This weekend we were supposed to go to see Bubbe and Grandpa. Since the weather was going to be bad all weekend, we decided to stay home. Friday Daddy had the day off so we decided to go to Six Flags for the day. It was an unusually chilly day. We actually wore jeans and had sweatshirts in August.
JSL, you started to chant that you wanted to go on the Big Red Cars the minute you heard we were going. Of course, one of our first stops was Wiggles World. You loved driving the Big Red Cars and especially enjoyed spending time at the Wiggles gift store. You were quite upset later in the day when your Diego (Go-Go) sun glasses broke. Thankfully a special gift made you smile and you held onto it while taking a nap.
NHL you were upset that your favorite ride was closed down for the day. Thank goodness you enjoyed all of the other things you were able to go on. You seemed to like the wind in your hair when we went on the Big Red Planes. The cool weather certainly changed what we did at the park, but you enjoyed it.
Just before our silly lunch (funnel cake sundaes), we stopped to watch the Looney Tunes show. At the end you could head up to the stage for photos with some of the characters. Both of you seemed to actually enjoy this when you went up with Daddy.
I hope that we get a few more trips to Six Flags in before the end of the season. Watching both of you laugh, be silly and smile while there is truly priceless.
Can you hear the party music going over here? We are having a party here because NHL finally lost his first tooth. This little booger has been wiggling since NHL bit into corn on the cob back on July 3. We sat back for quite some time and encouraged him to wiggle it and work on it. Then on August 12th we noticed that his new tooth was coming in behind the baby one. Hubby and I were quite nervous, especially as it moved up quickly.
A week ago, we really started working with NHL to loosen the tooth (he even got a note from the Tooth Fairy for encouragement). Monday, I called the dentist and explained how I was worried about things and we made an appointment for Thursday. Tuesday night, JL sat on the couch with gauze and really worked that tooth. They felt a pop and the tooth was barely holding on. Unfortunately, NHL was upset over the blood and his gums bothering him.
Today (typing this on Thursday), we went to the dentist. I was fully expecting the worst. Much to my surprise, the dentist told both of us that his gums are probably really sensitive and we should numb them up to really get a good wiggle. She put some on his gums and barely touched it and the pesky tooth popped out of his mouth! Clearly, the Wiggle Tooth Olympics of the last two nights that brought much crying and screaming had worked that tooth to the point of surrender. We also learned that we will be purchasing some gum numbing gel for the next tooth which we can also see is about to cut.
Can you tell NHL is excited about the Tooth Fairy coming? Oh, and this is the pesky tooth that wanted to hold on for dear life.
Here is my big kid all ready for the Tooth Fairy tonight:
So my question for this week is inspired by the recent events:
Do you remember how you lost your first tooth? I would love to hear the stories and I’m sure NHL would too!
Thanks to Kailani at An Island Life for starting this fun for Friday. Please be sure to head over to her blog to say hello and sign the MckLinky there if you are participating.
This week has been pretty busy. Originally, I thought NHL was going to the allergist on Tuesday. Monday they called and told me the visit was Wednesday. I was not happy since I know I put it on my calendar immediately. My main concern was we already had NHL’s 6 year old physical exam at our family doctor Wednesday afternoon. I knew we could swing both of them, but it would be "interesting" to say the least.
Monday I also called the pediatric dentist. I told them that this tooth was not budging and the new one was really coming in behind it. In adddition to this I reminded them that hubby only lost one tooth on his own. Every other tooth was pulled by the dentist, so perhaps NHL was going to have some troubles. They offered me a Tuesday appointment, which I did not take since I thought we were going to the allergist. The only other option was Thursday. I took it with the hopes that we could get his tooth out by that point.
Tuesday night JL and NHL sat down on the couch and really worked on the tooth. Here they are getting ready and going for some wiggles with gauze to assist the grip:
After this, I thought we were really close. Check it out. In this photo you can see the new tooth in back and that tiny speck in front is the front edge of the baby tooth that will not let go.
Shortly after this photo was taken I opted to do a video of this hopeful milestone. While filming, JL felt a pop and suddenly the tooth was bleeding. This really freaked NHL out. No matter what we tried, NHL refused to let us back into his mouth. We called it a night and got both of the boys into bed. JSL was getting quite concerned about his big brother. Check out the serious face.
Wednesday NHL went to the doctor for his physical. When we arrived we found out that they were already giving flu shots. This sent NHL over the edge, but he and I both had them. Everything else went well during his appointment. The doctor’s only concern was that one of his eyes is not moving along with the other. Since NHL has low muscle tone it may be related to this. When we got into the car after everything I called and made an appointment with the specialist for the end of September. Hopefully it is nothing, but we will have to wait and see (no pun intended).
Less than an hour after this we went to the allergists office. JL met us there because I was afraid NHL would put up a huge fight. We talked with the doctor for a while about how things have been great this summer – no medications needed. We talked over a plan of action for back to school and onto the rest of the year. Then it was time for allergy testing. While we waited for JL to show up at the right doctor’s office NHL colored. Then it was time to check things out. He was a pretty good sport and was glad it was done on his back so he could continue to color.
Much to our surprise nothing came up positive on the test. The doctor can not explain why it did a few years ago and nothing now. So we left with our game plan that was used last year. Our goal is to control the items that bother him and prevent an asthmatic reaction that usually comes during the school year.
Last night JL tried to work on NHL’s tooth again. After much crying and wiggling the tooth just did not want to move in the one spot. JL said that it was just the way his teeth used to hold on. NHL was very upset about not getting it out on his own and going to the dentist. We explained that it was not his fault and we are lucky to have the dentist that may be able to help.
On a last ditch effort we had corn on the cob to try to see what it could do. NHL refused to eat it. No worries though, JSL devoured his piece and then here is a video of him with NHL’s cob.
So today we head to the dentist to have her check NHL’s tooth. We shall see how it goes. I will mention to her that the position of the tooth is really altering his speech and that concerns me (our family doctor even noted it until I explained the tooth troubles).
The summer time makes me nostalgic. I remember spending many a summer morning glued to my television set with my best friend, and neighbor J. What were we watching you ask? Each morning, we would choose to get up earlier than most children our age and meet up to catch Little House on the Prairie. Together, we would watch the episodes about Laura Ingalls and her life over and over. We watched as Half Pint grew up into a teacher and had children of her own. It was a time that we could relax, enjoy and dream of a simpler time.
To this day, if I see Little House on the Prairie on television the theme song, familiar faces of Melissa Gilbert (Laura), Michael Landon (Pa), Karen Grassle (Ma), Scottie MacGregor (Mrs. Oleson), Richard Bull (Mr. Oleson), Jonathan Gilbert (Willie Oleson), Alison Arngrim (Nellie Oleson), Dean Butler (Almanzo Wilder), Victor French (Mr. Edwards) I always stop to watch.
When I heard that Melissa Gilbert had written Prairie Tale – A Memoir I was intrigued. Over the years, I remember hearing a lot about Melissa’s life growing up in the spotlight. I wanted to read the book because it would allow me to see the person behind the characters that she had played on television in Little House and countless other movies.
Here is a product description from the book:
A fascinatiating, heartbreaking, and ultimately uplifting tale of self-discovery from the beloved actress who earned a permanent place in the hearts of millions when she was just a child.
To fans of the hugely successful television series Little House on the Prairie, Melissa Gilbert grew up in a fantasy world with a larger-than-life father, friends and family she could count on, and plenty of animals to play with. Children across the country dreamed of the Ingalls’ idyllic life — and so did Melissa.
She was a natural on camera, but behind the scenes, life was more complicated. Adopted as a baby into a legendary show business family, Melissa wrestled with questions about her identity and struggled to maintain an image of perfection her mother created and enforced. Only after years of substance abuse, dysfunctional relationships, and made-for-television movies did she begin to figure out who she really was.
With candor and humor, the cherished actress traces her complicated journey from buck-toothed Laura "Half-pint" Ingalls to Hollywood starlet, wife, and mother. She partied with the Brat Pack, dated heartthrobs like Rob Lowe and bad boys like Billy Idol, and began a self-destructive pattern of addiction and codependence. Left in debt after her first marriage, and struggling to create some sense of stability, she eventually realized that her career on television had earned her popularity, admiration, and love from everyone but herself.
Through hard work, tenacity, sobriety, and the blessings of a solid marriage, Melissa has accepted her many different identities and learned to laugh, cry, and forgive in new ways. Women everywhere may have idolized her charming life on Little House on the Prairie, but Melissa’s own unexpectedly honest, imperfect, and down-to-earth story is an inspiration.
I just finished Prairie Tale and have to say that I really enjoyed it. The book was not only a behind the scenes tour of life on the sets with Melissa Gilbert, but also about a woman who finally found a path in her life that she liked. Melissa wrote a lot about growing up on the set of Little House on the Prairie. It was fascinating to read about her close friendship with Alison Arngrim who played her nemesis Nellie on the show. I laughed at how she was upset with the casting of a "man" as Almonzo Wilder. I was also touched by her close relationship with Michael Landon and his family. Melissa even allows us into her thoughts about the time when Mike, as she called him, was dying from cancer.
Melissa Gilbert’s life was filled with a lot of chaos during her late teens, twenties and even thirties. She abused drugs, was an alcoholic, and divorced her first husband. Of course, it was also during this time that she had two beautiful sons and found her soul mate in Bruce Boxleitner. Through the anecdotes and humor in the book, we see how Melissa finally realized her addictions and was able to get sober and become involved in Children’s Hospice and Palliative Care Coalition.
A fun part at the end of the book was the list of alternative book titles that were suggested by her friends. I sat there reading them to my friend on the phone and we laughed hysterically together. Sharing these shows the comedic side of Melissa Gilbert. If you are a Melissa Gilbert fan, I would highly recommend this book because you will learn so much from this strong, courageous woman.
One day I would also love to see Melissa Gilbert’s latest project, Little House on the Prairie, The Musical. During this production, Melissa is playing Ma to Laura Ingalls. If you have already seen this, know that I am very jealous!
