Dental Drama!

Here's a good one! (by the end you'll be able to sense the sarcasm here...)

So, Eben had a dentist appointment on Monday, just a regular cleaning, which always goes well. The girls were with a friend (so grateful for that!!). After talking with the hygienist a little she said we'd get some x-rays since it had been awhile since the last ones. Eben did great, and she mentioned that his back 6-year molar was coming in in front of his baby molar. The one on the other side had come in a little crooked, but straightened itself out. However, it didn't look like this one was going to. Anyhow, we move back into the other room and she starts looking at his teeth. While checking out the "troublesome" molar she notices that part of his gums around there look kind of white. She thought maybe there was something stuck in there, so she cleaned a little, but then said it looked more like an infection. Meanwhile, I'm sitting here feeling horrible that I hadn't noticed it. I guess when I floss, I'm in front of him and when he opens his mouth, I don't see the top outside of his gums. Anyway, I felt like a real great Mom. Back to the story - After talking with the Dentist, she decides not to poke around there too much b/c it probably hurt. I asked Eben if it hurt and he said it did when he ate carrots. Nice of you to tell us before this Eben!! We end up having to go get more x-rays done so she can get the entire root system. Here's where it gets interesting (at least I thought so). The hygienist said that the adult teeth actually dissolve the roots of the baby teeth which is why they become loose. How cool is that! Totally didn't know that! However, in this case it isn't so cool. It turns out that because the 6-yr molar is coming in so crooked it has already dissolved two of the roots of the baby molar next to it. Therefore it left a gap up there for things to get stuck in, thus creating the nasty infection in his gums. Yes, good times...

If you haven't guessed yet, this is a problem. So, here's the plan. Next Friday, Eben goes back to the dentist (during the middle of school), gets hooked up with some laughing gas, and has the baby molar "wiggled out" (that's what the Dentist said, though I think that sounds a little too gentle). This way the adult molar can come in all the way. Three weeks later, we go back again to get some sort of spacer put in to hold whatever space is left where the baby molar was. Keep in mind that the baby molar that we're getting pulled won't be replaced by an adult molar until he's about 12!!! Therefore, Eben will wear this spacer for 6 years! That's as much time as he's even been around!! I was totally in shock by all of this. And oh yes, Jared had left for Maryland that morning. Lovely.

So, that's the dental drama. I guess this spacer thing somehow connects to the top of his mouth...I don't know. I was kind of lost at that time. It should be interesting. They say they'll give him oxygen after the procedure is done next week to get the laughing gas out of his system. So, I guess I'm going to attempt bringing him back to school. Of course its an early dismissal day for parent/teacher conferences, so he'll only go back for another hour and a half, but oh well. I know he won't be happy to have to leave school. Throws off his routine and all. He was actually crying Sunday night about not wanting to go to school because he would have to leave early. Come on buddy, a little flexibility would be helpful :)

On that note, I guess I'll get ready for bed. Here's hoping your next dentist appointment goes better than Eben's did!

Oh yeah, the pics are from the MOMS Club Halloween party yesterday. The girls are butterflies and Eben is the War Machine from Iron Man. No, he has no idea what that is ;) Aliza is also with her little friend, Ava...who has a crush on Eben :) Notice Aliza's "cut job" is starting to grow out. Isn't it the cutest... or something... ;)

October 2010

I love the colors! Yesterday we took a long walk in the woods behind our house. It was so pretty. Eben found much joy throwing a plastic saw ahead of himself the whole way. He'd slam it on rocks along the path and leave paint marks. He even managed to hit Aliza on the head with one of his throws. Oh to be entertained by that! The girls walked out pretty well, but were a bit tired on the walk back. I carried Nora most of the way home. I'm glad we were able to enjoy a "warmish" day traipsing through the crunchy leaves :) Love it!

And last night I went out to a local corn maze with some other moms from the MOMS Club. We took our flashlights and wandered around in the dark looking for the 16 markers throughout the 7 acres of corn. It was a lot of fun, and we even managed to find them all! Our reward? A little cup of ice cream. Sort of funny since I was wearing my winter coat, hat, and gloves. We enjoyed our treat though :)

As most of my "readers" know (yes, that includes all 5 of you!!), my Grandma Schilling passed away on the 12th of this month. We had about a weeks warning, and knew it was coming. It sure didn't make it much easier though. Besides another cousin, I was the only one who hadn't seen her since the beginning of July. I still recall that feeling while saying good-bye in July, that I wouldn't see her again. Unfortunately, I was right. I am so grateful though, that I was able to talk to her the day before she died, and tell her I love her. She said it back and my heart broke. My eyes are welling up even as I type. I couldn't bear to say good-bye to her. It just seemed too permanent. I know one day I'll meet her again and we'll walk Heaven's streets of gold. I am so incredibly blessed to have known her my whole life and experienced so much with her. I will treasure the memories we shared. There will be a vacant spot at our family gatherings, yet I find so much joy and comfort knowing that she has been made whole and is with Jesus, and Grandpa again! Death is a hard thing. I've only been to 3 funerals in my life, and I certainly don't look forward to all the others in my future. However, with death, there is life too. I'll say good-bye to people throughout my life, but I know I'll say hello to many as well - some day my children will introduce me to that special someone and then down the road, to their own children. What a journey we are on...

While I was home with my family, Jared's parents 'happened' to be out here (Thank you God for working that out in advance!!). I've included a couple pictures from their visit, and also a letter that Eben wrote to Aliza. He made a fort and told her she couldn't go in it. Later he wrote the attached letter. Yes, I am keeping it. :)

Halloween approaches, with lots of parties to attend. The kids are looking forward to dressing up, and mommy is looking forward to all the CANDY!!!! SO excited about that!! I wonder how long I can get away with eating as much as I want... Anyway, after all the Halloween festivities, we have a birthday to celebrate :) Nora will be 2 already on Nov 2nd!!! How the time flies! And before we know it, we'll be in Michigan again. This year we're going over Thanksgiving in the hopes of missing all the crummy weather. Here's hopin' :) Have a great day everyone!