Don't Be Cross With Me: Adventures in Congenital Esotropia

Do any other moms out there feel like they have learned a ton of medical terms since having kids? Phrases like torticollis, plagechephly, epigastric hernia, and congenital esotropia all become a part of your vocabulary because every doctor you see wants a medical history of your child. I sure have learned a lot of new phrases over the past couple years, one of those phrases is, congenital esotropia.

Congenital esotropia is a condition amoung infants where their eyes turn inward or are 'crossed.' Jason has had it ever since birth, he interchanges which eye he crosses. Since he has had it ever since birth and since he crosses both eyes his ophthalmologist decided that eye muscle surgery was the best way to correct the problem.
Even though surgery always feels scary. Ben and I felt it was necessary for his development. We had noticed that he would try to reach for things without looking for them, he would just feel around until he felt it. Also we had noticed that he struggled to pick small pieces of food out of a hand, he was often off by a bit. So it was clear his crossed eyes were affecting his vision and also his development. We met with a vision therapist last week who said that crossed eyes often causes gross motor delays in children. Which could explain the delays he has had.
We had his surgery this morning. It went perfectly, he was in and out in just over an hour. For those that don't know Jason personally he is a tough little boy. It is very fitting that is named after Jason Bourne. He has been in a bit more pain from this surgery than from the hernia surgery but he is still doing much better than I expected. Right now his eyes are red in the corners and will be for the next 2 weeks. He is doing great, and that we are thankful for your prayers.

This picture is a few months old but it shows how he crosses one while looking straight forward with the other

Here is another picture with his eyes crossed. That's a picture of him moments before he went in to have his eyes corrected. 

I got a good picture of his eyes. They are still red in the corners. I will post another picture once the redness goes away. The doctor said that it should take about 2weeks for the redness to go away.

Farewell Grandpa Sutton

My grandpa, Jay Sutton passed away recently I was able to attend his funeral for which I am thankful. It was great to hear so many great stories about my grandpa. He had a great sense of humor and he knew how to make everyone laugh. After the funeral I thought of another story about my grandpa.
A couple of years ago my grandpa gave us a scare, he was in the hospital for a few days and when he was released he came home with an oxygen tube. Ben and visited him after he got home from the hospital and when I came into the room I kind of stumbled over his oxygen tube. So this is the joke he told me. . a man was asked to speak in church, not knowing what to say he decided to visit his friend in hospital hoping for some inspiration. As he stood by his friend's side his frail condition grew worse, and his friend motioned frantically for something to write on. So he handed his friend a pen and piece of paper, and he used his last ounce of strength to scribble a note. Then his friend died. He thought it best not to look at the note just then, so he slipped it into his jacket pocket. At church that Sunday the man got up to speak in church and said that not knowing what to say in his talk he visited a friend for advice. Then unfolded the note saying, this is the note he handed me a note just before he died. I haven't read it, but knowing my friend I'm sure there's a word of inspiration there for us all."

He unfolded the note and read aloud, "You're standing on my oxygen tube!"

I loved my grandpa and I am going to miss him so much. He always found a way to make everyone laugh. Even though I going to miss him tons, it is good to know he won't be held back by a failing body anymore. I love you, Grandpa.