Good for recovering

Ah, the beach!

Just can't beat recovering on a quiet beach.

A bit nippy, well, for everyone except Tyson.

A bit overcast. 

But delightful.

The rental home is just one block from the beach.

Tyson likes to run after work on the beach. 

This was the first time Lana has been out of the house since surgery (except for drs appts).

It was good for her to get out.

She stays covered up for the most part.

I think she is now getting hungry.

I made blueberry muffins for breakfast for the rest of us.

When she woke up and smelled them, she decided to stay in her room.

She said we were not allowed to have those again! They are a favorite of hers. Im sorry, Lana.

We cooked Abondigas soup today (just for the broth), which she requested.

But it had too many particles in. We'll hold off until next week for that one.

For now, it is anything particle free.

Instead we mixed a creamy tomato soup with chicken broth. It satisfied her.

We hope you are having a wonderful Easter holiday!

Thanks again for your support in her behalf.

Hugs.....Heidi

March 29, day 9

Today was kinda, like, eh, not the best. I am just irritated and annoyed. Today marks the first day of my step backwards. :(  There will be plenty. Just so sick of this weird disgusting feeling of not feeling - haha. I've always hated water, well, I hate it with a passion even more now! Sick of constantly drinking and doing the Austin Powers pee.. never ending!

 But I can do this! 

In the grand scheme of things 8 weeks is nothing compared to the 5 years I've waited 

and the many years to follow for the rest of my life.

My highlight of the week ~> a visit from close friends!!

Brit Favero, Steph Angulo and Mama Meyer were traveling through Cali this week. One of their stops was only an hour away from where we are staying and they made the trip out to visit! It was just so fun! And I got to meet cute baby boy Harrison. He is just pretty! (Harrison is Steph's little man). Steph was able to help my mom get the video on this blog. Thank you, Steph!

I had a great time talking, so much so that when I woke up in the morning my front rubber band had snapped off! The hook in my gums that held it was not right next to my gums. I had a little bit of a freak out moment thinking that I somehow pulled the hook out of my gums while I slept! But! Not to worry! All is normal and as it should be. We just went back into the drs office (he made a special trip out as the office was closed today) and Dr Arnett just put a new rubber band on. No big deal :) Then I came home and passed out for 3 hours because I was exhausted!

 I take 2 naps a day and if that schedule gets thrown off I can hardly walk. 

It's so weird how easily I get exhausted. YAY for naps!!

Surprise!

Alright 'insta' followers, here's your little teaser surprise I told you about! Hope everyone likes it! :)

Apologies on the lack of video knowledge!

Thanks to Stephanie Angulo who got us to this point!

March 28, 2013

Her eyes are bright. 

She is content. 

And she has been able to breathe through her nose since yesterday!

She feels like she is swimming with all the liquid intake.

 I think she might get hungry in the next little while.

But really, her tummy is so full of mainly water, she doesn't desire much else.

Texting sure is great but it can have it's downfalls.

Like auto correcting words.

On the day of surgery, Tyson received a text.

It was close to the time we expected the surgery to be over, so we were a bit nervous. 

And I will always appreciate Tyson for keeping this to himself until after Dr. Arnett came out and

 told us surgery went well....

Text to Tyson: "Hope you wife 'dies' ok today."

I am certain that was not the text he intended to send.

Rather, bet he meant to text, "Hope your wife 'does' ok today."

We just laughed over that one!

Enjoy your day,

Heidi

First Follow Up Appointment

YAY for Lana posting. 

You know she is feeling better since she now has her phone and computer close by.

She had her first follow up appointment with Dr. Arnett. They are pleased with the swelling and the results they are seeing. Dr. Arnett mentioned again just how difficult it was for him to work in her mouth with her tightness. Only two times out of 4000 surgeries has he had to screw the jaw in place from the outside.

We will continue will the same procedures that we have been doing. They couldn't stress enough the liquid intake. At time point, the liquid is for the healing of the body and the bones. If she isn't getting it orally, the body takes it from other organs. Also, she needs to increase her salt water rinses so there is no infection. Carbonated water or pop also can help cleanse the mouth, tongue, etc.

We have just learned so much though this whole process.

Hugs!
Heidi

Did I Really Just Get Surgery???

Hello all! Old Faithful here..

I'm alive!! And still can't believe I am finally to this point in my life! It is SO weird to think that once this process is over and I am back in Utah to jump back into life, I will no longer be wondering when and waiting for a surgery date! That will no longer be controlling my life!! Holy crap that feels great!

I would like to thank EVERYONE A MILLION TIMES for all your thoughts, support, prayers, concerns etc. over me and this situation. Seriously, thank you from the bottom of my heart. I cant thank everyone enough. I am overwhelmed EVERY day with how many people actually care about me and wish for the best. Sure makes a girl feel good! And all the wishes and faith for me to do well has sure given me courage to fight! Just like my mom mentioned, we are uplifted and can feel the power and help of all your thoughts, prayers etc. It's amazing! THANK YOU :)

Mom has done a great job keeping up the blog and an even better job taking care of me! There sure is a lot of nastiness involved in this healing and she is handling like a champ! I won't go into detail, you may have to run to the bathroom before you even finish reading, hah! Tyson has been so good and patient and takes care of whatever I need.. foot rub, neck rub, fluff my pillows, helps with meds and get liquids into me. My pops is a sport and my anchor. He can keep my calm the most. Its weird, whatever he says I really listen to and it just helps. He doesnt even have to do or say much, just being here helps me. He's alright with me walking around basically naked and he bought me my have drink! I seriously am just not hungry at all. Its such a struggle to drink and hurts to swallow that it takes all I've got to get any small amount into me. And then I'm exhausted hah. My lips are atrociously large marge and have no feeling whatsoever, so I have to hold a towel to my chin while I drink bc half of it comes out haha. I have to have some seeerrious concentration going on just to swallow, oh, maybe, a 1/4 of a teaspoon, and doing just that takes about 1 minute to get it down. But each day I can feel a teeny bit of progress! 

I have NEVER EVER in my ENTIRE LIFE felt so disgusting!! Surgery was last wed. the 20 and I cant brush my teeth for the first time until NEXT week. That's 2 whole weeks!! With braces!! You might be thinking, well she is only drinking particle free liquid so not much can get stuck..              Ó Contraire!

• Dried blood from the hospital (I think I must have coughed up a quart of blood. At times so much so that it shot ALL OVER, there were blood splatter stains at the bottom of my hospital bed hahaha, and I once heard Ty say some got in his mouth lol GROOOSSSS!!)
• Mucus
• I can only use medicated blistex for my lips. That stuff is thick and white and does not dissolve whatsoever. And it must be gobbed on at all times. SICK
• Dried skin/lips that get stuck to my braces
• Mucus
• Blood clots from all over in my mouth
• And did I say mucus? In any form

Mix all that to extra thick saliva and you've got yourself a petri dish of something un-human!

So sorry for all that nastiness. I said I wasnt going to go into detail, and I didn't, that wasn't the nastiness I was talking about, yes there is more. But ya know what?! I am SO grateful to be to this point!!! It's a miracle and a dream come true!

Time to go attempt a shower in my attempt to be somewhat hygienic when I go to my first follow up appt! Because that too is limited, my hair is dis.gus.ting!! Just plain nappy like you can't even imagine.

 Thanks again to you!! Sending my love right back atchya! :)

soakin' me up some UVs

Tiger

the next angelina jolie

March 26, 2013

Good morning, Tuesday! We are happy for another day and happy with the progress Lana is making.
It was a great day yesterday for her. We hope for the same today!

Her routine is a bit like a newborn. Awake, take care of needs, and sleep.
Her day consists of this:
up by 8:30 am
coat stomach for anitbotic at 9:00
does her mouth rinse
put oils on her feet,
Vasoline on her stitches
takes a little walk around the house (which she can do by herself now)
congestions and/or pain meds if needed
another mouth rinse to fight for infection
natime from 11 - 1:30ish
start the whole routine over
naptime again 3:30 - 6:30ish
same routine again
antibotic again before bed
bedtime at 9:00 pm
up in the night usually once for pain meds

Yesterday she sat outside on the roof deck and enjoyed the sunshine. Tyson laid out next to her. He even got a little sunburn. She must keep her face covered so as to not cause discolor to her face with it being swollen. So we put her in a wide brim hat and sunglass and kept her shaded.

Her dad will be coming back to Santa Barbara today. That is a comfort to Lana.

Still not much intake of anything yet to speak of. A little 'Breakfast Essential', that's about it.
Hunger will come. And when it does, it will become the challenge.

Hooray, her first follow up appoint is tomorrow. They will remove her outside stitches (3) and remove the tape across her upper lip. Then she can shower and wash her hair normally. That tape is not suppose to get wet.

"Hope you're feeling better". She is!

Thank you Hadfield women!

Way to go, Lana!
Hugs,
Heidi