Adorable little people

You know what Caroline has been up to, but I do have 3 other precious children I didn't want to completely ignore this week!

Saturday, we went to the MDA walk to support our sweet Maggie-Moo. When we got there, Tru and Sascha were extremely excited to find out that Darth Vader, a Storm Trooper, Dora, and Minnie Mouse were also supporters of Muscular Dystrophy. I wish that I had a picture of Sascha with Dora, but Caroline took her over there, and to be honest, Dora sort-of creeped me out. I did snap this sweet one of her gazing adoringly up at Minnie Mouse. Sweet Love. She is so edible (and also such a stinkin' mess!)!!

And Tru followed these guys around the entire time. I would turn and he would be out of my immediate sight . . . all I had to do was find Darth Vader and there was my Tru-bud . . . convinced that he was in the presence of the dark side.

Bo was more excited about seeing Mazure (Major), but I never managed to get a picture of them. I couldn't resist these two pics of my Bo-bo though . . . he is obsessed with the number 4, Buzz Lightyear and Toy Story, and dinosaurs. The second picture is of him with his dino hat on roaring at me. 

And, just for kicks, a couple of pictures of our princesses, one too cool for school and the other too pretty to let out of the house! Caroline and Josh went to the Daddy/Daughter dance a couple of weeks ago and had a wonderful time. I teared up several times as he told me about their date. What a sweet memory for them both!

Dental Awareness Week

I'm not sure if there is an actual dental awareness week. I imagine there is since I have learned that next week is National School Breakfast Week (or something like that).

Anyway, this week we have had some oral fixations at casa Bass. You know Caroline's story. Tru has his first loose tooth-Woohoo!! But I am sorry to report that I had 2 unfortunate developments as well . . . a broken filling on one side and a cavity on the other.

For a while now I thought I had a sensitive tooth. I kept meaning to buy Sensodyne toothpaste and had been favoring the other side of my mouth in the meantime. Saturday afternoon, I ate some popcorn and out came the filling and some tooth. Eww. That grosses me out to even type it!! I had no good side anymore, so eating this week has required creative chewing and soft textures . . . grits, jello, bananas, and peanut butter have been my staples. Because I had a bad experience with a dentist (who is not practicing any longer) and because I am extremely prone to gagging (seriously--chewing gum can set me off and blowing up balloons or floaty pool toys is not even an option for me) I tend to only go to the dentist when there is EXTREME pain or no way to deny the need (i.e., a tooth breaks off). This was one of those times.

Well, hats off to Nayla Hatley again! My experience today was easy and painless. My cavity is filled and in two weeks I will be going back to get the broken filling replaced. I even had my teeth cleaned Monday and managed that well too.

Tomorrow, Caroline goes to the orthodontist for spacers and begin the process of being fitted for an appliance and possibly braces this summer. By the end of March, we may have to sell some plasma to cover our mouths, but they will be healthy and on the way to being straight!!

I promise not to take up anymore of your time with dental stories, but if this blog is an accurate record of our lives . . . well, this is what we've been doing! So go brush your teeth and floss and schedule your cleanings for every six months and maybe you can escape a week like ours!

Bless her heart

Sugar darlin' Caroline had 2 teeth pulled yesterday. She woke up Sunday morning with half of her face puffy and complaining her tooth hurt. When she was little, she had back to back ear infections coupled with some high fevers that resulted in one of her teeth being discolored (mottled?) When I looked in her mouth Sunday, I couldn't see anything different looking, so I called our friend and orthodontist, Tom Phelan. He was so sweet to help us and put a call in to a dentist we had been to before that he has a great working relationship with. In no time at all, Dr. Nayla Hatley was offering to meet us at her office to check Caroline out. After talking for a while, we decided to start her on antibiotics and come in first thing Monday morning. I was so touched that she was willing to leave her family on a Sunday to check on Caroline.

Long story short . . . the mottled tooth had some decay and infection and so she decided to go ahead and pull it and another tooth that Caroline needed out to make room in her teeny tiny mouth. Bless her . . . she has NO ROOM!! So, yesterday my drama queen acted like such a big girl and had her teeth yanked out (well, she kind of freaked out during the shot but was a total champ after that). I won't gross you out with details or pictures, but let's just say those two baby teeth looked like they belonged to a saber tooth tiger and I totally lost my appetite changing her gauze out. Meanwhile, Caroline was excited to "have to" eat ice cream and lay around.

This morning we discovered the tooth fairy had been very generous and she has earned a treat trip to Target. Unfortunately, there will be more teeth pulled in the future and retainers and braces to try and compensate for the bum oral deal DNA dealt her. I am also dealing with a little bit of mommy guilt that I didn't take her in a few weeks ago the first time she said her tooth hurt. At least I could have saved her the pain of infection and mump looking cheeks. Ah, the balance of correctly reacting as a parent gets me again. I'm willing to bet that I will overcompensate the next few times with our kids and run them to the dentist or doctor over nothing just to be safe. Mainly, however, I am so thankful to Tom and Nayla for taking such swift and wonderful care of my baby girl. There is little in this world that blesses a mama more than people going above and beyond for one of her kids.

Well, I'm off to brush Bo and Sascha's teeth for the 4th time this morning and then do full body checks to see if I need to overreact about any potential bodily threats.

Just kidding. It's just the 3rd time.

A letter to the Girl Scouts

Dear Girl Scouts,

I am not sure what your organization stands for; I went to one Brownie informational meeting as a kid and ended up doing Indian Princess instead (I think my dad was Flying Eagle and I was some kind of Dove). I don't know if you, like the Boy Scouts, believe in always being prepared. I only know that once a year you wreak havoc on my nutrition. You show up at my door and absolutely win me over with your adorable sales pitch. The Samoas you offer call my name and before I know it, February arrives and I find myself helpless, powerless, and ill from their coconutty goodness.

In years past, I have had some semblance of control and only been able to eat the boxes I order in January when my resolutions are fresh and meaningful. But now, in some twisted sales technique, you have found me at Kroger. And your sweet adorable selves literally call to me as I am walking in and walking out . . . offering me more Samoas than my heart and stomach can handle.

I would love to continue supporting your cause, but out of respect for those of us who will be forced to go to the pool multiple times a week this summer, I ask that you start selling something else. Diet Dr. Pepper, for instance, would be something I would gladly purchase from you in LARGE quantities. Sugar free bubblegum, ankle weights, and workout shorts are also more acceptable pre-shorts weather items.

Thank you for only selling them once a year.

A loving (and really full) supporter,
Rachel

New Year's Resolutions

WHAT?! IT'S ALMOST MARCH?!

I know. This is Tru's resolution, not mine. And I was not made aware of it until I went to his parent/teacher conference and saw this most precious sheet of paper hanging on the wall.

He wants to be a better swimmer (**Note to self, call Ms. Johns, oops, Mrs. Haupt or Abby and set up lessons**). Sweet boy wants to jump off the diving board and swim without fear.

He wants to learn how to be nice better and thinks I can teach him. LOVE HIM. That is so touching that he thinks I have the ability to do that. (**Note to self, be nice to Tru so I don't ruin this!**)

There is just nothing sweeter than an unintended compliment from one of your kids where they expect nothing in return. They are rare and priceless moments.

If I had to guess, I would say these are the other kids' resolutions:
**Caroline- find as many places as possible to do a pirourette (regardless of people or glass objects in the path of the twirl)
**Bo- eat everything in multiples of fours . . . 4 wrappers, 4 pancakes, 4 fiber one bars (that is a BAD idea)
**Sascha- live up to nickname "Sassy" and say "NO" to almost everything

I've already forgotten mine for the year. Maybe it should have been reduce my aspartame intake.

Fantasies

Two days ago my sweet, romantic eldest daughter came up with her first fantasy proposal.  If you are a girl, you totally know about the fantasy proposal.  We dream of being cared for and adored and look forward to that day when our prince will drop to one knee and give us a ring. Hers, at this point, is a faceless fiance. I can say this with confidence because right now, and hopefully for a long time, she tells me stuff. In this dream proposal, she had graduated from college (amen) and so had he (yes and yes!!) and they were on a big trip scuba diving to celebrate (I am assuming that we were there too, because at this point in her sweet 8 years she cannot imagine a time we wouldn't all be together.). While underwater admiring the oceanic life, dream boy holds up a sign that says, "Will you marry me?" and she and her mask nod! (I like this scenario because it would prevent some immediate making out! hahaha)

Well I got my fantasy proposal 12 years ago and then my dream wedding and the 4 kids I had always imagined. So I am now fantasizing about what my life will look like if and when I have to (I mean, get to) work outside of our little abode. Hmmmm . . . testing out mattresses, working as a Diet Dr. Pepper connoisseur, being forced to wear the latest fashions and get paid for walking around Target in them. Do any of these jobs exist? No? Shoot.

I really don't know what I will do in real life, but I do know I would love to replace Regis on Live with Regis and Kelly. In my fantasy world, she and I would be BFF and have the best time talking pop culture and kids and then I would fly back to LR on my private jet and be home when the bus dropped off the kiddies. Hey, it's my FANTASY so it could TOTALLY happen.

By the way, I have changed my comment settings so anyone can comment without registering. Sorry, I am a blog novice and an internet idiot; I had no idea my blog was being snobby!!

I heart her iTouch

Caroline got an iPod touch from Santa this year. She loves it!! She sings, she plays Angry Birds, and she takes LOTS of pictures. Here are a few of my favorites . . .

 Friends

 Nana and Papa

One of my favorite things that she does is text me. Sure, I have to nix it when it goes on too long after bedtime, but I love having a way to connect with her that I know we can continue as she grows up. Being able to read her written, "I luv u, Mommy" is precious. Just like her.