Specific Carbohydrate Diet revisited

Well, we are two weeks into our extreme diet experience. Specific Carbohydrate Diet revisited has come easier than I thought. We have followed this diet for a year and were already in a pretty good groove with it. I really, really miss rice. It was the only thing I had added, but apparently, it wasn't time. This time we are doing the Specific Carbohydrate Diet with a twist. It is actually called the GAPS diet. It is taken primarily from the SCD diet and is basically the same except for it's view on when milk products should be introduced. I have found the book Gut and Psychology Syndrome my Natasha Campbell-Mcbride(the neurologist who formulated the GAPS protocol) to be compelling and informative. I am so much better informed on why this diet even works in the first place. The SCD diet has worked wonders for Scarlet and after the initial die off symptoms (the bad bacteria dies as you neglect to feed it what it is hungry for ie. sugars and starches, this creates symptoms of fatigue, bad mood, headaches, etc. called die off.) she has become more calm and alert again.

This diet calls for a pretty strict regimen at the beginning when it is first implemented and we must start at square one. I have been trying to read the book in order to do it completely right this time around. I do not want to do this again...even though I am happy to have found it helpful. So, I have just taken the rice out of Scarlet's diet, but we will have to start with just bone broth and move up the latter of easily digestable foods. I'll keep you posted on our ascent.

As for really great things happening.... Scarlet signed the word "no" to me and then later in the week shook her head "no" while signing it to her therapist. This is a really big step. For her to have to power to say "yes" or "no" would up her communication quotient exponentially. Also, she has mastered her matching program in her IBI therapy. She is now matching alike objects with different people watching and in different rooms of the house. She is so proud of herself and we are so proud of her.

For family day today we were at grandma's and grandpa's house playing outside in the snow. The neighbor's golden retriever decided to come and play with us. Scarlet laughed and patted and followed the dog around. She was even shouting out the word "Daw" for dog. It is so exciting to see her even acknowledging animals. There have been times in the past, when she has blatantly ignored any type of animal and refused to look at it. Today she was engaged and fascinated. I love those words.

So here goes the SCD/GAPS experience in overdrive...lets hope we hear more of her voice every day.