Patching, Shopping for Glasses and lots of Crying

Last October we were notified by the school that Erin had failed her vision screening. Her eyesight in her right eye was 20/30 and in her left 20/60. We took her to Target for another vision screening where the Optometrist confirmed what the school had said, but then said that he was unable to correct the vision in either eye with a prescription. He told us that she had a "lazy eye". This came as a bit of surprise since we've never noticed her eye wandering or drooping when she is tired, but not a surprise since Rex has a lazy eye, as well as one uncle and two cousins.

We got a referral from a pediatrician in the Ward and we made an appointment for a month later at a children's ophthamologist . At the appointment they examined her eyes including dilating them which Erin hated. The difference I noticed at this appointment was that when Erin said she couldn't see the letters on the line they encouraged her to look really hard and make a good guess. Sometimes she would get it right and sometimes she wouldn't. At the end of the appointment the Dr. seemed very confused. He said that he couldn't confirm what the school and what Target said. Her vision wasn't perfect, but it wasn't as bad as the school and Target said. He didn't think we should do anything. I asked about patching just because Erin is getting to the age where studies show that the effectiveness for patching goes way down. He basically said I could try if I wanted and then we'd see her back in three months. I left the appointment frustrated. I didn't like how they told her to guess because I wasn't sure if she could actually see the letter or if she was just getting a "lucky guess".

After talking to my BIL I decided to start patching and get a second opinion. The new Dr. is very hard to get in to and since it was a second opinion we couldn't get an appointment for three months. We were really good about patching (three hours a day) until Christmas break and didn't do so well for the last couple of months. Our appointment with the next Dr. was last week. They did all of the same tests and even told Erin that she got credit for guessing (which she later told me she didn't understand because she doesn't get credit for guessing at school). If the original tests were acurate Erin's eyesight has improved from 20/40 to 20/30. They recommended they we continue to patch (dropping from 3 hours a day to 2 hours) for 2-3 months and also prescibed glasses with a very minor prescription in the left eye. So we'll go back in a couple months and reevaluate.

On Friday we went shopping at Target for glasses. Erin was pretty excited! The girl loves to shop and it really doesn't matter what we're buying. She tried on almost every pair. Below you'll see some of the ones she tried on. The question is: Can you guess what pair she chose? The first person to guess will get a surprise in the mail from us!

Now to the crying. Erin hates wearing a patch. Most of the time she cries when she has to put one on. I don't like listening to her whine so on school days I send her to school with the patch on and tell her that she can take it off after recess.

So now on to the fun which pair did she choose?

A

B

C

D

E

A Very Special Day Coming Up

Just wanted all of our local friends to know about a special day coming up. We'd love to have you there!

Welcome 2009

We had a quiet evening tonight as a family. The girls are in bed after watching The Man From Snowy River. The boys are finishing off the chocolate fondue and Rex has gone to the office to run the reports for the month and year end.

We debated about whether or not to join the crowds and go out to dinner. On a total whim, I decided that it would be fun to have fondue instead of eating out. I ran to Target and bought all the fixins - including four kinds of cheese for the cheese fondue. The results were fabulous! It just might become a family tradition.

Cheese Fondue with steamed brocolli and cauliflower, carrots, zuchini, mushrooms, crusty bread, chicken, steak and shrimp.

Chocoloate Fondue with pretzels, marshmellow, cookies, oranges, bananas, teddy grahams and apples to dip.

Michael

Jacob

Dad and girls enjoy the sweets.

Don't Forget Grandma and Grandma

Our Public Affairs Committee visit to the Care Center on Saturday was a blessing I'll never forget. Our Ward members went above and beyond donating more than enough gifts for the residents who attended our program - the rest of the gifts went to another Care Center in a neighboring town.

I arrived with the kids about 30 minutes early to set up and bring in the gifts. The Activities Director quickly approached me with a concerned look on her face. One of the secretaries had taken a call from one of the committee members (asking for directions) and was under the impression that we coming to have a "service". She let me know very nicely that they didn't have any Mormons in the Center and she had to let the residents know what they would be attending and many might choose not to attend. I told her that we weren't planning a "service," but would it be okay for some children to portray the Nativity? She said that would be fine. I told her that we'd have four other musical numbers and then a sing along. The worried look was replaced with relief and they quickly gathered nearly 40 residents for the program.

Several children from the ward portrayed that Nativity including Brooke as a shepherd and Erin as a wiseman. After the Nativity a sweet five year old from our ward sang Silent Night. It was beautiful and the Activity Director leaned over in awe asking how old she was. Michael and Jacob then played a piano duet, "Do You Hear What I Hear." They did fabulous! Then we heard a vocal solo (can't remember the name of the song), a flute/piano duet and then finally a lady from the ward played her guitar and sang, "Away in the Manager." INCREDIBLE! Then we opened it up for requests for the sing along. I thought afterward how interesting the every request was a religious Christmas song.



Each resident received a jingle bell necklace, Santa Hat, wrapped present, goody bag, cookies and punch. They all seemed so genuinely happy and thankful. I felt the Spirit so strongly as we talked with each of them.

After it was all over the Activities Director was visibly touched. She thanked us and then mentioned one man who choose not to open his gift as the others opened theirs. She told me that she knew why he had chosen not to open his. She knew that he wouldn't be receiving anything this year and she knew that he would be saving it for Christmas Day. Tears welled in my eyes as I thought about how something so small as purchasing and wrapping a gift could change the month for a man. I was blessed to be the one who was able to help deliver the gifts - if only each one who had donated could have been there!

Christmas Giving (a five year old perspective)

In order for you to fully understand the couple of sentences that I will quote at the end of this post I have to give a little bit of history.

I've been serving as the ward representative for the Stake Public Affairs committee for several months. One of our activities this month is called "Don't Forget Grandma and Grandpa at Christmastime". Within our Stake boundaries we have "adopted" three elderly care centers. Each ward rep was asked to gather at least 25 gifts from their ward members. We asked that the gifts be wrapped and on the outside of each package we also asked that they identify the gift as "male" or "female". I guess last year one elderly man was disappointed to open a pair of women's slippers. I would have been, too. :)

So I've been busy gathering gifts. I counted last night and our ward has donated 48 - way to go Ward! I went to the meeting last night and we have nearly 200 gifts to give out tomorrow night and Saturday.

So now the funny part. A friend of mine Darby asked if I would pick up her daughter from school today. When M. got in the car she exclaimed, "Look at the presents!" I had left one plastic tote of gifts on my backseat. Brooke very matter-of-factly said, "those aren't for us." Pause. "Those are for the females." Pause. "Because they are poor." Pause. "They don't have enough money to buy presents." It made sense to M. because she replied simply, "oh."

The only thing I told Brooke about gifts was that we were going to deliver them to some people like Great-Grandpa E. who live together in a building. Somewhere she picked up on the male/female thing and also that Christmas is a time to give to those that are in need.

I love my little girl - I just have to be careful what I say around her.

Tie Dye Anyone?

I participated in a small craft show with some gal friends this past Saturday. For two weeks I went crazy tie dying shirts. I sold almost 20 shirts, but I still have a lot more. Are you looking for a unique gift for anyone? I've got sizes from 6 months to men's XL. The picture shows only about 1/2 of all the shirts I did.

infant sizes (up to 24 months) - 7.00
toddler sizes (up to 5T) - 8.00
youth sizes - 10.00
adult sizes - 12.00

Most of the shirts are dyed using Old Navy cotton shirts so the quality is great. I do have some boys shirts that I did with Hanes brand and the Men's shirts are Kirkland brand.

Twilight Movie Premiere

I don't remember anticipating a movie's debut like I have the Twilight movie. We bought our tickets online last week and planned a girls night out. The theater was packed - pretty sure it was sold out. Luckily, no one sat behind me and talked (it usually always happens to me), but there were plenty of squeals throughout the movie which didn't bother me at all.

Was the movie as great at the books? No. Did I have a good time? Yes!

Afterwards we went to Chili's and had way too much dessert and plenty of laughs.