Aargh Matey!

A couple months ago we noticed something different with Easton's eyes. One of his eyes would kind of wander out to the side, not looking at the same thing as his other eye. He had recently smacked his head pretty hard, so we took him to the pediatrician to see if the eye thing was related. He said it wasn't, but that if that was happening we should take him to an ophthalmologist. We didn't make an appointment right away, not sure if we were really seeing a wandering eye. Then we started noticing it more often, and Logan noticed it, too. So we made an appointment. Today we went and it turns out, Easton has intermittent exotropia. It's not "lazy eye", but the opposite of cross-eyed (esotropia). They checked him to see if his depth perception was off, but it was great. His right eye tends to drift the most, and his vision is slightly worse in that eye, so the doctor recommended a patch for the left eye. He only has to wear it for 2 hours each day. Then, we'll go back in 8 weeks and see if it's changed at all. As soon as his depth perception gets affected, he could need surgery. They said it's a common out-patient surgery with no scars or bandages needed. 50-60% of people with intermittent exotropia eventually need surgery.

The best part about the whole experience was finding out how gullible Lauren is. We had Easton put his patch on before the kids came home from school. When Logan came home Easton showed him his patch and told him the doctor took his eye out. Logan laughed and asked how long he had to wear the patch, it didn't even phase him. Lauren, however, thought that was absolutely disgusting. She asked Easton if it hurt and he said yes. He told her that they were going to put it back in, but then they would take it out again. Then when he told her he was going to take off the patch, she begged him to please keep his eye closed because she thought that would really freak her out. She asked him where his eye was, and was told that, of course, it was still at the doctor's office. She came up to me and said that she thought it was all really creepy. Then, when Easton did take his patch off, she asked if he had a fake eye. Easton finally decided to fess up and told her that he was just kidding, he still had his eye, the doctor never took it out. She was SO relieved.

Easton was great at the doctor's office. We were there for an hour and a half and he didn't complain about any of it until the last few minutes when he was ready to leave.

Easton in his cool 3D glasses in the space chair. His favorite part was going up in the chair.

Easton with his 'missing' eye.

Attitude of Gratitude

I went to Activity Days with Lauren yesterday and we talked about gratitude. The girls all got to make little notebooks to write down the things they are grateful for. We talked about being specific, and not just saying "everything". So, it started me thinking about things I'm grateful for. Here are some, in no particular order:

bananas

contact lenses

blankets

Chapstick

my car

the atonement

the library

health

new jeans

brownies

too many people to name

education

David's job

music

cold cereal

the ability to play the piano

flowers

deodorant

our home, and that it's made of bricks so it won't blow down (we do Huff and puff a lot)

dishwasher

okay, you get the idea.

Our little buddy

I've been babysitting a little boy since 2009 for 2 days a week and now 1 day a week. He fits in pretty well, the kids all love him, and he calls me "Mommy". It's pretty funny, because everyone else in our house has a name: "Ennints" for Easton, David he says quite well, he's getting pretty good at Logan (sometimes more like "Wogan") and Lauren (a little like "Warren"). I'm still Mommy. He loves to play with Easton, and loves to play with Easton's toys. Lauren loves to mother him. Logan is great with him, and even gets to babysit him from time to time. It's been a quick few years having him around, he's been so easygoing.

Anyway, as this is my journal, I thought I should mention my little buddy who came to play today.

2009

2010

2011

Smiles

The screen saver on our computer goes through the photo albums on our computer. Sometimes we will just sit and watch them. The other day a picture came up that just made me laugh.

Here it is:

The Soloist

Before school got out in December for Christmas break, Logan had a band concert at school. He plays the clarinet, and switches off for 1st chair. He practices a lot, and is as good or probably better than I was at his age. I know he practices more. He started in 7th grade, I started in 4th. Hmmm. I never had straight A's, either, so maybe I should stop trying to compare. Anyway, I always go to his concerts, and I always take the 2 younglings, even though they are a pain at his concerts. The programs are usually not very short, and there are other bands and orchestras besides Logan's that perform. But, I go and I usually enjoy it. Logan told me that he had a solo on one of the songs, so I even brought the camcorder (are they still called that?). I assumed it was like solos I had seen performed in the past at his concerts, where a small part of a song is played by one person from their seat. Well, it was much bigger. At the beginning of the song the director had Logan get up and stand in the front at a microphone and announced that "Logan Huff was the soloist for this piece". I was quite surprised and then nervous. Logan asked me afterwards if I could see his knees shaking. He did a great job!! He didn't make any mistakes and he looked so nice up there. When that song was over and everyone was clapping, I wanted to yell, "That's MY boy!". I didn't, because I didn't want to embarrass that boy. I am proud of him, though.

School Days

In September of 2011 we had a momentous occasion. All of my kids were in school!!!! Easton finally got to start preschool! He goes to Miss Stephanie's preschool, the same one Lauren went to. He was so excited and it has not disappointed. He loves to go and be with his friends and do letters and play toys. Miss Stephanie had a baby in October, so he got his mom for a substitute for a couple months. I was worried he would act up for me, but he was great. He loves to be there and I love for him to be there. His best friend Matthew goes too, and they are the oldest in the class. I thought they might mess around and cause problems, but from what I saw, they are good kids and just like to have fun together. Stay tuned for this fall when we start . . . . KINDERGARTEN!! (and high school, yikes!)

Easton on his first day of preschool ~ 6 September 2011

For pics of the other two on their first day, see August.

Ballerina

Logan had the opportunity to play flag football again last Fall. He had so much fun the year before, and wanted to do it again, so we did. Unfortunately, his coach wasn't quite the caliber of his previous coach. So, while he still liked the kids and liked playing, they lost a lot. Out of 8 games, they lost 7. At the last game, they decided to try Logan as the quarterback. That is the game they won, so at least we ended on a good note.

So, since I signed up Logan for football, Lauren was bugging me to sign her up for something. I went through the community education paper and found all the classes I would be willing to pay for and take her to. She chose ballet, again. She took ballet a few years ago and loved it. This time, once again, I wasn't as pleased with the teacher. All they did was learn a certain dance and prepare for a recital. Last time, they learned more ballet. Oh well, you get what you get and you don't get upset. Lauren still says she liked it, but I don't think it lived up to her expectations.

Lucky for me, Easton didn't seem to clue in on the class taking, so I didn't have to drive to 3 different classes/games every week. He did say he wanted to play flag football when he was older. I'm good with that. Also, he was so excited about going to preschool, that fulfilled any need he had for extracurricular activities.