Easton's Eye - Part 7

Ok I know
you are wondering
how many parts
is she gonna write?!
how long is this
timeline gonna go on?!

We are close
the plan was to
catch up to
when I started
blogging
July 2011
considering everything
after that
is already on here.

May 2011
Easton and Azalea
were 8 months old

raising infant twins
was no easy task
add a third child
"the Eye"
and it really wasn't
till about here
when I finally felt
like I could
ohhh what's the word
function?

I mean I was
functioning
but not consciously
I was not aware
I was not deliberate
I had no plan
anything before
this point
was strictly
in the moment
only what needs
to be done
now.

So yeah May
May was wonderful
and a little wide-eyed
all at the same time

reflective
rewarding
revitalizing

Fortunately
obviously
up to this point
I had been home
and it was time
to make more decisions
my school my work
allows me to take
up to 2 years of
a leave of absence
I had already
taken 1 year
where did the time go?!
what does this
have to do again
with Easton's Eye?

Well at the time
I thought I was
making the decision
to stay home
on my own
willingly
wanting to
raise my children
but looking back
I think the Eye
had more of an
influence
on my decision
than I was willing
to admit.

How would we
get the contact in
before work
6:30 am was not
when he was sleeping
actually he would be
awake
very awake!?

Who was going to
constantly
check to see
if the contact was in?
I myself had to
tell myself
train myself
Easton has a special need
he requires that I
literally look in his Eye
every 15 minuets
someone was going to
do that?!

Who was going to
be able to find it
when it falls out
pretty much every other
hour?!

Who would comfort
entertain them
him
while patching?

How would he patch
when the contact falls out
and it doesn't get
put back in?

I didn't have
answers
to these very real
questions.
So I called
my work and
told them
I would be taking
another semester off
I'm sorry but
it's just something
I want to
(had to)
do.

This is where
Gratitude
just fills
my heart
my soul
my spirit
I am fortunate
I am thankful
I am so very
grateful.

My work
My husband
My mom
My life
has aligned
has allowed
me
to do this
for them
for him
for the Eye.

Otherwise
I just can't
imagine
and I know
some families
I am sure
have had to.

May 23
Another day
I will never
forget
the day I sat down
and wrote a
Thank you letter
to our
contact specialist,
Chuck.

This pic of Easton was on the front of the card, sporting his new contact that fit!

Yes, I knew him
on a personal basis
just as he now
knew me.
Hi Chuck,
it's Amanda
Easton's mom.
Yes, I know.
Of course he knew.
There was no other
person he probably
spoke to more
than me... ever.

This man cared
he knew
the importance
he knew
the frustration
and he didn't
give up.
He went to a
"contact conference"
in search of
the fit
the curve
just for
Easton's Eye.

Contacts
who would have
ever imagined
that a tiny, clear
curve
the curve of
perfection
literally cup shaped
not saucer shaped
like most contacts
this curve
would change
everything.

It only took
about 6 months
and
at least a dozen
other contacts
trials and ERRORS
LOST
lost and found
lost and not found
lost and replaced
countless
countless times
countless hours
spent
earned
to reach
this point
this one
the one contact
that fit.

The glory
of the moment
lasted
it brought tears
to my eyes
for days
shock
amazement
gratitude doesn't even
describe
this feeling.

When something
so tiny
so seemingly insignificant
holds so much
power
and when some of
that power
is harnessed
and put to use
in a way
that makes all
the pain
the tears
the sorrow
worth it...

My letter
words
of appreciation
was the least
I could do
for Chuck.
He, who was just
doing his job
changed
everything.

To be clear here
finding the right
fit
did not mean
it was easy
to put in
or get on
Easton's Eye
did not mean
it stayed in
his Eye always
and
did not mean
it could stay in
his Eye for more
than a day.

This fit
this custom made
extremely curved
contact
did not pop off
did not flip out
did not blink out
did not slide
did not flute
it simply
fit.

It fit an infant
a baby who
played
rubbed
cried
and still managed
to loose
a contact
that fit
but none the less
it was
the one
the one that
let me
breathe easier
sleep better
and
smile wider.