I'm trusting my instincts!

This should have been posted DAYS ago, but I lost my life to the man. And by "the man" I do not mean a handsome, caring man that cooks me dinner, because I haven't seen my boyfriend for longer than an hour in almost two weeks. I mean the man of life and work. The week before Christmas is the perfect time to get a new job and get sick.

I trusted my instincts and went to the ortho and said, "this doesn't look right." He said "you're right. This tooth needs to be engaged."

And then, he said what I have never heard any ortho or assistant say so far.

"I'm really sorry. This is really really going to hurt."

And it did. Within a minute my tooth was moved almost completely back in line.

Photo from today, back in line!!

Merry Christmas to everyone who reads this!

A Reason for Concern

Last night I discovered the following:

Look on the bottom right. The three teeth left of the hole. The two teeth have the chain on the inside to rotate to tooth next to the hole. It seems in doing so knocked back the third tooth from the hole. Compared to Wednesday's photo, it is clear.

Yikes! I knew I was having a lot of pain the last couple days. It might be "a part of the plan" but I think I'm gonna call the Doc anyway. This just can't be right.

There is a Light...

... at the end of this wire stabbing, tylenol popping, speech lisping, liquid diet, dark, dark, tunnel.

HUZZAH!!!

No the braces are not off yet. But it's so much closer I can feel it!! Just two days ago I was saying how I needed a Rally. Well, I think I got one!

Today was my 12 week appointment. For those who follow religiously, it was supposed to be Dec. 16th but they moved it. Yay for me!

Comments from the Doctor:

"Honey (he calls me that) you are doing a great job. Those teeth are really looking great!"

"Your left side is almost completely done, that's the side to cheat on the rubber bands, if you're going to."

"Maybe we should just take them off now!!"

I swear he said that last comment. I swear. I swear on my braces. And if I'm wrong, well then you'll just have to take my braces away from me, now won't you?

The lady at the front desk even said they are looking great!

To keep things moving they did tons of work today. And I am just PLEASED! First off, probably the best news ever, the news I have waited for 9 months for- THE BITE RIM IS GONE!!!!

It's so amazing! I am lisp free!! The weirdest part though is that the gum overgrew a little since I couldn't brush it but apparently it will move back.

Also, the slinky-spring thing did its' job and is off too! I am thrilled for that because that was a pretty big source of pain. Unfortunately, while doing its' job and making space for an implant, it rotated the tooth next to it, which now has to be rotated back. So I have a weird metal chain on the inside of my teeth now. More pain, and cuts my tongue, but hey, I feel like it is a trade off you know?

Ok, there is a slight negative (I mean besides the obvious, glaring, excrutiating pain that has become a part of my daily mantra). I got a new rubber band formation, back to 4 bands, and one of them is what you might say, more visible. BUT! The visible one only has to be worn at night!

So the plan for now is the next scheduled appointment - Feb 17th. And then we will check what else is to be done, but I should be close to having them off. I'm still shooting for no later than March 16th, exactly a year.

For a nice closing, I include another comparison photo. I know, I know, you're sick of my face.

So just look at my teeth, geez.

Braces are trying to Rally!

264 days have passed since THE DAY.

Isn't it incredible how time passes?

101 days until ONE YEAR.

I feel like a contestant on the biggest loser when they are under 300 lbs for the first time in ten years. And they stand there, half naked, on national television, and cry, and promise to make it to their goal.

Except I am sitting in an office, surprisingly not crying.

My frustration mounts on all accounts. I see casting notices everywhere and all I want to do is submit, but I know its a waste of paper and serious cash that I do NOT have. Speaking of, has anyone who ever entered credit card debt thought to themselves, how am I spending money that I don't have? Like WHERE dies it come from? Who did I borrow it from and is it actually just pretend money? Perhaps this is the ENTIRE reason that the economy flopped. We are all spending money we don't have because for some reason we forget that its not real.

Sorry for the sidebar, money is all I think about these days.

I feel like this is the moment in the braces career where I am supposed to rally. I need to find the energy from somewhere, build it back up, and Rally...

Oh I know I'll write a movie about my braces, fund it on kickstarter.com, and star in it!

Except, isn't the expression "PUKE AND RALLY?" Yikes. Maybe that explains the current phase.

* Stay tuned for news about my upcoming film project! And how you can donate to help me make it a reality!