Monday Update #2

This week, I finally got one of my boys to the optometrist (and myself!). Towards the end of the school year, he didn’t pass the vision screening at school, and I kept making a note to set the appointment, but found myself avoiding it. Not because I’m lazy but because my son is autistic and a) I didn’t know how he would handle the appointment, and b) I didn’t know if I could trust the results.

Before he got diagnosed with autism (at 19 months), he was diagnosed with a mild hearing loss in both ears (at 14 months), and we were told he needed hearing aids. Most people probably don’t know this, but most insurances don’t cover hearing aids because, apparently, “hearing” isn’t medically necessary. And you can’t buy hearing aids for babies and small children at Costco or Sam’s Club, so we had to pay $4k out of pocket. He hated them, pulled them out constantly, and after two years of trying a ton of creative ways to keep them in, we gave up. Then at 4 years old, he finally started to talk, and we were able to retest him with an audiologist who specialized in working with autistic and other special needs children, and guess what? He passed! Six months later, he passed again. And while I was thrilled that his hearing is fine, I was angry about that $4k that we had to scrape up because of a bad diagnosis, and all that time that we tortured him with hearing aids he didn’t need. Given that experience, I didn’t trust that the vision screening at school took his autism fully into account. And as it turns out, I was right because he passed his vision exam without any issue (except for the meltdown at the end).

On the fun side of things, we finally went to the New England Aquarium and had a great time. The touch pools are always our favorite, but the kids were also thrilled with the multiple species of penguin, and getting to see a cuttlefish up close for the first time! Afterwards, we went next door the IMAX theatre and they saw their first 3D film – Oceans. All in all, it was a great day!

Unfortunately, Thursday I threw my back out (again), and spent the rest of the week doped up on painkillers and muscle relaxants, and missed out on the quilt show I was supposed to go to on Friday. The upside is, my husband already had Friday off, so he didn’t have to call in to take care of the kids while I was laid up. Not 100% yet, but functional enough to forego the painkillers and take care of the kids.

The upside of being laid up is I was able to read more! I managed to finish two books – Against the Claw by Shari Randall and The Education of a Coroner by John Bateson – and make progress on a third, Winter of the World by Ken Follett. I’m not entirely sure what book(s) I’m picking up next because I’m trying to allow myself the freedom to be my mood reader self, in the hopes of avoiding another lengthy reading slump.

Wow. I started writing this post worrying I wouldn’t have enough to write about! How has your week been?

10 Replies to “Monday Update #2”

  1. OMG Myndi! Hope you are feeling better! Back pain is the worst and I know winter is coming and that’s when I have all my back problems with shoveling!! We had a pretty good weekend. We went school shopping at a mall(who does that-prices are ridiculous there!) We did get a few things but will go down our street where our strip mall has Kohl’s, Target, and Old Navy and Dicks! Yesterday I went grocery shopping at a new to me store, Topps, and saved 85.00 so that was awesome! That really blows about the hearing aids and the four grand! 😥 Hope you have a great week!!😊💖

    • I’m sorry that you are able to “feel my pain” because it does suck.

      Pretty sure I haven’t stepped inside a mall in well over a year, and we definitely shop at the same stores. 🙂

      Hope you have a great week, too!

      • Yeah at the mall at a place called Zoomies we got three t shirts and a hoody and it was 163 bucks!!! I thought I was going to throw up! Never again!! This is why I love Kohl’s(when the stuff is on sale mind you😊) and Old Navy! Hahaha

        • Have to be budget conscious these days, for sure. The only exception I usually make is shoes and winter gear. I’ll fork out for StrideRite for my kids, but for everyday clothes, Target and Carters (on sale only!) are perfectly fine. At this age, they don’t really care. When my oldest started getting to the age where she cared, I told her she could get the pricey stuff for Christmas and birthday. I’m not paying $100 for jeans for a 12 year old. Hell, I get MY jeans at Target!

  2. Oh Myndi, I too feel your pain. I have had intermittent problems with my back for the last few months. I have become very close with my chiropractor and should buy stock in whatever company makes Robaxicet. I am glad you have been able to get those loose ends tied up so the kids are ready to school. I love the touch pools at aquariums. i have lots of pictures of me picking up or touching creatures from tide pools or Rays. Have a great week.

    • I keep telling my kids, take care of your knees and back because you’ll miss them when they’re gone! My doctor wants me to try physical therapy, but I think I like the idea of a chiropractor better. I’m taking Flexeril and Tramadol and feeling a lot better.

      When my older daughter was still a kid, we used to go to the coast above Mendocino and crawl dawn the cliffside to natural pools full of anemone, etc. It was amazing! Have a great week yourself!

  3. My husband suffers from back pain and I feel you, it’s tough. He has an inversion table and uses it twice a day, says it’s the best relief. ➡️➡️➡️ Hope you’re feeling better by now 🙏

    • Meds have definitely helped, and I’m feeling better every day. I’m glad your husband has found something that alleviates his pain. 🙂

Leave a Reply to susandyer1962Cancel reply