I Am Still Here!

It’s been a little over two months since I last updated this blog. Wow.  Updating this blog takes time, and I just didn’t have much time to sit and write updates.  I’ve also discovered Twitter with their short, random updates so I’ve been posting updates on that. 

Here are some short blurbs on what’s been happening on the eye update on C:

1.  The second opinion PO we went to indicated that C will need to have surgery also.  Her current prescription is at the max for her eyes.  In fact, the glasses may be a bit strong.  We had switched back to her bifocals since her last prescription was a lot stronger and her eyes crossed all the time in them.

2.  We’ll schedule a surgery for the fall.  I’m anxious, but realize that it’s the best for her eyes to be corrected so she doesn’t have to work so hard with them to see.  We may need to patch her eyes after surgery since right now, her eyes are aroud 20/40 to 20/50 with her glasses.  As a side note, it’s great that C can read the alphabet so that she can read the eye chart for the PO.

3.  In the last 2 months, we’ve had to get her glasses adjusted on the frames due to a few minor falls.  We also had to get the lens replaced for scratches.  After the surgery, the PO says that her prescription may decrease so we’ll order a backup pair of glasses at that time.  It can get hectic running around to the optical shop to get glasses adjusted so that C’s vision is not affected for any duration of time.

I will *try* to post more updates to the blog – there are a lot of things to write about, I’m sure.   And, I also need to reorganize my categories, tags.  Procrastination!

Second Opinion Time

I don’t want to get overly excited here….

We went to visit another PO for a second opinion today on C’s eyes.  I brought the records from our first/current PO.   My first impression is that I really liked the office / equipment for this new PO.  

C wore her glasses, and the first technician (not sure if he was an optometrist or not as he didn’t introduce himself and we didn’t ask) covered her left eye and then her right eye and had her read the letter showing on the screen.  C’s right eye had no problems.  With her left eye, she was not able to read some of the letters at a smaller size.  (I forgot to write down the 20/x size shown on the screen.).   Now, it’s hard to tell if it was because C was just messing around, but she seemed to be guessing at the letter and when the technician increased the size of the letter, she got the letter correct.   This is distance viewing and C’s farsighted, so I wonder if her prescription could be wrong causing her problems with distance in one eye.

The PO came in shortly thereafter and talked with us and observed C’s eyes.  We were scheduled to do a dialation, but the PO didn’t think it was necessary to repeat what the first PO had just done not long ago.  This PO seems to think that there can still be something to try before looking at surgery.  She seems to want to make sure that we have the right prescription for C.  She prescribed Atrophine Drops for C to be put in 3 days (once a day) before her next appointment.  Then, we’ll bring C in and have her watch a video and relax / eat while the PO observes and looks at her eyes.  We go back at the end of April for this test.

The doctor says that the Atrophine Drops effect can remain up to 2 weeks after the appointment so we’ll put back the bifocals on C (to help her see close up while her pupils are dialated) after the first drop.  I was doing some lookup on the web on Atrophine Drops.  Some people like it, some don’t.  There seems to be some side effects, but as S told me, C is only going to using them for 3 days (once a day).  I’m OK with that.

We’ll see what we find out.   In the back of my mind, I wonder if we should switch to this new PO since S and my first impressions are that we like her better.  She seems more decisive which is what we want.  Right away, she tells us that we can try atrophine drops as a course of action.  The first PO was not as decisive, and said maybe we can do surgery and that if we polled different doctors, some would think surgery was necessary for C’s case and some wouldn’t. (Hence, she suggested we get a second opinion.)   I told the second PO that the first PO thought C’s eye crossing was a borderline case, but the second PO adamantly said that there is no borderline in C’s case.  C’s eyes are still crossing with the glasses. I also think that the measurements of this new PO will be better, but we’ll see.   And, to top it off, the first/current PO is not covered by our insurance whereas this new PO is.

I’m really glad we went for a second opinion.  It’s just nice to have a new professional look at C’s eyes.  The results may end up the same (i.e. surgery) as that is where the first PO was headed, but it’s good to explore all options first.

A Great Day

It’s hard to believe that C is 2 today!   We had a lot of fun with opening gifts this morning, followed by a playdate at a kids’ gym.  Tonight, we’ll have some cake.

The last few days, I’ve been asking C how old she is going to be.  She knows it’s her birthday and that she will be 2.  She had a fun time opening gifts today.  It’s great to see that she understands the concept.  Very different than turning 1. 

This weekend, we’ll have a family party with her cousins and 2-3 of her friends.  I was sort of stressed planning her first party, but for this 2nd one, we will just have pizza and some appetizers at our house.  Now, I just need to finish cleaning the house!

Here is C opening her gifts.

Happy Birthday to my sweet girl!

Green Peas as a Snack

I’m always on the lookout for new junk food.  Yes, I love potato chips.  But, part of me wants to stay away from chips and *try* some healthy chip-like snacks.  (Do they even exist?)

I’ve been seeing a product called “Snapea Crisps” at the market for a few weeks now.  Yesterday, I decided to try a bag and see what it was all about.   And, am I glad I did!   (I got the Original flavor.)

The snack is basically green peas.  But, they’ve made the snack taste delicious.  Light, crispy, crunchy, yummy!   I gave a few to C, and she loves them too.   I’m sure they are not as healthy as eating steamed green peas. 

I’m excited about discovering this new snack!

Music to My Ears

My favorite words to hear are when C says:  I love you too, Mommy. 

Often said to me after I tell her I love her.

Who Wants Pie?

I do!

S and I are watching the movie Waitress starring Keri Russell. It just started so I don’t know if it is a good movie or not.

However, one of the skills this waitress has is making pies and naming them for any situation. And, the intro scenes of the fillings being poured into the pies looked delicious! And, prompted me to write this!