Drugs and the dentist

I had to take my four year old to the dentist today. She had an appointment which we have been waiting two months for. At the Montreal Children's Hospital they have a speciality dental clinic for children. They deal with special needs children, dental emergencies and kids that need to be calmed during cleaning and procedures.

My daughter gets worked up at the dentist so she had to take drugs to calm her. Well, that was quite the experience today! It was funny and scary all the same. When we got to the clinic we walked up the stairs and waited in the waiting room. The doctor came in and gave her some medicine in a cup and we waited. Five minutes after she took it, she started to giggle. I laughed because she was really funny! She started losing her inhibitions and saying funny things. It's like she lost control of herself. I was waiting to see if she would have to go to the bathroom or something. Well, she tried to get off the chair and landed on the floor. Luckily another mom picked her up. I had the baby in my arms and was helpless to do anything. My daughter was okay though. She laughed about it.

When they finally brought her into the dental room, they strapped her to the chair with what looked like a straight jacket. They called it a sleeping bag. Yeah right! Fancy words for what it really is! She was strapped in and the procedure started. I sat in the room and watched with the baby on my lap. The doctor kept on repeating things that she was doing. Calling fillings "stars" for her princess teeth. Ingenious I think. The doctor said that she wouldn't remember much and so that's why she kept on repeating herself to my daughter.

We sat there for an hour and a half while fillings were done and her front teeth were fixed. We were exhausted when we finished. We came home in the Medical Mobile - The best service in the world! Another passenger named Keith entertained my giggling girl with daffy duck voice. It was funny! Then he tried to tell some dirty jokes to the rest of us. Funny! I am glad my daughter won't remember much!

Well, there's another appointment in a few months. Now I know what to expect!

Beads at the McCord

I went to the opening of a new exhibit at the McCord Museum last night with a good friend. I had a chance to go into the vaults and have a look at wampum and beadwork created by some of my ancestors.

It's quite a thing to see things made long ago, we're talking hundreds of years ago, by your ancestors. They put so much detail and care into everything. It brought to mind all those hours I spend sitting at the table beading. I wonder what went through their heads as they beaded or created the belts. I know that I find beading to be a very calming and therapeutic activity. In fact, I would have to say that it is almost like meditating.

The beadwork I saw yesterday was so detailed. The beads they used were much smaller than the ones we use today. I don't suppose they wore glasses, which many of us would need to see what we are doing with those tiny beads. The colors in the pieces are so vibrant, even after all this time. Their beadwork flowers and plant life looks almost real. It comes off the fabric. I try to achieve that same effect with my beadwork. I suppose the raised beadwork of my people is also trying to bring to life the flowers and animals in the work.

Anyway, it was an experience that I cherish.