This is 48...Today, I turned 48 years old. I would never have predicted my life to be the way it is now.I would NEVER have envisioned 6 children. The Autism, well, I have always been one upfor a challenge, so the Autism never scared me. It made me back up a step or two, butI have never let it stand in my way or my children's way.When I turned 25 years old, I thought that if I made it to 40, I have made it.Well, I hit 30, 35, 40 and 45. My next big event is 50. 2 y…[more]

Yeah, that's my name. If you don't know any old George Strait songs, this will only be funny to me. As I sit here typing, I am adorned by a plastic child's fireman hat. Why, might you ask?....Good question. My youngest son, who usually leaves me alone in peace, as he watches his Barney and Wiggles videos on HIS television is insisting I wear this hat. I have tried to remove it several times, but it gets gingerly placed back on the top of my head. I am proud to say t…[more]

Those that know me are aware that I am a very proud person. I am not brilliant, but by no means am I stupid. I do, after all, hold a high school graduation diploma from Pflugerville High School, class of 1978. I was not the valedictorian, but I was not the bottom of the class of 80 students..My point...yes, I have a point.I have been trying, for almost a year now, to keep up with all the scientific mumbo-jumgo on the autism forums. I am now officially giving up on try…[more]

....AS A PRE-TEEN"!!!!That is what was announced to me yesterday morning. The date of Erin's birthday.Erin turned 12 years old yesterday. She is in the 6th grade and taking regular classeswithout the need for an aide. Erin's report card was 6 A's and 2 B's.Erin was born into this world SCREAMING. I gave birth to her in a Birthing Center. Therewere no medical interventions..meaning, no epidural, no pain medication, no immunizationat birth...just me, Patrick and a wonderful midwi…[more]

  Maybe it is just me...maybe, just maybe, because I approach Autism differently from others is why I do not see Autism as the same definition as others.  I don't look at Autism as a "struggle", "disease", "heartbreak" or "fight".   I look at my Autistic children and see all of their individual gifts.  I see the beauty in what their Autism brings our family and me.  I approach Autism not as a negative in their lives, but as something that wit…[more]

OUTNUMBERED....I was sitting at dinner, observing my children eating and conversing with each other. Typical talk from what society believes to be, non-typical kids.Erin and Meaghan are talking about pre-teen stuff, like music and Hannah Montana (of course). They are discussing how to use a knife and fork correctly (Erin had a light-bulb moment--priceless).Little Patrick is talking about what is going on in school this week and sports, of course. He is now hugging both sisters a…[more]

This is an excerpt from US Magazine...Jenny McCarthy opened up exclusively to Us Weekly about her son Evan's battle with autism, and how she won't stop her fight to be heard.When Jenny found out that her son had autism, she said that she made a deal with God that day. If God showed her how to fix Evan, then she would teach the world how to do it. "My perception of what is really important changed. Needing to have the best designer shoes? When your …[more]

I am going to have a conversation about Autism...just imagine we are in the same roomand talking in a calm, rational voice. I am not yelling, or sticking my finger in your face....Iam speaking for myself...Autism is a neurological disorder. I was introduced to Autism as a pre-teen, while babysittinga 3-year old boy with Autism when I was 10-years-old. He rocked in place, he had no words, and he would spin the lids to pots and pans.In college, I worked at a reside…[more]

  On Friday morning, I was heading out the door to do my weekly grocery shopping.  It was 10:30am.  I hesitantly came back to check who was calling us, it could be one of our children and I would hate to miss that phone call.  It was our paralegal at the law office we were so very lucky to have taken our SSI case.  The paralegal told me that "everything has been reinstated"..."all overpayments have been forgiven"...  I sat with m…[more]

I have been thinking alot lately about our home and being selected to have an Extreme Makeover. I get asked daily what it was like and were the people really that nice, like theyare on television???I have kept pretty quiet about this publicly. I really did not want to seem to be gloating orarrogant. My family truly does feel blessed and we know God had a huge hand in this.In late October of 2006, I received a statement from our mortgage company (who is nowout of …[more]