Operation Brace Face: Phase 3

Yesterday was Ms. D’s check up at the orthodontist. She had her spacers taken out and then fitted for her full brackets (the ones that go in the back and wrap around the whole tooth).

They did an impression of her upper jaw in order to make the split plate that she has to have put in on the 15^th of April. Needless to say she did not like that step and gaged numerous times.

Nothing worst then thinking your child is going to up chuck all over the orthodontist office!

Ms. D also got to change her colors today, something that she was excited about and was unexpected. She chose silver and hot pink!

Here are the new colors!

Up next: Spilt plate inserted to widen her jaw…. Stay tuned! 

Operation Brace Face: Phase Two

Well today was the official start to operation brace face! 

This morning we went to see the Orthodontist and up until chair time we were both excited, this was quickly diminished when D hit the chair and they started their work.

D received 4 brackets, and 2 spacers this morning to make room for the brackets for her split plate in the next few weeks. 

Needless to say I am no longer D's favorite person. :(

She will thank me in 2 years I am sure, but until then she said she will no longer smile for me. 

She was excited to receive her shirt which she picked camo and a water bottle full of the essentials to keep her braces and teeth shiny and clean, which included her new BFF wax, a timer, floss, tooth brush, mirror and other goodies!

The assistant went back over the "No-No" list with her in which she was not thrilled about, but D did take the copy with her to school so she can be sure not to eat things on her list at school. Which for me is comforting and shows that she is thinking about the importance of these next 2 years. 

Here are a few pictures of today's events! 

Our before Image

Adding the first 4 brackets

RED! 

Operation Brace Face: Phase One

Operation Brace Face is going to be a series of blogs on here that will follow my oldest daughter and her adventure in getting her braces! 

With the world as it is this is something most parents will have their children endure.

About 15 years ago I endured this very thing and I thought it would be a series that would help parents as I face the challenges of this Operation. 

Soooo.... let's begin.

About a year ago we went to her dentist for her 6 month check up and cleaning when they noticed that D had a lot of crowding in her mouth and that she needed to see an orthodontist. With this said we went back and forth a few times doing preventive work which included have 4 teeth pulled. These were baby teeth as they hope that they will not have to pull any adult teeth in her future. 

So 2 weeks ago we went back to the orthodontist to see if they were going to do more preventive work or if they were going to go ahead and hit me with a bill and start Operation Brace Face. 

Well it was the latter....

I will not disclose our final price for these since every client's pricing will vary but I will say that it is about what I expected and the hubby on the other hand thinks it is highway robbery. UGH!

That day they sent us home with what they call the "No-No" List:

This is everything she can NOT have while wearing her braces. 

Let's just say she is NOT HAPPY about it! 

The "No-No" List includes:

Ice

Pretzels and Hard Chips

Hard Rolls and Bagels

Ribs, Wings and Bones

Nuts

Popcorn

Raw Carrots and Celery

Beef Jerky and Slim Jims

Pens and Pencils

Candy Suckers, Sweet Tarts, and Jolly Ranchers

Fruit Roll-Ups, Frozen Candy Bars, Gob Stoppers, Gummy Bears, and NO Gum of any kind

Now you see what all the fuss is about! 

D will have to wear them for about 2 years and will also have to have what they call an expander aka split plate prior to actually getting the braces on.

She will start the process March 11th

 (which is 2 days after her 11th birthday (again not thrilled with mommy at this point) 

We will follow her and her progress and the rainbow of color changes. I will get her input and opinions on Operation Brace Face and how it feels to be the patient. 

I hope you all enjoy this series!

Here is Miss D! 

Design on a Dime Valentine's Day

This last weekend I finally decided to decorate my table for Valentine’s Day. Since we do not have a mantel in our home our kitchen table’s centerpieces are usually where I get to decorate for the season. Down fall decorating a mantel is so much prettier. Perk you don’t need a lot to make an effective punch!

Since I am a starving art student along with the rest of the many hats I wear I don’t like to spend a bunch on décor if I can help it. (Which we all know, this translates to my husband would have a fit and I can justify it better by spending lessJ) Since I know a lot of people can’t afford a huge amount on décor I thought I would share this thrifty but impacting idea!

I took a trip to our local Dollar Tree (Dollar Store) and picked up these adorable cylinder vases. Total for these $2

 Since I have three kids and not a hint of green thumb in my body I opted to use fake red flowers (roses) as a filler, I got 3 for each vase.  Total for these $6

So that is a total of $9 including taxes!

When I got home though I was a little upset with the fact that there was a lot of green showing through the vase, I happened to have rose petals here at the house, which you can find at Wal-Mart for usually 97 cents for a bag of 500.

This brings my total to about $10

Last night I added my “Love” blocks which I purchased at Target last year for $2.50.

SOOOO we are at about $14 including tax (complete guess-timation)

I have had the glass squares for many years and they have changed homes (the bedroom, bathroom, living room, and now our kitchen) So I can’t remember the price of them. :/ And I don’t really count them in lol.

SO lets recap!

Vases: $2

Flowers: $6

Rose Petals: $1

“Love” Blocks: $2.50

Total: $11.50!

 Don’t forget though to add your area tax which will bring my final total to…

$12.30

2012 in a Nutshell

It’s that time of year, the count down to the end of 2012! We are 2 weeks away till Christmas and boy am I NOT ready! I have yet to start shopping…. :/ I keep saying I will start earlier each year but seems like I wait later and later.  Such is life!

2012 has been an exciting year for us and the first full year we have spent in Arkansas. The girls have transitioned well, with the help of technology they are able to keep in better contact with family via, texting, calls and emails. I have yet allowed them on social networking since I think that they are still a little young for it.

All 3 girls are in school now and I experienced a lot of mixed emotions on this! Aaliyah is in Kindergarten and loving it. She is beginning to read and I am in awe with how far she has come in 5 months! Alora is a straight A student and loving 3^rd grade. She is my social butterfly and is always talking about playground gossip. (Laughs) Dakota is in 5^th grade and still in the gifted program; she was picked to compete in her school spelling bee later this week so she is excited. This is her last year in Elementary School before she is advanced in to Middle School. In May 2013 I will have the honors in seeing 2 of the girls “graduate”.

All 3 girls have picked a home church and goes with Alora’s BFF. They will be participating in the Christmas program this year, and yes I will be going (Pray the walls don’t fall around us). They are all in JBQ (Junior Bible Quiz), and seem to love the education they are receiving about God and his wonderful word. I am so blessed that Alora’s friend’s mom allows them to join her and her kids.

Anthony has stared his schooling for his electrical license and seems to be excited about it. When he isn’t at work or school; he still enjoys watching movies and being outside, either playing ball, or outside with the kids.

As for me I am a stay at home slacker , I mean mom, I am right at my one year mark in school and I maintain the kids, hubby and house. WtP is slowly picking up and the custom gifts is getting there too. Hard work is starting to pay off. I am excited to start new things with both departments in WtP and continue my schooling. I am still looking for a job, just something for extra cash and keep me from brainstorming too much.

2012 has been a year of blessing and a new road for us. We are looking forward to what 2013 will bring for us and if we will be closer to reaching our goals.

Happy 2013 you guys!

Thanksgiving

I know that Halloween is still not over and we have trick or treating this week, but I can not help but start thinking about Thanksgiving. Yes I plan ahead because things tend to sneak up on me!
This will be my first year for hosting. I will be sharing the menu and reciepes with you guys while I plan it out more and more! Until then Have a safe halloween!

1 Year later!

Tomorrow marks one year here in Arkansas! Time is flown by here. We have finally gotten to know the area a little more, and we have gotten into the full swing of life in Arkansas. Here are a few pictures to recap our first year!