoint a bad day or a food reaction.

In our kitchen we have loads of fruits and veggies. We read labels on everything we buy and make most of our meals entirely friendly to everyone in the house. Cherry by default is on the same diet.

The kids have never been healthier. While The Hubby and I have sat with pouring noses and scratchy throats on the couch for days, The Kiddos remained illness free.

Seth now asks three questions when someone offers him food:
Does it have gluten?
Does it have dairy?
Does it have food colouring?

He's incredible. He sleeps at night. Through the night. Every night.
He wakes up and can make himself breakfast.
He has friends he adores.
He can read brilliantly, his writing gets neater by the day and his math skills can put mine to shame.

And if you were to meet my bright eyed boysie, you'd never know that one year ago he was at the end of his rope, as was I.

I know it seems like a bewildering amount of work, this food diet. But it's NOT. We don't eat McDonald's at all (but In N' Out has a special menu), we avoid junk food and we LOVE a good barrel of clementines. His body is thanking us.

So as he cried over his ear ache three nights ago, I made garlic and olive oil drops. I rubbed Olbas Oil around his ear and Oil of Oregano on his feet. I made him eat powder probiotics mixed in a spoonful of jam and I gave him Manuka Honey. I then cuddled him, nice and tight, prayed, and went to sleep.

I am thankful every, single day for that Momma who decided to teach me. Every. Single. Day.

So I'm passing along a little bit of her courage. WE CAN DO BETTER FOR OUR CHILDREN. They're worth it.

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Last Year's Post. Hear My Heart...