I'm Serious This Time

I've been on a hiatus for a while now. We've been home nearly four years now, and a lot has happened in that time. I've gotten a Masters of Science in Historic Preservation, which I haven't been able to use. I'm working on how to get a job in my field and still give these kids what they need. How do you do that when you have to stay on top of figuring out nutritional therapies, neuro therapies, psych therapies and occupational therapy? I have no idea!

My latest endeavour, after Sophie's psychiatrist and Liam's neurologist wanted to prescribe yet another medication for them, is to try to address some of these negative behaviors with alternative therapies, mainly nutritional therapy for both and neuroreorg for Liam. So, begins our journey with a gluten-free, dye free, preservative free diet.

Today I ordered these natural dyes for baking.


I love to bake my kids' birthday cakes, and it's even more important to do so now that we are gluten free and dye free. I'm a bit leery of some of the natural ways to impart color to frosting, although I know these are vegetable based. I mean really, do you want your cake frosting to taste like turmeric? I sure don't. I'll probably do some kitchen testing anyway with the berry based natural dyes. I can deal with my cake frosting tasting like blueberry. 

I'm also trying Michigan Door to Door Organics. I've heard really good things about this and it seems a cost effective way to get locally sourced, organic produce. We grow our own tomatoes, basil, oregano, chives, mint and beans. I'm not sure if my broccoli and carrots are doing what they are supposed to do though.  I'm going to have to do a comparison with my last Trader Joe's trip to see if the cost is in line, but I like that it's local.

Last night I introduced my kids to quinoa. It wasn't a success.