Jan 24 2013
Tonight for dinner I made healthy pancakes. The pancakes were whole grain and contained oatmeal, flax, olive oil, free range chicken eggs and milk.
The boys each ate 2 or 3 and I’m pretty happy with that, especially for Elliott.
I’m glad I was able to sneak in some healthy ingredients that the boys wouldn’t have eaten otherwise. 
Permanent link to this article: http://lostandtired.com/2013/01/24/healthy-pancakes-for-dinner/
Apr 14 2012
Some of you may recall that not only does Emmett have #Autism and PFAPA but also food allergies. Emmett is allergic to milk, soy, egg and lactose.
Finding foods that are milk, soy, egg and lactose free is really difficult to do. Trying to find foods without these ingredients, that Emmett will actually eat, is darn near impossible. Over the last year or so, with everything going on, we have become a bit complacent with managing Emmett special dietary needs. It’s not that we are lazy or don’t care but rather overwhelmed with to many things and honestly, Emmett diet has taken a back burner.
As a result, Emmett is having tummy issues and horrible, wicked gas. You simply wouldn’t believe the unnatural oder that can permeate from this tiny child.
It’s our fault for getting distracted but we are trying to get things back in course.
Anyone that has a child with special dietary needs knows just how difficult managing those needs can be. You not only have the added work in assuring that things don’t sneak into their diet that they can’t eat but the special foods needed are often significantly more expensive than the more typical options.
Anyway, despite becoming complacent, we avoided all the major things. The problem was tracking down all the ingredients of eat food item and making sure they didn’t contain eggs, soy, milk or lactose.
It’s not easy, especially when you have an inherently picking eater to begin with. However, it’s important that we don’t hear very best we can in order to ensure him good digestive health and avoid him getting I’ll as a result of his food allergies.
**Thanks for reading**
-Lost and Tired
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Posted from WordPress for Android so please forgive any typos as auto-correct and I don’t see eye to eye.
Permanent link to this article: http://lostandtired.com/2012/04/14/autism-special-dietary-needs/
Mar 08 2012
Elliott did stay home from school today because of his fever last night, however, he’s seems to be doing just fine now. He helped me clean out Emmett’s aquarium before lunch.
I made Elliott chicken nuggets with whole grains breading. He had some grapes and a glass of chocolate soy milk.
This is about as adventurous as he gets when it comes to eating. He ate everything accept all the grapes. He loves grapes so I wasn’t sure what the problem was. I told him to just eat 5 grapes and we’ll save the rest for another time.
When he came down to the last 3 grapes he really began to struggle. When I asked him what was wrong, he explained that the holes were to big. I was like, what do you mean the holes are to big?
He pointed out that on the right had a bigger hole. I explained that it was a bigger grape and so it had a bigger hole. It made no difference. In fact it helped him to realize that the holes on the other 2 grapes weren’t the same size. He wouldn’t eat any of them now.
Do you know how hard it it to get a child with Autism to eat a balanced meal? In my experience, there is always something wrong with whatever we offer. My kids struggle with the color, texture, smell and placement of their food. Nothing can touch and sometimes we have to use separate plates for each item.
I would love to make breakfast, lunch or dinner and just have them eat it, without any drama.
Sigh…I’m sooooo tired…
Posted from WordPress for Android
Permanent link to this article: http://lostandtired.com/2012/03/08/autism-and-the-grapes-of-wrath/
Feb 17 2012
I have been suspecting that Emmett is about to begin another fever flare. All the screaming and yelling yesterday and today were sure signs. However, this morning it has been confirmed. He has cold sores appearing on his tongue again.
These are small now, maybe about the size of a pea.
However, over the next day or so they will grow into what you see in the picture below. These will last about 10 days before starting to go away for a few weeks. You can understand why he would be miserable. I’ve talked to so many people that have just never seen anything like it before.
The large red oval is just one giant cold sore
Pictured below, is just one of dozen or so cold sores that develop when these fevers pop up. I can’t even begin to imagine how bad that hurts. To be completely honest, I can’t believe how well he actually handles it. I would be a giant monster if I had to deal with that.
I wish he wasn’t having to deal with this. I think that in light of all Emmett has to contend with, this simply adds insult to injury. I mean the poor kid is allergic to milk, eggs and lactose, which is in just about everything imaginable. He has severe speech and language delays, courtesy of Autism and this rare fever disorder.
Now the poor guy is being looked at for Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis.
How much can one child deal with? Trust me, I realize it could be much worse. Every month when I take Gavin to Oncology for his antibody in fusion, I see just how much worse it can be.
While I’m grateful that we don’t have that to deal with, and my heart goes out to kids and their families, my son is in pain. That’s my reality. As his father, it kills me that he has to suffer like this. The struggles we face with Autism alone are often times more than what we can deal with.
At times like this, I have to ask God, isn’t Autism enough?
Permanent link to this article: http://lostandtired.com/2012/02/17/isnt-autism-enough/
Dec 29 2011
Today’s Victory is brought to you by Mr. Emmett John. Today, out of nowhere, Emmett wanted asked for cereal and milk.
This is a rare occurrence in the Lost and Tired house. While Emmett can’t have regular milk, he can have his chocolate soy milk. I was happy to do that for him as I wanted to encourage him to try new things.
He actually ate most of it. For a kid with major sensory and texture based issues, this was a really big deal.
Normally, his food can’t even touch, but today he actually mixed them together.
Fanfreakintastic Emmett, I’m so proud of you.
Posted from WordPress for Android
Permanent link to this article: http://lostandtired.com/2011/12/29/todays-victory-12292011/
Nov 30 2011
Today’s Victory is brought to you because Mr. Emmett John requested milk with his cereal and actually ate it.
Of course, it was chocolate soy milk as he’s allergic to cows milk but this is still a pretty big victory. Typically, Emmett doesn’t like things mixing and so he usually ears his cereal dry.
His willingness to do this show just how far he’s cone over the past year.
Hell freakin’ yeah Emmett, keep up the good work. Daddy loves you..
Permanent link to this article: http://lostandtired.com/2011/11/30/todays-victory-11302011/
Nov 16 2011
I think I’m going to make it a point to share our daily victories. So many times, these little victories get lost in the shuffle and I never get around to sharing them.
Today’s victory is pretty simple but significant nonetheless. Elliott, doesn’t have as many challenges as some other kids with Aspergers can have. However, one of the things we do struggle with is texture, especially when it comes to food.
Elliott has never liked milk. He’ll drink chocolate soy milk and that’s all. He has got to be one of the pickiest eaters I have ever met.
He finds something wrong with almost anything he eats.
Anyways, today, out of nowhere, he asked for milk in his cereal…..and he actually ate it. Well, most of it anyway. I couldn’t believe it.
I actually don’t ever remember him having cereal with milk and actually eating it. Again, this may not seem like a big deal to some but to me, this is step forward towards broadening his diet.
Way to go Mr. Elliott Richard
Permanent link to this article: http://lostandtired.com/2011/11/16/todays-victory-11162011/
Rob Gorski is a husband and father of 3 boys on the Autism Spectrum. Gorski began his writing career in June of 2010 with his multiple award winning blog Lost and Tired: Confessions of an Autism Dad. Recently cited as the 3rd most influential Autism Blogger on the internet by Dr. Oz's Sharecare website, where he is an expert on Autism.
His mission is to create dialogue, spread Autism Awareness, educate the public on how technology can benefit a special needs family and do so in ways that society can relate to and understand.
Gorski advocates for special needs families and those on the Autism Spectrum, both young and old.
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