Michael met Spiderman in Orlando... he first touched him, then rubbed him and then he poked him in the eye when he figured it out :o)

It may have taken 21 months, but Michael walks!!!!

Today was a day I knew would come, but I thought it would have been years from now and from a child at school. An acquaintance actually came up to my son and I to say hello and then proceeded to say "He has a lazy eye?", in shock I could not respond. So, she proceeded to say the words again "He has a lazy eye?"... I had to just walk away. I have never felt rage like that in my life, I cried for the rest of the day thinking of how Michael will be treated from uneducated people in this world. To top this off, these were the words of a teacher who works in Sarasota.. a teacher. Seriously, who would say that to a mother???

We had a great day at the ACH parade and the Taste of St. Pete.

Michael is so happy to be back in the pool!!

Update to our Miami trip: Michael will not be needing the eye shell at this time, because he has such small eyes!!! We are very thankful for his small eyes... he got from his Papi :o)

Happy Easter!!

Our Wedding!!

Mommy and Papi were married on 4/2/11!!!

And of course Chloe was our flower girl!!

Thanks so much for the the great pictures!

jenmorrisonphotos.com

Sorry it has been so long since our last post, we have been very busy! Upcoming pictures will explain why...

Michael is doing great! He received his last shot to protect him from RSV and we are having our next eye exam on the 4/11 in Miami. We are hoping that we just need a follow up appointment in 6 months, but our fear is that they may want to fit Michael for an eye shell to keep his facial bones growing properly.

Michael is starting to take his first solo steps and it is a bit scary for us to watch. He is a little delayed in walking, but only due to his vision.. not his strength!! He is starting to learn more words, but mostly it's no, no, no, no :o)

Michael had a great time at the local fair with Chloe, Reagan & Rowen!!

Michael loves to give kisses!!!

Michael's first slumber party with Chloe, Sponge Bob Style :o)

Christmas 2010!!

How did we ever get so lucky???

Baby-in-a-bag!! This one is for my Dad!!

This year will start a new path with Michael's eye issue. I haven't written much about it, I

was trying so hard to find an answer. Well we have one, Anterior Segment Ischemia following laser therapy for retinopathy of prematurity. Basically he is blind in one eye and it is now smaller in size and there is not a surgery that can repair his eye or sight. All the damage was caused by the ROP laser surgery Michael received on 12-31-09.

I know it is the most difficult time when your preemie is in the NICU and you are so unsure about so many procedures. But, PLEASE learn this lesson from me... ROP laser treatment is not a simple precautionary surgery as I was told by the pediatric ophthalmologist. ROP laser surgery is extremely precise and should only be done by a ROP specialist.

We may need to use scleral shells to keep his bone growth correct around the smaller eye. We pray that his eye does not completely stop growing, but most likely this is the road we will be taking.

1 year ago today Michael came home!! We are so thankful for his life and how far we have come!! 12-11-10

Thank you so much Lynne, Stephanie, Marlene, Liz & Ana Maria. We are forever grateful :o)

A cold day in Florida :o)

11mo adjusted/ 15mo old!!

We are going back to Bascom Plamer tomorrow for another eye exam...

Happy Thanksgiving!! 2010

Wow, Michael is getting so big!!

My Little Sunshine!!

Michael's 1st haircut!! 10mo adjusted, 14mo old!!