Want to know what happens when you have inherited your mother's bad teeth? (Haley lucked out and inherited Ross'). Even when you brush every day... you get cavities. Then, when your parents done have insurance and put off your cleanings... well... then they get worse. And you have to have two teeth pulled. :( And you look like this...
I know. I felt BAD. Like a failure as a parent. I cried. But even the dentist said that I was NOT alone... and then he turned to DAVIS and told him to brush. Phew. But I still felt guilt. Our dentist couldn't set the time aside to pull them that day... so we were on a waiting list. Then I finally found a place that would accept Medicaid (the kids are on medicaid while my husband is out of work) and could get him in. So we went, and they were able to pull it that day. WOOT! They were fantastic, and he was a trooper. There was a 4 year old girl next door that was screaming the entire time we waited. It was brutal. Someone came in 3 times to see if he was okay listening to it. As long as I kept his mind busy, he was great. See? My chatty nature comes in handy sometimes! Then it was our turn, and he wanted to hold my hand the whole time, and I needed to "man up" and act like it was no big deal. Um, I had to WATCH THEM YANK THE TEETH. I am not one who passes out. I hate needles... A LOT... but I can handle it. I'm just not happy about it. This was the first time I can remember feeling nervous that I might lose it.
The dentist told him to wiggle his fingers and close his eyes. They pulled the first one... and he said, "Wait, you already took it out? That didn't hurt." So brave. Then it was time for the bad one. The one that had made his face swollen with infection. (Okay, I'll admit that I am feeling parent guilt, just writing that, so please don't scold me, I won't be able to take it!) And it hurt. And he was crying, and they were having a bit of trouble getting it out. And I'm trying to say "Wiggle you fingers and Close your Eyes" and it comes out "wiggle your eyes... no, wiggle your... pause....um, fingers, yeah, um, close your eyes". This is me, trying not freak out while they rip out his tooth. He squealed, but did SO WELL. In the end, I think he handled it mentally better than I did.
They told us that in a half hour he should have ice cream. Somehow Frosty Treat always makes it better. :)
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3 comments:
Big, big hugs to you and Davis, reading that made me want to cry for both of you.
You're not a bad mommy, you know that. I know all about the Mommy guilt. Ben had his first fillings when he was about 4, he would fight me about brushing his teeth and so i knew they weren't getting as clean as they should, then he inherite Marc's soft teeth along w/ deep crevices, so poor kid was screwed from the getgo.
I hope you had icecream too, you certainly deserved some.
I will say that when I read your FB post, I went and scheduled Avari's dentist appt...it was a great reminder!And kids get more cavities now because they drink bottled/purfied water - less flouride. You are an AWESOME mom... :) and Kudos for you for holding his hand the entire time and not passing out, I know how hard that was!
I think you are brave too! It took guts to write that and admit what you feel so guilty about. But we ALL have things we feel terrible about (that's why there is a thing called "Mommy guilt"!) and my kids' teeth is one of them as well. Just think, he may be better about brushing now! Hey, I girl can hope! ;)
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