Fall Break-Vegas and Phantom

It's so nice to have a brother and sister-in-law who lives in Vegas so we can go there for a cheap vacation. We actually started the Fall break up in Park City. My dad got 2-bedroom condos and told anyone who wanted to go up can. My dad forgets that he has 5 daughters and we all wanted to go. Even my brother came. We ended up with 5 families (5-6 kids each) plus my parents in a 2 bedroom condo. We didn't stay in the condo much but went swimming and played with the kids and even went to a wonderful Mexican restaurant. The kids had fun. They LOVE being around cousins. The Talbots left because we were heading for Las Vegas the next morning.

We head out to Las Vegas by lunchtime. Kids were pretty good travelers. I have learned it is all in the seat assignments. Is it just my family or do you have the same issues? We get to Vegas and have time to go to the butterfly park (our favorite park). It has squishy floormats, water features, and lots of places to run around. Brad now thinks he is too old for it and wants to just hang out with the adults. He is growing up. STOP! I hate that he is growing up. The kids enjoy it and we head over to Russ and Michele. We had to get ready for Phantom. A few weeks ago my sister called me and told me she could get tickets for $35 from Ben Hall (he is an ex-boyfriend and is Raul understudy). I love Phantom (not as much as Wicked, though). It was phenominal. When Phantom sang his tenor notes, it just melted my heart. I loved it and on top of the great price we were on the 5th row!!! I love plays and get all excited like a little girl on Christmas morning. I couldn't even eat before and was still happy afterwards. We go to a restaurant in the Venice hotel and have wonderful time with Russ and Michele. The night ended at the Belagio to watch the waterfall show. Vegas is sure different when you don't have children. It was a romantic evening with my husband (and my brother and sister-in-law that tagged along, but I didn't notice them).

The next morning we head over to the butterfly park, eat Mummy Dogs (like pigs in a blanket) and go swimming. The pool was freezing but that didn't stop our kids from swimming. They went from the hot tub to the pool. We stayed home and ate hamburgers and steaks while watching the world series. It was a relaxing evening.

Sunday we went to another ward since it was stake conference for Russ and Michele. It was their primary program so it was entertaining for our children. Russ invited over the missionaries to teach the discussions to an investigator friend. Way to go Russ for always being a missionary! I would love to live in the mission field but am content raising my family and being an example to others in happy valley. I may not be teaching others the gospel but I am teaching future missionaries who will go out someday and will teach to others. I was assigned kitchen help and slaved away making lunch (it was no lunch, it was meat and potatoes, gravy, corn, rolls, and dessert!). When they finished the discussion, we ate. It was delicious! We headed out and come home sweet home.

Corneal abrasion Continuation

Fast forward another week from my last post. I put in my contacts and wear them for a week, ready to put that horrible experience behind me. I start feeling some pain again. Now in my other eye. Are you kidding me? I know exactly what it is but in denial. The pain is horrific but since I already have meds from the other eye I start putting in drops which the doctor said helped heal faster. I went to the specialist and sure enough, I have a corneal abrasion in my other eye! What are the chances? They think from after 20 years of contact wear and tear, my eyes are just giving out. So dissappointed! So what's my next thought? When can I get LASIK. As soon as my eye heals in about a month, they respond. Now I have to suffer with glasses for a month. How can they be so cruel!

Corneal abrasion

Remember in 2010 I had a major ear infection. Of course, you don't remember...cliff notes are I had a really bad ear infection for 10 days and have lost some of my hearing because of it. Well, I now have a corneal abration in my left eye. What is wrong with me? I'm too young to be having issues with my body. On Saturday, I woke up to a pain in my eye around 4am. I went back to sleep but woke up at a decent hour and called the optometrist. My optometrist is not opened on Saturdays so I called the only one that is opened (and in my network). He saw me first thing. Not a good idea to drive myself to the doctors (Paul was in Texas). It was only 2 miles away but with a squinty eye I just hoped that my periferal vision in my right eye would not lead me astray. The optometrist told me I had a corneal abrasion, a scratch on my corneal. How I got it? Don't know. He gave me a contact lense to protect it, like a bandaid and gave me antibiotics. He wanted to see me on Sunday. I was okay on Saturday. Indoors was better than going outside and the night was my friend as I could fully open my eyes. I went to the closing social with the Japanese Student and all seemed well. We took everyone to a Haunted House in Cedar Hills and my eyes started acting up again. Paul was on his way home from Texas and so I texted him that I was going to bed and couldn't wait up for him. A minute later I wrote that I need a priesthood blessing. When he came home around midnight, he and Chad Ellis gave me a blessing.

Sunday I woke up and it was worse. I had to remove the contact even though I could barely open my eyes. The sunlight KILLED my eye. Paul drove me to the doctor. It still hadn't healed like he hoped it would. He gave me his cell number and told me to call if it didn't get better. A couple hours later he called and said he can't get me out of his mind and thinks I need to go to the ER and to a specialist. Being a Sunday, we have to go to the ER. He shows Paul the large cut in his magnified machine which Paul describes as the shape of Japan. I also have 2 more cuts to the side of it. They prescribe me a stronger antibiotic and Lortab. To avoid the pain, I just have kept my eyes closed and slept. I can't watch TV or look at a computer screen and it's hard to read so I just lay there with my iphone and listen to the mormon channel. The only time I opened my eye was when they put a numbing drop in my eye at the doctors and ER lasting 15 minutes.

Monday morning I go see the opthomologist. The cut has now healed but my eyes are really red and the blood vessels are working really hard to heal the eye. It is tender and sensitive to light. He dilates my eyes to give me some relieve. Perfect for Halloween...dilated pupils, red eyes and swollen. I thought of being a pirate for Halloween or a vampire because I would come alive at night when the sunlight was gone. Instead I was just 4-eyed Plain Jane. The laughing stalk of those around me.

Wednesday I go to the opthomologist again. I have a scar from where it has healed. A good sign except I my vision may have changed. I won't know that for a month or so. I'm not out of the neck yet. My eyes are still fighting and so he prescribed a steriod. Yikes! Will I grow chest hair? I'll let you know how it grows, I mean goes (He-He). Now I have to wear glasses for a week more or so and no makeup. All natural! Lasik and/or Permanent eyelashes sound so good right now!