Friday

It's off to the grocery store this morning. Helaina's getting her wisdom teeth out today so I'm stocking up on the necessities, things like jello, pudding, Popsicles, ice cream and a big bag of ice. Being this early on a Friday, the store's nearly empty. I find they have a ton of bananas in the discount bin. Might as well buy some to make some banana bread. Last time this happened, I bought about about three times as many bananas as I needed. It doesn't stop me from doing the same thing again.

I grab the other groceries and head to the front of the store. At the check-out, I unload all my stuff, including the dozen or so packs of bananas. Like the last time, the lady at the register looks at me like I'm crazy. Also like the last time, I get the exact same comment, "Boy! That sure is a lot of bananas!" "A brilliant observation", I think to myself, "Take a banana for yourself". Instead, I just stare back at her. She makes no other comment about the three six-packs of pudding, the six-pack of Jello, quart of ice cream, box of Popsicles , bag of ice or quart of milk. Time to go home and put it all away.

Helaina and I head off to the oral surgeon's office. I'm pretty sure I'm more nervous than her. We're not in the waiting room long before she gets called in and I'm left to my own devices. Cold air is blowing up my back from the air conditioner vent in the floor directly behind my chair. I could move but decide not to. It provides some small distraction for my anxiety. It's uncomfortable sitting in the waiting room while Helaina gets her teeth out, and not just because of the cold air. It feels no different to me than when she was little and had to go through something similar. It feels no different than when Rachael and Sam went through similar things. It feels awful. I read a magazine and look at the clock. I look out the window, then look at the clock. I hate being in waiting rooms. It's one thing if your in a doctor's office for something like a check-up, but this feels like being stuck in the waiting room of a hospital.

An hour or so later, I get called in to see her. An ice pack is wrapped around her jaw. Bloody gauze sticks out of her mouth. "Don't let her fall back to sleep" the nurse says. Easier said than done. When they're not closed, Helaina's eyes are rolling around. I brush away her bangs, just like when she was little. Unlike when she was little, she doesn't smile back, she looks annoyed. I brush them anyway. The doctor comes in and reviews the follow-up care and we're free to leave.

At home, she sleeps and I head to the pharmacy. Once back home, I make banana bread then head to the grocery store again. She wakes up and seems to be doing a little better. I'm politely reminded that she doesn't care for pudding. I over-bake the banana bread and they come out like bricks.

Luckily, I have extra bananas.