Our family has quite a few food allergies and so it makes eating normal shit like BBQ sauce, Cocktail Sauce and Ketchup a mess.
So, I generally make my own.
Here is our BBQ sauce recipe:
1/2 cup of ketchup
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
salt
pepper
garlic
onion
chilli pepper
thyme
paprika
The spices I add a dash of this and a dash of that, and I stir it all together in a measuring cup and transfer to jars to keep.
NOW, if you're really lazy, you could get a McCormick BBQ pulled pork seasoning packet and just use the packet in with the ACV, Ketchup and brown sugar.
Tis quite nummy and very easy.
Monday, August 12, 2013
MORE frustration, billing sucks
Today, I called Theraplay to schedule him for his visits.
They schedule a month out, so slots fill up quickly. Well, when I called I was informed that Aetna does not cover for developmental delay. I informed the person on the phone we had an approval and that Aetna would cover it.
I'm guessing you can figure out that this conversation did not go well, because it really fucking didn't.
She went on to tell me that nothing had changed and I was mistaken. I told her I WAS NOT mistaken and three people in my home heard the conversation I had on Saturday verifying that Aetna did give us an approval even though that we don't have an official diagnosis.
She kept trying to tell me I was mistaken.
I fucking was livid. "I'm sorry you're crying. . ." No shit I'm crying!!! I have been trying for a solid MONTH to try and get my son help that he needs and you assholes are causing major frustration.
I can't afford $850!
"Well, ma'am that's for a block of 10 visits, which your chart says he needs 2 visits a week for 12 weeks."
Yeah, so I'd need over $1700 for THREE MONTHS!
"Well, your copay is $50, why can't you pay $200 a week?"
My head just burst at that comment. How dare she. HOW DARE SHE.
I told her we had half reimbursed through my husbands work and that we could not afford another $200 a week to get my son the help he needs.
She then told me to apply for medical assistance and medicaid. At that point I told her to figure it out and call me back. I was really fucking pissed off.
Of course I posted it on facebook and collected my thoughts. I messaged people I knew in the insurance industry. Then, I called corporate. I got a really nice woman who was LIVID that I was talked to the way I was talked to and she encouraged me to write the president of the company and the VP and let them know what is going on and if they can do anything to help us.
She told me that the location I was working with is saying that the person I talked to on Saturday was new and just calling to book people.
I told her I didn't believe that for a second. Then I told her why. I told her that I verified everything with this woman on Saturday, I told her we didn't have a diagnosis code and she even gave me resources to try and get one sooner.
The conversation ended with me, again, voicing my frustration at this, that I'm doing what they told me to do and if someone made a mistake, it's a pretty fucking big one. I finally have the diagnosis codes and the person in billing told me to call my insurance company and find out if they will approve therapy for him under any of these codes. Then I call my pediatrician and see if they will USE one of those diagnosis codes so my son can get treatment.
Essentially, I need everyone to play ball. I'm not going to hold my breath for it.
They schedule a month out, so slots fill up quickly. Well, when I called I was informed that Aetna does not cover for developmental delay. I informed the person on the phone we had an approval and that Aetna would cover it.
I'm guessing you can figure out that this conversation did not go well, because it really fucking didn't.
She went on to tell me that nothing had changed and I was mistaken. I told her I WAS NOT mistaken and three people in my home heard the conversation I had on Saturday verifying that Aetna did give us an approval even though that we don't have an official diagnosis.
She kept trying to tell me I was mistaken.
I fucking was livid. "I'm sorry you're crying. . ." No shit I'm crying!!! I have been trying for a solid MONTH to try and get my son help that he needs and you assholes are causing major frustration.
I can't afford $850!
"Well, ma'am that's for a block of 10 visits, which your chart says he needs 2 visits a week for 12 weeks."
Yeah, so I'd need over $1700 for THREE MONTHS!
"Well, your copay is $50, why can't you pay $200 a week?"
My head just burst at that comment. How dare she. HOW DARE SHE.
I told her we had half reimbursed through my husbands work and that we could not afford another $200 a week to get my son the help he needs.
She then told me to apply for medical assistance and medicaid. At that point I told her to figure it out and call me back. I was really fucking pissed off.
Of course I posted it on facebook and collected my thoughts. I messaged people I knew in the insurance industry. Then, I called corporate. I got a really nice woman who was LIVID that I was talked to the way I was talked to and she encouraged me to write the president of the company and the VP and let them know what is going on and if they can do anything to help us.
She told me that the location I was working with is saying that the person I talked to on Saturday was new and just calling to book people.
I told her I didn't believe that for a second. Then I told her why. I told her that I verified everything with this woman on Saturday, I told her we didn't have a diagnosis code and she even gave me resources to try and get one sooner.
The conversation ended with me, again, voicing my frustration at this, that I'm doing what they told me to do and if someone made a mistake, it's a pretty fucking big one. I finally have the diagnosis codes and the person in billing told me to call my insurance company and find out if they will approve therapy for him under any of these codes. Then I call my pediatrician and see if they will USE one of those diagnosis codes so my son can get treatment.
Essentially, I need everyone to play ball. I'm not going to hold my breath for it.
Saturday, August 10, 2013
Foodie- a quick lunch
I made this with mostly things laying about but it's so good that I have to share.
One breast of chicken, rice noodles, gf soy sauce, brown sugar and a zucchini from our garden.
I cooked all together in a saucepan and instant yum.
Bittersweet
With the sweet comes the bitter.
Today I got a phone call from Theraplay saying that our insurance gave us approval for treatment.
I felt so bad for the woman. I answered the phone and thought it was our peditrician as they are in the same area. She identified herself and I thought it would be a call to check in and ask if we wanted to schedule, blah blah.
Well, it wasn't. "Hi, I'm xyz from Theraplay and I just wanted to let you know your insurance authorised treatment for ....."
I think I said "what?! Seriously?!" And I just cried. The poor woman was taken aback and didn't know what she did wrong and I quickly through tears told her this was good, happy tears, that it was wonderful and I explained the situation.
She also gave me some resources to call to get a hard diagnosis faster and get more resources opened up to us.
While all that awesomeness happened.
Now he's in the bathroom melting down because he needs to go pee pee before getting in the van and he doesn't want to go.
So, poor husband is sitting in there with a melting down child trying to explain why we need to pee before we go anywhere.
This was totally my bad. In my rush to get us out I didn't ask and he had made it to the car before I said in my head "shit. He needs to pee" and I even bargained with him asking him if he would go pee on the tree instead.
Nope. So, it's going on 15 minutes of meltdown because he doesn't want to pee.
And that's ok! I'm focusing on "we have approval and I have help on the way!"
Friday, August 9, 2013
All we need is just a little patience
As I sit here watching the Philadelphia Eagles first preseason game, I totally missed the Cowpunks preseason HOF game (oh, darn!) and I have Guns N Roses playing on youtube, I'm decompressing today.
Today has been a hard day on him. I keep blaming myself because we didn't go anywhere today. We didn't DO anything today. No one came over. Of course he was bored out of his skull and of course if you need stimulation you're going to do anything you can to get it.
This involves pushing the baby off the Train Table.
Now, this is a normal occurrence at our home. Big Brother pushes the baby (who is not a baby anymore, he's a toddler) when he gets frustrated. If the baby takes a toy, nabs food, is screaming or is just being a baby and invading his space.
I get it.
However, I hold him accountable for his actions. I tell him it's okay to be frustrated and it's okay to want to get his anger and frustration out but we can't hurt people. At. All.
This has been a long road for me, because I was brought up in a home that hits. I refuse to use the word 'spank' because, honestly, it's hitting.
I think hitting anyone is wrong. Full stop. Well, unless you're in the UFC or it's your kink, but I digress.
When I would get really frustrated or angry, I would want to hit. I wanted to vent that anger/frustration/whatever in the way I was TAUGHT. I'm breaking that cycle. I know it's wrong. And with my sons limitations, it's really fucking wrong to hit him. So we do a LOT of 'time in' time. This generally means I take him to a quiet area and we cuddle or I let him scream and cry and be angry in a safe space.
After the second time, it was nap time and he cuddled until he went to sleep. He had a great nap but then woke up insanely upset. Like sobbing hysterically. I ran to him and he was so upset that he woke up in a wet bed. I hugged him and told him it was okay. It was okay that he had an accident. These things happened. Then he started telling me about how he was sad and scared and we just hugged more and more and more.
He helped me bring the sheets down and as soon as he saw Daddy he lost it. He wanted to go outside, he was upset I wouldn't let him bring his Artoo onto the trampoline. Meltdown. Then he wanted Daddy to carry him, which he did until he couldn't any more and then he had another meltdown. Then he asked to go outside and we said of course he could go on the trampoline. Meltdown. He didn't want to go on the trampoline, he wanted to go on the swings. So Daddy took him outside to get on the swings. Meltdown. The swings were wet.
At this point I felt like I was in that blog that has photos of kids crying? Yeah. ANYTHING I did was wrong. It gets frustrating, but this world is frustrating to him and I have more coping mechanisms than he does. I can suck it up.
The current issue is he needs to eat dinner, but he wants to eat peanutbutter cups. DAMN ME AND MY CRAFTY FOODIE SELF. Aaaahhh!
Eventually he will eat his dinner and he can have a peanutbutter cup then. And how about that, he's eating his chicken. Yay. Go me.
That's what is so rewarding about all this for me, I keep telling myself to be patient. To give my son the grace that I wasn't afforded.
Today has been a hard day on him. I keep blaming myself because we didn't go anywhere today. We didn't DO anything today. No one came over. Of course he was bored out of his skull and of course if you need stimulation you're going to do anything you can to get it.
This involves pushing the baby off the Train Table.
Now, this is a normal occurrence at our home. Big Brother pushes the baby (who is not a baby anymore, he's a toddler) when he gets frustrated. If the baby takes a toy, nabs food, is screaming or is just being a baby and invading his space.
I get it.
However, I hold him accountable for his actions. I tell him it's okay to be frustrated and it's okay to want to get his anger and frustration out but we can't hurt people. At. All.
This has been a long road for me, because I was brought up in a home that hits. I refuse to use the word 'spank' because, honestly, it's hitting.
I think hitting anyone is wrong. Full stop. Well, unless you're in the UFC or it's your kink, but I digress.
When I would get really frustrated or angry, I would want to hit. I wanted to vent that anger/frustration/whatever in the way I was TAUGHT. I'm breaking that cycle. I know it's wrong. And with my sons limitations, it's really fucking wrong to hit him. So we do a LOT of 'time in' time. This generally means I take him to a quiet area and we cuddle or I let him scream and cry and be angry in a safe space.
After the second time, it was nap time and he cuddled until he went to sleep. He had a great nap but then woke up insanely upset. Like sobbing hysterically. I ran to him and he was so upset that he woke up in a wet bed. I hugged him and told him it was okay. It was okay that he had an accident. These things happened. Then he started telling me about how he was sad and scared and we just hugged more and more and more.
He helped me bring the sheets down and as soon as he saw Daddy he lost it. He wanted to go outside, he was upset I wouldn't let him bring his Artoo onto the trampoline. Meltdown. Then he wanted Daddy to carry him, which he did until he couldn't any more and then he had another meltdown. Then he asked to go outside and we said of course he could go on the trampoline. Meltdown. He didn't want to go on the trampoline, he wanted to go on the swings. So Daddy took him outside to get on the swings. Meltdown. The swings were wet.
At this point I felt like I was in that blog that has photos of kids crying? Yeah. ANYTHING I did was wrong. It gets frustrating, but this world is frustrating to him and I have more coping mechanisms than he does. I can suck it up.
The current issue is he needs to eat dinner, but he wants to eat peanutbutter cups. DAMN ME AND MY CRAFTY FOODIE SELF. Aaaahhh!
Eventually he will eat his dinner and he can have a peanutbutter cup then. And how about that, he's eating his chicken. Yay. Go me.
That's what is so rewarding about all this for me, I keep telling myself to be patient. To give my son the grace that I wasn't afforded.
Foodie- GF/DF Peanutbutter cups!
Am I the only person in the world who hears this guy when someone says 'peanutbutter cups?' No? Oh, good.
Anyway, finding gluten free AND dairy free peanut butter cups has been a bit frustrating. Not like we eat them on a daily basis, but sometimes, you just need a peanutbutter cup.
I found this recipe and it looked easily adaptable to Gluten and Dairy free. My notes will be in BLUE.
Anyway, finding gluten free AND dairy free peanut butter cups has been a bit frustrating. Not like we eat them on a daily basis, but sometimes, you just need a peanutbutter cup.
I found this recipe and it looked easily adaptable to Gluten and Dairy free. My notes will be in BLUE.
16 oz semi-sweet or milk chocolate, chopped (or use chips)
I used Kirkland semisweet chocolate chips. (it's not certified GF/DF so FYI.)
2 Tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
2 Tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
I used REFINED coconut oil. (WHY refined? Because peanutbutter and coconut isn't big on my palate.)
1/3 cup confectioners sugar
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
Directions:
In a small glass bowl, heat half of the chocolate in the microwave for 30-60 seconds. Remove from the microwave once the chips begin to slightly melt. Use a fork to stir until smooth, using the heat of the chocolate to melt the remaining chips entirely. If needed, re-heat in 10 second intervals until smooth. DO NOT over heat the chocolate, as it will burn and seize.
1/3 cup confectioners sugar
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
Directions:
In a small glass bowl, heat half of the chocolate in the microwave for 30-60 seconds. Remove from the microwave once the chips begin to slightly melt. Use a fork to stir until smooth, using the heat of the chocolate to melt the remaining chips entirely. If needed, re-heat in 10 second intervals until smooth. DO NOT over heat the chocolate, as it will burn and seize.
This is pretty accurate. It took us a full 60 seconds to get it melted, I wouldn't do it in a full shot, make sure to stop half way and stir to prevent burning.
Line a muffin tin with cupcake papers. Spoon a small amount (about 2 teaspoons) of chocolate into the bottom of each paper. Tap the pan on your counter top to help smooth and spread the chocolate. Place the pan in the freezer for 15 minutes to harden the chocolate. Meanwhile, prepare the peanut butter.
Line a muffin tin with cupcake papers. Spoon a small amount (about 2 teaspoons) of chocolate into the bottom of each paper. Tap the pan on your counter top to help smooth and spread the chocolate. Place the pan in the freezer for 15 minutes to harden the chocolate. Meanwhile, prepare the peanut butter.
When I read 'tap it on the counter' I was all 'foreals!?' Totally worked. Totally.
In a small bowl, beat together peanut butter, butter and confectioners sugar until smooth and fluffy. Remove the pan from the freezer, and spoon a small amount of peanut butter on to the chocolate layer. Again, tap on counter top to level and spread the peanut butter. Return the pan to the freezer and allow to harden for about 15 minutes.
Repeat the first step and melt the remaining chocolate in the same manner. Spoon the top chocolate layer over the peanut butter and return to freezer.
Serve very cold, and enjoy!
Recipe Source: Adapted from Fifteen Spatulas
In a small bowl, beat together peanut butter, butter and confectioners sugar until smooth and fluffy. Remove the pan from the freezer, and spoon a small amount of peanut butter on to the chocolate layer. Again, tap on counter top to level and spread the peanut butter. Return the pan to the freezer and allow to harden for about 15 minutes.
Repeat the first step and melt the remaining chocolate in the same manner. Spoon the top chocolate layer over the peanut butter and return to freezer.
Serve very cold, and enjoy!
Recipe Source: Adapted from Fifteen Spatulas
All in all this is really easy and I made it WHILE cleaning up dinner. I haven't pulled one out yet, but I will and I'll update when I do.
Ok, these are pretty AH-MAZ-ING.
Foodie- grilled salmon
I used this recipe for the marinated salmon we are eating tonight. It has a simple sweet and salty flavor and baby, husband and I really enjoy it!
It's a very simple recipe:
Salmon, brown sugar, soy sauce, oil, salt, garlic and water.
http://m.allrecipes.com/recipe/12720/grilled-salmon-i
If you're gluten free, make sure to use gluten free ingredients! Soy sauce has wheat in it, make sure to get gluten free soy sauce!
And yes, those are my legs.
Sunday, August 4, 2013
Frustrated
Today was a really, really hard day.
All weekend long we were telling him that he would get to meet Darth Vader. We love Star Wars in this house, we love the music, the movies, the stories, all of it. It's just wonderful. So when I found out a local museum was having a Star Wars day, we were stoked.
But I didn't do my homework. I took the photo posted to my facebook that it was 'this weekend!' It wasn't. It was a weekend last month. It's my fault. I should of checked it out before hand. I didn't. I own it.
Today started much like any other day. I try and make sure we have a set schedule for him, he does well on schedules.
He woke up. Had breakfast. Had TV time. Had story time. Had lunch. Then it was time to get dressed and go to a birthday party. He was fine. FINE. Until we got to the party.
He lost it. Just lost it. We should of gotten there early. We should of walked around and let him transition. We didn't. We paid for it. He threw a fit. He cried. He hid. Thank gods I brought a stroller.
But every time he would start to calm down someone had to look into the stroller and invade his space and he would fall back into the meltdown/hiding.
Fuck.
How do I tell people to back the fuck off without being completely rude?
We tried leaving. He didn't want to leave. We tried some car time. Headphones. Everything. WE TRIED IT ALL and he just kept melting down until we went to have cake.
That he enjoyed. I got about 20 minutes of him not flipping out while he ate cake.
We got in the car, he flipped out a bit, then napped. Woke up. And right back into the flip out. Right back into the crying, holding his head, his ears, hiding, shaking. AND I HAD IT!
But I can't do anything about it. I can't hit or yell at him. It would only make it worse. So we went upstairs and hugged and cuddled while he cried. And came back down and went back up and back down. By now husband was making dinner, that our older son refused to eat but the baby devoured and had thirds, and I walked outback and I just cried.
Why can't I have a child that wants to play!? That wants to do cool shit!? Why?!
And WHY do I have to defend him!? Why do I have to tell people when I vent on my facebook "NO SUGGESTIONS" or "NO UNSOLICITED ADVISE?!" Why can't I just feel pissed off?! Why can't I just say "THIS FUCKING SUCKS!!!" without someone saying 'you're not trying hard enough' or 'have you tried this?!'
MAYBE I JUST WANT TO FEEL. MAYBE I WANT TO SAY 'THIS SUCKS' And not feel judged or think that people think I don't love my son!
This does suck. This is hard. I love my son, fiercely. I don't love what we're going through, but I know it will make me a stronger parent.
All weekend long we were telling him that he would get to meet Darth Vader. We love Star Wars in this house, we love the music, the movies, the stories, all of it. It's just wonderful. So when I found out a local museum was having a Star Wars day, we were stoked.
But I didn't do my homework. I took the photo posted to my facebook that it was 'this weekend!' It wasn't. It was a weekend last month. It's my fault. I should of checked it out before hand. I didn't. I own it.
Today started much like any other day. I try and make sure we have a set schedule for him, he does well on schedules.
He woke up. Had breakfast. Had TV time. Had story time. Had lunch. Then it was time to get dressed and go to a birthday party. He was fine. FINE. Until we got to the party.
He lost it. Just lost it. We should of gotten there early. We should of walked around and let him transition. We didn't. We paid for it. He threw a fit. He cried. He hid. Thank gods I brought a stroller.
But every time he would start to calm down someone had to look into the stroller and invade his space and he would fall back into the meltdown/hiding.
Fuck.
How do I tell people to back the fuck off without being completely rude?
We tried leaving. He didn't want to leave. We tried some car time. Headphones. Everything. WE TRIED IT ALL and he just kept melting down until we went to have cake.
That he enjoyed. I got about 20 minutes of him not flipping out while he ate cake.
We got in the car, he flipped out a bit, then napped. Woke up. And right back into the flip out. Right back into the crying, holding his head, his ears, hiding, shaking. AND I HAD IT!
But I can't do anything about it. I can't hit or yell at him. It would only make it worse. So we went upstairs and hugged and cuddled while he cried. And came back down and went back up and back down. By now husband was making dinner, that our older son refused to eat but the baby devoured and had thirds, and I walked outback and I just cried.
Why can't I have a child that wants to play!? That wants to do cool shit!? Why?!
And WHY do I have to defend him!? Why do I have to tell people when I vent on my facebook "NO SUGGESTIONS" or "NO UNSOLICITED ADVISE?!" Why can't I just feel pissed off?! Why can't I just say "THIS FUCKING SUCKS!!!" without someone saying 'you're not trying hard enough' or 'have you tried this?!'
MAYBE I JUST WANT TO FEEL. MAYBE I WANT TO SAY 'THIS SUCKS' And not feel judged or think that people think I don't love my son!
This does suck. This is hard. I love my son, fiercely. I don't love what we're going through, but I know it will make me a stronger parent.
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Foodie- quinoa salad
This is a pretty easy one and so yummy.
I make quinoa and mix with black beans and corn then throw on this orange Vinaigrette.
Orange because I'm lazy, I have them and did I mention I'm lazy???
Toss together and serve warm, or cold! Oh, this needs salt but it's SOOOOOOO good!!!
I make quinoa and mix with black beans and corn then throw on this orange Vinaigrette.
Orange because I'm lazy, I have them and did I mention I'm lazy???
Toss together and serve warm, or cold! Oh, this needs salt but it's SOOOOOOO good!!!
Playdates
Playdates are just so awesome. Seriously. Letting the kids wander and play and be kids while parents get some much needed adult time.
It also gives me time to look at my son with his peers. How he does with them. Does he play with them? Does he stay alone? Does he follow and try and engage?
My life, always on.
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
More of that "HURRY UP!!!! WAIT!!!" Crap.
I really doubt people who do this therapy bullshit for kids have had to navigate this shit.
Honestly.
Today's Therapy eval did not go well. I am not happy and I'm left feeling more alone and frustrated.
The first thing they did was tell me 'Since your son has high functioning Autism e qualifies for supplemental visits.. . .'
I stopped her right there and asked who said that. Who diagnosed him? She couldn't tell me. She implied that I told them that he has been diagnosed.
Since Theraplay doesn't diagnose, they only treat, they can not give him a diagnosis. Without a diagnosis my insurance will not pay for anything. It would be $100 out of pocket for every visit, if I purchase a block of 10 visits, it's only $850.
Wait, there's more.
They recommend that he has, to start, 12 weeks of biweekly visits, so 24 visits.
IF we get a diagnosis that contains ASD we would have our visits covered. Ok. Who gives that diagnosis? The Developmental Pediatrician who has a wait of 8-10 months.
What else can I do?! "Oh, you might qualify for state insurance, we take Keystone Mercy, but they just closed open enrollment so you'd have to go on that waiting list too."
What about IU? "They don't diagnosis either, and they have a long wait."
Can I try another pediatrician? "CHOP is an 18 month wait just to get on the list to get an appointment." (WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK.)
Or, they told me, that I can go to a developmental pediatrician that doesn't take insurance and get the diagnosis from them or from a Pediatric Psychologist.
Well, itsn't that fucking lovely.
I want to give up, but I won't. More than likely I will flick them all off and go at this alone.
Honestly.
Today's Therapy eval did not go well. I am not happy and I'm left feeling more alone and frustrated.
The first thing they did was tell me 'Since your son has high functioning Autism e qualifies for supplemental visits.. . .'
I stopped her right there and asked who said that. Who diagnosed him? She couldn't tell me. She implied that I told them that he has been diagnosed.
Since Theraplay doesn't diagnose, they only treat, they can not give him a diagnosis. Without a diagnosis my insurance will not pay for anything. It would be $100 out of pocket for every visit, if I purchase a block of 10 visits, it's only $850.
Wait, there's more.
They recommend that he has, to start, 12 weeks of biweekly visits, so 24 visits.
IF we get a diagnosis that contains ASD we would have our visits covered. Ok. Who gives that diagnosis? The Developmental Pediatrician who has a wait of 8-10 months.
What else can I do?! "Oh, you might qualify for state insurance, we take Keystone Mercy, but they just closed open enrollment so you'd have to go on that waiting list too."
What about IU? "They don't diagnosis either, and they have a long wait."
Can I try another pediatrician? "CHOP is an 18 month wait just to get on the list to get an appointment." (WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK.)
Or, they told me, that I can go to a developmental pediatrician that doesn't take insurance and get the diagnosis from them or from a Pediatric Psychologist.
Well, itsn't that fucking lovely.
I want to give up, but I won't. More than likely I will flick them all off and go at this alone.
Theraplay
Today is our second screening. I've been talking it up for 24 hours.
I'm quite apprehensive but keeping it to myself, gotta point that out lest someone mentions I'm projecting it onto him.
I don't care what he has, really. Just please, Universe, make this painless.
I'm quite apprehensive but keeping it to myself, gotta point that out lest someone mentions I'm projecting it onto him.
I don't care what he has, really. Just please, Universe, make this painless.
Monday, July 29, 2013
Foodie- Oven Baked Fried Chicken
Hubs makes some amazing fried chicken, but that is in the deep frier! I wanted to try to make something more healthy, like oven baking it.
Well, tonight I made this oven baked fried chicken and it was quite good!!!
I used three chicken breasts, corn starch, eggs, corn flakes, pink salt and EVOO.
That's it.
I sliced the chicken into strips, dipped them in corn starch, then beat eggs, then rolled them around in ground up corn flakes and I put them on a cookie sheet.
PRO TIP: You know those cooling racks you use to cool off cookies? PUT THAT ON THE COOKIE SHEET. That way the bottom of the chicken doesn't get mushy or wet! They cook evenly!!
Doesn't that look awesome? 25 minutes at 450 degrees Fahrenheit!!
I also made sweet potato fries and cooked them at the same time! Everything in the oven at once!
Gotta love easy cooking!
Well, tonight I made this oven baked fried chicken and it was quite good!!!
I used three chicken breasts, corn starch, eggs, corn flakes, pink salt and EVOO.
That's it.
I sliced the chicken into strips, dipped them in corn starch, then beat eggs, then rolled them around in ground up corn flakes and I put them on a cookie sheet.
PRO TIP: You know those cooling racks you use to cool off cookies? PUT THAT ON THE COOKIE SHEET. That way the bottom of the chicken doesn't get mushy or wet! They cook evenly!!
Gotta love easy cooking!
Zoo Day
Today was a Zoo day. We are lucky enough to have a zoo membership pass so we can go as often as we'd like. I prefer to go on days that are cooler than 90 degrees Fahrenheit, but we braved it anyway. When we first got there it was a little bit of a transitioning issue. First he wanted to see the 'nakes' and turtles and frogs but then was quickly over that.
I was stressed because we were there with friends and who really wants to hang out with a child who is constantly melting down and a mom who is trying to not cry because she doesn't want to loose yet another friend.
We sat and had some lunch and both the boys started flipping out because they didn't want to sit and eat, they wanted to run and yeah. We sat.
As soon as we were done eating the other kids wanted to go on the Train (our Zoo has a kids train) but my son didn't want anything to do with that.
Then we came to the Lorax kids area. The other kids were off and running and Liam hung back for a bit until he saw his friends having a really good time. This is why I often beg for kids to come out with us, so Liam has a transitioning partner. Someone to mentally hold his hand as he leaps off.
Once upstairs he found a puddle to splash in and wheels to turn. Things to climb in and on and that was the turning point. He was out of his shell, no longer afraid, he wanted to GO.
TA DA!!! Down the slide!
Freak Out
I'm trying to not freak out right now. I called to 'verify benefits' with our insurance company and I was sent to a page that said this:
Aetna policies typically exclude coverage for services, treatment, education testing, or training related to learning disabilities or developmental delays. When the policy has such an exclusion, occupational therapy is not covered when the primary or the only diagnosis for a member is mental retardation or a learning disability such as a perceptual handicap, brain damage not caused by accidental injury or illness, minimal brain dysfunction, dyslexia, or developmental delay.
What the actual fuck!? They acknowledge that they are learning disabilities, something that places a child at a disadvantage but they refuse to cover it?!
I'm just going to sit here for a moment, cry and then pull up my superhero panties and kick some red tape ass.
Aetna policies typically exclude coverage for services, treatment, education testing, or training related to learning disabilities or developmental delays. When the policy has such an exclusion, occupational therapy is not covered when the primary or the only diagnosis for a member is mental retardation or a learning disability such as a perceptual handicap, brain damage not caused by accidental injury or illness, minimal brain dysfunction, dyslexia, or developmental delay.
What the actual fuck!? They acknowledge that they are learning disabilities, something that places a child at a disadvantage but they refuse to cover it?!
I'm just going to sit here for a moment, cry and then pull up my superhero panties and kick some red tape ass.
Sunday, July 28, 2013
Foodie- Sweet Potato Oven Fries
I tried this recipe tonight and it's AWESOME and really quite simple.
Three sweet potatoes
pink sea salt
olive oil
That's it! Wash and cut up the sweet potatoes, leaving the skin on, in strips. You know, the french fry shape.
The recipe I saw had them in a bowl and tossed them in canola oil, but I don't use canola oil and I found the use of another bowl wasteful, so I just cut them up and put them on a cookie sheet and drizzled the oil over them.
Who wants to do another dish? Really.
After that I sprinkled with pink sea salt and put in the oven at 450 degrees for 25 minutes checking them at 20 minutes to make sure that they don't burn. If they are getting too dark, turn the temperature down to 350 and continue cooking.
Easy and oh, so good.
Three sweet potatoes
pink sea salt
olive oil
That's it! Wash and cut up the sweet potatoes, leaving the skin on, in strips. You know, the french fry shape.
The recipe I saw had them in a bowl and tossed them in canola oil, but I don't use canola oil and I found the use of another bowl wasteful, so I just cut them up and put them on a cookie sheet and drizzled the oil over them.
Who wants to do another dish? Really.
After that I sprinkled with pink sea salt and put in the oven at 450 degrees for 25 minutes checking them at 20 minutes to make sure that they don't burn. If they are getting too dark, turn the temperature down to 350 and continue cooking.
Easy and oh, so good.
Foodie- chocolate chip, chocolate cake gf/df
So the first thing I learned how to make while going gf was a chocolate cake and thanks to betty Crocker its easy to make that gf/df.
I really live that the cake mix is made in a dedicated gf facility! For those just starting out on the gf journey this is an easy cake mix!
It calls for one stick of butter in the mix, but that is easy to switch to one 1/2 cup of coconut oil. If you like a hint of coconut flavor to your cake use unrefined coconut oil, but I use refined coconut oil in this cake.
I also added a 1/2 cup of chocolate chips (dairy free) to the mix and I cook at 350° for about 40 minutes.
It makes a nice moist light cake (i've found some gf cakes are very dense and when I've made this for other people they always ask me if this cake is really gluten free!)
Enjoy!
Meltdowns happen
They really do. Sometimes they are for normal reasons like tired, hungry, overstimulated, etc. And some times they happen for no known reason. I find its best if you know your childs triggers as then you can avoid critical mass.
Today at Target we did not see the trigger until it was too late and critical mass was reached on the bathroom floor at Target.
Yeah, gross.
He was fully in meltdown mode so I asked daddy to take him to the car to calm him down which caused him to flip out more. So, daddy took a screaming, kicking and swinging little out to the car at which point he smacked daddy's glasses off his face and almost kicked him in the balls.
Good times.
All while I was in Target looking at home organization.
I deal with the meltdowns all day every day, I enjoyed one off.
But the other side of me was upse that I wasn't there to comfort my son while he was having such a hard go of it. I wasn't there to offer boobah or hugs or kisses. I'm sure daddy offered most of them, but knowing my child needed help and I wasn't there made me sad.
Ugh. These things happen.
Saturday, July 27, 2013
Trampoline
When the going gets tough, the tough get on the trampoline.
While it's not always the solution it really helps more often than not. Today has been a really rough day for him. Daddy is home which throws off our schedule and makes it very hard for him to get into a rhythm. I need to work harder on keeping our schedule when Daddy is home.
After nap time, which was cut short by phone calls verifying our appointments on Tuesday for another evaluation, we were having a hard time getting back into routine. After dinner we went outside and spent time on the trampoline.
He dressed himself and put on the superhero cape I made for him (and his guests for his second birthday party) and some trainers (I have a rule now that he can't go outside without underwear on) and I just happened to grab my camera.
I got some amazing shots. Every one of them reminded me that even though my son is 'special' it doesn't define him. He's beautiful, happy, smart and full of life.
While it's not always the solution it really helps more often than not. Today has been a really rough day for him. Daddy is home which throws off our schedule and makes it very hard for him to get into a rhythm. I need to work harder on keeping our schedule when Daddy is home.
After nap time, which was cut short by phone calls verifying our appointments on Tuesday for another evaluation, we were having a hard time getting back into routine. After dinner we went outside and spent time on the trampoline.
He dressed himself and put on the superhero cape I made for him (and his guests for his second birthday party) and some trainers (I have a rule now that he can't go outside without underwear on) and I just happened to grab my camera.
I got some amazing shots. Every one of them reminded me that even though my son is 'special' it doesn't define him. He's beautiful, happy, smart and full of life.
More of that "hurry up and wait" crap.
So we finally got our intake forms for the developmental pediatrician.
Guess what was post marked Thursday? Yup. The envelope.
Another thing that blew my damn mind? It states on the letter the wait is 8-10 MONTHS!
Silly me. I thought 4-6 months was bad.
1, 2, 3, 4!
Today has been a bad day.
I can't figure out why when daddy is home that our son has a hard time. Maybe it's not our normal routine. Maybe it's he's excited that daddy is home.
I don't know. I do know its frustrating. For all of us.
When he's upset he counts, loudly. It's as if he's trying to express himself or calm himself.
When he's having a hard time he also gets rough with baby brother. Yesterday when I ran to the store for noodles he pushed baby brother off the train table.
I'm hoping that therapy gives us all skills to deal with this.
Understanding
One of the things I'm learning about SPD is that some of the kids like to be naked.
I can only assume that it's because they have less sensory input going on with the clothing rubbing along their skin, it could also be a control issue, ie: "i don't have to have clothing on right now, so I won't!"
But, I will say, that my older son as soon as he walks in the door he's ripping off clothing and all one needs to do is follow the trail of fabric to find him, sometimes just like in this photo.
I've caught Hell often from people that don't think it's appropriate for children to be nude and it's caused me so much stress in the past. Begging and pleading with my son to please keep clothing on, feeling embarrassed when he did just what he needed to do.
Now, I am on the path to no longer caring. No longer being embarrassed when people make off hand comments about my children always being naked or asking if I don't own clothing for them.
They are children. Let them be children in the safety of their own homes.
Another thing SPD is teaching me. At the end of the day the only people who matter are those who love and understand me and my children.
Friday, July 26, 2013
Foodie- gf/df chocolate chip cookies
Our family went gluten free just over three years ago and just recently we went dairy free as well.
One thing that I dreaded was finding a butter replacer that I would enjoy as much as butter. After trying a few different things I bit the bullet and got Earth Balance vegan butter.
Gotta say, it makes the difference in cookies. Where as in cakes or muffins I will use refined coconut oil (refined so it doesn't have that hint of coconut flavor.)
So, for our gf/df chocolate chip cookies I will totally cheat and get the betty Crocker chocolate chip cookie mix and doctor it up to fit our tastes.
One box of gf betty Crocker chocolate chip cookie mix
One cup earth balance vegan butter
Three eggs
One cup golden flaxseed
One cup walnuts
Splash of vanilla
Mix it up and put on the cookie sheet for 10 minutes at 350°
Enjoy!
Patience
One thing this journey is teaching me is patience.
I remember when I was a young woman of 20 and I just did not want children. I knew that of myself. I was too selfish. To impatient.
As I've aged I've become more giving, more patient but even the patience I have is taxed with SPD.
For instance: today is food shopping day. We get the bulk of our food at Costco and we have to drive up (an hour one way) and get everything and come back down. Sometimes my son is really fine with it and other times he looses it.
One day it was thundering and lightning at Costco (but not at home) and he just freaked out. He asked to he carried so I strapped him on my back and put the baby on the front and off I went.
I know I need to be flexable. Not because I am spoiling my child, because I can be flexable. I am more adaptable than my child.
So, this morning he lost it when it was time to brush his hair and teeth. Those I don't negotiate on. Well, once he was finished and settled in the car I told my mother that this could be very bad today.
Sure enough, when we got to Costco my older son asked to be carried. I started to put on the Ergo Performance and my mom said "dont be silly, you can't wear two of them!" I told her I do wear two of them, often.
Then she shocked me. "i will wear him."
My mother had never worn one of my children before and the pride I had in my mother as she walked around Costco wearing her first grandson on her back made my heart swell with love.
This woman gave me the love, empathy and strength to help my son and she was still helping me today.
SPD sucks but not because of the reasons you would think. It sucks because culturally we need to reprogram ourselves to see and help with love not assume the worst of our children. It sucks because so many have judgement or assumptions of children and their needs.
But then it makes people do amazing things, like my mom did today, and makes it all worth it.
Thursday, July 25, 2013
Foodie- gf/df banana nut muffins
So, when my older son was just a wee babe he had trouble gaining weight and we've found that he needs to be gluten free. So we have been on this gluten free journey for over three years now and have just recently, I'd say march of this year, went dairy free.
I resisted going dairy free because, well, that shit tastes good! I had given up cow dairy completely and struggled to hang onto goat cheese. Well, that ended up making us sick too, so off with its head.
I enjoy cooking and truth be told, I think I'm pretty good at it. So I will drop little foodie posts here and there.
So these are banana walnut muffins. Or as my older son likes to call them, cakes.
These were fairly easy to make.
Three very ripe bananas
Two eggs
Splash of vanilla
Splash of cinnamon
Splash of almond milk
Splash of coconut oil
1.5 cups of flour replacer (for this one I used maple grove farms gluten free flour replacer/all purpose baking mix.)
Two eggs
Splash of vanilla
Splash of cinnamon
Splash of almond milk
Splash of coconut oil
1.5 cups of flour replacer (for this one I used maple grove farms gluten free flour replacer/all purpose baking mix.)
1/4 sugar
1/4 brown sugar
1 cup walnuts or your choice of goodie (chocolate chips are great in this too!)
1 cup walnuts or your choice of goodie (chocolate chips are great in this too!)
I recomend getting an all purpose flour replacer when you're just starting out going gluten free as the work is done for you! No need to worry about xanthem gum or guar gum! Everything is done!
I spooned them into the cups and cooked for about 14 minutes at 350!
Now to see if they pass the boys taste test!
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
Ye olde boob tube
As many American parents, I rely on the television to get shit done around the house. My hand is up. I'm guilty. I use the tv as a babysitter.
I know this is wrong.
So, as I hurry up and wait for my sons therapy to start, for help to come, I am cracking down on not only myself but my son.
One of these things is the television. One day, I'm not proud to admit, the television was on ten hours. Was my son watching it that whole time? No, probably not. But that shit didn't help his sensory issues.
So, this week, I shut it off. He gets no more than two hours a day. That's it.
And you know what? He's better without it.
Today this morning he watched "the aristocats" and then....he played. He fussed a bit when I said it was off, all done until daddy got home, bit guess what?
He is happier without it.
We have had lunch and breakfast without incident. There have been no meltdowns. He's played with his train table, something he hasn't done in months!
And all while I cleaned or did laundry or nursed the baby.
I feel good. I feel really good. I have hope.
Fuck. Someone knock on wood that I didn't just jinx it.
Faith
We all have faith in people. Faith that they will do their jobs. It's when we loose faith that it gets scary as fuck.
Let me explain.
July 10th I called a developmental pediatrician for evaluation. The lady on the phone told me that the normal lady who does intake forms (what we needed) had just had surgery for carpal tunel and they had no idea what was going on in the office.
Here's a few red flags.
First: the person on the phone disclosing private medical information to me is a huge HIPAA violation.
Second: if one person leaves the offixe and it falls to shit, that's not confidence buliding for me.
So, I was told I had to wait. So, I did. I called back today when the mail didn't miraculously show up. More faith shit.
Well, guess who I got on the phone? The carpal tunel lady. Yes, the one who had the surgery.
I may have disclosed that I knew about her surgery and how much they missed her. I may of disclosed how hopelessly lost they were without her.
Oops.
She told me that there isn't a four to six month wait, but their mail is horribly slow. More hurry up and wait for me.
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Fort SPD
As I wait for a definitive diagnosis I am doing everything I possibly can to make my sons life easier.
Today I made a 'sensory hut' for him to hide into and chill out. It was pretty easy!!!
I took another play yard we had sitting around and I turned it on it's side and covered with a blanket. Then I put his twilight turtle inside with blankets, pillows and a sheepskin. It's really quite cool and if he likes it I will probably do some modifications on the playyard like cutting out one side as an entrance and putting a top on it so I can use the top for toy storage.
All in all I'm quite happy with it.
Today I made a 'sensory hut' for him to hide into and chill out. It was pretty easy!!!
I took another play yard we had sitting around and I turned it on it's side and covered with a blanket. Then I put his twilight turtle inside with blankets, pillows and a sheepskin. It's really quite cool and if he likes it I will probably do some modifications on the playyard like cutting out one side as an entrance and putting a top on it so I can use the top for toy storage.
All in all I'm quite happy with it.
Testing Sucks
Two weeks ago we decided that we should get our oldest son tested for SPD.
Why we decided to go this route I will touch on in another blog post. I just want to talk about how infuriating testing is.
So, we first went to our Pediatrician to talk about his behavior and symptoms, red flags I had noticed and things that seemed off. After that she gave us the number to the Intermediate Education Unit, also known as IEU, for our state. She also gave me numbers for a developmental pediatrician as well as Theraplay.
I called all three on July 10th.
My first appointment was on July 22 for IEU to screen my son. A screening is when they talk and play with your child and look for specific skills and milestones to determine if your child needs an in depth evaluation.
Ten minutes into this 'screen' the evaluator had seen enough to flag my son. I asked him what he thinks we could be dealing with, making sure to focus on the fact that no one can know after 30 or 40 minutes in a room with a preschooler, and he agrees with my assessment that we are dealing with SPD, possibly OCD, developmental delays and behavioral issues.
Just a fucking shot in the gut, but we will get through it. Then, this is the part that gets me, he tells us we will be scheduled an evaluation in the next FOUR TO TWELVE WEEKS. That's three months!
So, not only is it constantly drilled into my head that early intervention is everything and weeks matter, but then you'll make me hurry up and wait?! Fuck you, dude!
Next week we have another evaluation at the Theraplay and hopefully they put us on a therapy schedule as soon as possible. I need help. I can't do this alone.
After the Theraplay appointment I have to wait for paperwork for the developmental pediatrician. I'm not happy with them thus far. I called them on (again) July 10thand I didn't hear back from them until July 15th. I was then told to look for a packet in the mail, fill that out and mail it back at which point they would put me on the waiting list.
How long is that waiting list you ask? Oh, I'll tell you! FOUR TO EIGHT MONTHS!
But by all means, hurry up and wait.
Why we decided to go this route I will touch on in another blog post. I just want to talk about how infuriating testing is.
So, we first went to our Pediatrician to talk about his behavior and symptoms, red flags I had noticed and things that seemed off. After that she gave us the number to the Intermediate Education Unit, also known as IEU, for our state. She also gave me numbers for a developmental pediatrician as well as Theraplay.
I called all three on July 10th.
My first appointment was on July 22 for IEU to screen my son. A screening is when they talk and play with your child and look for specific skills and milestones to determine if your child needs an in depth evaluation.
Ten minutes into this 'screen' the evaluator had seen enough to flag my son. I asked him what he thinks we could be dealing with, making sure to focus on the fact that no one can know after 30 or 40 minutes in a room with a preschooler, and he agrees with my assessment that we are dealing with SPD, possibly OCD, developmental delays and behavioral issues.
Just a fucking shot in the gut, but we will get through it. Then, this is the part that gets me, he tells us we will be scheduled an evaluation in the next FOUR TO TWELVE WEEKS. That's three months!
So, not only is it constantly drilled into my head that early intervention is everything and weeks matter, but then you'll make me hurry up and wait?! Fuck you, dude!
Next week we have another evaluation at the Theraplay and hopefully they put us on a therapy schedule as soon as possible. I need help. I can't do this alone.
After the Theraplay appointment I have to wait for paperwork for the developmental pediatrician. I'm not happy with them thus far. I called them on (again) July 10thand I didn't hear back from them until July 15th. I was then told to look for a packet in the mail, fill that out and mail it back at which point they would put me on the waiting list.
How long is that waiting list you ask? Oh, I'll tell you! FOUR TO EIGHT MONTHS!
But by all means, hurry up and wait.
Hi, I'm New Here. . . .
We are in the process of having my oldest son diagnosed with Sensory Processing disorder. This is our story.
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