Ortho Visit

So today was our much anticipated Ortho visit. I get so nervous/worked up before these visits. Not only at the appointment but even to call and make them. We have been "quite" for 2 years now and I know it's going to change - just not sure when. Thankfully it's going to remain quite for now. Now the details.......We got to Dr. Mark's office and was in ahh. Their office is beautiful and very friendly. Once signed in we were showed the "game room" and Brett thought he was in heaven. This was the one time you wanted them to be late but they weren't. We went over all the paperwork with Lynne (who also has twins) and felt right at home. Cody was given some teeth molds to play with and he thought that was pretty neat. Dr. Mark came in and hit it right off with Cody. Some of the paperwork they had given us was a Favorite Things for the child. One question was "favorite music"....well at 4 do you really have 'favorite' anything....doesn't it change like all the time. So I had wrote "Wiggles". Although we don't watch them anymore he likes their music. Dr. Mark (who has 5 kids) instantly started talking about the Wiggles and Greg being his favorite. I shared my up-to-date knowledge about Greg. Then I laughed because it's not often you can talk "wiggles" with a doctor. Dr. Mark is great! Cody then sat and listened and followed direction while he was examined thoroughly. I haven't said yet but I am so proud of my little man. Then we all talked. Dr. Mark said he would do whatever we wanted based on our report from Syracuse. But he feels in his professional opinion it's best to wait a little bit. He said Cody does have a cross-bite although not severe. His midline is off just a little bit and actually shows characteristics of a unilateral palate instead of a bilateral. Which is better for fixing. He said really only one side of the palate would need to be expanded. It does make sense as Cody's gum line was only split on one side and not both. He said Cody has good strong jaws.....he is missing his incisor at the cleft spot, but may have an extra one in the palate itself. He could see his adult teeth (from the xray) and is actually thinking he may need teeth removed in order to fit all of his teeth in his mouth. He really recommends not doing anything now and would like to monitor his growth over the year and see us back next year.

I do agree with everything he said. I trust this doctor as I have seen his work. We will though keep our other Ortho appointment for October 1st in Syracuse to see what is suggested then. If both doctor's concur then we will stay local and see Dr. Mark. If not, well then I'm not sure what I'll do as I will be totally confused. Probably will discuss it all with Dr. Tatum to see what he says.

But man...can I say one more time how proud of Cody I am. He got a few ants in his pants as the doctor and us were discussing things and Lynne asked if he wanted to go to the playroom. Off he went - by himself - when we went out he was playing with a friend. He just "goes with the flow" of things. Never complains and is such a trooper. Made my heart very proud of him!!

My Mom's Birthday

Today is my mom's birthday. She turns 58 today. We celebrated at Tanya's with a super yummy dinner (chicken and biscuits) and chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting. I am so stuffed! I ate to much but aren't you supposed to? The kids had a lot of fun as they trashed the play room. We had a super muggy day today. It was horrible but by early evening the wind picked up and we got some relief. I probably shouldn't be complaining as the snow will be flying in no time.


Singing Happy Birthday to Gimmie!
We had a nice weekend. Brett was busy with football games. 2 Sat and 2 Sun. Tanya and I took the kids shopping on Sat. We went to our party store to check out Halloween costumes. They all found what they wanted to be and now I just need to save my penny's to buy them. :) Gosh, those things aren't cheap. Then we went back to Tanya's to bake my mom's cake. I would of done it at my house but my stove broke so we need to get a new one. UGH. You never realize how much you use something until you can't use it. New one should be here Tuesday!

Cody has his first orthodontic consult on Tuesday. This is with a local office so I am hoping to hit it off and we can stick with this office and not have to travel.

A couple pictures from the weekend!


Go Bills! Gimmie and Guy bought them all these shirts.
Can you say: "Trouble times 4".....what a crew!

Dinner out with the girls

Tonight was a special night....tonight my mom, sister and I went to dinner ALL BY OURSELVES! That hasn't happened in um 7 years at least. Just the 3 of us....we went to Olive Garden. We really went because my brother and SIL made it possible by treating us as a big thank you for their baby shower. Wish they were around to go with us, but we did talk about baby Jack a lot and how we can't wait for him to get here. We enjoyed a super good meal with drinks and dessert. Even embarrassed my mom and had them sing happy birthday to her. Her birthday is Sunday! It was fun. Thank you Kevin, Kristie and Baby Jack!!! Now hurry up and get here! :)

To all of those in Ike's path - sending thoughts/prayers your way tonight. All I remember is Floyd, the wind, the flooding.......the devastation and adjusting that comes after a storm like that.

September 11th...

Today marks an important day in our history. Now I know I don't need to tell you all that - not one person in the world doesn't remember this day 7 years ago. What's a little bizarre to me is that this will make the history books that my boys will learn about in high school. I remember back to History in HS and never thought I would live through something so big to make a history book.

Anyway, I can't help but reflect on what I was doing that day that changed so many lives. We had just moved back to NY in June. My sister had her first baby in July. I had started the search of finding a job and was working through a temp agency at a Psych Center. That day I went to work like every other day. It was early when the first plane crashed into the first tower. I think we all stopped working at that point and found whatever TV's we could and watched. I came down with a huge migraine (that I normally don't get) and went home early. My Dad called me on and off all day. I had gotten home, switched on the TV and just about that time as I was talking with my Dad....the first tower collapsed. I couldn't believe it. Memories flashed before my eyes from our senior trip and we went to those towers - went up in them and I have pictures looking down. Now it was gone. What an incredible sight. What a horrible tragedy. So many families touched forever.......

Where were you?

Long Day for Ty

Tyler had to start the morning off very early today. Tish started her twice a week sessions with him for speech today. She'll now be coming 2 times a week for 1/2 hour sessions. He was up and et em at 8:30. I know it's not exactly early as most kids have to be up much earlier but Tyler is a sleeper in the morning and needs his beauty rest if you know what I mean. He did great for speech today. He is making good progress and I am really hoping that by the end of the school year he won't need it anymore.

After speech, we headed to the dentist for his first teeth cleaning. Um...yah...that didn't go so well. He is a very stubborn 3 year old - much more stubborn that his brothers were/are. He DID NOT want to get his teeth cleaned. He let them look in his mouth with the mirror, put a couple drops of water in his mouth but that was it. He would not let them count his teeth. I really didn't have any concerns but wanted his teeth cleaned. So oh well, it didn't happen so we will re-try in Jan. and I made an appointment for all 3 of them to go at one time. Maybe he'll cooperate when he sees what a good job his brother's do.

I did have an opportunity to talk with the dentist about Cody though. Remember back a few post ago how I was so annoyed that they hadn't gotten back to me about his x-rays. Well, we talked and she feels that it's best to see an Orthodontist right from the start. The work he needs is just beyond the scope of what she does. Which I really did figure as she is just a dentist and in charge of keeping his teeth clean and healthy. So they recommend a couple Ortho's to me and I could see who I wanted to call. One of them I know as he's a member of the craniofacial team I am a part of. So I called him first as I know he has done lots of work on other children that have a cleft and I've seen his work and he's pretty good. We go to see him on the 16th. I still have an appointment for an Ortho in Syracuse on Oct 1st as I want two opinions and then I will make my decision. The funny thing was while I was making the appointment, the girl asked if our dental insurance covered orthodontics. I said - not sure, but really in this case it's Medical and NOT Dental. She said "well, I know for sure Medical won't pay for it"......she obviously don't know who I am. :) I will fight tooth and nail for it to be considered Medical. Dylan and Tyler were born with a chance not to need any orthodontics, Cody was not! If Dylan and Tyler needed braces or something then yes, Dental insurance should pay for it.......Cody - no, it's Medical. So I'm sure my fight is just beginning.

Oh a good note, Tyler didn't cry when Brett left at school today! Little steps!

Seems we have a Ghost!

Yep, my house is haunted. Just ask my 3 boys!!!!!

As they got in the tub tonight, I went to flush the toilet and noticed something sitting in the bottom. Hmm.. what is that?? Went and found some gloves as I had to inspect. It just didn't look like "you know what" - had to much of a perfect shape to it! It was this:

So I sat them all down to see who did it. They all said they didn't do it. Cody said "must of been the ghost". REALLY....a Ghost! I gave the talk of what goes into the toilet and money isn't one of them. Then they had to know where the "stuff" goes when you flush. Conversations can't be easy can they.

Tyler didn't have as great a day today as he did yesterday. He cried on the way to school and when Brett left. However, that wasn't half of it. There was another little girl crying so hard she was biting her hands...poor thing. Then another little boy cried so hard he threw up. I could not be a preschool teacher! These ladies are fabulous. I talked to Ty tonight and he said he had fun, he didn't cry and he wants to go back tomorrow. As long as the conversation ends with him wanting to return - that is good with me.

Now...I'm off to have a conversation with this "ghost"!

He did fantastic!

Tyler did super today. He surprised his mom and even his Dad and didn't shed a tear. Brett and Ty got to school, he knew he had to hang up his bag but wasn't sure what cubbie was his. So they found that and then went to the tables for a quite toy. He didn't want to do a puzzle or blocks but found a barn with animals and wanted that. So he played, Brett told him he had to go and he'd be back in a little bit - he gave kisses and a hug and that was it. Brett left and no crying! Yippee! When Brett got there to pick him up, Mrs. T said he did good. Did whimper a little about the time the kids ate and wanted his blanket. But it was for a quick minute and the B was in the bag when Brett got him. I chatted with him tonight asking a lot of yes or no questions. It's about all I can get out of a 3 year old. He ended the conversation with "I go back tomorrow".

Cody and Dylan also had a good first day. Cody said they got to draw and he made his Dad a heart and Dylan made me one, they played with some friends and that was about it. Boys...gotta love how "chatty" they are.

On to other news...I got a nice little surprise in the mail today. Kristie had sent us our thank you note. She said she was putting something "extra" in it for us girls but I had no idea what. Well, they sent us gift cards to go to Olive Garden as appreciation for our hard work at the shower. She sooooooooooooooooo didn't have to do that. We wanted to do the shower and can't wait for Jack to get here. So us girls are trying to figure out when we can go have lunch just the 3 of us. Wow - that almost NEVER happens. Thank you Kristie!