Annoyed

I am simply annoyed these days. It hurts to sleep, it hurts waking up, it hurts to watch others eat crunchy foods. I was so excited to have my follow up appointment around the 18th and get released from soft foods, but guess who is on vacation that week and the next? My doctor. My appointment is now on the 29th.

The bleeding stopped the same day. I am still numb in the chin and bottom lip area. I still spill food on my face and leave it there because I don't know it's there and no one tells me. I also still spill down the front of my shirt. I'm grumpy. Can you tell?

I am three weeks post op and here's how I look below. I am still a little swollen in the cheeks, roof of my mouth and the top teeth.

Some Bleeding and Follow Up Appointment

No pictures today. I had some bleeding Tuesday and Wednesday in my mouth. It was like a trickle every once in a while for a total of four times. I was already seeing the Orthodontist at 9:30, so I headed down there early so he could take a look and determine if I should see my surgeon. Dr. Richard Gere (yes that's his name) has been my orthodontist since high school. He took a look and determined it was probably within reason, so I just let my surgeon know and haven't had any bleeding since.

Dr. Gere didn't get overly excited at the new bite, just said it looked nice. He also was surprised that Dr. Liberty (surgeon) didn't have to cut my top jaw at the midline, so it sounds like they didn't consult him after all, but made the call based on their models and practice. I'm still glad they decided they didn't need to do it. =)

It was a short appointment and I won't be going back to him until the end of June (around the same time I'll go to the surgeon).

Eating is going well. I had the best meal ever tonight. My friend Jenny made it, lasagna and garlic bread. The family also got salad, but I can't eat that yet. It was nice to be able to mash the lasagna and eat it, felt like a real meal. I'm getting a little tired of scrambled eggs and oatmeal, so I'm experimenting more. =)

The swelling is still going down, I feel like it's almost all the way gone, but right at the jaw line. Since my face was chubby to begin with, it's hard to tell.

I still have tingling in my chin. It's annoying, but hey what can you do. I can feel parts of my lower lip now, so the numbness is getting better as well.

I'll try and take a picture or video tomorrow. It's time to retire to bed! I slept in bed last night and did fairly well so I'll give it a try again tonight. I'm happy to be off the couch, although I'm still propped up or my pain intensifies.

Thank You

What a beautiful day to remember all of those that gave their lives for us and spent their lives in the military. Thank you to my wonderful husband for his dedicated service.

I went to a family gathering yesterday and it was so nice to get out of the house. It was just the right amount of time, but a bit too much talking as I was in pain again last night. I guess it doesn't take much. The swelling is still going down, I am still numb in my chin and it's getting annoying to be honest, but at least I have hope that all the feeling will come back.

I took a picture on the way home from our trip. I actually did my hair and makeup, so I felt human for the first time in a long time.

No Laughing Allowed

Today was a really fun day, although I paid for it at night. I spent part of the day out back with the kids and grandpa playing baseball. I didn't do any running or anything, mostly just watched, but it was so much fun and I laughed and smiled a lot. YOUCH!! Who knew such happiness could cause so much pain!



Here is something else that made me laugh, look at these two:



I even got Luci to take a picture with me. You can see that a lot of the swelling is gone at just two weeks past. My mouth still hurts very much, the taste is nasty. I think it's just because the roof of my mouth is still numb as well as the back of my teeth on the top. Very weird. I talked way too much and ended up awake at 2 a.m. with a lot of pain. That seems to be the trend when I talk too much.



Overall, I'm doing great I guess. Enjoying Mashed Potatoes, Jello, Pudding, Scrambled Eggs and I even broke up a piece of pizza to swallow, although it's just not the same.

Field Trip and The Sewer

I went with KR's class yesterday to the zoo. We had a good time, but it really wore me out. KR learned that Mountain Lions eat Deer. Our guide was, well um, interesting. He liked to talk a lot and would tell the kids "I'll get to that" when they had a question.

I'm feeling so good that I think I can do more than really I can. I was thankful for snack time a couple of hours after we got to the zoo because I was able to ice my face.

Most of the swelling is gone, or so it seems. I do ice it everyday and am still on Tylenol and Motrin. The pain in the chin is annoying, but it's good to know that the nerves aren't damaged and I'll get the feeling back eventually. I hear maybe after a month, based on a friend of a friend.

Here I am at 2 weeks after surgery:



I am still spitting out stitches, or can at least feel them. Eating is going ok. I can eat most things that are soft: scrambled eggs, potatoes, pudding, oatmeal, jello and soup. It feels good for my stomach to actually feel full at times. I didn't count calories yesterday so I don't really know how I did. I have lost another pound, so 19 now.

Aunt Cora came over to help with the kids, it's huge getting help. The hardest part is the talking for me right now. I can do it and much better than when wired shut, but if I talk too much, I pay for it with pain, especially at night.

Mom has hired a housecleaner for us while I am recovering. I love her. She's so easy going and while I do feel lazy watching someone else clean my house it's been a total blessing.

While Angela was cleaning, the back toilet started bubbling. Hmm, tried flushing it, and it just rose. Decided to leave it until Matt got home. Then I discovered that the back bathtub was filled with gray water. Matt got home about 5:30 and was with roto rooter and the Sewer District until 2:30 a.m. at which time all was fixed. Poor Guy. Then he came in and cleaned both showers, luckily Angela hadn't cleaned those or that would have been a waste. =)

Stitches and Ice Cream

I am truly astonished at how my teeth touch now, it's the most bizarre feeling. I also feel like my mouth is smaller now, probably because it's not being stretched to one side. I'm just amazed, so here are comparison pictures.

Before:





After:



I found this pokey thing in my mouth this morning. After reading some things, I was afraid it might be a screw, although it didn't feel like one. Later tonight this appeared in my mouth, so I had to take a picture. Looks like the stitches are dissolving. Well that's what they are suppose to do, maybe I will be spitting them out this time around.





Since I am on a soft foods diet now and needed another 900 calories for the day, how could I turn down a trip to Leatherbys. =) Matt thought it was funny that I had to take my own spoon, so he requested this picture of my giant sundae and my baby spoon.



The swelling is still going down. I had trouble sleeping last night because of the pain in my upper right jaw side. I got about 4 hours, I am hoping for more tonight. But I think I am looking better. I am certainly feeling better. If only I could feel my bottom lip and not spill so much food down my shirt. I drool and spit up more than a baby. You can probably see that in this picture.



Thanks for staying connected, I appreciate your comments, love and support.

Wahoo! I'm Free!

What a fun day!! I had my first full night's sleep last night, it was amazing. This morning we got ready to go, then dropped Luci off at Aunt Cora's and headed to the hospital. We got in right away, which was nice. I was nervous. The nurse asked if I wanted to weigh and of course I was curious, I lost 18 pounds since our first visit there. (psst I know I gained some before the surgery too).

In the back room, I had some x-rays to show the plates and the new bite. I'll have pictures of those for here in a couple of days maybe, they are going to email them to me. After that it was wire cutting time.



Here are the wires and the splint, look how nasty it is. I had originally thought that it covered the roof of my mouth, but I guess just still numb up there.



My open mouth. It felt like my jaw was going to fall on the ground, very bizarre feeling. I was quite scared to brush my teeth.



I have rubber bands on each side in the back and one that makes a square in the front. My mom thinks I look like a vampire. I'm actually relieved to have them because it's like a safety net.



Guess where we ended up!!! Wahoo!! I was so hungry and not waiting.




First Bite:









Me and my guy




A Fun Video of Me All Giddy:

Yawning

I remember beforehand trying to find out what how I would yawn. We all did the clenched teeth practice and it was kind of hard. Well I am 11 days post-op and finally experienced my first yawn. Not hard at all with mouth wired shut, little uncomfortable maybe. I can't believe it took 11 days and my first full night of sleep to produce a yawn. I would have thought I'd be yawning when I was not sleeping.

Just a fun little tidbit.

3 more hours until unwired. Yippeee!!!!

Last video wired shut.

Parades, Swimming and Funny People

So today was the annual Orangevale Pow Wow Day Parade here in, well Orangvale of course. We go every year and it's a blast. So this year, I pack up my water, syringe, yummy (sarcastic) strawberry smoothie, vaseline and nose spray and head on up to the parade. I am thrilled that our friends Yesmine, Peter and Mari joined us. Parade is going alright, kids are all fighting for candy, Luci-June is chasing chasing down trucks for more candy and I'm sitting there enjoying my yummy smoothie from a syringe when a truck of ball players comes by and they squirt me with water guns. I broke down in tears. I don't know if they saw me, it was hot and felt good, but I didn't need it at that time. I just didn't. Neighbor Pat had just joined and found out about the surgery and she put her arm on mine and calmed me. She was just what I needed at that moment.








With it being 100 degrees, we (well they) pulled the tarp off the pool for a nice little dip. Luci June was sleeping, so daddy and Matt went in. I am on pool restrictions for six weeks, so I sat on the side and took pictures. Then headed home for some yummy cream of chicken soup and mint shake. Luci June woke up and so I added her to the party and headed home for a rest. I plan on asking the doctor Monday if I can at least sit in the pool. Although I am afraid one of the kids will hit my jaw, so that might not be safe.





Onto Funny People, my friend Joan put a post on my facebook this morning that cracked me up. She brought dinner to the fam yesterday and her twin boys were with her. She was explaining, demonstrating and having them practice not being able to talk, since I couldn't. Well this morning she posted a message that she heard the boys talking in the other room this morning but found it odd that she couldn't understand them. Upon closer inspection, she realized they were trying to talk like me. Crazy Kids, gotta love them.

At dinner, Matt had a fun suggestion. He though I should call the phone company can complain that our line was muffled. Not as funny, but I might if I get bored enough.

I didn't take any pictures yesterday but here are the ones from today. I am doing alright, still better than expected. I have a lot of feeling back, my chin is still numb and tingly. I have lost over 15 pounds so far. They wanted no more than 10, but maybe that was for someone who didn't eat too much to begin with.

I got a lot sleep last night, thanks to Matt. I was having stomach trouble again so he gave me some meds and I slept a couple of hours, then woke up,had something to eat and back to bed. Probably about 5 hours, better than 3.

Fat Woman Seeking Real Food

I have been trying so hard not to think about what I can't eat, but when the stuff I am eating just keeps getting nastier and same old taste, it's really very hard. The food sticks to the roof of my mouth (well the splint anyway) even though I am using the mouthwash.

I always have a pool of spit in my mouth and really do sound like a suction machine at the doctors office, well those that watched videos got hear that. It's just gross.

I don't think I can eat anything else sweet or chocolate. Sadly I don't see many options in my future.

I also have been talking a lot more and am getting easier to be understood, but now my tongue is rubbing against the backside ridge of the splint on the left side and rubbing raw.

Most of my congestion is gone by now, every once in a while I still get some good stuff out.

My lips hurt, no matter how much vaseline I keep on them. When I talk I can feel them cracking.

Just praying for some healing and calmness.

I also made the mistake of watching the family enjoy another meal from a friend. They were thoroughly enjoying it too. I just had to leave, I was so hungry. It hasn't bothered me up until now.

It's all about the Food...and it's getting nasty.

Oh my how wonderful they were. I mad some mashed potatoes tonight and didn't thin them as much as I should have. I finally felt like I had something on my stomach. I mean really I've been eating this stuff for 7 days now:




THEN, my friend Jane showed up with a Mint Shake!! After all the yucky leftover tasting stuff in my mouth, when I took a bite, I think I heard the angels singing in heaven.



So here is my updated picture on my face:

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.