Dekker visits the eye doctor 2-3 times a year, depending on the results. He is not in any “high risk” category or anything, but because he does have a prescription, and isn’t always 100% cooperative, they’ve usually asked to see him every 4-6 months or so. Last time he went to the eye doctor, they booked his next appointment several months ahead, for 8:15am. We are NOT morning people, and we are also procrastinators, so naturally, I forgot to call and rebook the thing, leaving us with a very early appointment.
Brady took him on his own. While we love to do as much as possible as a group, even if we did haul everyone out of bed, get them ready, and manage to make it to the hospital on time, there is no way we could bring the whole crew into the exam room. Its just too small, and WAY too distracting for Dekker. Not a great setting for a bunch of littles who want to explore. So Dekker had a special date with his dad this morning. Once the appointment was over, Brady called and filled me in.
Dekker. Did. Awesome. He was cooperative, and played all of the games. Usually, he tires of the games very quickly, because he’s uncomfortable, but also, as is the nature of the game, it gets harder and harder, until he can’t see the answer. Usually they lose him as soon as it gets a little bit difficult, and then when they push, he’d get upset. Its not a secret that Dekker doesn’t love feeling vulnerable, and the doctors/orthoptists there are always very understanding. They are specifically in the pediatric section. He is not the first kid who hasn’t loved being put in a dark room and put through a series of tests. But this time, he did beautifully. His ophthalmologist is always the same, but the orthoptist who does the first bout of tests always changes. He hasn’t liked that in the past, but he just handled it today, and complied with everything. Brady said he didn’t get bored or tired or argumentative at all. He just tried his very best, until he said “I can’t see them anymore” or something along those lines.
I guess it was pretty clear that he needs a boost in prescription, so they ended up having to do the eye drops, to get the most accurate reading possible. He cried through those pretty good, apparently, but bounced back quickly. He waited the half hour out in the waiting room, playing toys as well as ever. Just turned away from the window a little bit to avoid the light in his enormously dilated eyes.
He did just as well with Dr. Rubab, and because he had done so well during the first part of her appointment, she didn’t have much to double check. She usually redoes a number of tests, since he prefers her over the new orthoptist every time. But instead, she looked behind his eyes, and then just told Brady all of her findings.
So Dekker does need new glasses. I guess that counts as the small downside of the appointment? I don’t really think its a bad thing. Now that he’s in school, we need his vision to be in tip top shape, and I’m glad we’re getting it there 🙂 I’m SO SO PROUD of how well he did at his appointment, though. I know I wasn’t even there, but Brady couldn’t stop raving about how impressed he was. School has done amazing things to Dekker’s confidence, and in his coping skills for when he is uncomfortable. We are not big bribe people (though there is definitely a time and place for it! Lol!) but he got a chocolate donut for doing such an amazing job 🙂 because he EARNED it!!
The next step is glasses shopping, which I’m kind of super excited for, honestly. The glasses he has now are awesome, and were PERFECT when we got them! When literally no other pair fit, we found these, with a Lightening McQueen on the side and everything, and he loved them! I’m curious to see if we’ll have a few more options now, as he’s just that much older. He’s excited about glasses shopping too, which helps 🙂
SO proud of you, Dekker Thomas!! You’re so brave, and grown up, and cooperative with the doctor! I love you so very much!!!