Braces x3

When the kids are due for checkups we schedule them all in a block. one trip, one after the other, after the other, after the other. usually my husband or my mother-in-law, my sister, or my brother, who will sit in the lobby with the kids who are finished or waiting, while i am back for the appointments. we have been so fortunate to have family to step in and back us up.
At their most recent dental check up there was concern about the girls adult teeth coming in crowded, and baby teeth coming out to soon. They did panoramic xrays, and suggested we consult an orthodontist to make a long term plan before doing anything else.Leah needs one tooth pulled now, and probably adult teeth removed later. Lynn needs 4 baby teeth pulled, and adult teeth will also be pulled later. Lori needs braces on her back teeth now, followed by an appliance to hold them in the correct place, followed by braces later. It's hard to explain to a 7 year olds, that they need all of this. They are happy with what they see in the mirror. We told them it wouldn't hurt, and that it would look just like the teeth that came out on their own. I hate to think about putting them through this. We're going to an oral surgeon, so they can put the girls out during the procedure, but it's still going to hurt later.
I know this will be the best for them in the long run, but i still have a hard time with it. it's one of those times when it's not easy being a parent.They can comfort each other though, knowing that their sister is also having a tooth pulled: will also need braces later. It makes it all feel normal. We talked about freinds and relatives who have braces, but we couldn't think of another first grader. They also prepare each other talking about the doctors monkey shirt, and the hot choclate machine in the lobby.
They go through it all together, but that also means that the expenses all hit at the same time as well. i came home from the consultation rattled by the numbers. when my husband came home from work, i shared it with him, and he was so calm. In our family, i am the heart, he is the head;careful, planning, saving. You can always plan that there will be unexpected things. We will take care of this, and they will have what they need. The extra money we have today, will meet tommorows need.From the begining it has always taken both of us. Our combined strengths and communication to find our way. I am so very blessed to be married to this man.








after that i decided to schedule a consultation for lynn as well. It turned out that her front teeth were even more crowded. There was just no room for the adult teeth to come in, and he suggested pulling 4 baby teeth to make room, then followinmg up with pulling some of the adult teeth later. i hate to think about puttin her through that. We're going to an oral surgeon, so they can put her out during the procedure, but it's still going to hurt later. it will be the best for her in the long run, but i still have a hard time with it. it's one of those times when it's not easy being a parent.
when o was flossing Lori's teeth a few days later, i noticed that one of her adult teeth was coming in behind the others. I had the dentist take a look and he thought she would be needing braces in the future as well. i scheculed a constultation