I'm alive!!!!

Oh my goodness, what a slacker I have been! I suppose it is a good sign, because it means things have been going well! What has happened since I last blogged? Well, tons of stuff really, because this is me we are talking about!

4 months post surgery - This is what I looked like. - Sexy, I know.

The quick story is - On a Tuesday I was at work and for whatever reason felt like I was glistening. I took a paper towel and blotted at my "T-zone" I was being lazy and decided to keep my safety glasses on. And then I did it... I cut my eyeball with the paper towel. To say it hurt is an understatement. My eye started to water profusely and at that point, I wouldn't have been shocked if it was bleeding that's how bad it hurt. Of course it wasn't bleeding, but I felt like I had a piece of sand in my eye all day. I continued on for days. On Saturday I noticed you could see where the cut was... the 12 o'clock position above my pupil. I thought... hmm, hope that doesn't scar. And then Sunday came... July 6th. My eye was so light sensitive anytime my pupil dilated I felt like a nail was being driven through my head. I tried to run some errands but could barely drive home. Called my friend Jody (because my parents were already 15 miles out of town) and she rescued me... took me to Mercy Urgent Care. There I had to explain to them it was a work injury but it wasn't. I'm just dummy. The doctor was very nice and placed a numbing drop in immediately and I felt much better. He told me I had TWO pretty bad cuts on my eye but a little antibiotic should do the trick... with an eye patch. Sa-weet! Luckily I only had to wear it for one day. I also didn't feel good at all, so I just slept most of the day. On a jaw related note... nothing hurt that day! :-) Woo-Hoo, 4 months down! :-D

I'm happy to report 5 months post-surgery was less eventful. I spent the day with my dad at the Iowa State Fair. Which basically consists of lots of people watching and eating greasy foods on a stick. All in all - excellent entertainment. This years new food on a stick that we tried was the Deep Fried Pineapple. Looks like a corn dog, but tastes like pineapple upside down cake. It is a slice of pineapple, battered in funnel cake dough and fried, then topped with powdered sugar that melts into frosting. Delish. It was extremely difficult to eat. I don't know if it was due to the braces or maybe a little bit of the core was still on the pineapple. Well, either way my father and I rose to the challenge and showed that dessert who was boss. At a certain point I stated that next year I might actually bring a fork and knife with me to the fair. Which then I stopped and realized I might have an eating disorder. Sigh.

6 months post surgery - yeah! Wow, 6 months? Are you serious?! It's crazy. I've said it time and time again, but this whole process was just so smooth. My headaches are nearly non-existent. I had been taking 4 Tylenol a day and upwards of 8+ ibuprofen a day before I had my surgery. I have recently been having a few muscle spasms. However I am suppose to be wearing rubber bands in a box 24 hours... as I type this, I'm not wearing them. Oops. Shhh, don't tell. Anyway, I think those are pulling my bite in different directions and confusing my facial muscles. It only makes sense. Last month at the Orthodontist he told me we just had a little fine tuning left. He keeps twisting and turning #25 (lower front tooth) but I just don't think that tooth is EVER going to be straight. Meanwhile my bite needs to change just a little bit. I know where I bite when I have my rubber bands on, and I know where I bite when I'm not wearing them... just a tiny bit off. I've come this far, why rush through it and not get it perfect. Seriously, a few more months of braces will not kill me. Summer is nearly gone, but I have no complaints. Haven't taken a "profile and side profile" pic lately. I will do that soon. But here is a new picture of my smile. It's sure come a long way!

What the Crap Wednesday

Today was my orthodontic visit. Oh my goodness, I think I can feel my heartbeat in my teeth. I know that Wired Lady has been feeling Ortho neglect... but I tell you what... I'd gladly trade her places today. Yikes! Not fun!

Breakthrough: I believe about 10 mins after my appointment this morning, I have no open spaces between my teeth! Holy Smokes! I felt like my teeth were going to be torn from my head because of the pressure on them! What have I been saying? Pain is progress, pain is progress!

Oh yes, another huge breakthrough! I paid off the braces today! I owe nothing more on my mouth!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tell Me A Secret Tuesday

So yesterday my boss told us he and his wife are expecting their first child. The way he told Alyssa and I was very cute. It was the end of the day, we were grouchy because we were trying to figure out some insurance junk. He has out his camera and says, "I want to take a picture of you." We are not in the mood. Finally we realize he's not going to give up. Right before he snaps the picture he says, "Sarah is pregnant." And wallah, he caught the moment! Needless to say we were all smiles!

So tonight, his mom and dad stop by the office to drop something off. I say loudly, "Congratulations Grandma and Grandpa!" To see a look of terror on his mom's face and have her say, "Nolan doesn't know yet!" Well.. I felt like I was going to throw up. Rewind to earlier, when we asked how he told his parents, he replied, "over the phone." Chad apparently thought his dad knew. His mom apparently thought he had just told her. Ugh. Either way the moment can never be un-done. I totally spilled the beans on that one!

Breakthroughs: This is weird and sortof gross. But to me it was a breakthrough. I've been doubting or skeptical of the abilities of the Water Pik to properly remove interproximal (in between the teeth) plaque. So I usually use the Water Pik and then floss. This was the 3rd day in a row that I didn't get any junk out in between my teeth after using the Water Pik! I know their research suggests it is just as effective as flossing, but have never felt that was true. But I think I am now a believer!

All Clear Monday 06-09-08

Today I woke up in North Liberty and drove into Iowa City. Didn't take nearly as long as I thought it would, due to traffic, which was a pleasant surprise.

Got to my appointment to find out that Dr. Schroeder was not there. I was bummed. I probably won't see him now... ever. I also was bummed to hear that Dr. Burton was not there yet either. They said they called him and told him to hurry. 45 mins later he bumbles in. It was a good appointment.

Dr. Burton is very nice. He vented to me about a few dentists who refused to see a guy because of an infected tooth, and now the poor guy is dealing with an major infection that required surgery. My guess is it all has to do with lack of insurance. Which stinks. Dr. Burton checked my bite and is still very pleased with the way everything looks. He checked my gums and lip for sensation. This was the least enjoyable part of the appointment because that meant he poked me with the sharp end of a splintered cotton tip applicator. Ya, that hurts! He understood the type of feeling/lack of feeling I have in my lip and chin and reassured me that is the best kind of numbness I can have. Not sure if that even makes sense, but it still makes me feel better.

He then gave me the all clear! It was in fact alright for me to be the top of the human pyramid on Saturday. I can play Rugby if I wished to, or go white water kayaking. He wants to see me back in August/September, whenever I get my braces off. Oh my goodness.... I might have my braces off that soon!!! We'll find out Wednesday what Dr. Rovner thinks.



No breakthroughs because I consider the appointment to be a breakthrough! I leave you with a picture of a cloud formation near work tonight. That's gonna be a big storm for somewhere! Hopefully not here though! I think we're suppose to be rain free for a few days! I sure hope so!

Sleep in Sunday

I slept in way too late to go to church this morning. Oops.

Got a call from Alicia around 4 saying that I could in fact stay at their place tonight so I don't have to leave at 6 am to make it to Iowa City for my appointment. There was a storm going on in Des Moines headed east. I decided to give it some time and follow behind it. I unfortunately could not control myself and sped towards Iowa City, catching up with the storm.

I knew I was in for it when the sky turned an ashen gray/green color. Followed with hundreds of bolts of lighting. Ugh. The rain reminded me of the storm on Thursday night that was terrible. I couldn't see the lines on the road. The lighting was blinding me. Too add to it, the sign on the road read, "ponding water ahead, next 5 miles, drive with caution." Is that even a word, ponding? Ugh! But I made it, and that's all that counts!

Breakthrough: Using my Water Pik fully charged. I reported awhile back that I was able to start using it again. But I had been purposely using it less than fully charged so it wasn't too rough on my gums. But today it finally died, so I plugged it in and awhile later used it. My mirror and my gum tissue both survived!



PS: This is what my back yard looked like before I left Ankeny. Hope it doesn't all end up in my basement!

Wind Comes Rushing Down the Plains Saturday

I know those are the lyrics to Oklahoma, but they've got nothing on us!

Had a BBQ at Raccon River Park. It was Win-dy! I'm glad I didn't even try to do my hair. I'm pretty sure I looked like a lion with a wild mane, but not much I could do about it!

Breakthrough: Being at the top of a human pyramid, knowing I wasn't at risk of hurting my jaw. Might fall and break an arm, leg, finger, toe, etc... but my jaw would be safe. (I'm sure there was a good chance that I could still hurt my jaw, but no more likely than prior to surgery.)

Friday 06-06-08

Got tons done around the house today! That in and of itself is a breakthrough.

Babysat tonigh, since now I can enjoy the perils of that. Good thing I held off during my recovery, since I was clobbered in the head and had a small 4 year old land on my head at least twice while playing around.

Breakthrough: Eating apples! They were crunchy, tart and sweet with a touch of cinnamon. They were a wonderful snack and I was able to break into them with my chompers!