Back from L.A.

Well, we're back from LA. We saw Dr.Goldberg. He's supposed to be one of the best opthamologist's in the country. He told us that her eyes are really not that bad. HOORAY!!!!! They're in about the 10th percentile. He said that it's very good that she has all her eye structures, her eyeballs, eye lids, eye lashes, and eye sockets. Sometimes kids with micropthalmia do not have all of these parts. He said that her eyes will always be small but they may catch up a little. He recommended an occularist (also in LA) that can fit her eyes with conformers which will help stretch the eye sockets and prepare them to be fit with prosthetic eyes. He said we can wait up to a year to see the occularist or we can go now and see if he is able to fit something into her right eye. He said that the occularist will probably start with her right eye first because it is the smaller one. We will of course go as soon as possible. Unfortunately there's no one in Las Vegas. I asked him about her vision also. He said that if she is truly missing her optic chiasm she will not be able to see anything. If she has part of it she may see some light. The MRI report said that she is missing it, but it depends on who is looking at the scan and how proficient they are. He also said something that really surprised me because he is, after all a doctor. He said even if she is completely missing it that maybe she will see something. "After all, we're just doctors and science isn't absolute." Hope!! I'm more used to the idea now that she'll never see anything, but wouldn't it be wonderful if she could. Sometimes she fools me because it looks like she's looking at me with her left eye. I try not to get my hopes up and no matter if she sees or if she doesn't she's still my perfect little angel.

While we were in California we drove down to Sea World. I think Kekoa had fun. Except for the pigeons. He's terrified of them!! They were at his feet when we were eating lunch outside and he absolutely FREAKED OUT!! I got a good laugh about that. It was pretty funny. He liked the Shamu show the best. I know that it's silly, but when the whales swam out and started jumping, I started tearing up. They were so beautiful and graceful and I looked down at Oli with her eyes closed and thought, this is something else that she will never see. Someday maybe I won't have these thoughts anymore.

So.... a little bit of hope from the opthamologist. Oli's developmental specialist came out today and said that she is right on track for her age. She is reaching her arms out and she said that this is a very positive sign because a lot of blind babies keep their arms and hands by they're body and don't like to reach out. She does. She's always reaching out. When she's up on my shoulder she also likes to pick up her head and turn her face towards mine. I turn my face in towards hers and she bops her face against mine. She likes to feel my breath and my lips moving against her cheeks and mouth. It's very cool and the developmental lady said this is a very good sign. We're starting to play with her more and put things in her hands and will continue to do more once she is more awake. She still sleeps most of the day. She loves music. Especially Hawaiian music, go figure. He roots are shining through. This makes my husband very happy. So.... I'll keep every one posted. We go to the pediatrician on Tuesday for her 2 month shots and to see how she's growing. Thanks for caring about my baby and following her story.