More Eye Updates

Some peeps have asked me about my eye, and so I thought I would write a bit more.

After my doctors at NIH recommended that I try surgery, I (miraculously) got Kaiser Permanente (my HMO insurance) to agree to pay for one visit to the eye doctor recommended by NIH. I went to the doctor and had the usual tests. But, it didn't go quite as well as I had hoped. The doctor said that I wasn't a good candidate for the surgery. Apparently the blood vessel in my eye is too deep. If he were to pull it out, there is a chance it could damage my eye even further. I do trust this doctor. He apparently used to work at NIH, and has done this surgery a lot. He said something to me like "the doctors at NIH recommend this surgery because they don't have to perform it!"

Anyhow, I am supposed to go back to a doctor in a couple of months. Which, I guess, probably is coming up in early March. Right now I'm feeling a bit down about the whole situation. I can keep getting these drugs injected into my eye, but don't really know if that's what I want to do. I guess when I go back to my Kaiser doctor, I'll ask him what he thinks for long term treatment.

Basically, I'm going to have to live with it! I hope I can just keep the eye healthy (if that means shots, I'll have to deal with it), and keep my right eye in tip top shape! No hockey for me!

In happier news, we just returned from a very fun ski trip to Blue Knob Mountain in Pennsylvania. We went with three couples from our church. Got there on Friday night. One of the couples organized the whole trip, so the rest of us cooked one meal. Saturday morning Kelly and Jim made yummy breakfast burritos. We then went up to the ski hill. Nate and I paid for me to take a 2 hour ski lesson with a wonderful woman named Grayson. She patiently helped me! I learned how to use my poles correctly, and how to do a better turn (and a bit of a hockey stop!). We talked a lot. She said I was a lot like her when she started sking, so I was easy to teach! I then met up with everyone at the lodge for lunch.

After lunch, Nate and I went down a couple of blue hills together and he was amazed. I apparently improved! Yay!!! Finally, as it was 10 degrees, and we were all freezing, we went back to the condo. Nate and I were in charge of supper. We had tacos and fajitas. And then, the boys surprised us girls with chocolate fondue with cheesecake and fruit to dip!!! Oh my, it was so good! They also gave us little gifts of assorted chocolates! Happy Valentines! What romantics.

This morning we got up, Eric and Erin cooked waffles, eggs, bacon, eggs, the whole works! We then leisurely returned to D.C. (well, the girls stopped and did some outlet shopping, but that's another story!).

I wish I had pictures but, yet again, Nate and I forgot our camera!!! It's such a bummer, because we have so few pictures of a great friends/good times here in D.C.!!

Just enjoying life one day at a time. Relaxing, keeping warm as possible here in the Capital!

Love, Steph