PRK surgery

So..I finally decided to get my eyes lasered. Since my corneas were steep, I opted to do PRK over Lasik. I didn't particularly like the idea of my corneal flap tearing off..and needing a cornea transplant. That would be my luck.

Some background. I'm 38, and I wore contacts for 25 years. The last prescription were -6 in my right eye, -6.5 in my left. I haven't worn them in about 2 months in preparation for surgery. I am a professor, so I didn't have to work as we are on our Winter break.

So..here's a short description of my experiences..and recovery thus far:

Surgery Day. Monday.
Surgery at 9 am. Didn't actually happen until after 11. Everything went well. Severe light sensitivity after the surgery. My eyes just drained because of this, which I was assured was normal. Since the drive home was about 45 minutes, I moved into the back seat halfway there because the sensitivity was so great and the sun was so bright. I still couldn't escape the light, even with my eyes closed and dark sunglasses. My eyes drained. My sinuses swelled up. I got home around 1:30. Took the pain pills. I couldn't breathe, and I was miserable. After getting the OK from my doctor, I shot some AFRIN up my nose. After about 15 minutes I was able to breathe. Thus, I was able to finally get some sleep. Started Vigamox/Nevanac/Lotemax drops every 4 hours while awake.

My advice: bring a sleep mask with you to wear OVER the sunglasses. That would have helped me alot had I known.

Recovery Day 1: Tuesday
Follow up with the Optometrist Dr, not the surgeon. 20/40 in right eye - 20/30 in left Things look a bit blurry and hazy, can' t read or focus close up.
All of this looks great and I'm assured that it's normal. The light sensitivity is still pretty bad. This time, I brought my sleep mask and it has helped a lot!

Recovery Day 2: Wednesday.
I woke up feeling pretty good. Things looked a little clearer.

Dr. sees a "spot" on my left eye that wasn't there yesterday. Fear of possible infection. The "bandage" contact in that eye is removed. Then replaced with the wrong kind, then removed, then replaced with the right kind. Word from the surgeon was to leave it out, so it was removed again. At this point, the left eye was completely blurry and I couldn't see anything. Increased antibiotic drops of Vigamox every hour. Even during the night. ugh. Still using Nevanac/Lotemax drops every 4 hours while awake.


Couldn't really see much. Finished up some Christmas shopping with my neighbor who did all the driving.

Recovery Day 3: Thursday.
Pretty much status quo. Left eye hadn't changed, which was good news, and the cells began to grow over the "spot". Probably not an infection but continued Vigamox regimen every hour just in case. Ugh....sleep deprivation. Setting a 60 minute timer then drops in left eye..then trying to go back to sleep. Still using Nevanac/Lotemax drops every 4 hours while awake.

Still couldn't really see much in left eye. Right eye getting clearer.

Recovery Day 4: Friday.
Left eye looking better. Dr. put the "bandage" contact back in. I was able to see a bit again. Still couldn't read close up though. Finally could look at a computer without the sunglasses. Changed the Vigamox to every 2 hours in the left eye. Still using Nevanac/Lotemax drops every 4 hours while awake. Got a phone call a few hours after seeing the Dr. The surgeon said to remove the lens in the left eye again and leave it out.

Recovery Day 5: Saturday.
Dr says everything looks great! YAY. Removed the right bandage contact. The left is doing much better also. Switched to a stronger steroid drop. Continuing to use the Vigamox every 2 hours while awake..I can finally get sleep! Still using Nevanac and the steroid drop every 4 hours while awake. I can see the computer much better. I'm glad I didn' have to work this week.

Recovery Day 6: Sunday. Today.
No Dr visit today. Eyes seem a bit clearer all around. I got the all clear to drive tomorrow, but I did drive a bit today on a short route to go to church. No problems, wearing sunglasses. I will see the Dr. again tomorrow.

Not polished enough?

So word from the publisher was that the character wasn't "eye catching" for the cover. So I added a costume with lotsa color. Hopefully it won't turn off too many people...

what do you think????

Qualities of a leader

So, I've just returned from a trip with four students who competed as a team during the Cartoon Challenge at the Kalamazoo Animation Festival, and they won. I've been thinking about what exactly worked for them and how they came together so effortlessly as a team to accomplish their goal of creating a 30 second PSA on global warming. I think I have figured it out. Their team leader stepped back and allowed his team's strengths to shine. While their leader was completely capable of doing all of the things his team could do, he did not let his ambitions over power those of his teams. By doing so, the team's energy became contagious, and they amazed even themselves. The leader filled in the necessary gaps of areas that weren't covered by the rest of the team. This allowed them to complete the task in record time, and in turn, deliver the winning piece.

Amazing work. I'm very proud to have witnessed their success.

Book cover design

So I have been working furiously on the cover design for the book I'm writing and I think I finally came up with something that I like. Here it is..what do you think?

Pure Common Sense

I've been reading Lee Iacocca's latest book, Where Have all the Leaders Gone? I picked it up since I'm on the path to one day becoming an administrator, and I want to make sure I understand the ins and outs of leadership from the view point of those who did the job really well. He says some pretty interesting things. The underlying theme so far, however, is to have common sense.

He states that magagement is about two things: picking good people and setting the right priorities. and then goes on to say that you succeed or fail based on your team. A group of people who know what they're doing is the starting point, but those people have to be able to work together, because after all, people who work together will win.

Common Sense right?

Makes perfect sense to me. A good leader, in my opinion, will take that team of various personalities and talents and inspire them to work towards the common goal. A new leader should enter the picture, discover their teams strenghts, and put them to good use! Why focus on the negative? Why revel in what isn't working? That just starts the downward spiral and no one seems to be able to rise once that has started.

I've seen this happen several times over the last few years. It's truly a sad situation. We're losing alot of really great people that made our programs what they are today. These people shouldn't be scrutinized and punished by their leaders (and I use that term lightly, because they really aren't effective leaders). What these leaders fail to realize is that their positions were created by the hard work and dedication of the exact same people they're stepping on.

This is what has inspired me to further my education. A real leader is someone their team can turn to, not someone who causes their team to turn away.

I finally have a blog...

So ..who doesn't have a blog these days? Well I didn't. So I thought it was about time. I'm not quite sure who, if anyone is interested in what I have to say outside of the classroom, but I read many of my former students' blogs to keep up with what's happening to them, so I thought maybe someone might be interested.

One of the nicest things about teaching is that you are always learning something. For me, it makes me realize how little I know, but at the same time I feel inspired to share what I have learned with those students who really care.

So that is the purpose of this blog. Inspiration. I hope I don't sound pretentious. I just want to be able to share thoughts with like minded individuals.