a Busy Day

I don't know whose bright idea it was to plan both boys' dental check-ups and haircuts and Freddie's four year physical on the same day, but that's exactly what ended up on today's agenda.  To be honest, I've been dreading it - but the boys proved my anxiety was for naught. I guess they've finally reached the ages where they can handle all of that running around without being any worse for the wear, and let me just tell you - I couldn't be happier about that glorious, long-awaited fact.  The first stop was Dr. "Bail's." While Jones did MUCH better at his last visit than he had in most of the previous ones, I was still holding my breath, unsure of what to expect from him (Freddie has NEVER been a problem at the dentist). He was an absolute DREAM. They BOTH were. If you had told me two years ago that Jones Pressley would ever handle a dental appointment that way he handled today's, I'd have told you you were CRAZY. 

Turns out, the only crazy one was me - for being nervous. Jones acted like going to the dentist was his JOB. I have rarely been so proud. Not only were there no fits, but he was adorably conversant with the hygienist. In fact, both boys charmed their ways around the office.  Clinically, both are doing great. Freddie's Hypoplasia is holding steady, for which we are SO grateful. They took an x-ray to be sure, but Dr. Bill thought that we were probably out of the woods with being concerned about having to cap it, as the teeth will soon grow to a point where they no longer hit against each other; decay won't be as big a concern when they do. 

Here's hoping.

Jones had an x-ray to see how his permanent teeth are looking.  It was fascinating to see the picture. In fact, I wish I'd taken a picture of it myself. The teeth are GINORMOUS compared to his baby teeth, and because his baby teeth are so tightly packed together, the hygienist suggested that the permanents may not have room to come in, which would mean orthodontia down the road. Dr. Bill didn't mention this, though, so I'm not sure if it's a problem or not. The teeth are all there and look great, but the hygienist said she didn't expect they'd be coming in soon. She asked when he got his first teeth - when I told her 8 months, she said, "Yeah. He was a late bloomer, so they'll probably come out late, too. That's what it looks like in the x-ray." Freddie wasn't yet 4 months when he got his first tooth, which makes me wonder if HE might lose a tooth before Jones? I asked a time frame for Jones, and she said 6-12 months.

Time will tell. 

After another great visit to Great Beginnings, we ventured to the barber shop. The barber shop used to be as traumatic a place to take Jones as the dentist's office, but just as he did at Dr. Bill's, Jones handled his hair cut like he did it daily. Honestly, Y'all. I don't think you understand what a shock this is to me - that he has turned this corner. I.am.so.grateful. The boys and I left the barber shop and had lunch at Ferrara's - Freddie ordered the "avrioli." I hope I never forget how he says that instead of "ravioli." In fact, I will probably call it that from now until forever. 

After an hour or so back at the house, we left for Dr. O'Donnell's. Freddie had a great check-up, praise the Lord. He passed both his hearing and eyesight checks with flying colors, and he did great with the whole thing - until Dr. O'Donnell had him lay down on the exam table, so he could listen to his heart. I think Freddie had flashbacks to when he had to do the same thing at the "Pokin' Doctor" (which is what he calls his allergist) and ended up getting stuck 37 times. He cried and cried and cried until Dr. O'Donnell finally finished. Jones came with us. It was the first time since Freddie was an infant that I've taken both of them to the doctor's office at the same time. He made quite the sensation of himself, "smoking" his "pipe" and telling the nurse that "you gotta look up and then you spit smoke." 

What was that you were saying about "good health habits," Doctor?

(So grateful, obviously, for all of the good reports and excellent health. I praise God from Whom all blessings flow for taking such exquisite care of my baby boys.)

Great Day at Great Beginnings!

Jones is wearing one of Jeremy's
old sweatshirts! I love it!

I am VERY pleased to report that Jones and Freddie Pressley are still members of the Cavity Free Club. I am JUST as pleased to inform you that, for the first time, since he was two years old, Jones Pressley did not have to be physically restrained on the exam table at the dentist's office.

Wonders never cease.

When the hygienist came to get the boys from the waiting room, she said, "I have a note here that we're going to try taking them back without you." They'd told me last time that kids often do a LOT better without their mamas around. I let her take them, though everything in me thought, "They're too young for this!" as I watched them walk away.

I stood just outside the closed door of the exam room, listening for an explosion of tears, waiting to be asked in. Neither ever came. All I got instead were thumbs up from every hygienist who left the room. One at a time, the hygienists walked the boys to get their X-rays. They looked so big going down that hall, holding someone else's hand. My heart broke a teeny bit - but it also thrilled to see them capable of calm without me around.

When the cleanings and X-rays were done, I DID go into the exam room. I talked to Dr. Bill as he looked at Freddie's hypoplasia (it's still holding steady, so there are no problems there! YAY!), and when it was Jones's turn, the hygienist cleverly ushered me out "to pay for Freddie's cleaning," so it was just Jones, an assistant, and Dr. Bill. A few minutes later, Dr. Bill popped out and shook my hand - "They look great, Mom," he said.

He could've also said, "He did GREAT, Mom," because Jones DID.

I can't tell you how very, very thankful I am for this sign of maturity. Next time, I'm sending them in an Uber to their appointment.

That was Tuesday. Today, the boys and I were having lunch at "the Pizza Shop" (Waynesville Pizza Company) when I noticed Freddie playing with his napkin. I thought he was making a beard, so I said, "You look like Santa Claus!" He immediately - good-naturedly - corrected me: "I look like Dr. Bill" (which sounds like "Dr. Bail" when my boys say it).

Maybe he'll be a dentist for Halloween.

Great Beginnings

If I've not been posting much lately (and I haven't), it's because not much has been going on. Oh, sure. Jeremy and I met some of my buddies at the beach last weekend, while Jones and Freddie stayed with my parents, but beyond that, it's been a pretty routine couple of weeks.

Until today.

Today, the boys had their six months' exam with Dr. Bill.

If you've ever been to the dentist with Jones Pressley, you'll know why I've dreaded this day. They've told me he'll outgrow the irrational fear of laying on that exam table, but I had ZERO hope that the maturation had happened yet. Still, I let the receptionist talk me into bringing both boys at once this time - which I've not done, since Freddie's first appointment at ten months' old when Jeremy went with us. Anticipating mayhem, I asked my mother-in-law to come along.

Gratefully, she was able.

Jeremy made the mistake of mentioning the check-up to Jones last nite. He was immediately told, "No, I'm NOT having a check-up." Ugh. The fear had kicked in. Even on the way to the doctor, he was all tense, which, in turn, made me brace for what may be ahead of us.

Surprisingly, though, he did better - well, a LITTLE better - than last time. He had to be constrained by myself and another Dental Assistant while he had his teeth cleaned, but by the time Dr. Bill came in, Jones laid on the table and took it like a man.

I was equal parts proud and surprised at the change in his behavior.

Freddie was a little anxious with the cleaning, but he didn't cry at all, and with Dr. Bill, he was a champ.

All in all, it was a successful day at the dentist, even if Jones's visit got off to a rocky start. Both boys behaved (reasonably) well - and Jones did significantly better than last time - I even allowed him to get his Great Beginnings balloon and toy surprise, which is NOT a given (to me, they have to EARN those treats, and when it comes to the dentist, Jones rarely does!). The official report is that both boys are in the Cavity Free Club, and Freddie's enamel hypoplasia is holding steady, requiring no further treatment at this time!

HOORAY!

Next up: swim lessons start Thursday. If you thought I was nervous about taking Jones to the dentist ... (seriously. I'm considering letting FREDDIE have the first six lessons and letting Jones learn after he sees from Freddie how non-stressful it is).

Freddie visits the dentist.

Freddie went to the dentist today.

As I promised Jones's hygienist last week, Freddie acted the exact opposite of his brother. He was such a champ. In fact, I think I'M more tense when I go to the dentist than HE was. Today's hygienist (Jalinda?) inspected his teeth, and he laid on the table like he was spread out on a beach.

No fits. No flinching. No fighting.

Hey, Jones. Are you watching this?!

Jalinda confirmed what we'd been told at Freddie's first appointment (in November of 2014; we've been without dental insurance for awhile, thus the lapse in appointments)- that he has something called "enamel hypoplasia."

When we first were told, we thought it just meant discoloration on his two front teeth. Turns out, it's more involved than that. Apparently, when some of his teeth were forming under the gums, they didn't form enamel. Dr. Bill said this is generally because the body is fighting an infection / fever somewhere else in the body when the teeth are forming, so they get less enamel.

The result is discoloration, yes, but it also means the affected teeth are softer and, thereby, more prone to cavities. Thankfully, Freckle doesn't have any cavities - or even any decay - but he does have hypoplasia on a couple more teeth than we originally thought, so he is more likely - though not guaranteed - to have those problems in the future.

When the hygienist noticed it, she thought it might mean a stainless steel crown on the most affected tooth. I immediately bristled - it's a baby tooth, right?! She explained, though, that since it's on a molar, he'll need to keep that tooth until he's about twelve, so the alternative is to fill it to protect it from breaking, but because it's so soft, it'll probably keep breaking, which means refilling it over and over again.

Ugh. It's ALWAYS something, right?!?

She took him for an x-ray to be sure. He walked off with her, like he'd known her all his life, while Jones and I stayed in the exam room. When she came back, she said she'd never seen a kid do as well as he did on X-rays. I'll bet she says that to all the moms, but still ... after my experience with Jones last Tuesday, I'll take any kind of positive feedback that I can get.

So I texted Jeremy and told him the news and sat there waiting for the doctor full of dread about how much a stainless steel crown costs for a two year old. But the news from Dr. Bill (whom Jones calls "Dr. Bail." If I can get it on video, I'm gonna) was all good.

Dr. Bill said that, while he does have some enamel hypoplasia, there is no decay, so there is no need to do anything other than watch it right now. He painted some fluoride on it and sent us on our way.

As I thought about it, though, I wondered if maybe it's genetic. I remember having a filling at a very early age (4 or 5) from Dr. Straup in Anderson.  I also remember the filling having to be RE-filled, because it broke off several times. At the time, we assumed the problem was with Dr. Straup (which prompted our eventual switch to Dr. Camak), but now I'm wondering if the problem wasn't with MY having the same enamel-deficiency that I may have passed down to my son?

That'd almost make me feel glad, because it'd mean he got at least SOMETHING from me!

Anyway, I'm thankful that all went well - and that, aside from some shoddy genetics, Freckle's teeth look great.

And while we're talking "great," Jones did GREAT, too. He went with me and played quietly in the corner of the room all through Freddie's exam. When I told him to clean up the toys, he did it quickly and without complaining. He was so good, in fact, that the hygienist gave HIM a treat, too, and this time, unlike when HE was the patient, I let him have the treat, because this time, unlike last, he'd earned it.

Oh, and funnily, the boys got to pick a sticker before they left the exam room. Jones picked a Jake sticker, because it had Bucky (the ship) on it. Freddie, the kid who still says he wants to "be like Zurg" for Halloween, picked a sticker with Captain Hook on it. I love like you cannot imagine that he loves the villains.

As a recovering actor, I remember that those are always the juiciest parts to play, so it thrills me that he gravitates towards the more interesting characters. Of course, I'm ignoring the fact that he seems to be interested in the vilest among his cartoon universe, but still. So cute.

Oh, and when I said to Jones, "Did you know that Dr. Bill was a Tarheel (he played for Dean Smith, which is probably why Jeremy is so insistent that the boys see him)?" Jones said, "He's not a Tarheel! He's a DENTIST!"

comparing ninjas from the prize machine

Look at how calm he is in this video.

Anti-Dentite

Jones went to the dentist today.

It went every bit as horrifically as I'd imagined it'd would. Scratch that. I think it went even WORSE than I'd imagined it would, because I'd prayed that God would SHOCK me with miraculously good behavior from Jones, so I had a mustard seed-sized faith (and that was all) that He'd come through with something so astonishing only He could do it.

But alas, it was not to be.

I hadn't told Jones where we were going. We just dropped Freddie off at the Pressleys', and I told him he and I were going on a ride. When we walked into the Great Beginnings Waynesville waiting room, he was enamored with the toys - and it's a good thing he was, because we waited FOR FORTY MINUTES.

FORTY.MINUTES.

Thank God Jones is ALSO enamored with SnapChat filters, because we spent a good chunk of that time playing around with them, which was really fun.

When the wonderful hygienist (Brittany) came to take us back, she apologized profusely for the wait, which I appreciated. Soon enough, though, I was the one apologizing to HER, as my three year old acted as I'd imagine he'd do if I'd set his hair on fire or made him take a bath in cubes of ice.

It was horrific. "I'm gonna spank you," he repeatedly told Brittany (and, later, Dr. Bill - his daddy's childhood dentist). Brittany was awesome, though. She was one of a handful of people who could deal with him and not leave me feeling like he wouldn't act that way if I'd just TRY HARDER as a mom (Ashley, his "stylist" at Snip-Its is another).

I will love her forever, as a result.

The news from Great Beginnings was all good, thankfully. Dr. Bill said Jones's teeth are in great shape and, at this point, he doesn't see us heading towards orthodontia in the future.

As we left, I told Jones he couldn't have the surprise they offered, because his behavior didn't warrant it. I also told Brittany that I hope we see her again next Tuesday, as I have a feeling Freddie's appointment will look COMPLETELY differently - and, maybe, her opinion of my parenting will be improved.

Maybe.

Freddie wore his beloved school bus
shirt today. Seriously. It's my favorite
he's ever owned.

When he came out of the Pressleys' wearing that helmet -
BACKWARDS - I couldn't help but wonder
"who wore it better?"

Because we got so held up at the dentist's office,
we ended up having lunch at the Blach Bear, which
I love. I noticed his hair as I sat across from
Jones. It reminded me of the poem Mayme
always used to tell me:
"There was a little girl, who had a little curl
right in the middle of her forehead.
When she was good, she was very good indeed.
But when she was bad, she was horrid."
I love a little boy about whom
the same might be said - though never
by Mayme. She'd think Jones
was perfection on the grounds of
her daddy's name alone.