- Attention-Grabbing Title-

In faithful Andrews family fashion, the past few weeks have been fast, blurry, and life-changing.

Most pressingly and importantly, at Hayes' last appointment with his ophthalmologist we received the good news that because his strabismus (eye-crossing) hasn't changed he is able to have the surgery needed to correct this problem.  He'll go in for the 30 minute outpatient procedure on Wednesday the 10 and we'll be able to take him home that same day barring any uncommon complications.  Prayers very much appreciated.  We're really optimistic about what this surgery can do for his eyesight and hopefully for his muscle tone, gross and fine motor milestones.  I'm trying not to look at it as this miraculous cure-all that will suddenly make him like any other eight month old baby (except, obviously, soooooo much cuter)... but still.  We're really excited.

Hayes also had his first evaluation for the DARS Division for Blind Services today and we are really overwhelmed, humbled and grateful to have found out about so many programs that are able to assist our family as we work to help Hayes.  (Before you start freaking out "WHAT?! Hayes is blind??  you should know that as of right now, Hayes is declared legally blind by his ophthalmologist.  Also, justy because someone is 'legally blind', it doesn't mean they can't see.  Obviously, since we have no way of deciphering his baby-speak right now, we have little way of knowing how much he can actually see.  DARS services kids with low and no vision.  Hayes qualifies now -or at least, we hope he does- both because of his condition and because of what the doctor wrote in his paperwork.)    After speaking with our case manager today, Koby and I are really glad to have this resource - they put on camps that connect families of children with conditions like Hayes' and hold seminars designed to encourage and educate parents on techniques, exercises, technology, and other resources available to help kids with low or no vision.  They work with families to get kids technology, toys, etc. that help them utilize the vision they have.  It's amazing to me how MUCH help is out there, but it saddens me that it's so hard to find out about.  It's almost like you have to stumble upon it.  Or maybe *someone* should write a manual...

Hayes also had an EXCELLENT session with his occupational therapist today (through Early Childhood Intervention - I'm going to go ahead and link all these services in case any one is interested) and she's really looking forward to his surgery and how it may affect his motor development.

Knox is doing really well too, he's talking like a Wall Street account executive (slight exaggeration, and I don't even know if that's a real job) but he is suffering from a little case of tonsillitis.  He's coming up fast on two years old.  I've officially extending the age of 'baby' until three.  So, still my baby.  Who speaks in complete sentences and requests money and keys when he gets in his toy car.

We're in our new house now and are also pleased to announce ....

...oh, just wait for it...











I'm employed!  (You thought for one terrifying second that we were announcing Baby #3, weren't you? Cue hysterical, slightly maniacal laughter.  Cue me punching you in the face.)

That's right.  I passed my English Language Arts and Reading test that qualifies me to teach those subjects to fourth to eighth graders, then interviewed for a sixth grade position at the school where Koby works, and got it.  Hooray for employment!  Hooray for working with my husband!  Hooray for a nice, new house (yet to be unpacked).  And hooray for three years of marriage!  (Our three year anniversary is the same day Hayes goes in for surgery... can you imagine me knowing that as I was saying my vows just three years ago???)

In the past three years, between Koby and I, we have:

lived in four houses
worked at seven very different jobs
had two kids
gone to three different churches
been in four weddings
been to 5,341 doctor appointments (just an estimate)
cried a lot (some of us more than others)
prayed a lot
learned a lot
had a lot of fun

I am ready to turn the page and start a new chapter (for want of a better metaphor).  While I'm thankful for this past year, it has been the most challenging, albeit strengthening, of my life.  We're glad our family moved to new house this summer - even though we weren't looking for it, it even physically feels like a fresh, clean start.  I don't know about Koby, but I feel refreshed and energized, and ready to tackle a new year.  (And I'm sure that it has nothing to do with the fact that Koby and I spent 24 hours away from the kids...)  Our life moves pretty fast and I've got a feeling it's only the beginning of a great story.

Move the Third

I thought I was pretty indoctrinated into the 'country' lifestyle.  I mean, check out the street we live on.

 

Dirt road?  Check.  Animals?  Mmm hmmm.   (Did they live?  Nope.  RIP ducks.)  Nice neighbors?  Yeah.  Roosters waking me up in the morning and donkeys braying in the distance and horses in the next yard?  You got it, partner.

I have loved living in the 'country'.  Who wants to worry about neighbors nagging them if their dogs get out, maybe kill someone's favorite cat, yadda yadda yadda?  I don't want to be judged if I leave the Christmas lights on my back porch year round, do you?  Who wants to live in a world where a man isn't allowed to stand in his front yard with his jeans and suspenders on, and nothing else?  I sure don't. Despite my newly-acquired bumpkin nature, my husband has assured me that I am still 'city', whatever that means. 

And also, whatever. 

I totally disagreed on this point until yesterday as I was scoping out the house we'll be moving into at the end of this month.

Yesterday we were all walking the property, kicking the tires, and Knox was pretty overstimulated with all the free space in the house and the insane echo his voice made when he screamed his very loudest in the empty bedrooms while we discussed money-this and money-that with our new landlords.  I decided to punt him out the back door take him for a walk in the yard and together we investigated the well in the backyard.

Well water was one of the 'selling points' of us deciding to move at all.  We LOVE the house we live in now, including the absolute remote location and our laissez-faire-until-we-need-them-landlords BUT having a well means saving on the green stuff, and big time if you live in our county.  Living in town means less commute IF we're both working in Jacksboro.  (I've got an interview Thursday, say a prayer.)  And living in Jacksboro means we're THAT much closer to the hospital network with which we're now affiliated because of Hayes' condition.  And while the house is 'in' town, it's still on a dirt road and, as a special bonus, it's even MORE private than our house now without being fifteen minutes away from work.  Goodbye curtains, hello lovely, leafy privacy.

But anyway, the well.  We were looking at it.  The well is in a little shed and I decided to have a peep.

I dunno if you've ever seen a 'well' that services residential needs.  But I know I was expecting to see this inside the little white shed I was so avidly investigating.

Plus or minus one dead girl crawling out of the top.  I admit, I was really curious as to how we were going to get the water without using a rope and bucket, but I allowed technological advances to cover that tricky spot.  I'm only sad I'll have nowhere to throw pennies when feeling particularly wishful.

If you still don't know why this is funny, I won't spoil the surprise.  Come to my new house and I'll show you my water well.  But in any case, I remain a City Slicker.  Sorry, y'all.

In other news, HAYES IS SCHEDULED FOR SURGERY! Or he will be really soon (pending date checking and availability, but we're looking at July 10 or 17th).

We visited our ophthalmologist for a check up today, and because Hayes' strabismus (eye-crossing) is stable, he can have the surgery to correct it!  This is AWESOME and urgent for more than cosmetic reasons alone.  Hayes' brain is still adapting to the vision that he has because of his optic nerve hypoplasia, and in cases where strabismus is involved, the brain can actually train itself to turn off the signals it receives from one eye to counteract the double vision effect.  So plainly speaking, the earlier he has this corrective surgery, the better it is for his brain and his vision.  Our vision therapist attended the appointment with us and was so excited to see Hayes watching objects and holding his head upright.  She was also really encouraged by the doctor's opinions about Hayes' eyesight.  Add that to a SPECTACULAR physical therapy session today, during which I got to tell our OT that Hayes can now roll over and prop himself up on his arms while on his tummy, and you've got a pretty amazing day in my world.  Thank you, Jesus.  (I may be a little bit excited.)

Please, look at my awesome kids.