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?
Showing posts with label surgery. Show all posts
Showing posts with label surgery. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Surgery is scheduled
DD's surgery is scheduled:
Saturday, June 21st, 7:30 AM.
And it's my wedding anniversary. YAY.
But it is scheduled and it is right where we need it to be.
Saturday, June 21st, 7:30 AM.
And it's my wedding anniversary. YAY.
But it is scheduled and it is right where we need it to be.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Surgery
We saw the OMS today and he explained things well to DD. His office is working with the hospital to get us in the last week of June. We are hoping sooner rather than later.
Her lower jaw will be cut on both sides and moved forward 9 - 10 mm. She will stay overnight in the hospital (Northside) and then go home. We will not do the bone graft this time. It will come later - we have time. The OMS wants to give her time to heal without adding another element to the whole deal.
I think she is feeling better about it after the appointment.
Her lower jaw will be cut on both sides and moved forward 9 - 10 mm. She will stay overnight in the hospital (Northside) and then go home. We will not do the bone graft this time. It will come later - we have time. The OMS wants to give her time to heal without adding another element to the whole deal.
I think she is feeling better about it after the appointment.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
I'm supplicating, I'm supplicating
I'm laying my prayers before God...
*that's DDs appointment goes well Monday
*that we can get a quick surgery date
*that we will both not freak about all this
*that swelling & bruising will be minimal
*that nerve damage be minimal
*that our PCP can get involved and stay involved (this might be the biggest request)
and there's more, but these are our most immediate needs.
So please pray for a little girl and her mommy.
*that's DDs appointment goes well Monday
*that we can get a quick surgery date
*that we will both not freak about all this
*that swelling & bruising will be minimal
*that nerve damage be minimal
*that our PCP can get involved and stay involved (this might be the biggest request)
and there's more, but these are our most immediate needs.
So please pray for a little girl and her mommy.
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