Friday, October 14, 2011

Why am I progressively getting worse when I'm trying to get better at this?

I just want to say to you all I AM SO SORRY! School is taking so much of my time, and when I get home after doing a load of homework, (or avoiding it to take a nap) then eat dinner, whats left of me gets to take a shower,  then sleep, and I get to wake up early the next morning. I am just so thankful I can eat anything. If I was still on a diet as before I would cause harm to something. and also refuse to go to school. :/ whoops I guess you all know what kind of student I am now hahaha, sorry completely off topic. It also doesn't help our main computer crashed, so my mother uses my laptop quite a bit (not that I mind, for the most part) so if I were able to sneak on here, I can't :(.

Here's whats up: My numbness is left to an obnoxious square on the bottom left half of my chin/lip. It's quite comical sometimes, like the other morning I was drinking coffee getting ready for school and I took a sip and realized "what a small sip...".  But not really, 3/4's of that sip was spilled down my shirt, pants and the floor. I was laughing at myself for quite a bit (Just picture the scenario in your head, and I bet you will be chuckling too). Also the surface of the roof of my mouth in the front half is still numb, I was eating ice cream today and my mouth was not very cold. Other than that, a few teeth (that is bothersome actually) . Eating: anything, haven't ventured hard candy, sticky candy, carrots, or an english muffin (I'm a toasted means toasted girl). But things like chips yes (my second meal included chips and guacamole). I was given no limitations, and it scared me allot; still kinda does, but I'm thankful nonetheless.  Pain: yep, everyday. But it's that tolerable kind of pain, and it goes away with one dose of motrin or major distraction, more prominent with stress. Except, on Thursday I had this horrible pain shooting through the split in the lower jaw all the way up into my ear! It started around 10am then just progressively got worse (plus an allergy headache was helping in no way) I went to the Nurse instead of going physics (I couldn't make it up the 3rd flight of stairs, and thats when I knew it was time) and she sent me home. My mommy took the one trammadol she had left that she couldn't give me (the script ran out or some district thing)and I got to take it. My mommy also had a migraine so when we got home we both took 3 hour naps! Then we took another nap after dinner, and then we both slept in really late this morning (I did not have school today it was our "Fair Day"-only in Texas, gosh) I still have a little, but nothing like that (yet).

Ortho Update: I'm on a finishing wire but will be in braces another 5 months :/. she's doing something with my molars (odd how they are still the problem teeth) so, thats no fun. But I'm glad its at that office so thats ok we love them there. :) I'm in allot of pain afterwards but its all gonna be worth it.

Swelling: Sometimes I still feel as if I have a tad of swelling, and I know Ihave a bit from the braces annoying my inside of my mouth.The inside of my mouth really just hates me, my scars are puffy, & I keep biting the inside of my left side of my lip (which I can't feel untill it becomes a kanker sore which is its current state).


That's all I have for you all really, I really do promise this time to try to keep up. I don't even know what day it is, how sad is that :( I will do the math eventually I just have to switch out of my pre-cal class first. Oh boy, school sucks I can tell you that.

I hope you all are doing well! Whether you are recovering, waiting, drooling, eating, or napping (or any other verb that goes along with this whole process). Have a lovely, lovely weekend!

Life's a Party, Wear the Hats :)

Niki

Saturday, September 24, 2011

7 Weeks!! And today is day 50!

I hope I'm right on the math. :\ please correct me if I'm wrong!

But more importantly I GET TO EAT!!!!!! And like no restriction at all ( clearly I have to be reasonable and like no hard candies ) But I asked him what CAN'T I eat. He said: You can eat absolutely anything you want. WHAT?!?!?!?! CRAZY. This was a huge deal I almost got up and hugged him!  I was sooo excited both my mom and he chuckled a little bit at me.

Guys, yesterday was soooo great but also a little weird. So we had the appointment and I got pictures for Dr. S and his power point on me hahah, he showed it to us before I had surgery so I feel special haha. Then the nurse did all my like vitals and things and med run down, height, weight, things like that. Then Dr. T came in and we chatted and he was soo happy with the way things were then cleared me for EVERYTHING. Then we said bye, and went to the front desk to schedule our appointment. They said we didn't need to. This made me a bit sad. They introduced us to Ms. A the scheduler and we hugged her and thanked her for everything she had done for us. I wanted to go back in and hug Dr. T and Dr. S too. But I knew they were super busy back there. I mean I go back in 2 weeks for ortho, and its at the same office so hopefully I get to see them a few more times. But it dawned on me if I was at the old orthodontist, we might not ever see them again. So I'm super thankful the way things turned out, I look back and see the troubles we had previously all the tears and anger I had from the other guys- I was (am) grateful for that happening and the way things turned out because with out that I wouldn't be where I am today. With a Phenomenal Surgeon, Wondrous Staff workers, and a well-rounded and Magnificent Team of people working along my side to get me to this place I am today. I cannot imagine not having this surgery, and not going through it with the team of people I had with me. I would do this all over again in a heart beat, maybe sounds a little crazy; but for what I've gained and the people I've met-absolutely.


Have a great weekend everyone! I hope to get my life organized and post more than weekly!


Life's a party, wear the hats!

Niki :)

Thursday, September 15, 2011

6 weeks!

  Yay!!! Sorry guys I'm going to be only able to post weekly from now on. :( I literally have so much work for school it sucks too. One more week and Niki gets to eat!!!! I don't think you guys understand how unfortunate this eating thing has  been for me. Like the other day someone (we are a sharing and swapping group at lunch) offered me cheese its for my pudding! I had to say no and when I got home I cried a little bit, yes I cried. I don't know why this is such a struggle with the food; I look at my face and am happier  than I've ever been but I can't seem to kick the food struggle. My mom keeps saying isn't it worth it though Niki? Well yes mom, absolutely!! but you try to have someone take your super boring pudding you've been eating for the last 6 weeks and offer you your favorite cracker snack!!! BUT YOU HAVE TO SAY NO TO THE DELICIOUS CHEESE ITS AND EAT THE NASTY PUDDING! I am so sorry I just had a little rant. OK I'm done.

  So my numbness- its still the same square, my bottom lip and in my chin area. But here's something to think about: half of that little part (like literally split in half) I can feel hot/cold and small bit of surface. But the other half? Forget about it those guys are still asleep. Teeth are still numb, and my roof of my mouth (surface only). Each morning I'm still getting the wake-up pains from the 6 not-so-friendly screws on the sides. Those pesky little guys better stop soon. Pain  still lingers whenever it wants, it's like its got a key and just walks right in. Doesn't even knock. Anyways, same old same old for the most part. Oh, yes I forgot my little bitty scars on the side ITCH.

  Uhm, I go back in a week for the OK for food!!!!!! HOORAYYY!!! And Ortho appointment then 2 weeks after! woo-hoo! That's really all I got for you all. Oh I'm making a 96 in english! Yay!

  Hope you are all doing well, Fall is coming! Ah its so cute the trees next to our school, they put tree-sweaters on them its quite funny and a bit adorable. I'm just excited because Thanksgiving is coming and that means 1. No school and 2. I WILL BE ABLE TO EAT IT (for the most part) I've always liked Thanksgiving allot though. I like to cook, and bake so a holiday celebrating that is quite wonderful!

  Have a great weekend!

  Life's a party wear the hats (and sweaters!)

  Niki :)

Friday, September 9, 2011

Day 36 Week 5

  OH MY GOD WHY DO I SUCK AT THIS? I am soo sorry guys, I suck at this keep up game now that school (damned school) started getting...school-y.
  I had my first official post-op appointment with Dr. Ellis on Wednesday. SHe took off my surgical hooks!!! Yay!!! And she said she put my "finishing wire" in! Now she said like 6 months. (why can I not catch a break in this industry?) I hope she's one of those lower the expectations,expect this but it could really be this, but I don;t wanna get your hopes up unless its actually this. I don't know if that makes any sense at all but I'm on some meds so... Anyways. Ok so I got home and curled up into a ball because, I hurt like HELL!!! AHHH I had to sleep upright again.  So much pain my mother drugged me up the next morning and sent me to school. I was soo out of it I could do some of my work but I was zoned for quite a bit. Anyways, again, Still numb in few parts and screws hurt the most when I wake up.
  UHm food, sucks but I'm finding my toungue is super man of tongues. I can mush cupcakes and rolls and muffins so life is allot better. But what REALLY makes me feel human I think you all will be able to achieve this, NUTRAGRAIN BARS!!!!! We just bought a box thinking mushed fruit I could at least eat the inside, maybe the soft shell part. And  I tell you now, OH MY GOD if you like them GET THEM probably not the first few weeks but at 3 or 4 weeks do it, cause thats when I could mush more. Like I can now mush Reese's cups. MMMMM I will make a list/post soon maybe once I can eat real foods of what I ate when I ate it and the products. I have an appointment in 2 weeks, and I know he's going to say I can chew, he told me thats what he's going to say. What's really killing me though, is it's supposed to be next week but he's not in the office next week! SO I HAVE TO WAIT ANOTHER WEEK!!!!!!! I don't wanna go behind his back cause he said 6 weeks but I just really want the Ok from him he is like ruler over all this and I am A OK with that!!!. I don't wanna mess anything up, so I wait as time ticks ever so slowly. For an extra 7 full days. Oh well. Jiff to-go works well in my lunch, easy to eat (now, not 2 weeks ago) and high protein too. :) Nutella in a little jar too, MMMM. Still ice-cream, mac and cheese, risotto, and pasta-rice dishes, soup, mushy fruits, yogurt, mashed potatoes. ANd Nurtagrain bars, Guys I eat like 3 a day. And no shame.  NOTE: I am not chewing I have a Super-Man tongue for mushing against the roof of my mouth. Uhm, yeah I hope this covers allot since I've missed soo much. Again I am soooo sorry. :(

Glad to see everyone's doing well for the most part!!! I love you all!!!



Life's a party, wear the hats

Niki :)

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Day 28 or 4 Weeks

  Which ever you prefer, call it so. And it's here.  I still can't tell some days if this has been a fast 4 weeks, or a slow 28 days. Guessing a mix of both. Anyways, I'm just glad I'm not sick anymore, however I have an appointment tomorrow so missing class is inevitable. But its my birthday tomorrow, so I'm at the point where it doesn't even matter. I don't care. (it helps that I'm missing physics and I have a shitty teacher, hooray for me) UHG I don't like the questions I'm getting  from my family "where do you want to go for your birthday dinner?" they all say with smug grins. It really just upsets me. Clearly, the food is my hardest challenge, and as progressed as (I think) I am, I'm not going to be given any chewing clearing. Birthday Girl, or no Birthday Girl.

 I have convinced my mom to take me to Starbucks after the appointment ( I know he'll at least clear me for straws, right?) and I will  be getting a venti caramel frappuccino with extra caramel. Awful I know, but if I cant eat anything, I'l be drinking a days worth of calories in... I'll give myself 30 minutes to polish it off. My poor mother. Hahaha, oh well. My Aunt is coming into town! Hooray!!! Not for my birthday, but for a visit. My siblings were supposed to come down for the weekend (and my birthday) but they can't make it. Bummer, its the thought that counts right? Alright, My face hurts, still. But my lip/chin square of numbness, started tingling/itching hooray! Good news right? Ok well, I'm officially off pain killers :( for now...

  I hope everyone has a lovely labor day, and weekend. Sorry this was about my birthday and not about my jaw, I really don't know what else to talk about. I will have more tomorrow since I will know something, I will get all my questions answered this time. I normally forget 2 or 3 or 4. But I will report.

Have a fabulous weekend!

Life's a party, wear the hats
Niki :)

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Day 27...still at home

  I'm still at home, which I'm taking as a chance to just keep things slow. Hopefully give my body some rest-time so I don't get sick again. That would be the worst, especially cause I've missed so much already and I'll miss more on Friday. ( but I'm ok with that one) I mean who didn't wanna go home early from school on their birthday to a 3 day weekend? Any ways, I'm off my trammadol & un-happy about it because its killing me knowing there is more in the cupboard, and I was supposed to have taken it this week then be done. But I'm trying to look at it as, when we need it most we have it. Boy is it hard when you wake up and can feel the screws in the side of your face **I am not numb on the inside I don't know if any of you are or not either, I just wanted to disclose that**.

  Anyways (again) I take tylenol and motrin, but those of you who know there's nothing that gets rid of pain like your pain meds. Actually there's nothing like that damn pain pump I'm still bitter about. This is why drugs are bad for you kids. I have been lounging, and taking tylenol (try to switch motrin out every so often, I believe it helps) and motrin too. And continuously watching the Food Network and my new obsession the Cooking Channel. Bad for me, yes I admit. But I feel its better than depressing news, and more weather people telling us its the 60-something day of being 100 degrees. Oh Texas... :/ 

  My numbness is not really improving on that square, when I get more programs for my laptop (hopefully for my birthday), I will show you all. Its sad  really, I don't even have Word yet. Goodness, my nose is better though. My pain, well was stated above, and active-ness, from past posts, you can tell I am sick. But I honestly thought I was going to school today just unfortunately things didn't go the way we needed them to. But I'm seeing this as an oportunity to help stay down an extra week-ish. AHHHH! TOMORROW IS 4 WEEKS!!! Sorry, that just hit me. WHOA. Alright well, on news of soda, I CALLED AND THEY SAID YESSSS. I did some serious self party-ing. And my mother went on a soda spree!!! I have pictures, and will post them to my posts, my mom keeps taking the camera. :/ But I promise they will come!!! They aren't really like everyone else's and I want to say I'm sorry, but mine are more day to day regular pictures. Maybe they will help too, just like a different view, I dunno I'm sorry. But the coke was delicious, it was almost as if life was brilliant, everything was right, and I could eat real food. I mean I can't, but it brought a joy to me I had been lacking.  That's life for me. I hope you didn't find it too bad.  

  Now I must go email my teachers (once again), and get my work I am missing. BLRGSDJHKD. I hope everyone is great, having a fun summer, and just enjoying life. 

  Life's a party, wear the hats
  Niki :)

Monday, August 29, 2011

Days Twenty-somethings or others...

  So I'm sick. Cool. I knew school was going to be bad, but for it to get me sick! GAHHH. This frustrates me because if you miss a day of school, you are basically screwed, and pissed. Especially now. Especially Junior year. Damn teachers making junior year all so important. I HATE SCHOOL. Sorry, that was bad of me I am ranting and I probably shouldn't be. I just wish I was back to week one, where all I did was watch movies, and sleep, and not worry about anything but making sure my pain was under control. But I'm not and there's nothing I can do about it. So, today while I'm missing school I will do the boat load of homework my teachers gave to me, that was supposed to be done over the weekend that I spent on the couch, being sick. Because of school.

  Ok, so Friday, Day 22. Was well, not so good. My friend Summer and I normally ride the train at the same time, we have since freshman year. But with my face being in not so good shape, I couldn't take the train. Come to find out she had ankle surgery a week after I had jaw surgery. She was not up to taking the train. So we (our parents) figured out a carpool schedule. Friday was an assembly during the last class of the day. So naturally from the assembly we went the shortest way to my mother's car. Wasn't good for either of us. Since we were both under the intoxication of strong pain medicines, we forgot the way we were walking had steps. not just stairs BIG INDIVIDUAL STEPS. We both didn't notice them. We both not expectantly fumbled. She to the ground, and I to one leg, making me chomp down. Making the screws in my right side of my face feel-able, and the broken part. It hurt like hell. I advise to all of you, WATCH WHERE YOU ARE GOING. Devil steps are just waiting for you to trip on them. I'm praying to God I didn't injure or mess anything up. I see my Surgeon on Friday (my birthday woo-hoo!) So I'll find out then. I iced it when I got home and drank some more chocolate milk, hoping the calcium would reverse any effect. I don't know what I'm talking about but whatever. I had a delisious pasta dish, my mother figured since I'd had a bad day. But I cut it up and I got to mush it with my tounge, AHHH IT WAS SO GOOD. Anyways that was my day

  Saturday day 23, I woke up fine, ate breakfast, Pancakes with syrup to mush well. Try it guys, and chocolate chips the melty ones, make it easier and tastier too. I was fine. Then I got the sick feeling so I took a nap. 4 HOURS LATER (again due to school and a lack of sleep) I woke up and still felt sick. An hour later it was 10 times worse. I absolutely hate being sick. I was hot/cold, goosebumps/sweat. AWFUL. I couldn't sleep. I couldn't eat. I hate sickness. I couldn't move very much. So doing homework was out of the equation completely. I was pissed, and miserable. That was my day. And my mother is trying to get me off my trammadol so I was in pain all day too. Numbness got a little better though.

  Sunday day 24, Same sickness. My parents went to church I stayed home and lay on the couch miserable. To make matters worse, they come home and plan to grill hamburgers for lunch. Why me? I think of a plan to escape and possibly make myself feel better. A bath. I escape the burgers and feel a bit better in the bath. Turns out it made me feel lots better and I stayed in the bath for quite a few hours. I actually read a book. I do not read, I'm not a reader. I don't enjoy it at all. I wish I did! Only it bores the life out of me. The bath actually helped with the swelling too. I have only a tad left but still some. And it helped the pain. That was my day.

  Sorry I am terrible at keeping up, I am super busy and sick. Yuck. Two things I hate. Also, sorry this is such a down post, if I get to feeling better and I finish my homework tonight I will post again and make it more upbeat. BUT on a happiest of note the top stitch, the alar stich? IT CAME OUT THIS MORNING! So I will be calling my surgeons office asking if I can drink a carbonated soda by now, since that stitch cam out I will make sure to tell them too, hopefully they will agree to let me. Nothing would make me happier right now (except the foods I can't eat, but I'm trying to be realistic as hard as it may be) than a real Coke. Diet, Coke Zero, Cherry Coke, ANY COKE I DON'T CARE. When did you all start drinking sodas?  Just wondering.

  Alright, hope you are all doing well, or better than I am.


  Life's a party (whether it's fun or not), wear the hats.

  Niki :)


Thursday, August 25, 2011

Day 21!!

  3 weeks guys!!! Weird. I keep thinking its been a while, but this blog keeps me in check. I guess its because I didn't really have much time to "recover" I had to jump into school, and My school is very strenuous. I used to have a longer day than my parents' work days/hours. I better impress the college I really want to get into. Also I really do appreciate the experience, and all that jazz the school does offer me, so I'm thankful for it and blessed to be able to go but some days, I admit-suck.

  But, new news!! My bottom lip is kind of almost tingling, I don't know how to describe it but I'm just glad something's happening!!! Hoorray!! and my left side is still getting better daily, yay!! Hopefully I will have feeling back in that side by my birthday! Food is still a huge challenge, I had no idea it would be my biggest challenge; I truly believed the numbness would be number one. Numb bothered me, big time I used to say I'd rather hurt than be numb. NOT THE CASE. It's completely different since I can feel it!!! Is anyone else not this numb? I feel like you all are quite numb. I am barely numb, I dunno. Anyways. Ice cream is my friend, and enemy. But tonight its my friend. Yay!

  Alright well I'm off to bed, hope you all are doing well!!!

  Life's a party, wear the hats

  Niki :)

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Day 19

  Today was my first B-Day, so far so good. except the fact my doctor is out of the office until friday, so they couldn't get the right papers for the nurse to be able to give me the trammadol. At all. So I took as many motrin as she could give me, and was sort of miserable the last 2 classes of the day. My mom said she and the nurse called faxed and did all the things necessary and it should be fixed tomorrow. I am praying that it is. I have my hardest class of the day first, and the same luch period as yesterday with most of my friends. That was super hard today, I had mashed potatoes, a pear, and pudding. Unfortunately the mashed potatoes by the time I reached them were un-edible. The pear was meant to be more ripe than it was, so I could only eat about half of it. But the pudding worked out wonderfully. Again, my not-so-there friends asked some not-so-there questions, which led to a bit more disappointment than I would like to have. Ehh, What can you do?

  But on the best of positive notes, I HAVE A WONDERFUL MATH TEACHER. I always get the short straw when it comes to math teachers. I had a glorious math teacher in 6th grade, ever since then...well I don't have anything nice to say, so I was taught not to say anything at all. But this new guy is super promising, and he's cool too.  My accent, really did no good today, especially for my physics teacher. He's like 70, and well he even told us his hearing wasn't as good as it was years back. So, kind of a problem.

  Numb news- my left side of my face, is getting less numb!! Hooray, and my friend was giggling at me when I was mindlessly fiddling around on my face. That's a habit I've acquired, I was sort of unaware of it-but we both go a kick out of it, so we are all good. I just like try to feel the numb spots on my face, so I can imagine, what the outside world sees, hah!

Here's my schedule, if anyone's curious:

A-Day:

1: Costume Construction 2
2: English
3: French 2
4: Improv

B-Day

5: AP U.S. History
6: Pre-Calculus
7: Intermediate Design
8: Physics

If anyone wanted to know, you probably didn't but just if you are curious. Well wishes to all!

Life's a party wear the hats
Niki:)

Day 18

  This was my first day of school. I am not one of those people who are excited about the first day of school. I don't get the hype. I kind of hate the first day of school. It's very anti-climactic, also I don't understand the people who are all excited about the first day of school. But yet each year, at the end of the first day  they grow to realize that they were wrong in being excited. Do you people not learn anything from, let's see we've been in school 11 years? Goodness. Sorry, this day brings a bitter-ness in me that is quite frankly, bitch-y. Done ranting.

  So, being only 2&1/2  weeks out of surgery, this day was a bit difficult. I mean my school is 2 buildings; one is 2 stories, the other is 4 stories. Both of these buildings are separated by quite a large courtyard/outdoor area (where a good number of us eat during lunch) and the 4 story one, has interesting archetecture. It's not just hallways, we've got cross paths, bridge like places, stairs running through the hallways (like there's one place that the hall way is a square because the stairs are seriously in the middle of the section). It is crazy. If this doesn't make sense. Good, I've been there 3 years and it still doesn't make sense to me.

  The nurse and I are friends now, but because we don't have the right paper she had to make a special call to give me my trammadol. Which I so appreciate, because it really helped!!! Lunch was, definitely difficult.  With people asking/switching foods, so someone asked me if I wanted their pizza. Clearly my friends need a little help with this subject. Also with 10 of my friends surrounding me with their sandwiches, apples, leftovers, chips, etc. you guys get the picture, it was more than I had prepared myself for. Sighs. Oh well. I'm trying guys, I am. But classes were not too bad, I can get my medicine's anytime I want/need all my teachers know what's going on so that won 't be a problem. But this is A-day, we do blocked schedules, so I had 4, hour and a half classes, then the next day- B-day: I have 4 different hour and a half classes. Then A-day again, then B. And so on and so forth.

  So, not too bad for my least favorite day. But guys, I have a question, and a concern. I HAVE AN ACCENT. IT IS VERY STRONG. Does anyone else have this? Currently I sound like I have a Strong New York accent. I used to sound asian, and sometimes I sound like a 3 year old (I can't pronounce W's an L's and R's are the hardest things). No one has ever really made any notions towards this, unless I don't remember it. I mean this is very comical, but talking in class is quite, not embarassing but almost. I always have to explain, cause people kinda look at me funny. I hope this doesn't stay forever. And I don't have a splint, so that isn't a cause. It's comical so not worry-some, right now. But I can see it becoming so. Oh, and on this note, I realized I hadn't worn make-up since the day before surgery, so when I went to put on my make-up, my foundation was a weird experience, since I can't feel some of my face and all. I know boys can't relate to this (sorry guys ): ) but girls, anyone know what I'm talking about? Just something I added since it was related. Kind of.

  Alright cool that's what I got for you guys. Glad to see and hear you all are doing well, I am soo sorry I haven't been keeping up school, and getting ready for it has just wiped me out. I promise for real this time to try to keep up at a better pace. Love to you all!!!


  Life's a party, wear the hats.

  Niki :)

Day 16 & 17

  Day 16: Nothing exciting happened, at all.

  Day 17: I ATE MACARONI AND CHEESE! And I went to church, but I ATE MACARONI AND CHEESE! This is huge for me. I adore mac and cheese, I've been making it myself since I was like 5, and yes I said 5. The Kraft blue box ones but, thats really truly the only macaroni and cheese I will ever eat. No Velveeta shells and cheese, no grocery store brand, no home-made, no ordering it at restaurants, Blue Box for Life. That is one thing I am picky on, odd I know, but it's all I ever knew for the beginning of my life so no other kind existed to me. Hah, I am so weird, I'm sorry.
  Anyways here's how we did it- We just begin as the directions tell you to. First boil water, then cook the pasta for a lovely...(here's where you change it) 20 min. Then ad butter, cheese packet, and milk. Stir well, serve with baby spoon. Eat small bites, and not chewing but use the old mush with the tongue trick. Enjoy.
Boy did I ever!!! So I had to share that with you all. Sorry if any found this boring. Next post will be about my first day(s) of school. Not excited, at all.


  Life's a party, wear the hats
  Niki :)

Friday, August 19, 2011

Day 15

 Hey guys, I am sooo sorry I have not been keeping up, and have been slacking off. This week has been busy-ish and I am just exauhsted, I hope you all can forgive me. I made the posts though. But I promise to keep up from now on!!! I had my 2 week appointment today. Guys, my surgeon, when he looked at my bite, the genuine smile on this man's face was just amazing. I am so thankful for him, and the whole team over there, to the front desk people even, oh  my gosh they are just a true blessing in my life. Especially having them during this intense chapter in my life I truly am so, unbelievably thankful. So everything looks great, he and I both really love the way it looks. Yay! But he did tell me no food that I have to chew, like at all. Not even a little bit. Thats a bit bummer-ish. He gave me another script which I am super thankful for. Hooray!!  But my next appointment is on my birthday!!! So I'm going to ask him if I can eat a pasta dish I am in love with, the pasta is cooked really super tender, so I am hoping and praying. I don't care if I can't eat cake, I am just dying to have that pasta dish. I'm counting on it as a no though, so I'm not too disappointed if I get a no.  Ah, I have to stop thinking about it. The food is truly my hardest struggle. Oh my gosh, I am a foodie so this is really killing me. Every day it seems I find a food I forgot to eat before this and I am kicking myself. Ah, I need to stop. Also I'm not helping myself by refusing to blend anything but fruits for smoothies. But I can't do anything else, it gives me shudders, a burger is not a burger if its through a straw.

  I hope everyone has a great weekend!!!

  Life's a party, wear the hats.

  Niki :)

Day 14

  2 WEEKS!!! Celebration time. I keep have to remind my self I'm only two weeks out, I try to get ahead of myself but I just have to keep reminding myself I'm not as recovered as I think I am. Today was, good, I should've felt better than I did. My mommy took me shoe shopping, but today I felt a little, sickish. I dunno, I just felt yuckky. But we got super great deals on shoes!!! We saved $95 all together, 3 pairs. It was a long day, but good I guess. We also went to Baskin Robins, mmm they have a chocolate fudge ice cream, no dough or fudge ribbons, or cookies, or crunch bits just really good a tad thicker than normal ice cream but delish!!! That was it really, slept in again untill noon. Oh guys this is no bueno!

  Tomorrow I have my 2 week appointment. Hopefully I will see both Dr.s Yep yep yep!


  Life's a party, wear the hats.

  Niki :)

Day 13

  Went to the movies  today!!!!! My mom, my grandma and I all went out to the local movie theatre, we saw The Help. Oh my my myy, such a good movie!! I loved it, I won't give anything away but it was sooo good. I advise you all to go and see it. The commercials are right, I think its really the movie of the season. and afterwards, we went to Pei Wei, I had wonton soup ( I took the wontons out and choped them to bits and took the spinach I think it was, out) and I had a bowl of rice and some Honey seared sauce, and I just poured it over the rice and mushed the rice with my tounge. It was good to have a familiar taste. My grandma was fun too, it was good to see her as well.

  Something I'm realizing, I woke up at 1:10 pm today. I am sleeping later and later. This happen to anyone else? I'm worried for my health once ...school starts, yikes. I don't wanna go back to school.  Ahh, oh well hopefully the nurse still likes me, I can hang out in her office if things get too bad. So yep, all the same still.

  Life's a party, wear the hats.

  Niki :)

Day 12

 GUYS BIG NEWS! I ATE REAL FOOD. Ok so not like a hamburger, and no I didn't have to blend anything, but I did have to cut it with scissors. BUT STILL. I ate one of those asian rice noodle bowls. and MMMMM it was soooo good, I even got to put soy sauce in it like if I was eating a real asian dish!!! It was a brand called Simply Asian, and it was the sesame chicken flavor Rice Noodle bowl. It was an add boiling water, or microwaved water and he packets and such. But I cut up the noodles cause they were long and stringy, they are micro-thin and now short, and so easy to fit through my little opening. Oh my gosh was it delicious. If you don't like asian food I'm sorry, but if you do GO BUY ONE worth trying, and theyre  like $2 and most of the time they have coupons stuck to them, like buy two get $2  off so you can try another flavor. We bought the sesame chicken flavor (the one I ate and its yummy!!!) and the spring onion flavor, yet to try but excited! But they also have other flavors too, I just don't know what kind. But the sesame chicken flavor is yummy. Sorry I'm obsessing but I'm just excited. Also one of my best friends (we are a group of 4 and one of us Yollie, was in mexico for 6 weeks!!! We missed her) came over today, my other best friend, Catherine, brought her as a surprise!!! Yay! We got to catch up and it was sooo much fun!!! Yollie found one of those Burger King masks (my brother had it from a halloween costume from years ago) and it scared the HECK out of Catherine, oh goodness it gave us a giggle.

Another fun, monumental day HOORAY!!! I'm excited for my new food!!! Alright my face on my left side is like half of my cheek (if this makes sense) is now not so numb. Same pain, gosh it is reluctant, it just wont go away, stiil on pain meds. I'm kinda running out so I'm halfing them, hopefully when I go to the appointment on Friday, he'll give me another script. Alright cool, hope you all have a good day.

Life's a party, wear the hats.

Day 11

 So I slept in today for quite a while, like 10:30-11 ish, school is approaching and I have to get up eeaarrly!!! This will be a difficult habit to break, but my body will get used to it (or not). My friends came over today! They brought me pudding, apple juice, and good company. It was so much fun to have them over, they were not aware of my eating, it just didn't occur to them and  when they looked up it was so hard not to laugh with them (as hardy as they were) but it was something that could have been in a movie or TV show. It was comical. We were going to watch a few old classic Disney movies, The Aristocats, The Lion King 2, and The Little Mermaid. But unfortunately, my dad threw away the VCR a month or two ago. Oh I was super upset, but you can't do anything about it now so whatever.

  Fun day, mashed potatoes for dinner. One of these days I'll make a post of what I've eaten, and what I've been using. Alright same numbness, kinda getting more feeling back in my left side of my face close to my eye. But same pain too. Cool.


  Life's a party wear the hats,

  Niki :)

Day 10

  So My brother left for college. Sad day. :( My mom and I were left to the house I mean just for the day, but still.  I got to help him pack the truck I mean probably more than I should have worked but hey I helped what I could. I picked the little bags too, and he appreciated it. During good-bye's I gave him a big hug and made sure to tell him thank you for everything he did for me. The older we got the closer our relationship is/has become. Its nice but also he's off in college now so its like I don't see him much, but I appreciate him when he comes home so its okay I guess.  I hope I'm not losing people This is very un-related to Jaw surgery sorry. Ok back to the point.

  So, after Eric and my Dad left we had the day to ourselves. So I went back to sleep/took a nap and my mom was watching TV when I woke up. She said I should go out and suggested we go to the grocery store. So we left after I got dressed which takes like 10 seconds, which is very nice. We got ice creams (yummy ones), a new pudding flavor, mashed potato packages, some like chinese rice noodle bowls things, juices, and stuff for my mom to make a peach cobbler mmmmm (hers is like super gooey and delish so we figured I could at least try it and if not we can blend it). Also we saw a couple people and I got hugs and such so it was good. But by the end I was quite worn out so enough was enough. But it was an adventure. OH! and that nasty antibiotic, I took medicines after we got home, and the antibiotic was one of them. And I threw up. Oh My God. It was the worst thing ever. Probably the worst thing during this recovery, worse than when I was in the hospital and they gave me no pain medicines at all. I absolutely hate throwing up. Oh my gosh I can not explain how much I loathe it. Glad it is gone, my mommy said that its enough, no more antibiotic. Yay for me! I have to take it again if I start getting a fever but hopefully that won't happen.

  That's all folks! Hahahaa, I don't know what else to say everything's really the same...

  Life's  a party wear the hats.

  Niki :)

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Day 9

  Ehh, today was just simply boring. Just slept quite a bit & lounged about. Kind of a sad day. My brother leaves for college tomorrow, which doesn't really make things seem any brighter. Still painful, numb in the same spots, eating the same foods. Don't really know what to say.

  We did get to go out and get ice cream, if anyone needs/wants to know Braums' are open until 11:30 (at least on saturdays) if you get the mint chocolate chip in a shake its easy to eat with a baby spoon! Mmmm its tasty too.

  Watched a movie too- Arthur, the new-ish one with Russel Brand. If you find him funny, you will most-likely enjoy it. My mom said she thought the original was faster (she isn't too fond on movies that progress slowly but she thinks allot of movies are slow) I didn't think so, but its something to consider. Thought I should give you all a movie review since I don't have much else to say.

  Hope you are all having a great weekend!

Life's a party, wear the hats


Niki :)

Friday, August 12, 2011

Day 8

  Whoa, that's weird. TODAY- 8/12/2011 is Day 8.

  Oh well, at least the posts are posting.  The appointment with the surgeon, went soo well!!! I was soooo glad when he took the 10 or 12 rubber bands off and I got to brush my teeth. Hooray!!! and he only put 2 back on!!! He was super excited about my results too, it was really cool. He just kept saying it looked soo good, this makes me super happy because I love it too. I just kept saying thank you to him, he seemed a little like confused that I was saying it so much, but guys, I LOVE THIS. It is absolutely worth the tremendous amounts of pain, liquid/mush foods, odd numbness, lip peeling/chapping, and that disgusting antibiotic. I cannot express enough happiness I have, when I see an off-guard profile shot. Maybe when I get more control of my face muscles I will be able to hah! Oh yes, we saw the xrays, WHOA. I know why I hurt so much.

  I have a total of ...

  • 32 SCREWS.
  • 26 of those screws are on my top jaw
  • 6 of them are on my lower jaw (and they are HUGE) 
  • 6 Plates (top jaw only)


  Ouch, but well worth it.

 Pictures:
 From late last night, THIS PROFILE IS WHAT I'M SO EXCITED ABOUT
 Dr. S and I! Hooray!!!
 In the office chair, with Trusty.
 See all the fun stuff on top??
Look on the sides, see how big-ish the screws on the side are??


  Life's a party, wear the hats

  Niki :)

Day 7

ONE WEEK!!! HOORAY!!!

  Yay! It's been one full week! It's been fast, but slow at the same time, odd but I'm okay with it. Still the same, taking pain  meds (which help allot!), and the NASTY antibiotic. I know its absolutely necessary, but holy goodness its disgusting. We changed the 'flavor' twice, still completely rotten. Anyways. I went out today!! TWICE! Once in the morning- my mommy took me to Starbucks mmmm, and the second time- a yogurt place I forget the name of. Both were yummy and made me feel a bit more human. I have an appointment with my surgeon (one of them, the other is on a much needed vacation) Both are phenomenal surgeons individually, so its not like they cant function ( oh my gosh I've found a jaw surgery pun!!! sorry I am so weird) when they aren't together if that makes sense... Anyways, hoping it will all go well, and we can count how much metal is actually there. Oh, I ate a whole Go-Gurt today, those are easy to eat, its a straight shot, and you can control how much you get at a time. If anyone's looking for new, easy foods, I suggest you try some, and yogurt is healthy for you so everyone wins!!! I am feeling more of my top lip, the bottom lip still no luck though hahahaa. Everything else is pretty much the same though!

 This is my brother, and I. <3
 Action shot- courtesy of his girlfriend.
 This is still the same day, different shirt that shake didn't go so well in the spillage department
Humidifiers and Unicorns, hooray a smile! 

Life's a party, wear the hats

Niki :)

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Days 5 & 6

  Sorry! I'm Late posting. But it looks like I have my wisdom teeth taken out, which I did in addition to the jaw surgery. But I have allot of bruising. I have a huge bruise that falls all the way down to my neck on my left side. It's pretty intense.

  Day 5: sucked. I just felt gross all day. I took all my anti-nausea meds, all my pain meds, and stayed as hydrated as I could. I even showered. Ehh. It was just a down day.

  Day 6: SO MUCH BETTER!!! Ah, I just woke up feeling better all around. My Mom got me to sit at the table and we did a 550 piece puzzle! And my youth pastor came to visit and he even helped with the puzzle. Then 2 of my Best Friends came over to visit me! (the 3rd is in mexico!!) We colored, chatted, laughed at cheesy tv shows, and just hung out. It was soo nice! I didn't get to see them before I had my surgery so I missed them twice as much, they even  brought me a peanutbutter banana chocolate smoothie :) mmmmmm. And one of my friend's little sister made me a picture!! She's two so its polka dots all over a piece of paper but it's beautiful. :) Then we completed another 550 puzzle, my brother and other friend helped.  It was a great day.

  Maybe tomorrow I will be able to go out in the am. (so its tremendously cooler, mother doesn't let me go outside after the temp hits 100, which happens really fast) Pain: Still sucks. Still on pain meds 24/7. (Trammadol, and motrin) see it's weird, because I'm only numb in 3-4 spots. I can feel everything but my lips, nose, and the skin right under my eyes. So, everything that was worked on (besides my nose) I can feel. And it hurts, anyone else have this or are you all numb? I dunno. Anyways, the pain meds work so I'm not complaining, just curious, where are you all numb, everywhere, some places?  Ok, well I'll post pictures tomorrow 1 week!!! Crazy fast! Appointment with the surgeon on Friday, oh and we were officially "fired" by our orthodontist. So we'll be using the one through our surgeon, she's an angel and agreed to take on our case. Oh guys I'll have to tell the story of how that phone call went tomorrow, it's comical. But we knew this was coming. Hah!

  Well hope everyone has a great week! Congrats to all who made it through this week!! Well wishes to you!!!

These are from Day 6:
 Bruised.
 Bruised, all the way down my neck.
 Puzzle!!! Can anyone spot Trusty?? (;
 Best Friends!!! I love them! Left to Right- Catherine, Sam, and me Niki!
Even though I can't eat them she made them so my mom can (she has Celiac Disease-allergic to wheat/gluten)

  Life's a party, wear the hats

  Niki :)

Monday, August 8, 2011

Pictures days 1-3

 This is me after surgical hooks biting down, a little trick I could do, stick my tongue through the space of my overbite heeheee
 They marked my face, to say yes, the face, no kidneys or knee replacements. hahaha it was funny to us
 Last Picture with my old face with mommy and daddy!!!
 This is Trusty there are more Trusty pictures I'll post them in a different post they are great.
 Me right after surgery, I have two fishes for lips. how my parents saw me when they came in
 side picture my mother took whilst i was sleeping, Trusty by my side!!!
 Later, I put clothes on, got ice packs, hurting tremendously and Trusty giving me a kiss
 My walk, My daddy helping me up; notice Trusty in my pocket heeheee
 Side profile my mommy took the picture, the lips decreased a little bit.
After the awful shower, I was not happy about it
 On the way home still hurting, and upset but a profile shot
 Unicorns make everything better I'm smiling here.
My sister (the one holding the flowers on the far right) and one of her friends visiting me bringing my gift/flowers/balloons. I promise my sister is wearing pants.

More pictures later, I promise



Life's a party wear the hats/chipmunk strap

So Days 1- 4 I think...

  Anyways, I'll catch you all up reguardless. I am on drugs so I'm a bit out of it. Sort of. OK, so in the hospital, I was only there one night. It's weird because they had me on the neurosurgery trauma  floor. And They first didnt want me on a pump, grr, we had to get it from them. then they took it away in like 6 or so hours. I was upset, the nurse wa nice however and let me get the last button :)

  After Surgery: Like I said recovery was the best, I remember talking to allot of people, like the nurses, and everyone, I remember it though, It's weird i was never given oxygen, or that tent thing. I kept asking the nurse, besides my lips, does it look good? hahaha I probably asked everyone, I even remember when they put me somewhere new I remember saying to everyone, good afternoon to like everyone. I had asked someone the time too. No one was allowed into the recovery room and I remember asking them when I could see my parents, they said they'd wheel me into my room then they'd call my parents up. That was odd to me. I mean I'm considered pediatric so wouldn't they atleast wheel me up with my parents, oh well. Then After lots of pain, sleep, ect. My brother and his girlfriend came and visited. Everyone said I looked really good. basically that's what happened, they also brought me lots of juice. That's all i could eat/drink. Pain became a huge issue, then later that night they gave in to giving me the pain button.

Day 1: they took the pain button away that morning :( I was just a mess, all I wanted was the pain button, ice on my face, and sleep. Clearly, that was in no one's plan for me. I had to get up, walk down the hall, enjoy a window seat, and then walk back. Then My mom made me take a shower she kept saying it would make me feel better. no. no it didn't i was very upset with her. Hahaha, there was allot of fussing from me. So i was just miserable all day, the docs kinda wanted me to go home very pushy, but were only a little cautious because i was so fussy I guess. The meds didn't seem to do much, so I asked for one I am comfotrable with  I mean wthats a chance to take with what we've already tried right? They wouldn't give it to me.  It came down to miserable at the hospital or miserable at home. I chose home. So When we got home  My brother recieved the best Big Brother Ever award, he had Set up my little couch spot. We have a reclining couch so he set up my litlle space, my humidifier, blankets, my pillows, my get well gifts!! etc. He was soo sweet! So I finally got my chipmunk pouch for my face :) made me feel sooo much better and I slept ok-ish, sort of.

Day 2: Well, I kinda slept mainly, Waiting for my sister to come she was supposed to visit on friday but she couldn't come up that night. So We just chilled, then my mom made me take another shower, I think I smell bad or something, she asks me everyday, wanna take another shower? Maybe she is just trying to get me back intoo routine behavior, Anyways so I took a shower, and it felt loads better than the one at the hospital. Also, later my sister and her friend came YAY! They brought me flowers, balloon, and a cat pen heehee. They were such good company, I loved it, so great and fun. I ate mashed potatoes at the table with everyone it was fun. We watched movies and hung out with them, so fun. I fell asleep a few times during the movie but oh well.

Day 3: Everyone but me, my mom and brother, had gone to church in the morning I was not up to it, But I was in the announcements theey said. I feel a bit famous heeehee. Of coursse My sister and her friends had to go back that day, so my dad took them to lunch but ordered to go so they could eat here, I appreciated the company but the chips made me sad, so i fell asleep. when I woke up, they were all done but (they had me on tylenol 3 which i do not like it makes me crazy in a notgood way, we have been pushing to get one called tramadol which I know works well for me but they didnt wanna give it to me)  i was a wreck, i freaked out and my mom said ok time to try the other one (we had missed the last time to take the meds so we had some in the med cupboard from my last procedure there were like 2 but we are soo thankful for it) So i ate some pudding, and then took that medicine. EVERYTHING WAS THEN RIGHT IN THE WORLD. Silly doctors. We hung out some more with my sister and friends, and then they had to go, I got to walk them to the door, with support :) we watched tv and i fell asleep.

Day 4: Today! Yay, it is today, I can not stop using my chipmunk wrap on my face it feels sooooo good, it helps me fall asleep too, i just feel better all around, I slept a long time last night, but i also slept off and on. My mother ordered in the new meds, so Its waiting for me at the pharmacy yay!!! just been watching infomercials allot since i'm up at weird hours, I can give you all the low down about bosley hair restoration hahaha, that's all that's happened today. tv, couch, sleep. meds. Yay!!


Well, I hope everyone who's recovering is recovering well, who's having surgery I hope its going well, who's going to have surgery I hope your surgery goes well!!! THANK YOU TO ALL WHO SUPPORTED MEE!!! Love to you all!!!!! <3 <3 <3



Life's a party wear the hats, or chipmunk ice packs :)

Niki :)

Pictures are coming next

Friday, August 5, 2011

What Big lips you have...

 The better for me to.... Well they really don't do much but prevent things from staying in my mouth. Hey guys! I made it!! Woo-hoo!! my mother or my father didn't faint or cry (from what I know) but i did. Tee-hee. I remember going in and coming out. It was a 5 hour surgery. In the recovery room, I don't know what they gave me, but i felt the best right after surgery. Weird I know. Anyways after this, I'm not gonna lie everything went so downhill. Guys, i didn't get the button pain meds thing, they didn't order me one, and every like hour i believe maybe half hours, either way I advise you to get the pump any other meds they can give you. And ask for nausea meds too!!! I was in severe pain, almost all day, then we got the pain button thing. I hope you guys know what I'm talking about. I was a mess, an absolute mess before I got it though, nothing was working. This may be different for everyone but guys, if the meds don't work the pain is HELL. It is awful, I'm not trying to scare anyone away I'm just warning you this is what happened to me, and I'm guessing each person it will be different.

  Now the fun part, the final count: my lower jaw was advanced 11 mm, my upper jaw was advanced as well, but 3mm, to fix my cant the evened it out with 1& 1/2 mm. Also they did a septoplasty I believe its called. I can see it all, besides my lower lip and the swelling from there, but the profile, oh my gosh I love it. Also, I can breathe!!!!! my nose has never been so...free! Hah! this probably sounds lame but I'm on drugs so i have a little bit of an excuse. Hoping things will get better tomorrow. Oh and my nose wont stop but when it does its for a little while. And numbness: ahahaha, weird as ever i can feel  below my cheek bones and a little front strip on my chin.My nose and from my eyeballs yo cheekbone's and my lips and some vicinity around them.

Good Night all!


Life's  a party wear the hats.

Thursday, August 4, 2011

It's chin time!!

  Hahaha that's what my friends and I are calling it. Surgery is in a couple of hours, I'm hoping excitement will continue to beat out nerves and anxiety now. Every surgery I've had I bring this little unicorn I have, it's a  beanie babie and  I named him Trusty (to be my trusty steed) and we have fun with him at the hospitals taking pictures of Trusty in the windows, on the machines, eating/drinking my food etc. Hopefully I will be smart enough to load pictures up here and I can show you them. Also I hope they let me take him back there with me.

  Well, Trusty and I are off! Jaw surgery here we come!

  By the way, anyone else think it cool I'm having Jaw Surgery during Shark Week? Gave me a kick.


Life's a party wear the hats

Niki :)

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Goodness Gracious

  Surgery is tomorrow.

  Weird, but exciting. In all honesty I'm more nervous than I'd like to admit, but I  hear that's normal. I have my surgical hooks/meeting with my new orthodontist/final meeting with Dr. T today at 11, I live an hour away from the office, but I go to school in that same city so travel time is no big deal. Now tomorrow, if I have to be there at 5am travel time will be a big deal. Hahaha, all for the cause though. Ok, something that's befuddling me: I keep having dreams about the surgery, not like nightmares, or happy fluffy clouds and cats dreams, weird crazy dreams. Like the other night, my dream was I was in the pre-op room and the nurses told me "don't sneeze or you will ruin everything." pretty sure they made me sign a waver too. I woke up and laughed.  It was odd, and by the way I told my mom about it, and she said I can't literally sneeze whilst under the anesthesia (she is a nurse herself). Hopefully this gave you guys a giggle. Did anyone else have this happen to them, any crazy dreams?

  Anyways I will probably post again tonight, worried and freaked out. You might even get the low down on what happens to be in my brain; I'm a bottler, and I know that it is extremely bad for your sanity, so hopefully this blog can help with that.


Life's a party wear the hats


Niki  :)

Monday, August 1, 2011

Safe to say, I hope

  So, since it is Monday, I feel safe enough, (I hope its safe enough) to talk about my surgery. I can tell you its 3 days away. I'm excited, and nervous. I've had surgery before, 3 different times, and it all went well, but they were like 45 min procedures, nothing like this one is expected to be. All I'm hoping is to make it through, and not wake up during the actual surgery. I'm aware this is a rare of rare occurance, but its just something I'm bothered by. We go see my surgeon the day before to know what is actually happening to me, all the technical words, but I'm having upper and lower worked on, and  my nose will be worked on as well (not cosmetically, but he has to straighten out a something or other). So, that is what's going on, and I'm more than thrilled!!! I hope everyone had a great weekend, and has a great week ahead.



Life's a party, wear the hats

P.S. I'm eating myself into oblivion for the last days of chewing, yet have no idea what to eat; anyone have any ideas?

Thursday, July 28, 2011

"I'm rising up slowly, and getting higher..."

"...I've been living with a hole in my heart. Weighing down on me, but I'm a fighter I know I still got a shot in the dark."
- Shot In the Dark by: Augustana

  This song has definitely kept me going these couple of weeks, sorry I haven't posted in a long time. Trust me, I had allot to say I just could not bring myself to blog about it, I tried, trust me I tried I just couldn't. Here's what happened.

  So we left off with the insurance, the orthodontist, a letter to be opened, and a frustrated teenager. Well, here's a good story for you all. We called the insurance they said it was sent off, I called my orthodontist to see if they had received the letter that had been waiting for them for a week and some more. They hadn't received anything.  So, my mother said ok we can wait to see if they just put it somewhere special and won't give you that information over the phone. So instead the next day we called the insurance. Oh hey there's been a change in reference numbers for this approval process. So we had to re-send it. The next few days occur as so: We don't get a call from the orthodontist at all, we call the insurance people everyday each day something goes wrong, they didn't get all the information, they didn't have the right reference number for the right place to put it all into the system to send it off, they are still in the old place waiting to be sent for approval. All this time, I'm pestering my mother everyday, "did the insurance people say anything?" "did Ms. A (the surgery scheduler) call you?" Background: Every time we called the insurance we also called Ms. A to let her know whats going on, she is an absolute angel and this week would have been twice the hell without her. Everyday, for a week something went wrong setting my surgery back further and further.

  Finally last Friday, the hellish week ended. My mother said she and Ms. A had done everything they could, my mother kept on the insurance company's back, she talked to someone who realized the whole situation of the switched numbers and unattached folders I guess, and sent it to the final guy to give to get the approval. I was told this could take on average a month. I would've cried myself to sleep that night had my mother not told me we were going to visit my sister for the weekend, and float the river. This was a huge distraction and I am so thankful for it. I love getting to see my big sister, I rarely see her anymore she was a huge part of my life  when I was younger and the last two years she's established herself in her college town so we don't see much of her anymore. It was so much fun, so relaxing, and quite worry free.


  Here comes Monday, I had an orthodontist appointment. My mother was at work, so my dad drove me to the appointment. I decide I'm going to ask about surgical hooks, because they aren't in the office next week for education. My orthodontist says they go on 3-5 days before surgery, its a hour appointment because of the pictures and such they do but just call as soon as you get a date and it shouldn't be a problem, and that hour appointment shouldn't be a preventing factor for the surgery. But then he gets all "it won't be that soon insurance takes up to 60 days to approve." and "I can't imagine him doing it that soon" (I told him we were looking at the last week of July or first week of august, when I told him that he was quite befuddled). But I told him, this is happening as soon as possible, this summer. He said ok but was totally thinking I was a delusional fool I could hear it in his tone, and see it in his face.

  That same Monday morning, Ms. A called they had approved it Friday afternoon/evening. So my mother was able to schedual my surgery. Delusional fool my eye. My mom didn't get home untill after their hours so we called the next day. That 'shouldn't be a problem' turned into, well we can't accommodate you so you need to change your surgery date. HELL NO. It's a good thing my mother didn't let me talk to them. They gave us a date they were ok with, 3 WEEKS OUT. I would've already started school, and he knew that. Sorry about my language guys but this is unacceptable. Does anyone have an orthodontist like this? He wouldn't even talk on the phone to us. His front desk ladies said, he doesn't do that. Most of you guys that post it said your orthodontist was accommodating and stayed after hours to get you in for the hooks appointment. My mother offered to pay their overtime wages if they could stay friday afternoon, its an hour (they leave at noon on fridays). Well the best they could do was 2 WEEKS OUT. Please, if I am being ridiculous about this some one tell me, but we've been with these guys for 2 years, they've known my story from the beginning, and we reminded them almost every time we went in. So, we may or may not be using the hospital's orthodontist. We've paid in full at this place, I feel absolutely horrible for my parents. so they have the ultimate say in this.

  But we have a date, and I would tell you all but these past events worry me that I could jinx it all, but I can tell you I have pre op appointments on friday!


Great song, great band, if you have the time take a listen.




Life's a party, wear the hats

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Well...

everything just keeps getting worse, I'm done looking on the "bright side" for now.

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

I'm dumb.

  So I ask my mother everyday if anyone calls her; I mean who is going to call me, the minor, and when my mother leaves her phone number for everyone the choice is clear. So my plan of calling them yesterday began like so:

  I asked for my orthodontist's number and told her my plan. She pointed out the reasoning of why that really wouldn't do much. We can only do so much until the insurance or the surgeon's office calls us. Only then can things from our standpoint advance. Then I realized she has completely reasonable and valid points, and that I am dumb.




Oh by the way I'm drawing a cat, but I didn't get it finished over the weekend if anyone even wanted to see it. If anyone wants I'll show you when I'm done. Sorry. :\



Life's a party, wear the hats.

Saturday, July 9, 2011

Monday, get ready for me

  My Orthodontist, takes an entire week off for the 4th of July. WHY!? The office gets 2 breaks a year, one for the 4th and the other for Christmas, I think they get Spring Break too but I'm not sure.

  Anyways, we had to take things into our own hands, we called the surgeon's office to get any information, they said we could call the insurance and get it in the system to get it all approved, and this is where it got fun. So, we called the insurance, (yes we were going to have to do all this eventually, but we need things to move faster than Mr. Week of vacation) we needed the numbers, we called the Surgeon's office, we got the numbers, we called the insurance we gave them the numbers, they entered everything and sent it off. I think. All while Mr. Vacation has no idea any of this is going on, so on Monday morning, I will bombard their phone system. And depending on what they say, I will call the Surgeon's office, (I will probably call them regardless what they say anyways) and report what's going on from there. Something will get done on Monday. Even a small advancement will make me happy.

Alright, I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!!! Maybe I will draw something in my sketchbook for you guys, I'll see if I can get it done over the rest of the weekend.


Life's a party, wear the hats.

Niki

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

New Stuff

   Guys, I bought myself a laptop the other day, I'm so proud and happy of/with my purchase. Now I will post more,  have my own personal entertainment, and next year for school eliminate the amount of homework I won't (now wouldn't have gotten) get done. I've actually been looking for one for the past year now, I take a train to school, and its a good 40-45 min ride so I could easily start a paper or something or get a kick start on a research project. Also my school requires us to do "crew hours" so whenever I'm staying late I can just whip this out and get going. It was just an all around perfect investment.

  So, look forward to more posts, also on the whole orthodontist thing, my mother called my Surgeon's office and Orthodontist's office on Friday. My Surgeon had sent the letter to the Orthodontist, and so they were supposed to be getting it on Saturday. So I'm calling them tomorrow. I may seem psycho, BUT if you knew my Orthodontist (and the girls working the desks etc) you would be checking up on them too,or not. Maybe I am psycho but either way I will stay on their backs about this. I am having this surgery in July. No excuses. Unless of course my Surgeon has a valid excuse, but my Orthodontist should not set this back due to his stubborn and controlling attitude. (as you can tell my Orthodontist and I are not on the best of terms) Any ways, we'll see what they say!




Life's a party, wear the hats.

Saturday, June 25, 2011

Choice Made

  Okay so yesterday we went to the Head of the Department of Maxillo-Facial Surgery. My mother and I decided and set it in stone he shall be my surgeon. She says to everyone who she's come into contact "I get to have the head surgeon work on my baby..." Hahahahaa. Mother, it was only yesterday how do you talk to 2358361982 people in 24 hours? Oh well it is very nice and a great feeling. I'm super excited!! However, he said he would contact my orthodontist before any further decisions etc to be made. Problem: my orthodontist was unhappy to hear we needed a new surgeon, letter of recommendation (we snuck around and got it from our dentist instead to get on the waiting list asap), and a snappy timeline to get this done this summer. We are not going to settle for an extra year long wait like last year. Which leads me to think it will take a super long time. So we will bug the orthodontist office to no tomorrow come Monday.

  I've been reading soo many more of these blogs now that mother finally convinced me to start my own. They're all so exciting and very helpful, is it weird when I read the stories from the beginning and get to the surgery part I get all excited and nervous for them? Hahahaa I'm foolish, oh well, you guys all look phenomenal I can't wait! But because I cherish my summers greatly I also can... (but still can't) Sorry I'm so weird.


Life's a party, wear the hats.

Friday, June 24, 2011

Potential to Kinetic

  Alright, let's begin again.

  I had already been through a considerable amount of previous orthodontics: braces phase 1 and 2, a lip bumper, a lengthy headgear wearing process, 3 or 4 expanders, and teethpulling. So I wasn't too keen on going back, but if I was going to it was gonna be fast. My brother and I agreed on a Fast Braces company that claimed braces in about a year (which was true to my brother's case 10 months total, you can imagine my jealousy).

  So we get there and he does a full check on us, he asks me "Where are your 12 year molars?" WHAT!? I'm supposed to have another set of teeth? I had no idea about these teeth, nor did I have room for them. Also my lower wisdom teeth were growing completely horizontally. My jaw measurements, also a problem far too small.

  Unfortunatley, the orthodontist told us my case was far too complicated, he could do just a cosmetic fix but I needed much more than that. He was an angel and gave us this HUGE list of orthodontists, oral and maxillo facial surgeons, periodontal surgeons, dentists, and many others. He highlited the ones we needed to see. Good Lord I've never been to soo many appointments in this amount/capacity/timeline in my life. We saw some bad ones and some really great ones and some that were just mediocre I guess.

  We settled on a oral-maxillo facial surgeon and he made sure we used the orthodontist he works with. I got my bottom wisdom teeth out and my 12 year molars (I had them under the surface) uncovered, they did however keep my top two incase the 12's didnt come in and I could use them later in life. That was done December 2008. He was great for that and we really liked him and stuck with him. He did the full work up and all that jazz, the measurements, molds, you guys know the initial fun stuff.  The teeth started to come in well so next on the list: braces. Problem: too many teeth, not enough space. I got my 4 bicuspids taken out before baces went on, in June 2009. Watch out the next paragraph is a bit angsty (I'm only 16 guys sorry for that).
  He told us 6-12 months, then surgery, then 6-12 months. I believed him. Nope. His plan has changed a good 4-6 times. It's now been two years, and the best part of all of this? Our original surgeon, doesn't acccept insurance. Cool right? We have been on a lovely search and we've gotten lists of surgeons on our insurance plan that our orthodontist has said no to every one. So we went behind his back.

  He finally agreed yesterday to contact this one. Yay! And we saw him today, he's the head of the maxillo-facial team and such a blessing. He told us almost everything we were hoping to hear. Now we've learned our lesson but when we explained our story, almost the first thing he said was insurance wasn't a problem. So we are definatley excited the way its going. I just hope the bumps in the road are small from here on out.

  I promise I will keep up with the posts and everything, like I said I should've started this a long time ago but looking at this summing up 2 and a half years in one post isn't too bad right? whoops...

Life's a party, wear the hats

Doomed from the beginning

  When I was 7, I went through my first batch of braces. They told my parents I would probably need jaw surgery, my sister too. However as my sister got older her jaw got longer so she didn't need jaw surgery come time for her to get it all checked out. Wisdom teeth for her and round 2 of braces, and she's fine. But my story has a different ending.
  2 and a half (maybe even 3) years ago this all started, I didn't like that first orthodontist (we just didn't click well) so when I was done, I was done. I didn't just leave randomly or something I finished treatment, but never went back... Anyways, my brother was 16 and he had never had braces, but was in need of them, nothing like Kylie and I had before but they would do him well. So I was 13/14 and my mom thought it was a good idea to check on things for my situation. Let me tell you, if you have ever taken a science class and learned about potential energy, I was a GIANT ball of it.
  Oh rats. I will finish this story later I have to "get ready for an appointment", my mother calls.

Life's a party, wear the hats.