Trip To The Dentist!

Normally, I wouldn't write about such mundane events such as going to the dentist's office. However, this was a unique experience as it involved a new dentist for my daughter here in San Antonio.

Sunshyne must have been a little nervous before we went inside, asking if she would get a sucker when she was done. "Who asks for a sucker after visiting the dentist?" Of course this was my own quiet ponder, my verbal response was "No sweetie, the dentist doesn' t believe in giving little girls cavity provoking, sugar based treats" well... maybe it was a bit more like "No, the dentist gives out stickers and really cool toothbrushes!" At any rate she quickly got over the "be good and you'll get a treat" bribery tactics, when she noticed all of the kids over-running the place. This was her type of party! She quickly joined in and staked her claim as child master conversationalist. While she made the rounds interviewing other children about there personal backgrounds, I filled out the paperwork and kept my ears open for any inappropriate lines of questioning from her. Listening to her direct approach for questioning and smooth, calculated subjects changes would make Oprah proud. Watch out Oprah, Sunshyne is on her way! I love it when she has her hand on her hip, her head is slightly tilted to the side, and she has this very serious facial expression. I know that she is sincerely
contemplating your responses and she's always prepared with the follow-up question. Okay, I'll get over the proud mom thing and get back to the story.

Finally, it's Sunshyne's turn to go into the back area for an x-ray, the nurse was so nice that I wanted to make her a thank you card right then and there. Of course, I'm not anal retentive enough to carry around thank you cards everywhere I go, but the thought crossed my mind. After getting her x-rays it was time to meet the dentist. He had this big ole crocodile (or alligator, I never can tell), with huge teeth that she was able to brush. She's great brushing something else's teeth, not so thorough with her own though. She hopped into the chair as only a pro would do, and prepared for me to take pictures for her "before" shot. No... I'm not going to completely embarrass her by posting a "before" shot!

To sum it up, her teeth turned out white and sparkly. I was happy, and she was happily plastered with stickers. As an additional bonus she racked up on some costume jewelry, a super cool, hot pink toothbrush, and a crocodile toothbrush cover. This was a great dentist adventure!

Urgent Trip to Michigan

This past week has been an emotional rollercoaster in which I'm currently still riding. My mother went into the hospital last week, the day before she was scheduled to come to San Antonio to visit me. She was so ill that she asked that I bring Areya-Sunshyne to Flint instead. I began to worry about the severity of her situation and decided to rent a car the very next day and drive from San Antonio, TX to Flint, Michigan. The Photo that I have included was taken somewhere in Arkansas. It rained so hard that I couldn't see the road right in front of me. When it stopped raining there was a beautiful rainbow peeking out beneath the cloudy sky. I failed to capture it's full glory but I was driving while trying to capture this shot for my daughter's enjoyment.

It was a glorious yet long and draining road trip. I'd decided to go from Texas through Arkansas from there Missouri then I would hit Illinois then drive a bit through Indiana to Michigan. It was a drive that took me roughly twenty-two hours. I know what you're thinking "I'm reading the writings of a crazy woman!" In my defense, this is my mother we are talking about here. Anything for mom, right?

It was great to see many of my family members that I haven't seen in over a years time. In particularly my sister whom moved from Michigan to Huntsville, Alabama well before my move to San Antonio. I was also able to see my aunt Gloria whom I'd hadn't seen since I was a child, my aunt Gwen and my dad Claude are also included in the list of long lost loved ones that I'd gotten to visit.

Most importantly, I visited my mom in the hospital and she did not look well. Her skin looked dark and her eyes seemed to have difficulty focusing on face. I hugged and kissed her but that affectionate reunion was short lived. Areya jumped up and down yelling "Nana, Nana!" and my mother quickly turned her attention to the human jumping bean. My mom smiled when she saw her and her face lit up. Areya is her little buddy and has been every since she came into this world. They have some sort of bond that I can't really explain. I think that my mother sees much of herself in Areya. Whatever it is, it's weird!

A few days later on one of our visits to the hospital, Areya discovered that Nana's foot was bleeding and swollen. Areya asked my mom "what's wrong with your foot?'' I thought it ironic that no one had noticed my mother's foot swollen, deeply bruised, and bleeding (especially nursing staff). I took a closer look at it and noticed that there was much more going on with it than just bruising and bleeding. I immediately called a nurse in to have a look and perhaps gain some professional insight. The nurse told us that her foot looked as if it were infected and that she would clean it and wrap it once we'd left. My brother, sister-in-law and I began to worry and told my mother that we were going to leave so that the nurse could care for her. The next day we found out that one of her toes was dead and infecting others, they were going to have to amputate at least three of her toes! We were all completed shocked and upset when we heard the news. Mom was scared! There's an indescribable feeling of helplessness that accompanies a traumatic event involving your mother or your child. I've felt that twice in my life and would be very grateful to never have to feel it again.

The week began to come to a close and I needed to get back to turn in the rental car that I'd been sporting during the trip. The amputation hadn't been scheduled before I left. I dreaded the long drive back home and decided to take a different route back home, hoping it would yield me less driving time.

I was so glad to be home! Two days after my homecoming I received a call from my sister telling me that my mom had the surgery. I was relieved to hear that she was in the recovery room. However, the next day while in dialysis the hospital staff administered a pain relieving drug to her that she was allergic to and she stopped breathing. Although she was revived from this horrific experience, I continue to worry about her because she is still in the hospital and I am still 1500 miles away.

Clay Casa

Just look at the intent focus and attention to detail in that face!

I'd decided to check out Clay Casa's paint your own pottery studio with Areya. I thought it would be a good creative outlet for her since we've started this new homeschooling thing. I'll be the first to admit that I haven't got the best plans for her arts and crafts segment. I'd decided to check out their website first and while I was there found some great printable coupons. It sounded simple enough, so I printed off the coupons and we were on our way. The Mocha Moms group that I've been tagging along with were going as one of their outings. I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to check it out. If I didn't like it, at least I'd have some adults to talk too!

It was just my luck that we arrived late and the other moms and their daughters were finishing up their projects. Areya found the piece of pottery that she wanted to paint right away, a mug with a kitten on it. I thought we should look around to see if there was something that I wouldn't mind displaying in my house. That didn't happen as Areya feels that (almost) being five years old entitles her to the right to make huge decisions, such as choosing her own greenware. Well, needless to say she got the mug with the kitten's head on one side and butt on the other. To promote the "big girl" syndrome even further with my daughter, the gentleman working in the shop escorted Areya over to a large display of colored tiles hanging on a nearby wall. "What colors would you like to paint your mug?" he asks her. I was completely booted out of any decision making on this project with that clever move. I immediately knew that my daughter had found the long awaited moment of creative independence that she'd longed for over the years. "Purple" she replied, "I want to paint my cat purple!" I couldn't resist one last attempt at trying to convince her to paint something that I could proudly display. A purple cat just wasn't in the cards for me. "Purple?" I said in an unsure tone. Hoping that she would pick up on my cue of blatant desperation. "Purple!" she confidently replied, and that was the end of that.

She took a seat and began painting away. I talked with the other moms for awhile until they left. Afterwards, I presented the gentleman that was working there with the coupon that I had. He informed me that I would have to paint a mug as well, as a condition of the coupon...COOL! I grabbed my mug and choose my own colors and went to work painting my master piece. Areya and I sat and talked about what we were going to use our mugs for, and how proud daddy was going to be of us, and had a great time. After we finished painting we turned them in to the gentleman so that they could be glazed and fired. We will be picking them up tomorrow and can't wait to see our finished work!

Clay Casa 502 Embassy Oaks Suite 107, San Antonio TX 78216

210-402-6656