Rude Awakenings

What can I say? The picture speaks for itself! I woke up this morning and did my usual routine of showering and getting dressed. I knew all the kids were up and likely downstairs with Daddy so I knew nobody was in any immediate danger. I knew it was going to be scorching hot today, so I went from room to room closing the windows in the attempts to start early at beating the heat. Ryan's room was the second of the kids room that I came too. And I was greeted with this.

He had emptied one drawer and plowed half way through the next. Surprisingly the picture shows the better part of the mess. It was quite a rude awakening.

All Smiles

Exactly one month ago, I began dental treatment on a tooth in need of a crown. I have said it before, and I will say it again, I am not a good dental patient. These last four weeks, have been, to say the least, very trying for me.

First, I hadn't been to the dentist in over a year. It wasn't entirely by choice, I mean I do have some sense. It was largely due to insurance and lack of it. Finally, insurance was settled and the first initial visit was made. I was told I had two cavities and needed a crown. Not fun, but I will do what I need to take care of my mouth.

The temporary crown was in place, and then the trouble began. You know, this tooth was just fine until they started messing with it! Suddenly the tooth was shocked back into awakening and every single nerve within it was hyper sensitive; particularly to cold. Chewing on that side was no longer an option.

After two weeks, and no change my dentist was not comfortable putting the permanent crown on until I was checked out by an endodontist. As my luck would have it, I needed a root canal. Another week goes by and it is time for something nobody wants! Now, I am not complaining, but my husband had this same procedure and was fine and back to normal the next day. Happy as a clam. And here I was still unable to bite even a banana on that side. Forget chewing a thick juicy steak or a nice gooey cookie. If I bit at all on that side I hit the roof. Not happy with the results, my endodontist prescribed prednisone to reduce the swelling around the area in the hopes I would be able to feel better in a few days.

Finally 10 days after the root canal and a whole month after it all started, I received my porcelian crown. Since the endodontist only filled the tooth with temporary materials they had to drill it out and replace it with the good stuff. The odd part, I was not numbed. I didn't need it since the tooth no longer carried any nerves. So they pounded away and I just sat there. Weird. After several attempts at making the crown fit just right, they did it. In the process I got a peek at my tooth uncovered. It's basically a nub at this point. Funny to see, but my vanity is grateful it is covered by such a lovely mask.

I am a little sore in the gum area, but I am happy to report I can bite happily, chew on food--though I am still a bit gun shy--as I please, and I am once again all smiles!

Bubbles

Since I didn't have to cook dinner yesterday, I had the chance to play outside with two of my kids. Emily was a hermit and stayed inside. We took turns blowing bubbles, and Kristin and I took turns with the camera.

Chasing bubbles
Big Sis blows more bubbles.
Ryan's turn.
Mom blows a big one.
Checking the finished product.
WOW!
Pop!

More Mother's Day Stories & Poems

In church today, the focus was of course on mothers. During one talk a few poems were read about mothers. One of which I had heard, and another I hadn't heard before but could totally appreciate it. I don't have a copy of it, so I will simply paraphrase. About a son who did a list of chores for his mother and put what he felt was an appropriate fee next to it. The mother took the paper and turned it over and wrote a list of things she had done from carrying the child for nine months to wiping his nose and so on. Her charge for each item was zero because her love did not have a price tag. It was very sweet. The other one, I have heard before, and I will share it here. I have always loved it. It is called "Was Your Mom Mean?"

Was your Mom mean?

I know mine was. We had the meanest mother in the whole world! While other kids ate candy for breakfast, we had to have cereal, eggs, and toast. When others had a Pepsi and a Twinkie for lunch, we had to eat sandwiches. And you can guess our mother fixed us a dinner that was different from what other kids had, too.

Mother insisted on knowing where we were at all times. You'd think we were convicts in a prison. She had to know who our friends were, and what we were doing with them. She insisted that if we said, we would be gone for an hour, we would be gone for an hour or less.

We were ashamed to admit it, but she had the nerve to break the Child Labour Laws by making us work. We had to wash the dishes, make the beds, learn to cook, vacuum the floor, do laundry, empty the trash and all sorts of cruel jobs. I think she would lie awake at night thinking of more things for us to do.

She always insisted on us telling the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. By the time we were teenagers, she could read our minds and had eyes in the back of her head. Then, life was really tough!

Mother wouldn't let our friends just honk the horn when they drove up. They had to come up to the door so she could meet them.

Because of our mother, we missed out on lots of things other kids experienced. None of us have ever been caught shoplifting, vandalizing other's property or ever arrested for any crime. It was all her fault.

Now that we have left home, we are all educated, honest adults. We are doing our best to be mean parents just like Mom was.

I think that is what's wrong with the world today. It just doesn't have enough mean moms!

I have always liked this poem. When my daughter heard it, she decided she would write her own poem. After all, who was this person to say that HER mom was mean!? And she certainly would not have me thinking that she thought I was mean. I assured her it wasn't a jab at my skills, rather an homage to them. But nonetheless she wrote this sweet, pure and beautiful sentiment.

I Have the Nicest Mother
By Kristin Kolar

My mother is so nice,
when I have a boo-boo she is my band-aid.
When I am sick
she is my giant white blood cell
When I am hungry
she is my food.
But most of all,
When I am a child,
She is my Mom!