Give a little juice

Tis the season to roll up your sleeve and give a little juice. According to Canadian Blood Services, approximately every minute of every day someone in Canada needs blood. You could be the one to save a life. To find out how go to www.blood.ca or call 1 888 2 DONATE.
I gave a little today...it is so simple. A little pinch, a little squeeze, a little doughnut and apple cider....a little to me, maybe a lot to someone else. Hop to it folks.

What happened to global warming?

Brrrr. It is winter. The temp dropped below 30 degrees Celsius with the windchill this week. I always forget how cold that really is. I had a command start put in my car and man do I love that little bugger. Hot air blowing and a toasty seat greet me every morning. Our little pup is not enjoying the drop in temperature. She would rather hold her pees and poos all day than have to go outside. I call her a wuss on a regular basis but really I don't think I would be willing to go outside un-clothed and go to the bathroom so I guess I should put myself in her shoes before dishing out the trash talk. Would you want to run out into this to do your deeds?

A lot has happened since the last time I blogged.

I payed a visit to the oral surgeon who thought everything looked tiptop and said that he doesn't want to see me again until these dang braces are off. The swelling is very minimal now, usually a little in the am. I am back to eating....everything in sight.

Ryan and I have set a wedding date. After almost 4 years of being engaged we are starting to plan a wedding. The date is July 19th at Candle Lake, Saskatchewan....the perfect spot. I can't wait.

Everyone could use a little more giggle time. Check this out it is so cute. http://www.blows.com/media/media/1018/Best_first_wedding_dance_ever/

A weekend of snowy white and vibrant green.

Just another weekend at the lake in good ol' snowy beautiful Saskatchewan.I had a little slip up as a pug mama. I left for the lake with the usual bag of Finnie's gear; brown bear, frisbee, blanket....but I forgot her harness and leash...which lead to the following picture.Yup, that is Finnie in her life jacket playing in the snow. At times I had attached a rope to it to keep her near by. She is usually a chaser...a car or quad or ski-do roars by and she is off like a crazy girl. However, she is a little less mobile in her life jacket so she stuck around the yard plus it made me laugh.GO RIDERS GO!!!!!!!! Saskatchewan Roughriders are off to the Grey Cup. I think it was Ry's cheering in Vancouver that got them there.

Have we met??

I have to say I don't really see it but some people have said that I look completely different. Most say it is because I am normally a very smiley person and post-op tight cheeks and swelling prevent me from showing my metal off. I have had a few people at work who did not recognize me at all, one (not mentioning any names but it was a physician) actually asked me if we had met before??? Are you serious? Let's assess the situation.

Before Surgery.

After surgery

I still don't really see it. I am having a hard time assessing the situation, the pictures are crap. Besides looking slightly less drunk in the second picture, I don't see too much of a difference.
I am off to the oral surgeon today for a check up. Hopefully everything is coming along as it should be.

Is it May yet???

It is officially winter here. The ground was covered with snow this morning. Brrrrrr.

I had an orthodontist appointment today and I have a de-bracing date...May 1. I know that seems like forever away and I guess it is but just the news of this crap being out of my mouth made me grin.

Mr. T and 7 Weeks Post-op Jaw Surgery.

I can't believe it has been 7 weeks since I had my face rearranged. I am feeling great. I started chewing and I am blowing elastics left and right. The Oral Surgeon said that the elastics will start to snap once you gain strength in you jaw...well, my jaw is the Mr. T of Jaws. I have been snapping elastics like crazy.

Happy Halloween!!!

My favorite liquid snack.

This is it. This are my favorite drinks packed with nummy goodness. Booster Juice has been great during these post-op days.On the left is the Mango Hurricane. It is mangos, peaches, strawberries, passion fruit, guava and sorbet mixed to perfection. On the right is the Green Hornet. Spinach, parsley, celery and carrots juiced into this green wonder. Try one today...does that sound like a booster juice add or what.

5 weeks and 3 days post-op

I am caught up. It really is 5 weeks and 3 days since my surgery. I am feeling great. I went back to work 3 days ago. I was working evenings which worked out well with my sleeping in habits. It was great to be back at work, everyone seemed amazed with how I look. Next week I am on days...we will see how my body reacts to getting up at 6am and being on call all night.

I am still a little puffy. I am still wearing the elastics and I am still on a soft chew diet.

I was off today and (besides spending my entire day blogging) Finnie and I played some good frisbee in the back yard.

More pictures.

This next one is for Ry. I can almost make kissy lips.

4 weeks post-op and 4 cheese pasta

During my last week in Vancouver Ry and I met some friends and went out for supper. I was feeling really good. We went to a pasta restaurant and I mushed mine a little and ate a bit. I had been craving shrimp and tried to eat a baby shrimp off Ry's plate. I wasn't able to chew or swallow it. One of our friends looked up at me and said "you have to spit it out don't you", I agreed. He said not to worry, we are all friends here. Friends are great. Once I was home I threw my pasta in the magic bullet and had mashed 4 cheese pasta...it was so good.

3 weeks and 3 days post-op...posted almost 6 weeks post op

I am (really was because of my procratinated blogging) in Vancouver

I left for Vancouver on October 4th. i was a little nervous about the flight and the pressure in my head. All was well. My OS had advised me to take a decongestant before flying. I did and had absolutely no problems. I even had an Iced Cap while waiting in the Calgary airport.

I was so happy to see Ry and I think he was pretty impressed with my new not so balloony face.

The first weekend I was there we went to The Weakerthans show which was so good. I think it was good for me to get out and do some head bopping...get that lymphatic system pumping. Before the concert we went for sushi...well Ry had sushi, I had miso soup....sad times.

My sleeping habits were still a little off. I was usually not able to fall asleep very easily...i was still sleeping propped up. I don't think I have mentioned this before now...I am sleeping on an incline. For the first week I was sleeping in the recliner and then after that in my bed with what has been termed the "pillow ladder" by some other post-op'ers. Sleeping with your head elevated helps decrease the swelling. Anyway, back to my sleeping habits or lack there of. I usually would fall asleep around 2 or 3 am and then sleep in until 11am...it was fabulous.

The pictures were taken on October 11. 3 weeks and 2 days post-op.

Pictures from Oct 2nd and 3rd...just over 2 weeks post-op

Look at me....

2 weeks post-op....written almost 6 weeks post-op

2 weeks post-op marked a big day for me. A trip to the Orthodontist and to the Oral Surgeon. The Orthodontist was mainly concerned with how I was feeling mentally/emotionally. There is this term called "hitting the wall" that I have read about from other post-op'ers. You get to a point where you break down and are frustrated and annoyed and want everything to go back to normal. I think this is what my Orthodontist was referring to. I felt good. My recovery was going well...minus the coughing. He took a bit of a look in my mouth and seemed happy with what he could see. I was still wired shut at this point.....but not for long.

The next stop was the Oral Surgeon. See ya later wires. This was a bizarre feeling. I wasn't sure what to expect. My OS had warned me that people tend to get light headed when the wires come out. The tech said that it is because your teeth are held so tightly together that when they are released blood rushes to the site and way from your brain. So I was ready to feel light headed...I didn't.

I was a little unsure while she was doing it. There were instruments in my mouth and scissors and wire cutters...it was all a little much. But soon enough it was over. I was able to brush the outside of my teeth which was a glorious feeling. I was now unwired and into elastics. I did attempt to take a picture of the elastics...Note to self...what the heck is that picture all about?? I actually took this picture hoping that I would be able to see the elastic placement so I could use it when I had to change the elastics. I drew a trusty picture instead. I had a elastic box on each side and one in the middle front at night.

Another positive from this visit was that I was cleared to fly...in an air plane. I am going to Vancouver!!

1 week since surgery...written 5 and a half weeks since surgery.

The first week was awful. I had read that and was expecting bad...and it was. However, I got through it. I had tons of support which I think is key when going through something like this.

At this point I was getting a little skinny. I had lost about 12lbs....now the goal was calories.

My moma was so good to me. She frequently went and picked up Booster Juice for me. It was usually a bit thick to make it through the Zip-n-Squeeze and clenched teeth so we usually added some water. I had a mit and a glove that a wore because my hand would get so cold.

I also frequented a towl as a bib. With lack of feeling in my lips, I drooled...a lot. Swelling has gone down, eating (when I say eating I mean drinking everything) was getting easier. I was on my way to being a happy camper....if only this dang cough would go away. Thank goodness for Tussionex.

Day 4 and 5....written on day 38

Day 4:

meds....same as day 3, except used Dilaudid twice.

Day 5:

meds...also same as day 3, used Dilaudid twice again....not really for pain just discomfort.

Day 5 also marked the day that I reached my limit with the coughing. I went to a medi-clinic and got some Tussionex (hydrocodone)....it is a narcotic pain reliever and cough suppressant...doesn't get much better than that. Who doesn't enjoy a little narcotic while suppressing a painful, scary cough??

My Papa was taking care of Finnie while I was in hospital and kept her until day 4. She was so excited to see everyone...so excited that the next day we made my dad take her back to the farm.

Day 5 was a sad day for me. Ry had to head back to Vancouver. He had missed a week of school to come be with me. I was so sad...he was my rock (as he always is). I was trying so hard to stay composed but as he was saying bye I broke down and started to cry. Crying was one of the things that hurt so I tried to avoid it but when saying good bye to my love and best friends it was unavoidable.

Day 3 Sept 21...written on day 38

Day 3: at home in my recliner.

Meds:

Dilaudid taken for pain as needed, taken once that day.

Antibiotics - Amoxicillin taken 3 times per day via syringe.

Anti-inflammatory - Naprosyn (Naproxen) 10ml 4 times a day via syringe.

Nasal sprays: Flunisolide 2 squirts per nostril 3 times per day. Balminil 1 squirt per nostril if needed.

Also: Arnica gel applied through out the day. Manual lymphatic drainage done via the masterful hands of Ryan ex-massage therapist. Lots of Ice and nice long soaks in the hot tub. Breath-right nasal strips usually on.

As you can see, there was a list of meds and it became hard to keep track of what was due when so Ry made up a handy-dandy little chart so we could keep track of when every drop was taken.

I still wasn't having much pain. The uncomfortableness had gotten worse due to the swelling. I had also started to develop a cough which was very scary. Trying to cough with your jaw wired was difficult. My cough was so ineffective which made these mini coughing fits last longer than they would have had you been able to open your mouth and hack.

I was so thankful to have my mom and Ry around for this week. I was a handful. If it wasn't meds it was needing to drink or take in calories. My dad was at the farm during this time (lucky him...for not having to deal with my demands...I guess unlucky him because the weather was so crappy that today, 35 days later, he is still not finished combining).

I spent my time showering, sitting in the hot tub, watching TV and movies, drinking, being a demanding brat and trying to sleep.

Day 2 Sept 20...written on day 38.

In hind site it wasn't so bad....however if you had asked me on day 2 I would have thought differently.

Day 2: Still in hospital on a surgical ward. Waiting for OS to come to write a discharge order and check my pumpkin face out.

I was so tired at this point. The morphine was discontinued and I was given Dilaudid for at home. Not much pain at this point. Still just totally uncomfortable. I was still feeling so stuffy, I was breathing through my mouth as well as I could and my mouth was continuously dry.

My OS came and said that things were looking good and I was able to head home. I had a shower before heading home hoping the steam would help with the crud in my nose. it really did, hot showers were now my buddy.

The hour and a bit drive home was fantastic. I slept.
Once at home we got all set up in my recliner. My good friend stopped by with a nebulizer and suction system...just in case. She made me giggle as she always does and was amazed at how bright my eyes looked.


hahaha...eyes not looking so bright in these mug shots.
Another product that is a must have is the Cool Jaw Wrap also from www.zip-n-squeeze.com/
It comes with its own little ice packs that slip into pockets. It was perfect. I did a ton of icing for the first week. It felt great as well as helped with my pumpkin head.