Nine Surgeries Later

In my photography class, one of our assignments was a self-portrait. And this is the idea I came up with, I think it's pretty applicable to the contents of my blog:

"Although the focal point of this picture is my neck, the key point is my smile. This photograph is a big, bold step for me ... although it is bold, it is effective; this image is important to me because it reveals more than just my imperfections, but also my character. Throughout the nine surgeries I have had on my neck, including the reconstruction of one half of my jaw, I have seen a lot of damage and scars on my body. But through it all, I have kept a smile on my face. Life is hard, but I choose to be optimistic." 

(excerpt from my artist statement)

Keep running!

Dental Implants Phase Five & Some Other Updates

We made our way up to Dr. Egbert's last Wednesday. The metal piece has come back finished.

(hey look, that's my name! :D )

About a month ago, the doctors made the impression of my other teeth, of where the posts

were, and of where the metal piece needed to be put.

All we did this appointment was try the metal piece in. And you know what? It felt weird feeling something inside that side of my mouth again. I have been with all of 4 of my bottom teeth missing for 16 months, plus another they removed for the implants last August.

When they screwed in the metal part, I felt like I was in my own superhero movie. With just the metal in, I felt like it was an upgrade into me becoming some type of titanium werewolf. (My college friends, I hope you laughed at that part-- werewolf, see what I did there?)

Now that I tried it in, and it fits, the next step is for making it look good. They put the actual teeth on (well, I guess not actual teeth). But do you want to hear the BEST NEWS? I have a date. A date to get my teeth PUT IN. In my mouth.

I WILL HAVE A FULL SMILE AGAIN. And if you can't tell how excited I am, give me a call and I will fill ya in. Countdown to April 24th begins now. #23days

-------

Some part of me still does not know why I have had to go through this, why I am still around Cedar, why I'm here and not in the mission field. But I have had a few answers. When I first was getting ready to move out, I thought, Man, I'm going to make so many new friends. Just ready to embrace the whole college experience, you know? But last semester was hard. I loved church, I loved school, but I just felt alone.

Throughout the last few months, I've been struggling. But I went to church. I went to FHE. I went to ward prayer. I kept doing the things I know I was supposed to be doing and where I was supposed to be. And fast forward now, April, I have seen some of my prayers answered. I have made friends with some outstanding people. If I had not been going to church, ward prayer, or FHE, I would not have started hanging out with them.

My life is incredibly blessed. I've said many times that I am not where I thought I would be right now. BUT I am finally, finally happy with it. I know without a doubt that I am where I am for a reason. For a few reasons.

Life is good. Seriously.

--------

I joined one of those Facebook bandwagons. It's a challenge called "100 Happy Days." (website is here) The challenge entails just what the title says. Choosing a platform such as Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, post a picture or status EVERY DAY for 100 days. It can be something you're grateful for, someone you went to lunch with, just about anything.

"It is not a happiness competition or a showing off contest. If you try to please/make others jealous via your pictures - you lose without even starting. Same goes for cheating." (100happydays.com)

I've enjoyed it so far. It's given me a chance to appreciate even the little things I am grateful for (and also a chance to improve my photography!). I have noticed that even in just eight days, I've seen a change in me already. Sometimes I've thought, Huh, what can I post today? And I look for those moments. Just the last few days I've thought, Hey, I want to do that! Well, I've had to do that tomorrow. Or Wednesday. And basically I have the next five days lined out... but I'm loving it.

Here are some of the pictures I've done so far. I'm not posting them here to boast or anything because, like that quote says, I would have already lost. I'm showing because I'm telling you because I want to show you just a few tidbits of what I'm grateful for...

And with that, keep running.

Dental Implants, Phase Four

Just about two weeks ago, (as you can guess by the title of this post) we went up to Dr. Egbert's office again. Definitely some pros and cons about this trip.

To refresh your memory, here's a picture of my mouth: 

There are 5 posts (as in little metal pieces fastened into the bone). Four on the left you can see pretty clearly. The fifth is on the right side, it's closest to the four left posts. It's just a little bit shorter than my teeth.

When Dr. Egbert put in the posts back in August, he removed a tooth where the fifth post is, so that the implants would be as stable as they could be. As you can see from the second picture, there is just a little space between the bone, so having my implant as well as the "bike chain" holding my jaw together is even better.

I've had tissue cut down from previous visits. Last time, Dr. Egbert put in little caps to save the place of the four posts so that the tissue wouldn't grow back over. When my teeth are put in for real, he'll put them in in place of the caps.

---

FIRST OFF: We had a check up at the Huntsman. Everything looks great! No sign of anything new or troubling, and we'll go back there in May for another check-up. 

This visit to Dr. Egbert's office was really beneficial, as well as a really suck-ish visit, explained by some pros...

• The appointment went really, really well
• I was fitted for the "bridge" (the metal piece that will be screwed into my mouth)
• What we got down in that appointment was the equivalent of about 5 shorter appointments- thank you Dr. Egbert for saving us the gas and the time
• It took a lot of tweaking and adjust because every person and every dental implant case is unique- no one will ever have a case that will be EXACTLY like mine- it's great to be unique
• Zupa's is right across the street- if you have never heard of that place, YOU BETTER FIND OUT WHAT IT IS!!!

And cons...

• We were there for about 3 and 1/2 hours
• It was a lot of back and forth... make an impression from my mouth, make a model, make another impression, make another model, try it in, tweak it a little
• Who likes going to the doctor? Or dentist? Or anything that involves some kind of a check-up
• Did I mention I was there for 3 and 1/2 hours? I was also really hungry

The next steps are pretty simple.

1. Now that Dr. Egbert has a good impression of the bridge and how it will fit in my mouth, he sends it off to a place that has a very expensive machine that will make the metal part custom-fit to my mouth.
2. In a month from the appointment (which will around the end of this month), Dr. Egbert's office will call and let us know what's going on... if it's going to be a few more weeks before the piece gets back, if it's on it's way, etc. We'll schedule when to go up.
3. Dr. Egbert explained that he likes to fit the piece in before he puts the teeth on it... in the end, it's better. He'll make sure it fits (vs. putting the teeth on, putting it in, and then having to adjust it more than necessary)
4. Another appointment after that try-in is scheduled. They will put the teeth on the implant. When I come up, they'll put it in, make any necessary adjustments, and that's it!

So if things go well, we're looking at 2 appointments at the very least. And this time next month? I'll have new teeth!

It's been a pretty big adjustment to not having most of my bottom teeth. I'm just grateful that I still have a fairly normal jaw. And that I can talk fairly normal. When I show some people the empty space in my mouth, I hear, "I had no idea!" Yep. Cause I'm awesome. I can brag about myself, right? :)

---

The biggest thing I've learned is that although plans are different, plans become unexpected, and plans sometimes extremely suck, it's for the best and it will all work out. I know that I am where I need to be. I seriously love my ward- couldn't have asked for better people to be surrounded by. I love the people I get to hang out with on a regular basis. It's strengthening me, and hopefully strengthening others, too.

Until next time, keep running!