~Pediatric Dentist~

Dr. Dawn Woo is our pediatric dentist. And we love her.

Today MonaLisa had two teeth pulled. First they had a big comfy blanket to keep her warm and put a pillow under her knees so she would be comfortable. Then she had a choice of orange or bubblegum "happy air." She chose bubblegum, they gave her some sunglasses, and then she had flavored numbing gel. The dental assistant was awesome. Then Dr. Woo came in and sang a song from The Little Mermaid while she gave the numbing shots. MonaLisa didn't even notice she was getting shots. Then while the shots set in the dental assistant sang a couple silly songs to her. Dr. Woo came back and while pulling the teeth she sang songs from Mulan and Pocahontas. Then they put the teeth in a tooth-shaped container for the Tooth Fairy and we were done. Our bill was ready at the front desk and the instructions were actually personalized with MonaLisa's name throughout.

This is in contrast to MonaLisa's first experiences with dentists. By the time we found Dr. Woo she had been to seven dentists with six horrific experiences. And they ranged from being held down by three assistants while having her mouth forced open (I still can't believe I didn't grab her and walk out) to having a dentist leave in the middle of a filling and say she would "never work on that child again."

We love Dr. Woo and she's worth every minute we travel to see her. (And one time we were caught in a freak snow storm and it took us over three hours to get home.) So, if you're in the Seattle area, check her out here and take your kids in. I promise you won't regret it. From the way her office is set up--she has a playroom by the chairs so you can still see your other kid(s) while staying with the patient--to the way she and her assistants take care of your child(ren).

I honestly cannot say enough good things about her!!!

~I'm Raising a High-Maintenance Gal~

Last week we had Parent-Teacher conferences before school (best idea ever) to discuss our children and our concerns for their school year.

Which means I have to explain how high-maintenance MonaLisa is to her new teacher. The conversation goes something like this:

"Well, to begin with MonaLisa won't be here the second day of school. She has to have two teeth pulled."

Ms. A: "That won't be a problem. If she's still not feeling well on Thursday, just go ahead and keep her home."

"Ok. She's also going to be late for school on the 9th. She has to get impressions made for her space maintainer at the orthodontist."

Ms. A: "My daughter had braces for 10 years. I understand."

"And she has to leave early on the 4th and 11th for physical therapy. Then on the 12th she's going to be late again because she has to see her asthma doctor. Plus, it's her birthday and she'd like to bring in treats."

Ms. A: (in her mind this is what I'm sure she's thinking) "How many other ways can you disrupt my class and your daughter's education?"

"Then on the 17th she has her well-child appointment with her pediatrician and has to get her space maintainer fit at the orthodontist, so I should be able to get her here by 11:30. And, um, on the 23rd she has her regular dentist appointment at 9am in [insert city 20 miles away] so I should have her here by 11 or so."

Ms. A: (this time aloud) "I'm sure it will be fine, it's not like we're in high school. Is there anything else I need to know about your daughter?"

"Well, she's far-sighted and has to wear her glasses for everything but PE and recess. And she sees double so she has a tendency to get headaches. So, she also will be going to see her optometrist and opthalmologist twice each year. She sees her asthma doctor quarterly and her asthma shows up through coughing so if she's coughing she needs to go to the office and take her albuterol."

Ms. A: "Does she know to go to the office?"

"Actually she's kind of embarrassed by her asthma and so she probably won't speak up."

Ms. A: "So she's timid."

"Yes. That's the perfect word for her. And she's left-handed so you'll need to seat her appropriately."

Ms. A: "By the way does she prefer to go by MonaLisa or just Mona?"

"Actually, she prefers to be called Mona, but she likes it to be written MonaLisa."

I am not making this up. This is her/my life for the month of September. Honestly, how many of your kids have a pediatrician, asthma doctor, pediatric dentist, pediatric oral surgeon, orthodontist, optometrist, pediatric opthalmologist, and physical therapist? (Ratchet only has a pediatrician, asthma doctor, pediatric dentist, pediatric opthalmologist, and an occupational therapist.)

So today I was dreading this conversation:

"Um, MonaLisa's dance teacher has decided to move her up two levels instead of one this year."

Ms. A: "That is so exciting. What a great opportunity for her."

"Actually there's a problem. Her dance teacher actually does the dance schedule knowing that MonaLisa lives the farthest away. But, since she wasn't expecting to move her up to Intermediate (formerly Level 4) she didn't plan the schedule around that. So, her ballet class starts at 3:55 on Tuesdays instead of 7pm on Wednesdays. Will it be a problem to take her out at 3:15?"

Ms. A: "Absolutely. I'd do it if it was my daughter."

(Totally did not expect that answer.) "So, is it okay if she changes into her leotard and tights during the last recess? She'll wear her warm up suit over it. And can I come put her bun in during that same time?"

Ms. A: "Well, I don't like the idea of her changing in the regular restroom, so I'll get her special permission to change in the staff restroom in the front office. It's more private."

Seriously, is this teacher for real. I'm loving her. But, I am scared that this is going to get annoying the further into the school year we get.

Then I had to go to Ratchet's class and ask to take him out early. His teacher was fine with it, but he's actually in music class during that time. When I talk to the music teacher, he's not okay with it. I understand because he only has music for 1 hour per week and this takes it down to 45 minutes per week. 25 percent is pretty high. He asked me to explore other options. I did explain that if it weren't for MonaLisa's dance class Ratchet would be getting out at 3:15 for occupational therapy anyway. Fortunately I was able to change that to Wednesdays after school. So, I think I'll try to look into a playdate exchange for Ratchet so he can stay at school. I know there's an extended day program at his school, but I don't know if he can do it just one day each week.


However, look how cute MonaLisa's birthday invitations turned out. Since it's a sleepover, we decided to go for the sleeping bag effect. I think they turned out cute. And MonaLisa did the sewing by herself. I'm such a proud mommy seamstress.

~I Spy a Winner~

So the correct answer was UNDER THE FRIDGE!!!

So congratulations to those who guessed correctly:

1. Alisha
2. TaNicka
3. Shannon
4. Rachel
5. Lisa
6. Melissa
7. Jenny
8. Jennifer
9. Cheryl
10. Maria
11. Tricia

Now, before I announce the winner, here's a picture of what I found. Doesn't it really look like an I Spy collage?

And can you believe I found all of these under my fridge? How crazy is that? When I started counting I couldn't believe it was that high.

Here's a list of what I found:

1 match
1 partial clothespin
4 lids (3 for water bottles, 1 for an inhaler)
1 star marshmallow (this didn't survive the washing process and therefore isn't in the photo)
4 Singulair (Mona Lisa's asthma medicine which also didn't survive the washing process)
4 reward coins
1 mango candy
1 sharpie marker
1 eraserless pencil
1 thumbtack
3 legoes
6 twixit clips
3 bread closures
8 letters/numbers: CRUELV49
1 green circle magnet
7 Potato head magnets (2 arms, shoes, smile, teeth, ear, nose)
4 random magnets (tooth, bear, flower, woman w/ flowers)
1 mixing spoon
13 farm magnets (tree, tractor, trailer, straw, 2 fences, gate, horse, hens, rooster, pig, barn, weathervane)

Also, not pictured or counted would be the "bunny of sorts," meaning a large dust bunny.

I know you all just want to know who won but as you know, I never do anything the quick and easy way. So to announce the winner, I've written a poem:

"I Spy a Giveaway Poem"

By Becky Reynolds

Because I know with giveaways competition is in the air,

I used a random integer generator to keep the process fair.
The numbers were entered, the button was clicked,
And I waited with anticipation to see who was picked.
The number was chosen, it appeared on the screen,
It was a FOUR and now RACHEL is my giveaway queen.
So, congrats to the one who said "Your clues are pretty cool!"
But keep watching my blog to see next who will rule.
I love you all and thanks so much for playing,
And good luck for the next time that I’m giveawaying!!!

So, how many of you dare clean under your fridge now?

And Rachel, e-mail me your favorite colors and so I can start working on your tote/purse!!!

~One More Clue~

All right, one more clue:

What the 33 things have in common is a magnet.

So, put together:

1. Where do you rarely clean?
2. That has about 1/2 inch of clearance?
3. Where you use magnets that could fall off and get pushed beneath (The Bear says that's too big of a clue and I shouldn't give it away like that)?

Come on I know you can do it. I want to have a big drawing!!! Okay, maybe not big, since only five people read my blog.

~Written With No Offense Intended~

I don't like dogs (or cats). And I say this with no apologies. Plus, the Bear is allergic to dogs, well pet dander. He also almost had his ear bit off by a dog when he had a paper route. Mona Lisa is afraid of dogs. Ratchet is afraid of dogs; he was actually bitten on his face by one just a few weeks ago. Dogs just don't work for our family. And I don't feel it necessary to apologize for this.

So, why do SOME (not all) people who own dogs feel as if they need to force their pets on us? In the past few weeks:

Mona Lisa had a friend stop calling when she told her she was afraid of her dog (which wasn't a problem, she didn't really enjoy her company anyway).

While at the park, someone let their dog off their leash and didn't seem to care that it was pawing and licking us.

At a rest area a man tried to force Ratchet to pet his dog.

And this was really weird: we were on the Oregon Coast and parked at a store next to a woman who was sitting in the drivers seat of her car, window down, music blaring, and dancing with the dog in her lap. When I opened my door she asked if she had awakened our sleeping baby. Since we don't have a baby, I said no, and started to walk away. Then she told Ratchet to come over and pet her dog (What?). I told her no he was afraid of dogs and had just been bitten by one. And she told me (in a loud voice now since we were walking away) I needed to bring him over to pet her dog because her son had been bitten by a dog and "Lola" had helped him overcome that fear. I said no and continued to walk and she (yelling by this time) told me she would wait for me to change my mind and bring him back to overcome his fear. (Now I'm not wrong, that is really weird, right?)

While at Multnomah Falls last Saturday a man with a dog on a leash was pushing a double-wide jogging stroller across the rather narrow bridge and bumping into people, with no apologies by the way. As I manuevered my family as flat as possible against the side of the bridge so he could get by, I notice that he doesn't have a child (or children considering it was a double stroller) but a dog sitting on the floor of the stroller. I suppose I should just be happy the animals were being contained. Okay, so he wasn't forcing his dog on us, it was just annoying, yet, once again inconsiderate.

(Okay, so the last paragraph reminded me of the following Dear Abby. Just substitute dog for cat.

DEAR ABBY: I dress my Siamese cat, "Belle," in clothes and pajamas. (Yes, they make apparel for cats.) I also push her around in a stroller. My friends think I'm crazy, but I consider Belle to be my daughter.

One time, a teenager came up to me as I was pushing Belle in her stroller and asked, "Where's the baby?" I told her that Belle was like my baby.

Is it nuts to treat a cat like a child? -- MOM OF A FUR KID IN N.Y.

DEAR "MOM": Nuts? No. A bid for attention ... perhaps.)

Now, most of these I can deal with, but when they invade my personal space . . .

So, today I'm in the fabric store (which we all know is my personal space) and I see a woman holding her small dog and leaning over fabric, therefore rubbing him/her all over the fabric. Bugged, I went to an employee (actually there were two of them) and asked them to have the dog removed from the store. They acted as if it was the oddest request they'd ever heard. I explained that my children were afraid of dogs and that my family had allergies and I didn't think it was acceptable for me to be expected to buy fabric that had dog dander all over it and possibly give my husband an allergy attack. They proceeded to give one another the "roll your eyes this is ridiculous" look. So, I repeated my request and they asked me what they should do. I told them to go to the lady, tell her it was against store policy, and ask her to take the dog out of the store. That's when they decided to go get the manager. Over 10 minutes later (which is 10 minutes of dog dander being rubbed all over the calicos) the manager appears and I point the woman out to her. She tells me that what happens is that people have their dogs groomed next door and then bring them into shop on their way out to their car. I tell her that isn't my problem and repeat that there is fear and allergies involved and that I'm pretty sure it's store policy. So, she goes over to the woman, points me out (did I emphasize enough that she pointed me out?) and explains that another customer has asked for her to take her dog out of the store all the while apologizing profusely to her. There were no apologies to me. So tell me was I in the wrong, because I felt as if I should have felt bad. Which I didn't. But, since I felt as if the situation was handled inappropriately, I did what I do best. I called corporate and lodged a complaint. The woman at corporate apologized for my experience but did tell me she didn't know what store policy is.

So, maybe I'm making assumptions, but don't most stores (not including pet stores) have a no animals except service animals policy?

And doesn't everyone have the right to not have something they like, fear, or are allergic to forced on them? Maybe I'm being insensitive to dog owners, but I feel as if they (once again, not all) are being insensitive to others. I think allergies to pet dander are fairly common. Fear of a specific animal is quite common. And just disliking something is extremely common.

Is it too much to expect others to respect this? Am I asking too much?

Hmm, I'm actually contemplating closing down the comments on this entry because I also fear the hate mail. But, I won't because this is my blog and I'm entitled to my opinion.

~More Clues~

I've been told my clues are too vague. So here are some more.

1. It's a cleaning job most of us avoid. I've only done it 3 times in the 7 years I've lived here.
2. None of the objects are thicker than 1/2 inch because nothing thicker could fit there.
3. All 65 of the objects fit in a gallon ziploc bag.

Let me know if you need more.

~I Spy a Giveaway~

Today I undertook a necessary project. While doing this project I uncovered a plethora of items. 65 to be exact. As you know, I make you work for my giveaways. So here's your job--figure out where I found these objects.

I'll give you some clues:

1. We all have this project to do.
2. Some do it more than others.
3. 33 of these objects had one thing in common.
4. And in true I Spy tradition, a poem:

I spy a thumbtack, a spoon, and the start of a flame,
A farm, it’s occupants, and a weathervane.
There’s 3 tops to bottles and 4 coins to reward,
Body parts for a starch and a very CRUEL word.
I found a woman with flowers and a wrapped mango treat,
A bunny of sorts and 9 clips to keep our food sweet.

Now, so you can't use each others answers, you need to send your answer via email to seamstressed at gmail dot com. This is my blog email address, so don't send it to my normal email box. And be sure to label it I Spy. Then I will do a drawing from the correct answers.

Here are the rules:

*The contest will end Monday, September 1st at midnight PST.
*You only get three guesses. If you guess more, only your first three will count.
*If I don't get any correct answers I will extend it and give more clues.

So, what is the prize?

A totebag/purse made by me. (So, Alisha you better think hard, I know you want one.)