Absolutely.

Me: Hello (in a totally inconvenienced way because the # is Anderson's PO office and I am thinking they are calling to change his appointment day)

Dr Cogen: Hello, Melissa, it's Dr. Cogen.

Me: Oh, hi. How are you?  (in a totally flustered, I am talking to a celebrity on the phone, way)

Dr. Cogen: Checking in...Eye Foundation is making a video to promote funding for vision grants...need a pediatric perspective...you are the first person I thought of...Anderson's story...would you be interested?

Me: Absolutely.

Dr. Cogen: I am not sure what it includes, you might have to travel and I don't know when the time would even be...

Me: Absolutely.

Dr. Cogen: I know you are busy and pregnant...don't have time...

Me: Absolutely.

Anderson's Eye has been one of the hardest thing we have ever had to deal with & Dr. Cogen has made this journey tolerable. Someone, at some point back in the day, helped raise money for the vision research that is ALLOWING MY BABY TO SEE, so ABSOLUTELY I will do whatever you need me to do! Hello!! Tell me where to go, what to do, what to say, who to give my chopped off left arm to and I will do it!

Turns out, nobody needed my arm and since I am giant pregnant, they agreed to meet us in Chattanooga instead of us driving to Bham.

 It was a bit more official than I expected.

 I took the whole process very seriously. I only teared up once.

Anderson even got to help! They wanted him to answer some questions and he, of course, decided not to fully cooperate. The kid who the night before was explaining to us what nocturnal means, refused to even say his name and age in a normal voice. We tried him sitting on my lap and talking, but there is just not a lot of room for the 3 of us on my lap at this point. So, they asked him some questions sitting in the chair by himself and he was pretty cute.She is supposed to send me the final video, so we will see how he did.

This was worn during the interview, of course. Representing the imoms!

I am aware that maybe 7 people are going to see this video, but I am so grateful to be a part of the Eye world and feel like in some teeny, tiny way we are paying back the enormous debt we owe to research and Dr. Cogen. It was fun!

We always take Noni with us when we leave the house. Seriously, she entertained him the entire time so I could answer questions and is a pretty fun travel partner, too!


Since we were in Chattanooga & I had taken the whole day off work, we decided to hit up the aquarium. It was SO much fun; I've never been!

 Staring contest with a butterfly.

 We were there during penguin feeding time!! Anderson saw all of the penguins on the ice/land part & said, "They must be a class getting ready for swimming lessons." As for me, I really liked watching the penguins; I think they were my favorite part.

 He insisted on wearing his fire hat. You just never know.

 Seriously. Sharks. He told us this was his favorite part and has since been obsessed with playing "Under the Sea" at GG's house.  There were about 4 or 5 in the tank and they were definitely giant and scary looking, but very cool.

We stalked the sting rays...

 and finally lured one over! 

It was such a random and fun day! I am so glad I had the chance to hang out with this boy and my mom before there is another kid in the mix. I think the fact that the whole thing was sort of last minute and unexpected made it even better.