Lactose intolerant and other fun stuff

We finally found some answers for Monkey's abdominal pain... it took months and lots of tests, but we now know that she's lactose intolerant, as well as having IBS.  Cutting dairy and adding lactaids made a huge difference for her right at first and she was pain free.  Unfortunately, then the IBS kicked back in and she had some pain again.  Basically it means her body is manifesting all her internalized stress.  Monkey has always struggled with emotional regulation.  Hopefully she'll start really trying the yoga dvd's we got her (on the Dr.'s recommendation) and use the stress management stuff she's learned in her strong teen class this year.  But at least her pain level is way down with the lactose out of her diet...

Here she is trying out her new (DYT type 3) look for a youth activity.  She's been having fun discovering her own personal style.

We also cut her hair (to help on a bad day)... the layers in the back help her curls show their best.