Okay, so usually I like to start off from the beginning of the day, but then something just happened. My dog fell on my face. I have a picture of him from a previous post, and he's a small thing, but he went on top of the couch and fell on my face. So, then, of course, I spent 5 minutes freaking out afraid my jaw was going to fall apart! I ran to the kitchen, heat up my ice pack again, and now am sitting here telling you this my the right side of my face begins to throb with pain. So, as of right now, I am NOT a happy camper. What makes it worse is that Steve had just left literally TWO minutes before it happened! Ugh, and now Boe (the accused) is laying in his cage (And no, I didn't throw him in there or beat him or anything- he just knows he really hurt me and went into his cage by himself).



So, as a for warning, my picture for tomorrow may show a more swollen face then the picture above. AH, did I really need more trauma to my face?! Sigh, well, let me try to move on with this blog. Have any of you ever gone through that? For example, if one of your kids got slap-happy? lol.

Anywho, beyond this, today has been both good and frustrating. I got up on my own this morning (usually Steve gets up with me to me breakfast and what not) and was feeling very clear headed, which was great. I finally opened my own medicine (darn child proof caps!). and made myself a protein shake with strawberries! However, the frustrating part came when I tried to drink out of the cup. I had to blend it, then shake it in the blender cup, and then strain it, and then moisten my mouth so it wouldn't go everywhere! Eventually, I was able to enjoy it, but by then I was hungry for something else. Ugh.

The rest of the morning I spent mostly sitting on the couch and re microwaving my ice packs. I have to tell you, switching to heat is an amazing thing and I see the swelling going down nicely (I'll be needing them after Boe's hit and run, won't I?). I think the picture shows my face looking the same as yesterday, but I noticed this morning that my neck was not as swollen, and it seems to going down around my cheeks as well. I have been using the aquaphor alot, but as you can also see from the pictures, my lips are taking QUITE a beating. I can't really scrub them with anything, so I use a washcloth when I can to clean them up, and then reapply the Aquaphor. It's a lovely process, really.

I'm in some pain right now, so I'm going to try and move through the things I wanted to. Okay, for startes, I can have warm stuff to eat now, and the soups have been great. Steve made me mushroom soup today, but it had extra milk and chicken bouillion in it, which added so much. Of course by the time he finished it and brought it to me it was cold, and then he had to re micorwave it, but is definitely worth it. I'll be posting more recipes as time goes on.

Hmm, what else? Well, I 've been trying to talk more with my bands, and though it's still defficult to understand a word I am trying to say, it's getting better. There's still many misunderstandings, such as when I told Steve that my friend was "better now" he thought I said that "got around." ha ha! Oh, and that made me laugh, and I should warn you that sometimes laughter makes your face hurt! But still, a genuine laugh is what I needed :D

Oh, and I was trying to avoid taking my pain medicine today but I eventually had too. The hydrocodone makes me tired, which I am sure it does for everybody, but I was trying to avoid too much sleep. I really wanted to get some things done around here (don't worry, just sitting on the couch stuff, like school work), and I didn't want to be so tired. But, eventually my mouth just told me

"take it!!!!!"

and I happily obliged. In a few days I'd like to move on the the liquid Children's motrin I got, but I'm afraid of it not working! oh well.

As for now, I believe I am going to go remicrowave my ice pack, and then take a nap. I would prefer getting those other things done, but when I dog falls on your face, you get a little wiped out! (literally!).

Day Three and everything is going great! I went to the Doctors this morning bright and early and the nurse mentioned that day three is the worst swelling wise (my brother mentioned yesterday that I looked like the Nutty Professor-he's so sweet ha ha). So hopefully it'll start going down from here. The Doctor said I can switch my ice packs from cold to warm now, Steve just warmed one up for me and it feels a-m-a-z-i-n-g!

The Doctor and his assistant moved very quickly while I was there, they just snipped off the bands and took out the plate and THEN... oh, then, they did the best thing ever. They BRUSHED my TEETH. it was heaven! The mintyness, the nice clean feeling all around, I loved it! And while it was sore, none of this hurt at all. BEST of all, I could TALK when he took the bands and the bite plate out! I also had a small proud moment when the Doctor asked me to figure out which way the bite plate went and I got it on the FIRST try. This plate thing just keeps the teeth where they need to go until my jaw figures out that where it's at is where it's going to stay!

On Friday, I'll be able to take out the plate and bands myself for a few hours, and, GET THIS, eat SOFT FOODS. Even Scrambled eggs! Which I most definitely WILL be having for a lovely Holiday Brunch. Oh man, I cannot wait for that!



So, beyond this, everything is going really well. I've been trying to eat what I can and get plenty of nutrients, and also drinking plenty of water and other liquids. I should also be able to move onto warm foods today (the nurse said cold liquids are better the first couple days) so I believe I will be enjoying some SOUP today. Oh, what a wonderful day it is.. Christmas miracles DO exist! haha.

It's day two of my journey and things are going pretty well! I am more swollen today, and was in more pain, but the hydrocodone and ice packs helped with that. So did EATING. My boyfriend, Steve, made me a shake from the recipe book my Doc gave me, called a peach pillow. It was super good!
Here's the recipe:

Peach Pillow
one cup vanilla yogurt
1 jar baby food peaches (it says strained but it turned out fine even thought we didn't)
1/2 cup milk (Steve added more of this to make it more liquidy)
Directions: BLEND
Calories: 350

The shake was still a little thick, so I used the syringe the hospital gave me, but screwed off the thin tip thing it had on, and used it that way (much easier). I'm keeping a log of what I'm eating and how many calories, so I can make sure to try and maintain some nutrition. The recipe above stated that it was a good source of vitamin C, protein, calcium, and vitamin A, which are things we should all keep in mind when on a diet like this!

Also, I have to tell you that Ensure has come a long way! Ensure is a type of
drink, sort of like instant breakfast type things. I use to have to clean up the mess they made at a nursing home I worked at, and they smelled so incredibly gross, but I bought them anyway because they have a 'plus' version that is supposed to help gain and maintain a healthy weight. Today, for a midmorning snack I had a "Homemade Vanilla Shake" and it was GREAT. Maybe this is just because I can't have anything else, but I would recommend them to those are going to go through this surgery, they have tons of nutrients and vitamins in them and they have so many different flavors!

Some of my other new best friends include:

Aquaphor! This stuff is similar to Vaseline, which I recently started using, but am now going to continue using this product. I just got the tub (they have to-go tubes too) and it "stays" on your lips much longer than regular Vaseline. It is also "smoother" and easier to put on, which is great when your mouth is this sore!


Everything else seems to be going okay. I haven't gotten nauseous yet and have been rinsing with warm salt water every hour (annoying but I know its super important!)
for rinsing the nurse gave me this bubble thing, which they usually use for cleaning infants' noses and throats, etc. But, she said it'll work either way!

And here's an add: a picture of me from day two, with no ice (and no smile either!)

Well, I am officially home from the hospital! Surgery started around 7:30 this morning and we were at the hospital at 5:45. My boyfriend stayed with me all day and was even going to stay the night if I was going to have too! Everything went extremely well, and even though the nurse originally wanted me to stay the night, she talked to my Doctor, and because I was doing so wonderfully (and because of lack of $$) that they agreed I could go home! I was happy! the swelling is beginning to start now ( I was only a little swollen earlier) but I've taken my antibiotic and I'm going to have a glass of chocolate milk that my bf made for me! I am wearing an ice pack around my face too, and let me tell you, it feels AWESOME. Well, I'll keep up my updates, but for now I am going to RELAX!

Well, this week was quite busy. I spent the beginning of the week preparing for a presentation on Wednesday. This was somewhat bittersweet, I have a close attachment with my honors family (there's only 11 of us!) and next semester we won't have a regular class meeting, so seeing each other will be random at times... I just hope it happens! We're planning a bar trip believe, which I KNOW we deserve!! ANywho, after that, I had to go to my Orthodontist to get my surgical hooks put on (I will add a picture later!) but was starving so I ran over to Wendy's to pregame it. lol. Being at the Orthodontist was kind of a lathargic moment too, because it will be the last time I see them before the surgery!

Luckily, I was able to work with Michelle, my favorite 'adjustment maker' (I don't know her actual title lol) and we had some pre surgery bonding. Despite that she was working on my mouth, we had some fun conversations, especially about the salad shooter and smart shopper! haha, you can google those if necessary :D. She also mentioned how she was telling a coworker about my situation, and how she couldn't believe that it was time for me to finally get the surgery done: "We've been through so much together!" she says <3 very, very true! She even gave me hug after we were all done, and i sniffled a little :..) of course, i should mention that i had to go back for a five minutes the next day because one of hooks was sliding back and forth (she said that as long as they aren't 'flapping' it should be fine) so they tightened that and I went on my merry way (again!)

now, to say a little about what they do:
some of you, when getting an adjustment, may get a 'wire' tie put on instead or under those little colored bands that go over the brackets. When the Ortho puts the surgical hooks, they place a wire (usually the same one-no extra movements before surgery!) as usual, but you a get a wire tire on EVERY single bracket!. So, for those of you who know what this is like, it's like getting whiskers, you have a whole MOUTH full of whiskers [Michelle says: On halloween, you could dress up as a tigerrr. Then, they clip them all down. After this, they take these small hooks (I believe they call them wire crimpers or crimps) and then use pliers to place them in between every space in your mouth. I should worn you, IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO CLEAN WITH THESE THINGS ON!! i usually floss every day, and told myself to floss TWICE a day till surgery, but after getting the hooks on I realize it's pretty much IMPOSSIBLE! I suppose this is where a water pik would come in handy. So, kudos to those who already have one.

Other than this, On Thursday I went to the store and went grocery shopping for foods for the surgery. I tried to gather as many ingredients were in the "75 recipes for a blended diet" recipe book my surgeon gave me, and I think I was pretty successful... for now, I suppose I'll head out and relax for the evening. I have one more day of work tomorrow (7-1) and then I have the afternoon off to spend with my honey!

Oh! and I called the OR yesterday, my surgery is on Monday ( I knew that) at 7:30 am, and we have to be there by 5:45 am. Cross your fingers that I get to come home the same day!!

Well, I had my LAST checkup at the Surgeon's office yesterday! And I'm officially ready for surgery! I could not be more excited. I always had this fear that he was going to say I wasn't quite ready yet, but now I've gotten the okay and preparing myself for the day (which is December 21, 2009). I've spent all day preparing videos and pictures to update my blogs and vlogs, which probably isn't the best idea since I have finals tomorrow! But I just couldn't wait to tell the world ha ha.
I'm a little mad that I was so excited to order zip n squeeze bags and the cool jaw wrap and now they're not available. Does anyone know of any other jaw wraps that are similar that are available? Let me know if there are, because I really would like to have them. Luckily I already have ginormous pillows that will me with sleeping, so I'm not worried about that.
Next week, I am getting surgical hooks put on, as well as taking my last final, which is actually presenting a paper for my class. After that, I have only a few days left before surgery! I just found out yesterday that they (the hospital) doesn't tell you or the surgeon what time the surgery will be until the Friday beforehand! SO that is the only thing I am completely oblivious too at the moment.
Now, my surgeon gave me my prescriptions yesterday, so I just have to pick them up and then I will be put them in my fridge for safe keeping. Before I go, I'm going to leave you some new pictures that I took of my overbite. I can't wait to see the results of this journey!





this is where you can really see the space

Here is a my most recent video, taken at home and at my Orthodontist's office, showing my experience with getting models taken. I get models done almost every time I go now to make sure that everything is where it needs to be! Also, don't mind the "Goodmorning Youtube" part, I have this and other videos uploaded to my youtube account, Braceness, as well! Enjoy!