Eye told you so...

Headed on over to the ol' optometrists the other day since it had been 3 months since my last visit, which I should say some praises for. I have been going every single week since Aug. (with the exceptions of a couple weeks here and there after surgeries) of last year, so that is a pretty big deal that I made it 3 months. I did call the on-call doc and freaked him out once about CRAZY pain, but after telling him what I was going to do (yeah I can do that since I'm rare and all) I took a drop that dialated my pupil for 3 weeks straight and that helped the pain somewhat. Of course i learned at this past appt that was a "no no". I digress!

So when I gave my list of "doc-y do's" I did get one thing I needed a "sorry you hurt" and hug. I am not using sarcasm here, that dose of bedside manner empathy was necessary. I can pretty much suck it up painwise as long as I get some sort of "we get it- you hurt" deal from an authority figure. So I got that at least! They checked my vision- yeah it's not great, but not bad enough to do surgery. God has given me peace about that so no worries. I was instructed not to use the patch as that was causing eye to go inward. Good to know! And I can go on and on but will spare the people who are still reading this far... It all boiled down to me getting my left eyeball (surgeries one) laser treated in the near future. A procedure that will take all of 2 min to correct the foggyness in that eye. Yeah, it's foggy like a hot shower door. Fun! Again, I'm a sci-fi girl so lazers are welcomed.

In the mean time, I'm thankful! I may not see great, but at the most I can still see. Will let y'all know how that laser show goes.

Testing Results, Wiggly Lizards, & Popsicles

This picture doesn't have any purpose, except pure cuteness.
tThe subject has to do with: Bribing. Totally doing that for my 3 yr old's shot testing today!

She did great! Thank you for the prayers! She did cry and fuss of course getting 4 shots in one arm, but was easily distracted by the office's "treasure box" afterwards. We found out and this is a MAJOR praise, she is not allergic to any dustmites and any molds. Praise the Lord! I mean we don't live in some post-apocalyptic Wall-E/Mad Max trashworld, but having a person allergic to dust and mold is a serious home cleaning adjustment. Which I would gladly do, but I'm just sayin'! I don't want to install a freakish E.T. plastic tent all through the house if I don't have to!

What we found out is that she will have to have another set of shots in the arm for more testing- this time it's personal and it's testing for trees. Now they tell us! That will be in 2 mos b/c the minimum age you can start immunotherapy is 3 and the doc really wants to wait til she's at least 3 and a half. Which I appreciate. Although the Allegra helps tremendously, it wipes her out and gives her medicine head. So long story short, after the next round of testing she will start immunotherapy shots in 2 mos- October. She will get 1 shot a week for 6 mos. and then 1 shot a month for 3 yrs. She is a 'slow build' case. Whatever that means.

Many have asked how the ol' eyes doing? Blech? is that a response?
I just feel old. My eyes are just le tired. I'm dealing with some cross-eye issues, yeah I said it! So what of it! Call me mad-eye Moody! I've got a big lag in focusing which wears a sistah out and bruises up my body since I move faster than I can see. And I have intense glare sensitivity from the cataract and floaters. Plus, I'm just funny looking. This was determined from visiting the Center for Sight Enhancement about 3 wks ago. I did all these nifty tests, which determined I can still drive, but it is NOT easy and impossible at night (for the rest of my life). The Lord has blessed me with the best hubby and friends so I'm good with this outlook. I usually make it out to 1 place a day. I have to have help with grocery shopping and it's hard to blog and do computer stuff.

I wear a cover over my left eye while using my progressive glasses when I'm doing detail things such as reading, sewing, etc to build up strength in my right eye. I have indominance eye issues which can quasi-screw you up mentally and physically. So the cover has helped a little with this.

For the glare problems, I wear these HUGE I call them "BDG" (big, dumb glasses) that no joke take up 3/4 of my face and are yellow. I wish I was a hip-hop star or something to pull them off. Alas, I'm a 28 yr. old mom in Katy that looks like she's going shooting. I used to be a good shot, but that's besides the point! The BDG's go over my glasses while I'm driving to block out certain light wavelengths. Again, this was figured out from the 2.5 hrs of testing done at the center.

I have a visit with both Dr. H's (surgeons) next week. Where they will most likely tell me, "tough cookies".

The Lord has given me tremendous peace with all of this. I must remember to:
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perserverance. Perserverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."- James 1: 2-4.

Zoom- my new best friend!

"Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light" - Micah 7:8

Though I sit in hazy, veiny, cloudy, "is that a hand?", Zoomed up (200%) vision, The LORD will be my magnifying lens and telescope! God is certainly being called on at the Nichols house! This may be one of my last posts simply due to my eyes not being able to focus well. A day or so ago I started noticing the effects of the moving in cataract on the right eye. Uh oh! The righty. The champion. The one I see out of entirely at this point.

I am asking for prayers. Prayers that God's will be done for my life. That should he be fixing my vision that would be done and for wisdom for the docs and staff involved. For the seemingly constant left eye and head pain be remedied. For sight to be restored in both or one eye. If these are the steps that God is determining- then great! Please pray for me to continue on in being tested and to perservere so that I may be matured.

If restored vision should not be the course for my path that the Lord has intended, then I pray that I learn a life of low vision opportunities. That God would show me ways to cope and not just to cope but to rise above. That I would still see my loveys John and Leelah. That I could find ways to read his Word and hopefully still drive down the street and take Leelah to preschool. That it would not slow me down!

And in all this that God would continue to build my testimony that I can share with others to encourage and to be a light.

I am thankful for my friends who are my sweet earthly angels that have done so much for me and my family. Thank you! Thank you for the rides, meals, Leelah-sitting, prayers and support. You are truly rays of sunshine. I love you all dearly!

Thanks to my precious family as well. I can't even start down that road!

For any experiencing low vision- there are some resources I've learned about:

The Lighthouse Organization- google this for a place in your area. They have info, resources, support groups and in some cases a store for low vision/blindness products. They also have job training.

The League for the Blind- also an organization with helpful resources.

Ask around for a physician that specializes in low vision treatment.

Please comment for any other advice or resources that you may know of. Greatly appreciated!