Before and After

All of the swelling isn't gone, but I thought I'd post a before and after picture of the surgery so far.

BEFORE




AFTER

Day 6

Today was a better day than yesterday. We got up in the morning and headed to the doctor to combat some stomach problems and Thrush. My mouth feels soooo much better after getting meds to take care of the thrush.

Friend Shannon came over today for a short visit and to play with the kids and provide some downtime for my parents. I very much enjoyed our visit although I am getting tired of talking on the white board. I didn't get a picture but Luci loves that I carry it around because the second I put it down, she's picking it up to "draw pictures of ganma".

Friend Jane took KR for the afternoon while Luci took a nap, so that I could nap as well since I hadn't slept in 36 hours. My friends are so good to me. I would be so much more frustrated without them.

The family enjoyed another dinner from a friend tonight. What a blessing those have been, since my parents and Matt are wiped out at that time of the night.

Here's a fun little video for your viewing pleasure. Transcipt of the last line:

Today my mom said "Chubby, how come you never smile".
I said, "I do momma, see!"

Day 4 & 5 (Thanks God for the Little Things)

Wow, what a tough two days. The pain and pressure are really intense. I developed some mouth issues that had me gasping for air at times. I woke up in a dark, closed up space and nearly freaked out. Well Matt would say I made there, but I'm still wired shut, so that's my determining factor. The mental game of this recovery is so challenging, I really just have to let swiper steal any frustrating thought or I'll fall into a deep pit.

I am not using the mask so much anymore for the coolant, but more for holding my face up off the ground to relieve the pressure.

I didn't get but maybe one hour of sleep (along with Matt) on Tuesday night. I started having really bad cramping (braxton hicks like) in my stomach and it was bad enough to keep us awake all night. We called the hospital to find out if they had any suggestions and through several miscommunications they wanted me to go to the ER, but I knew it wasn't that bad. Matt called first thing for an appointment on Day 6.

Did I mention I miss my kids? They love giving me finger kisses and their faces light up when I pop on over to my parents house for a short brea and walk. Oh and ..........THE BATH............ I have started taking one a day. It's helps me mentally and I can breathe for an extended amount of time because of the steam.

Thanking God for the little things!!

Day 4

Swelling is going down and that's good, but I can feel more because of less

Aunt Cora came out today and helped mom and dad with the kids. Recovery is still slow. My face feels extremely droopy and unless there is something under it, it feels like the bottom half of my face will fall off. There is probably more discomfort than pain really.

Aunt Cora went with KR to his baseball game. I miss the kids I haven't seen them very much. woah! Did I just say that out loud. =)

Youch -Day 3

Well I was told days 3-5 of recovery would be the hardest and so far I totally agree. My jaw feels like it's falling to the ground, the only thing holding on are a couple of strings going up my cheek near my ear. The pain is definitely more intense, I'm guessing because I have a lot more feeling back.

Day 2 Recovery

**New Video at the end**

I felt better on Day 2, still really tired. Friends Jane and Shannon came to play chipmunks with me. =) That made my day. Shannon brought Strawberry Jamba Smoothie and oooohhhhh my tasters loved that. I sipped on that thing all day long. I struggled to get calories in again, but did fine with water. We had to page Dr. Liberty on this day to check in and it sounded like I was doing ok.




Still very swollen and the pressure was a lot. Getting ok sleep, every two hours still. Matt slept on the floor, his poor back. He's doing so good for me and treating me so well.




Cute thing, Luci loves humidifier tank, she just keeps looking for fish whenever she comes home and sees this.

Swelling was a bit better, simply nice to be home.





Here I am having some breakfast of Ensure, or water, I can't remember. It's very hard to get in 2000 calories a day with this syringe. We are doing really well on water, slowly ramping up on calories.

Congestion and a New way of Eating

Day 1

I got up to use the restroom every two hours during the night. I had ok nurses, I really loved my first one but she got off at 11:30. The others were ok, but not as much aware of what was going on and didn't seem to want to find out that much.

The nose bleeds continued this day, not real bad, but it would dry up and clog my air passage way. The nose sprays are so important and a humidifier.

We came home and I saw Kenny-Ray briefly. He thinks the whole thing is crazy. =) He loved talking to me and having me reply back on the t.v.

Drugs are working great, not much pain. Aquecool is still most happiest possession right now.

Day 1, I had water, chicken broth, slimfast. At this point water is most important.

KR took a picture with me.





Splint in between my teeth, then wired.

Back to the Beginning

We arrived the hospital at about 6:18, finished admitting, then sat in the waiting room for about 2 minutes before they swept me away. It was like being swept away when I had my c/s with KR. We had originally thought that Matt would be able to sit with me until they wheeled me in, but it was not to be. With a quick kiss and a hug, I headed back to the locker room where I put on my gown, booties and surgery cap.

They had me sit on a bed and asked a few hundred questions...ok maybe 50. The nurse's name is Debbie and she was lighthearted and fun. I was very calm and my blood pressure was actually really good (normally on the higher side when at the hospital).

The anethisiology team came to talk to me and there was some confusion over whether I was allergic to anything. My mom had a bad situation when given Anectine during my sister's birth. I couldn't remember the details at the time and most doctor's have made it seem rather insignificant so I had forgotten to tell this doctor...luckily his assistant was on the ball and asked me about it. So they altered what drugs they were going to give me to take precaution.

We were ready to go at about 8:05 and they wheeled me into the OR. I scootched onto the other bed and had my head elevated on some pink pillow. I remember Dr. Hoang saying he was going to talk about me and the team started getting the details down. Then they put a mask over my face and had me inhale a few times and the next thing I hear is my name being called.

I couldn't really wake up when hearing my name, still very groggy. I don't remember anything more about being in recovery. Matt tells me that my doctors came out at 12:15 and told him I was out of surgery and awake. I was in recovery for 3 hours, and saw Matt upstairs in my room at 3:30. Still pretty groggy I slept on and off most of the day. My nurse, Lia, was awesome! The Aquecool mask is awesome too.

Here are a couple of pictures, it's naptime for me.

Day 1 Recovery

Wow, what a process, took sleepy to type it up now, but wanted to check in. I am at home hanging with my momma. LOVE the Aquecool mask, if you are having this surgery and can afford it, well worth the money to rent it. Pain is minimal but discomfort is a little high.

Glad to be home, will add details later.

Good Morning

We are off to the hospital. God is good. The hours of sleep were short, but the quality was maximum!!

Night Before Surgery--Video double-click picture.

Ready or Not

*Big Sigh*   Ready or not, mostly not here we go.  It's the night before surgery and I am still procrastinating. LOL. Or rather I am confused because I have no idea what I have and what I don't have. Guess I don't need much of anything because Matt can always come home and get it. 

I received confirmation that I will be checking in at 6:30 in the morning.  At least I get it over with early. 

Thank you all for your prayers and for the help to come.  May God bless each one of you reading this.  Jesus Rules!

Yummy Yummy Slimfast

NOT my favorite drink in the world, but I'm drinking slimfast and having light meals the next couple of days. The last thing I want to get ill and have to throw up with my mouth wire shut. And if I do, well...bluck.

I'm not getting much sleep this week.  So much to do and I am quickly running out of time.  I have to pack the kids suitcases, make sure I have food to eat for when I come home and get the house cleaned up (although mom has hired someone to keep it clean while I am sick and do some prep work while I am in surgery - yippee).  

I am praying that my outlook now is on the exaggerated side and it's not going to be as bad as I have convinced myself it will be.  However, when I went to get bloodwork done yesterday, the lady behind the counter (who has had this surgery) said, "You have a 5 and a 3 year old and you are having this surgery?" rather questionably.  I informed her that wasn't helpful and we talked a bit further about details.  I'm not sure if I walked away  more fearful or comforted that she has the best smile in the world. 

My friends have a meal list going so that my family will have something to eat while I am recovering. Thank you Thank you Thank you.  That gives me some piece of mind because while I may have hands to cook with, I just hear that I will be exhausted most of the time. 

I have had several emotional moments hugging the kids lately.  They won't be able to get near my jaw for hugs so I will miss those. 

I am going over Bible verses and Praise songs that will help keep me from panicking while wired shut. That is my biggest concern right now, remaining calm.  Must.Remain.Calm.

3.5 days and Counting

AqueCool: My water cooling mask was suppose to be here yesterday, but the tracking says "incorrect house number". I'm hoping that means it's just going to go back to the hub and check for the correct address and not go all the way back to San Francisco, although they do still have time to get here since it was one day delivery. What is a cooling mask? Once out of surgery they will put this on my face and I will keep it on pretty much all the time except when eating, showering or brushing. Water is pumped through the dangling hoses at 50 degrees I believe. They tell me it helps the healing process since it's continuous cold. It better because these things are dang expensive to rent. I'll wear it for 7 days.

Eating Utensil

 

    My new "fork".  Since I'll be wired shut, this is 

what I will use to eat with the first 11 days.

OLD SMILE

 

BEFORE

The reason for the surgery is that on the right side of my mouth  (left side in picture), I am chipping off my back teeth when chewing.  If left uncorrected, I'll just have more chipping and losing of teeth. 

Before Picture

10 days and counting...

Well, my my "pre-admitting" is done tonight. I'm still very nervous, tearful at times. I'm praying for peace and comfort. The worst thing I can do is panic, especially after the surgery. While I will have wire cutters on me at all times, should I use them in a panic I will botch the surgery.

I haven't looked nice enough lately to get that before picture. Maybe tomorrow.

I am having Orthognathic Surgery to correct an under and crossbite on May 7th. I chip teeth because of where my teeth hit when eating, so it has to be fixed. Here's a definiton.

Orthognathic surgery is surgery to correct conditions of the jaw and face related to structure, growth, sleep apnea, TMJ disorders or to correct orthodontic problems that cannot be easily treated with braces. Originally coined by Dr. Harold Hargis, D.M.D., Bones can be cut and re-aligned, held in place with either screws or plates and screws.

I am two weeks away from surgery and as nervous as can be. I spent the last nine months distancing myself and convincing myself that this was not going to be a big deal. WRONG! I had no plans of reading up on the surgery beforehand, then something nudged me to do so, so I watched a few video diaries (not the actual surgery) on youtube. I was so glad that I did because I would have been in tears at yesterday's appointment. Here are a few things that I know now:

• Surgery is approx. 4 hours long
• My top jaw will be moved forward
• My bottom jaw will be moved over
• My chin also may possibly be moved
• Overnight Hospital Stay
  
• 11 days wired shut
• First 3-5 after the surgery are the hardest
• Food the consistency of water for first 10 day
• 3 months no lifting over 10 lbs
• 3 months no blowing my nose
• 4-6 weeks liquid/soft food diet

What am I most terrified of?

--the wiring shut, not being able to breathe
--not being able to play with my kids or have them sit in my lap for the first couple of weeks

The nurse said a patient explained the breathing thing as "anyone can get up and go to the bathroom, someone who has had this surgery can get up, take one step, catch their breath, take another step, catch their breath, and so on".

I trust God will get me through the surgery, I just need to stay positive and accept lots of help. So if you have offered, you might get a call asking if you can take a kid here or there. I will post a before picture soon.