Yes, it’s that time again. Abigail lost another tooth. It is the bottom tooth right under the one she had pulled a while ago. That tooth hasn’t come in yet, so she’s got a hole in her mouth from the top gum to the bottom for those two teeth. Even missing those two teeth, she’s still able to whistle up a storm!

This was our annual “oncology” week at Camp Sunshine. We were really looking forward to it, though we weren’t sure if any of our friends from previous years were going to be joining us this year.

Karen had sent a note to Camp Sunshine in hopes of getting the McMahons and the Baker-Gentrys on the list for the week. As far as we knew, everyone was on a waiting list, and no one had heard a thing.

That was the last thing we heard from either of those families. It wasn’t looking good…

After a wrong turn provided by Google Maps due to a bad suggestion (again by Google Maps) that I change “Acadia Road” to “Arcadia Road”, and the camp talking us in from a couple of miles away, we made it. I can’t say it was a great ride - about 10 hours in the car is enough to make anyone crazy! But we made it, and after checking in at the desk and driving around to “our building”, we were attacked by a group of “yellow shirts.” While we knew one of our original yellow shirts, Erica, was going to be at camp this week, we weren’t expecting her to be part of our welcoming committee! She ran for us as soon as we started to get out of the van. It was so nice to see her, first thing! We were move into our room in a flash, as the other yellow shirts swarmed us.

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I received a call at work today - well, I got two voice messages on my cell phone - from James. He called to tell me that he lost a tooth! The teeth directly on either side of his two front teeth are still first teeth (can’t call them “baby” any more, can we?), and the one to his right of the front teeth had come out! One tooth closer to all “adult” teeth, right?! James said this tooth always hurt when he put his retainer in because it would be sticking out and get caught on the wire. He’ll be glad it’s gone…

At dinner, Abigail was still messing with her bottom front tooth (to her right of center), and with just a little push from Karen, it was out. Karen yelled at me (because I was sitting next to Abigail in Uno’s - we had another coupon that expired today), “Greg! Grab the tooth!” She was afraid that Abigail was going to swallow it. I grabbed it from her tongue and wrapped it in a napkin to take home. Abigail was both thrilled and scared all at the same time. This was her first “naturally” lost tooth; her other tooth was forcibly removed by the oral surgeon. So this was a big deal for her.

And, while we were recovering from dinner, and sitting in front of the TV, James let Karen mess with his other near front, top tooth (same tooth as before, but on the other side of the front teeth). We messed with some dental floss, but that just slipped off. Then, a minute later, I heard an “aaahhh” and water was requested. The tooth was out. Yes, it was also loose before today, just not as loose as the first one.

Poor Victoria could only look on and help where she could. No more teeth for her to loose, I don’t think. But she’s had her share of “Mom pulled” teeth, too, so she was used to all the action…

I got a call from Abigail during lunch. She told me that she, James, Victoria, and Mommy (Karen) had been out riding horses. She was very excited! This was more than a “drag the horse around the circle” ride, which Abigail has done a number of times (like at the Zoo).

It seems there is a horse (riding) farm somewhere in the Collegeville area, and Karen found it through “lots and lots of phone calls and searching, and they were the only ones that picked up” (Karen’s exact words). If anyone is interested, here is their information:

Red Buffalo Ranch
1106 Anders Road
Collegeville, PA
610-489-9707

I got to talk with everyone in the van (they must have just finished riding) and found out that they were on a “trail ride,” with a 14 year old girl, Hannah, as their “guide” on the trail.

According to Karen’s story, Abigail was not totally happy just “free riding” but was very happy when her horse was “attached” to the guide’s horse. Everything went smoothly from then on.

Sounds like a great trip for all of them. There are more pictures and more descriptions in the gallery.

Today was Abigail’s six-month check up. I know it isn’t her favorite thing, but she is such a trooper.

Karen took her to the King of Prussia C.H.o.P. office. I don’t have any of the details of the actual visit to give you. Sorry.

Karen and Abigail called me on their way home to tell me the good news. ALL CLEAR!!! Thank you, God!

Abigail said she saw two people there, no one she knew, but just two people. She’s so cute on the phone. Of course, as time would have it, I was also driving home to get Victoria from school, so I had trouble understanding Abigail at times, but she was still so cute.

Later, she showed me the band-aid on her arm; a Daffy Duck band-aid, with a cotton ball under it. She said the poke hurt a little, but she didn’t cry or anything.

Love that girl. And other than being tired from all her activities, she’s doing well and enjoying the end of her Kindergarten year of school. YAY!!!

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