Blessed Day

Today was a beautiful day with family. Lots of great food and fuN! Leelah ended up in her Nana and Poppa's front yard and gave herself a dirt bath which was hilarious. So all in all a great day was had. And check out our BEAUTIFUL Aunt Amy and SO SO SO PRECIOUS BABY COUSIN RYAN!! We love you Matt, Amy and Ryan!

Today's News...

Oh boy. Would you believe me if I told you we had an answer? Yeah I wouldn't either. So many doctors have said things: maybe MS- finally ruled out, maybe strange retina disease- neuro-opth said no, auto-immune disorder- endocrinologist said no, etc. But today the spots finally were visible to the doctor. WHAT!? Yeah I know.

Today we saw an incredible retina vitreous doc- Dr. Holz. He is the standby surgeon I had in case the back of my eye got whack during the lensectomy/lens implant. He told me 2 months ago that if the streaks bothered me after surgery to come back. Of course as crazy as I am I called his go to lady 2 wks after surgery just to get in today. And let me tell you friends I was like a woman in a white princess outfit hologram "Help me Dr. Holz, you're my only hope." Star Wars? Come on people.

He checked the gel. I've been saying for the past 2 weeks that the left eye was crazy messed up- surgery eye and turns out that gel is going whackadoo on me. He actually saw it this time. Not the right eye. Amazingly enough that eye is doing better. The doc says that it will probably need a vitrectomy if it doesn't clear up in two weeks on it's own since it might be infected. THe problem with eyes is that once they get infected on the inside only vitrectomies can fix them. No drops, no pills. So that's a bummer. Hopefully it will clear up. RIght now it looks like Alfred Hitchcock's Birds in my left eye which has been the worst yet! Ugh! What really stinks is that we would not get to go to Oregon if they did the surgery in December since you can't fly after that procedure for some time. So prayers that this goes away on its own please! For now we're off to dine at Ciro's a wonderful Italian fave place of mine in Houston.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Red Nail Polish

Today was endocrinologist appt #2 or the "Pay $35.00 to read the fall issue for Better Homes and Gardens Mag". What did I learn today- absolutely nothing. I learned that my hulking out period after they tell me "I don't know what's wrong with you" has decreased from 2 hrs to 1 hr. So that's good. I got a pretzel at Sam's today thinking that would help. Course I should have known that when they have to go to the back room to get it - it won't be good. Oh well. The fountain coke was awesome. The worst part about the appt was when I told the doctor "Well, I still can't drive." and hearing her reply of "That must really be frustrating." WHAT!?!?! ARE YOU STINKIN' KIDDING ME? Oh well. People have it so much worse bless their hearts. So I can't see to drive. Big flippin' deal. I've learned patience which you need while others are driving you everywhere and I'm so not a backseat driver anymore.

By the way for those of you interested (which is probably just family and I'm cool with that) I made it to 4 days without the HRT pills. That's right, 4. Way to go Gillian! Let's just put it this way, sans hormone replacement = even worse vision + hot flashes + horrible headaches. YIKES. Yeah, I'm not a good candidate. Placebo my face. Those things work! I don't care who says that!

So off to try my attempt at beef meatball bolognese or stroganoff or something Semi- Homemade- Love you Sandra Lee! Well actually I'm so dang jealous of you I could spit! Your drapes always match and you're too pretty for words. But seriously though we love her show. And then I'm painting my toes red, because I'm a girl dang it and that's why God gave us toe nails.

Don't have a cow man

Yeah I don't know what was up with that title either.

More blood drawing today... GEEshh. Still having spots.. BLAH BLAH BLAH. Possible auto-immune disorder. BLAH BLAH BLAH. Going to watch The Office now! WHOOP!

Major Praise and Possible Answer!

That's right friends! Yesterday's appointment with bigtime opthamolgist guy was a HUGE success and victory in the name of Jesus! I went expecting to hear the worst - possible blindness? Or I don't know what you have? What I heard: stop taking a medication that I have been on due to my hysterectomy. Turns out the hormone medication is what is possibly causing EVERYTHING- streaks,spots in vision, dizziness, headaches, nausea, confusion, etc. Those symptoms the doctor said are actually from a type of migraine which is caused by the medicine. SO I have stopped the medicine and will see an endocrinologist (hormone doctor) on Thursday. Praise Jesus for this information. I am still experiencing the symptoms and probably will for some time. If this doesn't turn out to be the answer, then I will just keep on seeking out more info. I am very hopeful though that this is it!

I know that most people don't talk about their hormone medication. But let's face it girls, those hormones are life ruiners sometimes! I am detailed about the medication in order to help someone that might be experiencing what I'm going through. Someone who didn't know that eye problems could be linked to migraines which is linked to medicine.

Of course I've gotten the "why did it take 15+ docs to come up with this?" from lots of people. But I don't care because I'm so happy that this might solve the problems I've been dealing with for 8 months! Funny I forgot to mention- that's when I started taking the medicine- in March! Wow. Hopefully the streaks will go away so I can start driving again. Thanks to everyone for their rides!

Another way of looking at everything is that God had me have crazy vision issues to bring me back to an opthomalogist so that they could perform the lensectomy and lens implant. See up until now I thought fixing dislocated lenses was impossible and too risky. But God showed me a doctor that had the latest technology to correct a problem that I'd always been told to deal with. Had I not been having the spaghetti vision I would have never gone in because I was tired of being studied in regards to the Ectopia Lentis en Pupillae.

Good stuff. That faith of a mustard seed really does work!

Leelah Hearts Santa

Well not really. They didn't tell me that toddlers don't like to have their "sit on strangers dressed in costumes laps" pictures taken. No one told me! What is up with that? Leelah's not a screamer, but during the Easter Bunny of 2007 picture she kept holding her face and mumbling "Mommy Daddy say okay" over and over. At our church's Celebrations Christmas Market (which is FABULOUS) by the by, Leelah freaked out about Santa. So all you preggies know this- be prepared to not get any good Easter Bunny, Santa, sitting on weirdos laps pics until they're at least 4 years old. Until then it's parents holding time. Anyone have any good Christmas traditions they want to share? Cookie exchanging? Gingerbread Housemaking? Stocking making?

Thankful

I know it's not Thanksgiving yet, but I am filled with feelings of thanks. Yesterday sweet baby Faith Clare was born to Kenzie and Dusty Stanfield. They are friends from our church home Second Baptist. We are so thankful for this new life God has sent. What an answer to many prayers. Thank you God for her.

Thank you God for my little one as well who reminds me that you can have a picnic at even the worst of times.

Thank you God for my sweet husband who's been my dustpan picking up the pieces of my mess-a-minute life. He reminds me of steadiness and I blessed to know him.

Thank you God for my strong mom. She has been my support and won't let me give up. I do not know a stronger human being.

Thank you God for all my friends who took time out of their lives to help a friend in need of prayer. I never knew friends that could be there for you when you were kind of on the helpless end. Thank you for your divine friendship. You are my flashlights.

Today's neuro-opthamologist appointment was not what I was hoping it to be, but I take peace in knowing God's timing is the perfect timing. He is sovereign. He knows my troubles and will deliver me. I am learning patience and perseverance. Thank you God for this. I do not have an answer yet on what is distorting my vision. Thanks to a family friend's connections, we are going in to a new eye clinic soon. I remain hopeful as always.

A great lesson I am learning. Let others help you. This has been extremely difficult for me. A great friend explained it to me like this, "Let others share in the victory". I loved that. Someone also asked me if I liked it when people asked me for help- "Well, sure!" I don't know why I hadn't thought of that.

Veteran's Day

Thank you to all who serve in our Armed Forces to protect our beautiful land. It is because of you upholding our freedom that I am able to raise my child in safety.

Thank you Dad for your courage. You are dearly missed.

Cheap and Cute Fabric?

Okay ladies. Please give me some suggestions for cute/cheap fabric available online. My SIL needs some curtain fabric and has a 4 mo old- i.e. hard to get out and shop! Thanks in advance for your comments!!

Through My Eyes

Thank you Ashley for the idea- I was actually thinking of doing this for the doctors. This is a picture what my vision or eyes see. These are the "streaks, seaweed, spots, lines, squiggles" I deal with constantly. Except they are moving all around all the time. Pretty crazy huh? Yesterday we were at the medical center from 1 pm to 7pm. It was a long and hard day. Very emotional. After seeing the first doc I learned I'm healing well but have maybe a month more to go before it's healed completely. Although he did say he wasn't sure since "I'm like no other patient" they've had and had to have the "Big guns" surgery to fix my lens in place. I asked him if I missed my what to expect after surgery packet- he told me there is no packet for my condition. My vision decreased in the lefty and is now foggy due to a coating the body put on the lens. Will have laser surgery to remove it later.

The right eye......... Oh golly. Well the next doc we saw (new one- number 8 I think for opthamologist) said it's NOT the gel. Great. So no vitrectomy? Maybe. Those procedures are REALLY risky for someone like me with dislocated lenses. Then he asked to see my drawing- first time someone wanted to see it! After looking at it he quickly changed course into getting me into to see the new neuro-opthomalogist (yeah I should really learn how to spell that). He is now thinking I have some INSANELY rare retinal disease. Will have expensive bloodwork done to further study... Some immune problems are entailed. SO I don't know folks... Enjoy the drawing! God's working this out for me and I am happy to move on to the next doctor as I am quickly becoming the Baylor Eye Clinic's most freaky deaky patient! Love it!

Oatmeal for Christmas

This kid. Seriously. Today I ask my 2 yr old sweet booger bear, "Leelah, what would you like for Christmas?" The child responds with a smile, "Oatmeal". What kid says that? So I told her all about Santa, Reindeer- Rudolph especially, and of course Jesus' birthday. I then asked her again, "Leelah what do you want for Christmas?" Again she replies, "Oatmeal". I am laughing hard by the point so she adds, "Jelly Beans?" And finally when I asked her the 3rd time her reply was "Oatmeal (laugh), Jelly Beans, and Presents." Looks like I better hit H.E.B. with the sleigh.

As the eye turns...

Googly-Moogly here (Snickers commercials anyone!?) reporting on eyes' statuses. If it's Thursday it must be medical center... So this Thursday I'm actually headed to the new location for the Baylor Eye Clinic, which unfortunately is nowhere near Freebirds on Shepherd. Hissss! I will be seeing lens doc and retina doc. Possibly getting an actual prescription for the lefty and possibly scheduling surgery for the righty. Oh no, my right eye just jumped out upon reading the surgery remark. COME BACK!!! Oh well. I will look into having the vitrectomy (eye goo removal- gross) which would hopefully stop the streaks/seaweed/spaghetti vision in that eye. I'm still seeing blurry foggyness, and I'm finally realizing upon talking to a fellow one-eyed friend that this might actually be causing my neurological discomforts. I mean think about it- if your eyes are messed up you're going to feel crummy. I'm not complaining- I'M JUST SAYIN' IS ALL!
We probably won't schedule the surgery until Jan since me and the fam are going to Oregon in Dec. That's right, Oregon. Hope I don't shoot all the buffalo or come down with some fever on the way! (I also enjoyed Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego and GeoSafari).
That's all my eyes' news. Thanks for the prayers! Please keep Kenzie Stanfield - see "Stanfield Journey" on blog list in your prayers as she is patiently waiting the remainder of her pregnancy and the arrival of her baby girl Faith Clare in the hospital. Thank you!

Our New Toy...

We got the cammy cam camera! Canon SD880 IS. John is obsessed. Lots of fun! I told him he should marry it and then take his wedding pictures of it with it. That then started a vicious cycle of him having to get another camera to take the pics of him marrying the camera. This is how we spend our time.... Please to enjoy weekend pics.