The end. For now.

Before I begin a post that is long overdue, I really would love to thank the readers and dear friends I have out there! It's neat how people come up to you and say "I read your blog! It's very interesting - I have a friend who has kids with autism..." (that was from little sister Val *hug*), or when people you haven't even met, make their chat status read "Gotta love the Cinderella Rain and Dancing Bananas" and your heart explodes (that was for robot number BF3L:RCPB - you know who you are!) Little comments and awareness-moments like these really do give me the confirmation that I am of help...or rather, my NBear is :) So, I do thank you all so very much! And now, we begin.....

Carolyn's holiday blog break was certainly nothing compared to this recent insane hiatus of mine (more like a hibernation, if you ask me!), but I'm so glad I'm back (and you're still here).

You are, right?...hello?......anyone out there?....

We made a very difficult decision after the new year hit: Nbear would have to stop her biomeds program, just until we could get back on our feet again. *sob* The Huz was the first to bring it up, which was a LOT ironic, being he was the force du jour in this entire scenario. Needless to say, the times are not on our side -- nor that of the entire nation's!

So, with a heavy heart, we agreed to use up the last of the B-12 shots, the glutathione ointment, and continue to give her the supplements until they too were gone. (Of course he made it VERY clear that this was just a "break", and nothing more!) So, I braced myself for an extreme regression period, or - heaven forbid - the devastation of seeing all of our hard work (and hard-earned money) go down the drain in the form of losing NBear's progress completely!

I have to admit, without the daily schedule of supplements and measuring spoons and watching the clock, and write that down to remind us that we already gave it to her this morning, and today is shot day will she stay still and so on and so forth, I immediately noticed the very first change -- but it wasn't with NBear.

My husband's stress level had taken a wonderful, almost Olympic-level dive. :) All the months of biomeds and DAN! protocols had certainly taken their toll (though we certainly don't regret any of it), and it was nice to see the "ease" seep back into his eyes. It made me - yet again - aware of how lucky other parents were, not having to go through what we in the A-club world go through. And oh! How wonderful it was to just have to take the AFP tablets with us, and be free of the arsenal NBear usually had to have: to not have to pack her meds when we anticipated staying late at a get-together (though we still have to pack some of her gfcf food) was heaven.

Did she change?
Honestly, I'd have to give the dreaded two-fold answer.

Yes: She has been Ms. Defiant these past few weeks, but has taken an interest in rollerskating, thanks to the Christmas present from daddy. I'm not sure if her frustration lies in the fact that the 2-week Christmas break didn't offer her much of a "fun" schedule (that would be mom's fault), or if she's at an age where she's just more aware of...well, not wanting to follow orders. Isn't that puberty, though? *ugh*

No: Other than the aforementioned, however, she is still my very verbal, very playful, very social NBear. Sure the language still needs work, but she has still retained what we saw her gain. I love watching her play, play, play with MBear. She does get her silly moments (and that's when I remember Dr. Mielke's warning about yeast overgrowth, and have to warn myself to calm down, and just enjoy the laughing spell for what it is) and I am warmed.

I have a feeling - despite what our nation faces in these dreary times - that the best...
is yet...
to come. :)

Happy new year!