"A Wink and a Smile"

Since I haven't shared my orthodontia update (I know you've been curious ... lol) in a while ... I'm ALMOST DONE. Yesterday I visited the orthodontist ... removal of wires, x-rays, moving of some brackets, and new wires put on. In 4 more weeks I will head back and hopefully at that time I will get some REMOVAL NEWS. I've been promised that I will not be wearing braces by Thanksgiving. That's a good thing because I will be going to my HS reunion back home and I do not want braces for that. It's a good thing we will be driving to that reunion because with all that metal and screws in my head, alarms might sound if I were flying ... I can't wait to smile in photos with TEETH SHOWING. I know that I am physically capable of showing *the cheese*, but I'm vain and choose to look all serious. OTHER GREAT NEWS for daughter #3. She got her braces off! The gums look a little swollen in these pics, but they will go down soon. They even sent her home with ba...

It's been an odd sort of feeling to be looked at and commented at.  I do like the occasional compliment, but I'm starting to feel like the poster child for orthodontics/oral surgery .  This morning I went to my ortho appt. and pretty much EVERY ortho assistant ooh'ed and ah'ed over me.  I'd hear, "you look great" , "you look beautiful" ... all very nice compliments.  I guess I'm not all that good with taking them.  I feel the need to shoot back with a response of "yeah, but I still have some swelling here and there" . I really am happy with the results, but I'm not quite there with being 100% satisfied. I'd like to feel my entire face ... still lots of numb spots I'd like to smile and look happy ... the way I think I should (whatever that new smile will be).  It's just odd to feel my upper teeth sit slightly over my bottoms. I can't wait to regain the strength to open my mouth up more fully (still tight and a b...

 (ughhhhh ... I SO NEED A HAIRCUT! ) Let me add that the top photo is from Feb. '07 and the bottom picture is 6 days post-op.  I really need someone to take a picture now, because I KNOW that the swelling has gone down.  This side view is actually my more swollen side, but I'm sharing it because I only have a right side BEFORE view. What you will see is that my upper lip now sits nicely on top and slightly over the bottom lip because my upper jaw was moved forward.  The lower jaw was centered properly and may have been moved 1-2 mm back (I'll have to ask  ... I can't recall).  The biggest change viewing me from the side then is my profile with the lips and my nose (which I think looks a little less prominent and just a tad turned up ... more like my sisters).   When I feel braver and can actually get someone to take a decent outdoor photo of me, I will share the FRONT of me.

I needed jaw surgery? I added back the labels to my sidebar, but even under braces, I'm not sure I even said why I needed surgery. *I had a retainer as a child for an underbite, but my treatment fell apart when we moved and suddenly financial issues got in the way. *I've dealt with overcrowding with my teeth (crooked), a crossbite (bottom jaw sat to the left), and an underbite (upper jaw never grew properly). *After years of  going to the dentist and being told by several dentists how straightening my teeth would help with oral health, I finally went for some consults in the early part of '07.  My own mother lost most of the teeth in her mouth in her mid 50's due to an infection that she didn't treat properly.  Just the thought of that made me want to do all I could to make sure the teeth in my mouth stayed healthy for a long time. *I also have dealt with TMJ on and off for a number of years.  After I had child #2, I wore a splint, and was nearly ready to start the ...

Again it is the TEETH Jaw surgery is coming up ... It could be one or two jaws ... I'll know Monday. I will be eating next to nothing unless I can get it through a syringe or a straw.  Even a straw may be off limits ... no sucking. I'm looking rather fit for me ... even sort of thin. I may be a waif by the end of February. A bikini this summer may be something I may just consider. Jaw surgery may not be so bad. Maybe ...

Apparently it was evident by the summer of '74 that I was going to need braces! *I'm sure I am not the only one that has old pictures that are on postcard paper. Believe it or not these are some of the "better" pictures that I have (quality wise). They seem to be very true to their original condition.  Check out that pool water ... Ewwwwwwwwwwwww!

I have had these braces for a year and a half now and I have officially begun my countdown to get these awful things off. Every 6 weeks I go to have my existing wires clipped off of my self ligating brackets .  This procedure is not pain free as my wires are thick and the pressure put on my teeth is GREAT.  So great that I often feel like I will loose the teeth that they are trying to straighten. Today I sat back in my chair, alternating between gripping the arm rests and putting my hands together in a prayer clasp wishing with all of me that I would feel very little pain.  My heart races, I sweat, and today ... I CRY Yep, I actually CRIED . Not the sobbing kind, just the endless silent tears that flow when you really don't want them to. The old wires came out, some brackets were re-positioned, and new wires were put back in.  Just as I thought I was nearly done, the last bracket (on top) would not take the wire because it was thick and my tooth position was off.  Remedy for this...

METAL to the MAX!!!! I think we will stop at three (or until one of us is done and it is time for the next one).  I'm sure our wonderful orthodontist would love our money for his next family cruise, but we need to feed, house, and educate our children. These smiles better be worth it ;)

What do we have in common as of today ? I am feeling rather brave to post a picture of me with braces. They have been on nearly 10 months now. Today my 3rd daughter {m} beat her big sisters to the braces game. Poor child inherited my awful bite, but we will fix that. At least when she finishes her braces bit, she will not have to have her jaw broken and realigned like her mommy. Happy BRACES day to {m] and Happy 37th birthday to ME! *I am not sure what is going on with esnips, but I LOVE this Stevie Wonder song ... just click on the play button. As a Mommy of 5 girls, HOW could you not like this tune?

I am aiming to be a "Hottie" by 40 ... that is still 4 years from now. Sometime within that span of 4 years my teeth will be straight, my jaw re-aligned, and my body will be firm and fit. IS THAT TOO MUCH TO ASK FOR? I really don't think so. I grew up with a Mom who looked better than most of my friend's moms. If not for the last 10 years and the incredible stress of my Dad being sick and passing away ... I think my Mom would still look pretty young. Plastic surgery and all the fake stuff is not on my agenda, but taking care of my body (eating well and exercising) and my health are really important to me. The teeth are already in the process of being fixed . For the most part I have been pretty darn miserable. The wires have completely cut up my inside lower lip to the point that I just wear wax on my brackets most of the time ... NOT a pretty sight. Kissing is so uncomfortable . I miss my little {b}'s BIG smooches. Now I have to tell her to give me soft ones bec...

Maybe I will feel brave enough to have someone photograph me with my new mouth ... LOL! Anyway, I am a little nervous, but also a little excited for the future change. I know that nobody is perfect, and there is more to life than looks, but a SMILE is one of the first things that people notice. I can't wait to have a better one! I wonder how this will affect kissing ??????