Alexandra is much calmer

It will be Alexandra birthday very soon, December 11th she will be thirteen. How time goes! Seems like her and I have been living for awhile together, and got very accustom to each other. She has not entered puberty yet, she seems to be at a 6/ 7 years old stage. This blog is about some of the changes who have occurred in the last month and half. 

Alexandra had a strange summer, she was somewhere else, very autistic, always a little tense, not present. At the beginning of the school year, I was trying to figure stuff out and did a bunch of blood test (see previous blog) something we had never done. Nothing came out as said, except a low level on vitamin D. I start to think that the eternal problem with constipation, who has been taking cared by Miralax for some years now, was after all not truly great and that Alexandra was still suffering from constipation without me be aware. ( after three or four days I didn't remembered when was exactly the last time...) 

I bought a daily calendar journal and some color stickers and start to keep track of any bowel movement and seizures. In the same time I got some enzymes ( at each meal) for digestion recommended for her and start to give some (lactobacillus acidophilus, bifidobacterium bifidum, lactobacilus salvarius) from Fortefy( one /day)

keeping track of the BM shown me that as I suspected her BM were very irregular, so I start to adjust the Miralax in consequences something I never really understand before. From than if no poop,  more Miralax that evening, poop and we keep the normal dose( I only allow one day without poop)   Result is that Alexandra is much more agreeable  has less of her breathing episode, seems less stressed. Also if Alex is not comfortable I can be more clear that her BM is maybe the cause or not. 

Alexandra last month and a half was not all good on the BM , because we were into figuring out, but something different has been happening. She is calmer and takes everyday very long nap in the afternoon. Something she has never done regularly. We had to be driving or strolling or be in the middle of the crowd or her to nap ..., but she just didn't wanted to rest in bed in the afternoon at home, and if she was,  it will be only for  20Mn or 1/2 hours at the most, and a small noise will wake her up. But now , everyday, she do not resist and sleep for two hours! It just feel right to me , she has always been so hyper, her hands, her breathing, just who she is, in perpetual movement....feeling the quiet and the rest in the house sound so peaceful. 

So I am thinking that maybe the enzymes and the Lactobacillus have been helping making her much calmer and able to rest.! Should follow. ..

Halloween 2012

Alexandra was in a good mood, took a bath than dress up. Watch Alice in Wonderland ate and went to bed. Sweet little Swiss girl. 

Blood test and All

We got some blood test done to see how Alexandra was doing on her vitamins, blood level and food allergies. Nothing came out , she is in excellent health, except a low level on Vitamine D who is typical in North Idaho. I also got a hair test with toxins and minerals level. Again Alexandra do not show anything major, and no contamination of heavy metals. 

        Alexandra had anyway a hard summer and I am trying to know what is going on. I have been giving her an antioxidant as a supplement with herbs. I started in June and just stopped two weeks ago. She is actually better now, so maybe  the supplement was triggering to much stuff in her. She appear to be back to her true self. All of this made me think that her digestive system is very important to her well being, so I have decide to keep track in a weekly book of her bowel movement and her seizures if any. I recommend anyone to do the same, because I think we forgot when was last they has a BM, and the child can be intoxicated and in pain very easily. 

       I also have decide to give her enzymes for digestion, and probiotic  for her flora. She is also taking one cap of Fish Oil/ day. So hopeful our little Alexandra is going to be better, ready to learn again and happy. 

Mural at SMS

Mural I made for Alexandra new school at Sandpoint Middle School . Was a lot of fun  and a nice addition to the class. 

Horseback Riding

                                         

Alexandra start horse therapy when she was three years old... it went one and off for some years, but the club had to finally close.  I think that horses are great therapy for Rett girls, along with warm pool. So this summer I decided to found a person with horses to have Alexandra ride. We went once a week and drove a hours to this wonderful family who own the best of horses I have ever met. Alexandra ride only for 10 MN to 20 MN  than the horse is free around us when she get her snack we stay for a hour altogether. . It been so beautiful to see her, incredibly comfortable on top of a very tall horse, smiling at the world from her sitting place. ....

The sessions will end soon, the weather do not allow horse back riding in North Idaho......until next probably summer. Thank you to Angela and her family and horses. 

So long ago...

Sorry we have not been present at all with our blog! Summer was busy and Alexandra was not at her top. School just started and I am trying to figure things out for Alexandra to feel better. 

We are doing blood test and hair test to see if she is allergic to something or  having a to high or to low level on her vitamins and minerals . .... I feel like something is wrong with her digestive system, not totally new, but it is maybe  time to found out more. Will let you know. These little girls suffer allot from they belly and I think that doctors should be more concerned. 

This picture of Alexandra was taken during a summer day for the Children Cancer Hospital in Spokane , where we all went to volunteer with face paintings.  My friend Marie Dominque Verdier took the picture. http://mdvphoto.com/    

Well again

I am so happy to see Alexandra back to herself again! Eight weeks have past where she had somber into a autistic state , where she was not accessible, not really connecting to anything. These states happen every once and a while and can last for weeks. They are hard time, our daughter seems all together in pain, disconnected to the world, or just able to pay attention for very little time. They are dreadful time, when no therapy and even good living attitude will do. They are time when I give allot of bath to Alex and  when I try to be present  for devoted care for a child in difficulties. ...! During those time I try my best to understand that they will pass and that for now I should just be supportive to what is. Therapy do not work during those time, I am glad that we had nothing on schedule, but therapy at home that I didn't reinforced. 

Welcome back Alexandra,  maybe you have changed and grown...?