tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70187838326744514072024-03-19T08:32:34.536-04:00Dispatches from West HillThe continuing exploits of a boy, a girl, a kid, and a dog in the great frozen north.Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15415987895274850995noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7018783832674451407.post-70919867634723728722009-05-13T20:38:00.003-04:002009-05-13T20:47:45.645-04:00Meet our little bean<div>Well, we're in Boston following a busy day. We had our midway sonogram today and the little bean looks healthy and happy in there :)<div><br /></div><div>Here are a few of our favorite pics:</div><div><br /></div></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd235/simbaandzoesmom/21822_RANDALL_20090513_084152_0034.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 675px; height: 463px;" src="http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd235/simbaandzoesmom/21822_RANDALL_20090513_084152_0034.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><div><div><br /></div></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd235/simbaandzoesmom/21822_RANDALL_20090513_084152_0006.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 675px; height: 456px;" src="http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd235/simbaandzoesmom/21822_RANDALL_20090513_084152_0006.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15415987895274850995noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7018783832674451407.post-63078581186551537722009-05-12T21:00:00.002-04:002009-05-12T21:04:46.092-04:00So, here we go again!I've been the worst blogger ever! So much has happened - let me sum up :)<div><br /></div><div>Alex got his glasses about three weeks ago - he looks very intellectual and grown up. At an appointment with his PO after 6 days of glasses, they measured his vision at 20/30 in the left eye! This is wonderful news - and we are thrilled with how well he has done. However, as the right eye continues to hold steady at about 20/100, this means it is time to remove the right cataract before he starts losing vision in the right eye. So, we are off to Boston again! Surgery will be on the 14th and we plan to be home the 15th. We're hoping for smooth sailing - and looking forward to being done with surgeries.</div><div><br /></div><div>For anyone reading who doesn't know already, we are embarking on another great sequel of an adventure and planning to welcome another baby in October! Because of a quirk of timing, we actually have our 20 week sonogram Wednesday morning - from which we disembark for Boston. It's going to be a wild week :)</div>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15415987895274850995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7018783832674451407.post-82651458681879478512009-03-16T08:48:00.002-04:002009-03-16T08:55:53.581-04:00The aftermathWell, we now realize that the surgery was the easiest part of all of this. Alex is still wearing the metal eye shield most of the day and it does not bother him in the least. HE also wears elbow extension splints to sleep to keep him from removing the shield in his sleep. He does not mind those either - even willingly extending his arms to have them put on.<div><br /></div><div>The eye drops... ah, those are another tale to be told. Alex needs eye drops 4 times per day as well as an ointment applied before bedtime. Applying these medicines involve coordination worthy of a two man guerilla operation. Alex hates the drops and kicks and screams about it every time. We have learned that the promise of ice cream at the end makes it go a tiny bit easier. I'll be relieved when we are done with drops - though that is a long way away. ONce he finishes this course, he switches to another drop. Sigh.</div><div><br /></div><div>We head back to Boston this week for a Thursday morning visit to the surgeon. We have hopes of being done with the eye shield then. Alex's eye looks good - the redness and puffiness are mostly gone. Apparently the incision sits just above his iris although we cannot see anything there. Overall, we feel he is doing very well.</div><div><br /></div><div>On another note - spring is coming here in the north country! Alex and Zoe got some much needed outside playtime Sunday afternoon. The tonka trucks got a workout too - and everyone slept well for all the exercise!</div>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15415987895274850995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7018783832674451407.post-60215859433477580452009-03-13T06:51:00.001-04:002009-03-13T06:52:44.317-04:00Heading homeWell, we're off to see the surgeon and get Alex's patch removed. He slept almost 11 hours last night and woke up happy, patch still in place. We're looking forward to getting home :)Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15415987895274850995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7018783832674451407.post-59576726220794431752009-03-12T16:41:00.003-04:002009-03-12T17:30:31.561-04:00One surgery down!Well, for those of you who haven;t been checking Dave's Twitter updates today, here's the big update. Alex had his first cataract surgery this morning. He was scheduled for 9:15 but didn't end up going back until 10 am or so. He was a total trooper - even with nothing to eat for almost 16 hours at that point. Dave went with Alex into the OR and Alex was anesthetized in Daddy's arms. All the procedures were done after Alex was asleep. We were totally impressed with how child oriented the staff was throughout the process. (I know that seems obvious for a children's hospital but it was still impressive).<div><br /></div><div>The surgeon came to speak with us a little after noon. Alex did very well and now has an IOL (intra-ocular lens) implanted in his left eye. The surgeon also checked the right eye and noted that the cataract seems to be slowly progressing there so that surgery may not be far off.</div><div><br /></div><div>Alex was sleeping hard when we finally got to go back to the recovery room around 1. We left the hospital around 2 and Alex was still groggy and wobbly but happy to be with his parents (and his stuffed bear and hippo, who also apparently had a little work done in the OR. When we arrived in the recovery room, both were seated on the end of Alex's bed wearing their won hospital bracelets and gauze/tape over their left eyes. :) )</div><div><br /></div><div>It is now early evening and Alex is pretty much our Alex again. He is full of energy and only mildly wobbly moving around. He has also been eating and drinking non stop since we got back - so much for the nausea they said he might have!</div><div><br /></div><div>Tomorrow we see the surgeon to have the bandages removed. We'll then be heading home. So far, Alex is pretty much leaving the eye shield alone - it doesn't seem to bother him much.</div><div><br /></div><div>As always, we are thankful for everyone's prayers and positive thoughts. Alex came through like a trooper!</div>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15415987895274850995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7018783832674451407.post-38818487429115960722009-03-10T19:52:00.002-04:002009-03-10T19:55:13.442-04:00Twitter UpdatesI'll be posting quick updates about the surgery on Twitter this week: <a href="http://twitter.com/dtrandall">http://twitter.com/dtrandall</a><br /><br />Wish us luck!Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11223881556296878039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7018783832674451407.post-4514271931172657152009-03-02T07:49:00.002-05:002009-03-02T08:10:06.312-05:00It's time!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA3oaWdSyCdkkP_fcnFEX_inlVtuiPmHoKhyphenhyphenY9DyrsZnaumC9dv2CdLgLeUQws3-xUhqU3E14OgGdKlTySMX2XKddZXwKClXxb3JBj9kZruTz_V5kt79A0LqGlSeocepdI6xnzl77e7kJs/s1600-h/IMG_1545.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA3oaWdSyCdkkP_fcnFEX_inlVtuiPmHoKhyphenhyphenY9DyrsZnaumC9dv2CdLgLeUQws3-xUhqU3E14OgGdKlTySMX2XKddZXwKClXxb3JBj9kZruTz_V5kt79A0LqGlSeocepdI6xnzl77e7kJs/s320/IMG_1545.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308576982246070738" /></a><br />Wow, it has been a long time since we updated here! Time seems to fly by even as sometimes the days can seem so long.<div><br /></div><div>Alex had his most recent check up with his ophthamologist on Friday (2/27). For about a week and a half in advance of this appointment, we had been noticing a change in Alex's behavior when he is patched. When his right (stronger) eye is patched, he is much less active and tends to be much closer to things to see them. When we discussed this with his doctor, she decided (as we expected) that it is time for Alex's first surgery to remove the left cataract. All we know at this point is that surgery is scheduled for Thursday, March 12th at Children's Hospital Boston (although we do not yet know which campus).</div><div><br /></div><div>We'll do our best to keep updating here as we learn more. We are continuously thankful for everyone's prayers and positive thoughts through this process.</div><div><br /></div><div>Alex continues to be extremely active and inquisitive. He has entered the "terrible twos" already with tantrums when he is unhappy with his parents' decrees. Most of the time however, Alex is loving and sweet. He loves reading and doing his puzzles - and he continues to learn new words everyday. The latest additions to his vocabulary include "shower", "Elmo", "zero", and "Read please!"</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15415987895274850995noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7018783832674451407.post-24679904542789249952009-01-06T12:30:00.007-05:002009-01-06T12:46:52.573-05:00A late Christmas update<div>Alex visited his PO the week before Christmas and his eyes continue to be stable. We go back next week again - already! We have also completed blood testing to determine that he is not allergic to some common allergens (wheat, soy, dairy...) and we continue to work on the allergy problem.</div><div><br /></div><div>Alex's canine teeth are finally coming in - he looks like a wee vampire with those two white points poking through his gums :)</div><div><br /></div><div>Alex had a wonderful Christmas - he loved unwrapping gifts and happily opened all of his gifts over the span of several days, stopping to play with each one inbetween. He also likes coloring at his new desk - and likes it even better when we sit and color with him. He often sits down and asks "A? A?" so we will spell his name and write it for him.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzKK-2vBwxj1znG55tHGeAVUPmpX6cHnaoGRl_EJh5k-ls4hke2NBC2E1uYmZgx41CilDpxHZPnI5mp9C8agj1KrFFlWJHMHa3o48R7Q4Tbsob0EbZKBn4I-OQkzZ2VG0GgorSkYZd0luu/s1600-h/IMG_1415.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzKK-2vBwxj1znG55tHGeAVUPmpX6cHnaoGRl_EJh5k-ls4hke2NBC2E1uYmZgx41CilDpxHZPnI5mp9C8agj1KrFFlWJHMHa3o48R7Q4Tbsob0EbZKBn4I-OQkzZ2VG0GgorSkYZd0luu/s320/IMG_1415.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288236462253012674" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh1NZ5nz_osAJSYO3tNOWuTFoYMPpjlDIy2LfwAC6PtWVgJQ8EkNgiopPLFThEy3dHZozKO95-JcCHXFCu_ctwsRm2Jo5yVHPbKZdML2VvXk3HohIkw7047xXaUAUlrVGbs11enM618njA/s1600-h/IMG_1419.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh1NZ5nz_osAJSYO3tNOWuTFoYMPpjlDIy2LfwAC6PtWVgJQ8EkNgiopPLFThEy3dHZozKO95-JcCHXFCu_ctwsRm2Jo5yVHPbKZdML2VvXk3HohIkw7047xXaUAUlrVGbs11enM618njA/s320/IMG_1419.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288236363068872674" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6lSrRoRC8AJHN9_UFAiGWIv0KR-_HKeTw9kSy6vKYj01q9mLo3O8g3BpAFPM-jR4h7zexP-84L-WV0fvHIuDxzZ8n2nlCH-dd9FpQ8ly3of2E1_q_ziUZ359jW2e2sQzOlsQu8M8dGC96/s1600-h/IMG_1458.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6lSrRoRC8AJHN9_UFAiGWIv0KR-_HKeTw9kSy6vKYj01q9mLo3O8g3BpAFPM-jR4h7zexP-84L-WV0fvHIuDxzZ8n2nlCH-dd9FpQ8ly3of2E1_q_ziUZ359jW2e2sQzOlsQu8M8dGC96/s320/IMG_1458.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288235916254838162" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh5w6q5TkGmGRcyfpIAlQ0y3OpKpcrYrFYQKUu4FqSvdSJRDOY7AEMo0CIfQXLPph9LQltUHASBRxdPl2WpbFQKYa40Fr1otK31yUvwRiInzT2TrR0nBHyRGcWlTKwxb80lipLQIpOlpsf/s1600-h/IMG_1460.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh5w6q5TkGmGRcyfpIAlQ0y3OpKpcrYrFYQKUu4FqSvdSJRDOY7AEMo0CIfQXLPph9LQltUHASBRxdPl2WpbFQKYa40Fr1otK31yUvwRiInzT2TrR0nBHyRGcWlTKwxb80lipLQIpOlpsf/s320/IMG_1460.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288235788063737874" /></a><br />Alex likes to "help" now - moving laundry from basket to basket and putting things away. Now if only he wouldn't spend so much time taking things out!<div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15415987895274850995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7018783832674451407.post-33542947993228128652008-12-15T15:48:00.004-05:002008-12-15T16:05:21.788-05:00Christmas is coming!!!Well, Alex went on his first Christmas tree farm expedition on Sunday. He was unimpressed by the trees and a bit leery of Santa - but as the tree farm had a tractor, it was a successful trip.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1DFCLYHQaGjCwcg2bQ-ad89R3wV3Kp9k5yB1RnFCAQ0UmyjEY0mdImRmgtdt8QmAmN3JO8G1v0-oH1OndW_5bPMh3brF3AlFsQJ2bh11JChujDzL4crX96NN5RuOkaYEG7slJxENsVMKX/s1600-h/IMG_1381.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1DFCLYHQaGjCwcg2bQ-ad89R3wV3Kp9k5yB1RnFCAQ0UmyjEY0mdImRmgtdt8QmAmN3JO8G1v0-oH1OndW_5bPMh3brF3AlFsQJ2bh11JChujDzL4crX96NN5RuOkaYEG7slJxENsVMKX/s320/IMG_1381.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280125503015758418" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCxyfNqbaDQOtXZYqkEV0kakosM3ArgQ86VxYsciw1NO8iGTMlyFB5AKXU2YdRZzQqYa7RzJBnJEpVzdjbJplvyk8Kb8YP5JtuvQ6UeTYmIgLRJ0faA8uSgh3U4UIBddVq3TdLIpk2DL9w/s1600-h/IMG_1380.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCxyfNqbaDQOtXZYqkEV0kakosM3ArgQ86VxYsciw1NO8iGTMlyFB5AKXU2YdRZzQqYa7RzJBnJEpVzdjbJplvyk8Kb8YP5JtuvQ6UeTYmIgLRJ0faA8uSgh3U4UIBddVq3TdLIpk2DL9w/s320/IMG_1380.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280125391597524994" border="0" /></a>Nothing seems to sum up the wonder of Christmas like a toddler and a string of tree lights :)Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15415987895274850995noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7018783832674451407.post-63509640470419263652008-10-29T08:05:00.002-04:002008-10-29T08:26:44.286-04:00We're home from Boston with good news!Well, we made it home last night as the first snow storm of the season was hitting the north country. We drove in rain all through New Hampshire and Vermont, finally hitting the first of the snow in the Champlain Islands. By Ellenburg, the road was covered and it was slow going. We were exhausted by the time we pulled in and so delayed the update until this morning.<div><br /></div><div>Boston was hectic and busy but Alex and I loved the bustle of the city. Alex got to take his first subway ride on our way to visit cousins Lee, Peter, and Dan in Cambridge for dinner. We had a wonderful visit there.</div><div><br /></div><div>Of course, you are all tuning in to hear about the nitty-gritty of the trip I am sure. We met with the surgeon midday on Tuesday at Children's Hospital. This was Alex's toughest appointment yet - bad timing during the day. He was tired and cranky but managed to hold it together with some help from Mom while the doctor was kind enough to do the eye exam while he nursed :)</div><div><br /></div><div>The surgeon's plan is that two surgeries are inevitable (both cataracts will have to be removed and they will not do both at the same time). The good news is that Alex's cataracts do not need to be removed right now. At this time, his visual acuity is testing within the low average range for his age. The plan for now is to keep monitoring his vision very closely (likely with monthly trips to his pediatric ophthamologist in Vermont). If/when the cataracts progress (get worse) or if his vision fails to continue to improve (as a typical toddler's does), then it will be time for surgery. There is no way to predict when or how quickly the cataracts will progress; we only know that they will progress at some point.</div><div><br /></div><div>Our other happy piece of news is that the surgeon feels as though Alex is a good candidate for intra-ocular lens (IOL) placement. This means that Alex would receive an artificial lens in his eye when they remove the cloudy natural lens. This is wonderful news for us as it means no contact lenses (which are used when young children do not have an IOL implanted).</div><div><br /></div><div>When the time comes, we will return to the Boston area (likely Waltham MA)for surgery. After each surgery, Alex will have a few weeks of recovery and then be measured for glasses. Once he is past the age of 2, those glasses will likely be bifocals. Alex is quite certain this means he will be able to pick up the smart chicks down the road :)</div><div><br /></div><div>So.... for now, we watch and wait, we continue to patch the right eye daily, and we hope he gets a bit older before it is time for surgery.</div><div><br /></div><div>As always, we are so grateful for everyone's love and support and prayers. Visiting a place like Children's Hospital is a reminder both that we are blessed with a healthy child - and also that the world is blessed with many well trained and caring people watching out for all kids who pass through their doors.</div>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15415987895274850995noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7018783832674451407.post-60156952584291359702008-10-19T20:28:00.009-04:002008-10-19T20:59:07.478-04:00New Fall Pictures of Our Peanut<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ0SzUMtqM0vpd-_GQvccV2k8nuiJaUjBIOvQMQRKpp4Gww3U56PL_qqgU68UkcZqw-S40UFPy0XFDMdYlKMTxGW3dnks1XKlOXX63u1uLqICgG8WkUwmVDpWTpCp6KKKNb2Gw_JFCQ-sK/s1600-h/IMG_1230.jpg"></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgI5Ya9Ra-RlHBd-EKF_ulQvBSPDIF0MxL1zkzt7HTEfWl_i-HwTZ81iO71UTFAViGhXQ-ZmsUT1zmeyzgFKnBWybFGsDsMK1pxL-FCH1jhousOLG2cO6uUTKlp3XywOSfInwV3Bu_yMOb/s1600-h/album+044.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgI5Ya9Ra-RlHBd-EKF_ulQvBSPDIF0MxL1zkzt7HTEfWl_i-HwTZ81iO71UTFAViGhXQ-ZmsUT1zmeyzgFKnBWybFGsDsMK1pxL-FCH1jhousOLG2cO6uUTKlp3XywOSfInwV3Bu_yMOb/s320/album+044.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259027218512493570" /></a><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm6b06m8q7msqDyO3wDbFqI6NP6dO4ZKrxX50rRaSnVG8Pd-7ZEOzuE17VYUCmCNkf4RoJSKamjDeVj-8wuUmojLtJEHpmgdlBvIbvw7sIdbPf_PB_YKZtnB0xMmR_8vg_uXSUDv0apjs_/s320/album+032.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259027037197073586" /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm6b06m8q7msqDyO3wDbFqI6NP6dO4ZKrxX50rRaSnVG8Pd-7ZEOzuE17VYUCmCNkf4RoJSKamjDeVj-8wuUmojLtJEHpmgdlBvIbvw7sIdbPf_PB_YKZtnB0xMmR_8vg_uXSUDv0apjs_/s1600-h/album+032.jpg">S</a>orry to be slow posting these - Alex and I were lucky enough to join our friends Deanna, Lukas, and Emma and their family on an apple picking trip in Southern Quebec two weekends ago. Alex loved the tractor/hay ride and dogs at the orchard - not to mention the chance to mosey around the orchard, chanting "Apple! Apple!". Last weekend, those apples (along with many others) became 42 quarts of applesauce (with help from Grandma and Grampa). Yum!<div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC8pWP06wVeYkJFygou1OPH6dhIydZMad2pC-Xoa8VZAqNF70h53IU4OnyEJnlrs22FiFqPLVzEZNkVPYsuUyD-q4wRGLGnsORfDOnNgD-SwOeOITp9pZAqvCMtq-qAHvxwEAUCZ_RtEhJ/s320/IMG_1199_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259028171986741634" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; " /></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Our (generally) happy boy (after making a mess in the hall).</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU_DF10Ln13tcGb_6pPNIARPJfvoZTOmDLQ0mlvuD8t15xZU3xjs6KqAAIlWtab2XpvPT03rtiZLrqK6yq_ImcliH7-avgYzG-7-F-fR0ynmaRpXtWWfSKhx4rPEeV72f8XJJ1-5NETCAA/s320/IMG_1212_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259031485703542562" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Another average day at home: cleaning out the recycling bins and causing general mayhem!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoPzC56-qZQ9P0jaoqUlKPLqgpmbriA4NZ-Vh89jp8hwycqMc5hYwmt3gm3B5WkyGvGD3bbxV_5aFnDGr6_mDqJkgIZB6yrnul00AdnRhvoFh5fu6Pgyp6zQqwmfATcj-eNlxM1kdPjUFJ/s320/IMG_1223.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259032153095735154" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Alex and Grampa playing with blocks. We're now patching Alex's right eye for an hour a day. the busier we can keep him during this hour, the happier everyone is, though he is generally pretty good about leaving the patch on.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ0SzUMtqM0vpd-_GQvccV2k8nuiJaUjBIOvQMQRKpp4Gww3U56PL_qqgU68UkcZqw-S40UFPy0XFDMdYlKMTxGW3dnks1XKlOXX63u1uLqICgG8WkUwmVDpWTpCp6KKKNb2Gw_JFCQ-sK/s320/IMG_1230.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259033380455441858" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We just took this picture today (Sunday) as Alex wanted to model his cool new Halloween shirt (thanks Aunt Judy!). He has a bit of a cold right now but was fairly cheery while playing this morning.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15415987895274850995noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7018783832674451407.post-44488742392547512752008-10-03T15:00:00.003-04:002008-10-03T15:18:41.854-04:00We've chosen a surgeonWell, as of this morning, we have an appointment to meet with a pediatric ophthamologist/surgeon about Alex's cataracts. We have chosen to go to Children's Hospital of Boston as they are well knows for treating pediatric cataracts and are actually doing research on them there. Surgery is not a definite yet - but Alex's pediatric ophthamologist wanted a surgical opinion sooner rather than later. Surgery could be within a few months - or a year or more down the road. We just don't know yet.<div><br /></div><div>Our appointment is the week of Halloween - which seems so very far away but I know will be here soon. It is amazing to me how I can get frustrated when I cannot make doctor appointments quickly for me - but I am 100 times more antsy and anxious about it when it is for Alex. I guess just like any mom, I just want the best for him - and I want it right now :)</div><div><br /></div><div>In the meantime, we will be patching Alex's right eye (his left cataract is significantly worse) for an hour a day. In kids with cataracts (especially when only one eye is involved or one eye is worse than the other), amblyopia can very easily develop. In amblyopia, the brain blocks out the signals from the "weak" eye because it is focusing on the stronger vision in the "strong" eye. This can lead to poor depth perception and reduced vision down the road. Patching the stronger eye helps the brain rely more on the weaker eye, therefore retaining better vision. We will certainly be patching a lot following surgery (if and when it is recommended) but Alex's doctor wanted to start some now.</div><div><br /></div><div>The upside of patching is that Alex and I will get a lot of practice making pirate noises! We practiced this last week when we patched a bit - and he thought my "Arrrrrr!" noises were very funny.</div><div><br /></div><div>And, to finish up this post with a random tidbit... Alex said "banana" for the first time today! When I asked him if he wanted a banana for breakfast, he smiled and said "nana". His language is growing by leaps and bounds and I love seeing what new thing he learns every day.</div>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15415987895274850995noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7018783832674451407.post-25434341399311660512008-09-25T20:39:00.002-04:002008-09-25T20:44:30.121-04:00A new online adventure for us<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande';">Well, with all of the excitement in our lives, we decided to give blogging a try to keep our family and friends updated on the news from West Hill. We'll try to keep this updated as we get news about Alex's eyes and any other excitement in or lives.</span>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15415987895274850995noreply@blogger.com0