Ok, guys. Let’s talk about yesterday.
Yesterday was eye appointment day! Brady and I had gone ourselves to a new eye doctor in December, and had a really good experience! There was one time I had to bring Wavy along, and they gave her a full checkup and appointment! They were SO good to her there, and now that we finally have health benefits – with vision care!! – we booked the other four kids all in together in one big clump. And that appointment was yesterday! I took the kids out of school, and Cher studied at our house while Wavy napped so we could have one less person to wrangle.
Brady joined us at the office, and we took the kids in groups of two. We didn’t really know how it would all work in terms of order, so we just dove in.
I took Laela back first, because we were pretty sure she needed glasses. I decided to include Solly in our group, because he gets pretty nervous of new things, and Laela is super gung ho. So if there anyone who could help him feel at ease by going first, it was Laela. They both got through their initial tests easily, and got pictures taken of their eyes. To the waiting room, and to the exam room we went!
Solly’s exam was first. Our eye doctor is SO good with kids. The first time Solly couldn’t clearly see the letters in front of him, he went full fetal and started to cry. Without missing a beat, our doctor said “But we like baby shark, right?” Solly looked up, and she was doing something silly with a toy baby shark, and all was completely well. It was amazing how fast he rallied. He did really well throughout his appointment, and I was proud of him for how confidently he answered her questions. While Solly watched the Lego movie through some apparatus, our eye doctor told me Solly most definitely needed glasses. He is moderately far sighted, and has some pretty severe astigmatism. He can see the grand scheme, but next to no details. So. There’s that. We didn’t know, to be honest, if Sol could see well or not. He’s a tough one to read in that way. But now we know! And he was not put off by the news whatsoever. He said “Well, good! I was hoping for glasses!”
Laela could barely contain herself in her seat, she wanted her turn sooooo badly! When it was finally her turn, she scampered into the exam chair and got into it! Immediately it was clear she couldn’t see much for distance. She watched Frozen and the doctor went back and forth, better or worse, over and over. Laela, unsurprisingly, needs glasses too! Unlike Solly, she is near sighted. And to keep it weird, her eyes are very different from one another. She was not put off ONE bit, and was telling the eye doctor what kind of glasses she wanted, and asked if she would get to take them home that same day. An eager one, that Laela.
We left the exam room and headed to shop for glasses while Brady took Dekker and Rowan in next. We knew Dekker would need them (big duh) but Rowan sees perfect, and his appointment was more of a formality.
Solly and Laela picked glasses out just in time for Dekker to come into the room to find himself some new ones. His appointment was unremarkable. Slightly changed prescription. New glasses needed. NO eye turn whatsoever!!! Great success!
All three settled on pairs they really liked, and got them fitted and comfortable. We talked cost, insurance, extra, etc. Solly’s even come with sunglasses. Finally, it was all done, and we just all stood and looked around at one another. Laela commented casually “And Rowan won’t need glasses, so we’re almost done.” But the length of his appointment had me feeling differently.
Brady and Rowan finally surfaced. One of Rowan’s eyes is next to perfect. And one of Rowan’s eyes can see next to nothing. For those who know about far sigthtedness, one eye was fine, and one is at +7. That is HUGE.
In Rowan’s appointment, he had climbed up into the chair after Dekker. The letters Dekker had been reading, all teeny tiny, were still up on the screen, and Rowan fired them off from the chair. The doctor put more up, smaller still, and he had them all down. And the moment he covered his right eye, the letters completely disappeared for him. Completely. It literally took to the point of having ONE giant letter on the screen before he could read it with his left eye. When there were two letters only, he got one wrong.
The game plan for Rowan is going to be different. As you’d expect. So that day, he did order glasses. He picked out some super trendy, sturdy Ran-Bans, as well aaaaaaaaas… a patch. *sigh* We’re back to patching. Its been a while. Once Rowan’s glasses come, he will patch every moment he is at home. NOT at school. Because its going to be REALLY hard š Poor little guy. His glasses will be terribly uneven, as one side needs nothing, and one side needs a coke bottle. Realistically, on top of ALL that, he also haaaaaaaaaaas… a contact on order. Of all ridiculous things, the BEST option will likely be Rowan wearing a contact on his one eye. Which is nuts, because he’s just barely coming up on his 8th birthday, and he needs contacts. Contact. You get it. So I’ll be putting it in and taking it out for him every day for likely years until he learns how. And thats ok š He will learn. Because I truly believe this is part of some of his behavioural struggle right here, and I am SO happy for him to find yet further relief! Rowan will also join a vision therapy program shortly š
Rowan said to me once we got home after his appointment, “Patching is going to be hard. I’m nervous. But! At least we know what we need, and we can get what we need!” Yes sir!!
We praise God for getting us all through a pretty heavy day, and for His continued hand in our life as we navigate a LOT of change for FOUR of our kids!! We also praise God for HEALTH BENEFITS!! For the first time EVER!! We order four pairs of high index glasses and I paid $130 of overage. We were looking at $1200. We are SO well cared for.
I know I could show you pictures of the glasses they chose, but I’m going to wait for the real deal ones, without the stickers and tags on them. Though, admittedly, Solly did try to remove all the tags from his so he could take them home, hahaha! I will show you soon š Once they’re all in hand. I’ll leave you with this one at least, because it makes me laugh.
The three who are new to glasses (Laela, Rowan, and Solomon) will be reassessed in about five weeks. If you think of us, please pray. There is work to be done here, but we are here for it!