Finally got a clear close-up of this columbine. They are so sweet and delicate. I must've taken 20 pictures of this particular flower before I got it right.
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Wednesday, May 19, 2010 - We do have a nice forecast for today - sunny, 70's, no rain! oh boy! There are SO many projects that I have to complete out in the yard or maybe I should say yards -- front yard, side yard, back yard.

On Saturday, I had to mow the grass because it just keeps growing - grass is like that. Probably should've done it on Friday but I didn't. So, that also happened to be the day that I put my serum eye drops in EVERY hour for no reason other than Dr. Lee and I both had that idea so why not try it.

Have you ever had to do something EVERY HOUR. When you're busy, that hour goes by very quickly. After I finished mowing the front yard (started at 11 am), I came in to take a break and lo and behold, it was about one minute before noon. WOW! Time really did fly by....

After doing that every hour thing with the drops, I changed course the next day and went back to every two hours. Easier to manage.

The one thing I've noticed is that the pain has gone away. That's HUGE!!! I've been in pain for so long that it just became an integral part of my daily life. Trying to ignore it or wish it away never seemed to work very well -- okay, not at all.

Since I'm very superstitious about saying anything positive about how I'm doing vision-wise, let me just say this: I'm not in pain. Every time I go one step forward, the next day, I slip two steps back. It's been a painful, rocky road that I have to travel alone.

No one understands how it feels. When I say that it's like having a toothpick sticking into your eyeball all the time, that might elicit some sympathetic responses but no one knows and I certainly wouldn't want anyone else to go through this because it's been hell on earth.

Wait a minute, I've been in living in hell since Andrew and Jarrett died so I guess it's just a continuation of that nightmare. Do I sound depressed? I'm not. Unless I'm clinically depressed and then that would be the norm so how would I even know any different. Interesting to ponder...

Better go. It's almost 9 o'clock and that's time for my drop. SEE ya later, djb

This is one of the syringes that contains my autologous serum eye drops - it's about 6 inches long.
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Thursday, May 6, 2010 - Today at 11 a.m., I started putting the autologous serum eye drops into my right eye. I have to do this every TWO HOURS until further notice. That might sound onerous to most people but I've previously had to adhere to that seemingly intrusive regimen. Like two years ago when I was putting the steroid drops into my eye every two hours.

It might sound annoying but if it helps, then I'll do whatever I have to do. The pharmacy in Wheaton is not your normal neighborhood drug store. It's for real and they do really cool things! Who knew there was an International Journal of Pharmaceutical Compounding. Not me or is it not I. hmmm who cares?! not me.

The pharmacist gave me a copy of an article from the Journal but I can't access it unless I pay $35. Some of the articles are online but I can't find this one: "Autologous Eye Drops for the Treatment of Dry Eye and Neurotrophic Keratitis." It explains my situation perfectly.

Here's a few excerpts from the Abstract: An inadequate tear film produces a variety of symptoms (ocular irritation, itching, burning, eye strain or fatigue, photophobia, foreign-body sensation, a sharp stabbing pain, blurred vision) that wax and wane in intensity and are characteristic of disorders such as dry eye and neurotrophic keratitis.

Interesting, because I've experienced ALL of those symptoms -- it hurts me just to type those words. ouch! SEE ya later, djb

Here's the bleeding heart plant that's in one of my smaller flower beds in the front yard.
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Thursday, May 6, 2010 - Speaking of bleeding.....ha! I didn't bleed at all when Dr. Lee took 10 tubes of blood out of my left arm yesterday. When she stuck me, I didn't even feel it. She's awesome!!! Of course, I couldn't look. Never have been able to watch a needle stick after all these years and all those CBCs. yikes!

I'm going to go in today and get the serum that has been frozen into little weasels. I'll have to take a picture of them. This is not standard practice. This procedure (or protocol) is reserved for special patients. That would be me! oh boy! I'm special. Would rather be boring and normal but what can I say....

gotta get my skedaddling shoes on. see ya later, djb