My Three Hours

Are you wondering how I spent my kid free three hours today? Well, as it turns out, I learned that there is no such thing as 3 hours off when you are a mom.

I ended up dropping Chloe off and hustling Alyssa and Alex off to the dentist. A few weeks ago I switched my kids from our family dentist to a pediatric dentist. Our family dentist will not see them until they start Kindergarten and does not fill baby teeth or do any preventative dental/orthodontic work. My pediatrician had suggested that I take Chloe to a pediatric dentist because of her cross bite so that they could start correcting it now and lessen her time in braces later. I don't know if you ever noticed but half of Chloe's bottom teeth used to cross over her top teeth when she smiled. One of the top ones was set so far back that people often asked me if she had lost a tooth or if it was a dead tooth, because the shadow on it made it look brown. Strangely enough, her bite has corrected itself for now, but I still decided to make the move to a pediatric dentist.

On their first visit we learned that they all have major issues! Hooray! The doctor assured me that it is totally genetic and not hygenic, and not to feel bad about it. They have messed up bites, gum issues, crowding, deep grooves, cavities, the works. She suggested that since they inherited their issues that I am probably starting to have a mouth full of crowns, which apparently is what "happens in your 40's". I was offended on two levels, because one, I have no crowns. My teeth are rock stars, these issues come from daddy. And two, I am NOT in my 40's! In spite of this mildly offensive misstep, we still really like this new dentist. They also do orthodontics so they are planning and starting preventative work on the kids now so that hopefully they will not need two rounds of braces. They even think they can maybe keep Alex out of braces altogether, because his bite is pretty good, and his permanent teeth look good in x-rays, but he hasn't lost any teeth yet so we'll see?

Anyway after just one visit we walked away with seven, SEVEN, follow up visits. Chloe had two fillings yesterday. Alex and Alyssa a few a piece today, a few more to come in two weeks. I am very grateful that fillings are white now because I can't see anything when I look in their little mouths. But it is not just fillings for my crew, they are also doing sealants and pulling two of Alyssa's teeth as well. Her 4 permanent teeth on bottom are right on top of each other and one of them is pushed forward so much that the gums don't cover it properly. To provide space and hopefully avoid grafting to the gums (which Seth had) they are yanking teeth. So you can imagine what 7 follow up visits costs....thousands! Thank goodness for Dental Insurance but even my copay will obliterate our flexible spending account this year. But again, thank goodness we opted to have a lot put into the FSA this year.

And I must say that I have never been sufficiently grateful for good teeth. In fact I used to get crazy jealous when my siblings had cavities because they got to miss school for fillings and get a milkshake on the way home, and they would come home laughing and talking about their numb faces, and I wanted in on it so badly. It was also painful for me when all my friends got braces and I had to put unwound paperclips in my mouth to keep from feeling completely out of the loop. My gratitude is a bit tardy, but I am at last very grateful to have good teeth. Now that I've finally said it they'll probably start falling out.

Anyway, after two and a half hours in the waiting room this morning, watching other kids go in and come out ten minutes later with a clean bill of health, I took my poor little numb faced babies back to school and returned to preschool to fetch Chloe. My whole three hours totally spent. I wonder what I'll do on Thursday? I am sure something will come up that needs my attention. I hope so. I have learned that I don't like to be alone. I didn't even like the 10 minutes that I was alone before I had to pick up Chloe today.

If anyone local is looking for a good pediatric dentist, I would highly recommend Dr. Kerber. They work on the kids in a giant playroom, with big screen TV's and lots of toys and games. They go home with balloons and a cute picture with the doc, and toothbrushes, obviously. It is easily the most fun time my kids have ever had at a Doctor's office. Everyone is very friendly and after each visit the doctor sits and chats with you for a few minutes in a meeting room so you never feel rushed or in the way. We are very happy there, but even as nice as it is, I would be very happy if we only had to see them twice a year. Oh well.

Here they are on their first visit last month. Typo on Alyssa's name, but still such a cute idea. These are hanging in the lobby as well.

And here is Chloe after school today. For their first day alone they could bring a bear to keep them company. Chloe spent the morning deciding if she wanted to bring a bear or Chorizo instead. I was shocked when she decided to bring her bear and then even more surprised when we got to school and found Kayleigh walking in with the same bear.

Alright, that was kind of a lot of words just to say we went to the dentist. I don't know how it is that when I mean to type a few sentences, a few pages come out? I am off to take my little preschooler on a bike ride now.