He had a follow up appt with his pediatric opthamologist this morning....we've been patching his right eye daily for 2 hours a day, in an effort to strengthen his left eye by making it work harder when concentrating on "close up" tasks such as reading, etc. Been at this for just over a month now. Before starting the patching therapy, he had been wearing his glasses since mid May (mother's day weekend actually) and even WITH glasses, he was only able to be corrected to 20/30 in the right eye (good eye) and 20/50 in the left barely, hence the need for the patching therapy.
Well today we found out he is able to see the 20/50 line of letters on the chart no problem, and was able to read most of the 20/40 line. So progressing right along! Patching is doing it's job. Going to step it up some and do an extra hour a day now for the next two months to speed it up a bit.
So I go to drop him off at KinderCare and was talking to the Director there, asking her how James was doing in the reading comprehension program we've had him in there over the summer. My goodness, she was just beaming when she told me that he is like a totally different kid since the beginning of the summer!! Said she thinks (as do I) that a lot of his issues were due to the not seeing well, that man.....he is so much more attentive, he reads no problem, and now when she asks him afterwards to retell what he just read, he explains in very good detail what he read...whereas before it was like pulling teeth to get him to remember any details at all. I was ELATED!!!! James was right there when we were talking and he got the biggest proudest smile on his face, and I hi-fived him and told him great job buddy!!!
He then went on in to join his class, and we closed the door and kept talking. She told me she has also has noticed a difference in the kids that he hangs around with/plays with there as well over the course of the summer. Before he got his glasses and started the patching, he always hung around with kids his age or younger (his room, mind you is ALL school age kids, various grades from kindergarten up thru 5th grade)....well now when they are allowed to play their DSi games and such (1 hour or so a day) he is playing with the OLDER kids and jumps right in, they are conversing, trading games and playing together etc...and this continues thru the day in other tasks as well. That to me was another great thing, as it shows his confidence is building and strenghtening more now as well.
The last thing she said to me before I left was that she feels like he has grown and matured and basically blossomed over the summer there, and she was so proud of him!!! I will be honest, it brought tears to my eyes!! I fought back proud happy tears as I made my excuse to have to hurry on to work...and hurried out to my car and was overcome with emotion.
I'm SO SO PROUD of my son!!! He is such a danged trooper...thru all the testing at school for various learning issues in the past, and then needing glasses, and then needing to do the patching therapy, and us starting him on a vitamin and tuna oils daily regimen that my chiro suggested for him...he has taken each of these in stride, and goes with the flow and does what is expected. He truly amazes me with how much he has matured these last months, it truly does seem like he has blossomed overnight, and does seem like a totally different kid.....makes this momma very proud.
Very anxious and excited to see what the new school year brings, as he will be re-tested for his reading level and comprehension level and all that.
My boy.......the light of my life, love him more than life itself........and he's growing up so fast. He is a big inspiration behind my wanting to drop the extra weight once and for all...to be healthier and stronger, so that I can be around a long long time to see him grow up and have a family of his own someday...want to be here for all of it. Its been such a joy watching him grow and mature in his 8 and a half years so far.....definitely dont want to miss a minute of the years to come. I LOVE YOU JAMES with all my heart, always.....
My youngest daughter is about to start patching. After this and the ear surgery in April, I am hoping for a major turn around, too! :) Go, James!!!
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