Helen's Eye Update

It has been a while since I gave an update on Helen and her eyes. Here is where we are at and how she and we are doing and dealing with it at this point and time.

About two weeks ago Helen had her routine eye exam. If you haven't read her journey she has routine eye exams every 3 months. This time the ophthalmologist changed things up a little bit for Helen. I often feel when I say for Helen I feel it is for us ( her parents) too. Since we have to make sure she follows through or should I say we follow through. In all reality if us as parents do not follow through with what the ophthalmologist tells us to do Helen will not either since she is only three years old.

The latest appointment Helen did wonderful as always. She never fusses and follows instructions like a big girl. She always makes me so proud as her Mom.
Although walking out I felt like we were back at square one where we once started. You know before the surgery. And again Before officially leaving I am stopping once again at the little eye glass store in the office to order..yet again...a new prescription lens for her right eye. That part seems like an every other appointment tradition and gets pricey since our insurance doesn't cover it. It only covers one pair a year. And let me tell you little kid glasses and lenses are the same price of adults if not more. Yikes!

Not only did we have to order Helen new lenses she has to wear her patches again ever day for one hour. We purchased the pretty girl patches. Again a little more on the cha-ching side but you do have to do to get your Daughter to wear a patch for that one hour a day. We tried the boring ones and coloring them....didn't work. Darn! This time around we even started a fun rewards system. Everyday she wears her patch she earns a sticker for her chart. Yay! So far it's working. Phew!!

In conclusion this is where we stand. She has to wear her glasses 24/7 and a patch for one hour a day. She is doing pretty good at it. We have our off days where she does not want to wear her glasses. We get through it though. I fear as a parent of losing them constantly. It is not easy having a little kids who wears glasses by any means. But it is growing on me since she started wearing them at 18 months.

             

Helen's New Eye Glasses

Helen's new glasses have arrived.  Much to my surprise she was boasted with excitement when I announced to her that her new pretty blue eye glasses were in, and that it was time to pick them up at her eye Doctors last Friday. She even clapped so I clapped with my own excitement along with her. As her Mother I didn't know if her excitement would wear off on the drive to the eye Doctors office or not. Which emotions would I encounter from her once I pick them up when I put them on her? After all she is a whole year older than she was when she had to get her very first pair. Not to mention she was not a huge fan wearing her last pair of eye glasses towards the end before her eye surgery.

 we continued our excitement in the car when we left. I used my "this is going to be fun" Mommy voice. We made our daily pit stop on the way to pick big Sissy up from school. I had my coffee mug next to my drivers seat and my quiet prayers in my head. I knew she was excited that they are blue since I allowed her to pick out her own color this time. Most of all I was just happy that she was showing signs of excitement for her new eye glasses.

Once we picked up Helen's eye glasses at last we put them on her cute little face that very moment. I figured why wait? Lets get them on her right away. The sooner the better. I opened her eye glasses and her face beamed.

"Blue Mama, my glasses are blue!!" Yay!" Are the first words once she saw her eye glasses. Once I put them on her face and fit them just so she says, "Thank you Mama." Oh my, my heart melted I tell ya.

Helen has been doing so great so far at wearing her eye glasses and keeping them on. I'm impressed. The other day she walked up to me and said, "Mama, I wear glasses like princesses and just like you." As my heart melted once again as a Mother I responded back to my sweet girl with something along the lines of "yes you do and they are so pretty, and you are so pretty!"

 We do have to remind her here and there to "try to remember not to touch the lenses so they won't get dirty or scratched." She is getting better at that little by little. The only time she will take them off on her own is when the lenses are dirty. She dislikes when her eye glasses are dirty. But come on who does?! Therefore we clean them right away and put them right back on. No issues what so ever. Things have been going so well Saturday morning when we all woke up she walked out with her eye glasses on. Enter "excited Mommy" voice here. I asked around if anyone had put them on her; no one did. Much to my surprise she did all on her own right away in the morning. Yay!! My big girl so responsible with her new eye glasses and wearing them like a grown princess. I'm so proud of her and pray she continues to wear them with pride and sass!
                     

Helen's Eye Journey: No Glasses Update!

I am so bad at keeping updates about Helen's journey. Since the last update about her post-op appointment and a few bumps in the road, I can officially say Helen is fully recovered! Yay! Shout to the roof top.

Helen's very first picture with glasses when her Esotropia journey began.

After we made it over the hurdles during the last phase in her eye recovery from the surgery, it was smooth sailing. Her eye's are producing tears on their own now and working properly.

It is just amazing to look at her and have both eye of her eyes look strait while she looks back at you. I am so thankful for todays Doctors and technology. God's work is truly amazing.

Get ready! The even better news we were told by her eye Doctor is...Helen does not have to wear glasses as of right now. I had to double ask her eye Doctor when he told me at her appointment. She will be going back for her next eye check up in less than 2 months from now. Prayers for Helen are always and still welcomed.

Today Helen is running around, kicking her soccer ball in the house and fighting with her sisters like a normal 2 year old little girl again. I can finally say her eye surgery is behind us. Phew!

Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers. Thank you God for being on our side always.
                

Helen's Post Eye Surgery Update: A Few Steps Back

It has been a little while since I have given a little update how Helen is doing with her recovering and healing since the last one. I almost feel like a lot has happened since. Here we go!

Monday we had her post op appointment or in easier terms check up. Everything checked out great with her eyes besides the fact she was squinting her right eye. Usually the squinting is caused from dry spots. Thankfully Helen had no dry spots in her right eye. Therefore to get her to stop squinting we were giving normal type of eye drops to help her eye produce tears naturally and to prevent her eyes from drying out. Also to continue the gel drops that also do the same thing. Pretty much we have to double team them to prevent any drying of her right eye and cure Helen from squinting her right eye. We have to continue to do this till next Friday. It felt like a little set back but I was happy to hear that there were no serious complications and only one more week of extra drops daily. And of course a week more of battling a strong two year old to get the drops in. Ha ha!

That afternoon at home I noticed her right eye started to become swollen. The worry Mom that I can be double checked paper work I received about when to call the eye Doctor. Sure enough it said to call if the eyes started to become swollen. After talking with the nurse and eye Doctor I was told to do more frequent cold compresses on her right eye. If that did not bring down the swelling I would have to bring her back in the next afternoon. Of course another battle that Helen was not a fan of.

I started to feel my breaking point as a mother. The busy life with two older daughters in school. And here I am with two steps back with Helen's eye recovery. I wanted to get mad because she should be almost or healed by now besides the redness in her eyes and the sensitivity to light. That will take a few weeks. All I could do now was/ is pray for Helen and her recovery to gain those few steps forward again and for myself as a parent to have patience.

After praying all evening, night and morning I noticed the swelling started to go down in her right eye the net day. Thank you Lord!  Each day her right eye has progressed even better with the eye drops and cold compresses.


PS. Don't forget about the TGIF BLOG HOP
               

Helen's Recovery Update Day 4!!

I think it's about time I gave an update about Helen's eye progress since it has been a couple days since our previous update. Also since more of you are start to ask me personally how she is doing. So I feel with all your prayers and thoughts along the way and since sharing our journey with all of you, I'd love to fill you in.

Today is day four of Helen's recovery from her surgery to correct her eyes from Esotropia. They did the surgery on her inner eye muscles. Just in case you forgot. Each day since her surgery has been improving. Thumps up! Although she is still sensitive to lighting. Mainly just the outdoor lighting and when she first awakes in the mornings. Helen wears her sunglasses to look out the windows.  I'm sure when we bring big sisters to school this week.

When I say improving by the days I mean, by today we no longer have to do her medicated eye gel drops twice a day. Yay! Though we can still do the gel drops for eyes when she needs; when her eyes feel or are starting to look a little dry. Today is the first day she has not been Tylenol or ibuprofen. Yay!

It has not been an easy task getting the drops in her eyes by any means.
Though today she knew when she needed the non medicated gel drops and sat on my lap. Crazy. She is learning that the gel drops do make her eyes feel better right now till they are fully recovered. It also has not been the easiest keeping her inside while big sisters play in the snow. She we found fun activities to do inside. Painting our nails always works. Helen has been a tough cookie during this whole process that is for sure.

Stay tuned for more updates as we continue Helen's eye journey.

                          

HELEN'S POST SURGERY UPDATE!

First off I want to start this post with my highest gratification and deepest thank yous for all the Prayers that were and that still continue to be poured over our sweet Helen for the days prior to her surgery, the day of surgery and these days of her recovery at home. The day of Helen's( Yesterday) surgery I couldn't tell you how great the power of prayer felt from all of our family, friends and blog readers.  Again thank you.

Before I write the story of Helen's big surgery day, I thought I could at least fill those of you in with her recovery thus far. Our morning started before the crack of dawn. Helen did wonderful with the whole process till the waking up part after surgery. She absolutely hated the IV. Hated is putting terms lightly. It took three of us to hold our strong girl down. With that being said, the nurse took the IV out before Helen was able to rip it out herself. That was with praying she would keep clear liquids down and actually end up drinking some clear liquids before being able to get released. The IV is usually left in event of dehydration and so forth.

She was very drowsy and slept most of the day and night. Which really was a blessing. Although in between she threw some pretty good temper tantrums. At times which I was getting overwhelmed as a parent, but knew God was in control. I knew tomorrow was drawing near and Helen would feel more relief, even us too as parents.

Helen had a really big day yesterday. We are not sure how much she actually remembers. She slept great last night through the night. Thank you answered prayer! This morning she woke up and was talking a lot more clearly, and said the word, "hospital" clear as day. She is not a fan of the ointments we have to do on/in her eyes thus far or the cold cloths we have to lay on her eyes. Helen's eye's are very sensitive to light at this time as well. We had to black out the windows. That was a huge crying factor last night. So she has been wearing her sunglasses, even while watching cartoons. He He.

Though this morning she is good spirits and wanting to play, Helen is still in the beginning stages of recovery. We have to watch out for certain things with her eyes. She is doing great with us reminding her not to rub them.

So thank you again and we still love the prayers for Helen for her recovery to continue to be a positive road with no complications.


                    

Down To The Wire: Calling All Prayers!

We are down to the wire or crunch time for Helen's eye surgery. At least isn't that how the catch phrases go? We are no longer counting down the days. Her surgery day is upon us. By that I mean tomorrow. Yes I am anxious and nervous as her Mother.

  We finally have the time set for tomorrow at 10:20AM roughly. When I say roughly that means 10:20AM- 10:50Am. The length of her actual surgery is estimated to be 1.5 hours.

This week we sat down with all three girls and discussed with them what will happen. It went very well as to be expected. Helen just keeps telling me now, "Don't cry Mommy." My sweet girl! I am doing my very best not to let her sense I am nervous let alone my emotions. I have actually been doing pretty good.

So with this post I want to ask a favor from my followers and my viewers. Yes you! Feel free to leave words of encouragement in a comment for Helen regarding her surgery and or recovery. I will be printing these off and putting them into her scrap book!

Also I pray For Helen to stay strong tomorrow and for her cold to heal. My thoughts and prayers go out to the Doctors who will be performing her surgery tomorrow. I pray for a quick and uneventful recovery at home for Helen.

I try my best to update through our instagram tomorrow
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