Sabal Rockport May 2018

Sabal Rockport May 2018

May 2018

1406 Hwy 35 N, Suite C., Rockport, TX 78382 |

www.SabalDental.com

361-729-1333

|

Adventures in Motherhood Lessons from Mom … and Granny!

I didn’t have any brothers growing up. I’m sure people who grew up with lots of brothers would tell me I’m lucky — and they would only be half joking. As the youngest of three sisters, God didn’t bless me with a brother, but He did give me two wonderful sons. I am truly grateful to have Duncan and Logan. I always knew I wanted to be a mom, and these boys certainly make life exciting. When Duncan was in kindergarten, the teacher asked the kids what their favorite part of summer vacation was. Duncan told a story about how he chased a bullfrog into a culvert in the

children in our community. She ran a day care out of her home and the nursery program in our church for over 20 years. My grandparent’s house was a wonderful place to spend the day. They lived out in the country, embracing the slow pace of life. I can still remember helping Granny pick blackberries in the garden.

Mom and Granny were different kinds of women, but they both taught me a great deal about being a mom. They were loving and selfless and sacrificed a lot to make sure their families were taken care of. The love each of them showed to their kids and grandkids really shaped me and how I try to raise my own boys.

Dr. Sperry with her sons Duncan and Logan

creek at the park and caught it! My husband got a picture of Duncan holding that big bullfrog and grinning ear to ear. Duncan and Logan can both be quite the handful in their own right, so I’m glad I learned so much about being a mom from the amazing moms who taught me. My mom and grandma were very much part of my life as I was growing up. Thanks to my mom, I knew I could have a career and a family. When I was a year old, my mom went back to work as a nurse. Though Mom’s job as a nurse was demanding, it was also pretty flexible. I don’t feel like I missed out on anything, because her job gave her the ability to be there for us when we needed her. I knew I wanted something like that in my life: the ability to be a working mom in a field that would allow for family time. When my mom was working, my sisters and I would spend time with our maternal grandparents, who lived right next door. My granny was a grandma to a lot of

Duncan with a bullfrog

My favorite part of being a mom is seeing how each stage of my children’s lives are different. Each phase is new and exciting; the experience of raising a 2-year-old is completely different than when they’re 5! And each experience is different between my two boys. They say kids grow up fast, so I’m trying to enjoy each stage of my boys’ lives with all the challenges and be present with them as we learn how to figure things out together. Sometimes being a mom feels like you’re just making it by the skin of your teeth, but because I’m able to rely on my mom for advice or remember the lessons Granny taught me, I know everything will be fine.

–Dr. Valerie Sperry

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Step Up Your Kids’ Goo Game MAKE AMAZING MAGNETIC SLIME

If you’re a parent in 2018, you know how popular slime has become among the kiddos. NPR reports that the gooey stuff has become a “social media sensation” and even led to glue shortages in many areas across the country. But instead of making a traditional pile of neon goop with your child, why not upgrade it with magnetic capabilities? Make your own magnetic slime with just a few ingredients you can easily find around town.

to doubt that this preslime mixture can possibly turn into anything, but have faith and continue to mix. Eventually, it’ll take on that gooey slime-like texture. 3. Once the slime is a little squishy, remove it from the bowl and start mashing it with your hands. Knead and knead until the mixture is evenly distributed throughout. Don’t worry about the black juice remaining in the bowl — just mix it in as best you can. When that’s done, give your hands a good scrub. The black mess will leave a stain for a little over a day.

What you’ll need:

• Liquid starch

• Elmer’s glue (or any white glue)

• Iron oxide powder (can be found at home improvement stores — avoid breathing it in!)

4. Pat the slime down to dry off excess juice. That’s the stuff that makes a mess and blackens your hands, not the slime. Now it’s ready for action! Set the slime on the countertop and get out your magnet. Your kids will be amazed by the way the thick slime reaches for the magnet, almost like some alien creature. This is the perfect opportunity to explain how magnets work. Check out the “Magnetism” page on ExplainThatStuff.com. Or just squish the slime around and see what it can do! Though it may not be as colorful as the slime you usually see, it’s definitely more interesting. It’s the perfect simple activity for a playdate with your kids this May.

• Disposable bowls

• An extra-powerful neodymium magnet (check online retailers or hobby stores) 1. Start off by pouring 1/4 cup of liquid starch into a disposable bowl. Add 2 carefully-measured tablespoons of iron oxide, and stir

vigorously until fully mixed. 2. Mix in 1/4 cup of glue, and stir like crazy. You’re going

What Our Patients Are Saying............

My hygienist was gentle with me because she knew I was nervous. It had been a long time since I’d been to the dentist. They all made me feel comfy. –Anonymous They let you know your alternatives with cost. They are very honest and take time to explain what is happening. –Carolyn S After failing to make two previous appointments, I expected to be treated coldly, and that was okay. Not the case. From the moment I stepped through the door, the staff was friendly, courteous, and chatty. My dental tech, Kim, was very nice, but more than that, I felt she was excellent at her work. She never hurt me,

yet did her work thoroughly. She always told me what she was going to do so there were no surprises. I think talking to the patient is very important. Dr. Sperry was knowledgeable, congenial, and professional. I have found a new dental practice that I am very pleased with.

Thank you all. –Anonymous

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No one likes going to the dentist — after all, the thought of someone else snooping around in your mouth isn’t pleasant. It’s pretty common to feel stressed at the dentist’s office, but for some people, that stress can escalate to a phobia. Dental anxiety can cause a host of dental problems. Many people who struggle with this anxiety will only visit the dentist when they absolutely need to. But rushing to the dentist due to an emergency only makes the patient’s anxiety worse. Emergency experiences are never pleasant and can add more stress to a trying situation. DEALING WITH DENTAL ANXIETY Don’t Let Stress Scare You Away From the Dentist

Managing your dental anxiety isn’t easy, but it can be done, and you don’t have to rely on sedatives to make it through an appointment, either. An easy way to minimize anxiety is to show up to your appointment on time — never early. Although this strategy may seem too simple to work, it minimizes the time you spend in the waiting room. The longer a patient sits, the more time they have to mull over any previous bad experiences, imagine things that could go wrong, or anticipate the expected discomfort.

Communicate your anxiety to your dentist. Getting to

know your dentist and their process can lower stress levels and uncertainty, and your dentist may have suggestions on how to make you comfortable once they know how nervous you are. Talking through the procedure beforehand and afterward will help you understand what to expect and what’s already happened.

Dental anxiety can make the dentist’s office seem like the worst place in the world. But with a little confidence and a tactful approach, nobody should have to suffer from poor dental hygiene because of it.

If someone is already nervous about going to the dentist, making an appointment for something far worse than a simple cleaning isn’t the solution. Their opinion of dentists is only going to worsen in situations like this, creating an unpleasant case for the patient and dentist.

Have a Laugh

SAUTÉED ZUCCHINI and Squash With Feta

Ingredients • 1 zucchini • 1 summer squash • 1/2 medium red onion • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

• 2 teaspoons fresh thyme • 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese • Salt and pepper to taste

Directions 1. Cut zucchini into 1/4-inch-thick semicircles. Dice onion. 2. Heat a large skillet to medium high. Add olive oil, onion, and thyme. 3. Once onion is soft (about 2 minutes), add zucchini and squash. Season with salt and pepper; cook 4–5 minutes until squash barely begins to caramelize. 4. Place in serving bowl and top with feta.

Inspired by thekitchn.com

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1406 Hwy 35 N, Suite C. Rockport, TX 78382 361-729-1333 www.SabalDental.com

Inside This Issue

Happy Mother’s Day Page 1 Your Kids Will Love This Magnetic Slime Recipe Page 2 Our Clients Say it Best Page 2 Don’t Be Scared Off by Dental Anxiety Page 3 Sautéed Zucchini and Squash With Feta Page 3 Bobbie the Wonder Dog’s Incredible Journey Page 4

The Incredible Journey of BOBBIE THE WONDER DOG

Imagine America in 1923. Yankee Stadium opened its doors for the very first time. Walt and Roy Disney founded The Walt Disney Company. The first issue of Time magazine hit newsstands. President Warren G. Harding died of a heart attack in office, and Vice President Calvin Coolidge became the 30th president. And Bobbie the Wonder Dog trekked 2,550 miles to return home. Of all the stories to come out of 1923, Bobbie’s may be the most incredible. It all started with a road trip. The Brazier family of Silverton, Oregon, decided to take a road trip to visit relatives in Wolcott, Indiana. Mom, Dad, their two daughters, and their Scotch collie piled in the family Overland Red Bird touring car and headed across preinterstate-highway-system America. Several days later, after the Braziers had settled in with their Wolcott relatives, Bobbie the Scotch collie was attacked by a pack of dogs. The dogs scared Bobbie away, and despite a long search around Wolcott, the family was unable to find any trace of the collie. The search continued throughout their stay, but time ran out, and the Braziers had to return home to Oregon without their beloved Bobbie.

What the Braziers didn’t know was that Bobbie had been searching for his family as well. He may have been scared away, but he was determined to get back home. And so began his incredible journey. He turned his head west and began walking. And walking. With winter setting in, Bobbie had a monumental task ahead.

© 2018 - Portland State University and the Oregon Historical Society.

Bobbie swam across numerous rivers. He trekked across the Great Plains and over the Rocky Mountains. While we will never know exactly what Bobbie endured, we know he made it home. Over 2,500 miles later, in February, 1924, a tired and beaten-down pup arrived home in Silverton, Oregon, to a stunned family. Bobbie the Wonder Dog’s story made national headlines. He received a medal and the key to the city, and he became a silent movie star in the film “The Call of the West.” Today, you can visit Bobbie’s memorial near his home in Oregon.

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