I hope all of you had a blessed Thanksgiving and remembered to give thanks for everything. After dozing off during the game, then waking up to clean the kitchen, I laid in the bed for over an hour trying to sleep. I gave up and decided to write an update on Jordan's progress.
After reducing the amount of meat he gets at each meal, I noticed he started to look weak. It was a shock to his system because his calorie intake was basically cut in half. This was not going to do. So I did a little research on what I could do to keep him from being overloaded with food, causing issues with digestion, and increase his calorie intake. Adding a tablespoon of olive oil with each meal helps him get more calories. I cook his food with olive oil, but most of it remains in the pans. Doing this gives him an extra 360 calories. I did increase his breakfast and lunch, though. Instead of three legs, he gets four, and I make two packages of stew meat and give him a third. So far, he's looking better, and stimming has not returned.
The days leading up to Thanksgiving, his oldest sister asked me about what I was going to allow him to eat. Every year, she convinces me to allow him to have things he normally wouldn't. This year wasn't any different. However, I was very reluctant because in years past, he was regularly stimming, and I wanted it to keep him from things I knew caused it. This year, he isn't, and I didn't want it to start back up. But I believed this was a good time to allow him to cheat. So I let him have sweet potatoes and green beans with his turkey breast. I also showed him that he didn't need to finish one food before he tried another, just to see how he would respond. I don't think he cares to eat that way. After he was done, he brought his plate to me in the kitchen, but I noticed he went back into the dining room. I told him that he was not going to get seconds. But I could see in his eyes, with his amazing eye contact, that he was saddened by it. So I asked him what he wanted more of, and asked for more sweet potatoes. He walked off but then turned around and asked for more green beans too. I gave him portions I believed were just right. He finished his second round and went to his room. I waited for the stimming to start, but it never did.
Because of how Jordan normally reacts to foods that contain salicylates, even if they are low in them, I expected this to be no different than in times past. I was pleasantly surprised that they never started up. But I can't go back to giving him this regularly. Jordan has been on a strictly meat diet for over a year now. And while he did get some things with salicylates, it wasn't often. It looks to me like the real issue was the amount of food he ate in a sitting. But because Jordan's body appears to do what it isn't supposed to, like hold on to things it should release and let go of the things he should keep, it's possible because he hasn't come into contact with it in some time that it's depleted. I don't want to think that it won't build up to intolerance in a short time. I probably won't overdo it and give him any more this week. I just checked to see if either of them was low in salicylates and found that the green beans are, but the potatoes aren't; they are moderate. And with all the syrup, cinnamon, sugar, and butter that were added to them, I am very happy I was wrong.
The only issue Jordan has right now is sleeping. One night last week, he was in bed early, before 12:45 is early for him. The other nights, he is still up around 3:00 am. However, I don't think it is anything he is ingesting that is causing this; I think he just likes to stay up on his tablet. Some of the other positive changes I have seen are his branching out to watch a movie in his room, although it is only one movie. He is also answering yes and no questions correctly more. And yesterday and today his fan was off. If you have read any of my blogs, you know this young man never turns his fan off when he is in his room.
Yesterday was Thanksgiving, however, I am still thankful today. Thankful for what I am seeing with Jordan. Take another day to reflect on what you are thankful for. Today is a new day. A new day to give God praise for allowing us to see a day we have not seen before. Therefore a day to give Him thanks for something new. What can you give Him thanks for? Stop and think about it right now and worship Him for all He's done. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NKJV), "in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."
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