Checking in after the check up

Anna Marie had a checkup at the eye specialist yesterday. When we made the appointment, we completely forgot about school starting. We had to check her out early, which I hated (especially since she had just gotten to the library when we came, and was going to miss her first Spanish class) but, what can you do?

Nothing. But anyway.

I had a conference call scheduled, so I couldn't go. She and Jason went, and they were seen early! Like 20 minutes early when they got there. When does that happen? Never, I tell ya. Never.

He called me a few minutes after the appointment was scheduled to start. She didn't have her eyes dilated (which made her very, very happy.) It was just a simple vision check.

The results were nothing short of miraculous.

Especially since we had no idea how bad her left eye really was before the treatment.

Before, the vision in her left eye was 20/200. She basically wasn't using that eye to see at all. It just wasn't working.

Now, eight weeks into the stronger lens/two-hour-daily patching, she's up to 20/40.

Did you just see that? I'll let it sink in for a moment.

From 20/200 to 20/40. In eight weeks time.

I am in awe. We've been praying diligently for her since we got the news that something was wrong. And we've been following the doctor's instructions to the letter. (Knowing what a slacker I am, I'm actually kinda proud that she's not missed a day of wearing her patch.)

I praise God that He helped us find this problem before she started school. I shudder to think what might have happened if this had gone untreated much longer - if a kid can't see, they can't learn. At least not very well. And they generally don't behave well in classroom settings, either.

She has to go back in six months for another check up. I'm really, really praying that the patching won't be needed after that. She's been great about wearing it, and we try to put it on when she won't be in public much (to minimize any potential for embarassment). But all the same, if I wasn't having to put it on her (and shell out the $$$ for the darn things) it wouldn't hurt my feelings a bit.

I suppose I need to take a picture of her with one on, to make a scrapbook page. It could be pirate themed!

Argh, mateys!

The longest day

This is the longest short day I think I've had here at The Democrat.

I didn't even come in until 10:30, and went to lunch at 11:45, so you'd think today would've practically flown by.

And you'd be wrong.

It's only quarter past four. Five is never going to come!

Anna Marie had two doctors appointments this morning - the optometrist at 9, for a six-month checkup witht her glasses, and the dentist at 10.

The dentist went well - no cavities. The optometrist? Not so much.

First, we were there at 9:00 a.m. Almost no one else was. The receptionist was there by herself, and she had to run between another patient in the next room, and the telephone, and Anna Marie.

Then, when the doctor finally did come in, she was not satisfied with the exam results she was getting and wanted to run more tests. Except, it was getting to be like 9:45 and we had a dental appointment at 10.

So she has to go back Monday.

Apparently, Anna Marie gave better results to the receptionist (you know, the test where you cover one eye and try to look at the letters on the chart) and she suspsects the girl didn't adequately cover the eye in question. That Anna Marie was "peeping" and using both eyes, and skewing the results.

I need y'all to pray. I'm seriously getting concerned about her eyesight, and Jason will be taking her on Monday. (He had to work today, but he forgot that when he made her dentist appointment, so I made the eye appointment for the same day so we'd just miss the babysitter/work the same morning).

So, while they're down the road at the eye doctor, I'll be sitting here with bated breath, trying to work.

That may be the second-longest day here at the paper.