I GOT IMPLANTS!

My entire life I have wanted perfect vision.  At the age of 8, I got my first pair of glasses.  At the age of 9, I had my first pair of glasses with bifocals.  At age 13, I got my first pair of gas permeable contacts.  Boy were they expensive...$375 back then!  At age 18, I went to toric soft contact lenses and switched to regular soft lenses around age 21.  Needless to say I have spent practically my entire life in either glasses or contacts and I was ready to stop.  I always wanted to have my vision corrected but always thought it would be out of my reach financially and I probably wouldn't be a candidate anyway due to my high prescription.  It is funny to me that I spend my whole day now dispelling this financial myth and giving patients the opportunity to see a whole new world!

One of the many perks of my job is majorly discounted vision correction with payroll deduction.  Around August, I decided I was ready.  I have a very strong prescription and am severely nearsighted.  I couldn't see anything unless it was about a foot in front of my face.  In fact, there had been many times I had taken my contacts out at night only to put them back in because I couldn't find my glasses.  Sad but true! 

Due to my high prescription, I had the option of two different surgeries....LASIK or ICL.  Working closely with both surgeries and knowing my own vision I easily picked ICL (intercollamer lens often referred to as implantable contact lens) for better optics, quick recovery and longer lasting correction.  I will have these babies until I get cataract surgery when I am older.  The patient discounted price for the surgery is $5900.  The full price is around $13,000.  My price was about 10% of this.  Nothing short of a miracle!  I jumped on this opportunity quickly!

On September 29, 2010, the world as seen through my eyes changed.  I had ICL done in both eyes.  The following day I woke up looked at the time on the alarm clock and didn't even realize I actually saw it.  I went to the bathroom where I reached for my glasses when I looked in the mirror I gasped.  I ran back out and looked at the alarm clock in total disbelieve.  Is this happening to me?  I could see the time on the alarm clock clear as day.  I have never seen the time on the alarm clock unless I feel asleep in my contacts.  In fact, without glasses or contacts I couldn't even see the alarm clock existed let alone the time.  All I would see is a red light blob across the room.  Amazing!  I continued to get ready for work. 

On my way to work I just looked in awe at everything.  Now sure I had seen everything with my contacts but now it was even clearer than with my contacts and I wasn't wearing any glasses or contacts for the very first time since I was 8 yrs old.  Life changing I tell you!  My sister called during that drive and said, "How is your vision?"  I started crying like a big baby saying, "I just can't believe it is clear so fast.  I can see everything Lisa.  I can see everything!"  I cried the rest of the way to work just out of pure joy and thankfulness.  Everyone at work thought something was wrong when I got to work with my red weepy eyes then just hugged me and laughed.  They checked me for my one day post-op appointment and I was seeing 20/20 in one eye and 20/25 in the other.  Now six months later I am seeing 20/15 in both eyes and still just as amazed. 

It is funny to me that I see patients all day that come in telling me how "blind" they are.  When I look at their prescription it will be like a -1 and I think wow I was 6 times worse than that....they have no clue and they are still legal to drive without correction!!  I enjoy helping them see better but I also know it is not that big of a change for them.  BUT I also see patients with eyes twice as bad as mine and I think wow they are blind.  If I couldn't see anything more than a foot away from my face and trust me that is no exaggeration, then how do they see anything at all.  Those are the patients I enjoy helping the most.  I know how my life changed so I can't imagine how their life changes until they send me a thank you card or call me crying because they are just so thankful!  Those are the ones that get me and tug at my heart strings!  Those are the patients that I know understand why I cried after surgery.  Those are the ones that make me think I love my job!  Those are the ones who understand me when I say....

 "I love my new eyes!!"

BUSY BUSY BEES

Oh blogger and all my bloggy friends......I'VE MISSED YOU SO MUCH!!

The kids have officially been out of school for almost two weeks and I am going nuts!!

The last two weeks of school were crazy with activities plus my Dad's bday and Zay's bday plus friends' birthday parties scattered here and there. I haven't had much blogging time until now. Actually I should be cleaning or doing something productive around the house but I'M NOT!! Blogging is productive, right? RIGHT!!

Stay tuned many posts to follow!!!

TWO CENTS ~ ROMANCE

I was invited to join Tutu's Bliss in Two Cents Tuesday so of course this just enables my blogging addiction so who I am to deny my addiction.

I am going to stick with her topic of romance which really made me think!

All too often the romance fades or the initial "honeymooners" definition of romance!

Our jobs, 3 boys, sports, homework, housework and life in general all seem to put the initial idea of romance on the back burner.

My Hubs is no longer the one to randomly go buy shoes, clothes, flowers and cards and although at times I miss these things I have accepted and embraced our new romance.

I am sure you all have it but don't realize it! Instead of griping about it just imagine if the "new" romance didn't exist.

Our new romance is

him holding my hand while he drives,

the smack on the butt anytime I bend over,

helping me and talking to me while we fold laundry,

the smack on the butt anytime I walk by,

the kiss he gives me each and every morning at 5am when he leaves for work and thinks I am asleep,

the smack on the butt not b/c it starts "anything" but just because he likes my big 'ol butt,

calling me each morning at 6am to make sure I am up and to tell me good morning,

cleaning up the dinner mess (occasionally),

picking up the boys everyday,

letting me sleep in on the weekends if it is at all possible,

alternating bath nights and believing me when I tell him it is HIS night when it is actually mine,

loving me regardless of my weight and my complaining about it,

running to the store on a moments notice,

learning and perfecting the fine art of sarcasm instead of letting mine eat him alive (he's getting a little too good now!),

laughing and saying "I just love you!" when he is annoyed,

watching the boys so I can go to crop for 12 hours,

tokens of affection (it amazes me how many married couples are affectionate)

not being able to stay mad at me for any real length of time because I can always prove I am right explain myself and move on to make him smile and laugh.....

I could go on and on and sure some of you will say he is supposed to do a lot of the things listed or that they aren't romantic BUT just think about all the people you know who take all those "little" things for granted and how miserable they are because to them romance is merely material things!

After 8 years, he still makes me smile and laugh everyday and I love to watch him with our children!

No our life isn't all roses (he doesn't get them much remember) but I have to take into account we are very busy right now with young children. Sure more nights out alone would be great and it's easy to take the little things for granted and shoot for the roses, dancing, dinner, movie, vacations but I love our life. I could go on and on about what he doesn't do but instead I choose to value his tokens of affection and appreciate them (at least until he sits on the couch while I walk by a million times during a cleaning session). I know far too many couples who nag about EVERY little thing and let the good pass them by unnoticed instead of appreciating them and they are completely miserable. I choose to accept our new definition of romance for the time being! I've had the material things and now they are gone! After the kids are gone *sniff sniff* and we have more money, then a good smack on the butt better be followed by a dozen roses, a cruise, purses, shoes..........and until then I accept the little things because imagine all the couples and single people who don't even have that!

Next time I am complaining about a missed Mother's Day gift, Valentine's gift or having to do EVERYTHING around here, will one of you please refer me to this post so I can remind myself of my appreciation and wisdom on my "new" romance!!

Thanks!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO US!

Up close and personal!

Five years ago on September 27th, I married the love of my life! I would say he changed me but I truly believe our love changed US to be better people and better parents! We have grown SO much since we met it is unreal!

In Dec we will have been together for 8 yrs. The first year and a half was ROCKY to say the least but we both made a decision to either split apart or work it out for good and that is exactly what we did - we worked it out. He makes me so happy not to say he never aggravates me but he loves me FOR WHO I TRULY AM and a lot of people can't say that. I realize how lucky I am to have a husband who helps with the kids, works two jobs (b/c HE wants to provide more), coaches his son's football team and still has time for the cop a feel moments! lol He still makes me laugh, smile and can talk about nothing into the wee hours if I can't sleep (not so say he doesn't fall asleep while I am talking) AND I appreciate him for it!! Even if I complain to my friends who are mostly single moms about stuff he doesn't do, they are quick to defend HIM b/c of all they know he DOES for me AND the kids - even for THEIR kids - w/o being asked! I never thought I would find a "keeper" that my friends AND family would love too! Trust me my family loves him like he is their own and he loves them too! (Sometimes I wonder if they may even love HIM more! ha well ok not ha!)

For the most part we really don't fight at least not like other couples we know. WELL unless HE is driving! lol Yes we disagree and racial issues will bring about a heated discussion but he then understands I am always right and won't allow racial issues as a cop out (sp?)! lol Just kidding but honestly we discuss our differences and sometimes we just have to agree to disagree b/c no two people will ever agree on EVERYTHING 100%. We have only slept apart two nights in almost eight years except when I've been in the hospital for childbirth and other random surgeries. Yes sometimes I wish we had more alone time but that is a bridge I think every parent wants to cross. He is an amazing father AND daddy to our boys and I love every time Isaiah (Daddy's boy) says, "Daddy I missed you and I wuv you buncha bunches! You my best Daddy evo!" and then Martez gets the biggest grin and repeats it back to him. It is moments like that that make each bad day seem not so bad.

My three loves!

Tonight the boys went to spend the night with Meme and Papa while we went to the Riverwalk. We went to eat at Outback - oh how I love Outback steaks! Then we went to the Riverwalk, watched a movie and then walked around. I must say I thought the Riverwalk was going to be a lot more than it was. Maybe once there is more it will appeal to us more. Then Martez wanted to go to the casino and even though I didn't really want to, I obliged. We walked in and he said, "Do you want to go to the high stakes room?" My answer was "Baby WE aren't high stakes" but again I obliged. I sat down at a five dollar wheel of fortune machine, put in ten dollars and with four pokes of a button and thirty seconds later I was up $600! I guess I am high stakes after all! I wasn't sure if I had actually won that money so I cashed out to check and just stared at the voucher in disbelief as I read "six hundred ten dollars and no cents". I quickly decided not to push my luck and called it quits. We left happy with our winnings and went home to get lucky again! (wink wink) You know you are old when you are at home in bed on a child free night at 10:30pm! At least I didn't say we were "asleep" at 10:30pm! TMI I KNOW! I love you baby!