Wednesday, October 29, 2008

The Importance of Brushing Your Teeth!

As moms, we all know how important it is for our children to brush their teeth! Chris and I have always tried to get the girls to brush their teeth first thing in the morning and before bed. I can't say that we haven't forgotten a time or two, but we try our best. However, I will say that we let them brush their own teeth and we don't do it for them.

Well, for some time now we have been dealing with Maddie's teeth issues. It all began back at the beginning of this year when she started complaining of her cheek hurting. Like most people, you look for canker sores or a bite inside her cheek or on her tongue, but I couldn't find anything. It took me almost a week for her to finally direct me to a tooth on the top that I noticed was starting to turn gray inside the middle of the molar. We immediately got her into the dentist and after several visits and an attempt to fix the problem using laughing gas, we determined that she would need to be sedated - which only a pediatric dentist could do. We made an appointment for Maddie to get her teeth worked on in July and on that day we met my parents in McPherson at the quilt shop (obviously for my mother-in-law to do a little shopping). While in the quilt shop and while my mom and dad were getting the two younger girls, the clerk gave the girls each a package of Smarties without my knowledge. And before I noticed it, Maddie had eaten 4 little candies! (she was not to have eaten anything due to having surgery in a couple hours) So, I informed the dentist when we got there, not really thinking is was that big of a deal , but they wouldn't do the procedure because it was unsafe with food in her stomach. UUUGGGGHHH! I was completely disappointed, so much so I could have thrown up! We had waited almost six months for this to be done and with one small mishap, we were being given a new appointment almost three months later!

Luckily, the three months went pretty quickly and we were set for our rescheduled appointment on Sept 30th. And... then on the Friday before I was called to tell me that both the dentists had their babies and our appointment would have to be cancelled until they got back from maternity leave. Needless to say, I was again disappointed. However, finally on this Monday we got a call to reschedule again and they could do it yesterday morning!!! So, we went in yesterday and Maddie didn't have anything to eat so we were a go for surgery. She was given a little poke of "sleepy" medicine when I gave her a big bear hug and within minutes she was out of it. It was so hard to carry my baby back there and watch them give her an IV and see her little eyelids taped shut. The procedure ended up taking about two hours and after 2 extractions, 2 pulpotomys (a root canal for a child), 4 caps and several fillings and sealants - she was done. The poor girl has so much metal in her mouth she almost looks like she has braces - but it was necessary to get her back on the right track. The hardest part was watching her come out of the anestesia. She was shiverring (which is normal) and soooo wigglely. I thought she was going to wiggle right off the table. She was crying and grabbing her head because she was dizzy. It was so hard for me - I hate seeing one of my children in this type of situation. But, we got it done and she was so brave! She even got to put her two molars under her pillow last night for the tooth fairy - who brought her $2!!!

So, now you can see the importance of brushing your teeth!!! Honestly, Maddie's problems were somewhat because she has inherited bad teeth - but, it was also from not brushing good enough and not flossing. So, learn from our mistakes and check your kids teeth and possibly brush for them (at least on occassion). Trust me, after spending over $1000 in her mouth - it is so worth it! Just a little note - Ashlyn has PERFECT teeth - thank goodness!!!

First Dance Routine

This last Sunday was Maddie and Ashlyn's first dance program. They were the halftime entertainment for the Guns and Hoses Charity Football game, featuring the Salina Police Dept against the Salina Fire Dept. They were so excited to show us what they have been learning at dance class AND they got to wear their Halloween costumes as well.

Below are both of their routines. I have to admit, it was sort of a disappointing day as Ashlyn ended up being a little scared and too cold to dance her whole routine and Maddie was accidentally put in the wrong group and was not even doing the routine she learned. I felt so bad for Maddie as she was crushed that she couldn't show me what she had learned, but I was impressed at her dancing pretty good for a routine she hadn't even learned. Hopefully next time will be much better.

Ashlyn is Snow White

Maddie is a Winter Princess

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Celebrating 30!

For Katie's birthday, me and my girlfriends spent a weekend away - no husbands and no kids! We ended up going to Wichita since we didn't want to spend half our time away driving. We started Friday evening off by going to dinner at Texas Roadhouse where Katie got to sit on the sadle. And after spending some time in the hot tub at the hotel and having some girl talk, we finally hit the sack at nearly midnight! (Which by the way is close to three hours after my bedtime...yes I know, I'm old.) The next day we spent time resting and relaxing and chit chatting all day long. We even enjoyed some pampering by getting manicures and pedicures. Obviously, we didn't party hard, but honestly, it was so nice spending time hanging out with girlfriends and enjoying a quiet relaxing day!


Watch Katie "Yee Ha" for turning 30.

(Katie - you knew I HAD to post it)


Katie, Dana, Me and Julie



Pampered with Pedicures & Manicures



Friday, October 24, 2008

Getting Older

Everyone hates getting older - or most people anyways... however, in the eyes of a child, one year older is the best thing in the world. On my next birthday, I will be hitting the big 30! I'm really not having too much trouble with this since Chris is already in his 30's - I kinda already feel that I'm there as well. However, this birthday can be hard for some people. Two of my good friends turned 30 yesterday and today! So, the girls wanted to wish them a Happy Birthday.

Happy Birthday Dawn and Katie!!


Sunday, October 12, 2008

Pumpkin PaZOOla

Yesterday my friend Amanda and I took our kids to the Pumkin PaZOOla at the Salina Zoo. It was a really nice day to go and the kids had fun looking at the animals and doing the extra activities they had available. However, we learned that if we go again next year, we will make sure we do the extra activities first before checking out the animals since we ended up missing out on the free pumkins for the kiddos and we weren't able to get our faces painted. Nonetheless, we still had a great time. Here are some pics.

Trey, Maddie and Ashlyn on the Obstacle Course!







Brooke digging for a pumkin prize.

Ashlyn, Maddie & Trey in the Corn Maize

The kids enjoying the Petting Zoo!

My Obsessions

For the last couple months, I have been obsessed with going to garage sales! I just absolutely love it. I think my obsession comes from the fact that I'm really not able to go shopping like I used to since we are now living on one income, so this is my way of shopping.

I have found a lot of clothes for Maddie and Ashlyn, especially sizes they will be growing into. (I really don't have to look for Brooke since she has huge wardrobes to grow into because of the two older girls hand-me-downs!) I also love to pick up puzzles for Maddie, books for Ashlyn and learning toys for Brooke. Last weekend I even found 2 pairs of roller skates for next summer. I can't wait for the girls to get to use them. I also tend to find lots of home decor and scrapbooking supplies and I even pick up clothes for Baby Dylan to grow into, which is kind of fun since I'm not used to shopping for boys.

However, this weekend I found my best deals yet! I ended up getting an 8-foot tall Christmas tree for my friend for $1. Yes, a buck! And, it gets better than that, as we were putting the tree together to make sure all the pieces were there, we ended up finding another tree and a brand new lighted Christmas wreath (the huge ones that you put on the side of your house). I did go back to the garage sale and told her about the other tree and the wreath and I got to keep the tree for my other friend that was in need of one, but the wreath was not supposed to have been sold, so I'm glad I went back to check. To bad, it was really awesome. So, in the long run, I got two Christmas trees for 1 buck! Then yesterday, I found a pretty nice couch (or large loveseat) for my friend and I got it for $5! What a find. I am just loving it. I think my favorite part is getting nice things for such a bargin!!! Too bad the garage sale season is about to end, but I'll be ready in the spring to start back up again.

My other obsession (or really more of a goal) is to lose some weight before the end of the year. I tried doing weight watchers, but they have changed their procedures to make it much harder to do without joining and I just don't have the extra money to spend on a membership. So, I've been doing a diet called the Idiot Proof Diet. Basically it is a fast way to lose weight doing the diet in 11-day increments. The first 11-day try I ended up losing 6 pounds. However, my fear was that I would lose the weight fast and then gain it all back once I went off the diet. But, much to my surprise I have been off the diet for a few weeks now and I have maintained my weight lost. I have now gone back on another 11-day session to see what I can lose this time. My goal is to lose 26 pounds total - I hope I can reach it.