An Update On Aubrey

Well, where to start? Since opening up with you on the whole journey we have been going on with Aubrey, we have had so many things begin and change.Let me start by saying that Rob and I are firm believers in trying the natural approach to our health before anything else. When we were told last June by a behavioral specialist that he was prediagnosed with ADHD, Autism, and Anxiety Disorder, we took a long hard look at our lives, our parenting and anything else that could be triggers so that we could help find coaping mechanisms for his outbursts. We read articles, watched documentaries, you name it.This past Fall, Aubrey, who has always complained about stomach pains, began to complain even more. He stopped eating almost fully and was having issues using the bathroom (it wouldn't happen and when it did, it wasn't healthy). We finally said enough is enough and took him to our family doctors. She suggested taking him for a blood test to see if he was celiac but said the easier route at his age is to try the elimination diet because it could be a food allergy. The kid didn't eat as it is, we were worried, if we took away the foods that we could get into him (we will admit they were not healthy) he may not eat at all. He wasn't good with change and refused to try anything new. We just didn't think it would work.After a few months of humming and hawing and reading about gluten and what it can do to your body and mind, we finally decided to cut gluten out of his diet in February. After a few weeks, we noticed his mood was more steady and he was focusing easier. But, his pains were still there. Some days he wouldn't even want to stand up straight. So we did the next thing we could think of and cut out dairy.Dairy, we thought would be hard. He LIVED off milk and cheese and yogurt in any form. But, between the doctor and us explaining to him why his tummy could be hurting from milk (it helps that he knew I was allergic) he actually made the switch beautifully.Two weeks went by and with no dairy or gluten in his system, he all of a sudden had an appetite. His lunch kit would come home almost empty and he'd be begging for snacks and to eat supper. He started to actually have a daily schedule for his bathroom trips and the only time we heard of his stomach pains, were right before he used the washroom. We finally helped his poor little tummy and now he eats so much goodness all day every day.But, that's not why I'm writing this post. Without noticing until a few weeks in, Aubrey became a totally different kid. At school, he was having mostly great days with minimal outbursts and was easily brought down with a quick reminder from his teachers. We were even told last week that he has actually started being able to participate in group activities and has created some great friendships (I'm literally bawling as I write that). We are so insanely proud of him yet so shocked at how these changes in his diet have such a crazy effect on your mind.On Monday, we went back to the behavioral specialist for a checkup. I updated him on what was in place and how it was affecting his behavior and he was actively trying to deny it all, fighting that there are no studies to prove that could happen (there are) and then telling me that it was his idea to cut out dairy (he said no such thing). His only way to try an justify the change was that Aubrey had grown out of the pre-diagnosis, or that he must be celiac and we need to have him tested so we need to put him back on gluten until the Fall to properly test. Why on earth would we do that after making so much progress? He also asked if we have put him on medication.....NO! In the end, he told me that he had nothing to add to our case and that he would be discharging Aubrey.We took Aubrey's health into our own hands, and with the help of his amazing teachers and our family, we have made big changes for the better with him. We are just so shocked that now in 2018, Medical Doctors have yet to accept the direct correlation between diet and our health issues.We are just starting this new chapter with Aubrey and will keep updating you as we go!