Days with the Dorans

 On our trip to the Dentist last week, we learned that Zach had TWO cavities! To be honest, I was nervous for him.  My last cavity was in 1983 and it wasn't a great experience... mostly because I was scared and a friend told me it was AWFUL. I screamed before Dr. S. even touched my mouth! I love my dentist (same guy who filled my tooth back in '83). It is like walking back in time when you go to his office- typewriter (no computer), etcha-sketch and more! He's super nice and Dr. S. also gave me a lesson in dentistry today! He shared with me (and Z) the X-rays and how (and why) Z needed a filling.  The cavities he had were on separate sides (one on top and one on bottom) and both were between teeth- meaning brushing wouldn't have helped but flossing would have! They are both baby teeth so he could have a mouth with no cavities again one day. I got to watch up close all the different things he did to Z's teeth (drilling, filling, etc) and it was so cool...

 I believe I've mentioned before how much I love my dentist.  I've been going there since I was three (or four) and I love that my kids go there now too.  Going to the dentist is like going back in time.  Nothing has changed in his office.  There are the same amazing puzzles, Rubik's cube, etcha-sketch and pictures/books.  They still use a type writer and I love that all the same people still work there. I know that some people hate going to the dentist but my kids actually love it.  It may be due partly because they've never had any issues with their teeth.  I've only had one cavity myself (and Jeff has good teeth).  The kids have all had great appointments (not a cavity in the group) and they LOVE going to Dr. S. and visiting his treasure chest and getting some of his home-made cookies (yes- my dentist hands out sugary treats after our teeth are cleaned). We've tried for the last year to get Sean to get his teeth cleaned but h...

I'm learning now that simple things like doctors' appointments aren't always so simple for a 'larger' family. Our calendar is color coded and Jeff and I pretty much kiss each other on Sunday and say, "See you Friday". We are ships passing in the night and we often have to have a kid go late to practice or get help from my folks. Because of this crazy schedule, I took a day off work and the three Bigs and I were off to get our teeth cleaned! Since our appointments didn't start until 11:00, I got the Bigs on the bus and then Z and I took Seany to school. We hit a Tim Horton's (muffin and tea for me, donut for Z), got an oil change and then it was already time to get the Bigs from school! They were very well behaved and all got great reports on their brushing (I was especially happy to hear this about Z since I no longer help him brush his teeth!). They read books, did homework and did puzzles waiting for each other to get done with the cleanings. ...

Today was a big day for Zach! It was his first trip to the dentist (well, as a patient that is...). I shouldn't have been scared. Our kids are pretty mellow and they are easy to take places... that is... except Z. We never know what he'll do, or how he'll act. Usually we are pleasantly surprised, but thinking back to Ali Jane's screaming performance on her first trip to the dentist, well,... let's just say I was holding my breath... Walking into my dentist's office can be like walking back in time. It has hardly changed since I first started going there in the 70s! The same puzzles and games are in the waiting room and you can hear the click of the typewriter (yes... I said TYPEWRITER) as you wait. I enjoyed playing with the Etch-a-sketch while Joe tried his hand at a Rubik's-Cube. The other thing that hasn't changed in the last 30 years are the pictures on the wall. My picture is up there, my brother's, Joe's, Al's... and now ZACH'S! Z c...

Six months sure does fly by! It seems like it was just yesterday that we were at the dentist but the Bigs and I were off to get another check-up and teeth cleaning. Jeff had a meeting, so I left the L ittles with my folks and we were off. I am so thankful that the Bigs are so well behaved when we go places. They were great during my teeth cleaning. (I could never have taken Z- at least at this stage- and not had an adult there to keep tabs on him and make sure he wasn't getting into trouble.) When it was their turn, Joe volunteered to go first and get his teeth "all shiny" and he did a great job! Ali Jane couldn't wait to get into the dentist chair. When our dentist was checking Joe's teeth she kept whispering to me, "Is it my turn yet?" "When will it be my turn?" "Can I go now?" As soon as the hygienist was done cleaning Joe's teeth, Ali Jane jumped into the chair and sat there just like this waiting for her to clean up from...

(Look closely- Joe is smiling in the chair under the light) I am off work all week. In my district we have a mid-winter break, which is (in my opinion) a God-send! By February the kids are already getting antsy - and whether it is because of the weather or... whatever the reason- it's a nice break to have. It's also a great time to catch up on doctor and dentist appointments and so that is what we've been doing all week. And yes, Joe and Al have been documenting it all in their writer's notebooks. We go to the same dentist that I went to when I was young. One of the things I like about going to the dentist is seeing the old pictures of both my brother and me and some of our neighborhood friends on our first trip to the dentist. Now the bigs have their pictures up too and because when I got married my last name still began with a 'D' the pictures of the Doran kids, and the Drapal kids are all side-by-side! The bigs were actually quite excited to go to the ...

Ever since the last trip to the dentist I have been DREADING going back... Somehow they managed to get Ali Jane's x-rays, but she screamed the entire time and wouldn't let them go near her mouth to clean her teeth. To gear up for this trip, I brought out all the external rewards... that wedding barbie you want, a new back-pack for school and even... McDonald's for lunch!! Even with all the bribing, it didn't look good. She was definitely scared, but somehow we managed to get her in the chair. Even Joe was amazed! I am so happy to report that she did a great job! They counted her teeth- polished them and she even let our dentist near her! I was THRILLED that she didn't need more x-rays this time. For doing such a good job, they loaded her up with goodies- from rings, bracelets, toys and animal cards... not to mention our dentist's DELICIOUS home-made cookies! After watching his sister go, Jonasen had no problem hopping into the chair and opened his mouth imme...

After reading the book about Dora going to the dentist a gazilllion times, I thought Ali Jane would be great at the dentist. She talked about it weeks before we went and was excited to get the "toys" they would give her after she was such a good girl. The only problem... they started with X-rays- and those aren't very pleasant for such a little lady. Ali Jane SCREAMED!! It was very hard to watch though it only lasted a minute or two. By the time the poor thing was done she had little red dots around her eyes- my guess from the stress, but she did it and I was soooooooo proud of her! Then it came time for the polishing and that didn't go so well. After having only four of her teeth "tickled", she had had enough. I was soooooooo upset! Really- it was not one of my proudest moments as a mommy. I tried bribing her with things she wanted- toys- trips to fun parks- the lake- I tried guilting her with a sad face, where she'd say, "It's o.k. mommy....