Introduction to the Journey

I've always had a very dry sense of humor, and love to make people laugh and shake their heads...serves me well in the classroom, where I teach sophomore English. I moved back home after my daughter was born. My poor husband--well growing up in south Texas, you can bet he's bitter about winter. (no pun intended)

As much as I miss the big city and want to die from pure cabin fever in this small town, in many ways I know now we came home for a reason.

My 3 year old daughter was diagnosed with autism a few months ago. They don't tell you how bad it is anymore, they just say, "she's on the autism spectrum." What the heck does that mean? No other way to say it--IT SUCKS. I won't always blog about it, but it is nice to have a place to get the facts straight in my mind. I worry that she won't have friends, that she won't ever be able to tell me how she feels. Right now, we're celebrating the words: hi, hat, thank you, and the many animal sounds she's discovered. It's a far cry from the two year old who would cry because she couldn't say anything and kick out of pure frustration.

But the little joys are AWESOME. Those animal sounds--I'll NEVER get sick of them, because they are her first signs of communicating with mama. We go for walks and when a kitty comes up to us, and she goes "Meow," I almost cry. And I learned humility and true friendship when a colleague had a fundraiser at school for my little girl's doctor appointments.

Now the cool thing is...I've got one HAPPY kid most of the time. She loves to laugh and run gets little jokes. New things excite her. And, she's a neat freak. ANd for this mom--that's awesome. Let's just say my house and car...well, there....ummm....organized with my own flair (that is to say not at all).

More humor and journeys to come.....it won't always be sappy and sad. There are VERY COOL things going on in the world, and me, my husband, and my daughter plan to be part of them!