it's been a while

I haven't blogged in a couple weeks.  During those few weeks, I've only taken one picture, so here it is...

The roof of my mouth is still numb and I think I'm still swollen, but other than that, I think I look completely normal (as normal as a 26yo with braces looks).  I went to the orthodontist last week, and they told me my braces would be off in 3 months.  Music to my ears!!!! I was initially told it would be August, so when I heard they would be March, I was ecstatic!!!  I still think my teeth have a long way to go, but I'm optimistic! 

Merry Christmas!!!

TWO months!

days SIXTY, SIXTY ONE, SIXTY TWO and SIXTY THREE.  Tuesday marked two months since my surgery.  My recovery has gone by so fast.  My gums above my teeth are still completely numb along with the roof of my mouth but only where my splint was.  I'm still swollen, but if you didn't know me, I don't think you'd be able to tell.  I kept thinking my smile was crooked because of swelling, but its actually because my gums are more exposed on one side.  I had my final appointment with my oral surgeon yesterday.  He said that once my braces are off, I need to have my gums evened up.  I'm definitely all in, so I'm going to do it, but I hope it is not too invasive, and I really hope its not painful.

Besides my splint being off, I don't see much of a difference between the second and third picture.  Maybe I look a little less swollen when you look at my cheeks?

I took the next two pictures exactly two months after my surgery.  Looking at my profile, I still look really swollen, but I think I might just have a chubby face.  When I smile, my nose wrinkles.  This is something totally new. 

I know I've talked about my bumpy chin before, but I don't know if I've ever put pictures up.  I've always been a mouth breather mainly because my lips never comfortably went together.  At rest, my mouth would always be wide open.  I could obviously press my lips together, but it was always awkward, and I would have a bumpy chin.  Now, after my surgery, I am bump free!  My lips now rest together; I breathe solely out of my nose (except maybe at night time); and I no longer have bumps on my chin!

see the bumps!!                                                                                                  no more bumps!

Now I just need to start a countdown to when I'm getting my braces off, but I think it'd be depressing.  I don't want to rush time, but it feels like summer won't be here for a really long time!!  For now, I'll just take things day by day!

I forgot...

days FIFTY SEVEN, FIFTY EIGHT and FIFTY NINE.  I've taken a picture of myself everyday since my surgery up until this Friday.  It didn't even cross my mind to take my daily picture... Friday was a really long day!  I really do look the same in every picture now, so I guess it doesn't really matter.  So I followed the trend and didn't take a picture of myself today (Sunday) either.  I took one picture with a friend on Saturday night, so I stole it off her facebook (not great quality), cropped it, and I'm using it as my Friday, Saturday and Sunday picture. 

On a completely different note, GO GAMECOCKS!!!  Not only did USC beat Clemson, we killed them!! The final score was 34-13, which doesn't necessarily reflect a "killing," but we looked SO good.  I'm so proud to be a Carolina Gamecock.  Now if only the regular football season wasn't over!!  I'm hoping we'll get a good bowl game!!

gummy

So I've noticed that my smile looks lopsided.. kind of like I've got more gums showing on one side of my smile than the other.  I zoomed in on one of the more recent pictures of my smile, and you can really see the difference.  I'm really hoping this will, and can be, fixed!! 

THANKSGIVING!

days FIFTY THREE, FIFTY FOUR, FIFTY FIVE and FIFTY SIX.  My grandma's funeral was yesterday, Wednesday, November 23.  It was very sad, but I know she's at peace now.  Grandma was loved by so many people.  There was a really good turnout, and I got to see a lot of friends and family that I hadn't seen in a while.  I wish she could have spent Thanksgiving with us today, but I know she's in Heaven looking down on all of us!! 
Today we ate Thanksgiving lunch at my parents' house.  There was a total of 17 of us eating today!  My oldest sister, Denise, her husband, and children, Madison and Christopher drove down from Tennessee for the holiday!  I hadn't seen my niece and nephew in over two years, so I was very thankful that I got to see them.  I wish they lived closer because I love being with them and watching them grow.  Maybe one day!!
I would love nothing more than to go shopping tomorrow on Black Friday.  I love the crowds and the deals and just the rush in general.  Unfortunately, not only do I have to work tomorrow, I have to work all weekend.  I'm also sad about missing all the big football games.  Luckily, the Carolina/Clemson game starts right after I get off of work on Saturday, so I will get to watch the most important one!!  I'm really hoping the Gamecocks can get another win!!!

And now for picture overload!!

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday was a very chaotic, long day.  I only took one picture of myself, and I took it just for my blog.

Thursday I didn't take any pictures of just my face, but I took a lot of pictures with family, so I'm just putting those pictures up!

I LOVE a jumping picture!!

We took about a million!!

Sister, me, cousin Katie, niece Maddy, nephew Christopher

one million and one

aunt Lindsey & Ashley!

my fav cousin Katie

thanksgiving jack!!

I actually put up all of my Christmas decorations last week, but I haven't gotten around to take any pictures of anything.  I did take one picture of my tree today, so I wanted to post that!  My tree looks a little puny, but its really cute!!  Pictures don't do it justice!



before braces

days FIFTY, FIFTY ONE and FIFTY TWO.  I was looking through my computer today trying to find pictures of my grandma and decided to post some everyday pictures of me before I had braces (well, really just two pictures but you'll still get the idea).  I posted one picture of myself the day I got my braces on, but that was the only one of me without having braces on.  My gums were so big when I smiled, but you couldn't tell I had the big gap between my teeth; however, when I talked, my tongue would slip through my front teeth and I had a slight lisp.  I hated that so much!

December 2009

May 2009

Ok so now my daily, my face looks the same in every pictures, pictures!!

Friday

Saturday

*these pictures were taken after everything happened with my Grandma. There are definitely some makeup smears.

Sunday



11.19.11

grandma -- January 2011

Saturday, November 19, 2011... a date I will never forget.  My sweet, loving, amazing grandma passed away late last night.  We're not exactly sure what the cause of death was, but we're thinking pneumonia was the culprit.  She didn't have any signs or symptoms of having pneumonia until yesterday.  She passed in her sleep and as far as I know, she was in no pain.  Praise God!  I'm surprised how well my entire family is holding up.  I've cried but not as much as I would've thought.  I think reality hasn't really hit yet.  Grandma lived a long and fulfilling life.  She's now with my Grandpa and their son, which is exactly where she belongs now.  I already miss her like crazy, but I know she's still here watching over me.  Please keep my family in your prayers!

I love you Grandma McKinney!!!