~ So there I was with a plate (and a mouth) full of pie, choking back some of the emotions that the holiday season is always sure to sweep in. This year, my baker’s therapy was recreating a family tradition (from my husband’s family), Oats ‘N Honey Granola Pie. The “real” recipe called for a full cup of corn syrup, ½ cup of brown sugar, chocolate chips, and the star of the show – honey & oat granola bars (which contain canola oil, corn flour, brown sugar syrup, soy flour, and soy lecithin – all ingredients that we no longer call “safe” for our Molly).

Right around the corner lurks a yearly extravaganza of ghoulishly engrossing treats and spooktacular tricks. Children have selected their favorite characters to transform into for a night of house-hopping fun. Schools are having fall parties, churches are putting together carnivals, and neighborhoods are stocking up with sugary and corn-syrup laden “goodies”. Does this scare the nightlights out of anyone else?

This is the time of year where many get the flu shot so, I thought it would be wise with all the media attention around vaccination to tell you what is in your flu shot. There are many option you have to choose from so its best to do the least toxic one or skip it altogether if you are weary. Its important you know they base the current flu vaccine on strains from the previous years and viruses evolve, this is why people still get the flu despite the vaccine.

The current issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics features a published study conducted to look at the recurrence risk for ASD’s. “The recurrence risk of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is estimated to be between 3% and 10%, but previous research was limited by small sample sizes and biases related to ascertainment, reporting, and stoppage factors” (Pediatrics, Sept 2011).

Many people have been told or have chosen to eliminate gluten from their diets and the diets of their families. For many they see a great response in how they feel and function whether they have confirmatory tests or not. However, many are confused about the differences between celiac, an allergy and non-celiac gluten intolerance. I want to explain this to you so you can understand the potential effects on your body. This can be very confusing but many treat them equally. It matters what you are dealing with for your long-term management and health.

Many parents come into my office and know that a gluten free diet can help their child but understanding how this affects the body is often unknown. An allergy and sensitivity are different, some people experience distress when eating gluten products and show improvements when these are taken out of the diet. There is a range of reactions one can have from behavior, sleep, appetite, weight loss/gain and bowel movements. The sensitivities get worse with time and are dependent on the sources many times. Not every gluten item will give the same symptom, some more than others.

The old rules no longer apply. Autism handed me a new playbook and it was blank. Our family had to write our own set of rules, guidelines, plays, and determine what the goals were. What came naturally to most families, was excruciating for us.
"Bye Sam, Daddy is going to work now. Wave bye, bye. Sam, wave bye, bye. Sam, look at Daddy, Sam. Sam. Sam."
My heart ached when I would walk out the door. I just wanted to hear his little voice and have his gaze turn toward mine. It just didn't happen.

Life is just full of surprises. A few months ago I started diving deep into the belly of reflection while writing a few pieces for AutismSpot and found it to not be the healthiest choice. I became consumed with selective thinking. Do this, don't do this, save this, share this, will this make sense, there is no way people will understand this, and so on it goes. The problem with (over)thinking something is the result is no different than running full speed into a brick wall. Everything comes to a complete stop...painfully.

I want to touch on interpretation and the role it plays in your child’s recovery. When I refer to “interpretation” I am speaking to the act of the physician looking over, ordering and recommending properly. This is VITAL in any care plan and for any child. I have had hundreds of patients say to me “Dr.