Who'd Have Thought?

I'm always pondering these types of questions: Who'd have thought I would actually grow up to be close friends with my brothers and sister? Who'd have thought high school really wouldn't be the center of my universe for the rest of my life? Who'd have thought I'd enjoy watching Jake's concerts and not wish I could be doing it instead? Who'd have thought I could jump out of bed with the speed of Superman when my baby is choking on his spit-up at 5:30 a.m? There have been times in my life that I never believed any of these things would happen to me. But this is about a real clincher--something that tells me I have officially taken the next step in life.

Today I was up at the crack of dawn and didn't stop running around like a chicken with my head cut off all morning. At 1:00 I dragged myself and Grant's enormously awkward carrier into the dentist's office, hoping and praying that he wouldn't wake up screaming with hunger like he did at our last visit. I was having a filling on a chipped molar and also removal of a chunk of extra gum tissue from the roof of my mouth, behind my front teeth. Despite my fabulous dentist, I'm not a fan of dental work. I asked for the gas, even though it doesn't do much more than make my fingers tingle, and then I was told I was going to have to wait a while before the dentist would get to me.

I was exhausted, so I closed my eyes. I was alone. My mind was free (though a little hazy), I was laying down, I was breathing deeply. It was the most relaxed and restful activity I have participated in in weeks! Then I had my revelation: who'd have ever thought that I would actually be glad to be sitting in a dental chair, awaiting minor oral surgery? This proves I am now a true-blue, through and through, sleep-deprived parent.

I'm already looking forward six months for my next dental exam.