Knowledge

 

Knowledge

When my child was diagnosed with autism; I went thru so much anxiety and trying to look for resources on the web to see what I can do to help her. Called several places and was put on several waiting list for ABA therapy and for speech therapy and occupational therapy; in one of those evaluations my daughter needed physical therapy for a short period of time because of her balance. I can honestly say these waiting list were so long that I literally called every single day to see if there were any cancellations and had a paper list of all of them that she was put on their list. 

There was a point in my life that my daughter's diagnosis affected me terribly; I went to being a happy person to being mad at the world because I saw that my child was struggling and I could not do anything to make it go away or make her progress faster. I was a medium to overweight person in that time, but I turned to overeating because of the anxiety I went thru. 

I passed thru a lot of emotions and things in my life; I had my child 9 months in my stomach and I was her mother and I was doing this all alone. I thank my parents for helping me as in me living with them; but I was the one making the phone calls to several places, searching the web to find different types of things to help my child, going against the clock because I was told by the developmental pediatrician in Philadelphia that when your child is diagnosed with autism; you have a short window because their brain is like a sponge and once the years pass it is not anymore and the therapies will help but it will just be more difficult or longer. 

Knowing of her diagnosis made me thru the years a stronger person and an advocate for my child, because no one else was going to fight for her in the school system or in her IEP meetings or in general in her everyday life. I do not say I am the perfect mom but I always try to do the best for her and make her future better. I do always try to keep communication with her teachers thru email or phone and they know I am always available if there is a problem with my daughter in school that needs a plan change. The school does know that she is gluten free and I always offer to bring gluten free snacks or cupcakes to the classroom if in case there are any parties in school.

My point is that us as parents with children with autism or any type of diagnosis go thru a tremendous amount of anxiety and the need to help their child. 

There are people in this world that do not know what we go thru and why we might see a therapist or see a psychiatrist and judge us as being crazy or mentally ill. They should be under our skin and know our past and see what we as parents go thru and then judge.  

I became this shy girl in high school in my young age who did not want to speak that much because I stuttered a lot in school; to being a mom who had no choice than to talk even if I stuttered because I had a child who needed a voice and help; which had to be me because I am her parent. 

Ups and downs

It has been a while since I have not published anything in my Blog, but a lot of things have happened these past years. I have my daughter who has autism and more than a year ago she was diagnosed with OCD too. My daughter still remains Gluten Free for several years and everything is separated in the house to make sure there is no cross contaminated with our food and hers. She drinks Lactaid milk and not regular milk, but the only thing I still remain is on her Gluten Free life. 

I have always been a believer that I did not want to child to be on medication for no reason before more than a year ago because when she was first diagnosed with autism they told me she had also ADHD; which in the end was a misdiagnose in that point of her age and the medication that she was on made her worse than better. There are times in life you have to see what is important for your child health and when she was diagnosed with OCD; I knew that going biomedical in that portion of her life was not going to resolve her condition. The Gluten Free made her autism better as in changes and results I saw when she was GF, but with OCD it is a different condition that I decided after talking to the psychiatrist in her school and my husband and I decided it was best for her to be on medication. 

I thank my husband who is her step-father, but a big part of my kids life because for my little ones he is the only father figure that they have seen for years; I thank him because in that stage of my life I had his support; both emotional and as a mom too. I was honestly scared because I did not know what was going to happen after she was put on medication for her OCD diagnosis. 

It did work out as she lowered her OCD; I am not going to lie to you guys as in there are times she has her moments but they are less not than they were before years ago. Just today I had a situation with my daughter as in she had an episode with her OCD and it was very difficult because we always want the best for our children and want them to be better in life. Nothing is perfect in life and we just have to be strong and never give up on them. 

Just like when she was diagnosed with autism; several physicians told me she was not going to get better and that they were sorry for that, but I never gave up on my daughter and now I see the best in her. I searched the internet, found different alternatives for the autism; which I am not a doctor but I am an advocate for my child and I am not going to never just stand there and give up on her or none of my kids if they ever have anything. 

Now we are in the waiting list for her to go back to private speech therapy and hopefully she can get in before October so she has speech therapy in her school which she does already and in a private facility as well. I am not a perfect parent, but I try very much to be the best I can be and as long as they are doing great; then I know I did my job as a parent. 

I even found out a gluten free cosmetic website that sells lipsticks and foundations and also a shampoo that is Gluten Free that I currently bought for myself and my daughter now uses the shampoo, but the cosmetics not yet because she still is a teenager but when she does in years to come at least I know what things she can use. 

Additonal biomedical vitamins 

She has taken these before, but I had to order them because she ran our of these vitamins. 

They cost money but are worth it. I go all the way natural with my daughter and refuse to give

her medications. With her ABA Therapy services at home, private speech therapy weekly that we take her with my husband and her Summer ESY program that she loves and they told me that her speech improved more and I told them because she has private speech therapy now. 

I felt so happy to hear my child improves; I don't expect a cure ... I just want to hear that he is better and that makes me feel proud that I am doing a great job in all these years and my husband is helping and learning how to deal with my daughter as in her gluten-free diet and no dairy and plus accompanies me to all her speech therapies and is involved in her health care which makes me happy to know that I have someone who is not her father, but that wants to know how to learn about Autism and everything. 

Chiropractic care also helps too; which I take her weekly because it makes her feel good. 

"Stepping Stones for my Daughter with Autism": What the future will hold....

What the future will hold

The happiness you feel when you hear "great news"; just like if I won the lottery or the biggest prize in the world because that is what us parents feel when we hear advancements or improvements with our child life.

What the future will hold....

What the future will hold

You know the happiness you feel when you hear "great news"; just like if I won the lottery or something like that. Today my daughter's ESY program called me (I am not going to lie I panicked because I thought she was acting out or had a meltdown in school). The teacher noticed my voice and he knows me for months; all the teachers and assistant aides know me which I love because I want to hear their feedback on how things are or what happened with my daughter. Well, long story short... he told me what I have done with my daughter that she is using more words now and she can express herself more than a month and a half ago.

I told him that she is going to private speech therapy and she is of course going to start with a new company ABA services because I just felt the other company wasn't doing their job. The behavioral specialist for the summer who is working with my daughter and other kids told me, she can go to the district school and be in an autistic school classroom and not where she was before.

You can't imagine how happy and content that made me feel. I have read the internet, doing gluten-free, low sugar, 5% on Gluten Free cookies per week. I have read everything and am not doing medications at all on her; only strict vitamins and her vitamin D that she is low on.

Her pediatrician tested her to see if she has gluten in her system and he said that; I am doing a good job because there is no gluten at all in her body by her blood work.

If it works for my daughter I would do the impossible so I can make her future a better one; my goal is for her to communicate more with people and be able to be understood. I don't expect miracles I just expect little steps and then we will see what the future holds.

I am not the mother of the year, but I try my best to make her better in any way. She has so much love and is affectionate to me and her siblings. She does have her mood swings, but that I was told my her teacher that it's a puberty thing and a girl mood swing; not the autism.

I go every week to her speech therapy and feel joy inside when I hear from afar that she says more words and tries to make her self understood. That is what I know that I am doing the best I can.

I am a parent of a child with Autism 

I have a daughter who has autism; it's difficult because for years I blamed myself for her diagnosis and thought I did something wrong. Going to therapy I have learned that it's not my fault and have to let go of that blame that I have. 

I have done the impossible to go in Autism mom chat groups and talk to her teachers and now she is finally starting her 2nd session of private speech therapy weekly. I'm gluten - free with her and refuse to medicate my child. I take her to the chiropractic weekly and always keep communication via phone and email with her school and attend all her meetings. What my daughter was before she has changed a lot and is not as worse as before when she first had her diagnosis of autism (ASD).

With her gluten Free I make sure there is no contamination with the foods we eat and I read all labels and several websites on what contains gluten. I give her Omega capsules and vitamin D plus multivitamins that are gluten Free and buy them from her biomedical doctor. I'm trying as a parent to be the best I can be for my child and of course take care of my other child who is okay and talks too much . 

All I wish is for her words to come out more and for her to express herself more. I know there is no cure but I just baby steps then we will see how it goes. 

My worry is that she won't be able to express herself and half a life on her own later on. I want to improve and I'm doing the best I can . These vitamins and thins are costly but money will never be a issue for my child . I also give her probiotic that are expensive but the best. 

She is going to be 12 years old soon and I just know she can and I believe she can more with this private speech therapy plus school and plus summer school they have for autism kids here. 

Any moms that have ideas or stuff that they want to share are welcomed to let me know and I am a person that is not a doctor but can share my experience with my child. I did cut dairy from her and no sweets or sugar stuff . 

I will share more in the days . 

Almost first week on her biomedical treatments

I totally refuse to listen to the school or any hospital to tell me that my daughter needs to be on medication. It works in the beginning, but then it has bad side effects and makes her autism worse and it makes me as a mom question : Why did I do this to my child?

I have started on giving her the vitamins from her DAN doctor and mb12 injections; it is a lot to give her but they are good for her and I totally stopped temporarly the apple juice and no junk food. I am 80 percent dairy free but I am getting there.

It has been difficult for my child because she is the one that has this diagnosis, but then again it has been difficult and tough on me that I am her mother and it makes me sad and have a lot of anxiety watching my daughter struggle.

She is calm now and it has been like 4 days with this, I see her less stressed and very calm which is great for me. I did take her yesterday to the chiropractic to have her adjusted which I am going to be taking her 3 times per week after I finish working.

Let's see how the week goes with my daughter and my goal is not perfection but just better. 

Removing things and starting from scratch

Decided to remove medications from my daughter and turning completely to biomedical and vitamins for my child & remain still her gluten-free diet. 

I did decide to remove too much sugar: low sugar apple juice and junk food which are gluten-free that may contain too much sugar that might alter her moods. 

These weeks are not going to be easy but it something that I decided to do for my child. 

Prohibit foods: 

- Gluten foods

- High levels of sugar in any type of juice

- Too much things that contain carbs

- Highly salted popcorn and once a month Cheetos; the original one that is gluten free

Currently giving my child: Omega, Pure minerals, vitamin D, Magnesium Calcium, Gaba, Vitamins that contain no chemicals , folinic acid and temporarily her MB12 injection every other day. 

It is something that I am going to try and see how it goes and if it does not work; I will reconsider the vitamin part, but still will keep the gluten free part because I know that makes my daughter better. 

Experiences and difficult stones to pass

I have passed all these years since the diagnosis of my child; thru ups and downs. It is something that as a parent that it affects you and you turn into anything that is going to help you child advance and progress in her life. I have started at first with therapy and then turned to her seeing a Neurologist in Long Island, New York to changing her to a Neurologist in Philadelphia, PA. (keep in mind I live in the Lehigh Valley in Pennsylvania so it's a long car ride for my child)

I have started with them doing head MRI's to making sure she doesn't fall into the category of having seizures; which they had to sedate her for that exam. Then in the end I turned to a Genetics doctor in The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia; making sure that there wasn't an abnormality with her. I did turn to medicine, but then gave up because it was making her worse than better. I found a biomedical doctor in Philadelphia which from there I started more than 3 years ago a Gluten-Free diet with her.

I researched what foods,medicine,things she may touch that may have gluten. You would be amaze of the stuff that contain gluten, I honestly prefer shopping for her in Wegman's because it shows me if things contain gluten or not.  Some examples are: some playdough's, soy sauce, some powder garlic, some brand name hot dogs...etc.. 

I have turned into giving my child vitamins and mb12 injections and I can honestly say these things are not cheap; they do cost money but it is well worth it for your own child who needs them. I do love especially the probiotic which is the VSL #3 which you have to keep it in the refrigerator and give once a day. 

I did find out that my daughter these months has another diagnosis to add which is OCD plus her autism. That was something that I didn't expect and it was making her life bad as in the writing and her impulses. I did turn to medication for this condition, but honestly I am trying to find a way to make her life biomedical and get rid of the chemicals and bad things in her body. 

I did talk to this person who reference me on this diet of a woman called Keri Rivera and I honestly am going to see how it goes. I am going to eliminate her sugars and have heard that there is coconut sugar which is good for you. She is 70% off dairy now, but I am trying to make it 100%. 

I try to go in the internet, talk to people in the Autism Team app in my iPhone and they also share information with me just like I share information with them. Sometime doctors turn to medicine and think it is the solution to a child's problem, but sometime it is not like that. Us as adults might take medications for conditions that we have, but we are adults. I could take medications for my fibromyalgia and my migraines, but I wouldn't want my child who has autism and OCD turn into medications if biomedical treatment would help her and eating gluten-free. 

Honestly, I can't say I have been the best of a mother because nobody is perfect, but I can say that I find a way to make my daughter get better and make her autism more lower. 

I blamed myself for my daughter having autism and I blamed myself because I thought I did something that caused this, but I am learning now that it is something that happens and you can't do anything just do the best you can and move forward. My daughter has been in her worse of days when she was first diagnosed and now even though it is not the best; it is much better.

I still remember when my daughter went to see her developmental doctor and she had a bad tantrum and went to the ground in the office waiting room and couldn't stop yelling and was in her own world. I was crying because I honestly felt I didn't know what to do for her, I felt useless as a parent and doing the job alone and her father not around to help me. I remember that there was this lady that told me: Don't worry I passed through this with my child, things look bad now but it will get better... give it time. I still remember her words and now I know it might not be perfect but I do see improvements in my child. 

I do the best I can and only expect that one day my daughter can grow up and have a normal way of living and go off to college and be the best she can be. I know there is no cure for autism, but I do know that there has to be a way to make her life better. 

My daughter's way of life and my own too

My daughter Angelina has turned 11 years old today. What passed thru my mind was everything that we passed since the day she was diagnosed with autism. I thought to myself "Why me? and Why this happened if I did nothing wrong in this world to have this brought on my child? Now I learned throughout the years that this is not a cure or a disease; things happen for a reason and these are challenges that we have to go thru life to make us strong mothers.
Angelina from being in anti-depressant medicines when she was little; not she is for 3 years now off them and is completely Gluten-Free. I stick to this and think it has made improvements in my daughters way of life. I am not going to say that everything is 100 percent better, but I am happy for her to talk more and to write words and to draw things that she sees in her iPad.
I have entered Google so many times to make sure what things don't contain wheat; you will be amazed how many things contain wheat or factories of companies have them around the foods we buy. I trust Wegman's and for me that is the only store that I can honestly say I know if its Gluten-free then it is.
Nothing prepared us as parents to have a child with autism just as life didn't prepare me for this. You just have to learn how to be strong and get the resources for your child before years pass and things get more complicated in their growth. The emotional part will never pass; if you would to tell me now something about my daughter autism; I will probably have tears in my eyes.

I had so much support from my parents and thank them every day for their support in dealing with my daughter all these years.

I am reaching out to parents with ASD children (autism); to see what other biomedical things they do or foods to stay away from. This is an ongoing thing and for me as a parent if I have to turn to my phone and see web conferences (which I have seen TED conferences on autism) I would do everything to see how I can understand my child better.

People think because a child speaks that they don't have nothing and that autism would never happen; all I can say is evaluate when they are little. Now you can since they are 6 months old and autism is nothing wrong or bad or a disease. It just means they are special in their own way.

 

Updates, probiotics and info on gluten on lipsticks...

 

It has been a long time since I haven't posted any blogs on my daughter's progress. Angelina continues on "Gluten-Free" diet and with her Methyl B12 injections given every 2 days in her buttocks. Last week, we went with my daughter to her biomedical doctor Dr. Patrick Elliott in Philadelphia. I was so glad to hear from him that he has seen so much progress from my daughter and he asked me several questions (kind of a test but knowledge check in his part), it came out that my daughter's autism has reduced significantly. I know there is no cure for autism, which I am aware of and this is not a disease in no way or shape.

 

What the doctor did "ADD" for her to take was VSL #3 Probiotic vitamins (that have to be refrigerated all the time), which are natural and gluten-free. Of course she continues with her Methyl B12 injections every 2 days, before it was every 3 days but now he wanted to increase the intake.

 

 

My daughter is not celiac in any way, but has extreme gluten sensitivity when she consumes gluten in any way. We all learned it here the good and bad way and even her school is aware of it. What I love about the schools are that if you do make them aware of their allergy to gluten, they can provide gluten-free lunch (you do have to provide a doctor's note when you do this).

 

There are a lot of gluten-free products everywhere now which make life easier for me and everyone who is allergic or celiac. When we go outside I am not that worried if it will be uncomfortable to hide things from her. I do wish a lot of other places do include gluten-free food, I guess it is still a work in progress throughout the years.

 

I am not going to lie, until now I still read labels and have my bookmarks from websites to help me. What I did actually discover from my neighbor is that there are a lot of lipstick products that contain "Gluten" and that was shocking because it adds more to my list now.

 

http://celiacdisease.about.com/od/GlutenFreePersonalCareProducts/fl/Gluten-Free-Makeup-Brands.htm

 

I have included above a website on information on gluten-free lipsticks.

 

I also am including below a website that talks about Probiotics as well.

 

http://www.autism-help.org/intervention-biomedical-probiotic.htm

 

This week I will be blogging more. I know that everything that I am doing with my daughter, there is no evidence that it helps her autism but so far it has helped me as a parent and that I am happy and glad so I just go for it and continue. 

"El Dia de Felicidad de una Madre" (Spanish Version)

 

¿Qué significa ser una mamá de una hija de "necesidades especiales" ...

 

 

     Desde que mi hija fue diagnosticada con autismo hace varios años, pasé por varias etapas "pensar que no era cierto, tristeza y luego el modo de acción". Mi hija Angelina tiene autismo y yo lo sé y lo acepto, pero sentí que tenía que probar varias cosas para ayudar a mi hija. Como pueden leer mis posts anteriores he intentado varias cosas, pero al final he intentado "medicina alternativa". Creo en mi corazón que era la mejor decisión que he tomado con Angelina. No es algo que "el seguro médico" cubre, por lo que en realidad tengo que gastar de mi bolsillo, pero valio la pena porque mi hija ha progresado mucho. No estoy diciendo que ella esta 100% perfectamente bien, porque nunca hay un 100% en la vida. Si usteds ven mi hija ahora y comparar cómo era antes, puedo decir honestamente que para mí es una gran diferencia.

 

      Angelina está con "Medicina Alternativa", en la que ella está completamente "libre de gluten", también acompañando de su "Terapia de Comportamiento Aplicado Análisis" (Terapia ABA), además de la terapia del habla privada y terapia del habla y terapia ocupacional en la escuela también. Una gran cantidad de personas y cosas juegan un factor en el progreso de mi hija, pero desde que ella ha sido totalmente no comiendo nada de gluten (que es la levadura y harina), su comportamiento ha cambiado y también a cambiado muchas cosas con ella. Con su "Doctor de Medicina Alternativa", como muchos llaman "DAN Doctor", también le estoy dando sus vitaminas también.

 

       Todo esto es lo que estoy pasando con mi hija y sé que es un proceso que no se progresa en un dia nada mas.

 

      Pero, hoy día cuando llegué a casa y me fui a mi habitación, mi hija Angelina dejo en mi almohada un sobre que ella hizo que decía "Angelina" con un corazón en el centro, y "mamá", si usteds ven la imagen que dibujó es una cinta amarilla en el medio y se ve como un regalo. Cuando lo abrí, ella tenía otro papel doblado en el interior con una imagen de SpongeBob y todos los personajes de los dibujos animados de ese personaje.

 

      Al ver esto me hizo reír con una gran sonrisa en mi cara y tan orgullosa como madre. Tan orgullosa porque puedo ver que mi hija está progresando mucho y eso complete mi día y queria que todos lo vean.

 

      Ahora Angelina incluso me pide que le lea cuentos antes de dormir, pero al final ella lo lee y le ayudo con algunas palabras que no entiende. "Ella puede leer"!

 

     Eso me hace muy feliz y se que es un proceso que lo tengo que tomar "dia por dia" de Angelina, pero me siento muy orgullosa de verla hacer todas estas cosas positivas. Simplemente me hace muy orgullosa y muy feliz, completa mi mundo.

 

     Yo amo a todos mis tres hijos en igualmente, pero quiero expresar mi felicidad con Angelina porque ella es una niña con "autismo", y sólo viendo su progreso me hace tan feliz. Es la misma felicidad si veo a mis dos hijos hombrecitos, Jean-Pierre y Philippe progresar en sus colegios o en sus vidas.   



"The Happiest Day of a Mom..."

 

 

 

What it Means to be a Mom with a "Special Needs" daughter...

 

 

     Since my daughter was diagnosed with autism several years ago, I went through several stages "denial, sadness and then action mode". My daughter Angelina has autism and I know it and accept it, but then again I felt that I had to try several things to help my daughter. As you can read my previous posts I tried several things, but in the end I tried "alternative medicine". I believe in my heart that it was the best decision I ever made with Angelina. It is not something that "medical insurance" covers, so I actually have to spend out of pocket but it was so worth it for me because my daughter has progressed so much. I am not saying that she is 100% perfectly fine, because there is never a 100% in life. If you see my daughter now and compare how it was before, I can honestly say that to me it is a major difference.

 

      Angelina is being treated with "Alternative Medicine", in which she is completely "Gluten-Free", also accompanying her "Applied Behavior Analysis Therapy" (ABA Therapy), in addition to private speech therapy outside and speech therapy and occupational therapy in school too. A lot of people and things play a factor for my daughter progressing, but ever since she has been "Gluten-Free" her behavior has changed and so many things have changed with her. With her "Alternative Medicine Doctor" as many call "DAN Doctor", I am also giving her vitamins too.

 

      Saying all this is what I am going through with my daughter and I know it is a step by step process. But, today when I got home I went to my bedroom and my daughter Angelina left in my pillow an envelope she made that said "Angelina" with a heart in the middle and "Mommy", if you see the picture she drew a yellow ribbon in the middle and looks like a present. When I opened it, she had another paper folded inside with a picture of SpongeBob and all the cartoon characters.

 

      Seeing this made me laugh with a big smile in my face and so proud as a mother. So proud because I can see that my daughter is progressing so much and that is something that makes my day and world to see. Now Angelina even asks me to read to her bedtime stories, which in the end she read and I help her with some words she doesn't understand. "She Can Read"!!! That makes me so happy because even though it is a day by day process with Angelina, I can say I feel so proud to see her make all these positive things. It just makes me so proud and so happy, it completes my world. I love all my three children the same, but I express my happiness with Angelina because she is a child with "Autism", and just watching her progress makes me so happy. It is the same happiness if I see any of my two boys Jean-Pierre and Philippe, do in their every day progresses in school or life. 









Crema Volteada Recipe (Flan) "Dairy-Free"

Caramel (bottom layer) Instructions:

• In the saucepan, combine 1 cup of white sugar, 1/4 cup of cold water, and 1/4 tsp. of lemon juice. Including a little lemon juice is one way to help prevent your caramel from crystallizing and seizing up as it cooks.
• Heat in medium/high until it turns brownish, but not too brown.
• Remove from the saucepan and pour it quickly in your pan (that you will be using to make the flan) "evenly spead the caramel and let it cool 5 minutes".

Flan Ingredients:

• 16 oz. of unsweetened Coconut Milk
• 16 oz. of Coconut Creamer
• 2 cans of condensed Coconut Milk (I included the recipe in my previous post)
• Vanilla extract (as you desire to pour)
• 8 eggs

Flan Instructions:

• In a large bowl add the 8 eggs and beat until they are all mixed up.
• Add the 2 cans or 16 oz. of condensed coconut milk. "stir a little"
• Add the 16 oz. of Coconut Creamer. "stir a little"
• Add the 16 oz. of Coconut Milk.
• Add the Vanilla extract
• Mix everything together and when ready pour it in your baking pan.

* When you pour the flan ingredients you should already have put the caramel in the bottom "first"*

• Preheat oven 350 degrees and when ready put in the oven. Make sure to have a bowl 1/2 filled of cold water and put it in the bottom rack of the oven "under" the flan pan. Fill it half so it can bowl and won't drip in the bottom of the oven. It just makes the flan more moist if you put a bowl filled with water.
• Bake it for 1 hour 30 - 2 hours depending when you see it done.
  
  
  **when the top of the flan is brownish, that means it's done** 
  If you take it out when it's too white, then you will have the flan too soft.

Recipe for "Dairy-Free Sweetened Condensed Milk"

 

Dairy-Free Sweetened Condensed Milk Recipe

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour

Feel free to adjust the amount of sugar or sweetener to your taste. The recipe works best with anywhere from 1/3 to 1/2 cup of your sweetener of choice.

Ingredients

• 1 can of unsweetened coconut milk
• 1/3 cup- 1/2 cup granulated sugar, honey or light agave syrup
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar (optional but adds good flavor)

Instructions :

• Place the coconut milk, sweetener of choice, and brown sugar (if using) into a saucepan and whisk gently over medium heat for 2-3 minutes. This will help the solid bits of coconut milk melt and incorporate with the sugar.
• When the mixture is just beginning to bubble around the edges, reduce the heat to the lowest flame/setting.
• Set a timer for one hour (you may need to go a bit longer depending on your stove) and simmer uncovered, whisking every 5-10 minutes to release steam and aid in evaporation.
• The mixture will reduce by about half and should be quite thick. You will also notice that it is a darker color. Remove from heat, stir thoroughly and pour into a glass jar or container. Cool in the refrigerator. It will continue to thicken as it cools.
• Use as needed in recipes or to stir into coffee or tea.

http://freeeatsfood.com/2013/03/14/dairy-free-sweetened-condensed-milk-recipe/

List of "Goya Products" that don't contain gluten and others that might

Here is a list of "Goya Products" that are gluten-free and others that might contain gluten. I personally love this information because I am Hispanic and use some of these products in my household.

GLUTEN FREE
Goya Rice Flour		ingredients are gluten free but may be susceptible to cross-contamination
Goya Yuca Flour		Ingredients are gluten free but may be susceptible to cross-contamination
Goya Corn Meal		ingredients are gluten free but may be susceptible to cross-contamination
Goya Masarepa		ingredients are gluten free but may be susceptible to cross-contamination
Canned Beans & Peas		gluten free
Dry Beans, except 16 bean soup mix- has gluten (barley)		Ingredients are gluten free but may be susceptible to cross-contamination
Sazón Goya		gluten free
Seasonings		gluten free
CUBITOS-CHICKEN BOULLON		gluten free
CONSOMME-CHICKEN BOUILLION		gluten free
CUBITOS-BEEF BOUILLION		gluten free
CUBITOS-CHICKEN BOUILLION		gluten free
HAM FLAVORED CONCENTRATE		gluten free
SALAD AND VEGETABLE SEASONING		gluten free
ADOBO Goya		gluten free
SOFRITO		gluten free
ACHIOTINA (ANNATTO IN LARD)		gluten free
Spices		gluten free
FLOR DE TILO		gluten free
GROUND OREGANO		gluten free
ALL SPICE		gluten free
ANIS SEED		gluten free
WHOLE CLOVES		gluten free
WHOLE BLACK PEPPER		gluten free
GARLIC SALT		gluten free
STAR ANIS		gluten free
BAY LEAF		gluten free
STICK CINNAMON		gluten free
CHILI POWDER		gluten free
JAMAICAN CURRY POWDER		gluten free
CUMIN SEED		gluten free
GROUND CUMIN		gluten free
GARLIC POWDER		gluten free
GROUND CINNAMON		gluten free
ONION POWDER		gluten free
CAMOMILLE MANZANILLA		gluten free
CRUSHED PEPPERS		gluten free
PAPRIKA		gluten free
GROUNDBLACK PEPPER		gluten free
OREGANO LEAF 1.5 OZ		gluten free
OREGANO LEAF 2 OZ		gluten free
OREGANO LEAF 1 OZ		gluten free
GARLIC POWDER		gluten free
COMINO MOLIDO		gluten free
ONION POWDER		gluten free
BAY LEAF		gluten free
GROUND PEPPER 6 OZ		gluten free
GOYA SALT		gluten free
3 DOZEN CORN TORTILLAS		gluten free
COCONUT MILK		Gluten free
PLANTAIN CHIPS-5OZ		gluten free
PLANTAIN CHIPS-2OZ		gluten free
PLANTAIN CHIPS-LOOSE-2OZ		gluten free
PLANTAIN CHIPS-4OZ		gluten free
NO SALT PLANTAIN CHIPS		gluten free
GARLIC PLANTAIN CHIPS		gluten free
PLANTAIN STRIPS		gluten free
CREAM OF COCONUT		gluten free
GUAVA PASTE		gluten free
Cider vinegar		gluten free
CONTAIN GLUTEN
Frozen foods		Cross-contamination for gluten
Rice mixes		Cheese mixes have gluten; chicken flavored rice has wheat pasta in it; cross-contamination for all others due to machines; hydrolyzed yeast in red beans and rice
16 Bean Soup Mix		contains gluten
Flan (Ready-Made)		contains gluten
Tomato Sauce and Paste		contains gluten
FLAN (Powder)		contains gluten
FLAN WITH CARAMEL		contains gluten
RECAITO		contains gluten-has wheat flour in the ingredients

http://www.celiac.freeservers.com/Gluten%20Free%20Foods.htm