Jaxon’s awesome teacher (Terri Makinster) invited Tyler and I to talk to his Kindergarten class about what it’s like for Jax to live with one eye.

We brought pirate eye patches for all of the kids to wear so they could see like Jax sees. Jax got to lead them around the playground and hearing their responses about the experience was hilarious.

What a great lesson in empathy!

I love that they all got to walk in Jaxon’s shoes for a little while so they can understand why he does things a little bit different. They were all so sweet and had great questions for us about his life with one eye.

“Did he cry when he had surgery?”
“Did it hurt?” 
“Does he sleep with it in?” 
“I had surgery once too!” 
“I know someone with 2 glass eyes!”

I think we could all learn from the way these kids embraced this experience of seeing the world through someone else’s point of view... someone who’s a little different than them but still very much the same.

Kids are awesome like that.

A year ago we were recovering from eye removal surgery. It was brutal for everyone involved and very painful for this rockstar! 

Tonight we are celebrating one year of adjusting to life with one eye. I'd say we've all adjusted very well and we are teaching this guy to not only own it, but also to be proud of himself just as he is. 

Love this boy and everything he teaches us. He's the best. Lost an eye, but gained some spunk! 

Jax has had his prosthetic eye for 3 weeks now. People have been pretty interested in talking about our experience thus far.

The conversations we have had typically begin on a serious note and, more often than not, they end in laughter as Tyler and I share our stories about our 3 year-old and his fake eye.

I will share some of the highlights and answers to the most asked questions we have had up to this point. If you have a question, by all means, ask it. It's not everyday you meet an almost-4-y.o. that can pop his eye out.

When your kid is visibly different, you worry about how the kids at school will treat him. You worry about the moment he realizes his difference and feels the pain that come with the stares and dumb comments. 

Today was pajama day at school and the last day before Christmas break. It was also Jax's first day back at school with his brand new prosthetic eye. He was excited to show his teachers and his friends his new look. 

When we walked into the school today, and everyone saw Jax was back, they all came running and circled around him. I could hear the ooh's and ahh's from all of the kids. They told him how great his new eye looked and they were so happy for him. 

I leaned down and said, "I've got to go, I love you buddy." His 4 and 5 year old friends were still crowded around him, complimenting his new eye, and one of his buddies smiled, touched his shoulder and said, "Jax, I love you too!"

It was the most precious moment and I barely made it out the door with dry eyes. My heart was so full. 

I will be forever thankful for the reassurance that little boy gave me today. I know there will be mean comments in Jax's future, but there will also be friends that love him and remind him that he is amazing just the way he is.

Jax got his new eye!

It's very strange seeing him without his big blue eye, and it going to take some getting used to, but there will be no more surgeries, no more glaucoma and no more eye drops.

We think he looks so great 

Today was the first of 2 full days of eye appointments to get Jax's prosthetic eye made. This marks the end of an emotional stage for us within Jax's journey with Peter's Anomaly.

At the mall, during a 3 hour break in between appointments, we found a little bag labeled "finders keepers" on the seat of one of the kiddie rides by the food court.

It's funny how little reminders of all we have to be thankful for pop up when we need them most. The end of our journey with Jax's "sick" eye marks the beginning of a new one with our sweet boy. That means more Christmases, birthdays, and memories.

I read this quote in a book today and it took me back to the day we found out Jax was born blind. All I remember feeling was fear and devastation. I told myself over and over that it wasn't supposed to be this way.

3.5 years ago, I would have tried to convince myself that this quote was true, but deep down, I wouldn't have truly believed it.

Today, after all we have been through these past few years and all of the lessons we have learned along the way, my heart knows that I needed Jax in my life just the way he is. I didn't expect this wild journey that he has taken us on, but he's showing us the joy life can bring when you accept it as it is and learn to see how perfect all of life's imperfections truly are.

One week ago tomorrow, our tough Jax-man had emergency surgery to remove his right eye. His cornea was so thin that a bubble started filling with fluid on the surface of his eye like a water balloon. It was an emotional decision, but we felt removal was the best option for him.

Last Thursday, the night before surgery, we had a last minute "eye going away" party to celebrate the end of our journey with his right eye and to welcome his new eye. We wanted it to be a happy experience for him so we can start building his confidence right away. Jax's friends, family, neighbors and even his teacher came over to help us say goodbye to his eye that just wasn't working right. (He proudly announced to his class that morning, "I'm getting a new eye!") It was overwhelming seeing all of the support for our boy I get choked up even thinking about it.

On Tuesday this little man had an appointment in Iowa city as a follow-up to our last eye appointment, you know, that shit-tastic appointment where we saw via ultrasound that Jax's retina was detaching.

As the ultrasound tech did her thing, I sat in the chair with my angel of a child on my lap (yes, I actually mean it, he didn't even budge as she did this when he normally has to be put under anesthesia for this procedure) waiting for her to reaffirm the prognosis that retinal detachment was imminent.