Big Day for Isla Rose

Last Monday we had our first visit with the ocularist. It was such a good visit. I was really anxious about the ride to the Birmingham (she hates her carseat) and how she would do at the visit, but she slept the whole way there and most of the way back! and we were able to learn a lot about what to expect in the coming year for Isla. We really enjoyed meeting the Cox Ocular "family". They, of course, gushed over what a darling little chunk of love Isla Rose is, which we already knew :) They looked at her eye and made a conformer for her. It is basically a clear shell that looks like a really thick plastic contact lens. They put it in her eye and it slid right in. She did not like it one bit! It caused a little bit of swelling, but once she got calmed down, we were able to see that it was in place and didn't seem to be hurting her. They showed us how to take it out and put it back in (which hopefully we won't have to do) They told us that unless it shows signs of infection or it happens to come out accidentally, we would need to leave it in until we come back to see them next month. Ms. Elise (the ocularist) told us that she has a nice sized globe and socket so we won't need to be very aggressive with the conformers and hopefully if all goes well, she will get her prosthetic eye when she is a year old, if not before. She said for what she has, it is the best case scenario. They see so many children with much smaller eyes and sometimes even no eye/eyes at all.  Isla has done really well since we've been home. The conformer causes her eye to open up much more now and it is wider too. It doesn't seem to bother her at all. 

This was Monday night after her visit.  Happy girl!

This was taken this past Monday--what a chunk!!

Through a mutual friend, we were able to meet a family in our area who has a 4 year old son with microphthalmia also. I don't know if I've shared that on here or not, but we had dinner with them a while ago and they shared with us what their experience had been so we knew going in to the visit what to expect. I am so thankful to the Lord to have met this family! They have seven children--yes seven. Their youngest three are boys and Asher had the BEST time running around and playing like big tough boys play. :) I dream of seven children so it was fun to see their dynamic and how they all relate to one another and it was awesome just to be with another family who loves the Lord and have walked the road that we are walking and are thriving! So encouraging! I love how God will provide people in seasons of your life to encourage you. He is so good like that!  Here's a video of sweet Isla Rose talking. She coos and babbles so much now. I love it! I think she will be talkative like her siblings!