Coryn's smile will be the focal point of our Christmas photo this year

I decided to spare you some serious nausea and not post the video that Jo took of Coryn's recital. Jittery camera-work aside, Coryn was in the back row and from Jo's vantage point, pretty much out of view.

So on to today's topic, which is: This Year We Are Sure To Have An Unforgettable Christmas Photo.

Thanksgiving morning Jo and Coryn and I went to mass. Knowing our holiday weekend itinerary, Matt stayed with Mallory so she could have one last solid nap at home.
When we entered church Jo led us up to the very first pew, front and center. The girls flipped through their programs to sing along to the songs and respond to the prayers. All was well. Or, at least I thought so. As Coryn turned her face up to ask the page number for the closing song, I caught sight of something unusual in her mouth.

After mass I sat eye-to-eye with Coryn to take a closer look. And that's when I discovered a plump pea-sized blister on her gums. It was yellow-ish in color and directly above her top front right tooth.

Despite the fact that nursing runs in the family, I did not get that gene. Just the sight of that thing was enough to give me (and Jo) the willies. Coryn, on the other hand, was completely unfazed. She said it didn't hurt a bit and had no idea when that bubble in her mouth showed up.

And so began a four-day saga of me calling every dentist in the tri-county area. Well not quite, but it felt that way. I left countless messages on various answering services. My mom (a nurse) convinced me not to take her to the ER since Coryn didn't have a fever and (thankfully) that bubble wasn't getting any bigger. But just because she wasn't bothered by it, didn't mean I wasn't. Not only was I worried sick, but I wasted way too much time reading obscure medical information pertaining to dental abscess symptoms and treatment online. (I do not recommend this.)

I finally made contact with an actual live human being at Coryn's dentist office at 11am this morning. I explained the bubble situation and was given a 3pm appointment.

When I picked up Coryn from school early she knew we were headed to the dentist. And honest to goodness, she was excited. The minute we walked in the waiting room she made a bee-line to the toy area. Five minutes later Coryn's name was called by a young hygienist named Bridgette. Cokes skipped down the hall and the dental office people audibly swooned to see this adorable little girl, dressed in her school uniform and wearing a giant red satin bow in her hair.

Coryn hopped into the chair, bit down on a piece a film and stayed statue-still for the x-ray. Moments later the dentist came in to deliver the news. That bubble was an infection and her front tooth was dead. Since it was a baby tooth, the proper course was to remove it. I signed a waver for treatment and was told to return to the waiting room for the duration of the extraction.

Not more than 10 minutes later I was called back. The dentist assured me that Coryn was very brave and did just fine. The hygienist handed me a little pouch with her tooth and let Cokes pick out two prizes. I asked how long until her adult tooth comes in. The dentist said the top front teeth typically come in around age 7. That's two-and-three-quarters-years from now.

As soon as we stepped out of the dentist office, the tears started. Coryn didn't like how her mouth felt weird. It was still numb. She cried the first half of the drive home. I turned on Christmas music and two songs later she was quiet. At a red light I looked over my shoulder and saw she was fast asleep.

Back home, Coryn raced into the bathroom and climbed up the step stool. She grinned as she looked in the mirror at her new smile and announced:

I look like a big kid!