A Miracle at the Dentist's Office!

Yeah!!!!  Michael and I have been praying for this dentist appointment for a while.  Historically, Alexander has been an extremely uncooperative patient for Little Smiles Dentistry in Yucaipa, CA.  He is very strong willed and does what he wants to do often.  At the age 3.5yrs, he had yet to have more than 1 x-ray (while I pinned him to my lap last visit), flouride, or a formal cleaning done.  We always had to revert to the lap exam where I hold him and the dentist "counts" his teeth with a normal toothbrush. Of course they still bill the insurance for a full price visit.  But whatever...

So, we go to Alexander and Isabella's dentist appointments on Monday, April 19 right after his preschool.  I also had to wake up Isabella from her nap to come.  X-ray time.  I'm holding a still half asleep Bella in my arms.  Bussa Man hops up in the chair (that's a first) and they put the protective apron on him.  They take 5 x-rays with no problem!  He was totally cooperative.  I was shocked!

Then Isabella sat down and took her first X-ray.  She sat cooperatively the whole time, but after the first didn't open her mouth for the X-ray thing to be put in.  But for a 1yr old (2yr next month), that is awesome!  No tears or fussing at all.

Then Bussa had his turn for his cleaning.  I was worried because their DVD players were not working.  That was going to be his motivation to sit still.  He was fine and they completed their first official cleaning.  He even sat nicely on the dentist's chair the entire time for it.  They flossed his teeth too.  Amazing!!!!

Isabella's turn for cleaning.  She also laid nicely in the dentist chair for her first official real cleaning (21 months earlier than her brother).  The dentist was amazed!  She said her 2.5yr old daughter won't even do that.  They also did well when the dentist checked their teeth for cavities.  Isabella has two K-9 teeth on top pushing through and swelling on the bottom for two new bottom teeth.  She has been teething like crazy- poor thing!  The dentist want her off the binky by age 3 at the latest so that she can self correct the gap in her front two teeth.  We need to start flossing Alexander's back teeth where there is contact (they always said he didn't need floss because of his tooth spacing).  What a difference 6 months made in maturity for both kids.  It was an amazing appointment!!!

As a reward, the dentist gave them new toothbrushes and such, and they each chose a toy from the treasure chest.  Isabella got a Winnie the Pooh foam puzzle, and Alexander chose a Nemo toy.  At home we gave them a Leap Frog ABC word building toy for the refrigerator to share (it was in our secret stash in the closet for a special occasion like this, or one of their birthdays, whichever came first!).  Well done to both kids!!!  Thank you Little Smiles in Yucaipa!  We love the new dentist there, Dr. Stevens.  The kids did great with her!

March and April 2011 Photos

 Alexander, Isabella, and Brandon play with Choo Choos!  Cheryl watched Isabella for 4 weeks while I taught ASL classes at Beaumont Adult School.  In return, I helped watch her kids, Brandon and baby Andrew while they got settled in their new home in Sundance.

 Baby Andrew

 Riding big brother's scooter

 Alexander made this design entirely by himself.  Impressive!

 The Living Desert.  Cute little trains to watch.

 There was a fun play area for kids where they can explore, get wet, and have fun!

 Little duckies

 She looks like a sick patient in a hospital... Just Isabella's routine daily breathing treatment for her asthma.

 Fun making cupcakes with Mommy.

 Waiting for them to cook.

 Eating time!  The kids helped to choose the frosting color, use the food coloring, and mix up red and blue to make purple frosting.  Science at work in our own kitchen.

 Daily yogurt routine

 Alexander's preschool work

 Spring Break- Mommy and Daddy went to Sea World, San Diego with Alexander.  We got free Fun Cards for being teachers and just had to pay for Alexander.  Isabella spend the day bonding with Courtney.

 Daddy son bonding time.

 Bouncing in the Sesame Street Bay of Play

 Playing the giant xylophone

 Tidepools

 Moms Club Field Trip to Dairy Queen in Yucaipa.

 Spring Break- Mommy and Alexander spent the day bonding together at Disneyland.  Isabella stayed home with Daddy.  It was fun!

 Driving on Autopia

 Sick weekend for Bussa Man.  He had two weekends in a row (first two of April) of being sick with fever and tummy troubles.

 So pretty!

 Let's go shopping!

 Cookin' my chicken!

 Yummy cookies

 Minivan hit 75,000 miles this month.

 Bounce house in our living room

 Rubie's style chicken salad for dinner.

 Isabella now fits nicely on Alexander's little bike.

 Living Desert- Robin and her Mom bought a membership to the Living Desert in Palm Desert and split the cost for the year ($45 each, includes the two adults and 4 kids each visit).  We can bring friends for 1/2 off.  Too bad Disneyland doesn't have that deal!

 Petting Zoo with Ashton

 Hands on fun at the Living Desert.

 It snowed a few days in April!  Crazy for Southern California.  The weird part is it was in the 80s and 90s a few days before and after each snow storm.

 Kaylie and I ground wheat and made fresh wheat bread without talking to practice our American Sign Language.  We made 4 loaves.  Yummy!  Then we learned the words for the Signing Time DVD Time to Eat!  Very appropriate for our theme of the day.

 We made our last visit to the Jump Zone in Redlands.  It was very sad because they are going out of business...  We had planned to have Isahella's 2nd Birthday Party there.  On to plan B.

 Bussa Man plays air hockey with random kids.

 We should take the princess castle home with us.

 Another snow day in the middle of April 2011!

 Mommy found some great deals at the Sundance semi annual yard sale.

 Hawaiian Haystacks for dinner

 Yummy chocolate brownie peanut butter cookies (use butter not margarine, or else they stick to the pan and don't fully cook on the bottom...)

 Mommy was frustrated with Alexander and sent him into timeout in his room until Daddy came home (20 min later or so).  When we came in to check on him, he was asleep under his laundry basket.  That isn't good!

 Bagel making Bonanza at Chanelle's house for Moms Club.

 Mommy is on a homemade French Bread Kick!  Daily bread for all!