Glasses

My oldest child got glasses. I'm not surprised - both my husband & I have them. We just got them much later in life than 7 years old. We're all very happy about the glasses, because the alternative is surgery.

A few months ago a friend of mine who teaches his Sunday school class asked me what was wrong with his eyes. So I started watching him. His left eye wouldn't focus when he got tired. As a matter of fact, it would "drift" out. So, last month, I called to make him an appointment with a pediatric opthamologist.

The day before Halloween, we went. Turns out, the "drift" is in both eyes. The problem is muscular - the solution: surgery. AND, the doctor tells me this usually shows up at 3 or 4 - not 7. So, before he has surgery, he has to have a CT scan to make sure the problem is not neurological. But, most likely, we just haven't noticed it for the last four years! Yes, I am the worst. mother. EVER!

Anyway, during the exam, the doctor discovers he has a "slight nearsightedness". (I should add here that he has had regular pediatrician visits, was tested for lazy eye when he was less than 2, and has even been to an optometrist and no one has found any problems.) So, the new plan was to get the child glasses and see if that works. But the doctor was not optimistic.

On Halloween, I took him and the prescription to get the glasses. The Friday after, we still had to go for the CT scan. He didn't like it, but he did okay. Still, we spent the weekend worried about all of it. Doing research on his problem, trying to figure out what they'll do during the surgery, etc.

November 6, we went for the follow up. My husband didn't want me to go alone this time, so he took some vacation time to go with us. We just felt like two adults listening would be better than one. And he might think of different questions than I would. Though we were praying for the best, we were, quite frankly, prepared for the worst.

Well - Garrett's fine. The CT was normal and the glasses are fixing it. He loves the glasses, and isn't having any trouble. He's learning to take care of them. And his friends have all told him how cool they are. We are all VERY RELIEVED. No surgery, at least not now. We go back in February for another follow up.

I've also been very impressed with the friends he has chosen (and their parents). Only one child has said anything negative about the glasses: a younger brother of one of his friends. A child who is still too young to really know any better. It makes him different from most of them and they all think it's pretty cool. No one has treated him any differently, called him names or any of the other problems I anticipated and was trying to figure out how to deal with.

I knew I was stressed, but I didn't realize how stressed until it was gone. It was only a week, but it felt like an eternity. We would have dealt with whatever happened, he would have, too. But we're grateful it wasn't the worst. In fact, it was the best case. Our prayers were answered. So, instead of spending our Thanksgiving or Christmas break nursing a child that's had surgery, we get to do all the regular - and much more fun - stuff.

35 is...

Better than 25. I get lots of strange looks when I say that. Especially from the under 35 group. But it's true.

Here are some of my reasons...

1 - At 25 I had no children. At 35, I have the two most amazing boys ever. I would never go back!

2 - At 25, We'd been married less than two years and we were still learning to live with each other. At 35, We've been married for 11 1/2 years and it's only gotten better.

3 - At 25, we'd just bought our first house. A tiny box of about 1200 square feet. Ten years later, we have our dream home and are working to make it even better.

4 - At 25, we still lived in another town where I wasn't really happy. Now, we live in my hometown, in a neighborhood where we have made some great friends - and so have our kids.

5 - At 25, I had just started my first job and was making less than half what I make now.

6 - At 25, we had two school loans, two vehicle loans, and a house payment and no savings. Now, it's just the house and enough savings to survive for several months.

7 - At 25, we attended a church where I didn't really feel welcome. Now, we attend a friendly, acitve, energetic church where we have close friends.

8 - At 25, I wasn't comfortable in my own skin. Now, I've learned to improve what I can and accept (mostly) what I can't.

9 - At 25, I thought I knew what I wanted - now, I know what I want.

And one more...
10 - I'm going to put this as delicately as possible: There are advantages to being a woman in your mid-30s. These are advantages to my husband as well...

I joke that I'm like a fine wine and just get better with age. I believe everyone should continue to grow - you grow or you die. I work on improving myself and my situation. I'm not perfect, but I'm better than I was.

When it rains...

It POURS! It's been a really crappy week around here.

Here's hoping it gets better - fast.

More later...

I am...

...exactly where I want to be.

I am married to a wonderful man, have two amazing children, a good home in a great neighborhood. I have close friends in all areas of my life. My family is close. We are active in our church, our neighborhood, our school. My boys have good friends and activities they enjoy. I know who I am and what I want. I don't have everything I want, but I have everything I need.

It's been a hard week for my family. I've worried and I've prayed. But, it's made me appreciate what I have. I don't think we tell the people in our lives what they mean to us nearly enough. We take our families & friends for granted. Especially our spouses. I know I can. I'm going to do better.

I'm madly in love with my husband, who also happens to be my best friend. I'm incredibly proud of my two boys. I'm happy. I'm going to remember that with all the bad stuff that's happening. And I'm going to remember to tell the people in my life how much they mean to me.

Fall

Fall is my favorite time of year. I love the start of a new school year. Meeting Garrett's new teacher, his new friends, their parents. I love the pre-school track meet and can't wait for Colby to participate. I love high-school and college football (you can have the Titans). It's the only place I'll eat a hot dog and the excitement level is great. I love Halloween and how excited the boys are about dressing up. Thanksgiving is one of my favorite days of the year. My birthday is also in the fall - so that may have something to do with it. Why is it that in March, when it's in the 50s, it's cold - but in November it's just perfect? I love the colors, sounds and smells of fall.

In order to renew yourself, you must shed the old. In order for spring to be so green, fall must come first. Maybe that's it for me. It's the purge before the new. Or maybe it's just all the stuff I love happens in the fall. Maybe it's because I don't like summer and fall means summer is over. I don't know - but I know it's coming and I can't wait!

Happy fall everyone!

Birthdays

Well, as of this month, my boys are 7 & 3. I'm so proud of both of them.

Garrett is 3 weeks into 2nd grade and all is going well. He's really starting to show some maturity. This morning, he actually got out of bed - that took a little prompting - and got himself completely ready and did all his morning chores - without constant reminding. He's still a momma's boy but he's pulling ever so slightly away and exerting his independence. One thing that comes with all that growing up is the smart mouth & eye rolls. Now, that, has got to go. That's when I think he's only 7 and I have, what, 10 more years to deal with that. I wonder if we'll all survive it.

Colby is officially a pre-schooler. Every morning he tells me he's going to the 'big boy class' when he gets to school. I thought that child was never going to go in the potty. But sometime in the last couple of weeks, the light went on and he finally started doing it. I no longer have a baby. He's started dressing himself, another thing I never thought he'd do. He's not slow, just lazy enough to want us to do it for him. He's trying so hard to be his big brother that he's growing up almost too fast.

Seven & Three...It's hard to believe, but not all that hard to accept. I want them to be where they are. I enjoy the ups & downs of every new age. I try not to wonder what the future has in store, just to enjoy where they are today. And to remember that they'll never be this age again.

Happy Birthday boys!

August

I hate August! As far as I'm concerned, only 2 good things ever came out of August. Their names are Garrett & Colby (my children). Really. I choose to live in the south - I don't want to be anywhere else, because this is home. But, come on. 104 degrees?! Triple digits for 10 days in a row?! My electric bill is going to cost me a week's pay. We don't even let the kids go outside for more than a few minutes. Even after dark, it's in the 90s. Hopefully, it won't last much longer.

I'm ready for fall.