A trip to the Dentist!

One of the things about having kids that can be a real pain in the backside is getting them to brush their teeth properly. With the teenagers I am constantly asking them in the mornings if they have brushed and more times than not they will say yes. And with further investigation (very carefully of course, protecting my new found smell detector being fixed from surgery last month) I do inspect! Teeth are expensive to fix and PAINFUL if not taken care of. The little boys I will do the initial brushing to ensure proper cleaning, and then let them take over just for the sake of learning how to brush. 

I always warn the kids that they will have cavities and being that there are hereditary diseases they need to make sure not to slack off. Brush now or pay later! I also scheduled ALL FOUR at the same time because, in all honesty, I DO NOT wish to go multiple times, I just don't have a schedule that allows me to do so. However, I do like the dentist, and their kid friendly play room and open exam chairs. 

So, we arrive and kids are happy and content in the play room. Many toys keep them occupied while mom fills out the file folder the size of dictionary of paper work for each of them. Side note** I usually also have a backpack packed with so many things to TRY to keep the kids occupied in case we are not in a kid friendly area. Includes, drinks, snacks, books, toys, colors, extra diapers, and extra shorts (just in case -you never know, and you shouldn't ask LOL). 

We didn't wait long at all which was A to the W to the E-SOME! The staff is extremely friendly, and they not only accommodate for every possible need (not to mention the big screen tv along with benches so you can be in ear/eye shot of your child while they are getting their teeth x-rayed, cleaned and counselled. I should have taken more photo's, but, I was too busy. Ha! 

Gabe found the dino's quite fascinating! 

Ok, so don't ask, I don't even know. Maybe he was pretending to be a super hero and had laser eyes for a moment???! LOL

Jeremy was waiting patiently, and even got down on the floor to play with the boys. Good biggest brother!

This would have to be my favorite shot! And NO it's not photo shopped at all! GO ME!

Now Jeremy is getting a little crazy! I think I took a few shots to try to get Brandy and he kept jumping in the way. With the auto delay on the iphone camera, I just COULDN'T get one and so I gave up! LOL

Kien was such a trooper! He didn't give any resistance what so ever, and even showed the dental assistant how we practiced "open wide" on the way there. Preparation is they key people!

Here is Brandy waiting patiently for her x-ray results.The assistant asked Brandy if she had ever had braces because her teeth were nice and straight as if she did. Brandy told her no, but wished she did because she thought it would be, "cool" to have them. Yeah, NO! The grass is not always greener on the other side my child!

Jeremy didn't want his photo taken, for whatever reason, I don't know. He is usually camera ready and interfering! Haha!

Kien was being a great example for his little brother. Gabe did well, but I went and sat with him just in case, therefore not being able to take a photo of him. I think he was ok with it.

Their exam gloves taste like cherries and they get to choose their own flavored toothpaste/fluoride to have their teeth cleaned with. Kien chose strawberry. Then all of them received their own special toothbrush and floss, compliments from the brands who donated them for advertising purposes- and toy.

After all was done, which only took about an hour YIPEEEEEE (a mother's dream doctor/dentist visit for four kids) the report is as follows. 

Brandy- no cavities and perfectly straight teeth. 

Jeremy- one tooth needs a filling (which was scheduled on the following Monday) and has perfectly straight teeth. 

Kien -was suggested to have his front teeth capped which included anesthesia due to his front four teeth having very little enamel and cavities. I did ask the dentist if there would be anyway that we could possibly wait until the next 6 month visit to reconsider the surgery because he is so close to losing those teeth in the next year. She agreed, and said that if we brush with fluoride toothpaste and floss them twice a day, there may not be any further issues to worry about with his permanent teeth and if he doesn't complain of pain. The dentist also confirmed that his front teeth issues were in fact stemmed from the diet of his first year being restricted to poor formula and Congee -which is a rice porridge- until he was 1 year while in the orphanage. Karin was able to help him make a transition over to baby food when she officially received him. He was on a special type of formula, soy milk and much more solids shortly after he came to be with us. With all that said, we are going to wait 6 months, and if the xray proves to the teeth deteriorating we will have his teeth capped to help from the cavities reaching the nerves and to help preserve his permanent teeth. 

Gabriel was too little for a cleaning, but they did check his teeth and the dentist said they look like they are coming in very straight and no evidence of cavities. 

AHHHHHHH--- overall, a GREAT experience! 

I call it, The OLIE...

...because they are so cute just like the Olie from when we were kids! They are actually called Radio Flyer Scoot and Zoom.. Best $20.00 purchase from Wal-Mart yet! lol 

Greg and I are in agreement that they need to make these for adults!!! LOL They are SO fun! 

Carrots, Eggs, & Coffee!

I am passing this along from an email that I received from a sweet woman that I am blessed to have in my life! This is SO true, and it should really give us a perspective on how to deal with anything that comes our way in life. 


Am grateful for ALL the trails that come my way, and my God who gives me strength and grace to be successful through anything! 

Thank you Nancy! 
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Carrots, Eggs, & Coffee!

A carrot, an egg, and a cup of coffee...You will never look at a cup of
coffee the same way again.

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how
things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make
it and wanted to give up, She was tired of fighting and struggling. It
seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose.

Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water
and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil. In the
first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the
last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil; without
saying a word.

In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners.. She fished the
carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and
placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in
a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, ' Tell me what you see.'

'Carrots, eggs, and coffee,' she replied.

Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She
did and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter
to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed
the hard boiled egg

Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter
smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, 'What
does it mean, mother?'

Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same
adversity: boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went in
strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the
boiling water, it softened and became weak The egg had been fragile.
Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after
sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The
ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the
boiling water, they had changed the water..

'Which are you?' she asked her daughter. 'When adversity knocks on your
door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

Think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with
pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength?

Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the
heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a
financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and
stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and
tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart?

Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water,
the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it
releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when
things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation
around you. When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest
do you elevate yourself to another level? How do you handle adversity?
Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

Saginaw High Homecoming Pep Rally

We brought the boys up to watch Brandy and Jeremy at the Homecoming Pep Rally of which they also have an awesome fireworks show!
Gabe was NOT thrilled with the loud noise and grasped daddy tightly!!
Kien didn't really care much because his reason for even wanting to go is because of cotton candy!!! Lol! I have to give props to daddy for taking the boys through the herds of people to find the booth with cotton candy after being spent from his very stressful work day. Such a great daddy!

I consider myself truly blessed that my teenagers are really involved with marching band and JROTC. I was physically unable to join marching band (or any sport for that matter) because of the car accident when I was 14 years old. I also was not exactly the model student nor teenager to participate in any activities as my focuses were way off from being anything successful other than getting into trouble. To watch my children walk in their talent and be successful is an unbelievable success for me deep down! It's hard to explain, they are truly my earthly joy! God is AWESOME!!