I'm so glad that I've been able to "meet" some new friends in similar circumstances because of this blog. I'm sorry that anyone in the world has to go through what we've been going through, but it is nice to know that the real purpose of this blog is being served. That being said, a note to my new friends - don't read this. No, I'm just kidding. Just let me note that for the most part, things have been pretty settled and calm. We've hit our little bumps in the road, but all in all, we're hanging in there!
Jack developed some kind of irritation with his old contacts, so he was in the glasses for awhile while we waited (and waited and waited) for a new type of contact lens to come in. On the bright side, these ones are MUCH cheaper, but they are daily wear which means...yep, they come in and out
every.
single.
day.
We'd given them a shot on the weekends, and then while we were all home for Spring Break, we did them every day and by the end, the three of us had gotten it down to a science. When Jack went back to daycare, however, we decided to send him in the glasses again because they preferred them. It's much easier to tell if Jack is wearing his glasses than it is to tell if the contacts are still in.
Well, fast forward to Monday afternoon, when I picked up Jack...he had been taking his glasses off all day! He's not just moving them up and down like before. He's now completely pulling them off of his head (and throwing them down the side of his car seat while we're in the car!) We decided to try the contacts the next day since we had gotten so good at it.
Disaster. He rubbed his eyes the entire way to daycare, but by some act of God, they were both still there when we arrived. Then I get a call from daycare around 2pm saying that they thought one of the contacts was folded and his right eye had been crossing all day. One of the many downsides to a teaching job is that I cannot get up and leave, so I got there as soon as I could (which wasn't until 4.) Both contacts were in and he seemed just fine, so that was a relief.
Well, wouldn't you know my little Jack rubbed his eyes all the way home and when we pulled into the parking lot, it was gone. GONE! He made it all day and lost it on the 5 minute drive home. Frustrating. Well, now we had a missing contact, one contact still in, and a contact-less eye going severely crossed. David had a work event, so it was me vs. the other contact (and attempting to find the lost one), not to mention the incredibly whiny 10 month old who hadn't napped and was hungry. After several attempts and some yogurt melts as bribery, I somehow (SOMEHOW) got the other contact out by myself.
So now I am left with the still whiny baby who will not keep his glasses on and there is nothing I can do! I was so frustrated. Luckily, my wonderful husband passed on his work event to come home and take care of his family and once Jack was in bed, a bottle of wine magically appeared. So even though things are 99.9% easier than they were, we still have our down days.
We're off to the opthamologist on Wednesday for an unscheduled visit to check the crossing eye and hopefully get a better measure of his eye and order more contacts, because what is more fun that ordering more medically necessary items that insurance still won't cover? We have yet to actually make it to a scheduled visit with out an emergency visit scheduled in between. Oh well, we missed her!
So stressful and frustrating... I know!!! But you guys are doing an awesome job :)
ReplyDeleteI am right there with ya... just tried to get the contact in my son's eye for the second time today, half an hour later... no luck. We have been fairly successful putting it in and taking it out on a daily basis while he is sleeping. However lately "he knows" what we are doing even while he is sleeping and he isn't as cooperative. May I ask what techniques you are using to get them in? I have searched the internet and watched the videos, but as you know it is not as easy as it appears in the demos. Any tips or tricks would be appreciated... I refuse to give up of course for his sake.
ReplyDeleteWe use a daily lens as well. James doesn't rub his eye as much and it seems to stay in better. It is more difficult to get in and out since it is bigger and softer than the monthly lens. We've only lost 1 out of 3 which is rather remarkable for us. As far as glasses, James has learned to hide them. sigh. I'm hoping it's just a phase - part of his development as a toddler and independence. But putting the contact in each morning and taking it out each night (and it takes both my husband and me to do it) is a difficult time of the day.
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ReplyDeleteHi! I hope you don't mind if I follow your blog! My son was just diagnosed with bilateral cataracts as well as a subluxed lens in his left eye. We are anxiously awaiting his first surgery. We had to postpone his surgery due to his recent hospitalization for RSV. It is so hard to be told your baby can't see and then have to wait a month to do anything about it! This has been the longest month ever (and it's not quite over!). We are about to enter the world of contacts, glasses, and patching. Things that I have no experience with! I'm trying to learn all I can and I'm so thankful I came across your blog. It's very helpful to hear about your sons surgeries and how he is doing. It's nice to know a little of what to expect. Thank you for sharing your experience!
ReplyDeleteHi Angela! I'm so sorry to hear that you guys are going through this. It's an extremely tough time, but it does get better. How old is your little guy? It's very therapeutic for me to talk about it, so feel free to email me anytime if I can answer any of your questions as you get closer to the surgeries! (eyelovejack@gmail.com)
ReplyDeleteWhat a day!! Bet you were glad to relax when it was over. I am glad days like that end eventually. When you are in the middle of it you feel like it is never going to end. Best of luck to you and your sweet little guy!
ReplyDeleteEaston's mom - have you seen the YouTube video of putting contacts in? All I can say is, that is NOT how it happens in our house. We've also been very inconsistent with all the losing of the contacts, so Jack gets used to it and then he's back in glasses for 2 months. I wish I had some advice. I'm hoping to be able to do it myself when I'm home with him this summer, but that may be wishful thinking.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the reply... I have seen the videos. Missy shared a video for me as well. I agree, that is NOT how it happens at our house either! :) I guess I am just going to have to start trying more often when he is awake. Right now I am home and can get at him while he is napping. But eventually I will be back to work and somehow it is going to have to get in his eye before we all leave the house in the morning. Then of course as you know, pray that it stays in his eye all day! LOL This is only the beginning of a long journey... he is not a good candidate for the permanent lens.
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