Jacob, who recently had braces put on, had to have six teeth pulled this morning at 10:30, with novocaine. I have been dreading this day but we got through it.
The first thing I decided to do this morning, to make things easier, was to go for a special quick trip to Barnes and Noble.
Oh, yeah, and I also took my camera along to make myself happier. Sometimes if you take your camera places (like a morning out to the dentist) it makes the event seem more party-like, rather than scary.
So here we are at the bookstore. I was holding Seth in my other arm (and David was at school.)
The first thing Caleb and I did was check out the new magazines.
This was the first trip to the bookstore that Seth was old enough to play. It was a proud and strange (how did this baby grow so fast!) moment for me. He loved playing at the train table!
I let Jacob pick out a book, to comfort himself in the dentist chair.
I’m much bigger than he is. I don’t know what’s up with this picture.
After the bookstore, we drove a couple miles down the road to the tooth extractor man. I was happy to have the children with me, so that I had people to talk to while I waited for Jacob. Talking and reading to the children kept my mind off imagining Jacob suffering in the back room.
Ethan;
Funny boy Caleb;
After I took his picture, he said, “Now I want you to take a picture of my chin blood.”
So, I did.
(Caleb got chin blood the other day, when he fell out of a chair.)
How about these baby browns?
Waiting and waiting;
Finally the doctor came out and said we could go see Jake. He said that he did fine for the novocaine, but the actual tooth-pulling made him nervous. I could completely understand that. I did not take a picture of Jacob and what he looked like in that little back room. I respected his privacy. He looked shell-shocked and his mouth was as full of gauze as a chipmunk with nuts in his cheeks.
I was handed a surprise prescription for Tylenol with codeine and so (even though I was starving and wanted to go home) off we went to Target. Jacob insisted, with grunts and gestures, that he could go, and sit in the vehicle to wait.
Besides, I told him I would buy him a Lego set. That’s how bad I felt for my poor boy.
We also stopped by the grocery store and I bought a lot of Soft Foods for him.
We finally got home. I managed to get a couple pictures of Jacob, for my blog.
Here’s one:
And, here’s the other. (Ethan is the one standing up);
As you can see, he is still camera shy. I would be, too, if my mouth was completely numb and I couldn’t control the drool and blood from oozing between my lips.
He loved his new Lego set.
And while he was putting it together, I went outdoors with Seth, because it’s SUCH a gorgeous day.
I looked at my new book (I ordered it days ago and it came in the mail today)….and my new magazine, “Artful Blogging.”
The magazine inspired me, so I took a couple artful pictures for you what do you think?
After Davy-do got home from school, I grabbed my camera and took a picture of him, so that he would not be completely absent from my blog today. We must have full representation of the busy mama’s six children.
David LOVES riding his bike, lately. I think this picture is perfect for the fall day we are having. Can you smell those crunchy leaves?
That’s my day so far!
Have a good afternoon, dear friends! I think I will ignore all the wretched housework and go back outside until Seth wakes up from his nap.
Good to be Home 
I am glad the tooth extraction is all over! The worst is over and each day will get better and better.
I thought those last few pictures were very “artful,” indeed! It is so neat that your bookstore has a train table!!! I wonder if I can find one like that in our area. Lee could play while I enjoy the books. Poor Jacob! I know exactly how he feels, I have had all my wisdom teeth extracted, plus a couple more besides. And braces. Boy, am I ever glad my mouth now has relief from all that torture.Have a great weekend!
Oh my! I can’t believe they did 6 teeth at once, and with only novacaine? 😦 Ugh poor Jake. We always had Casey put under or used laughing gas, I can’t imagine just novacaine, Jacob is a brave boy! I hope he heals well and quickly, and that you all have a good evening.
I love the arty pictures! That mag. always inspires me as well, it is usually the first one I look for at Borders.Poor Jacob that must have hurt so bad! You are a good mommy getting him extra treats to cheer him along the way. I smiled when I saw the picture of Seth under the chair, oh and caleb and his picture request, I can just hear his little voice! LOL!
I think it was wise to have all six pulled at once, it would be worse to have half pulled one day, knowing one has to go back for a repeat visit! I hope he heals quickly.
Awww! Poor Jake! My son Dallas when 13, had to have 5 extracted at once, but it was a complete surprise. He remains traumatized to go to the dentist. Something tells me a new lego set, book and mom’s TLC would have softened the blow considerably… Good job Shanda!~Christal
Poor Jacob…having teeth pulled is not a pleasant experience. I can’t imagine having six pulled at once! What a brave one he is.I love your artful pictures! 🙂 Can’t wait to see where your inspiration takes you!
The best advice anyone gave me with my braces was to indulge in a milkshake after every tightening, and any tooth-pulling. It DID help … but I think I would have been happy with a new LEGO set, too. Jacob is a brave soul!
Okay, this is really weird!!!! I took Jim this morning to have 4 teeth pulled. He also just had braces put on. Tell Jacob he has a partner in misery! Jim is sitting in his dad’s recliner looking miserable, mouth crammed full of gauze, trying to keep the drool and blood out of our sight. Let’s not talk about how crabby he is, insisting everyone leave him alone, he can take care of himself. I feel like a terrible mother, inflicted all this pain on him. Everyone keeps saying some day he’ll thank me, but still I have to watch him go through this right now. It’s right now that’s difficult! We are showering him with plenty of Sonic milk shakes this evening. He informs me he will be going to Bible study tomorrow night, we’ll see about that. . . SIGH.
OH my,what a day for Jacob. I am sure he will love the results…but hard work in the meantime. My guys have my wide teeth and Bob’s narrow jaw :-O and it crowded them. Dan had an eyetooth pulled and everything eased out OK, but now he let his wisdom teeth come in and everything got scrunched!!! Thankfully David’s wide smile fits his teeth! Love the newsy post, artsy pics, and FALL LEAVES! You are right…how did Seth get so big?? I guess Caleb will be his big pal, like Davy is for Caleb.
Shanda~ What a sweet Mama you are. I chickened out and am waiting till all my kiddos teeth fall out all by themselves My boys are jealous of the lego set Great pictures of Seth.~Cinnamon
Aww, your poor boy! Did you ask the dentist to knock you out, too? Oh, how I hate watching my babies go through stuff like that! I’m so glad it’s over for the both of you! I love that Artful blogging magazine! I just discovered it last week when Joel and I went to Barnes and Noble. -Great pics, by the way!- Have a great weekend!
OH, and a treat for Jacob!!
Going to the dentist was always on my “dreaded” things list.You definitely made it bearable with the little extras! Love the colors in the last pic!
Hope Jacob feels much better soon — he will thank you some day for a nice straight-toothed smile!! All three of ours wore braces and they didn’t like it at the time but they have thanked us many times since!! Your kids are getting so big!!
I love the pic of you and Seth in the background.
Poor guy ~ I’ll include him in my prayers tonight! I love your artsy pics! I didn’t know there was such a magazine! I’ll have to look next time were out!
You’re such a good mama.
I’m glad Jacob made it through his ordeal and that you got him that Lego set! I would have done the same. It’s nice when suffering can have some reward! Loved all the pictures — artsy ones included! Your children are just so wonderful! I can’t believe how big Seth is already! Wish I could have been along on your trip to Barns and Nobles! My book stash is running low because I have not been doing very well… hip pain has me sidelined and resting, so I am going through my reading material too fast! I think it’s time for a letter to my sis begging for books! LOL! Hope you have more beautiful sunny days to enjoy. Davy do on his bike! Oh! What a precious expression!
Poor Jacob! I hope the pain is over soon! I love all the pictures especially the artful ones. I always thought you were artful with your blogs. You could make your own magazine, Shan! Love you. Lish
Hello friend Jacob, You are a very very BRAVE young man. This hurt and you get sick to the stomach a lot of the times, and eating doesn’t taste at all….but when you keep this up, as you keep this up: the reward will be beautiful . It is the measure of a man to be able to go through the pain towards victory. I love you mom for spoiling you a little bit now and for diverting your focus a little. Well done ! Godeliva ( who knows because of my own son and daughter going through this when they were your age ).
PS Jacob, always tell your mom when you hurt in your mouth because something might be wrong that must be treated and you don’t need to go through unneccesary pain, better to kill the pain. and also: your mom needs to know how you are coping with all of this these months/years. She really wants to learn from this too, you know, so help her in this. OK ?!! Godeliva
The dentist! The only thing (in the whole, wide world) I am afraid of!!! I can’t believe he had 6 teeth pulled with only novocaine. Shortly after marrying Jesse, I had one pulled and they had to put me to sleep (because of my extreme fear) to do it. THEN, afterward, I was afraid of bleeding to death!!! I’m such a baby! I hope he heals quickly (I’ll be praying) and enjoys his new “get well” gifts!
Oh wow he got 6 pulled? Poor thing. I hope he is feeling better now. You took beautiful pictures!
I was at the dentist myself yesterday. I place I HATE to go. The Artful Blogging magazine really caught my eye. I’d love to take lessons.
6! Such a brave boy, i wouldn’t even be able to manage one! I hope he feels better soon. ps. very nice camera skills.
Wow, the title of this blog is hilarious..and frightening!
I just picked up Artful Blogging yesterday as well! My friend Erin Wallace of Bluebirdbaby was featured! so exciting!
Why was only one of your children in school?