Hello, everyone. "Barry" is still at the Cobb house and doing very well. Owen did have an ear infection, so he could not get in for a few days. Thankfully, he has been in several times and thanks to some of our friends' advice. Is it helping? Well, we thought so, but then he started acting like a teenager with attitude and all. I talked to the guy we gave it to, and he said what can be happening is that it is working, he is becoming more aware of himself, & he is acting like a typical teenager. He got in last night, slept really well, and got up at 6am to exercise! Yes, I said exercise at 6am on a school morning. I think it is time for the parent to emulate the child!!

Well, now to talk about the gfcf diet. Casein is the protein found in milk and gluten is the protein found in wheat; it is the "glue" that holds flour together. Now, take a minute and think of ALL the things that contain milk and flour...okay go! Ding ding ding ding ding ding, ding ding ding ding di di di ding. Yes, almost everything a child eats!!!!!!! Casein and gluten in a messed up GI tract go to the brain and act as as opiate. Yes, these kids are on street drugs! That is why many of them are in a haze and have a high tolerance for pain.

I looked at this diet several years ago but knew we could not do this. But, after reading some books, I decided to give it a try. First, we took all milk products away. The change was amazing! After just a few days, he was in a great mood and absolutely no melt downs. After a few weeks, we went with the church to bowl. I knew they would have pizza. I asked Owen if he would like to take something he could eat, but we decided to let this be a test. He ate one piece of pizza and went nuts!!!! When we got home he was so upset and crazy. It lasted into the next morning. After 5 years of school, for the first time he asked if he could stay home. I told him and Anthony, "See what happens when we have mild?" He has been good since then, but if he gets "ill", I ask him when he had a milk product. One day at school, they were out of water and he drank milk. I told him to drink from the bathroom faucet next time. We now keep bottled water in his book bag. We drink almond milk which is great!

Then the fated day came when we had to take away the gluten. It was a black day at the Cobb household, just let me tell you. I removed all of the "bad" stuff from our cabinets. After reading some books(including gluten free cooking for dummies) and having special shopping lists, I went to Dothan shopping. It took 7 hours and 3 stores. I read every label because I had to make sure it was gluten and casein free. Dothan has a health food store called Health Concepts, which has a lot of products. After trying some of the products, Anthony said that he didn't know what gluten was, but he was sure it was the stuff that made food taste good! We found some brownies that are really good by Betty Crocker. Basically, he can eat meat, rice, potatoes, fruit, vegetables. We found a decent tasting bread - you can pop it in the microwave for a few seconds to soften it up. Going on vacation is really hard. Also, no candy bars! He can have Starbursts, Skittles, suckers, but no chocolate bars. Cocoa is gfcf free, and we have recipes. We are learing. We really haven't seen a big difference with the gluten free, but it can take several months to see a change.

We were going to a biomedical doctor in Macon but haven't been that happy. They do not have after hour services, so it has been a nightmare to get answers when we really needed them. The doctor that co-wrote Jenny McCartney's book used to live in Ponte Vedra, FL. He was in practice with a well known doctor, Julie Buckley. After the 5 hurricanes a few years back in FL, Dr. Jerry's wife decided it was time for them to leave FL. They moved to California. Let's see; hurricane or fall into the ocean. I called Dr. Buckley's office to see how long the waiting list was. It is a 3 year wait!!!!!!!!!!!!! I mashed enough buttons on their phone that I finally got a wonderful girl on the horn. I told her our story and how we really wanted to see another doctor and who would they suggest keeping in mind we are in south GA, but are willing to travel in the southeast. She told me that Dr. Buckley occasionally goes to Atlanta to see patients, but that she could not promise a spot - they would be in Atlanta the second week of June. She told me to fill out all of the info online. As families that are on the waiting list opted out or cancelled appointments, we would move up; probably would be 9 mos to 1 year to get an appointment. She also told me she would tell the office manager about us since we have already had all the preliminary tests performed and were already in treatment. Glory to God, 2 hours later my cell phone rang, and it was the office manager saying they had an appt. in Atlanta June 9th! My normal day off is June 9th, that morning I had cancelled a vacation with some family for that exact time frame. The Lord works in mysterious ways. So, we will be in atl June 9th! Hopefully will get to see some friends too. The office even gave me some advice on this puberty thing until the appt. so we won't all kill each other!

All in all, things are good. We can see small changes. I guess I am ready for that hyperbaric session when Owen gets out and there is a cataclysmic change. I am not asking for much, am I? Only a miracle, but He performs them every day!!!

Next time I think I will enlighten you guys on Will, who wants to learn Latin and Spanish this summer(don't ask) and Granny whose stories are great. She is so special to me and our family. I think I get my hardheadedness from her! I will not give up and I will not give in!

Later,
Janna