Home Sweet Home

It feels great to be home! Even though it's my parents home and not my own it is wonderful! Duh! It's where I grew up and what I love why wouldn't it be wonderful? My spirits are up and my attitude is bright. Home isn't really where the heart is because my heart & body was just in Cali, in this cute little house for 3 weeks, and while it was nice, I am much happier here at MY home! I think it will be good for me to get back into more of a "normal routine".  See family and friends, go out on lunch (I mean smoothie) dates with my usuals (you know who you are!) and just get out and about. Start driving again in a little while, go to stores, run errands, you know, do the things that people without kids or a job do! That's me..again.. for awhile. :) (I am taking suggestions now..)

So the plan now is weekly check ups with Dr Darrel Spilsbury (only the greatest orthodontist on this side of the Nile!) for 5 weeks. Then the bands come off!!! Bands? The bands the dr uses to hold my mouth hostage. It's basically a prison cell. Nothing out, nothing in. Except for puréed soups and smoothies and anything else I can dream up to puree! The other morning, we blended up my favorite Pillsbury orange cinnamon rolls with rice dream and the orange frosting. Hah! Tasted JUST like the roll itself. That was breakfast! Just trying to get my calories in folks. 

So, after the bands come off, I am on an additional 2 weeks of pureed diet because I am a high risk patient.. yay me. After those 2 weeks marks 10 weeks from surgery- back to Cali to see Dr Arnett we go. He will hopefully give me the go ahead for a soft chew diet. Bah! I cant wait for that!! And then the bands are worn only at night for an additional 8-10 weeks. Bah! I cant wait for that either!! At the 20 week mark we go back to Cali once again for Dr Arnett to take out the screw and hook in my gums that I use to hook the rubber bands to. THIS appointment my friends is when I plan to spend an entire day at Six Flag's!!! BAH!! THAT I really can't wait for!! I am also opening up the invitation to any and all who would like to join us. This will be a celebration for me at that point so I'm making a dang good celebrating vacay out of it! Yep, you betcha! So start saving your money now and find your babysitters cause whose going to watch the babes while we are screaming our heads off on big kid roller coasters?! (your sweet little spawns are totally invited too, just don't be offended if I don't want to do little kid stuff with you! but I still love you!) 

Changes at this point:

• swelling is still minimal but still present- swelling can last up to 12 months
• face is still numb and will be for a long while- feeling comes back anywhere from 2-12 months
• there is a party on my face each night after I go to bed- this creates major frustration as my face is tingling and itching away all night long, but with numb skin I can not satisfy that stupid itch!!!
• brushing my teeth is so awesome- stitches are still EVERYWHERE in my mouth and it's sore and uncomfortable to brush..but I get to clean my teeth!
• more exercises- shoot me now 
• joints hurt after exercises
• lip movement is improving
• lips basically back to normal size- minus the bump in the middle of top lip
• no more salt washes!!!
• no more pain med
• cant sleep without tylenol pm to knock me out- and it doesn't even do that. but it does help me sleep enough to not hate life 
• cant find a comfortable sleep position
• no more naps- I'm a big kid now!
• pills, pills, pills. it's back to taking pills. my life revolves around pills. but now, with a full size esophagus pills are easier to get down! Woop Woop!!
• weight- 91 pounds. lost about 10lbs (though that highly depends on the day and time you ask me, I've gained anywhere from 2-6lbs after a meal pre-surgery..like I said, I used to love food. Tyson advised me against binging and over eating once I can eat again.. hahaha he knows how much I love love food and how I have no control over it. I guess its time to learn a little)

As I sit here and type I am exercising my jaw. Open and close. Side to side, forward and lip puckering. My movement is minimal. I'm working towards full range of movement by the time my bands are off so I can fit a nice juicy In n' Out burger and Kung Pao chicken from P.F. Chang's in the second I can eat normal! Those are first and foremost on my list! But let's not talk about that right now. I'll live off of Tropical Smoothie! We bought the NutriBullet today with tons of fruit and veggies, kale and flaxseed. Soo we'll see what we can whip up! I'm out! Happy juicing to me.