Dental Work

Approximately 8 months ago or so, NyCee knocked her front teeth out of alignment. One tooth started to discolor so I took her to the dentist. Dr. Ball explained NyCee knocked both teeth away from the root and the discolored one was hanging on by a thread. In order to reattach some root to the tooth, he would have to perform a mini root canal. It involved extracting root from the healthy tooth and surgically attaching it to the dead root.

We arrived at the dental office at 730a. NyCee had to receive a light sedative to help her relax. After about 45 minutes, we returned to the room where the "procedure" took place.

This picture looks worse than what it was. The "procedure" took about 10 minutes. NyCee didn't like having the strawberry flavored gas coming out of the tube on her nose. But she relaxed and let Dr. Ball work his magic. I could see a noticeable difference right away. Her front teeth look healthier already.

Dr. Ball advised they are still very loose and may have to be removed. While I recognize children loose teeth everyday, I am not prepared for my three year old to be snaggle tooth for the next four years. So, extracting the two front teeth at this stage in the game, is not an option we are going to exercise.

For the Love of Poop

For the past two days, I have had the pleasure of playing with my son's poop. Little Fred's poop is still too running at his age. It should be along the consistency of peanut butter or pancake batter. So, during his check-up I mentioned this to his pediatrican and she wanted to have his stool analyzed. Lovely!

Little Fred does not poop in the correct sequence. Meaning, he should eat dinner, poop, get a bath, cup of milk, then off to bed. Not my son. He'd rather eat dinner, get a bath, cup of milk, then poop. Last night was no different with the exception that I was required to collect samples of the poop and divide it into six different vials. Again, lovely!

Fast forward to this morning....
I walk into his room because I hear his morning whines for my attention. The room was still dark with just a little bit of sunlight peeaking through the blinds. As I looked at him, I thought to myself, "Is he naked?" Sure enough, when I turned on the light, there stood my son commando in his crib. I began looking for the diaper. I located it across the room and it was relatively dry. So now I asked myself, "At what point did he remove the diaper?" After I put the kids to bed, I generally do not go back into their room. Apparently or I would have discovered my son in his nakedness a little sooner. After processing the fact my 17 month old son took off his diaper and threw it across the room and slept in the buff, I gazed upon poop in different spots in his crib.

Rule of life #129: Put the pajama pants on your son before he goes to sleep at night in the hopes to deter him from removing his diaper and throwing it across the room.

Gone Home

Today, my cousin Cari left her body and went to be with Jesus. Cari was diagnosed with Triple Negative Breast Cancer about two (2) years ago. Although, the cancer was removed from the breast, it spread to other areas. She fought valiantly as the cancer spread to her brain and then to her spine. The cancer in the spine was very aggressive.

While my heart grieves for her husband Melvin and the three beautiful children: Cameron, Max, and Ella who are left behind, I am glad that her suffering has ended. Cari took her last breath and then fell into the loving, waiting, open arms of Jesus. Right now, she gets to be with her Savior. Death is never easy. There are things that happen in the earth we do not understand. But I have to believe there is a purpose to everything. Today, we cannot understand why a beautiful young woman was stricken with such a horrible disease that subsequently took her away from us. But we are so blessed to have had her in our lives. Her laugh and vivacious spirit lit up the room. She will be greatly missed.

May I humbly request your prayers of comfort for her husband and children. Today we miss her. But we will be reunited with her again when we all see Jesus face to face.

2 Corinthians 5:8 (New King James Version)

"We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord."

Cari Spitz Ashford 1973-2009

Mommy's Monkeys

Here we go again with this "I don't know what to do with boys thing." So lately, my son has become the little monkey. He climbs onto everything. Today, he was a little too quite so I walked into the kitchen to find him standing on top of the dishwasher door. I was amazed that he even knew how to open it, but that he climbed up onto the door - WOW!

But it's not just Tyler. I walked into the bathroom and found NyCee standing in the sink attempting to get the toothpaste out of the cabinet to brush her teeth. REALLY!

Fabnificent

Sometime in August, I cut off all my hair. I just wanted a change. Something different. But lately, I really didn't like my hair short. I hadn't worn it that short in about 6 years so the look just didn't fit me anymore.

Well, tonight started the Singles' Conference and I wanted something different. Something fabulously magnificent (hence the word: Fabnificent) So I changed my look completely. It shocked most people at church when I arrived one Sunday with short hair. Tonight was no different. People did a double take all night. I love doing that.


Below is a picture of Dionne Arceneaux. People have asked about who is she because my signature lines reads, "Assistant to Pastor Dionne Arceneaux." She is the HR Director for my church but more importantly she is a powerful woman of God. If you click on her name, it will take you to the link when she was on 700 club and it is a clip of her life's story. God is so awesome and I feel so blessed to learn Godly princples from her in a practical, everyday manner.



The speaker for the Singles' Conference is Pastor Fred Price, Jr. He brought a powerful word not just for single people but for the whole body of Christ. We are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. Not because of what we have done. But because God loved us so much that he sent his Son to take on our sins. Awesome time!

The conference continues tomorrow morning and will conclude tomorrow evening.

**See Tarisa, I told you I do not look bad as a size 2.**

My YOUNGER sister Tarisa fussed at me the other day on the phone because I wear a size 2. I told her that I was healthy and looked good but she had that "I don't really believe you tone" in her voice. A picture is worth 1000 words.

Sunday Fun

After church, we went to SunSplash water park by invitation of my friend and her husband. NyCee had a good time running through the water fountains and playing on the slides. She was not able to get into the kiddie pool as it was closed.



Because I did not have a swimsuit, my friend Maxine took NyCee on the lazy river float water ride.

Normally, Tyler loves water. He would not get down off of my lap and run through the water. Every time I put him down to play, he would just cry and hold up his arms to be picked up.

We had a good time. Neither one of my children had a significant nap today. Which is a good thing so bed time will be early.

Utensil Usage

Tyler has been working on using a utensil when he eats. He still switches back and forth between his left and right hand so I am not quite sure which one will be dominant. Most of the time, he abandons the utensil and just eats with his hands.

FYI, rice + a 17months old = a complete mess. HA!

Not Yet...

I had (notice the word "had") been tossing around the idea of getting rid of Little Fred's crib and putting him in a big boy bed. When NyCee was 17 months old, she was sleeping in a big bed. However, the situations are not a perfect comparison given that we were living with my parents at the time. So while it is true she was sleeping in a big bed, I was sleeping in the bed with her.

Well, a couple of days ago, I put Little Fred in his crib in preparation for bath time. That is no different than I do every night. However, this time I did not let up the guard rail. I turned my back to put his clothes in the dirty clothes basket. As I turned back around, he flip out of the crib onto the floor. I yelped, "Oh Jesus!" NyCee came running into the room exclaiming, "Mommy, what happened?" Little Fred just rubbed his head and grinned.

Needless to say, I do not think we are ready for a big boy bed just yet. He has been assigned to diaper duty. After I change his diaper, he grabs it and walks it to the kitchen trash can. Progress, slow but steady progress.

Psalm 91: 11-12
For He shall give His angels charge over you,
To keep you in all your ways.
In their hands they shall bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone.

4 in 1

When we first moved back to AZ, NyCee would get in the bed with me every night. Lately, Tyler has been waking up in the middle of the night (for what reason, I do not know). However, he ends up in my bed.

A couple of nights ago, NyCee came into my room at 3:32a to inform me that she did not brush her teeth after her shower. OKAY!!! Then, we finally woke up around 7:30a, she advised, "Mommy, let me help you pull up your pants." (That is another story. But for the past couple of weeks, I have had several discussions about the need to buy clothes in my size. I generally buy a six (6) but it is way too big because I wear a two (2). It's hard to find adult clothing in size 2 that I deem appropriate. As a result, most of my clothing are too big and are falling off. You know an item is too big when you have to put a safety pin in a denim skirt- enough about that.) My child was not been privy to any of these discussions but apparently she feels the same.

But the focus of this entry is to note the growing number of "people" that end up in my bed in the morning.

NyCee, Tyler and Dora. We are running out of room. Thankfully, Tyler does not have a stuff animal he sleeps with or mommy would be on the couch.

Night Time Reading

Every night after NyCee and I read bible verses and a story, she proceeds to read a story to her brother. (In theory, they are supposed to be sleeping.) A couple of days ago, for whatever reason, looked on the side of her bed, and found about 20 books. I guess she reads them and then hides them on the side.

Last night, before going to bed, I went into the kids' room to check on them. NyCee was sound asleep with books spread all over the bed. It's great that she has just a passion for reading. But she will have to enjoy her reading passion during waking hours.