Finding the right words...

Ok....I really think I will be put to the test in the next couple of weeks. Cody had a pretty rough night of sleeping last night. Woke up a lot and just sat straight up. Now I don't know if it was from the dental visit but I can say he hasn't done this before and yesterday was our dental visit and he did experience some pain and discomfort. Tonight, I was sitting with him and we were talking about the rings on his teeth and I started to tell him that he was going to have to get them back on and that the dentist was making him something he had to wear in his mouth. He just covered his little mouth and started to cry and said no. Really, how on earth am I going to do this? How on earth do I really explain this to him? I told him it was to fix his mouth and all he wanted to know was how long. I can't even explain that as 9 to 12 months seems like an eternity to him especially when he is trying to get down the days of the week still. We've talked about the cool fact of eating lots of ice cream and stuff. His last surgery was when he was 2 and I doubt he remembers that. Ever since then it's just been check ups and things that certainly didn't change how he feels. So where do I find the words to explain this to him? Especially when at times I don't understand the "why" in all of this either. This next step has been an emotional one for me so I don't doubt there will be a lot of tears shed. I guess for now I just need to talk with him a little bit everyday as those 2 weeks will be here before we know it and we will be back in that car. For any of you that have traveled this road and have some advice - I welcome it!

Ortho Visit - 2 week count down

Cody and us went to Syracuse today for a meeting with the orthodontist. This trip was for pictures and measurements and discuss what type of appliance he will get put on and when. He did fantastic - he always does fantastic. At times I really hate that he has to be so grown up. I really had no idea what the visit was going to be like so it was hard to prepare him for it. They first got out this tackle box looking thing filled with all different size metal rings. The rings are made to go around the molars and will be the anchor for the appliance. After about 6 different tries - we found our number. #30 in size. (whatever that means) Putting these on did not look pleasant and as I am standing from a far telling Cody it will be OK and reaching my hand into him - did I want to snatch him out of the chair and call the whole thing off. Do we have to fix his mouth? I know we do but........SO then we moved on to a mold. That didn't look pleasant either. His mouth was full of this foam/cement and trying to breath out his tiny nostrils wasn't working so they had him panting like a dog and that worked. We just had to keep reminding him to breath. He did a great job and was rewarded with a new bakugan.

Dr. Scott said that we won't have a typical palate expander in his mouth. This one will be stationary with no screws for us to turn. Which is best for Cody and us as far as maintenance. Yeah....all we will need to do is keep his teeth brushed and the appliance clean. Doesn't seem to bad. He said that the back of his palate doesn't need expanding as it's got a good shape - it is just the front of his palate that has collapsed like a "V"....so the appliance will turn that into a "U". He will have to wear it for 9 to 12 months. It will have a spring like movement to it and will work somehow. Great explanation huh? LOL....I have no idea how it will work as I have no idea what it looks like. He is making one.

I have to say I really love this dentist. He is WONDERFUL with Cody. In the way he talks with him......telling Cody he is "his helper", "handsome", giving him encouragement. That is exactly how a pediatric doctor should talk to his kids. Then as he was talking with Brett and I and answering our questions and explaining things I could see how he already knows what he will do and where Dr. Tatum will pick up. The two obviously work great together and the two sides just mesh together. Such a great feeling to have.

Now the mommy nerves will take over for the next two weeks. We go back to Syracuse on 7/2 and his appliance will get put on. He said for the first few days he will need to be on a liquid diet until he feels like eating regular. He said it's hard for the kids to understand it's OK to touch the wires with their tongues but once they do they tolerate it well. I can get sick to my stomach just thinking about him putting this on and not knowing 100% how it is going to feel. I can say "It's OK" but I really don't know that. I need to figure out a way to tell him what is going to happen but am not sure how. He looks at me with those big brown eyes and I can see the questions. Honestly I am NOT looking forward to that day...7/2....but the 3 of us will get through this together as we always do.

Teeth, Teeth and Teeth

Today has been a "toothy" day! It all started this morning as the boys were in the kitchen eating for the hundredth time before noon. I guess maybe they were done eating and cleaning themselves up. I wasn't in the room but as I piece the puzzle back together I'm assuming Dylan was chewing on a wash cloth (cause he likes to) and Tyler decided it would be fun to yank it out of his mouth. Except Dylan wasn't giving in - so a tug of war began. Next I know, Dylan came running in the living room his mouth all bloody and Tyler went running up stairs. I try to figure out where the bleeding is coming from when I realize - he lost another tooth! This make #2 for him. I didn't even realize it was loose. Certainly wasn't loose like his first tooth. But it's out and we can't find it. So we have to write the tooth fairy a note explaining and hope he stills leaves the cash behind!
Cody goes to see his orthodontist tomorrow to have xrays and molds taken of his teeth. Then we will sit down and discuss what appliance he will wear and I am guessing get a date as to when it will get put on. Very nervous about tomorrow. So I wanted to take a picture of his mouth pre-ortho! (And if you can tell from the picture - if a tooth looks yellow it's really not. That is where his bottom teeth have worn the enamel off the top teeth. Nice huh?
Our Saturday was pretty un-eventful. We had a nice weather so I dug out their pool and we got out the water balloons and got wet! I realized never to trust an almost 4 year old with a hose - he soaked me! :) Today we had a 1st birthday party to attend. It was at a really nice park and the kids had a lot of fun.

A weekend full of Fun

We had a fun-filled weekend for sure. And nice weather to boot! That doesn't happen often! :) Saturday was a busy day for us (or for me) depends on what way you look at it. The boys had there t-ball family day. Team pictures first and then snacks and bounce house fun. The pictures turned out great. I'm going to become a mom of her first "team picture button"........might have to get creative with those as the years progress. I stuck the two of them together for their "individual" picture as we have had just to many pictures lately and I'm not rich! I'm hoping they turned out. No idea when we will get them - might just have to call on that one.

After I watched them a few times on the bounce house I had to jet as Karly had her 5th dance recital on Saturday. What a great day for these girls - to put all of there hard work together on stage. The costumes are wonderful, great music, hair, make-up - it was days like Saturday that I am thankful I have boys and all I had to do to get them ready was throw a t-shirt and baseball hat on and say "smile"! Karly did fantastic and every time she is on stage I get a little tear in my eye. She got a trophy at the end as she has been dancing for 5 years. As the recital went on - to watch the class of tomorrow girls perform and think back to that same stage 5 years ago when Karly was 3 and all decked out in her pink fluffy outfit and then fast forward to her on stage looking very grown up - WOW! She is getting ready to turn 8 and it doesn't seem possible.

Sunday should of been a day of relaxing but I was itching to re-do my bathroom. I torn down the lady bugs and up went my "beach". I must say I LOVE getting ready at the beach every day. I cleaned that bathroom like no tomorrow. It probably was over do - but I was scrubbing ceiling to floor on my hands and knees. When i was all done, Cody walked in and said "mom, it's a little to girly". He's right - but the men of my house must give me some room. I am out numbered! My kitchen also got a face lift. Brett was in "the mood" and wanted to re-do the cupboards. Fine by me! It looks wonderful and so organized. Wonder how long it will last?

So what's coming up in the life of Luckey's.....more teeball, Cody goes to Syracuse for our start of the dental process, I'm walking in the Relay for Life, my baby is turning 4 (yeah, having a hard time with that), big birthday party at the fire station and then Tyler goes to the ENT for a check up (wondering what will be done as one tube has fallen out)....................and that's just for June! :)

My Birthday

This is a scanned picture of my card from my niece Karly. I love home made cards. This one though cracked me up. I love she made me the Birthday Queen! :) I then had to get clarification who the other two were. I thought maybe her and Connor. NO! It is ME (the queen with the crown on), my sister and my brother!

Well I am another year older....the big 32. I'm Ok with that....I love my birthday. Some hate it - but I love it. I had a great day all day. And yes, I even went to work. My co-workers are wonderful and I got a 2 great cards and a 12 pack of Mt. Dew. (You can say that is my drink of choice). Then today also was our bake sale for Relay for Life and OMG I ate to much. Everybody bought cookies "in honor of my bday" and well that required me to taste test. I think we could all quit our job and open a bakery and we would do quite well.

I got home and finished preparing dinner. Brett took the boys today to their end of year picnic. So hours home were cut short. He did all the hard work, I just had to put it in the oven. He got to come home at his lunch time and we all ate together. Then the Smith's came over after Karly's dance rehearsal and we did cake and presents. I got some great things. A new Bills lawn chair. I love it and will get to use it lots at teeball games. My mom and sister got me stuff to re-do my bathroom. Changing over from ladybugs to flip flops. Darn it, if I can't live at the beach - I am going to get ready in one every day. My shower curtain though comes with a story. I picked out a flip flop one from Target. My sister had to order it online and have it shipped to her house. So on the day it comes in the mail.....Shaun gets home first and sees it. He opens it and thought Tanya bought a new shower curtain. Knowing that he would just have to put it up anyways - he decided to surprise her and have it up by the time she came home. So she gets home and he is all giddy over doing it - until - they go in the bathroom and she was like "OMG - that is for Kelly's Birthday". So it got a trial run and looks really good hanging up. :) Super funny! I can't wait to do the "switch". I've had ladybugs forever and am ready for a change. My boys got me a great little purse and an IOU for all the rest of the bathroom stuff that I need.

So I had a fantastic day. What was even cooler was getting all sorts of birthday wishes on facebook. So cool to get those from friends that normally would of never known my birthday.

Yes that is a #3....cause I couldn't find a 2 and of course had no candles in my drawer. Whatever! :)

Baking...

Check out my bakers! Aren't they cute? I think so..... We had some scheduling problems for tomorrow and the birthday cake had to get made.....so.....that left me to do it. The boys wanted to help so bad anyways so it worked out. After dinner, I told them they could help. It is amazing at how good of listeners they are when they want to do something. They were huge helpers. Thankfully, the cake recipe called for 3 eggs so each of them got to crack an egg. I think I got out what fell in but guess we'll find out tomorrow. Then they wanted to stir. So each got a spoon and they stirred until their little hearts were content. And yes, I got out my camera. These are some of the best birthday memories in the making.

Ahh......

It seems that I am catching up rather than writing every night. I need to get better at that again. The boys are all doing well. They are enjoying the nice days, the bath tub enjoys them at night and they are all excited to be done with school in a couple of weeks.

Cody and Dylan had their Kindergarten registration last week. All went well. It was kind of sur-real actually. As I was sitting in the hallway, I could look off to my left and Dylan was in with the speech therapist, then I looked right and Cody was in with the teacher. I got a big ole tear in my eye. It's so hard to believe that they are going to Kindergarten in just a couple months and our school days are starting. The march upward to that big ole Graduation day! There will be little Graduations before that of course but it just is hard to imagine they are this old. Some days it seems like they are still those little babies that were always wanting to be fed at the same time, changed at the same time, etc.

What else....hmmm...this is what I get for trying to remember. I can't remember what I did an hour ago let alone a couple days ago. We had an uneventful weekend. Cookout and bom fire at the Smith's. A lazy Sunday with a sick Cody. Thankfully he feels better today.

T-ball tonight. The boys did good. Dylan has been hitting left handed and is doing wonderful. Everybody has commented how well he is doing and the coach calls him "lefty" and he thinks that is kind of funny. Thanks to Grandpa Jim for straightening him around. He was so proud last week after his game he had to come home and call him.

Tyler is doing great. He is turning 4 in a couple of weeks and we are going to have a really cool firetruck birthday party.

Till next time....