Now THAT is customer service!

Ok, so I am blatantly going to rave about Bausch and Lomb right now.  As you may have read in previous posts, Tommy just went through a period of losing contacts at an amazingly fast pace.  He lost 4 within the span of 3.5 weeks.  What didn't ever settle with me is that his old contact (different prescription) stayed in... and it got plenty of use during the time we lost so many!  Also, we got another contact that has lasted quite a long time. 
I save all the contact bottles (who knows why... maybe it's an iMom thing).  I looked at the bottles of the contacts we lost... and the all had similar lot numbers.  In all, there were 2 lot numbers (4 contacts) and it was only the last 4 digits that differed between those lots.  I was convinced that something was wrong with them.  (My husband, for the record, thought I was CRAZY! And, I do admit, that losing that many did nearly put me over the edge...) 
Anyway.  I finally was home during business hours last week, so I decided to call the company.  My true plan was just to let them know.  Heck, we lost them, I really didn't figure they could to anything for me.

BUT GUESS WHAT?  They were thrilled to get feedback... ok, so maybe not THRILLED thrilled, but they were so nice and really listened to me.  But better than that?  They sent me 3 replacement contacts!  It is like I won the lottery!  (And truly, since I'm happy to win a dollar with a scratch-off lottery ticket, imagine my delight at this $750 package in the mail!)

I've got to hide from the paparazzi.

"Babies wearing contact lenses"

I found this on a random search... and it made me smile.  It is a good public service announcement... but still funny!  It makes me want to show this to every medical student and medical resident I work with.  Anytime they talk about "delaying the eye exam" I tell them my story and how early detection of cataracts... blah blah blah, you all know the rest.  I'm like a broken record, but it is my little way of trying to prevent someone from going through ANY time of horrible uncertainty.  (See  And so it begins...and Red eye reflex).  Next time I'll just send them to this!

Babies Wearing Contact Lenses

Hope makes someone else out there smile!

Just breathe

I can finally breathe.  Things are still hard... that never goes away, but it is never impossible.

I've got a beautiful little boy who has really good days:

And a few bad moments:

Just like any other little boy!

I feel the need to share that things really are mostly fine.  If you are new in this crazy journey and you read my posts, I'd hate to leave you thinking that things are always terrible.  They really aren't.  We've finally had a contact that lasted a whole week!  A record for this strength/size.  I've got a great group of "iMoms" who help me realize that none of us are alone, and we all are headed in the right direction.  Someday we will look back on these days... and miss all that they encompass.
(Ok, it would be preferable to have the memories not laced with patches, but I'm trying to be poetic here!)
I should make sure that I put a patch in the baby book....

Pictures are worth a thousand words

Gotta love a man in a tux!

Random thoughts

This post is unlikely to be helpful or even make sense.  I've just had a jumble of thoughts that I need to let loose.  After reading other eye-mom blogs, my ranting really isn't well thought out and certainly won't be well-written, but I need to get it out.

1.  IT IS NOT A BAND-AID!
     I took a few days off this week (no daycare for Tommy).  I, of course, spent those days shopping.  In the saleslady kept talking to Tommy about "his cute little band-aid!"  "Don't you have a cute band-aid with little fishies on it!"  "Isn't that such a cute little band-aid!"  Yes, I did refrain from punching her right in the face (but I certainly did it in my head).  I chose to ignore her.  Until the end.  The patch didn't last through the whole store- he took it off and placed it squarely on his chest.  When I checked out, the saleslady hurried over and said (loudly):  "Where is your band-aid!  What happened to your BAND-AID?"  So, I told her the whole stinking story.  I wish it ended there.  Nope.  She needed to add that "her nephew had to wear a patch, you know, he had what must have been some genetic thing where his eye crossed right in, you know?  Well, he's not so little anymore, and you wouldn't even know it!  So don't worry, he'll be fine!"
I know, I KNOW she meant well.  But she ruined my zen shopping experience.  Tommy LIKED the Gap, he didn't squeal and throw things in The Gap.  Kids clothes were 40% off!  Stupid lady.

2.  The contact that wouldn't die.
    Tommy has lost many contacts in the last few weeks.  One lasted 3 days.  One lasted 7 days.  One lasted 1.5 hours.  But, through it all, there is one contact (the previous prescription) that has resurfaced in many places:  his diaper, behind his crib, on the floor of the car, under his high-chair, and in his car seat.  That ONE contact has survived many ills, it's cloudy and he likely can't see great with it, but we HAVE it.

3.  The contact we can't keep.
  The new, ultra-slim, +17 contact that was prescribed in February?  I'm on #5 (with #6 on order).  This last one?  I got it in the mail Wednesday night.  I put it in Thursday morning, dropped 2 girls off at one school (Tommy stayed in car), 1 girl off at preschool (Tommy came in), and went to Speedway to get caffeine (Tommy came in).  When we get home?  Gone.  Gone, gone, gone.  I searched the car and myself, and the car again and my house, but it's gone.  I really do think he eats them.  I looked at preschool at pickup (no luck) but didn't really want to skulk around Speedway...  chalk it up to another one gone.

4.  This just sucks
   I don't really need any further explanation.  You all know.  It sucks and I'm tired of it.

5.  Tommy finally took a step!
   This has nothing to do with his contact, but Tommy finally took a step- 5 of them!  14 months old and he can finally walk!