Something is Missing!

Conner lost his first tooth on Wednesday night!

That first little tooth that decided to sprout in his baby mouth six years ago during our move from Texas to Colorado is no longer in my child's mouth.

It took a lot to get that tooth here... and it took a lot to get it out!

With his adult tooth cutting through the surface behind the loose tooth, a strategy to remove his tooth was quickly instigated.  Conner wiggled that tooth loose while doing his homework, falling asleep at night, and wrestling with his brothers (okay, maybe not during the wresting).

Finally, when all hope was lost, the tooth was encircled about with dental floss and attached to a door knob.  Excitement filled the air with the prospect of the slamming door removing his tooth.  Panic rained down from the sky like a Texas hail storm and when all hope seemed to be lost, Dad yanked that tooth out with a single strand of dental floss.  With one quick yank, the tooth went flying and high pitched screams filled the air with a vigor never known to mankind.

Lucky for Dad, the two of them are friends once again.  Meanwhile Mama Bear roared to life as red liquid poured from the empty socket in my child's mouth.  Blood.  My heart began racing and my fists grew tight.  No one hurts my child.  A big grin spread across Dad's triumphant face and I gave him the dirtiest look I could muster.

Did you know that it is normal for a kid to bleed after a tooth falls out?

Everyone knows that a large batch of homemade spinach-mint ice cream is the best way to calm down the Mama Bear, the panicked child, and the stronger-than-door-knobs dad.  Mama bear dissolved in the kitchen and when the ice cream maker roared to life everyone settled down like a child in time out.  Celebrations are never complete without a cup of spinach... or two.

The tooth was safely secured in an Eppendorf tube (otherwise known as the "happy tube" at our house) that Dad forgot to discard at the neuroscience lab before coming home.  Not every kid can claim that kind of fame now can they?  And I am pretty sure that my child is the first to leave a happy drug tip under his pillow. 

Dreams of kissing tag and Emma danced around his head and somewhere in the night the Tooth Fairy made her visit. The "happy tube" was removed with the tooth and we can only assume that the Tooth Fairy is very happy... wherever she is.

PhD students have to make money somehow.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed that "happy tubes" will encourage a more profitable tooth reimbursement next time the Tooth Fairy comes to call.