Nightmares

I know I promised to write a new blog every week, but that was also when I thought my braces were going to come off by March 16th. Oh, did I just spoil the ending to this post?

So after my trip home I stopped by the ortho because I had a tooth going waaaaay out of line. Turns out this was because its tie had somehow come off, so it was a good thing I went.

UNTIL, I heard the words, "hmmmm there seems to be something off with your bite. Let me get the doctor."

Now I don't really know the details because they were vague and I honestly I'm not exactly sure they understand why, but my bite is off on one side. My question was obviously," Is this going to cause a delay?" The answer, "OF COURSE."

When are they coming off? NO IDEA.

I am losing hope. But I am not losing my imagination. Last night I had a horrible dream, where they took my braces off and immediately my teeth started shifting into a horrible configuration, way worse than ever before I got braces, and the only way to make them stop moving... was to put them back on. It was quite a nightmare.

It's clearly time for them to come off. Obviously. I mean, I worked at a doctor's office part-time, so I know about these kinds of things.

Baby Love

I assumed, oh a week in Michigan? I'll wear my rubber bands all the time. I'll have nothing else to do right?

Well wrong on both accounts. I am doing a lot of baby holding. Which is AWESOME. I am in love with this tiny little person.

Also, it is difficult to constantly wear rubber bands while also constantly trying to snack. I even tried to chew with them in. Bad idea.

But another week is down!!!

You Only Have Yourself to Blame

And by you I mean me. I mean I. I only have myself to blame.

I woke up this morning, and since it was my only morning to sleep past 8, I did. 9:30 rolls around and I think, "today might be a good day to get my ties changed. They are pretty yellowed and I don't want to meet my new niece with yellow braces. How rude! What would she think of her crazy/ cool Actress Aunt from L.A.?"

So off I go to Santa Monica (... mmm... smell the ocean with me). Laying in the chair I interject, "you know, my real appointment is only two weeks away if you wanna do stuff today?"

He takes a look, the doc takes a look. Then comes the question, "How are you doing with those rubber bands?"

Now unlike every other visit where he doesn't even ask and just commends me on my work, this stings a little. Because I know what he means. In the beginning of December I got an awesome 2nd job waiting tables at The Foundry on Melrose. It is considered fine dining (I know seriously, who am I?) so I haven't worn my rubber bands to work. Not once.

After a while, since I was already used to not wearing them to work, sometimes I didn't wear them to my other job, which is in a mall, and its OBVIOUSLY totally acceptable to wear them. Then I would slack on nights when my jaw hurt. Then I would prolong putting them back on after eating thinking... maybe I'll have another chip. A chip I shouldn't be eating in the first place.

I only have myself to blame.

The good news is, he said everything else is done. Everything except my overbite, which is moved with the rubber bands.

My hope is to have these suckers off by March 16th, exactly 1 year. So when I expressed this hope to the doc, and asked if it is reasonable, he replied that if I continue with the bands the way I have been, absolutely not in a million years would they come off in 6 weeks.

THE VERDICT:

I have doubled up a rubber band on the right side. Yup. 2 on one side pulling the same teeth. And I essentially have to wear them all the time.

So for those who still read this. Who did not give up hope for me when the blogs ceased this winter, I ask one thing of you. If you see me without rubber bands - Tell me to put them on. If you live in a different state and won't see me before they are off- Text, Call, Email, Walkie Talkie, or throw a note in a bottle, and help me keep these sweet bands on so I can get these sweet braces OFF! I NEED YOU!

Excuses, Excuses

My hard drive crashed. Like crashed and burned crashed. Like, it's a good thing I blog and have pictures on the internet because I lost EVERYTHING and never followed my boyfriend's instructions to "back up my stuff" crashed.

So today, after 2 long arduous weeks, I have a computer again, and am back at my blogging that was already slowing to an almost halt before the crash. Now I find I have so much to catch up on I don't even know where to begin. So I shall begin with a list... because I LOVE lists. seriously I do.

1. My sister had a baby!! A little girl named Sydney Evelyn Adair, and I will see her next week.

2. My dad came to LA to visit! And I was thisclose to winning the "Price is Right." (not really)

3. My acting classes have begun and it is amazing!!! I forgot how much I love acting!

"Wait a second Chelsea, You haven't mentioned your braces at all? And this is a braces blog. I don't give a crap about your sister's baby or your hard drive. I want the dirt on the teeth!!!"

Well how rude of you to act like the arrival of my niece isn't noteworthy. But point taken, I'll get on with it.

Teeth are forever the same. Or so it feels. My next visit is Feb 16th but I am trying to get in for a tie change this week. Partly cuz they're yellow, and partly to see if they will crank them early. I am desperate to get news of their imminent departure. March 16th is 1 year, so I'm hoping for a March 16th removal.

Big thing standing in the way? Literally, a gaping whole. It's about time for the implant, etc. and I'm discovering that I just truly can't afford all of the dental damage this has caused. This wasn't just braces. It also included a tooth extraction, implant/bridge, and retainers... the fur coat, diamond bracelet, bedroom set. Wait, I didn't need those things for braces? Oh that Hollywood dentist is gonna get it!

I am also assuming I will need some serious whitening afterwards as well. So I may just have to go the cheaper route and do the bridge.

Well, as an attempt to gear up for what I am hoping is my final month and a half with braces, I intend to blog at least once a week. That is, as long as I go sans hard drive crash.

To a new year and new beginnings...

Isn't that what we all say? Every year. Resolutions, usually including weight loss. Work harder. Do more "fun stuff."

Well although this blog is happening a week into the new year, and implies I have already fallen off the wagon, I would like to think I really mean it this time. The braces are closer and closer to coming off and every day I feel more anticipation. I have started to prepare for their exeunt in a myriad of ways.

First, I signed up for 2 acting classes to oil the old machine. I am so excited! (don't ask how I am paying for them. because it involves walking someone's dog).

Secondly, I decided to get more fruitful sleep. So I bought a bed!!! For the first time ever! And it is glorious. My Simmons Beautyrest Pillowtop and I have become fast girlfriends. But she's the only girlfriend that doesn't keep me up all night with funny stories.

Thirdly, unrelated to my braces, but in an attempt to make my life more full and rich with experiences, I am intending to travel the west coast. Starting today. I went to Malibu, which is only 30 minutes out of LA, but give me a break. Baby Steps people.

Here are some pictures from my lovely day off:

Malibu coast line

This is before I ate tacos. And then had so much food stuck in my teeth it looked like I had "another bite left."

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.