When Genetics Come to Play.

My family is blessed with AWESOME genetics. We're academic, athletic, artistic, and musical. And especially modest! 
Actually, the list above is somewhat accurate. It's just that each of the 4 kids in my family possesses one of those traits in abundance, and the rest....not as much. I'll leave you to guess which trait fits who! Genetics is also responsible for the beautiful eyes in my family. Beautiful eyes...that can't see properly. I am the only one who escaped full-time glasses.  

Take Jess. She got the Peters' eyes. (well, the Peters problem. Those cool colours you see are all hers! It's called a Nevus, and it's basically like a mole in your eye.)

And then there's little Lisa. She was the most beautiful baby you ever did see. But the poor girl had such a lazy eye (Amblyopia), that she was patched and had glasses before she was two. She then had surgery at age 4. 

Interestingly enough, Jessica's son had a similar problem to Lisa. These genetics like to skip around the family. Although my little nephew did not have surgery, he was in glasses at 17 months.  

Wasn't he the cutest little poopie?

 Well, genetics decided to come over to my house too. And no small wonder. It's not as if Colin's family has escaped eye issues. So here's my little Hankiepants, looking so spiffy in his new specs. I was really hoping he could get cool 'scientist' glasses like his cousin, but he's not quite big enough for those yet!

And I'd like to take this moment to encourage all of you to take care of your childrens' eyes! (and yours too, of course!) If you ask any family doctor, he'll tell you that your child should have his eyes checked by the time he starts school... at the very least! If you suspect something, or there are strong family genetics, I'd suggest going earlier! I see a regular optician with my kids at first, but if there are any issues I immediately ask my family doctor for a referral to the Pediatric Opthomology Clinic at the Stollery. They've been treating my family for the last 20 years! And if your child does need glasses, I highly recommend MDO's in St Albert.

One last crazy look at genetics. You know it's crazy when you take your son in to get his glasses fitted, and they take one look at him and say "He looks just like Lisa!"  

It must be those liquid brown eyes!