A few answers...and a few question marks

Another long afternoon in the doctor's office.  I don't think I've mentioned before that the average appointment time is 2-3 hours, so when we go, I take things to do!

After the normal routine of a round of eyedrops in BOTH eyes for dilation in the waiting room, Phil went back for more drops and an eye exam.  Two weeks ago when they tested his bad eye, he could see movement  and shapes but mostly just a blurry mess.  Today he could see actual THINGS...like her two fingers held up and part of the eye chart!  Woo hoo!  Definite progress.  When he came out from that portion of the appointment, he put the eye patch in my bag and said he was D.O.N.E. with it and told me the good news of seeing things.  And then we waited and waited some more...

The next time he goes back is for the doctor exam, so I go back with him.  He thoroughly looks at both eyes, takes notes, looks again, and then uses an instrument to "push around" in his good eye seeing how the laser surgery went.   The news Phil has been waiting for...on Thursday morning, he will be allowed to be upright and use his eyes again!!!!!!! He can sit up and watch tv or read or do whatever! Woo hoo!!!!  His upside down exercises are over as well. He will need to sleep on his left side only at this point, but he is THRILLED to get off of his stomach in the morning! 

Then the part that wasn't quite as exciting...He is not allowed to return to work at this point.  They still want him to be more stable and not over-do things with his eye, so he must be off longer.  He wants to go back to work so desperately.    He also isn't allowed a lot of physical activity...definitely no exercising.  The "bad" eye still has fluid in the retinal area, which normally is gone by now.  The doctor is hopeful that is is just taking a long time to heal because of how badly it was detached.    The "good" eye...he didn't come right out and say that the laser surgery was or wasn't successful...but he did say that the laser surgery "bought us some time" to see what the bad eye is going to do.  We are taking that to mean, that he will need the full fledge surgery (followed by face down) for the "good" eye as well.  We both interpreted it that way at least.    He was much better at talking to us today and answering questions and we didn't feel as rushed.  At the end of the appointment he told us that next week we are to come back and at that point, he will make a firm decision of what is next for both eyes.  Worst case scenario is having surgery on the bad eye again to drain the fluid that is hanging around, plus still have to do the full surgery on the good eye.   He really doesn't want to do the surgery on the same eye again, which he said is why he has continued to give it "one more week" for awhile.  But he said at this point in the recovery a decision needs to be made as the healing will be very far along.  He seemed hopeful that a re-surgery (my made up word) will not take place, but isn't ruling it out either.  We go next Thursday afternoon where we have been told there will be more definite answers given.  We had hoped for those today, but at the same time...at least he has told us when we WILL have more information. 

We have few answers, but a few good ones.   For that we rejoice and praise God!  We were able to relax, laugh and joke on the way home tonight.  We are anxious to have our normal completely back and it has been a long journey already, with a ways to go it sounds like...Here are my prayer requests for this week:
1. Pray that Phil doesn't over-do it.  He is anxious to be back to normal, but I worry he will do too much and end up doing damage.
2. Pray for ME to have patience with him as I encourage him to continue to take it easy and to speak in love when reminding him that he still has restrictions. (smile)
3. Pray for continued healing in his eyes.  We KNOW that God can heal him in this week before we go back, but we also know it may not be His will...Help us to rest in His plan.

We are so blessed by all of those praying for us, checking in with us and loving on us.  God is good...All the time! And all the time....God is good!