OUCH - Take Two!

Other than a dimple in a cute little chin,What's more adorable than a toothless grin?

~Azu "Betty" Espezia

A couple of months ago... I noticed that Rachel's sweet little smile was beginning to change. There was the tiniest little gap starting to form between her front two teeth. At first, I decided that it was a new tooth coming in and beginning to push her teeth. But when things were not beginning to loosen up - and then her new "tooth" was coming in between and behind her front teeth, but it appeared that it was coming in SIDEWAYS... I decided that we needed to have it checked out.

We went to see Dr. Corbett in Lexington... and they took and x-ray. It wasn't exactly what I had expected. Instead of it being a new front tooth, it seems Rachel had a "spare". It was a perfectly shaped little tooth - shaped kind of like a raindrop. Rachel was so proud... not only did she have all her baby teeth still, but now she had a spare. What more could a girl ask for?

Dr. Dana said that it really needed to come out - but she wanted me to take Rachel to either an oral surgeon, or a Pediatric Dentist that would put her to sleep. With the tooth being right up front - she wanted her to be "out of it" when they did it - so that she wouldn't be traumatized. I was not very excited. So, I took the kids to Baskin Robbins to break the news to Rachel. (What better way to hear bad news, than over a big scoop of ice cream?)

Rachel was OK - probably better than me. So, I opted for the Pediatric Dentist... and I'm so glad that we did. We went to Dentistry for Children - and Dr. Robinette saw Rachel. She was wonderful. She was so nice, and so good with Rachel. She agreed with Dr. Corbett that the little tooth had to come out - and that since it had already started to resorb some of the root of the other two front teeth, they had to come out as well. (UGH!) I was less than enthusiastic.

We set the date for September 11th at 8:30am. (I became less excited with each passing day.) Wasn't it just back in April that we went endured this with Rachel's belly button? My poor, sweet girl?

The day before they were supposed to pull her teeth, I had to get just a few last photos of her sweet smile. She was not worried a bit - I was already grieving for the loss of her "little girl" appearance. I knew that she was going to look more grown up.

When we arrived at the Dentist's office, they gave Rachel the tiniest amount of Tylenol with Vercet in it to begin to take the edge off. After about 15 minutes, they took us back, and while I read Rachel a book, they gave her some laughing gas. She talked the entire time. I finally had to tell her to listen a little to the story, so that the gas would begin to work. When she was just getting loopy -- they began to get the teeth out. Rachel was such a trooper. She laid there still the entire time. Dr. Robinette just talked to her calmly... and even Mom did well... that is... until the whimpering began. It was tiny and quiet at first... I almost wasn't sure I heard it. But when I finally questioned them, they said, "It's OK Mom... she can't feel anything... she probably just hears it."

Not the words of comfort I was hoping for. I had flashbacks to my wisdom teeth, the sound of flesh tearing in my head, I couldn't feel anything, but OH YUCK... that sound never leaves you.

I began to get fidgety... I am pretty sure that the dentist and her assistant could tell I was stressing for Rachel - because they said... "It's OK Mom" two or three times. But those tiny little whimpers... it was breaking my heart.

After they were done, and I got to hold Rachel for a few minutes and calm her down, they told me that they great thing about the gas... and the Vercet... she wouldn't remember anything. For the most part - they were right. She remembered us going to the dentist that day. She also remembered drinking the Tylenol. She did so well... and they were wonderful with her.

They also told me that she would be a little groggy and probably just lay around all day. That's the part that they didn't get right.

There isn't much that slows this child down. She wakes up happy every day - and she goes full throttle until bedtime. She loves everyone, wants to make everyone happy, sees the bright side in everything and she gives out love unconditionally. It might phase a lot of children to have their teeth pulled and look "different", but like most everything, Rachel is taking it all in stride.

Her current goal right now? Mastering the song, "All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth."

HOME

Home: [hohm] - noun, 1. the place in which one's domestic affections are centered. 2. any place of residence or refuge.

I remember clearly the day I saw Sara's photo for the first time. Much like my experience the first time I saw Ali's photo... for days I could not get her face out of my mind. My every thought was consumed with helping find this child a "home" and bringing this child "home". Home... as I knew it from my childhood was a wonderful, warm and safe place. My childhood, while maybe not perfect... was absolutely wonderful. In my mind... every child deserves to have a "home".

It wasn't right away that I knew that our "home" was the home that God had in mind for Sara. We had only been home for a month or two with McCaleb. However, once it was clear to us we set out on a mission to bring Sara HOME.

Over 18 months later... on April 4th, 2008... we arrived in Cincinnati, Ohio and began to drive Sara HOME. It was late... so very late... but Sara was WIDE AWAKE. (It could have been the terrible thunder and lightning storm that we were driving in... I was wide awake, too!)

What a difference 5 months makes! In 5 months time, Sara has grown THREE INCHES TALLER, she has grown one entire shoe size, her weight is about 5 lbs heavier... but you can't tell... her height seems to have thinned out her waist... and don't even get me started on her cute figure! (UGH) As I mentioned before, she can read, write, add, subtract... she is learning to tell time, and I honestly have to keep slowing her down... she wants to try and do it ALL NOW!

She can drive the tractor, ride a horse, ride her bike a little (gravel drives are not the best way to learn...), use the computer very well, answer the phone, work the remote control on the TV (bah ha ha ha) and she loves to bowl. She makes her own bed (very well) , puts all her own clothes away, fixes her own hair most days... and helps the smaller kids with theirs, helps with chores around the house, is always willing to help with work in the yard... but her favorite thing to do is draw. Give her a pencil and some paper and she's all set!

She has embraced her siblings - and albeit a few small bumps along the way, they all get along very well.

Announcement - Front

I finally got her announcements finished and mailed out. If you didn't get one... I am terribly sorry. It seemed much more difficult to get Sara's done. It doesn't really make sense... I thought I had LESS time when McCaleb came home - but I made and mailed his out much sooner. Here is a copy for those that didn't get one in the mail. They turned out very cute - and she was tickled to death with them!

I often wonder what life used to be like... you know... when I actually had time for myself. It seems like such a long time ago. ;)

It's been 5 months since Sara walked into our home... and although she was firmly planted in our hearts many months before that, our home will never be the same. For those of you that helped us pray her home... we want to say Thank You again... she is truly a very special little girl.

"You never know what events are going to transpire to get you home."

- Og Mandino

PS... September 4th, 1998 I married my very best friend.

Happy 10 Year Anniversary, Tim! It's been the most incredible and amazing journey... I can't wait to see what the future holds. God has truly blessed me with your love, your kindness and your patience.

A Day Spent With Friends

This summer went by surprisingly fast! I honestly never felt like it got as HOT and miserable as it tends to get... and I have also been shocked even with our newer/larger pool for the kids - they didn't ask to spend every waking moment in there! Instead, the pool this year seemed to be more of a family-time treat... and that was especially nice.





As August came to a close, we enjoyed another special day with some of our favorite friends.. The Combs Family! Since it was a Sunday, after church, we all went to Mi Mexico -Sara's favorite "house" to eat... and apparently RJ's favorite, too! It was yummy!






Afterwards, we went home and had a swimming party... and a horseback riding party... and finished the day off with Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream and Homemade Chocolate Chip Cookies. (Yes, it spoiled our dinners... and yes we all ate way too much!)







The kids LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Donna, Kelvin and RJ... and rightly so! They are, what I like to call "GOOD PEOPLE"! We are so blessed to have so many wonderful friends in our lives. God has been so good to us!






At the end of the day - we were all exhausted! Probably a good thing that Monday was a holiday so we could all sleep in a little and catch up on some much needed rest! :)

My Little Guy

I cannot believe another year has come and gone... but McCaleb is now officially a 4-year-old! How is this possible??? Where did the time go??





Despite my best efforts to keep him little - he is growing into a little boy right before my eyes. It is a good thing, I know. Still, it breaks my heart.






For his birthday, Mamoo and Papoo offered to have his birthday party at their house. McCaleb was so excited! All day long he kept trying to guess what kind of cake he was going to have... either Lightning McQueen or a Tractor cake, he was sure! (Since I was NOT sure... I hoped for one of the two...)





Since the Olympics had just kicked off... the kids competed in several "events"! First there was the skilled painting contest...it was very cute! Afterwards, they had the LONG JUMP...the "discus" throw (aka mini frisbees)... timed relay races... the sack race...and finally the water balloon toss. It was an exciting and eventful competition - but everyone had a wonderful time.












McCaleb was about to bust waiting for presents... but we did talk him into cake and ice cream first. He was so excited that he got a tractor cake... and although I didn't get a really good picture of it... it was adorable with the tractor and all the little animals on top. He very carefully took each animal off and licked all the icing off so that he could pack them away and take them home with him. :)








We let Dad open his birthday gift first... since his birthday was on August 1st. They were in Arizona... or somewhere along the way home... so we waited until McCaleb's birthday to open his gift. He got a WONDERFUL BOOK written by my step-brother, Joey. See the post from August 1st entitled A SHAMELESS PLUG FOR A WONDERFUL CAUSE!!













Finally... McCaleb got to open his presents. He was so excited. He got a Super Soaker, a Batman towel, more tractors and bulldozers... he got a FOOTBALL, a video, some new clothes... and a REMOTE CONTROLLED HELICOPTER. He was so excited!






However, the highlight of his entire day - had to be the dirt pile. He had been giving it the eye since we arrived at Mom's house. Apparently the water company had to move/raise or alter a manhole cover... and boy did they make a huge mess out of Mom's yard. It was a 4-year-old boys dream come true. He finally made it over to the dirt pile. In one photo you will see him with a stick in his hand. He decided he was going to DIG in the dirt. Well... after a little while, he says, "Look Mommy... a root!" When I saw him tugging on "it" I said... "Pull on it!" So he did. It wasn't a root. It was a dead snake... yeah... without a head.

Here is the snake... only Mamoo made him use a shovel the second time. :)

And of course, I had to say something. When I told him it was a snake... he was SO PROUD!!! Of course, everyone else screamed... and then began to scream at McCaleb, "Throw it down!!!" He did... he thought he had done something bad...but I told him it was OK... no big deal. He perked up a little and said, "Then can I pick it up again???" What a BOY!

For McCaleb - every day is an adventure. He loves to meet each challenge with a smile and an easy going attitude. I have said it before, and I will say it again... he is the sweetest child! We will be driving down the road and out of the blue he will say, "Mommy... I love you. Daddy...I love you..." and then he will tell each of his sisters. Such a sweet boy! McCaleb makes all of us better people. He wakes up happy, goes to bed happy... sees the best in everyone... never complains (unless someone else is getting on his tractor)...loves everyone... and remembers to pray for people that are sick or hurting even when I forget. He is a precious child with a very big heart, and I am so proud of him. Happy Birthday my sweet boy!