A New Perspective

We have embarked on a new journey around here: glasses for Elyse! Needless to say, it's not the journey we would have chosen with a 13 month old little girl, but we're there. Back in December, we started to notice that Elyse's right eye would cross occasionally when she would stare at something. I dismissed it for a few days, thinking it was just a goofy thing kids do, but after a few days, it was often enough to concern both of us.

Step 1: Figure this all out. We were told it might be difficult to get an appointment with a good pediatric ophthalmologist, and sure enough, the first doctor we called was booked until May! We found another great doctor that would see Elyse with only a five week wait, so off we went. He wasn't exactly Mr. Personable, but he seemed to know what he was talking about (thankfully). He informed us that Elyse is quite farsighted (+4 in both eyes). (Side note: he told us this, and I then asked him when he would do the exam- I didn't know he had already done it in about 10 seconds. I'm sure he was astounded at my faith in his profession. HA!!) Anyway, we were prepared, since farsightedness was one of my initial guesses. I did way too much horrifying "research" on the great and mighty internet... At this point, he believes that glasses will do the trick to keep her right eye straight and help her vision. We'll return to the doctor next month to see if the glasses are indeed doing the job. If they don't seem to be helping, it looks like we'll head down the path of patching and potential surgery. Elyse was crossing her eye in an effort to focus, and if she continued to strain in that way, her brain would eventually cut off the sight in that eye and completely ignore the confused signals.

Step 2: Go shopping. Well, our next great adventure was the hunt for glasses. AND, not just any glasses: glasses for a 13 month old baby. I was pretty optimistic at first, but we discovered that our vision coverage was limited to only a few stores in our area, most of which did not carry any baby glasses. Our vision coverage meant the difference of more than a few dollars, so we had to be choosy :) We finally ended up at Walmart, and were shown SIX pairs of baby glasses! In our limited experience, this was the jackpot. We had 2 pairs of "girl" glasses at our disposal!! (That basically meant they weren't brown or blue... we were happy, even though the two "girl" pairs were identical :) Not only was there a pair that actually fit her, but we were able to pay $20 for a warranty that will cover unlimited breakage/repair for a year. I found a blog by parents of kids with glasses and saw that it is pretty normal to need new frames within days of starting this fun :) Needless to say, we left relieved!

Step 3: Get Elyse to deal with it. The real fun started yesterday when Elyse woke up. I had been dreading this moment from the time we drove away from Walmart Tuesday... I had attempted to have her wear her glasses that afternoon and was completely unsuccessful for more than a few moments. We managed by the grace of God to get her to wear her glasses for most of her awake time yesterday and today! This was so much more than I could have asked for. Elyse has always been a bookworm, and for the last few months, she will choose books anytime over her toys. I must say, the highlight of this entire process was reading Elyse her first book. It about brought me to tears to think that all this time, she's had a hard time seeing what is right in front of her nose! She giggled most of the way through her book, and we spent MUCH of the day reading! Daddy took her on a tour of our fridge, which holds pictures of our family members... she pointed and smiled at each one in a whole new way. As inconvenient as this process might be for the time being, it is so amazing to know that these little specs are helping her see!!!

Step 4: Get Mommy to deal with it. I've been so aware of God's grace during this entire process. When we first realized that this would be a "permanent" part of our family, I had lots of fears and felt a great deal of disappointment. Don't get me wrong, I never expected to be able to protect Elyse from all discomfort and pain for her entire life, but I guess I figured I would have that opportunity to sit beside her on her bed someday and explain why the jerk she adored dumped her for another chickie-poo. OR, I expected to be able to tell her why she gets to wear glasses to school... But, this is one of those situations that requires no explanation, so I should be even more thankful. My little munchkin doesn't wait for an explanation as to why she can't rub her eyes or why everyone is doing a double-take when they look at her. She doesn't ask "why" yet, so she doesn't demand an explanation when I repeatedly replace the glasses she's just chucked on the living room floor. I look at her little face and realize that she couldn't care less why she has to wear these crazy lenses, she just wants them off! :) God has given me so much peace during this experience, and I know it will be the first of many life experiences that "seem" to be obstacles. A sweet friend of mine shared some encouragement with me a few weeks ago that has continued to stick in my mind. She told me how John 9 had encouraged her during this phase of her life.

"As he passed by, he [Jesus] saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” Having said these things, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man's eyes with the mud and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing."

I know Elyse is not blind or anything, but this passage has meant so much to me these weeks. My friend shared this passage with me so I could be reminded that God's purpose in all of this is to display His works in Elyse's (and my) life. Bottom line.

I think I've blabbed long enough in this post, so I'll wrap it up. I determined to be thankful during this process, and though Jordan could vouch for the fact that I have NOT succeeded much of the time, I have so many things to praise God for:

* We were able to detect the problem early, something very important for Elyse's sight!

* We survived the appointment itself! If you'd spoken with me before we went in, you would realize how nervous I was about Elyse having her eyes dilated and cooperating for a thorough eye exam (which apparently was less thorough than I expected.. Ha!). I know there were more raisins on that office floor than I could count, and I'm sure I left some behind :)

* God has revealed so much about the human eye to doctors who can glorify him without even knowing it.

* We were able to find glasses covered by our benefits.

* God gave us some unexpected monetary blessings within the last couple of months that remind me of his constant care & provision for us.

* Elyse should be fully adjusted by the time sweet Emily Mae arrives in a few months- what a blessing that we'll at least hopefully have glasses mastered when our lives change again!

* Elyse has been handling this so well. I am so proud of her & her mostly sweet attitude when I'm sure it's a difficult adjustment for her. I will determine to remember this for the next few days :)

* I have the most amazing husband in the world. I don't need to expound, but I will. He has made me laugh when I've had meltdowns, he's assured me over and over again that he LOVES the way she looks in glasses, he has reassured me that this is SO minor in the scheme of things, and he has been right down on the floor with her as she gets used to them. I am astounded and in love :)

* I have a healthy, happy little girl who does look stinkin' cute in her tiny glasses!

(Elyse's first Praise Baby with perhaps some clarity???)

I love this girl!!!