Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Arch Bars Removed!



I have not updated in a while. Mostly because I have been too busy enjoying taking back my regular life. 

It has been just over 6 weeks since my surgery. I have been doing amazing! 
All of the symptoms I had before my surgery (dizziness, fatigue, lightheadedness, migraines...) are gone. So I feel great! I am just healing from surgery and trying to adapt to my new jaw...or I guess I should say, what's left of my old one. I do tire easily, but that is improving everyday.

I have started to eat a lot more food, just continuing to cut it into little bites. I can chew minimally. But there is no power on my right side to eat anything too chewy or tough. I don't know if that will ever get better, but I have found plenty of foods to enjoy! Ice cream is my favorite food, and it is plenty soft!

I am so grateful for how well I am doing. I know it's miraculous. I really only feel weird around people who don't know what I  have been through recently. It's then that I feel very self conscious about limping around, or my wired teeth, or my swollen jaw, or strategically styled hair. I even wear sunglasses with the right side removed because my face is too swollen for sunglasses to fit.  
I actually thought my swelling was almost gone until I took a picture of myself on Sunday before my hair and makeup were done. I kept retaking it, thinking it was just a bad angle...
I am still pretty swollen, and I really need to get some sun! Haha! The incisions are healing beautifully though. My jaw has shifted slightly to the right because those muscles want to contract. 

It looks the worst when my mouth is open. But it could've been a lot worse! 


 Today I had the arch bars and wires removed from my mouth. I was very anxious to get them off, but I had no idea how hard it would be. It hurt, a lot, but after 15-20 minutes I was free! 
The archbars have wires, as big as the wire of a paper clip, and they wrapped around 16 of my teeth. Holding the bars in place that I attached my rubberbands to. The wires were very uncomfortable, so even though it hurt to get them out, I am so happy now!
This is a picture of the arch bars. They squished my teeth together in the front, but I can get that fixed eventually. 

This was right after my appointment. 

It is amazing to me what a difference doing my make up and hair makes.
It makes me realize you just never know what people are going through. Someone who didn't know me, would probably never guess how life changing this summer was for me and my family. It makes me wonder what trials other people are hiding, or that I am not aware of...
I hope I always remember that. 
This is me the same day as the top picture, just this past Sunday. 
If I can hide my crooked jaw, puffy cheek, incisions, and bum leg and look relatively "normal", who knows what other people might be covering up or keeping private.
I know most people are not as public as I have been these last few months. But everyone could use the kind of love and support I have received.

My next and hopefully last surgery will be in November. I am now walking without my cane and only a slight limp. Cory is back at work full time. And my kids are back to driving me crazy full time! Haha! 
The visible part of the incision on my neck is in a natural fold, and disappearing more everyday.

This is extra skin harvested from my leg, placed here to allow for swelling. This is what will be removed during my next surgery.


My leg is doing great. I am finally used to wearing pants again! 


I am claiming my life back, and I am loving it! 
Thank you all again for the prayers, positive thoughts, and well wishes. I take no credit for my progress. I know I am well because Heavenly Father answered the many prayers on my behalf. I am so blessed and so grateful!❤️