I see - creeping phlox

With my new found eye sight I went out into the yard and viewed the flowers. The creeping phlox that made it through last summer and this cold winter are showing some wonderful color. We liked them so much that we went to Wal-Mart and bought four new ones to replace the dead ones and to add a bit more color. I hope they flourish this year and add some additional color for next spring.

Speaking of my new eyes, remember the previous blog with photos of me in my dark glasses, Evelyn and I talked by phone yesterday, and she reported that with those shades, I looked like Jack Nicholson. I don't like him too much, but it is probably because he is such a good actor and does it so well that I don't like the characters he portrays, and so I don't want to be like him. Incidentally, it appears that Evelyn will appear for the first time this summer at the reunion and Emily's marriage. She is flying directly from Tokyo to Phoenix and will join us there.

My eyes seem to be coming along quite well. I am still adding drops of three varieties to my eyes four times daily. The first eye is getting reduced amounts and one drop is discontinued. By the end of May all drops will be discontinued in both eyes except for over-the-counter drops of artificial tears that I buy to keep my eyes a little more moist.

Tom got here and stayed the night Thursday. Friday, he went to BYU and got Beth and they headed for Washington as Carol was arriving yesterday about noon. They were probably leaving Provo about that time. I assume they arrived back in Woodinville safely as I have heard nothing further. When Carol speaks to report her mission in Sacrament Meeting, we are planning to make the trip to Washington. We haven't decided between driving and flying yet - as of now we are leaning toward driving. We will see how it all unfolds. I believe Carol was a marvelous missionary in Brazil. gwh

Operations complete - Rehab continues

Less than one hour ago I was still in the recovery room. I am now home sitting at the computer to make an entry about my "ordeal." My last operated eye is still cloudy and smarts a little The doctor had to include a stitch this time, so that probably accounts for the smarting sensation that I am experiencing. I have great hopes that the right eye will come along and my sight in it will be excellent like that in my left eye. I paid $800 extra for each eye to have a "toric lens'' installed in each eye. The "toric lens" corrects for astigmatism and is weighted and such to keep it properly oriented in the eye. Right now the operated eye is sore with cloudy vision, I am counting on better results as the body makes adjustments for what has happened to the eye. I see opaque light with forms silhouetted in my right eye. They seemingly can do some marvelous things for old people's eyes in this day and age.

I am starting to survey the yard a little more closely now for possible plantings to enhance the exterior appearance. It has been so cool with so much north breese that I have not generated a lot of enthusiasm for such a thing.

The ducks are doing their thing and acting like spring is coming. I haven't fertilized the lawn or turned on the sprinkling systems this year because of the cool weather.

As I proceed with the rehabilitation of the eyes I will update you as to the progress coming about with respect to my vision. If the right eye demonstrates the same success of the left eye, I will think that it was a wonderful thing to have done to my eyes. Stand by for further updates as time wends relentlessly on its way. gwh

My "new eye"

I have been relishing the new sharpness and vividness of color that is evident in my distant vision since my left eye was operated on on Wednesday. It is very evident to me with only one eye fixed. What will it be in two weeks when both eyes are done? I have also noticed that reading and close work or not enhanced and I am greatly aided by some magnification provided by "cheapo" reading glasses. After both eyes are done then I will get the reading glasses that do best for me. In the meantime I am using a pair that Clarine has around the house. I enjoyed the vividness of things so much that I decided to take a couple of snaps to forward along with my commentary. One is of the color we have added to the plant area in the front foyer of the house. We did that in anticipation of several visitors to watch conference on Sunday morning. Quinn, my fourth great grand son decided to get born that day, so the visitor list went down by about ten of Quinn's quite close relatives. Lisa, Phil, Sheridan, Zach and Max came. We did have some food left over as we anticipated having a few more "grazers." The other picture is included to demonstrate that spring really is coming. We have a pussy willow bush in our yard that has a significant history, and it is in full bloom right now. It came here to Stansbury in memory of Carol who nurtured it and started it in Mount Olympus and we have kept making starts from it, and it is now flourishing here. The buds are an inch long and a half inch in diameter. (I don't know that you can tell it from the picture.)

Clarine went by herself to the temple today. A full shift of that would probably be a little too taxing for me and my eye today. The day has dawned very nice and spring-like. Birds are singing. After a long, cold, snowy winter it is invigorating, and I have a new visual prospect of life. gwh

One down - one to go

Although it is not obvious the cataract has been removed from my left eye. (How do you like my "cool" goggles?") They were provided to me to hold down the light that was trying to get into my eye through the greatly dilated pupil. It has now been over five hours since the process was completed. My left eye is actually starting to clear, so I guess it will be a little longer before I can declare the operation a success. The most distressing part of the process was for them to try and insert an IV into my hand. They finally gave up and put it in my arm (bigger vein). The process happened whil I was most comfortable. I was in the recovery room, and I didn't know that the operation had happened. The most painful part was when I had to pay $800 upfront for the lens to be made and put in my eye. Insurance did not cover that part. I think I am going to be okay. I will be adding drops to my eye for the next two weeks. By the end of that I will be adding drops to my other eye in preparation for the operation on it. I believe I am going to declare that the process is going to be worth it. I go to the doctor's office tomorrow morning at 9:30. Perhaps then we will say yea or nay about the success of the operation. gwh