Fever, Sugar, and Rotten Teeth

Well, I think the flu has worked its way into and out of our home.  I'm not convinced it was the bacon sniffles, but it was something pretty bad that took Chloe down first and then decomissioned Walter for a couple days. Chloe had a 103 degree fever for two days and it finally broke during an epic battle of wills on Tuesday night when we decided that her wiggly tooth was starting to rot and it was time for it to come out.

She put up the biggest fight about it, but it was turning black and she didn't have a choice any longer. She either pulled it out or I was going to do it. I had her tie a string around it, which was a process in itself, but the knot wouldn't stay and I gave up on that strategy. Next, I gave her a paper towel and counted and let her do it herself.  That didn't work. Walter's mom was there in the beginning and reminded me that it's so hard to get them to pull their teeth, but then they're all smiles afterward. I needed to hear that because I was really feeling like a rotten mommy.  Next, I stood over her blocking the powder-room door until she pulled it.  That didn't work either.  So, I bear-hugged her with my legs and one arm on the floor and tried to get it. What was I thinking there? So, finally, after about an hour of her carrying on, I gave her another paper towel and told her that I just wanted her to pinch it.  I wasn't going to touch it; I just wanted her to hold the tooth between her fingers. I waited for the moment when she had a good grip and I popped her hand, which jerked the tooth out.  She let out the scariest blood-curdling scream; you would have thought I sawed her arm off!  And it was a bloody mess, which didn't make things easier. The tooth went flying across the bathroom floor, but I couldn't find it and was afraid she may have swallowed it or it went into the toilet. But I found the rotten thing on the floor.

Whether it was black or missing, it went nicely with her Halloween costume as a witch.

We went back to our old neighborhood for trick-or-treating. Rick cooked out on the grill.  While the women-folk took the kids around to get candy, the guys hung back at Ricks and passed out candy.  Here's the group at Ricks:

Yes, the Tigger costume that Roman is wearing was Chloe's.  And he slept in it just like Chloe did too.  At the end of the night, the kids tore into their candy and were so whacked out on sugar. I have the funniest audio clip on my phone of them shouting the ABC song and singing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.