Pre-Orthodontics

Kayla had to go to the dentist this morning to get an impression for a retainer.  Yes, a retainer at age four.  At her last visit, the pediatric dentist said that she had a cross-bite and that she would benefit from a special retainer -- apparently if you correct the position of the baby teeth, when adult teeth grow in, they follow the path of the baby teeth. (Who knew??)

The appointment was at 8:00 am and we were told Kayla was supposed to have a light breakfast in case the impression made her gag. She ate some vanilla yogurt and Rice Krispies (because they still make the "snap, crackle and pop" sound! -- seriously, she gets these food combination ideas from G!) and then George drove her to the dentist.

They played on the Miss Pac Man arcade game in the waiting room.  Kayla did a great job and sat through the impression (she described it as "smooth, pink mud") and it didn't hurt, but all the dentist's tools being stuffed into her mouth hurt and she cried a little bit.  Nothing that a green balloon, Thomas train sticker and a toy car couldn't cure.  When it came to customize her retainer -- yes, these days, retainers are customized and you can pick out the color and even put some sort of sticker inside -- guess what she chose?  Green, with sparkles, and a picture of a dinosaur.  (G said she jumped up and down when the dentist told her there were dinosaurs.)

On the way to school, G drove past the golden arches.  That's when Kayla piped up:
K: Look, Daddy, It's McDonald's!  (pause) I'm still hungry.

G: Oh, that's nice. (Can you tell she gets this whole "asking for something without explicitly asking" thing from me?? It drives my family nuts!)

K: Well, what are we going to do?!  Where are we gonna go??

G: We're going to the Springs!

K: thinks about this a moment, Well, I guess I can eat snacks at school.

By now, they are almost at school but there just so happens to be a Burger King on the way.  G decides, heck, why not and pulls into the BK parking lot.
K: Where are we going, Daddy?  Hey, it's Burger King!  What are you doing?!

G: I'm gonna go and order food.

K: ... fer who?

G: For me!

K: Can I have some?

G: Yes, I'll share it with you.

Listening to Kayla recount what happened after the dentist visit went something like:
"I was still hungry, so Daddy took me to Burger King.  He got sausage egg sandwich, potatoes and orange juice. Daddy sat in Jocie's car seat next to me. It was really funny!!"
(They were sitting in the school parking lot eating BK, while Jocie was already inside in class.  Poor girl.)