April 4, 2013 - Day 16

2 weeks after surgery! What? Did I just say "after" surgery? Awesome. Still cant believe I am on this end! After 5 long years of waiting and hating, it felt like surgery would never happen. Now I am in the healing and hating phase. But healing and hating will I take over waiting and hating! I am improving. Check it out for yourself! :)

Just what we wanted to hear!

Oh YIPEE. 

Hip Hip Hooray!

Hallelujah!

Lana got clearance at her 2 week appt today to graduate to a blended diet.

Anything she would normally eat, she can now just put through the blender and drink!

That may not sound too appetizing to all of us, but to a jaw surgery patient, it is heavenly, 

divine, simply wonderful!

I had made Albondigas soup a few days ago hoping she could just have the broth but it had too many particles in it. So we saved it. That was her request when we got home from her appointment.

So we put it in the blender, meatballs and all!

"Heavenly, divine, simply wonderful!" 

She was able to exercise her jaw and must do so 15-30 minutes morning and night.

She learned how to change her bands.

She got to brush her teeth and learn just exactly how she must do that at this point.

She will start now on her medications that she has been on this past year to stabilize the bones.

She can now lay flat when she sleeps, and not propped up. But on her back only. No side sleeping.

Her swelling is decreasing.

A young teenager walked by the room we were in while at the dental office, 

so swollen and moving very slow. 

Her mother said she was 5 day out of surgery. I am so glad we are beyond that first week!

Her diet needs to have lots of protein and even calories. 

She is essentially feeding her bones at this point.

And she must continue to intake water. Drink! Drink! Drink!

Peanut butter in her shakes, protein powder, etc.

Any desserts can be blended, thinned with milk.

Fun to see what we can come up with.

Dang! She just might end up gaining weight!

Happy eating to us all!

Hugs, 

Heidi

Update:
This is dinner....chicken pot pie (thank you Megan Lee)

When it's blended, it's green. And it tastes just like chicken pot pie!

My tummy is satisfied and full today! I have had 3, very thick, yummy soups today! First one was Albondigas soup (mentioned/pictured above) one of my faves and it was soo delicious! Yes, we totally blended up the meatballs, yes it sounds absolutely nasty and YES I ENJOYED EVERY LAST SECOND OF IT! Blended meatballs you say? You just threw up a little in your mouth? Totally understandable. But guess what, after 2 whole weeks of strictly broth and water it was heaven heaven heaven! I have to admit, even as my mom is blending up dinner I think "ew, not appetizing, am I really going to drink that?" and sure enough I do! And you bet your bum it's delicious to me! 

Thank you Sesy!!! For making me delicious soups and sending them with dad so I can enjoy them now! You are the best! And she sure is an amazing cook!!!

Well I am going to share something that is a favorite of mine and my dads.

Italian soda- homemade

Easy Peasy

All you need:

ice

half and half

7up or carbonated water (I like 7up, pops likes carb.water)

syrup (choose your flavor..we love vanilla)

Dont ask for measurements- when I make things I dont always measure. So here's what I do:

Grab a glass

Fill with ice (this is key!!)

Fill with 7up (somewhere around half way)

Pour in syrup (enough so liquid raises about an inch or two)

Pour in half and half (enough to color it white about half way or so)

Stir a little

Sip to taste! 

Add accordingly!

Enjoy!

and then enjoy some more!

HAH. How do you like that for a recipe? Go and try it, I promise you'll love it! If you dont- you did it wrong..call me for assistance..and then try to understand what I say as I talk with my teeth together. :)

Well, Pops is back in town and its movie night, so if you'll excuse me- I've got to go party! 

Peace and love!

Easter Day

Happy Easter!! 

I sure do love an easter egg hunt! I don't care how old you are it never gets old! And I dont have kids so I still get to hunt, whoop whoop! :) 

Short update:

Last night = death. I did NOT sleep. So uncomfortable.

I have to sleep on my back, I can't turn to the side and I have to sleep in a bit of an upright position. I believe for 8-10 weeks. Gag me with a spoon. Needless to say my neck hurts so so bad! Tyson was so helpful this morning, he put oils on my neck and shoulders and gave me a massage for about a half hour! That helped a little bit. 

I got out of the house today and we went to church. Just to sacrament meeting, so an hour. Embarrassing yes, but so what, I'll never see those people again! I know how important going to church is and I sure do value going to church each week, but I dont think I realized quite how much I need it each week in my life. I have not been to church for at least 3 weeks, possibly 4?? So I was not prepared to feel the way I felt today in church. Surprisingly, these feelings all rushed in right after I sat down. And I actually teared! hah. I just felt so many emotions. Along with being embarrassed and feeling goofy looking, I felt the spirit, I felt love, comfort, peace, gratitude, happiness, just that everything is okay and will be okay. I think my mom and Tyson thought I was just too embarrassed and wanted to leave haha.

Well, I'm exhausted so that's all for today. Hope everyone had such a fun day!

My eggs consisted of Blistex!

And my Easter basket (bag) consisted of SoBe and Vitamin water drinks!)

ps. I live in my robe and my hair in a top knot. why get ready?! :)

Easter messages worth watching:

http://www.lds.org/topics/easter?lang=eng

http://www.lds.org/bible-videos/videos/he-is-risen?lang=eng

Progress

I've graduated to bigger sips! I can swallow more liquid at a time now. Yipee. Still doesn't make this stupid liquid intake any easier. I still hate it very much :)

Routine is still pretty much the same.

10 mouthwashes a day with salt water and hydrogen peroxide

2-3 quarts of liquid per day but lets be honest- My mom has to reeeally push me to get close to 2 in. It's so hard!

naps during the day

5 minute walk per day

meds in the morning and night and pain as needed

My nose is still clear!!! That seriously is a big deal! You have no idea how much of a difference it makes. That first week with a completely congested nose was awful! It made things so much harder for me. I thank the Lord each night for a clear nose!!

I am venturing out of the house more this week! We all went to the beach together as a fam! It was so nice! A bit chilly. But it was great to get out and it helped lift my spirits. It's funny how we are one block away from the beach and I have to stop and rest half way there so I dont faint haha. This surgery business seriously takes a lot out of you! The drs say no more than 5 minutes of walking to keep blood pressure even so no chance of blood clots. Same with showers. Well, warm showers. KILLER!! I LOVE my hot, steamy showers and I cant take them for a long time due to the blood pressure reason. It's understandable I guess, considering the fact that if the shower is too warm I get light headed and while my mom was blow drying my hair I almost passed out. She had to help me fall onto my pillow and I honestly think it was up to a split second of perfect timing because as I was falling to the pillow on my bed I think I was fainting. But she helped me lay down just in time! Thanks to her and the oils we have been using to help with the healing process my nausea went away after putting oils on my tummy. I sure like those DoTerra oils :)

My face still feels like a balloon. Such a weird feeling! Mom and I just went for a walk around the block. Me with my puffy face and large marge lips in my white robe. Wondering what people on the street thought of me as we passed by. My mom holding on to my arm as we slowly walk. Ty says they prob are thinking where is the insane asylum around here? hah! I sure do love that funny man of mine!!

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!