Playing, Singing, Pretending

My sweet girl turned 5 last week!

The children opened their presents on Saturday. We started opening them a week ahead last year and it worked out well for all. My son's ADHD can make holidays a challenge. Breaking up the festivities helps us focus on Jesus on Christmas Day.

Mommy and Daddy got them each a teddy bear, and Grandma and Grandpa got them a guitar, Playdoh toys, a shopping cart set and a couple card games for the boys. They've played their little hearts out for three days. Mary loved the guitar too and told me her dream is to be on stage and sing at the microphone. She imitates a rock star quite well! She made up the sweetest Christmas carols today.

The preschoolers sang one song with the Children's Christmas Choir, then they got off stage and the older children sang four more songs. Peter and Paul both had a speaking part from Scripture. Mary and Beth both loved being up there! A couple excited, proud little hams they were, as they sang Away In The Manger. Beth didn't want to leave and Mary had to go back on stage and escort her off. The preschool teacher had a good sense of humor and didn't seem to mind the delay.

Peter opened his teddy bear and asked, "I like it, but what do you do with a teddy bear?" Mommy answered, "You love it and sleep with it and take it on adventures around the world. And you have teddy bear tea parties."

So that's what we did today.

Peter had a routine eye exam on Saturday and we learned that the pressure in his eyes is above normal. Normal pressure, measured by the puff test, is 10 to 21. His was 24 and 25. Tomorrow he has a two-hour appointment to be evaluated for glaucoma (which doesn't run in either family).

We were shocked and dismayed to say the least, especially after so much other bad health news this year. I wondered if the ocular hypertension could be caused by his non-stimulant ADHD med (Strattera 18 mg.) I  researched and quickly found out that if you have high eye pressure or a family history of glaucoma, you're not supposed to use Strattera. I immediately stopped giving it to him, even though his pediatrician is on vacation until January.  I don't know how we'll control the ADHD, OCD and Tourette's Syndrome, but I suspect God knows.

If we come to find out he does have glaucoma, I'm going to be awfully upset that his doctor didn't require Peter to have a routine eye exam, with the puff test for glaucoma suspect, before starting the Strattera in 2010!  One can have high eye pressure and not have glaucoma. The eye doctor who examined Peter, in fact, has the same eye pressure Peter has, without any glaucoma.

We're both nervous about that appointment tomorrow, desperately hoping we won't receive bad news. This year has tested our faith more than any other. I don't know what to say about it all. I mean really, how could all this happen in one year?

I have to cling to my favorite Scripture verse:

Romans 8:28
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.