I’m going to trail them round medical facilities instead.
Dentist first thing this morning. Like properly first thing at 830am. Bleugh. Not sure I’ve ever typed that before, probably won’t ever again. Hope you are all appreciating the descriptiveness of it.
Our dentist is across the road and up a bit – about a five minute walk I guess. We arrived and had a ten minute wait which made me a bit cross as last time we went we were tsked at for being a few minutes late, this time it was ten minutes after our appointment time (which was the first of the day) when we were called through.
Ady went first – he is seriously dentist-phobic. He was fine, told to improve his teeth cleaning and sent off. Davies was next and all was well with him too. Scarlett went third. Now she always got a hard time previously about her dummy so was very proud to be able to say she doesn’t have it any more. Unfortunately this was all overshadowed by the discovery that her teeth cleaning isn’t really up to par. That wouldn’t be so bad but she has tiny areas of what the dentist called ‘pre-decay’ on two of her back teeth 🙁 🙁 . She insisted that would be down to diet, and indeed she would know but I am slightly taken aback as (camp weeks aside ;)) I think the kids diet is relatively low in teeth damaging things. They only really drink water with something like coke maybe once a week with a meal, sweets are not a regular thing, neither are biscuits or cake really. They don’t really snack aside from on fruit which I suspect is the cause of the problem. I was mortified and poor Scarlett is upset too :(.
I was last and as I was already aware I have some issues with my gums. My Mum developed bad gum disease while pregnant with me and it never really improved. Although her teeth were healthy the gums receded to such a degree that she lost teeth and now wears false ones. This can be a hereditary condition so I have always been closely watched and indeed show a definite weakness in that area with regular flare ups. I was aware my gums were sore and infected about a month ago but ignored it as I knew we’d be going to the dentist soon. She said they were close to needing antibiotics and to use medicated mouthwash daily to try and sort them out.
So all feeling fairly disheartened we headed for home and Ady went off to work. The kids and I had already decided on a quiet morning so we watched Monsters Vs Aliens including the dvd extras, Davies completed some tricky levels on the MvA DS game and Tarly did some of a fimo kit she got for her birthday. We had lunch and Tarly and I gathered some flowers to put in her flower press.
During the morning Scarlett’s cough and runny nose got progressively worse and she went downhill. I’m sure tiredness has a part to play but she has definitely picked up something from last week and is pretty miserable bless her.
I’ve missed the last 2 opportunities to give blood so was keen to get along to the session today locally so we headed off there after lunch. I was rude to a pedestrian of old people (not necessary a recognised name for a group of them but I felt it was accurate) all standing huddled in the foyer blocking it off so noone could enter the building and was still riled up when we walked in. Despite not having an appointment I was ushered straight through. Whether this was luck, due to Scarlett’s hacking cough or my seething looks from the old people still apparent I don’t know but I was whizzed through the ‘have you had sex for money in the last ten days?’ style questions, passed the drop of blood in the pretty coloured liquid test and was on my back with my sleeve pushed up before you could say Jack Robinson. Quite why you’d feel the need to say Jack Robinson in the middle of a blood donor session I don’t know but that’s your issue, not mine.
Cup of tea and packet of crisps, effusive thanks all round and we were off again. I recently signed up to be an organ donor after watching a tv ad and whilst none of it is pleasant it feels like such a small inconvenience compared to the potential good it could do to give blood. The nurse told me it was my eighth time today which made me feel good :).
On the way out we decided Scarlett wasn’t up to gymnastics tonight and on the basis that Tarly wouldn’t be there Davies decided he wouldn’t go either. That makes three in a row they’ve not been to and twitches me a bit at the price. Privately I hope the novelty has worn off and they won’t want to bother after Christmas but I need them to tell me that rather than me decide for them and try and sway them.
We called into Boots on the way home and got fancy toothbrushes all round, the mouthwash for me, balm tissues for Scarlett. The nurse at the blood donor session commented on her ‘red rudolph nose’ and it is really sore.
Back home Scarlett mostly sat on me while Davies mostly watched CBBC. They had tea during which Tarly really went downhill and sat on my lap crying for a while 🙁 then they got in their pjs. A sleepover had been promised for tonight and it was very cute hearing them chat about it:
S: are you sure you want me in your room with my cough?
D: yes it’s fine, we shared a room all last week so I’ll probably catch it anyway
S: well I expect I’ll be asleep really quickly because I am tired from all the coughing so you’ll have peace and quiet after that.
😆
They went up to bed and started watching Ice Age 3 by which point Ady arrived home, pretty late thanks to calling in to give blood himself and having to wait over half an hour to do so.
I had a bath while Ady moved furniture around in the lounge to make a tree space to bring the Christmas tree in tomorrow. I cooked dinner including garlic bread that the misbehaving oven left with some cold patches – he threatened to blog about it 😉 😆
I rang back Julie the Badger leader to say yes I will be an Assistant Leader after she’d left a message on the answerphone. She was delighted and said she will try and ensure I have limited contact with Davies, particularly when it is a craft that he wants to keep as a surprise for me which is what he said his reservations were. Scarlett will be delighted 🙂 I remain unsure but happy to keep my enemies close if they start coming after HEors through community groups like Badgers, Scouts and Guides aswell as wanting to ensure that Badgers is there for the next three years that I want it to be available for Scarlett.
Off to bed now and utterly luxuriating in the thought I don’t have to set an alarm for the morning…
Huh – my first morning of getting up to an alarm after 10 days off! Bleurgh indeed 🙂
Hope Tarly feels better this morning.
Comment by Alison — 08 December 2009 @ 8:19 am
Poor Scarlett, Adam is in exactly the same boat.
Comment by Roslyn — 08 December 2009 @ 10:23 am
Poor old Scarlett. There’s a lot of it about – as my mum would say. Hope she’s better soon. P is off out somewhere with a pale little waif face and a hacking cough – she just won’t stop.
BTW, I have heard that it doesn’t have to be sweet food causing decay. Carbs left on the teeth (especially refined carbs like white bread) will have the same effect. I’m no scientist but I think it’s because carbs break down into sugars….? Both of our kids have had sealant put on their back teeth to help prevent decay. I’ve no idea if it really does any good. P had one filling in a milk tooth and it was really no drama, inspite of her hating her space being invaded.
My gums aren’t tip top and I finally gave in to the nagging and floss every single night – seems to have made a difference as the nagging has stopped!
Comment by Allie — 08 December 2009 @ 7:32 pm
Ooops! I think I know what caused me to be moderated just now. Should probably have written “Pearl is off” rather than abbreviating her name to P!
Comment by Allie — 08 December 2009 @ 7:33 pm
Also have receding gums – my mum also has gum disease apparently. Still has her own teeth so far.
I try and floss – average a couple of times a week but should try and do better – but the biggest thing has been making the investment of twice yearly hygienist appointments. Also I take tooth picks out with me so that I have somethine to deal with stuck food when I notice it. I have an appointment soon. Must improve flossing rate now.
Comment by Michelle — 09 December 2009 @ 12:42 am