January 10, 2008

• Dental Woes

  So much to write - no time to do it!  I'll let my fingers fly and not be so worried about grammar and spelling.

  Jesse took all 3 girls to the dentist 2 days ago.  Luci came home with clean teeth and a good report.  Rissy had clean teeth, but one small filling (her first).  Annamarie came home with *3* fillings, and an appointment to return the next day for 4 more!!!!  She has crowded teeth, speech problems, sleep problems . . . Handling 3 children, Jesse wasn't able to get details on the future of Annamarie's mouth.  So . . .

  Loving the dentist as I do (NOT), I took her to the return appointment yesterday morning.  They explained the bright, white, chalky-looking, ridged lines on her teeth would have to be dealt with when she is fully grown.  Most likely the cause is her ingesting highly fluoride-treated water as a baby; OR, experiencing a high fever (she had scarlet fever when she was 3yo).  Either one of those things could be the culprit and nothing can be reversed, only cosmetic correction.  The crowded teeth will need braces when she's a few years older.  The cavity problem (yikes! 7 cavities your first trip to the dentist???!!!) is most likely from her not understanding the importance of brushing well and USING tooth paste.  She's famous for brushing with only water for 5 seconds!

  I suppose that's my fault.  I know she is handicapped (developmentally); and, I don't think I realized I should be supervising her daily care, since she'll be 8yo at the end of March.  You know?  Things like: teeth brushing, bathing (she frequently doesn't wash anything with soap except for an arm and a leg), or the washing and rinsing of her hair (she is either developing dandruff or not getting the shampoo completely out).  This week, I noticed her bottle of conditioner is empty and the shampoo is still almost half full.  I forget to be vigilant.  I tend to forget she isn't like most "almost-8yo's" and requires more supervision.  So, I'm taking responsibility for all of these things and have promised myself to do better in the future. 

  Bless her heart.  She came out of the dentist's office (they used novocaine and gas) a little disoriented.  She doesn't grasp the concept of her mouth being numb or anything that really is going on while she's there.  She was actually proud the first day because she had MORE cavities than the others girls and had finally "overachieved" something her sisters hadn't accomplished.  We explained, several times, that cavities were a "bad" thing and something you didn't want.  She was still proud that "she" got to go back for more the next day.  (sigh)

  Jesse's brother is arriving from WA this afternoon.  Jesse got a call yesterday (while I was at the dentist office) telling him, during Annamarie's therapy session, today, Luci also has an appointment.  Luci will be seeing our medical doctor for her check-in to see how her medications are doing.  Somehow, I never wrote down Luci's appointment and totally spaced that she was due to go in this month.  So, Luci is home today instead of at daycare, Jesse is home, and *I* slept until a little after 8am.  Jesse and I stayed up last night until close to midnight watching movies we had rented.  Don't ask me why I thought staying up late before a double appointment day with my children (and a house guest arriving the same day) was a good idea.  I no longer feel responsible for what my mind chooses to do.  It's all out of control!!!!  LOL

  Leaving on an upbeat note . . . I fixed a leg of lamb last night and it came out okay.  Guess the oven was having a good night!!!!

  Off to bigger and busier things! 

  • 11:11 am
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