Yesterday we went to the orthodontist. And we are finally at a scheduled day for braces.
I say finally because we knew this was coming. About 2ish years ago our dentist sent us on a journey to find an orthodontist because the staff was worried about the crowding of teeth in D's tiny mouth. She was at an age where the adult teeth were coming in, the baby teeth were almost fully out, and there wasn't a whole lot of room to go. So the search began...
I started out by asking for rec's and two kept coming up. Then I checked those two against my insurance and found that officially only one was covered. In hindsight, I think I should have just called each and found out how they operated. But alas, we ended up at Dr. B.'s. I actually really love it there. No complaints. The cost is high, but I suspect that is the case with all orthodontists unless we had opted for a dental school.
Anyway, earlier in 2021 we had an ortho visit and Dr. B. had noted that all but one baby tooth was out and that IF, we lost that baby tooth, we could start with braces in "a couple of months". So, we were originally going to get them on in October/November. Coincidentally the office didn't have appointments until December (no afternoons until Dec. 30) and most of D's tooth didn't actually come out until about November anyway. So it worked out to hold off. We have a dentist appointment next week where I hope they can remove the final piece of baby tooth hanging in there and then on January 18, upper braces will be installed.
D. has been trying to get ahold of a friend that already has braces so she can find out what style she has. She started out wanting the "clear" brackets because they aren't noticeable in pictures. One of the staff members had commented that when she had braces she wished she had chosen the metal brackets instead of clear. And then the final person we talked to said she had gold and wished she still had those. The price difference between them is the same and the only downside to the clear is that they are slightly less durable. Given the amount I must nag my child to do anything, I would say durable is necessary.
But at this point, she is still deciding. We shall see what she goes with on Jan 18.
In other news, D. received a gift certificate for a new bike this Christmas. We took her up to the bike store to check out some bikes and trade in her old one. It was beyond time. Her old one was just too small. She picked out a pretty blue one that is just slightly too big for her. Our hope is that she can ride it for longer this way. It looks bigger than my bike! It is considered a "fitness" bike and is good for riding on outdoor trails and some "off road" like chip/chat path but is not a mountain bike. We traded her old bike in and as the salesperson wheeled that bike back it hit me that I didn't have a picture of it. I know I have video and pictures but not a new one. And that made me think that I missed realizing that last time she rode that bike. It seems silly now but I think back to when I was a kid and recall riding my bike all over. I could not tell you the last time I recall riding my bikes but I remember them so well. When was the last time I rode on my strawberry shortcake bike with the banana seat? Or the purple rainbow bike? Or my first 10 speed bike with handle breaks? When was the last time I was on those? I don't even know. So it hit me that I missed the opportunity to get a picture of her on it. I would love to say I will remember the shopping experience but I know that will fade from my memory too. In the very least I will need to make a point to get a picture of her riding this new bike for the first time (and that's probably going to be today, on this last day of 2021).
Before I sign off, I guess I'd like to write down whatever else I can remember of this year before we move on:
Ended the 2020/2021 School year in person. There was a covid situation at the end of that school year that took out MOST of the entire school so the final days for most were lackluster...missing friends, etc. But we made it, somehow. There were no sports that school year. No other extracurricular activities. Not a whole lot otherwise.
This school year has been as normal as can be. No cross country given the lack of a coach. D. participated in volleyball and is currently in basketball. She enjoyed Vball, dislikes Bball. I will encourage her to participate in track and field if she is given the opportunity because she runs well, she should. Her Vball coach was Coach Paul. Her Bball coaches are the Frey's.
This year in school she is still participating in piano. Since the fiasco of last school year (no sign-up sheet, no piano for you), and the retirement of Mrs. M., her skills have dropped off. I could not tell you the last time she sat at our piano and played/practiced. It's frustrating but she does so much I know I must let some things go.
She also started band this year. It's a fifth-grade requirement, and she is using a clarinet. She seems to enjoy it more than piano, but I've never seen her play or practice it once. She did put it together so I know she knows that much. Her band teacher is also her piano teacher. I don't think much progress will happen this year. That is not to say I dislike her teacher, I just think there's too much going on between broken instruments, health, her wedding, children fighting in school, etc. Just too much to be conducive to progress.
She is doing well in school with A's, hopeful to keep her there the rest of the year.
She is still active in martial arts. She does not love it. We encourage her to go for both sport and well-being. She does not see it now but it benefits her. It's like eating broccoli, few people love it. But we need it. She will be eligible to test for her 2nd Degree Youth Blackbelt in March of 2022. I believe they offer the test two times a year so the actual test will be in June. D. does not want to do it. I am going to encourage her to test along with two other girls.
She did join a bowling league this year. She's doing well, especially now that Coach Charlie is on board. She started out with around a 40 average (which is not surprising for a young person who had never bowled before). We got her a left-hand ball drilled and her average jumped to 50. With Coach's help, her average is up in the 70s now. We really hope she sticks with this...it could mean scholarships for her (a left-handed female bowler is a unicorn we hear).
Physically she is well...almost my height and I wonder if she'll get much taller. (Her 12-year molars are already in and she will likely begin her cycle within the next 6 months...after that, growth slows greatly). She is still in the 10th percentile of weight...which will change with puberty I am certain. I remind her constantly that she needs to be considerate of what she eats...that catches up with us at puberty. People need to learn that on their own so I also let that go.
Mentally, I worry about her. She says she feels like a ghost. Although she is friends with kids at school, she isn't best friends with kids at school. She has friends she confides in, but no one so close that I think she tells them she's like a ghost. This age is hard so I just keep an eye on her. If it progresses, I'll start her in some therapy or something so she can get it all out.
This year she has really gotten into wearing make-up. She doesn't wear heavy make-up, or even wear it often, but I do allow her to wear some on occasion. She is still into American Girls but I think that's on the way out. Her friends still like AG too, so when they get together they play. She's also into video games. She really likes simulators (Sims, City Skylines, Farming Simulator, etc.).
Well, that's about it for now. I'm sure to remember something later...
