Monday, June 30, 2008

Morning Musing

It has been quite the week - and a pleasant surprise, too. DD's recovery has been so much more uninvolved than we thought it would be. She still gets pain - very expected - especially after a day of use that jaw just can't take it anymore.

In 9 days the in-laws start descending upon our place for our big reunion. These are DH's sibs, spouses, kids, kid's spouses, grandchildren, grandchildren's spouse (the first sibs's grandson got married this weekend). Whoa. All total? 23 confirmed with 3 more possibilities. Now before you think we are nuts for hosting this - while a quirky, weird kind of family, they are a great family. They are a pitch in and get things done family, not a sit around and stare at each other family.

The oldest in the group is 62 (DH's brother), the youngest is 7. We are hoping this brother's daughter is able to come as it will be the first time EVER all the sibs children will have been together - age range: 42 - 12.

So we are looking forward to it and have a lot to do to get ready. First task: clean the upstairs guest room of toys and animals.

Friday, June 27, 2008

Hard Days

DD has had a couple of hard days. She is in a good bit of pain, partly due to learning to chew again with a new bite and a broken jaw. The bones are knitting back together which also is part of the pain, I'm sure. Plus she popped up a new bruise on the other side.

In the end, it will be easy again. But she is hurting.

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Hello? I know you're out there...

Hello lurkers. I know you're there cuz you've told me "I read your blog." Alrighty then... time for a roll call.

I was wondering who all was reading this new project of mine, so fess up and comment already.

Maybe it would help if I said please? Nah.

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Chewing is an underappreciated artform

DD got the approval today to chew very soft food. If it can be easily cut with the side of a fork she can eat it. So after spreading the excellent news, we headed to KFC for mashed potatoes and green beans. The mashed potatoes she got down pretty well. The green beans were a little harder. Since her jaw is in a new position, so are her teeth and they don't quite fit the way she remembers. But she was very happy.

Oh and she can now drink through a straw. Another trip to QT for a Coke. She is happy.

Did I say that already?

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Day 4 is a little low

DD had a great day yesterday. Today she isn't feeling so good and so is resting on the couch and waiting on a visitor. She has been disappointed more of her friends haven't offered to come see her, I think, but she doesn't say it.

Her stomach is bothering her some, so I am glad that today is the last day for mandatory ibuprofen (800 mg tablets). Her pain was increased this morning so she took 1/2 a lortab, which makes her a little dizzy and unsteady. All in all, she is doing extremely well, including today.

She is excited for tomorrow as her elastics will be removed and a spoon will fit in her mouth. Right now, even a baby spoon won't fit.

Oh and pray for Erin, there has been a glitch in her treatment - hopefully minor.

Monday, June 23, 2008

Now that we're home...

DD is doing exceptionally well. She can feel most of her lip and chin. She can drink from a cup. She slept the entire night last night. Whoo hoo!

Her swelling has increased in the lower part of her fact. Yesterday is was very swollen but the upper part is what I noticed the most. She was very exhausted yesterday.

She has 4 very tight rubber bands attached to her braces holding her mouth in the correct position, in addition to the plates and screws in her jaw bone, plus a surgical splint (rigid fixation) wired into the lower braces to help her learn her new bite.

After she woke up on Saturday, she was feeling her face and teeth, and said, "My teeth fit together." Wow. With her incredible overbite, her teeth have never fit together correctly.

Food-wise we are getting creative. Last night she wanted a chocolate milkshake (they have to be very thin). I didn't have any milk but we had chocolate Ensure and mixed that with chocolate ice cream with really great results. She was happy about that. I made chicken pot pie but before baking it, I took the soupy mixture and put it in the blender. Some stuff just wouldn't thin, so I took that part out to mix in with some soup later. It tasted like a really rich cream of chicken soup.

I have modified my diet some to accomodate her. Since surgery, I have lost two pounds. Whoo.

Anyway, on the recovery front, things are looking great. We are very happy.

Saturday, June 21, 2008

Nurses: Male or Female

Our first nurse in the regular room was a woman. She was good, but towards the end she was tired and let some stuff slide, like calling the doctor when we asked.

Our night nurse is a guy. And interestingly, he has taken some time to talk to Leah. When he gave her the pain meds, he massaged her arm to make sure it went in well.

My experience has been that male nurses for whatever reason are generally better. (Note I said generally - I have had many many wonderful female nurses) So - I'm wondering, what has been your experience?

Room 448 Northside

This will be home until tomorrow morning.

The surgeon said it was perfect and her bite is perfect. The nurses have been wonderful and a couple of incredible people from school came to pray with her before the surgery. It meant so much to see them. We are blessed to have friends like that.

Thank you for praying for this surgery and for her recovery.

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

A new exercise I found

It's DDRMax.... Dance Dance Revolution for Playstation.
Yup. I did it. And I'm terrible, but it's a good workout.
Plus it was fun.

Ya'll can come play, too.

Monday, June 16, 2008

Tears & No Control

Today the tears flowed from my sweet girl. The chiropractor gently reminded her not to let her thoughts cause her fear - which they already have. The chin began to wobble and tears streamed down her face. She does not want to have this surgery, yet she is reconciled that it must happen, and today faced the first of her three pre-surgical appointments: two to the orthodontist and one to the surgeon. My heart hurts for her.

You see, she inherited her need to control certain things honestly. She isn't quite the control freak I am, but when it comes to this condition that she had no choice in - well, it is frankly overwhelming.

A very kind young man is sitting with her right now in a Mexican restaurant and is sharing what he went through last year with the same surgery. He has opened his feelings and experiences up to her so she won't feel so alone. This mom is grateful. I can't protect her from this surgery, nor can I rescue her from this difficult recovery. What I can do is let God work through this young man, the oral surgeon, and the orthodontist to give my daughter the best possible solution for her future - at least dentally.

My favorite hymn ever is "His Eye Is On The Sparrow" and the chorus goes like this:

"I sing because I'm happy,
I sing because I'm free.
For His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know he watches me."

He is watching her and our family right now - I know it.
We are just ready for this to be over.

Sunday, June 15, 2008

6 days & counting

DD's jaw surgery is coming up, DH & DS are at scout camp, and we have a busy week.

As we are making the count down, we are making lists of very crunchy no-no foods she can eat before surgery; lists of things we need to buy before surgery; people she wants to have come over before surgery; and scheduling an appointment for pink highlights. *yes* *pink* I mean, if YOU were about to have a bone saw taken to your jaw wouldn't YOU want to do something a little wild?

So, this week, keep my girl in your prayers? She needs them and I need them.

Starting Saturday, we will be giving updates on her recovery on her blog.

Friday, June 6, 2008

Rambling

I can't think of any other way to categorize my thoughts right now...

I am about to head to sunny, sweaty Florida with a bunch of teenagers and some other adults. This will be a challenge - not the teens, but the adults. Just pray that some annoyances won't get to me. And I guess that I won't get to them either.

Then we have a week of appointments, trying to get all the last minute plans taken care of before DD's surgery. Jaw surgery is a huge deal. It will cause swelling like you've never seen before, makes it feel like you can't breathe for a couple of days, and affects how you can (or can't) eat. She has recently received a huge blessing from a young man who had this surgery last year and is giving her encouragement and support via e-mail. She is already visibly more relaxed. So, the next two weeks are all about her. We are trying to do everything she won't be able to do after surgery.

The biggest piece of advice was to make sure that she was not alone - either before or after surgery - as it is very easy to isolate yourself but to realize there will some days when she just won't feel like seeing anybody. So, please call before you come.

And for me? Well, you know I can be a little OCD. It had paid off as I thought of a couple of details related to surgery the doctors didn't think of. She is a very unusual case so that's not too surprising, but I kind of hoped they would have come up with it themselves. My OCDness earned me more peace of mind and two extra pre-surgical appointments.

I saw on another blog where the patient made a t-shirt that said "you should see the other guy." One of my teacher friends said we should make one that says,"I had jaw surgery - don't call DFACS." HAHA.

Anyway - thems my random thoughts for this morning.

Monday, June 2, 2008

Sleeping In

This is what one can do with no work, no appointments, and no MEN in the house. Can I get an AMEN? *AMEN*

I also can: stay up late and eat pancakes for lunch.

DH is gone until Wednesday and I do miss him. DS is gone until Friday and I miss him, too. But all girl time is wonderful and we can watch chick flicks without editorial commentary from the gents.

Well. Need to finish my morning coffee :)

But then we are going to work on DD's bathroom and strip wallpaper. So it's not all fun and games. Not all. But mostly.

Sunday, June 1, 2008

My Personality - this time with coffee

Uh... Robin? Why are we just alike?




You Are a Plain Ole Cup of Joe



But don't think plain - instead think, uncomplicated

You're a low maintenance kind of girl... who can hang with the guys

Down to earth, easy going, and fun! Yup, that's you: the friend everyone invites.

And your dependable too. Both for a laugh and a sympathetic ear.

My Personality - Ice Cream

Okie dokie - weird how these things are right.




Your Ice Cream Personality:



You are an incredibly modest person. You don't feel comfortable bragging about yourself... or even receiving complements.



You are incredibly cautious. You rather miss out on something than make a mistake. No one would ever call you wild... but they would call you responsible.



You are a fairly open minded person with a wide range of tastes. You are quite accepting of unusual ideas and people.



You are a natural multitasker. You feel alive when you're doing more than one thing at a time.



You can be a big dramatic and over the top sometimes. You are bold in every way