Yeah, I watch 'Teen Mom.'  I can't get enough of it.  I swore I wasn't going to watch 'Teen Mom 2' but I got sucked in by Leah, who has twins.  I bawl my eyes out every week as she goes through finding out what is wrong with her daughter, Ali.  Last week, their family was featured on the cover of US Weekly and I was SO EXCITED to see her daughter wearing the same glasses that Jack has.  (Of course, his are not pink!)

Raw emotions

Jack has been in his glasses for the past couple of weeks.  He had a lot of eye goop, which we thought was a double case of pink eye.  After a week in glasses and on antibiotics, we put the contacts back in and later that night, the goop was back.  Turns out, it's something to do with the contacts.  We go to the doctor tomorrow, so hopefully she'll shed some light on it, but he's been in glasses for about 3 weeks.

Last Wednesday, I picked up Jack from daycare.  When I walked in, he and another boy were playing and he was happy as can be.  I snuck around the corner to get his bottles, and by the time I came back around, he was crying hysterically and both caregivers in the room had rushed over to him.  Jack NEVER cries, so I tried not to be the neurotic mom and just laugh nervously.  Turns out, a little walker gal in the room had come over and pulled his glasses.  I guess they kind of snapped back in his face, causing his outburst.  If you were in the room, you probably could have heard my heart break on the spot.  I know she's young and was just curious, but I felt like it was a direct hit on my poor little baby. 

Then today, we went out on our regular errands.  Sometimes, I am brave and dare people to give my son a second look.  Today, I was not in the mood.  I watched everyone walk by and whisper to someone with them about the glasses, or stare a second too long.  The worst was a conversation with a store employee:

Him:  Those aren't real glasses, are they?
Me: Yes, I wouldn't have them on him if they weren't.
Him: No way! I was going to ask you where you got them so I could get a pair for my son.

Really? REALLY?  You have got to be kidding me.  This was a completely innocent comment, but come on.  If you're going to say something completely ridiculous, keep.your.mouth.shut.

As much as I try to pretend nothing bothers me anymore, or accept everyone's comments that he's "just too cute in the glasses," this is still all part of the journey.

The Red Eye Reflex

To most people, red eye is an annoyance that ruins the occasional picture.  Luckily, most cameras and photo software are armed and ready with things to avoid it.  However, to a parent with a child with cataracts, it is a wonderful thing.  You see, when your child has red eye, it means that he or she does not have cataracts.  Red eye happens when light travels inside the eye, hits the retina and is reflected back.  When there is a cataract on the lens, it doesn't let the light reflect.  That's how our pediatrician found the cataracts.  (Disclaimer: if your child doesn't have red eye in their pictures, chances are it is probably not cataracts.  You probably have a really good camera!) 

Looking back at Jack's earlier pictures and knowing what we know now has been a very educational experience, and we wanted to share it with those going through the same thing or those that are unfamiliar.

August 3, 2010 -Jack was 6 weeks old.  He has red eye in both eyes, which means the cataracts either weren't present yet, or were not very opacified.

September 5, 2010 -  the day of Jack's baptism.  This was 2 days before we knew about the cataracts, but you can see that he only has red eye in the right eye.  That means that the left cataract had opacified enough to block the reflection.

 This picture was taken right before Jack's first surgery.  He doesn't have red eye in this picture, but you can actually see the cataract in the left eye.

 This picture was taken in the hospital the day after his first surgery.  He still has a slight red eye in the right eye, which means that the right cataract had not opacified yet. 

 September 25, 2010 - In between the surgeries.  At this point, he has MAJOR red eye in the left eye because the cataract had been removed, but the red eye is now gone in the right eye because the right cataract was starting to opacify.

Halloween 2010 - VICTORY! Both cataracts gone. Double red eyes are a good thing!