Allan's new contact

I may have mentioned that we got a new type of contact for Allan. It is larger and more flexible than the old one. Presumably it is more comfortable. And, since the prescription is correct now, it may actually be improving his eyesight a bit.

Unfortunately the qualities that make it more comfortable also make it more inclined to fold over, crinkle, wrinkle and pop out. This has increased the time for our morning routine significantly.

The first day was multiple attempts over 20 minutes or so. The time has gone down steadily but it still takes anywhere from 5 to 10 minutes depending on the level of caffeine I have consumed, its impact on my hand/eye coordination and his level of cooperation. Throughout the entire enterprise he sobs as if I am gouging his eye with a hot poker. It is pitiful. And I do feel bad for him. He doesn't like to be screwed with. I get that. And if I didn't wear contacts myself and know for a fact that It.Doesn't.Hurt. I would feel worse.

When we first started putting in Allan's contact well over a year ago now, it would distress Griffith greatly. To the point that he would come over and hit me or try to pull my hand away. He now knows that he can't do that, but he still feels compelled to help his brother out. So now he goes and roots around to find Allan's favorite toys and brings them over to him. It is the sweetest thing. He really makes an effort to find the right toy (the gingerbread cookie puzzle that plays music, the annoying All Aboard! choo-choo and the LeapFrog barn are the top three) and this is the only time that I see him make sure Allan has something to play with. The rest of the time Big Al can fend for himself as far as Griff is concerned.

Griff's protective nature also comes out in response to the vaccuum cleaner. Griff does not like the vacuum. (Bye-bye, Vacuum! he says, trying to get you to put it away.) Allan, on the other hand, is fascinated and wants to be near (preferably on top of) the vacuum. If we run the vacuum, Allan keeps trying to crawl over to it and Griff stands between him and the vacuum and tries to keep him away. (No, no, Jude!) Last night, Allan was sitting in the floor and Jennifer was moving the vacuum. Griff thought she was getting a little too close and, out of an abundance of caution, grabbed Allan by the head and threw him to the ground.

So his technique could use a little work, but his heart is in the right place.