Ian's not so fun Friday

There was a lot of feedback on Ian's braces predicament.  No movement in Ian's overbite after 2 years of wearing braces got people talking and offering their opinions.  And everyone had one!  Apparently, it is very common to pull perfectly good teeth and help move things along.  Once I got comfortable with the idea, we proceeded with two teeth getting extracted.  

The appointment last Friday was a pretty yucky one.  Ian had to first visit the orthrodontist and get the wire taken out on his top teeth.  Then he went across the room to where the dentist was and had the teeth pulled. Followed with a seat back on the orthodontist part of the office to get a new wire put in.  I know this was the best thing for Ian, but I felt like the worst mother in the world watching my son go through this.  

The dental technician gave me Ian's teeth.  OMG!  They are huge!!! It sort of makes sense now why his teeth weren't moving.  The roots on these teeth were too massive to shift.

YOWZER!  That's some serious root action.

Once we were able to leave (with plenty of back-up gauzes ready to use), I took Ian to get a milkshake.  We attempted to have it at Cheesecake Factory (only 2 miles from the orthodontist), but Ian was clearly miserable and we changed the plan to have it to-go.  As we were leaving we made sure to get 2 pieces of cheesecake to take with us because only soft foods can be eaten for the rest of the day.  Um, can you say mom guilt?  

The orthodontist told us within a year's time everything will do what it needs to do and Ian's braces can come off. Knowing Ian he has started the countdown and will not wear them one day longer than he needs to.

Before the teeth came out.

After the teeth came out.

Braces gone wrong

This February will be two full years of Ian having braces in round 2.  Round 1 happened in 6th grade. Since we did round 1, we were told that when round 2 came, his need for dental work would not be as lengthily of a process. Or so we hoped.  Braces in round 2 should last approx. 12 to 18 months.  Definitely going in to 8th grade they would be off.

Each time Ian makes his routine visit to the orthodontist, he thinks this is IT.  This is the visit that Dr. H. will say, your overbite has corrected itself and your need for braces is no more.  And each time we visit the orthodontist, the reality is very, very different.  Ian has tried headgear, bands, springs and is currently sporting some new type appliance in his mouth that the orthodontist office retired using years ago on other patients.  All in the fruitless attempt at correcting his overbite.

At his last appointment, Dr. H. measured the gap between the upper teeth and lower teeth to see what progress is getting made.  Much to our disappointment, we find out that in 2 years (TWO YEARS!!), Ian's overbite has not shrank at all.  At All.  This news is the complete opposite of thinking you will be getting your braces off.

There is one last resort.  It has been suggested to pull a few teeth and then close the gap.  This will correct the overbite.  Ian was all for it (anything to get these braces off as soon as possible!), but then found out if teeth get pulled, it will be an additional year getting the gap to close.  OY!

Ian did not take the news of his mouth's lack of progress and movement whatsoever well.  As soon as we got in the car, he threw a show stopping temper tantrum and was ready to pull his braces off on his own.  There was really nothing I could say to help him calm down.  I agree with Ian that it is ridiculous his overbite has not moved any.  Furthermore, Ian doesn't even care about fixing the overbite and just wants to be done.  Ian, who is currently in 8th grade, now has visions of going to college in braces.

After we left the orthodontist's office, we made our way to Duck Donuts.  Hopefully Duck Donuts can help change Ian's doom and gloom outlook.  2 donuts and 1 egg, cheese & bacon donut sandwich later and we are back on the road going home.  Ian is a bit calmer now and has stopped screaming.  Most likely because he is in a sugar coma. :)

Our latest plan is to give these newest set of spring like pieces of metal in his mouth a good effort and see if it can do the trick.  We won't know if its working for another month or two. But at what point do you say enough is enough and either pull perfectly great teeth or wipe your hands of all of it and walk away?  This whole situation is crazy and I really feel bad for Ian, who said he can't even eat with these new type springs in his mouth.  Although, he had no problem eating those donuts. :)

Yes, that is 2 donuts surrounding egg, cheese and bacon!

Look, Ian found his smile again!

Ian's new look

Ian was thrilled to hear the braces would be able to come off at the beginning of the school year.  True to our orthodontist's promise, Ian got his braces off on Friday, September 11th.  He now has to wear a retainer (It's clear!  You can't even tell he has it on) full-time, but he is thrilled to now run his tongue over his teeth and find they are smooth, smooth, smooth.  

The plan is for Ian to wear the retainer for several months and then when all his adult teeth are in, we will start round 2 with the braces.  

This is what Ian's teeth looked like the day he got them on:

December 8, 2014:  Before and After:

September 11, 2015:  Before and After:

Got to love an orthodontist who gives out a big bag of candy when you get the braces off.

The appointment wasn't even over yet and Ian was already munching away on the rice krispies treat!

5th grade is off to a fantastic start!

This is a yummy reality

On Monday, October 14th (Columbus day), the kids had off from school and I had the day off from the preschool job and The Crazy Man.  I had scheduled my semi-annual trip to the dentist for a routine cleaning that morning knowing that I could make this appointment and not have to change my schedule on anyone to get there.  I had never taken the kids with me before, but I figured with 2 iPads and only needing a simple cleaning, it wouldn't be bad. 

My dentist's office is on Wisconsin Ave, NW in Washington, DC.  It is the least convenient place it could be in relation to where I live.  In fact, it takes 40 minutes to get there, 40 minutes to get back home and the appointment itself is always less than 30 minutes.  Not the best use of time when every minute counts.  But I love my dentist and have been going there for 19 years.  When I find a medical professional that does a great job and manages her/his time correctly to keep my waiting to a minimum I refuse to make a switch.

I hadn't fully realized just how great it was that I made my appointment on a federal holiday.  The kids and I sailed into town, found a parking spot and didn't have to pay!  Then, we met Jeff for lunch at his office in Arlington.  Found a spot on the street right near his office and didn't have to pay!  Wait, it gets better!  On the way to the dentist office, I always make a turn on 33rd Street, NW (in Georgetown) and pass right by DC Cupcakes.  You know the cupcake shop run by the two sisters that was made into a reality tv show on TLC called Georgetown Cupcakes?  Every single time I drive by there (minimum 2 roundtrips each year), the line is out the door and up the block with people waiting to get in.  It's been like this for years. Given the huge number of cupcake shops in the metro area, it's pretty crazy how popular this one is.  I guess having a tv show will do that for the business.  I had never been there, but have always been intrigued.

I was explaining this to the kids as we did the first drive-by on the way to my dentist.  Ian asked if we could go there and get some cupcakes.  I said, let's see how easy we can find parking after my appointment.  We left the dentist in record time.  The dentist loved getting to meet the kids and even commented I am doing a better job flossing.  Ha!  Once I had the corner of M Street and 33rd Street, NW in my view,  I did two loops around the block and couldn't find a parking spot.  Ian said it was ok and we could just go to Cold Stone across the street from our house for ice cream when we got home.  (That wasn't really the point).  We gave up on our mission and met Jeff for lunch.

While eating lunch, Ian said he'd be willing to walk up to 2 minutes from wherever we had to park to get to the cupcake shop.  Jeff and I figured this gave me like a 4 or 5 block radius in finding a parking spot.  Since Jeff's office is only a 3 minute drive to get back to Georgetown, I was willing to give it another shot.

We lucked out big-time!  We found a parking spot right away directly across the street from the cupcake place.  And, because it was a federal holiday, we didn't have to pay for parking in that spot either.  Sweet!

The line was only about 15 deep when arrived.  Soon after, I'd say there was easily about 50 people behind us.  Nuts, right?  While we were waiting to get in, Ian asked the lady guarding the door how many cupcakes they make each day.  She said between 5,000 and 10,000 a day.  Yowzer!  Apparently they start at 4:00am each morning.  The line moved pretty fast and before you knew it, we were in.  We got a half dozen cupcakes to go and ate 3 there, and brought 3 home.  We did do a drive-by of Jeff's office on the way home and gave him a cupcake to eat. 

Checking out the menu on what is offered for a Monday.

Standing in line, waiting to get in.

We made it inside! 

Yummy!  They even have a gluten-free cupcake each day.

Eating cupcakes = happy children.

It was a neat experience.  After going to my dentist appointment, meeting Jeff for lunch, getting to experience DC Cupcakes, we get home about 5 hours later.  15 minutes after walking in, Ian looks at me and says, "This has been a boring day."  WHAT!?!?!?!  I thought it was one of our more fun days. 

MY SHINING STAR!

If this was a play, it would be worthy of a standing ovation.

If this was a movie, it would surely deserve an academy award for best performance.

If this was a book, you can bet it would get the Noble prize in literature.

If this was a Broadway musical, you can count on it winning a Tony.

And, if this was a record, it would go triple platinum within days.

What am I describing?  Sam's behavior at her 5 year doctor's check-up and her dentist appointment to get 2 (of 4) cavities filled. 

In both situations (on back to back days, no less), she was an absolute dream.   The doctor and dentist who both know her well, couldn't believe what we were all experiencing.  All of our mouth's dropped open and hit the floor when we saw we weren't in store for a fight or needing to hold her down.  It was downright unbelievable.  And in each instance, she left the office with a smile on her face. 

Sam brought her own reinforcements to prepare for the shots given at her 5 year appt. 
The nurse got a good laugh when walking in the room and seeing Sam like this.

At the dentist getting 2 cavities filled.

Here's Sam chilling at the dentist. 
This is the appt. that diagnosed the cavities.

For those that know what Sam is like, her past appointments at the doctor's office have been legendary.  To the point, that I end the appointment asking about medicating her and when can we have a serious discussion about that.  Yes, its that bad.

This past year has been one of amazing growth for Sam.  It is so exciting to think we've turned a corner.  Yay!  It was about damn time.  :)

Miracle of miracles

About a week ago, Sam started complaining non-stop that her teeth were hurting.  Every meal she ate and random times through out the day she would start crying and complaining about tooth pain.  It was not fun.  Jeff took a look at her mouth and determined that her front top two teeth were a little loose. 

After 3 days of hearing Sam go on and on about her teeth hurting, I decide to bring her into the dentist.  It took me long enough, right?   An X-Ray was taken and it turns out the roots above her top two teeth are dissolving.  This isn't because her adult teeth are coming in and pushing the baby teeth out, it's because Sam is a thumb-sucker and it is doing damage to her teeth.  Lovely.

Between me and you, I like that Sam sucks her thumb.  Why?  Because when she is sucking her thumb, she can't scream at the same time.  It's a nice built-in quiet time when you see the thumb in her mouth.  According to me, that is more than worth any amount of money needed for braces in the future.

The dentist recommended that Sam stops sucking her thumb pronto.  I asked if the roots would then restrengthen and cease the pain being caused.  The dentist said no and the best we can hope for is that further damage is not created.  I then asked if we would have to wait another 3 years until the teeth would fall out on their own and the dentist replied, most likely she will lose these teeth within 2 years.  OMG!  Two more years of hearing Sam whine and cry about her teeth hurting.  Ugh! 

I came up with an idea.  Let's just pull these two teeth now!  When the dentist finally stopped laughing (I was serious by the way!), she said she would lose her license if she did that.  I am guessing the dentist doesn't have little kids at home.

The dentist had a nice long chat with Sam about how she has to stop sucking her thumb.  She recommended we get this product called "Mavala" that will help create a bad taste on her thumb and discourage from her putting it in her mouth.

Of course we ordered this product right away, but here's the coolest thing.  SAM HAS STOPPED SUCKING HER THUMB!!  Whatever the dentist said to her worked its magic.  And, Sam hasn't complained one since her dentist appointment about her teeth hurting.  Sam was able to see the bigger picture and know that stopping her thumb-sucking was necessary.

Wow!  Gooooooo Sam!

The next generation

I wrote about our last trip to the dentist "Say AHHHHHHHHH" and how Ian was maturing and getting better about going. This past Tuesday morning's scheduled visit was his best yet!! There was no hesitation walking through the dentist's door and he proudly wore a smile that screamed, "look at me, I'm going to the dentist." Ian sat in the chair like a pro. To our delight, no one was needed to hold him down or even throw any bribes his way. It was remarkable and boy, have we come far.

Ian blew us away with how good he was. I actually didn't recognize him and was certain my boy had switched places with someone else's. Then we had Samantha take her turn and it reminded me very quickly how bad the appointment can go. Sam quietly watched Ian from the sidelines and we were hoping that when she saw Ian was living through the experience, that it would be okay for her too. Unfortunately this was not the case, and Jeff and I assumed our positions. I got her hands & arms, and Jeff got her legs. When she screams it opens her mouth wide and the hygienist can do her thing. She screamed the whole time. Dr. B. said she is currently getting her two year molars in right now. Yes, this very minute. Lovely. :)

A very sweet moment came when Dr. B. was doing his after-the-cleaning exam, and Ian tried to console his little sister. He said, "Don't worry Sam, the dentist is just counting your teeth; it doesn't hurt at all." Too bad Sam was being too loud screaming to hear him say this.

We are good to go for another 6 months. And despite being 10 minutes late, they are letting us keep the 8:00am appointment time slot. Bonus! I actually know a mommy friend who is banned from getting the 8:00am slot because they are so late getting there.

If history repeats itself, the countdown is on until Sam is ready to embrace the bi-annual trip to the dentist too. 2 1/2 years to go, or in an easier measurement to swallow, just 4 more visits.

Please enjoy this picture of Ian and see how amazing he is. I'd love to share a picture of Samantha with you, but there was no one left in the room available to take the picture.

Say "AAAAHHHHH"

I wasn't expecting much yesterday when we went to the dentist. I always schedule the appointments for first thing in the morning for several reasons; get it over with quickly, no waiting when you are the first one scheduled and the most important factor, Jeff can join us before he heads off to work.

I definitely require reinforcements. With 2 kids, it is hard to give all your attention and energy to the 'problem' child and then ignore the good, sweet, angelic one. Now that Sam is aware of what is going on, she definitely requires a little attention thrown her way too.

We've gone to a really amazing pediatric dentist every six months since Ian was 18 months old. By my math, we've seen him now 5 times before going back yesterday. There is no reason Ian should be throwing a major fit, but then again, it is Ian we are talking about and he just recently got better at getting haircuts and getting his hair washed when taking a bath.

The last visit to the dentist had me laughing so hard I had tears running down my face and continued to weeks later when telling the story to friends and family. Ian's dentist is located in a big medical complex. The building is filled with medical offices of all kinds. Ian won't willingly walk in on his own and Jeff has to carry him and hold him against his will. Ian is of course kicking and screaming at the top of his lungs the whole time. Right next to the dentist is a Retina/Eye medical office with a huge picture window that looks into the hallway. I was pushing Sam in the stroller and was slightly ahead of Ian and Jeff coming out of the elevator. I wanted to get in the dentist office and sign Ian in as soon as possible. I come to find out that right behind me, Ian kicked Jeff pretty hard in the 'family jewels' and caused them both to fall to the ground. An older gentleman in the Retina office sees this happening and rushes out yelling "MAN DOWN OUT HERE. WE NEED HELP."

Even writing this story I am still laughing pretty hard. Ah, suffice to say, we were not off to a good start for that appointment and it pretty much went downhill after that. I am not sure if what the technician is able to accomplish in Ian's mouth even qualifies as getting the job done. But I figure the more we go, the more used to going he'll get and hopefully at some point it will be a slightly pleasant, productive visit. Plus if some type of dental emergency happens, I want to have established a relationship with a dentist for the kids.

So it had been six months and yesterday it was time to go back. Surprising to me that Jeff was willing to come and assist again. What a great husband I have! Again, Ian refused to walk in and even tried hiding in the garage when getting out of the car. Jeff carried him in the building and Ian caused a scene screaming in the elevator. Everyone riding up to the 3rd floor with us was very happy they weren't going to the dentist.

We left a trail of Ian's crocs when it was time to go back for the cleaning. He had tried to make himself invisible in the back of the coat closet when they called his name. Because it is August, no coats were hiding him. Jeff scooped him up and took him to the chair. Jeff started out the appointment sitting on Ian to keep him in place. It wasn't looking good and I couldn't see how Ian could possibly calm down and catch his breath with his father sitting on top of him. I told Jeff to get up and give Ian a second for the hygienist to explain what she was going to do. Ian said he needed a minute to look out the window and see what was going on Route 50. I then told Ian he needed to come back to the chair and he could either sit in my lap or hold my hand. At some point during the next couple of minutes, a miracle occurred. Ian WILLINGLY laid back on the chair and opened his mouth for the hygienist to do the cleaning. Furthermore, she was able to get each and every tooth (front and back). It was unbelievable and Ian even commented on how fast the cleaning went. Yay! We then had a few minutes until it was time for the dentist to come and do his examination. Ian was thrilled with how white and shiny his teeth looked and had the biggest smile that went from ear to ear. We told him the dentist was just going to take a look inside and see how beautiful his teeth were. When Dr. B showed up, Ian jumped in the chair, laid back and opened his mouth bigger and wider then I've ever seen it. It was pretty fantastic. A mom and her two girls had just arrived a minute before Ian saw the dentist and she was blown away by how eager Ian was to have him look in his mouth. Ah, if she only knew what transpired 10 minutes prior.

Just like wine, Ian keeps getting better with age. I look back and realize how normal I thought it was for him to have major, heavy-duty temper tantrums and fits every where we went he didn't want to be. My fingers are crossed that we are getting the worst of it behind us. What a strong-willed, determined little boy I have on my hands. I know these qualities will serve him well when he gets older, but for now, I wish he would be like the majority of his friends who don't cause a scene and don't require two parents to take him places that are going to be tumultuous.

Never one to rest easy and enjoy the progress we've made, on the way out of the dentist office when making Ian's next appointment 6 months from now, I added Samantha to their schedule.