It Could've Been Worse...

- someone could've bit him
- someone could've kicked him
- someone could've actually puked rather than just made to gag repeatedly
- both of 'em could've needed restraining instead of just the one

...that's right folks, it was time for the S boys semi-annual dental check-up. And yeah, I s'pose it could've been worse...but it could've been a lot better. In fact, 6 months ago I feel like it was better.

It started as soon as they called Easton's name. They wanted us all to come back (which we always do) but Easton wouldn't get out of the boat he was playing in in the waiting room till *I* told him to follow me. So he did. Then he refused to get in the chair. And Dalton's already crying that he doesn't ever want it to be his turn. I plop Easton in the chair and move around to hold his hand but he's crying loudly and Dr. Dave is firm-toning my child and I'm all annoyed but I don't have a better solution short of leaving. Eventually Easton cooperates with the x-rays. And he did okay with the hygenist's tooth polishing. But he absolutely refused to let her floss (he did that last time too). We floss his teeth at home every night so no idea why he was so against that one. But he was. However, Easton was actually doing a downright great job by the time Dr. Dave sat back in the chair to "count" his teeth (poking around for cavities...which there are still none, Thank God!)

Meanwhile through all of this, I'm holding E's hand, Dalton's on my hip crying and Autumn's in her car seat by the door crying on and off while the hygenist or dentist would try to offer her her pacifier. *sigh*

Then it was Dalton's turn and of course he's not having any of it so I have to hold him on my lap facing me. I'm knee-to-knee with Dr. Dave and Dalton's head is supposed to go backwards into Dr. Dave's lap so I can hold him and Dr. Dave can still do dentisty things. But I have to hold D's arms down and he won't open his mouth and he's screaming and Dr. Dave's got tools in there so he's crying and gagging and probably getting poked in the tongue. Poor guy.

I don't know exactly why they hate the dentist so much although they've had to go there more than normal children because of their fondness for falling on their mouths and chipping their teeth: 2 boys, 3 instances of chipped teeth--ugh! Dalton absolutely loves our pediatrician...all the kids do, really. On the way home I asked Easton if he likes Dr. Dave and he said, "Yeah, but I don't like what he does to me".

However, I don't love Dr. Dave for them. Even though he's a friggin' pediatric dentist...he's not all that good with children, in my opinion. Maybe it's just my children? Even so, I'd like to find someone my kids are more excited about like Dr. Groovy. There are not many pediatric dentists on our insurance...we've already crossed one off our list when they told us barely 3 year old Easton needed to be put to sleep in a hospital O.R. to get his bazillion cavities filled. Cavities Dr. Dave has never even been able to see (when we came to him for a second opinion). I'm fine with taking them to a non-specifically pediatric dentist, if only I could find a good one. I don't even like *my* current dentist.

So, not that I completely blame young Dalton for being scared, Easton was being rather naughty and I just wasn't in my best mood leaving the dentist. Autumn was screaming because "she needs milk" (said Easton) so I pulled into a Target parking lot to nurse her real quick before our 40 minute drive home. Once we're actually on the way home Dalton is being just awful to Easton and pulling his hair and hitting him and not leaving him alone so we had to pull over again for those discipline issues. We were a mess. We've been contemplating a new car for a few months now and I was going to call Jason with all that going on to make a good case for a van. :) Usually the kids are MUCH better behaved and actually like being next to one another. Plus I like that they're all within arms reach so it isn't often I "need" a van. Anyway...

Dalton put himself in a time out the second we walked into the door at home and after that they were much better. Even playing so well together that I pushed lunchtime back so they could keep playing. I eventually had them show me the faces they showed Dr. Dave:






Whoever said three kids under 5 was a handful?


Today I'm saying it. Well, this morning anyway. Sheesh!

Okay, so anyway, back to yesterday and Emily's big bouncy birthday bash. Autumn went through a few outfits yesterday. Not because of soiled clothes, but because Mommy has fun dressing her up. She started off the first half of the day staying in her jammies but I added a bow because I can:

I just adore that bow from Andrea. Tum Tums wears it with her p.j.'s a lot.

Then I switched her into a little top I got as a gift when Easton was a baby. It's blue but it's got kind of a lacy trim and it ties shut with a bow (not screaming "boy", if you ask me). I think it's good clothing for NICU babies because you don't need to go over the head and you can accomodate wires and such (a nurse friend gave me the top) but because of the sort of laciness and the bow I couldn't stand to put it on Easton...nor Dalton. We passed it on to Neo and I don't think he wore it either. So I put it on Tum Tums and well, it was just too boyish on her...even with a big ol' flower on her head I couldn't get past the baby blue boyishness of it all:

(It looks cuter in the picture than it did in person, trust me.)

So, I couldn't have her going out all cross dressy so she changed into this adorable autumny top that Julie and her gang gave as a gift:

I loved it. Those cute little socks are handed down from her too!

Anyway, I piled the gang into the car once we had the outfit situation all straightened out and we made it to Pump It Up for the party. The boys had a total blast, of course:



That's E with Holten (Tabor's and Berkley's brother, remember?)

Dalton and Easton were rarely together. Easton was usually trying to stick with Emily and Dalton was off doing his own thing much of the time:






But sometimes they'd hang out together...like you can see D at the top of this slide as E's going down:




There's Tabor helping Dalton climb up to where she is:


The kids played and bounced and had a grand ol' time. Eventually they stopped the bouncing and headed into the party room for cake and presents. Of course E glued himself next to Emily again:




And I just got such a kick out of Dalton being included and sitting at the table with all the rest of the kiddos:


You can see the backs of Tabor, Emily, Easton and Brock...and there's my Diddle's sweet face in between E's and Brock's heads:


Ronald McDonald showed up for cake:
\

Autumn hung out with me:

She's pretty much always happy to be in there with her mama.

The boys didn't touch their cake so much and Easton didn't want any "juice"...he preferred water. He was so patient and well mannered when the guy was handing out stuff that poor Eastie was last to be served...even though the party guy was teasing the other kids about not having any "pleases" or "thank yous" for him he ignored my Eastie-bug till the end. Guess nice guys do finish last.

One highlight for me from the party was introducing myself to a mom of one of the new kids. When I told her I was Easton's mom she said, "Oh, did he finish his sounds today???" You see what a big deal it is? ;)

We got home around 7:00 and having had only a few bites of cake for dinner the boys and I shared some cottage cheese before baths and jammies. Easton asked me to take this of him and his sister:


I feel much better after recounting the story of last night's party than I did after recounting this morning's trip to the dentist so I must end it here on my high note. :) Toodles!