Bite Me

I've decided that the only way to really keep this blog up is to attack it with bite sized chunks. I keep getting put off by having so many things to blog about that I don't blog any of it. Sad, I know. There shall be no retrospective blogging or updates. I shall just be more disciplined. Famous last word!

So today, having had to stop feeling sorry for myself for having an awful viral infection in order to take my son to the orthodontist, IS the day.

Cutting a long story short, we discovered upon a routine dental check up that Elliot had several teeth so badly decayed that he would require root canal therapy. Both milk and adult teeth were involved. It was the worst feeling that any parent could have. I really felt like I had failed him. Obviously, our brushing and flossing routine were not up to scratch. A visit to a paediatric dentist brought more bad news. He also had a problem with his bite which is damaging his front teeth. The decayed teeth, including the adult tooth, would have to be extracted. There was no point trying to save them. That was done recently with no complications.

The newest addition to our fridge magnet collection

Today would be the first appointment of many in Elliot's predicted long orthodontic history. The orthodontist was a lovely elderly fellow, oh so gentle and kind. He had already impressed by in his waiting room. Surely that castle had to be Disney inspired? If not one from Walt Disney World, then perhaps one from Disneyland Paris as demonstrated by the dragon next to the castle. Oh I wished I had brought my DSLR!

Is that Cinderella's castle at WDW?

I digress...back to Elliot. The appointment went well. Elliot had mug shots taken for accurate jaw measurements and to mark future growth. His hair do was unfortunately forever immortalised on the orthodontist's computer. I would have liked to believe that he could have made the cast for Twilight. My mother would have just said that he looked like a rooster. I should have cut his hair before we went. Moulds of his teeth were taken, his bite was documented, and X-rays were taken. All were done efficiently. We return in about 8 weeks with Malcolm in tow to discuss treatment options and costs...sigh. Wish us luck!

General updates

Just in case anyone is interested in the mundane details of my life...

• We're all over our viral gastro...finally!
• I made it to see the oral surgeon and booked in to get my 2 wisdom teeth removed under general anaesthetic because I am too chicken to get it done under local anaesthetic
• I sprained my ankle and was embarrassingly fed "lunch" by my GP, on top of receiving free crutches and a discount for an MRI if I should need one. Thanks Dr Marrett!
• Elliot has joined the school band and so has started playing the trumpet. I am still trying to understand how one note can sound so different all the time.
• Jonah can now say "hat"!
• I have since found out that I am unable to renew my REP electronically after all. Luckily, I got in touch with the deputy at ICA and it looks like my parents can now do it on behalf. This may not be such a bad things as they are the ones who are keen for me to keep it anyway.
• I discovered that I really enjoy listening to Disney and language podcasts. But perhaps subscribing to 4 different Disney ones may be a bit of an overkill.
• We met up again with our fellow Disney Mediterranean cruisers, this time as a family at South Restaurant, and discovered American cuisine close to home. Now we know where to go for great pumpkin pie!

I can see clearly now! I think...

On the momentous 25th day of the month of March this year, Malcolm and I finally succumbed to our inner vanity and had laser eye surgery performed on our eyes. The lead up to the event conformed to the usual high drama that is not uncommon with all things related to the Albanys...we had the wrong date written in our diaries!

This was despite receiving paperwork given on the day that we made our appointment as well as paperwork sent to our home address. It took a phone call on the day before to jolt us into action. We had slated in the 26th to be OUR day. All the arrangements for a romantic bus ride into the city, babysitting and lifts home went down the drain. Not to mention having to cancel my appointment with the oral surgeon as well the children's piano lesson. To make matters worse, Malcolm was on urgents at Concord Hospital which usually takes up the whole day.

The eye clinic was thankfully understanding and told Malcolm that he could come anytime that he is available so long as it is before 3pm. I, of course, went ahead as planned. There was no way I was going to delay the procedure for Malcolm! As it was, I had a suspicion that this was retribution for him not allowing me to have the procedure done earlier without him. With the usual Albany good fortune, Malcolm managed to get himself out of Concord Hospital by 1pm and to the eye clinic by 2:45pm. By 4pm, he was in the car going home to sleep off the drastic effects of the 10mg of Valium that he was given. It was quite a sight seeing a petite elderly receptionist hanging on to support him on Macquarie St while waiting for his ride!

We are very pleased with the results and quite amazed at our 20/20 vision that we both had the morning after the surgery. Happy as well that we did get the romantic bus ride into the city together after all! How can anything bad happen now that we are so beautiful!