A Less Wise Kenny

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Today Kenny had all four wisdom teeth removed. Plus one more tooth. All in preparation for braces. Poor kid. Poor, poor kid.

But I was so proud of him. We gave him an oral valium before the appointment, then they let him breathe some gas and voila! He let them place and IV so they could sedate him. Dr. Caso is a wiz!

We weren't sure this was going to work. Any time Kenny has needed sedation before, we would give him a shot of ketamine, which is an animal tranquilizer, and that would drop him like a stone in about 30 seconds. But the last time they came at him with the shot, he said, "Are you gonna take me down?" And the doc said, "Well, yeah, I guess you could say that." Kenny said, "Not if I get you first." Then he threatened to burn down the dental clinic.

So, for some unknown reason, they were reluctant to try that again this time. Bunch of chickens.

I had my doubts this would work, but it did. Kenny is now miserable. Threw up three times. Cried and cried when he woke up...sometimes the meds can make the patient really emotional. It was awful.

We're now preparing for a few days of misery. Notes to Kenny in the comments section are welcome. (Hint, hint.) He likes to read them.

Thanks to my friend, Dee, for picking up the prescriptions and for running my kids. Whatever would I do without you? I am truly blessed. Thanks to everyone who prayed for him. Please continue to pray his recovery will be uneventful and he'll be well enough to go see the COUGS with Uncle Bob on Saturday.

***UPDATE at 5:00 pm*** We're still dealing with puking blood. It's awful. Kenny asked me if he could just die and get it over with. Sigh. I got some pain med in him and it stayed for about an hour and a half, so that's good, at least he'll get some benefit from that. Gatorade stayed down for about 20 minutes. Keep praying, you warriors. I'll KOKO...keep on keepin' on.

***UPDATE at 7:00 pm***I think Kenny is intent on hitting every room in the house. My laundry has gone into overdrive and I've already made one trip to the store for carpet cleaner. Kirsten...thinking of you, and thanking you again for that front loader! Gonna send someone to the store for 7-up. The discharge instructions said it would help. Gatorade's not working. Kenny just said...."Oh, when will this ever end???" He didn't lay the back of his hand against his forehead, but all the melodrama was there, for sure. PS. Did I ever tell you about the time Kenny hit his head on the dashboard of Dave's car? He was about 6. Dave said, "Oh, no, your forehead!" And Kenny gazed up at him with this puzzled look and said, "I only have ONE head." Thanks for all the comments, and Patti...I guess you've got a point there!

***UPDATE at 9:00 pm***More puke. Kenny did the exorcist in the bathroom. Luckily we have two. I just shut the door. Less blood, though. Deb went to the store for 7up for us, thank you, thank you, Deb. You're always just what we need. And it seems to be working. He sat up and talked NFL and Seahawks with Deb for an hour and so far, so good. Whew. Let's hope we can get some sleep.

***UPDATE at midnight*** Sleep looks unlikely. The good news is, the 7up seems to be working. Kenny has't thrown up in 2 hours. Thank you, God and Deb. Now, however, Kenny is WIDE awake and playing Madden 08 on the X-box. After dozing most of the day, he's not really tired. After being on hyperalert all day, I'm absolutely tired. Oh well. It's worth it to see him feeling better. PS. The chipmunk cheeks are starting. We're doing ice, but I can see it coming on.

And, for Kirsten, I'll bring you up to speed on the Kenny/Kate breakthrough. Especially since it's dental-related.

So, on Kenny's birthday, we had a happy time, cake and presents and all that jazz. But when evening gave way to night, Kenny came to my room, feeling sad, wishing Dad was here for his birthday, feeling like no birthday would ever be "all the way happy" again. We cried some, hugged some. Kenny went to do....something, can't remember what...probably go to the bathroom. And Kate came in. She was teary, too, having just returned from Natural Helpers camp where they talk a lot about feelings and do a lot of "getting to know you" exercises that brought up feelings about Dad. So I loved on her a little. Then Kenny came back. And they both immediately launched into their little song and dance routine. "What's she doing in here?" "I have as much right to be in here as you!" "Why is she crying?" "None of your business." "Blah." "Blah." "Blah."

So, I kinda lost it. Kenny was quite the sharp one in the interchange (he isn't always, she can wield her share) and Kate began to cry even more. So I said in a very calm nice voice (read: YELLED), "Why do you always have to do that?" "Why must you say mean things to her?" (Not my finest parenting moment, by the way.)

And Kenny looked at me, quiet. His eyes filled with tears. And he said, "She doesn't love me." And Kate said, "I do, too." And Kenny said, "No you don't." I asked, "Why do you think that?" And Kenny said, "It's been that way since 2001." I said, "What?? You've been mad at your sister for 6 years?" Kenny: "Well, yeah." Me: "Why on earth?" Kenny: "Because she hit me with that doll!"

Lord in Heaven!

Kate didn't even REMEMBER it, but, the story goes like this...

In 1998, Kenny was in 2nd grade. While he and Zach were waiting for the bus, Zach got mad and pushed Kenny. Kenny went face first into the asphalt, breaking both (permanent) front teeth. Took him to the dentist, he was busy, so the partner saw him. Shout out to my cool lady dentist, Dr. Goyer. She was fabulous and we've been with her ever since. So, Kenny's teeth got fixed, under sedation. Miserable experience.

In 2001, Kate was swinging a cabbage patch doll and the shoes of the doll hit Kenny in the mouth, re-breaking those teeth. More dentist, more sedation, more puking, more misery.

Six years later, he's still mad.

And I thought I held a grudge! I concede the championship to the master.

So...Kate apologized, qualifying the apology with "even though I don't remember" and Kenny cried and hugged her.

It was one of those moments.

Wish I could tell you they never fought again. But it is less.

One last thing.

Tami, you rock.
She left this on my doorstep. WOW! If you don't know why that's so cool, go read the Ghostbusters post and have a laugh at my expense.



Wait, one more thing, that CAUTION thing. It says: Do not boil dry. Okay. Got it.

Okay, this is truly the LAST thing, judging by comments and e-mails, I'm not the only one to forget a pan. I got seven responses from folks who had done the same thing. At least I'm in good, if not very bright, company!