I took Anna for a blood test yesterday, and that reminded me of some conversations around our house. When Anna was very young, she would scream and cry during the blood draws. I think my older kids tagged along for maybe 2-3 of those events (when they were too young to stay at home by themselves). Even though they were out in the waiting area, they could hear her getting hysterical each time. As Anna has gotten older, she has calmed down significantly (we changed labs---found a place close to home that is a small operation, and the lab techs have worked well with Anna and have gotten to know her). Since Anna no longer cries and gets hysterical, she has often encouraged her older siblings to come along to see that she doesn't cry. In her words, she says, "I just scwinch!" (Meaning she shuts her eyes tight and makes a face when they stick the needle in.) Her older brother, Joel, every time she says that, shakes his head, rolls his eyes, and says, "Anna, that's not a word." WELL!!!! Joel was looking up a word in the dictionary the other day, and he found the word "scwinch!" It actually IS a word, and Anna was using it most appropriately! We all laughed! Anna still can't convince Abby and Joel to come along to watch her get her blood drawn, though!

Anna and I just returned from an eye appointment. It wasn't bad, but not great. Just mildly frustrating. Both eyes continue to have a trace of inflammation, but the left eye is worse of a trace than last time. So for the left eye, we have to increase the Pred Forte drops to twice a day. I feel like this uveitis stuff is such a intricate balancing act--worrying about pressures rising with the increase in drops (although Anna's pressures are at 17 and 18 right now---not bad by any means). Last time she was on drops twice a day, they went up into the mid 20's, and we don't like them to be there. I've never had much patience for intricate balancing acts. Guess this is building my character.

At least the drive to and from Hershey was GORGEOUS through the valley with the autumn colors and the deep colors on the distant mountains and the huge autumn cumulous clouds! Gotta appreciate the small things in life!

Tammy

Anna's JRA Guestbook

Let's use this thread for the guestbook for Anna's JRA Page! If you visited Anna's JRA Page and want to post a 'hello,' please do so! I look forward to hearing from you!