It's All About Me

Soudabeh Sharafi D.M.D (Del mar Pediatric & Adolescents)- A Dental Review

So, anyone looking for a pediatric dentist in the San Diego/ Del Mar area?  Hoping to find a kind, gentle dentist for your little girl or boy for their very first trip to have their cute, little teeth looked at and/or treated?

Well, I definitely have found a place to NOT go to!  Soudabeh Sharafi in Del Mar, San Diego CA!   Look at all the love this pediatric dentist left my 3 YEAR old with:

 

The bruises under her eye came from the doctor pushing her face down, while trying to give her the oral sedation for the treatment she was supposed to have (2 crowns and 4 fillings).  Makena was laying on my lap, with her head in the doctors lap.  I was hugging her close, arms by her sides.  Joe was holding her legs from kicking and wiggling around.  The doctor was holding her face, left hand on her cheekbone, obviously pressing WAY too hard, right hand giving medicine.  Granted... Makena wasn't happy, doesn't ever like taking oral medicine, and having it shoved down her throat thru a syringe, will make one gag as well, BUT pushing this hard?  Come on!  Really?  And they still charged us for it $250 for shit Makena didn't even get down her throat...

Oh wait... the fun at this dental office wasn't over yet...  check out my baby's fat lip:

 

This was about 3 hours later, AFTER icing it!

Makena got this shiner towards the end of the 2 fillings that were getting done.  After the shots kicked in and Makena calmed down a bit... had a DVD player overhead playing, with headphones, the doctor began to work on the drilling andfillings.  I think it was the 2nd filling... Makena began to yell that it was "ouchie" and was OBVIOUSLY in pain.  Did the doctor care?  Nope... just told her "you are fine, keep watching the show, your doing great".  Pushed Makena's head back down in the chair, continued.  Makena kept cry, doctor continued to work.  I couldn't take it, went outside for 5 minutes.  At the very end, doctor gave her one last little shove down into the chair, via Makena's bottom lip shown here, said it was all done and for Joe to pick her up and "take her out of here now!".  Joe sees blood coming from her lip, but obviously is more concerned with calming Makena down and soothing her.  Doctor leaves room, says NOTHING more to us.

As we begin to drive off, to Toy's R Us of course... we notice the marks on Makena's face and her lip swelling up like a balloon.  We stop to grab some ice for her lip, then I decide to call the doctor to let her know what was happening, literally, I just wanted to tell them, MAYBE to get some understanding, dumb advice like icing the lip, something?  Receptionist answers, I tell her whats going on, explain that she has bruising under her eye and a fat lip.  She says that Makena got the fat lip because she bit it.  I say "oh, ok, um, well what about the bruises?"  You will not even believe what this girl says next....  so good that it deserves its own line:

"Wow, she must have really bit her lip hard!"

WTF?  You didn't just say that did you?... You have got to be kidding me lady, Im thinking in my head.

Me:  "You mean, her biting her lip caused her eye to get bruised, is that what you are really saying right now?"

Her:  "Oh, well lemme get the doctor"

"yeah go ahead and do that because your ass isn't making any sense"... thinking in my head.

Doctor:  "So Staci tells me that you are having some problems?"

Me: "yes, she has a big fat lip..."

Doctor:  cuts me off mid sentence... "yeah she must have got that when she bit her lip AFTER she left our office, we told you that could happen and to watch for it!"

Me:  ignoring her statement... "and she has bruises under her eye also, probably from when you were trying to sedate her?"

Doctor: "oh I didnt even touch her face, she got those after she left here too because our office doesn't do things like that.  That couldn't have happened here."

I knew at that point nothing would happen and I was already getting more upset at the lame ass answer.  Had this doctor just owned up to pushing a bit too hard, saying "Oh Im so sorry, it must have happened during XYZ or ABC", I wouldn't be here right now telling the www about any of this.  I'd be upset about my daughter being traumatized of course, but not searching the web for EVERY dental review site in San Diego.  How dare this woman even hint that WE did this crap to her... that it didn't come as a direct result of her hands!

Needless to say... Makena won't be going back to Del Mar Pediatric & Adolescents, remember that name Del Mar Pediatric & Adolescentsand Dr. Soudabeh Sharafi D.M.D!  Gonna give her a break for a couple of weeks and find a referral to someone else, someone I know who has used the office before.  I can't even believe any of this happened today.  I was scared and stressing out about today for weeks now, but never did I think it would end up this way.  Bottom line and a few words of advice...

• do your homework about the dentist you go to

Do searches on the net for reviews about offices and doctors.  If possible, get a referral from a friend or other mommy's that have really great experiences with their dentists.  If you book an appointment, go for a visit and something DOESN'T feel right, run, dont walk outta there!  There are plenty of dentists around and you have to find someone that both you and your child feel comfortable with. 

• don't give your 1 year old apple juice... just don't do it

We learned the hard way, thats for sure!  Joe was all excited about Makena getting to finally drink juice, that we let her have some way too early.  After that first sip, she never looked back.  Never had milk or much of anything else to drink.  Hooked just like that!  Even though she probably takes after me with soft teeth and being prone to dental issues, we are certain that the juice just sped everything up 100%.   If I could turn back time, I would have waited a bit longer for juice AND limited the amount she had to maybe once a day, in addition to watering that down even more!

• brush, floss, brush, floss

Even if you think it's not doing anything, just take a couple of minutes and rub those bad boys down!  We have brushed Makena's teeth twice a day since she was about 1... didn't floss like we should have though.  There is no harm in it and if you get the kiddos used to it early, then doing it more as they grow won't make a difference to them at all!

• once your baby starts getting lots of teeth, have them see a dentist

Whats the harm in that kwim?  Have them take a look, see if they might have issues, locate areas that might need more attention when brushing and flossing.  From what I hear, they even have options to seal your baby's teeth... kinda like a protective coat I think?  Man, I would have jumped on this a LONG time ago!

• and last.....

Don't ever visit this dentist!  Please lol!!!

OK, Joe is done giving Makena her bath to get the all the sticky medicine and dental smell off of her!  Time to play with the new toys we got her today and then let her have a cheat day and eat whatever she wants... she deserves after a day like today :)

OH... and if anyone knows anything about reporting this type of thing or a general direction to send me in, that would be great!  I did a search for "filing claims against dentists" and stuff like that, but didn't get too much info.  We aren't looking to sue anyone, we don't really have anything to sue for lol, BUT if I could just warn others AND/OR have the doctor know that she needs to change her practices a bit, that would rest my mind tremendously!  So... point me people!  Where do I go?

6 of 1, 1/2 dozen of another

So I wanted to venture away from designing right?  Now I haven't designed in a few months and I miss it lol!  My brain really does work in mysterious ways.  I was so super swamped in May that I decided to space out my photography sessions a bit more, so that I could attempt doing both.  This is such a trial and error thing and I have to find what works best for me and my sanity.  Never did I dream I would be as busy as I was last month and while completely thankful and blessed I'm on a mission to find a good schedule that allows me to do it all!  I'm dreaming right lol?  Designing, photography, family, fun... yeah right.  I am dreaming if we continue to only have 24 hours in the day!  The good news is that I'm all up to date on editing now and have the next 2 days to design :)  Im a happy girl!

Even though I have a ton of pictures I wanted to share, I'm going to try and squeeze in some good ole family fun and some stuff I have been loving lately.  I can't believe I still have pictures and stories from back in MARCH lol!  What a blog loser I am!

Look at this cute little bag Joe bought me for my camera!  It was one of my birthday gifts.  Can't remember what else I got because I *heart* this cute bag so much...

I had seen this in a Scrapbooking magazine a couple of months ago and fell in love then, but didn't do research on where to snag one.  Then when I was at Best Buy buying this...

for the wedding I shot last month, beat still my heart... there was my bag, just hanging there, begging me to buy it!  You can also find info here at the ACME site and they have some other super cute stuff, but Best Buy only had this one.  Oh and my new flash card... LOVE it.  Holds so much, especially since I converted to shooting RAW, but I guess anything is a step up from a 2GB card huh?

I also bought a little dolly for child sessions and desperately wanted to test drive her, so I dragged the kids across the street into my favorite open field and snapped some of Makena... this one was my favorite of her...

 

another one I loved of her...

 

and my favorite of the day...

 

awe... my kids look so sweet.  Unfortunately, I don't think they have looked this way together since!  Little stinkers!

Before I forget, not that anyone cares or anything, but I have been wanting to share a couple of products I have fallen in love with recently!  Ok, so Im so not into dieting or even depriving my body of any food whenever it wants it, probably the reason I have some chub taking over my mid section and hips, BUT one day at the market I decided to try a couple of Weight Watchers "Smart Ones".  Now again, didn't pick them up for the diet aspect, but because I rarely eat lunch, I thought these would work brilliant because I can throw them in the microwave and eat super quick.  I have only tried a couple, but they are my fav's and I could eat them everyday, numerous times a day :)

 

 

Oh they are yummy!  Anyone else tried any frozen meals they really enjoy?  I could eat these all of the time, but am thinking I may get sick of them after a few months lol!

Another thing I have been obsessing about lately are my teeth.  After I had to have the scaling done last year, I have been on a mission to try and correct all the things wrong with my teeth.  I have no idea why, but the dentist said that I "harbor more bacteria" in mouth and are prone to more cavities because of it.  Bleh... gross huh?  Way more info. about me than you wanted I bet.  And for those that don't know about scaling by the way, its AWFUL!  They take a metal tool with a really sharp bended point and basically scrape all the shit off your teeth.  It's painful and I seriously panic every time I have a dentist appointment, like today for example!  Anyways, so to help fight off the mean dentist person, I started buying these:

  

These are so cool!  No water needed, just open and start brushing :)  They have this flavor stuff in the center that's supposed to be toothpaste, so you get some breath stuff on top of the brushing.  Ingenious I tell you...  even got Joe and Blake to start asking for them!  Haven't tried the other flavors though, will next Target run!

Off to pick up Makena at school... YES, school!  Twice a week and we both are LOVING it!  Whole other story and pics I will be sure to forget about posting!  Still have to post the following:

• 2 family beach sessions
• 2 maternity sessions
• 1 newborn session
• 2 engagement sessions
• 1 senior session
• 1 wedding
• and a TON of other personal family stuff like a fun afternoon of jumping on the trampoline & making homemade donuts... YUM!  Seriously, one of the most fun things we have done together lately lol!

I will be back :)

XOXO

An all over kinda post!

May hit me like a ton of bricks I tell ya!  Good Lord... between shoots, the store, Makena's playdates, doctor's and dentist's appointments, and all the other fun stuff like trying to keep the house clean and people around me fed... I'm suprised I haven't strangled someone!  

I have had quite a few shoots this month, actually booked all of my sessions thru July... believe me, I'm shocked also, have no idea where all of it came from, but I feel blessed!  There are so many images I want to share, but because I want to showcase each session fully, I decided to dedicate each post to a different client!  Come to think of it, I haven't really posted any of my pictures lol!  So I guess I should attempt to catch up a little bit?  Lemme go back to some of my fav's in March :)  Check out this beautiful girl...  actually this family has a total of 8, but only a few were home when I was doing the newborn session with her baby brother, gotta find those images too, but here is 1 of his "big" sis's!

 

This is a new chair Joe bought me for my birthday... he hates it!  I don't know how anyone cannot love damask, yum!  Got it from Pier 1... and isn't their garage door amazing?

 

I love this next shot... not sure why, but it's one of my favorites and doesn't even show a pretty face lol!

 

But here she is, up close and personal...

 

Crap, I just realized I never even shared our Hawaii trip, boy oh boy I have a lot of catch up to do!  Here is the speed round, highly condensed version!

Blake learns to knit, well kinda learns before we get on the plane...

 

Does it get better than landing and getting greeted with one of these?

 

I already knew my man is a hottie....

 

I realize I need to start working out again!

awe... my sweet kiddos getting along!

 

Makena has a few melt down... in a "time out" here!

 

All is better when she finally arrives in Makena Beach... same one she is named after, will spare the details on that :)

 

Blake decides to catch some waves on the boogie board...

 

We eat at my favotire local restaurant "da Kitchen"

 

we go to a Luau of course!

 

we swim, swim, and more swim...

Found another secluded beack our LAST day in Maui... we WILL return!

 

couldn't help but get out and soak up the last little bit of sun in Kapalua...

 

 

and left just as the locals were wishing they too had a few more hours of sun...

 

Lot's more, but that's all this girl has time for :)  I'm about to turn into a pumpkin, so I will leave it with that! 

"Shabby Chic" Weekend Shopping

A couple of years, I started going through a shabby chic/vintage kind of phase.  Although you can't tell from my home and it's "decor" (I use that term VERY lightly because I don't think I have any kind of style or sense when it comes to decorating), I really do love the look of antiques, though, the stories they can tell, the chipped paint, rust, etc.  So, I turned to the www and tried to find some local spots where I could look for some goodies...  there wasn't much within my immediate are, but I was lucky enough to hit the jackpot when I stumbled upon "La Maison Rustique".  It take's place once a month at a gal named Linda's property... she has this adroable "little" barn and it's stocked FULL of shabby, vintage goodness.  The women who sell with her are amazingly sweet and all have such unique fun stuff.  I've bought MANY things here over the past 2 years, took a 6 month break, and knew I had to make a trip out there this weekend to find some props for some shoots I have coming up.  I will share those goodies later, but I SO had to show the pictures I snagged on Friday...

Someone could go very broke in that place!  I didn't do too bad and walked away with more or less everything that I really wanted to get... you ever have one of those shopping trips where evething you see either fits or really is just what you wanted?  It was perfect!  Although there were lots more I wanted, I narrowed my puchase down to a few keys items that I know I will use over and over again like the straw hat, the cowboy boots,  and pettiskirt.  I bought the chair and tiara there also and cannot wait to use them!  The other items I got over the past week or so.... the rubber boots were on sale at Old Navy for like $3, the trunk was from Goodwill $20 and perfect for storing all this stuff on shoots and at home, baby carriage from "home goods" (one of my favorite places for decorating.... so much numminess!  I swear I have been having the best luck finding treasures lately!  I have a tond of crap to do, so I will leave you with my latest pic of my goodies!

Have a great weekend everyone!  OH... almost forgot, come celebrate NSD over at the store!  We are having a 40% off storewide sale starting tonight at 12am until tomorrow 11:59pm.  Doesn't happen too often in the year so come stock up on your favorite designers goodies!  Miss Tiina is having a "take the cake" sale for an amazingly ridiculous price, go capitalize on her groovy products! 

And since I'm in a good mood... every order that gets processed on MY digital/hybrid products will be placed in a drawing to win a $100 gift certificate :)

Holy busy Batman!

 There really is something wrong with my brain and how it works.  Just when I get in my head that it's time to slow down, tie up loose ends on projects, etc., my mind will take me in another totally different direction.  While I feel that it's great to have big dreams, shoot for the stars, have initiative and all that stuff... having that "get up and go" mentality as my dad called it, can be a very bad "quality" to have.  There just isn't enough time in the day to do everything AND give it all your 100%.  I know I balance the stuff going on in my life "well" and nothing in my life truly "suffers", BUT I know that the time has come where I just need to zero in on a couple of things and truly give it my attention.

I have loved digital scrapbooking and have really loved the past 3 years learning and creating.  It has opened up a lot of doors for me and I have met a lot of wonderful people as a result of the site and designing.  But, at this point I just feel drained from feeling like I have to design products for the store, keeping up with release days, managing a creative team, being active in the community, etc.  I guess I'm lucky in that I co-own the store, really only do payouts and customer service, back end stuff so I don't feel as guilty because I'm still working "on" the store, but each week that passes and I don't have product, I do feel very guilty.  Hopefully it doesn't irk my designers too much lol!  But at this point, I do need to make a concious effort to get over the feelings of guilt and launch the new ideas I have crowding my brain.  I won't say that I won't EVER leave FPD, its Traci's and my baby, we have grown it from nothing, and it really has become more successful than I ever thought it would, but for now... I need to focus on the photography things I want to do.  The great part of owning the digital store is I can always go back whenever I want lol!  When I feel like making a kit, I can and throw it in the store when I want, so I'm not really losing anything!

As for photography, I have unofficially launched my portrait site!!! 

I originally had a whole different look, but I kept feeling like it looked more or less like every other photography site out there, especially since I used a template for the design.  So, to spice it up, I decided to add my own designs in and I really love how it's turning out!  Now I just have to get my ass in gear for editing sessions so I can add all of my galleries and do more site layouts.  You can actually view my main splash page for corinanielsen.com here :)

I have lots more to talk about, but for now I will leave it sweet and simple... its been awhile since my last post, but I HAD to show my new nephew and all his adorable-ness!  Meet Ty DeMarti...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oh, he's just nummy with his hairy body and chinese eyes (im convinced my sister must have a chinese mailman or cable guy lol)!  I wish I lived closer :( 

Lots more pictures to share from the sessions I have had over the past month, hopefully I can make my way back here soon to share.  Take a lookie at the first bloggy header/sidebar images I have done.  Not sure if I will make more of them, I have so much other work to get done before I "play", I swear life NEVER slows down as an adult!

xoxo corina