Someone Lost Two Teeth

Hi there, 

Let me start with the biggest news of last month: Amy has two less teeth. Unfortunately they didn't come out the "natural way." A little over two weeks ago the kids and I were walking in the mall and Amy slipped (she was wearing flipflops and the floor was slippery). Since she was only walking, I didn't think it was anything big, but I saw as she fell and my first question was, "Are your teeth okay?" I don't know how she managed to do that, but poor baby fell straight on her top teeth (well, lip, I guess). First she said her teeth didn't hurt only her legs, but within a few seconds I could see the blood and within half a minute everything on her (and the floor) was bloody. It looked pretty bad. The manager of the store we were happen to be in at the moment took us to her office and asked if she should call the ambulance. I guess she didn't think it looked good, either. We waited for Amy to calm down a little and then we left. (Thankfully we ran into one of Chris' uncles just a few minutes before the accident so he was able to help with Haley while I tried to help Amy.)

Amy hurt her top front teeth twice before, and both times she refused to close her mouth, so the blood just dried on her teeth and gum and it looked yucky. It wasn't any different this time either. Except now she did it for 4 days straight. So the blood was dried on it for that long (since she didn't close her mouth the saliva wasn't able to get to it to clean it a little at least). Long and ugly story short, she threw up over 30 times in 2 days after she fell and the dentist had to pull her top front two teeth out. She doesn't like not to have those teeth, but she is getting used to it and I think she is almost fine by now. She is convinced the permanent teeth will cut through anytime. Only 4 more years, dear Amy.

Haley has been such a great baby even though she got little attention when Amy was so sick. She didn't seem to mind playing by herself. She loves to share (her toys, food, or anything for that matter) and tried to make Amy smile while she was feeling sad.

Amy and Haley likes to play together, I think they are best at hide-and-seek. Amy is an excellent hider, but Haley seems to find her nonetheless every time. So they truly enjoy playing that game. They also play crawl tag (so it's fun for Amy, too). It was Amy's idea, by the way, I am not that creative.

Haley took her first steps shortly after her birthday, but wouldn't take more than 2-3. She can walk really well holding one of my hands (or even just my clothes), but when she lets go she feels unsafe, I guess. Amy was walking at 10 months, so I was hoping Haley will, too, but she is not rushing it. : )

Chris has been busy working at IU (Indiana University in Bloomington) this past month. The company he works for does the pyrotechnics (among other things) at ALL IU events, and lately there's been a lot of those. The last one was a football game this past Saturday and he arrived home at 2:30 am after which he taught Sunday School next morning. He is also doing school and is halfway through his first semester. I'm not sure how he juggles family, work, and school so well, but he is doing amazing. The kids love him and I am in love with him. : )

And lastly a confession. I am one of those moms who never understood how other moms can have stories about their kids drawing on the walls, ruining this or that, etc. I always thought, "where were you when all this happened?" Well, today my 4-year-old daughter colored our living room wall with extremely bright crayons. And where was I? I was nursing Haley in the other room just before I put her down for a nap. So yes, I apologize to all the moms I questioned when they told me their "crazy" story.

Amy and I were always together until she was 15 months old. I didn't even go take a shower without putting her in a highchair and moving the highchair in the bathroom. I thought everyone did that. So how can they do crazy stuff if you are always there???

But with two kids, it's impossible to always make sure they are not doing anything "wrong." Yesterday I found Haley in the bathroom playing (splashing) the water from the toilet. Yup... So again, I apologize. And hope I learned from this. Just because you haven't experienced it yet, doesn't mean you won't. Remember that whinny, screaming 2-3 year old at the store? Remember how you thought your kid will never be like that because they will know better (because you raise them "right")? Well, remember that next time your kid doesn't behave the way they should. And I am not saying it doesn't matter how you raise them. It matters a great deal. But just because you raise them to behave well doesn't mean they always will. So don't think that the screaming kid in the store is necessarily a reflection of their parent's lack of disciplining. Anyway, I am sorry, again, for ever thinking that way!

And to finish on a good note, here are a couple of pictures of our princess: