Road Trippin'

It's the last Spring Break of dental school, and we decided to take the boys down to L.A. to show them their new stomping grounds. We scoped out potential places to live and enjoyed the time just to hang out together. The boys have always been good travelers, and this trip was no exception. Our family loves a good road trip... good tunes on the stereo, funny conversations, lots of junk food, and beautiful scenery. Above: Hayden's Dairy Queen brainfreeze

Below: Evidence that Nathan's brain has been perpetually frozen

California is such a picturesque place

These are some of the images I captured at 80 mph. Click to see the enlarged view if you wish.

How Short ARE You?

I get this question a lot. So here it is:
Driver's licence says 5'0" (but that's a bit of a stretch ...literally... and the lady at the DMV knew it. She had pity on me, though and let it fly). In reality, I'm 4'10 and 1/2" ...and don't forget that 1/2". It's important!

Interesting facts:

• "The American Academy of Pediatrics... says that most kids aren't ready for regular seat belts until 'the child reaches about 4'9" in height and is between 8 to 12 years of age."
• "Little People of America (LPA) defines dwarfism as ... an adult height of 4'10" or shorter, among both men and women."

So that means I'm only an inch and a half from still needing a car seat and half an inch from legally being considered a dwarf. THAT'S how short I am!

I like to keep in mind the following..."Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise." Alma 37:6

I Didn't Want to be a Dentist This Weekend

Just about every weekend lately has been taken up with dental stuff. Even my visit to my Dad's barbeque about a month ago turned into an assist at his office in a trauma case. So today was just devoted to my kids and errands.

After finishing most of our stops, I attempted to make ONE more. We were right next to Costco and, though I didn't need that many things I thought "I'm already here. Why not?" And then for a brief moment I felt very sure and urgently that I ought not try. Ever the pragmatist, I chose to ignore the prompting and proceed to get the enticingly great deal on eggs that awaited me inside the wherehouse. DUMB IDEA!!!

No sooner had we approached the threshold of Costco when "BAM!!!" Hayden pushed the cart into Nathan's foot, which sent the handle straight into Hayen's front tooth (#8 for all you dental nerds). There were several obvious cracks in the tooth but no pulp exposure, bleeding from the socket, a fat lip, and a wiggly tooth. My uncle Eric met me at his office in downtown San Rafael and let me take an x-ray. Nothing alarming, but we will have to be cautious and he may need a root canal someday. Hayden is fine, though a little sore.

Here I am trying to see the cracks by shining a light through the tooth. (Not very visible in the picture...and, yes I keep gloves in my house...even to examine my kids.)

So there goes my dental-free weekend. I guess I better get used to it. Pediatrics is all about the weekend trauma.

Moral of the story:
Don't ignore the Spirit or you may get your face bashed in!

AAARGH!!!

I was trying to help Nathan start up a new blog and whilst adding the "flaming skull" background to his site, I accidentally added it to mine! Imagine my surprise when I clicked on "Three Men and a Little Lady" to find a winged vampire skull staring back at me. But the worst part: I lost all the good stuff on the side bar... My music, my pictures, my movie quotes, my links to friends, my countdown to graduation... ALL GONE!!! It took some doing, but it's finally back. I sure hope it brings you enjoyment equivalent to the amount of work that went into repairing the damage! If I left you off the friends' list, forgive me and leave a comment for me to correct it. I will do so swiftly!

Top 10 Ways to Annoy Your Dentist

We'll do this Letterman style ... (Incidentally, these are all things that have ACTUALLY happened to me over the last couple of years).

10. Tell your dentist you have been doing some research about a breakthrough product on the market that you would like him/her to use. Insist said research is from scientific literature and then proceed to show your dentist the one-page ad that popped up on your computer while perusing the latest herbal remedy website.

9. Insist that you have been brushing vigilantly (and flossing too), but all the while cultivate your cheesy-looking plaque that flourishes so nicely in your yuck mouth. To top it all off, eat tacos with extra onions and cilantro right before the appointment. Your dentist hasn't had time to eat before your 4 hour appointment. Perhaps if you can nauseate him/her, your dentist won't be distracted by a grumbling tummy.

8. Put on a fashion show in the middle of the clinic isle. All the other patients have been sitting for so long, and they need some entertainment.

7. Try to steal the safety goggles. They are exceptionally stylish and could possibly fund that European vacation you have always dreamed about if you post them on e-bay.

6. Ask the dentist to drill out all of your perfectly good silver fillings and cut off your gold crowns because the radio signals they keep conducting get a little noisy. When your dentist asks if they tune in to a decent station, scoff and be very offended.

5. Show up 1/2 hour before a scheduled appointment to tell your dentist that you can't COME IN for the appointment (be sure you are ACTUALLY PRESENT for this conversation...it is so much more effective in person). Proceed to make really fake coughing noises and try to make it sound like you are REALLY sick.

4. Diagnose yourself with cancer. Dentists really enjoy the chance to interact with their collegues in the medical world, and cancer will definately warrent a consult. Be sure you have researched all of your symptoms on the internet. This will make you sound more convincing.

3. Work up an elaborate treatment plan with your dentist and then FREAK OUT on the day of your surgery. Drama is fun. The dentist's office gets kind of boring, and patients in adjacent operatories love to hear how you are a "healer" and how you are trying to "save the world" with your healing power. Maybe you will heal your neighbor with this interaction (but probably not yourself, because you still need the surgery).

2. Spend your entire appointment talking to your dentist about dead celebrities...even the really obscure ones. Be sure to do this with the rubber dam stretched accross your mouth. Dentists have to learn how to interpret "dam-speak," and this is a perfect way for them to get practice.

And the #1 way to annoy your dentist *drum roll*....

1. Insist that your dentures be constructed entirely of animal bone. After all, George Washington was pleased with his dentures, and plastic (you have recently learned on the internet) causes cancer.

(Notice: He's not smiling!!!)

Golden Gate Sunset

Couldn't resist going to see the sunset tonight. Now that day light savings has begun, it was a little easier to find the time to enjoy the sights. I will miss going over the bridge each morning. It is one of my favorite parts of the city.

Spring Has Sprung!

The weather has been so gorgeous lately! Much to my dismay, I had to spend most of my Saturday at school yesterday. I found out kind of last minute that I was being presented with an award for outstanding pediatric dentistry... so I was grateful, but I almost missed out on the glorious outside air. Thankfully, the boys were about to head to the park when I got home, so I got to join them for the fun.

I love camelias in Northern California. When I was in high school, I used to perform in the Camilia Festival in Sacramento.

This is the tree outside our window.... My "popcorn" tree.

Wayne has taken an interest in lacrosse. He and Nathan tossed the ball around yesterday. (I can't help but think the sticks look like giant athetic supporters.)

Hayden couldn't wait to get back on his bike now that the weather is nice. When we lived in Riverside, he rode morning and night because he had so much room to roam. Now apartment life has limited his freedom a bit. We actually volunteered to take them to a park with a great play structure and swings, but Hayden responded, "I'm too old for swings!" Who's too old for swings?!? I still like to take a ride any chance I get! Now that my kids are getting too old and too cool for kid stuff, what kind of excuse can I come up with to go for a swing?