SPD...a new chapter

I can't believe it's been a month since I posted!   Believe me there has been plenty to post about, just not the time.   I did want to take a post and celebrate Eli.   It's been over 1 1/2 years since his initial diagnosis with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD).   We've seen 3 occupational therapists, a functional neurologist and a behavioral therapist.    All (well except his OT in St. Louis) are in agreement that Eli is at a point where we can cease external therapies and focus on home therapy for his disorder.    I am reluctant because they have been so helpful, but trust that they are the professionals.  This is great news!    It doesn't mean he's "cured" but it does mean it's become more manageable for him and our family.
  

Currently this is what I understand to be true about Eli's brain/nervous system:   

*he has a difficult time regulating serotonin (the happy feeling ).     Once it gets released from his brain he over reacts in some way...flapping his arms, jumping, yelling, squeezing or baring down with his jaw, acting slap happy

At home tips: explain exciting activities to him BEFORE they happen so that he gets a spike of serotonin rather than a surge, talk him through what's expected in those moments, give him chewing gum, remove sugar from school/anyplace we need home to be "calm" (er).   

*his vestibular system (controls all of our senses) doesn't always function as it should.   This results in him running into walls, "acting drunk", appearing to be in another world

At home tips: before school I brush him with a therapy brush and give him joint compressions, after school I do the same and give him some sort of huge movement activity (trampoline, swing, crashing into pillows) followed by some "hard work" ( taking laundry downstairs, play dough, trying to push me over).  
The below 2 changes have really helped.  They were acting like "gas pedals" for Eli, when we really need to strengthen his "brake pedal".   

*decrease screen time: we were down to 1/2 hour a day but it's snuck up to almost an hour this fall.  We just try to keep him in a 3 dimensional world as much as possible.   His brain is way more prone to addiction of electronics and it makes the above 2 issues harder to control.    He does however enjoy it (as does the rest of the world) so we are trying to find a happy medium.   

*removal of casein: I still don't fully understand this one but you can read about it here.   Some how the casein (milk protein) in dairy, processed foods, fortified cereals and processed meats, acts like an opium to his brain and he doesn't metabolize it correctly. Again it affects our first 2 concerns.   (we have not been awesome with this one this fall either).   I am hoping to looking into more dietary additions/removals to see if we can't achieve just a bit more progress and optimum brain function for him.   

All in all he acts just like a 5 year old boy and is awesome.   He is extremely smart, loving and hilarious.   I want to pull my hair out FAR LESS now than before we started (some of that is age and change in me I'm sure!).   I just hope and pray that I can stay on top of *most* of this for his sake!   Thank you for all of your support along the way.