If I didn't think I was bad mom before...

...I do now. :( It's a long, kinda complicated story, but I'll lay it out and hopefully anyone who actually reads this blog can follow it.

Before Cassie started school, I thought it would be best to get her eyes tested, just in case. I thought it would be better to catch any problems with her vision early so it wouldn't hinder her learning. At that time (approx. age 4.5 yrs old), the optomistrist said she was a bit near-sighted, but that it was normal for her age as the eyes are not fully developed until around age 6. Every year, the schools have vision screening and Cassie has never had a problem. She has never complained about problems reading, seeing the board, etc. Because of her height, she has always sat at the back of the class without any complaint. Her grades are average (about equal B's and C's), although she doesn't really enjoy reading and has never been a strong reader.

I need to mention that about two years ago, a friend's 7.5 yr old daughter was found to have a "Lazy Eye", which had gone undetected until then. About two weeks ago, Cassie came to me and said that there was "something weird going on" with her eyes: if she covered her left eye, everything was clear, but if she covered her right eye everything was "blurry". I thought maybe she was tired or something, but because of what my friend and her daughter had gone through, I figured it wouldn't hurt to have her eyes checked out to be on the safe side.

So...it turns out that the vision in her left eye is "extremely bad" and is a "Lazy Eye". The optomistrist told us that if it had been detected before the age of six, they may have been able to correct it. Now it is too late, and my baby girl has to wear glasses all the time. :(

I feel bad that it wasn't caught sooner, as I wasn't very diligent in getting her eyes tested. I took her when she was small and they found NOTHING wrong! I don't understand how this could have slipped by the other optomitrist at that time, considering how bad her vision is in that eye. According to her new doctor, she has had this since birth.

On the bright side, at least we caught this now instead of when she is in highschool. Maybe now her reading and marks in school will improve, and perhaps she will discover a love of reading now that she won't have to struggle to make out the words. Not to mention, she looks darn cute in her new glasses! :) I'll post pics as soon as she picks up her glasses (on Saturday!), as well as results from the competition this weekend in Hamilton!!!

Noah is FIVE!!!

Today, my Little Man turns 5 years old...where has the time gone? it seems like just yesterday that he was just a wee thing; now he is a big boy! He is loving school, and never a day goes by that he doesn't make me laugh with a new joke or saying things as only he can.

For his birthday, Noah received a special, one of a kind gift...a new baby cousin! Cousin Avery Elizabeth was born last night, 1.5 hrs before Noah's birthday. Welcome to the world, Baby Avery!

Noah had his party this past Saturday at a local bowling alley and he had a great time! The theme was (what else?) "Cars", complete with a cupcake tower, presents, and bowling with friends and family.

For My Friend...

We survived the weekend!

Well, we got through Showcase weekend with no major catastrophes! Cassie did amazing, as always we are so proud of her. When that girl gets on stage she just shines! She is really doing well in Tap in particular, I just wish her teachers would give her the chances she deserves. I really feel like they have been holding her back, but none of them will give me any real answers as to why...even other parents I have talked to can understand why she has been placed in the Jazz group that she was. I am going to discuss it again with one of her teachers and see what I can find out from her. I took some pics this weekend (big surprise!) and I can't get over how much older she looks in comparision to pics from last year at this time. She is starting to look like such a young lady (even if she doesn't always act like one!).

Holleigh learned a few of new words this weekend: Grandma, Grandpa, Papa, and Sister. Everyday I look at her and can't believe how much she is growing and changing. My Wee Miss isn't much of a baby anymore. :(

If the Crown Fits

Holleigh is the Princess of the house...and she knows it! She only does things when SHE wants to do them and not a minute before. I tried to teach her to say "Mama" for ages, but she took her sweet time doing it. Now I wish I had never taught her! All I have heard for the last two days is "Mam!" I say "Yes Holleigh?" to which she replies, "Hi!" Cute, eh? Not when this conversation is repeated constantly for a half hour or more nonstop. I guess it could be worse...she could be crying or screaming non-stop. However, then I may be more than tempted to sell my monkey to the circus! Her other favourite thing to do recently is to stand on anything (chair, toys, couch), throw her arms in the air and yell, "DANGER!" with a big grin on her face. I swear, I pushed the ticket with this one!

This weekend marks the beginning of another crazy season of dance competitions for Cassandra. Showcase (a recital for competitive numbers) runs this weekend and it is a chance for the girls to try out their dances and new costumes before the competions start. The first one is in Hamilton the weekend of March 31st. I'll update more on this after I see tomorrow night's preformance.