Thursday, October 23, 2008

Benjamin's Progress

I wanted to post an update on Benjamin's progress since we started the casein-free diet about a week ago. Casein is a milk by-product, and Benjamin can not have any milk products at all. Yes, no macaroni and cheese or goldfish. At first, I was seriously wondering what else the child was going to eat besides chicken nuggets and grapes. Benjamin is usually a great eater (can you tell?) with lots of different types of foods, but mac and cheese was his favorite food. I've heard about some kind of soy cheese, but I haven't found it yet.

17th: He pointed to his pacifier on the table that he couldn't reach.
18th: He brought me a book to read.
19th: He repeated the word dog and put a puzzle together without being frustrated. His frustration levels are markedly lower.
20th: He repeated horse, pointed to nose when asked, and played with a group of children and "socialized" without screaming.
22nd: He put the blocks in the correct holes of the toy. You know that toy all kids have with the shapes of a star, cross, circle, square, etc in the round thing that comes apart. I think it's made by tupperware.


These steps are huge for us because none of these ever happened before without serious frustration and crying. Benjamin would physically push books away when you tried to read them to him, and now he will bring them to you. Just amazing transformation. He's still the same child, just happier.

His big appointment is November 12th.

1 comment:

Laura said...

Hey Sweetie,
This is such good news! I will be the first to admit my skepticism about all of this, but if it's working then I'll also be the first to applaud all the effort it is taking and the sacrifice.
I'll say it again - God knew exactly what he was doing when he picked Benjamin's parents.
I love you all!
P.S. I found soy cheese in the organic produce section at Publix this morning when I stopped for bagels.