I AM ME... The Autism Discussion with my Daughter

Every year the Ohio State Fair marks a monumental moment for us... the home stretch of summer break. This year was no different... until we arrived there and then the twists and turns of the day lead to an unexpected turning point in our world of autism...

We were greeted by a procession of dozens of motorcycle cops blowing their horns with flashing lights... what was the big deal??

SANTA!

Sahara is obsessed with Santa (and I mean that literally). The past 3 weeks have been riddled with Christmas Carols, crafts and plans about how we now have a fireplace to accommodate The Big Guy entering the house Christmas Eve... never mind you it is the dog days of summer. This has left me wondering why we tell our children this lie.

Now once upon a time I thought this was a magical right of passage.

Today? I see how my older NT daughter is completely upset that I had lied to her all of these years. And although I know we shall get through this, it leaves me wondering how we will address this exaggeration of the truth to our autistic daughter. The not so well thought out excuse, “The spirit of Santa Clause lives in us all as long as we believe,” will certainly not suffice to my concrete thinker.

I have even started saying to her, “What if Mommy is Santa?” And she looks at me with a ‘I don’t understand’ expression and moves on. In fact, these are one of those moments in parenthood that you regret bringing mainstream delusions into the world of autism. I suspect that this will be a very difficult situation to overcome...

Anyways, let’s get back at the State Fair.

Each year we have a previous year’s experience to help measure our progress.... and HUGE MILESTONES were evident.

From being able to ride independently on rides as we stood on the side lines looking on just like the other parents ... to her exclaiming that she wanted to go on the Big Yellow Slide and The Caterpillar (junior roller coaster). What is so amazing about that? She asked for them before she saw them... which means she not only remembered the fair from previous years, but had the words to tell us.

Having more and more words coupled with receptive communication has been our biggest growth this past year (especially the past several months).

Words were sandwiched between every activity... but there we moments that reminded us that autism was still in our midst.

... like the time she refused to stop playing with the squirt guns at the water balloon game... the Carnie yelled, “hey kids if you aren’t going to play, stop touching the guns.” Of course Sahara didn’t understand his words muted over the back ground noises... so I quickly come to her defense, “she has autism and doesn’t understand you”. He huffs away, we move on.

.... or the time she ran across the bridge on an obstacle course and that Carnie yelled at her to stop running and when she didn’t he grabbed her arm and told her to go back and walk the bridge or she wouldn’t be allowed to come back on the rest of the day. I am hot, exhausted and snap, “she has autism". Then he gave me a look like ‘make her listen lady or else’ so I add, ".... I am doing the best I can.”

A few weeks ago I caught myself on numerous occasions saying in reference to her, “She has autism”, as a defense against perceived odd, annoying, or challenging behaviors. I wondered what message that this sent her? I remember thinking that I didn’t want her to use this label as an excuse and I didn’t want her to identify herself solely on this label and so I vowed to shift my language and beliefs. I obviously didn’t do very well with the oath at the Fair.

Each time this ‘defense’ came out of my mouth, I was left with a feeling of regret in my heart. And found my internal dialog was desperately trying to find an alternate way of responding (not reacting) to others frustrations, judgments, and demands on my child who IS EXCEPTIONAL BEYOND THIS LABEL!!

I realized at the fair that this is so much more about me than her... [or so I thought]. My daughter is good at teaching me huge lessons in life... patience, faith, trust, compassion, endurance, etc. This day was no different...

After using the bathroom, she washed her hands. As I looked down I knew that she was going to tear her wrist band for the rides off as soon as I saw it get wet... there was no convincing her to keep it on. She has sensory issues around water... so I knew the wet band was irritating her wrist.

Her dad and sister took off to go ride the big rides while we headed to the other side of the park to see if they would issue a new tag.

Honestly, I didn’t want to shelve out another $22 for a new wrist band and was panicked that they wouldn’t cooperate with my request. We arrived to the tent which was empty all except a middle aged man sitting at a table. He looks up and asks what I need and I blurt out, “My daughter has autism and tore her wrist band off when it got wet, can we get a new one?”

No Resistance.

No questions.

Just an understanding nod of the head.

He has her sit down and he repairs the band and puts it on her ankle over her sock to prevent further skin irritation... pretty sure he has done this before or perhaps he has a special child in his own life.

I am taken by surprise when Sahara starts to sob as we are walking out of the tent. I get down on my knees and ask why she is upset. Her answer punches me in the heart... “AUTISM”... I embrace her and we cry for a moment together... “I SAD!!”

“Does autism make you sad?”

A very clear articulate, “YES!”

“Do you want me to stop saying you have autism?”

She looks me in the eyes and says an even more articulate and clear, “YES!!”

I am floored... I don’t know if I should laugh or cry. On one hand, I am relieved she knows about the autism. Yet on the other, it is my own damn sense of insecurity and my Mama Bear reactions that most likely resulted in her awareness.... and she doesn’t like it... in fact, she said it makes her sad.

I always wondered when we would have “the autism discussion”... I never pictured it happening organically at the Ohio State Fair. But there it is.... “Yes, Sahara, you have autism... but no it does not define you. You are, can do and will become anything you so choose.”

So there it is... My 7 year old quasi verbal child just reminded me why I educate others that our kids are exceptional beyond labels... I have gone introspective and decided it really isn’t anyone’s business why my child has quirks... and really that IS my issue not hers. In her own way, she made it quite clear, that she is not defined by autism... she is Sahara Grace. And so, I move forward into our new chapter of our newly defined world within autism.

Autisms Sneak Attack on My Heart

It has been a rough week in the world of autism at the Richardson’s…

~ PICA reared its ugly head again… I do not comprehend how my daughter can eat foam off of the underside of the mini-trampoline, yet refuse to eat the wholesome yummy food I loving create for the family. (Although, I know this isn’t a logical quest meant to understand… Pica isn’t rational.) But, not only foam; toilet paper, foil, string… yak!! The thought makes me cringe. I try to focus in those moments that this is not a conscious decision… it is part of the autism.

~ She is still obsessed with fire. We have thrown away every candle in the house… but it is not like we can just curb the gas stove. I have looked at locks and nothing seems Sahara-proof. I wonder what the fascination is with the fire. …The cause and effect? …The beautiful flicker? …The control? Perhaps all of it… Regardless, the lingering smell in the house is haunting!!! The innocent, “nothinnnnng” is undeniably infuriating… The fear is grasping!! I acknowledge I may never sleep again…

~ With young girls in the house, I have an open door bathroom policy. I view it as a natural way to educate them about proper feminine hygiene and the like. Well… until I found Sahara this week… with a tampon and trying to insert it up her rear-end. (Did I state that gently enough?) Realizing she thinks there are only 2 exits down there; how do you explain the 3^rd to an autistic child with communication delays? Needless to say the tampons have been locked down with the other random items of mischief. But, I am still left standing… wondering… pondering… how do I teach her about the birds n the bees and body changes?

~ Which leads us to the next event of the week… usually when Sahara is too quiet… we worry!! When I went up stairs to check on her, the bathroom door slammed. Once I got in the room, I was horrified to find she had climbed the linen closet (top shelf) to get down a razor… well, it could have been worse. (I remember my niece’s first blood ridden trial shave vividly!) But, luckily Sahara was just left with razor burned arm pits (which really is bad enough)!! So, yes, now the razors are residing with the tampons under lock and key.

~ The ultimate meltdown this week was exacerbated by tears… yup, her own tears compounded her meltdown. She has major sensory issues around getting wet… and her tears during her melt down flew her into a whirlwind of emotions and physical pain. Moments like these break my heart. I try my best to stay composed and support her patiently… but the helpless feelings can even swallow the calmest person.

Speaking of broken hearts…. Its Valentine’s Day weekend.

We typically do not celebrate Valentine’s Day… in fact; I have dubbed it a “Hallmark Day”. You can read HERE how last year I was pleased to get nothing for Valentine’s Day… as my hubby shows me daily in small intimate moments nestled between motherhood & autism how much he loves me.

However, Friday night we had a minor rare spat... when these happen, they usually happen just before bedtime when we are both exhausted from the emotional and physical adventures of the day. Well, that evening was no different… I happened to have a menstrual headache and recovering from a fever, plus I knew I had to be up at 5 AM to go to an important meeting… it was midnight and the kids were still up…

Sahara was running up and down the hall scripting! She then said she was hungry and ran downstairs. Well, because of the fire hazard, she is not allowed in the kitchen by herself… but I didn’t have the strength to get up… I just wanted to melt into my bed. Emily yelled to her father in the other room, “Daaaaad, she’s going downstairs.” He slammed the wall with his palm; it shocked me… which caused me to verbally react, “Did you really just smack the wall? Don’t do that!” I heard him huff only more… we are both exhausted… ready to collapse, but we know we can’t until Sahara is sound asleep…. I snap at him to forget it… he needs to remove himself and I will take care of it… Emily is upset; Sahara is stimming even more… I am fighting tears of anger back… anger at what… not him, not her… but just that our lives aren’t supposed to be like this… I am pissed that I don’t have my white fucking picket fence!! I want to scream… “Where’s my fucking fence!?!?!”

Soon after this, I hear Emily and Dad’s heavy rhythmic breathing... they are asleep. Sahara stays in bed for the rest of the night, but it takes another hour or so to get her settle into sleep. All is still… the alarm is going to go off in 4 hours… and I am laying there listening to the silence of the night… talking with God in the moonlight about this stupid fence in my illogical fantasies.

Later the next morning… my arm hurts… my left arm. I am walking through Walmart… trying to breathe in my nose, out my mouth… chest pains too… breathe in, breath out. I use cognitive thoughts to get me through the store… but inside I am really thinking about my Mom what has vascular disease (she had her leg amputated as a result last spring and had numerous heart attacks over the previous year… but I know it can’t be my heart because soon after her amputation, I went to our family doctor and had a complete exam to rule out diabetes and heart disease… he said I was healthy. His only advice… lose weight. What about the chest pains I get, “Susan, you’ve had them for 5 years.. it is most likely anxiety.” I actually try to tell him I have no stress… have to laugh… did you read the first part of this blog & I try to tell the doctor I have no stress.)

As the day went on, I was sure I was having a heart attack or stroke… but kept saying, ‘well it has been 3 hours, 6 hours, 8 hours, 12 hours… surely if I was having one it would have happened already’. I go take a shower to loosen up my muscles… it works until I step out and see Sahara sitting on the floor surrounded by my raw organic almonds… one in which she is attempting to put up her rectum. Hubby gives her a disgusted look and I call him on it, he looks at me and for the first time ever utters the words… “I HATE AUTISM!!” This is a paramount moment…

Part of me is relieved… I am not the only one. How liberating for him to say it. How healing for us to be in this raw moment together… how therapeutic to acknowledge that it isn’t the child we are frustrated and exhausted from… but autism.

Emily is oblivious to my heavy heart of the day and is planning out a perfect Valentine’s Dance… she has planned out the food, drinks, dancing and presents. It comes together perfectly… Sahara opens her own presents and is excited about them. Hubby dresses up in a suit and tie and sweeps Emily off her feet in a waltz-like dance… the smile of her face… priceless… I am certain it is a moment she will embed in her memory forever… a perfect family moment. A perfect family!!

When I lay down, I realize the pain in my arm all day was from Sahara’s head when she sleeps… I know this because when she laid there again to nuzzle… I felt the muscle screech in pain. I lay there thinking about how silly I was all day thinking I was having a heart attack, when in fact I was having an attack of the heart… My heart yearns for moments of normalcy for my children, for my husband, and selfishly for myself.

I laid there wondering how many other mothers feel like I do… recognizing the inherent beauty in her children and family, and yet raw emotion sneaks in intermittently to get the best of her.

…Today I feel better, more aware of my limitations, my strengths, my hopes and dreams. Today I feel ready to create a new picket fence… but this one isn’t all white and rigid… perhaps it is colored appropriately with all of the colors of the spectrum and full of groves & curves.

… And more importantly, today I feel ready to empower other mothers who may not have the inner-resources I have to pull myself out of the funk so easily.

The Mason Alert: Helping Prevent Wandering & Deaths in the Autism Community

I have met an Incredible Mother, Sheila Stark Medlam, who has touched my heart. I wish I had met her under different circumstances, but here we are nonetheless… Sheila not a day goes by that I do not think about you and your son, Mason!!

I always say Autism has blessed my life with fabulous heart centered friends!

… but what if Autism and the Death of Your Child blessed you with friends?

Could you find the blessing within such a tragedy?

Would you find the strength to face another day?

Could you ever echo another laugh?

How would you go on?

How do you go on?

I do not know the answers to these questions. But I do know that by the grace of God, Sheila is turning the tragic drowning of her 5 year old son, Mason, into a much needed safety awareness movement in the autism and special needs community through the MASON ALLEN MEDLAM FOUNDATION.

Sheila told her story to the IACC this week (here at minute 157-168) and advocated for the other 92% of children with autism who wander. Listen to hear Sheila talk with The Autism Women's Network about The Mason Foundation HERE.

You can listen to more statistic and stories here starting at minute 47.

This is why I personally haven't slept in 6 years... My daughter has slept in my bed with one of my hands on her back at all times out of fear of her fleeing into the night despite door locks and chains. Recently, I decided to give her some autonomy; she woke up in the night and removed the screen from her second story window. I thank God nothing tragic happened that night, but I know the risk is always there!

There have been times that she has fleed from the home during the day. She has been found in a tree house naked near a neighbor’s pool, behind houses and trees. Our children do not respond like typical children. Many are non-verbal and do not respond to their name when called. Many are attracted to dangerous situations like water, railroad tracks, streets and animals. … And because these children have an invisible disability they are very vulnerable to predators.

To learn more about some tools to help protect your loved one visit AWAARE… Working to prevent incidents and deaths within the autism community!

In Pensacola, FL the Take Me Home Program was created through the combined efforts of Officer Jimmy Donohoe and the Police department's Software provider. Basically, it is a system designed as a registry that has a photo of theat risk child or adult who is prone to wandering, some basic information about the person, and where they live.

Just 89 Days after Mason’s death, Sheila learned that they would be willing to make changes to the this already FREE program to incorporate the MASON ALERT information including:

A current picture of the child.

Child's address and Contact information.

Their facinations: i.e. railroads, small spaces, water

Locations of all nearby hazards such as tracks, pools, ponds, abandoned houses, busy intersections.

Notify if the child is verbal or nonverbal. This is very important, because when we search for someone, we tend to stand in one place and shout the person's name. A nonverbal child won't respond to this AT ALL. When I arrived home, the police were shouting Mason's name. I could have been standing right beside him, shouting his name and not gotten a response.

How the child reacts under stress. i.e. do they hide, do they run, do they fight, do they shut down and just stand still.

And finally, how to approach the child and who needs to approach the child. In some instances, authorities will just have to immediately react if the child is in immediate danger, but in other instances, it might be better to wait for a parent or caregiver, and taking this step might help eliminate danger.

I encourage everyone to contact their local law enforcement to inquire how to implement this program. In the mean time, please sign the MASON ALERT PETITION.

Sheila,

I am deeply sorry for your loss. I will not pretend to know your pain, but I do intimately know the raw fear that took your precious boy. Please know that I am honored that you have found the strength to advocate for my daughter and the other children and adults who wander in our community...

You are right politics should not have prevented someone or some organization or political structure from doing something to prevent Mason's untimely death!! You have an entire community grieving with you and holding your hand as you advocate for our loved ones! My daily prayers are with you, Mason and your entire family!!

Susan

Wi Active Challenge: Day 5

One of the reasons I was concerned about trying the Wi-Active again is because... last time I got to Day 4 I ended up in the ER and laid up for 7 weeks with kidney stones.

Now you might ask, "What does Wi-Active have to do with kidney stones?"

On Day 4 there happens to be a lot of jumping. I had this thought that perhaps that jiggled the stones loose the last time. Well, last night laying in bed... sure enough my left kidney started to throb. I knew that pain; it is one you cannot associate with anything else; kidney stones. I laid there and did Reiki on my kidneys while breathing through the pain... it wasn't as intense as February's episode so I was able to fall asleep.

When I got up this morning I still had a twinge, but it wasn't bad... I figured I would drink lots of water and hope that one of the remaining 16 stones would soon dislodge and pass with ease. I looked at the Wi.... DAY 5!!

Yes, that is right, I went ahead and did my workout. Why? I figured it could help this process and my over all health goal is important to me. So onward I ventured into jumping, running and boxing....

Okay, maybe not the brightest idea... I believe the stone is big and it is stuck trying to get out of the kidney; the more I exercised the more intense the pain.

Unfortunately, I had to reschedule my rare dinner date tonight with two good friends but am optimistic that the stone will pass soon. In the mean time, I am drinking tons of water and have located the left over percocet from the last episode just in case.

Day 5... Burned 137 calories.

Oil Spill, Meditation and Eradication

The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is going to impact our planet, children and grandchildren, ecology, economy, etc. for centuries to come... that is if we survive it at all!! I watch videos, view pictures and read story after story; and my heart aches for our planet and mankind. I can’t help but worry about what devastation this will behind. I pray, but I am not sure that is enough.

I try not to focus on the obvious detriment of the situation. I firmly believe in the law of attraction and know my thoughts can and do create my reality. So, I try to meditate and focus on purified waters, a healthy marine habitat and a repaired oil tank. I figure that if the scientists and engineers who are armed with technology cannot fix the massive oil rig tank, then surely our thoughts can.

Well, I have to admit that is even hard for me to ascertain. I try, but I keep returning to thoughts of destruction and greed. I cannot help but to beg the power and money hungry individuals in charge to get off their duff and do something about this before it kills not only the planet, but the people who inhabit her too!! Stop defending Big Oil and take action!!

I feel like my pleas are met on deaf ears. I contemplate that if the powers to be can make vulgar statements about the oil spill and not take proper action to remedy the situation, and then it is very possible that the same greedy bastards could be making vulgar statements to discredit concerned parents and deny vaccine injury while continuing to pump that toxicity into our bodies? Sadly, this makes me feel validated. Sadly, this is probably close to the truth.

We live in a corrupt society where money and power make us do things that are incomprehensible. We turn the cheek when it doesn’t directly affect us or when we are seemingly removed. But, I have to say that we are not removed from either of these scenarios. Our children are being vaccine damaged as well as poisoned by toxins and pesticides in their foods as well as in their toys. Just this week alone 2 children’s items were recalled for containing cadmium… Miley Cyrus brand Jewelry at Walmart and Shrek glassware at Mc Donald’s.

And yet, we think it to be so farfetched that vaccines might contain harmful ingredients? Another story surfaced this week about a congressional committee that is investigating what they are calling a ‘phantom recall’ on Johnson and Johnson division, Mc Neil’s, Motrin. Apparently, the company outsourced contractors to have individuals go into stores and buy the entire product on the shelf to prevent a nationwide recall.

There are some tainted business practices occurring and it is mankind that is paying. Of course, Sarah Palin would like to blame the ‘Radical Environmentalists’ for the recent Oil Spill, but we know better. It is a world full of greed and this too shall bite us in the ass. This spill will effect far more than the Gulf. It will affect the entire mother earth and her inhabitants. You know I think she will survive… but not without causalities. Mankind has been eradicated before, and we are not too far from it again. We are but a mere virus on her and her immune system is about to eliminate us.

I pray that I am wrong for our sake, for our children's sake, and for the sake of this planet that gives us life.

Kidney Stone Update...

The CAT scan revealed I had a total of 18 kidney stones.

5 on the right side, ranging 2-4 millimeters.

13 on the left ranging side, 2-8 millimeters.

They blasted the 6 & 8 millimeter ones on the left with sound waves... I have been passing gravel since Ground Hog’s Day.

The remaining ones have to be passed ‘naturally’. Tonight I am in severe pain and am pretty sure that I am passing one of the larger ones on the right. All I can do is drink water since the remaining stones are all 4 millimeters or less. But, do not let that size mislead you... it hurts.

I am perplexed as to how I got so many, and am darn annoyed with how much water I have to drink. All I can do is drink, send Reiki, and try to stay active... activity helps move them. However, tonight I choose to park it on the couch.

A Splash of Normalcy

We went swimming yesterday at a friend’s pool. I was feeling quite relieved to not have to worry about the teens at the city pool picking on the girls and was able to let me guard down. I sensed calmness within myself for the first time in a long time…

We splashed around and had a blast- I am sure none of us felt any worries in the pool yesterday! We played Marco-Polo and talked about the birds flying over head and the horses in the distance.

In order not to spoil their enjoyment, when I was done I sat on the deck patiently waiting for them to conclude their game. As I watched the girls play this intricate game they created, I was amazed at witnessing the normalcy of sisterhood; something I often intend for the both of them.

During this moment each would jump off the side of the deck into the cool pool, first Emily then Sahara. They would rush over to their horses (red noodles) and gallop away from the Water Monster that I am sure was real to them within the depths of their shared imagination; Laughter filled the country air and warmed my motherly heart.

I recognized for a brief moment that had there been onlookers they would not have been able to tell that autism was in their midst. In this moment we looked like a typical family having a typical moment in the pool. It was in this realization that I understood that Sahara was emerging from this label and Emily was emerging from loneliness of having her sibling experience autism.

Dinner and a Show

We had an incredible week! We witnessed improvements in just about everything… from social play, eye contact, and speech to eating new foods. And yes, let’s not forget her expression of humor.

Sahara has always had a great sense of humor. Even when she was in the womb the midwives heard two distinct heart beats. My husband I heard them too…. We all sat their stupefied that we just might me carrying twins. However, after the ultrasound concluded there was only one baby in there we laughed for weeks that this child was going to be the comedian of the family.

Last night proved us right….

We were delighted when she actually joined us for dinner and ate, but the best was yet to come. When she finished eating she looked directly into my eyes and let out the biggest belch I have ever heard come out of a little girl. I know as mothers we are supposed to contain ourselves when redirecting our children, but I admit I snickered before saying, "Say excuse me."

"Oopsey!"

Okay, maybe I was not the mother of the year last night… when her attempt to say ‘excuse me’ came out ‘oopsey’ I laughed out loud as Daddy gave me the quick glance over his glasses that I was not handling this appropriately. (He is much better at going behind the closed door to laugh in these situations.)

Sahara clearly recognized that she has not only had me on the verge of tears, but her sister laughing out loud and Daddy sneering at Mommy as well. So… she takes another drink of water and pounds on her chest and yep…

"BBBUUURRRPPP!!! Oopsey!"

This time I snorted and her sister about fell off her chair from the hilarity of the situation. Daddy turned to her and said, "Sahara, this is not funny. We do not burp at the dinner table. Now, say excuse me."

"BBBBBUUUURRRRPPPP!!!! Oopsey, Daddy!"

I don’t know how he kept it together to say, "Sahara…"

"BBBBBUUUURRRRPPPP!!!! Oopsey!"

She wouldn’t stop and I couldn’t stop laughing. I had tears rolling down my checks. I suppose in hindsight that maybe they weren’t just tears of laughter… you know the ones that come when you are laughing so hard that you can’t stop. But, maybe tears of joy that this wonderful child was interacting with us and able to read the cues of everyone around her.

It is exhilliarating to see the fog lifting and witness the expression of life coming alive before your very own eyes!

(...and frankly, she was funny!)

Hydrating Your Body Without Draining Your Wallet: Money Saving Tip #5

The best water of choice is artesian— complete with salts and minerals of the earth.

Lourdes (natural artesian water from France) is considered a miraculous water source and widely recognized as Holy Water among Catholics. This Holy Water has been known to cure sicknesses… I assume this is in relation to artesian water having all the electrolytes the body needs to maintain health. The chemical compounds of artesian water are most conducive with the chemistry of the human body. No wonder it is deemed miraculous.

However, when you are on a budget (and most families these days are), artesian water can be costly. If you ordered Lourdes water online it would cost approximately $132 per 1 1/3 gallon! (OUCH!)

Other artesian water sources that most people are familiar with are Fiji, Evian, and Perrier. You can expect to pay well over $1.00 for a 12 ounce bottle. However, some may argue that obtaining clean water with all the vital electrolytes necessary for the human body may be worth the extra cost.

We consume, as a family of four ,over 15 gallons of drinking water per week. That is over $150 per month just for water… again, if you are on a budget, this is difficult to manage.

If you opt out of the artesian water industry and go for spring water you can expect to pay near $1.00 per gallon. Although, that seems to be a more reasonable price, I do not think you are paying for quality. In order for a label to read ‘spring water’ it only needs to contain 10% spring water. As for the other 90% my best guess is it is probably from a municipal source.

But, even if you make this compromise you are still spending nearly $60 per month for 10% spring water. You end up paying 100% more than the water is really worth. If you read some labels closely the will even say ‘from a municipal source’. In this instance, you end up paying almost $.75 per gallon for something you could get straight from the tap. (That doesn’t make logical sense.)

While depriving the body of the essential electrolytes found naturally in the water extracted from deep within the earth, we compromise our health. Is that really worth it? I cannot answer that question for you— that is a personal decision you will need to make. I do know that in our current economy many families are faced with financial cut backs and unfortunately sometimes that means eliminating things that are good for us.

Another option is to purchase a filtration system for your home. This will purify the water from harsh chemicals like Chlorine which is commonly found in home drinking water. When we moved into our current home, we went from well water to city water. I was astonished that our water straight from the tap smelled like a pool.

Your body absorbs during a 10-15 minute shower the same amount of chlorine you would consume in 8 – 8 ounce glasses of city water. Prolonged exposure to chlorine has been said to cause skin and eye irritation, lung disease, and even cancer.

Other contaminants removed through a filtration system are mercury, lead, and pesticides. Although a whole house filtration system is ideal it, too, can be costly— costing thousands of dollars. A quick cool shower is the best way to reduce toxic exposure without a filteration system.

A filter on the kitchen faucet or even a Britta Picture Filteration System can be well worth the investment. You can economically purchase a 10 cup picture for $21.99 after a $10 coupon from Bed Bath and Beyond. Each filter is good for 100 gallons and is less than $8.00 to replace. With the cost of city water averaging .02 cents per gallon our family can safely consume and cook with filtered water for $1.20 per month plus filter costs.

I am currently looking into how to replace those electrolytes we are missing from true artisian water. I am sure that maybe even supplementing this charcoal filtered water with a bottle of Evian would help... But this seems to be the best economic choice and a step in the right direction towards clean drinking water.