And Then There's That

Josh has been medically needy recently, but you'll have that on occasion. In a family this large, it's somebody or other all the time. It's just nice that it's not Micah for a change.

Josh has a beautiful smile. It looks as though he's had a go-round with braces already, but it's just good genetics. The bad genetics are in the back of his mouth where you can't see the fun going on. Apparently his mouth is such a cool place to be that he's just not losing any baby teeth, therefore the big teeth are coming in on his gumline. The boy resembles a shark. The dentist recommended pulling 4 teeth in a sitting so as to facilitate the shift of big teeth into their permanent positions. We figured we'd consult with an orthodontist before doing this to be sure that braces wouldn't be needed to pull those down into place. We were lucky, he doesn't. He'll just be gumming his food for a while, but hey, it's in the back of his mouth where nobody can see. To a 13 year old boy, that's what matters.

The boy has also been fighting psoriasis for years, and losing. We've tried this shampoo and that, and back to this, then back to that, and tried this shampoo with that topical and that shampoo with this topical, but no matter what algebraic equation we tried it just didn't kick the problem completely. We finally paid a visit to a dermatologist and Josh has had XTRAC laser treatment on his scalp. (It's been localized there, which is part of the reason he keeps his hair long. The other part is the fact that it's hip and he's cool.) After a record-setting 4 treatments, he's free and clear of psoriasis. The dermatologist has never seen such a response. We're all thrilled.

And then there are the passport photos we've had taken today. Because of an upcoming trip we're taking to Mexico this summer, Josh and I need passports. (Thanks, government, for making that mandatory now. Luv ya for it. NOT.) For those not in the know about the subtleties of passport photos, you cannot smile nor show teeth. I now know why Erma Bombeck once famously said, "when you look like your passport photo, it's time to go home." People, this photo will be with me for the next 10 years. I'll be detained at the border just for laughs. Hideous is not even close. Bear in mind, of course, that it's a very rainy day and what was once beautifully full hair was flat and mussed by the time I got to where I was going. And I couldn't smile, or show teeth. So pretty much, when I look like my passport photo, it'll be time for me to come home from Mexico. I expect to have the Black Death Bubonic Plague if I look that bad.


15 comments:

My Two Army Brats said...

If you were holding up number in front of you that would be a great picture.....for a mug shot! lol

Annette W. said...

It's hard not to look unhappy with those rules.

So for my driver's license, I was VERY pregnant and it was raining. The worse part...I loved my previous one in MD...oh well.

Flea said...

Well. Um. Alrighty then. I'll bet you have a killer smile. And teeth. It's genetic, after all.

Michelle said...

Hey - don't forget. You have to have one ear showing. Is your ear showing enough to not get rejected? ;)

Sarah said...

That photo makes you look about 15yrs old. (I mean that in a nice way)

My name is Sarah said...

at least you have your earrings:)

Trisha said...

You have to show one ear???? Really? Luckily, I got my passport renewed before all these restrictions were made. I still have a bit of time until I get to experience them for a new passport picture.

Siobhan said...

I had to do the one ear, no hair on the forehead and facing left at a 45 degree angle before they changed the INS rules on that. I'm just glad they changed the rules!

Lisa Page Rosenberg said...

We had to get small Bob a passport when he was just one month old. The photo makes our cute, cuddly baby look like an angry alien. At least you look like a lady human with nice taste in jewelry.

Burgh Baby said...

My passport photo is one of my favorite photos of me. True story. That photo of you? Looks like it belongs on a wanted poster. ;-)

Kelly said...

Why oh why must passport photos be so dreadful? I made the mistake of wearing a sweater that was the same beige as the background. My passport photo is a floating head.

Unknown said...

I think I finally found someone with a worse passport photo than me :) Thanks for that!!! You look really pissed about something!

Karen said...

utmomof5 - gee, thanks. ;)

caramama said...

Not the best photo, perhaps, but you are so cute and I think that shines through!

Glad that Josh's psorisis cleared up.

I had to have a baby tooth pulled when I was 14 or 15, but the adult tooth never came down, so I needed surgery and braces to pull it down. And it was a canine tooth. :-( No fun, and I hope Josh doesn't have to go through all that.

designHER Momma said...

I laugh every time I see a photo where it was prohibited to smile. Which means I laugh at every single drivers license pic in the state of Indiana.

But yeah for a trip to Mexico. Will this trip consist of fruity drinks with umbrellas?