Phase One...

Phase One: Becoming a pre-teen, a trip to the Orthodontist

Vitaly was referred to the Orthodontist by our Dentist for a severe overbite.

Now,he needs a spacer to do this and that to his bite, for about nine months.

Total cost for such an appliance such as this:

that goes in the roof of your mouth.....

a little over $3500!

And that doesn't even cover the costs of the braces to follow. (don't even want to know what they will cost, but 5K seems @ average)

YIKES!

Then the Orthodontist looked around at my other two cuties, checked their teeth and agreed they too would be seeing him in the future. Big sigh.

Oh and looking at supplemental insurance plans to our own plan, they do not help when it comes to the Orthodontist.

Luckily for Vitaly it came in many colors, glitters and swirls. His pick...

Orange and Black.

The same colors as his two favorite football teams: His Black Attack team and the Bengals

Boogie Shoes

So, I guess there is a new song out.

Previously, it was called (My) Boogie Shoes, by KC and the Sunshine Band. An upbeat little song, that has the tendency to stay in your head for the day.

Today, when it came on the radio Oksana chimed up it's " My Mommy's Boogie Shoes!" She proudly proceeded to sing with the chorus, which went something more like this...

"I wanna put on my, mommy mommyy's boogie shoes! and Boogie with u!"

Of course, Nikolai thought this was just hilarious, as he began to dance in a strange hypnotic off beat way.

Poor girl, if she only knew mommy's boogie shoes have no rhythm, she would not want to put them on!

A Time to Give

Dear All:

Oksana wants to give back to the children of Shriner's and the wonderful care she receives, this holiday season and beyond.

She has talked about the children that live every day in a hospital room.

Most have nothing to do but watch TV/DVDs/play games and do activities, while under painful treatment. These activities are their only release. Most are severly burned and spend months/years undergoing painful operations and recuperations.

Each time we go there, Oksana gets the best care and thankfully, we get to leave without the scars these children will endure the rest of their lives.

As we did our most recent surgery, Oksana and I noticed that they had a wonderful selection of DVD's for the kids, but they did not last forever for a child that might be there for weeks- months.

Nor, did they have other language DVDs or PG rated adult Dvds as many of the children and parents have come from all over the world.

So we gratefully ask that if anyone wants to donate slightly used or new DVD's to Shriners, we would be excited for you to join us. You may send them to your own local Shriner's or if you would like to send them to us, as we will be taking them to the Cincinnati Shriner's for Oksana to give to her new/old friends that have endured many painful surgeries for burns, clefts and ear pinnings.

If you would like to send us your DVD's or other donations (toys gifts) we will be happy to take them to the children, as Oksana will give them back to her special friends and others.

We can make many trips :)

A simple email and I will give you the address to send, at boomerseyler@yahoo.com

Thank you!
From,
Oksana and all of us!

Fall Back

I love an extra hour to sleep, just as much as anyone else!
But, truth be told, the Fall Back time change has put my body out of whack!
Last night I fell asleep at 9:00 pm, because technically it was 10:00 to my body. (yes, I usually go to be early).
Then, the past two mornings- awake- way to early.
Yesterday, it was probably 4:30 AM and today 4:20.

To make the situation even more crazy, Oksana came bounding into our room at 4:30 AM this morning. Wide awake. Then, she got into our bed and proceeded to babble away, until we got up at our usual time- which is 5:30.

Of course there is a positive note too: the boys are easier to get out of bed in the morning and they go to sleep earlier- YEAH!

Bad dreams

I really don't know what to think when your little girl in her sleep screams out:

Don't Vitaly! NO! Don't Vitaly!

Then, a little while later:

Don't do it Nikolai, don't touch it! That is a real knife put it down or I am telling Mommy!

These are what she screamed out from her sleep last night, and awoke me (and others)both times!

I asked her about it in the morning and she said she had a bad dream. I would agree! Now it looks like we need to discuss these teasings with the boys!

And then what HAPPENED?

Okay Okay

I plead the working mommy 102nd commandment for working mommies- I will update my blog after major events!

Death by stitches or see previous blog.. for Nik's stitches response...

Oksana's preop overnite at Shriners she had a blast with the other kids eating popcorn and playing games, while Mommy struggled with pre-op sleeping in the room.

Seven surgeries and still a good girl. No wonder throwing up is much more traumatic with your tongue tied! Eight hours of post surgery yuckies and then a deep sleep until, she awoke crying...

She said mommy I need to go to the bathroom and go home!

As a seasoned veteran to hospital stays I told her you must drink and eat first!

So, she did like a strong little girl!

And then she got to do this with her favorite Nurse... (she did the drawings) and say good bye to some of the most amazing burned children from all over the world. They are the true heroes of Shriners! Please give whenever you can to ensure these amazing hospitals!

Hi ho hi ho and off to the hospital we go!

We have been having some time at the hospital! Two Sundays ago, it all began when Nikolai had a run in at a friend's house with a dog cage to his scalp. After much crying, bleeding and deliberation the decision was made to visit the ER. Nik of course wanted NOTHING to do with a stitch to his head, but after some numbing meds, he felt no pain. Although he did cry out to the stitching staff... "Are you trying to KILL ME or what!" He now sports eight stitches!

Oksana and I are back at Shriner's. We are spending the night getting her ready for her surgery, in the morning. It is the same surgery she had a year ago, that needed revisions. If all goes okay we should be home no later than Saturday, but hopefully Friday. She did ask if Santa was going to be here again (he showed last year for trick or treat). I told her probably not, he was probably busy getting ready for Christmas!