Surgery Date

We have a surgery date for Pope's eye. He'll have his cataract removed and pupil reassigned on June 10.


The date is important because the post-surgical care (which falls into Mommy's lap) is very intense. For the first week, post-op, Pope will need an eyedrop, every hour, on the hour, around the clock. The second week will require the drops, every-other hour, but not during the night.




It's going to be an intense few weeks, but we're really hoping for the best possible outcome!

Can travel

Good cane travel ability is so important for the blind. Mike was a former cane user, and he was very good and very comfortable with it. Now he has Otis, his Seeing Eye dog, but that doesn't mean his cane is obsolete. There are still rare occasions when it's not practical to bring Otis, so out comes the cane.

Pope is learning. At 3 years old, cane techniques are tough to learn. We're simply trying to get Pope to carry his cane. Sometimes he does it willingly, sometimes he protests, sometimes it's an all-out battle. But it's important, so we are persistent. Yesterday we were out and about and Pope had his cane.

School Musical

It's that time again! Time for the school musical at St. Rose! The musical is a VERY big deal and I'm happy to report that Camille is, once again, a part of it this year! Last year was her debut, as a Kindergartener, in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. This year, she's in Disney's Beauty and the Beast! I've posted her posing by both this year's and last year's banners... it's amazing how much she's grown! Good luck Camille! Break a leg!

2011

2010

What a difference 8 weeks can make...

I apologize for the quality of these photos. Both were taken on my cell phone. The first photo was taken after we'd been home for maybe a day or two. It was the first photo I took of Princess and Pope together. Poor little guy, he looks so forelorn...

This next photo of Pope was taken last night. He was in such a hyterical mood, that I just had to grab my phone again and take some photos. It's hard to believe this is the same little boy in the photo above, just 8 weeks later... what a difference!

May 2nd and a new routine

Pope started nursery school today. I called the school at lunch time and so far, so good. We want him to be successful, so we're PAYING for him to go to school while we wait (and wait) on the school district to get their own act together. It's so frustrating that we had an initial meeting with them on March 24th and to date, they have done absolutely nothing! After speaking with the special education secrtary for our school district, it looks like he won't even be able to attend until July (for the extended school year program)! I am so frustrated with all of this!

So our new routine requires our little guy to wake up at 6:00 AM. I don't know when was the last time he had to wake at 6:00 AM, if ever. When I called at lunch time (around 12:15) he was already sleeping! Poor guy. But I'm sure he'll adjust quickly to the new routine.

It's hard to believe...

It's hard to believe these photos, taken ~6 months apart, are the same child. What an amazing transformation... And Pope, we are SO proud at how far you have come!