Dentists, Doctors, and Growing Up

Every year Angry Toddler has his "well check" at his pediatrician's office. I always make it months in advance. I actually look forward to this check-up. I save all my questions up and we discuss the milestones. I love his pediatrician, and was so delighted last year when she stepped forward and left the big practice that she was part of. We got tired of the long waits and getting stuck with the nurse or someone else from the office.

I can't wait to tell her that yes, he was potty trained last year. He knows his ABC's. He can count to 35. And even the fact that he kicks butt at the Wii. Especially Mario Kart. I know she appreciates hearing all of this, because you see, Angry Toddler was a preemie. He has asthma, and has had over 15 febrile seizures. She will be glad that she hasn't seen us since January, that he's grown, and he's doing excellent in pre-school.

But when the kids come into your life, you sometimes let your own health issues slip. We've (Angry Husband and I) have spent the last 4 years making sure that we had Tylenol, Motrin, asthma meds, and everything else in stuck 24/7.

But during this, we have also gotten sick. Angry Husband has had pneumonia at least 2-3 times. I've had several upper respiratory infections. But life goes on.

I don't have a regular doctor. Every time I get sick, I hit up the Urgent Care. I wish I had someone like Angry Toddler's pediatrician. Who actually cared about what's been going on with me for the past 33 years. Someone who knows that I was actually hospitalized over 20 times as a child for bronchitis and several related issues. That I spent almost every Christmas singing Christmas carols with nurses.

This past week, I went to the dentist. This check-up had been cancelled at least five times. I finally went and discovered that I needed three crowns. THREE! Do you know how much money that's going to cost? A lot. I've known about these crowns since last Spring. But I've been neglecting myself. I'm scheduled to get two of them done in about a week. If I don't cancel the appointment, that is.

Now Angry Husband. He went to the dentist about two weeks ago. He has a ton of work to be done. He already has a follow-up appointment that was scheduled next week. Is he going to go? Nope. I already had to cancel the appointment.

Oh yea, and Angry Husband has pneumonia again. I made him go to the Urgent Care yesterday. He's on meds, which I also forced him to pick-up.

Since the beginning of this year, I've decided to stop neglecting my own personal health and take charge of it. It's part of being an adult. The older I get, the problems just keep hanging around longer. Angry Husband knows this. I give him the same speech every time, "Well duh, you knew that, what are you going to do about it?"

Sometimes, I just want to be a kid again and have someone make these appointments for me, and drive me there at my allotted time.