No more wisdom teeth for me...

So, today was the day--wisdom tooth extraction times 4.  I had two that were in place and two that were impacted.  I have never had a cavity or any dental work done outside of regular cleanings.  The only person more nervous than me was Olivia--not about the teeth being removed but the IV, b/c she is terrified of needles and doesn't like it when someone hurts her momma.   She had this message to my oral surgeon--"One word, Dr., mask".  They used a mask to put her to sleep last summer for her broken elbow surgery so she is somewhat of an expert.  I have chosen to tell her that the doctor heeded her advice. Anyway, the prospect of "dental jackhammer" busting out my teeth was largely unappealing.  But, as my oral surgeon explained to me--I was already over the hill for having this done and my healing time wasn't getting any shorter the longer I waited.  It was an in-office procedure, but I was totally sedated--like anesthesia through an IV sedated.  After they told me that the medicine would probably relax me, I remember nothing.  Which was the desired result.  I woke up feeling a little groggy, but nothing like hospital anesthesia.  The procedure happened at 8 am, and now at 7pm the numbness is around 90% gone.  So far, so good--kinda have a headache, taking Percoset, gauze is out of mouth and bleeding has seemingly stopped.  I am icing like a mad man to hopefully avoid swelling and bruising--we'll see how that turns out.  Kevin has been a champ--been hanging with Josie all day and has found all the coolest milkshakes in town.  My mom even came over while we were gone and made stew and soup for me.  So sweet.  So, not too bad (knock on wood).  Perhaps I should be the poster child for aged people having their wisdom teeth removed.  

Lately

I feel like we have been as busy as ever but I don't have a lot of photo documentation.  Let's see....Liv is good despite a canceled weekend train ride and Dallas adventure with Grandma--the ice storms made the train immovable.  She made the honor roll for the second nine weeks and has made the fashion decision to only wear dangly earrings--no studs for her.  Josie is getting bigger and sassier every day.  She says no even when she means yes--not that she gets confused with word definitions.  She just can't seem to control when the word 'no' comes out of her mouth.  She still loves going to her play place--Gymboree and loves her sister 'Ola' a whole lot. She also loves her wagon rides--when she is laid back like she is in the picture she reminds of an Egyptian princess being carried around on the shoulders of servants--I know, that's kind of stretch but that's what I think of.  I got a crock pot during our day after Thanksgiving shopping frenzy and my mom thought it was high time I used it.  So, now I can make a roast.  And I do it big....including pan searing the roast before crock pot entry and adding a bevy of veggies.  It is a hit with the husband but Liv told me she hates this meal--as she holds her nose and chews carrots fast enough to set world records.  Kevin is ever busy with home improvements.  Our new windows in the living room are framed in and the ledge is in place.  Now all we have to do is some painting and that'll be all done.  I used to have a pot by the front door but was always in the shade and that always meant death for the unfortunate plants planted there.  Kevin found a metal tree that we can't kill--artsy, huh??  I guess that's all for now...

We say goodbye to Josie's mullet and a living room wall

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'll start with the whole in the wall since those pics are on top.  I told you we had nothing else to do....here is the result (not end result, but so far) of that boredom.  The next step is to run some new wires for lighting and electrical outlets and then finish framing in the opening, and add trim.  Hopefully this happens soon.  About Josie's mullet--I was holding out hope that her layer of hair that is supposed to be growing under the hair she has would start to grow.  This hasn't happened and she has the undershave that is the envy of all.  Hey, at least she's cool in the summertime, right?  Anyway, enough was enough said her dad--and off to Robyn we went. Josie has had her haircut before but nevertheless, she cried through the entire cut.  The end result is miraculously straight and super cute.  Here's hoping the undershave grows in soon....And by the way, these pics were taken this morning (especially for Dani) and Josie was still in pajamas...she isn't normally in oversized t-shirts!!

Introducing the new family photo wall....

We had nothing to do today.  No birthday parties to attend, no errands, nothing.  We were sitting around trying to think of something to do and we came up with the idea to move our family photo wall and cut a whole in the old photo wall to have a big window into the kitchen.  So, we spent the morning emptying and rearranging cabinets and moving pictures around and then this afternoon Kevin tore out the old cabinets.  Tomorrow the whole is cut....pics of that soon to follow.  Not to pat my own back, but do take a quick second to check out my framed last name--I drove around Shreveport and took pictures of things that looked like the last letters of my name, printed and framed them....Fancy Nancy you can call me......

New Year's Eve

I took zero pictures on NYE.  We were separated so that was probably why.  We got a fantastic array of fireworks, and then the plan for the evening was for me and Liv to go to the Rhynards house to hang with them and the Stewarts.  Josie was gonna be in bed, and Kevin was sick and didn't feel like doing anything.  We tried to do some fireworks before Liv and I left--just some sparklers and a roman candle, but Josie thought that was a pretty horrible idea, so it was short lived.  After she went to bed, Liv and I left.  We ate hot dogs and played Rock Band and lit fireworks until 1 am.  Liv was asleep before we left the neighborhood.  When we got home she asked me if it was ok if she went straight to sleep, as though I would have picked that time as ideal for a good room cleaning.  She was so tired but proud that she got to stay up so late.  She is still playing catch up from her late night.....

I think that catches everyone up on the Denlers....Liv is out of school this week so we have been trying to stay busy--lots of wagon rides, Sci-Port, slumber parties, pizza night, science experiments, and trampoline jumping....

Christmas Part 3

Home at last, we are nearly ten hours into Christmas celebration.  The girls put on their new matching pj's--which I am sure netted them both a better stash from Santa.  Liv picked out cookies for Santa, we poured the milk and we were bedtime bound.  Santa did great this year--Josie got a great kitchen and puzzles and a train.  Liv got a Nintendo DS, easy bake oven, and tons of books.  We made cinnamon rolls for breakfast and stayed in our pj's all day to play with all the new stuff we got.  

Christmas Part 2

So, our next stop was my moms house.  As soon as we got there baby Josie had to take a nap.  While that was happening Liv, my mom, and I made cookies.  We all had fun and Liv insisted that I include the close up pic of her favorite cookie.  When that was done, Josie woke up and dinner was soon after that.  We brought all of our family presents to open at moms house.  Josie got a Moon for her room, so even on cloudy nights she can tell the moon night night, and Liv got the science kit she really wanted and clothes and art stuff and a puppet theater.  So, fun was had by all and everyone was worn out--perfect for bedtime so Santa could visit.  We loaded up and went home to prepare......continued in Part 3.