They're Paid For!!!
On Monday morning I wrote the last check for Teagan's braces! That check cleared our account yesterday, so I can officially say that Teagan's teeth belong to us again.
Of course this is only stage one in a treatment series that will take several more years, and who knows how much more money. But when I look at the difference that a year makes I am amazed and absolutely sure that every penny we spent on these braces, the monthy visits, the daily battle to keep the headgear on, is worth it. Last April Teagan could not even close her mouth over her top teeth, and in fact the orthodontist was concerned that her top lip was shortening because it could not stretch the way it was meant to. Her teeth were affecting even her breathing patterns as a result. Today she can close her lips over her beautiful straight teeth.
In May or June her braces will be removed for approximately a year while her adult teeth grow in, and then we will move onto stage two.
Of course, just when we think we see the light at the end of the tunnel, we have Garrick following in her footsteps and I am sure we'll be going through the same saga with him!!
Here is a BEFORE Photo:
And here is a DURING Photo:
Labels: braces, Teagan
We Really Lucked Out!!
Seven and a half years ago I decided that I wanted a kitten, so I went over to the Dearborn Animal Shelter, checked out about 20 kittens and came home with Serena. I picked her because she was fluffy and had an interesting coloration. At our first vet visit he commented that he thought she was almost pure Maine Coon Cat, a popular breed of cat that is known to be affectionate, friendly, placid, outgoing and an all-round good cat. Serena has proven to be just that.
Then a month ago we came home with Drake, thinking he was going to grow into a large ginger tom. Both Terry and I were interested to note that he was not so much striped as 'dotted', almost as though he was a wild cat, like an Ocelot. Yesterday I took him to the vet for his first round of shots, and my vet commented on the spots and said, "He looks like an Ocicat." Turns out the Ocicat resembles the Ocelot, but there is no 'wild' DNA in the Ocicat's gene pool. The species is actually a mixture of Siamese and Abyssinian cats, and is a new and still-rare breed of cat which has spots resembling a 'wild' cat and the temperament of a domestic animal, named for its resemblance to the ocelot.
I checked out a website that had photos of pure-bred Ocicat kittens. Here is one of their photos:
And here is one of Drake, taken just yesterday. Tell me that is not nearly a pure-bred??
The cool thing about this breed (and Drake must be at least half Ocicat) is that according to breeders they can be trained like dogs, and like dogs, they like to hang out with their people and are extremely social animals. I can't believe that we lucked out like this - two almost pure-bred cats for the fraction of the cost of buying one through a breeder!
Labels: Drake, Serena
Congratulations Cummins Family
Yesterday was a banner day for the Cummins family as they welcomed little Francis Jackson Cummins III into the world. He arrived at 12:53pm weighing a hefty 9lbs 7oz, and measuring 21.25 inches. He looks just like his big sister Imara, who in turn looks like her Daddy, Frank, and her maternal grandmother Mimi (Jean). Our kids got to see Francis for a short while last night, and hang out with a very tired Imara. Here is a photo of the two families (and the pediatrician) with the baby.
Back Row, from left to right: Terry, Garrick, Carson, Mimi (Jean), Laurie, Frank, Dr. Borland
Front Row, from left to right: Hayley, Imara, Warrick holding Francis, Cori and Teagan
Labels: baby, birth, Surrogate
The Countdown Is Almost Done
The Smelker Seven are getting ready to go somewhere we haven't been in almost 9 years. And that somewhere is
Walt Disney World, the Wonderful House of Mouse, and as far as Terry is concerned, the
only place on earth to vacation.
According to the calendar we have upstairs in the game room we have 20 days until we pack up the conversion van and make the 16 hour drive to Florida. Thank God for a third driver (Warrick). The kids are excited although really the four little ones have nothing to compare it to; the last time we went Teagan was two and a half and Hayley only 11 months old. I was 7 months pregnant with Garrick and Carson was not even a glimmer in anyone's eye.
The vacation is already paid for, completely paid in cash so all we had to do was save for gas, food and souvenirs, and even that has been done. All that's left is to wait, patiently, (hard for Terry) and plan our days at the parks to maximize our time there.
Labels: Carson, Disney, Garrick, Hayley, Teagan, Warrick
Growin' Up
Drake has been with us for almost a month now, and like a human baby we are amazed at his development! Of course a human baby would take a lot longer to get to the point he is now. We have completely weaned him, he sleeps downstairs with the other cats, instead of in a box in our room; and the funniest thing of all is that he chases poor Josh around the house. He is certainly ALL male!
Drake and Serena seem to have bonded pretty well. This is the first kitten she has actively liked - Chloe she tolerates.
Terry was playing with Drake and in mid-play he fell asleep!
Next Friday, the 20th he goes in for all his shots, and then I can set up an appointment for the 'big snip'. Terry and I believe very strongly in spaying and neutering pets, and we have done all of ours at the earliest opportunity. And with a male the earlier the better, otherwise he may start 'spraying' to mark his territory and there is no worse smell in the world.
Labels: Drake, spay and neuter, Terry
