I am always amazed by people who have creative decorating gifts. I mean, truly amazed. The Decorating Gene Genie obviously missed me when that particular gift was being doled out.
Steve and I recently attended a country wedding where the Decorating Gene Genie was out in full force. I grabbed my iPhone and got some pictures just because I love celebrating all things lovely.
There. Wasn’t that fun? Nothing like a little venture into the country for a lovely start to the week!
Sarah had a great time at her retreat last week. She said the first day was a little difficult until she got to know some people but after that, she had a blast.
She was especially thankful that she just happened to be assigned to the smallest of the beach houses which accommodated just six students along with two house parents. The other beach houses being utilized were three stories and held more like 20-25 people; she said those were a whole lot noisier and more chaotic than her little spot. I was so glad that it worked out that way so that she had a quieter comfort zone to inhabit during the times all the students weren’t in group meetings or doing activities.
At the beginning of the week, all the students were given a certain amount of money (based on the occupancy of their house) and were assigned the task of planning menus, making a budget, shopping for groceries and cooking for themselves all week. (All 175 of the students did eat a few meals together but most of the meals were eaten in their own houses.) Sounds like that was quite an adventure in itself.
The retreat was sponsored by a faith-based organization called Chi Alpha. It is coed and has chapters on 310 college campuses all across the country involving roughly 28,000 students and many more in sister organizations around the world. It exists for the purpose of providing college students a place of Christian community and discipleship. There is not a chapter at COA where Sarah attends and so she is investigating what it will take to start a chapter for this fall. We’re proud of her for taking the initiative in that.
Here she is with her 5 roomies on the last night of the retreat. (Note: They were much more casual than this for the rest of the week; this was the last night and they all dressed up a little for a banquet.)
After her retreat was over, the next thing on her schedule was Youth Sunday yesterday. Part of her assignment was to do the announcements for the morning. Here she is, talking about the attendance register that everyone fills out every Sunday. She also did a video for the offering and was in a drama.
I’m not sure what she’s doing in this photo, but I liked it so I posted it!
Tomorrow is the Big Day for her oral surgery! Two impacted wisdom teeth to be removed under sedation, 2-3 days of rest and eating soft foods, and then back to work at Food Lion on Friday and Saturday.
I’m so glad to have her back from the retreat and so glad for another year (or so) of her living at home before she flies away from this nest to start building her own life.
Question: For those of you who with experience in wisdom teeth removal, do you have any tips for us? I’m especially interested in food ideas and of course, ways to keep discomfort to a minimum. Thanks!
THANK YOU to everyone who left such good advice for Sarah (and for me as her caregiver.)
I can’t tell you how many times we were discussing this or that aspect of the procedure and recovery and we would say, “Well, that one comment on the blog said this” or “That other comment said that.” We would run back to the blog and read your advice all over again! 🙂
Since my hands have been full with work and caring for Sarah the past couple of days I’m not going to reply to each comment; I may, however, just leave a comment or two on things that were said that were NOT teeth related. 🙂 You guys are the best!
I used ice 20 minutes on each side the entire first day. I had no swelling at all. I took the pain meds the first day then just Advil. Don’t use a straw!!! I ate mashed potatoes, applause, yogurt the first several days. I then moved to Mac n cheese, PB and J or pasta I could chew in the front or very easily on sides. (I had all 4 cut out) after a week or so I could chew normally with no trouble. No chips or hard stuff like that for 6 weeks is what I was told. I stuck to it as I was scared of anything getting stuck in it or poking it! Prayers all
Goes well!!!!
Slim Fast – nutrition and no chewing
No straws. That is usually what causes dry socket. Well, that and smoking but there isn’t an issue there. 🙂 Stay ahead of the pain. Just because you aren’t in pain at the moment, doesn’t mean that you won’t be in an hour. If you take the pain meds once the pain has started, it takes too long to kick in. I would say stay on the pain meds of min. 24-48 hours. Good luck. Beautiful pictures of the wedding as usual Becky. I know that the decorating gene genie didn’t appear when I was born either. 🙁 In fact, I am pretty sure I do not have an artistic bone in my body and I still draw stick men!!
Mel,
I’m right there with you on the stick men. I am in AWE of people who know how to draw.
I’ve had much dental work over the years and have to say I have more problems with the pain meds than the pain. Codeine and any deriviatives and I do not get along. My most recent dentist’s wife told me to eat carbs along with the pain meds and that would help with the nausea I would have – like a baked potato, mashed potatoes. Definitely no straw like many others have said. Just follow all the oral surgeon’s instructions and she should do well.
Congrats on Sarah’s college retreat. My 16 year old niece who is just finishing her sophomore year is going to Missouri University for 3 weeks this summer. They only choose 330 rising junior students across the state and she and her good friend from pre-school were both chose to go. We’re all proud of her.
Phyllis,
Congrats on your niece being chosen for that summer program. I know she must be so thrilled that her friend was also chosen to go. So wonderful to see people we love doing doing so well!
That wedding looked absolutely charming! What savvy decorating, and how fun for the couple to have a wedding with such unique character.
Lots of thoughts and prayers for Sarah’s surgery tomorrow. Some suggestions, from what I remember about having my four wisdom teeth out (all at once!).
1. I didn’t want foods that were too hot, too cold or too heavy – even pudding didn’t sit well for me, and I existed on Jello for a little while. When I started eating other things, I remember apple sauce (at room temperature), mashed potatoes (left to sit and cool for a while) and soup broth (ditto; left out until it was lukewarm). It was physically hard to open my mouth to eat or drink. In talking about this with my Mom, she said that she had to hover over me to get me to drink juice and water (lukewarm, again) to stay hydrated.
2. Ice for the face! You can do the frozen peas trick or get something like a Therapearl (http://www.therapearl.com/products/sports-pack/). I like Therapearl because it doesn’t drip the way ice bags or frozen peas do. You throw it in the freezer for a few hours before use.
3. When Sarah does start eating again, mind the stitches! I had eight stitches in my gums (two for each tooth that was removed) and I forgot that chewing or brushing my teeth could pull on them or put pressure on the gums where they’d been cut. Luckily, I didn’t yank out a stitch, but it did sting!
4. Talking might not be very much fun for the first day or so because of the swelling. Be prepared for the swelling to be significant.
I hope that Sarah will have an easier time with all of this than I did!
Love the pictures, not sure if I could eat chips out of a drawer but an interesting touch. It reminded me quite a bit of my son’s wedding out in Illinois. Very similar theme with the tent, rocking chairs, lighting, candy and photo booth(my favorite!).
As far as the teeth, it seems like most things are covered by the other readers. I could just add that the narcotics are very constipating!! Also one of my son’s empty tooth sites would not stop bleeding. At the end of the day I called the surgeon and he had me bring him back in and he stitched that one up. So you never know. No dry sockets here, so hopefully the same for Sarah. Both boys needed the narcotics for a couple of days, but that was it. We tied up the ice packs with a pretty scarf. lol. haha. heeheee. I’m bad.
Lesley,
Yes, I was a little taken aback by the chips in the drawer too, but I figured as long as i only took chips from the top of the pile, they would only be touching other chips and not the drawer itself. I’m imagining they had some kind of a liner at the bottom of the drawer. It WAS very picturesque. Sounds like your son’s wedding was delightful!
What beautiful country wedding photos. Becky- you may not have the gift of decorating, but you truly have the gift of seeking out- and spotting- beauty, and recording it to share with others (through beautiful photos). (That said, I’ve seen photos of your beautifully decorated house, and i would beg to disagree with you not having a decorating gene!!)
I will be praying for Sarah tomorrow and hope her surgery goes well. I’ve never had mine out, but my husband did and the advice I have from that experience is to expect to take time off and not return to work too early. Eric (my hubby) tried to return to work about a day or 2 after his surgery and it did not go well. (He made it to the bus stop, where he stood shaking in pain while standing in minus forty weather in the pitch blackness of a Canadian early winter morning- and with the freezing blowing air on his sore jaw). He ended up having to return home, but it would have been a lot better if he had stayed bundled up on the couch until he was truly well enough to go out.
Jenna,
That description of Eric waiting for the bus in the cold was so vivid it made me shiver. So very glad he turned around and went back home!
Yogurt smoothies (no straws!) for protein. And don’t get behind on pain meds — keep a schedule. It’s easier to stay on top of pain than to play catch-up!
Ice BOTH SIDES of her face! When I had mine removed 20 years ago, only one side was hurting so I only iced that side. The next day, I was a lop-sided chipmunk! Only the side that I didn’t ice was swollen! Frozen corn and peas work well — but I preferred the re-freezable soft gel type packs that are used for lunch boxes, etc. They stayed frozen longer and I could just wrap a soft towel around them. Stay on top of the pain meds for the first couple of days as well — don’t wait until it starts hurting to take them — it’s much harder to get it under control once it starts. She’ll be in my prayers!
This has been MANY MOONS ago, but when I had mine out, my Mom got an inexpensive pair of pantyhose and cut the feet out of them. She then stuffed the ice packs down the legs and tied them around my cheeks with the know being at the top of my head. It wasn’t very stylish, but it kept the ice packs in place! No straws!!!! Praying for an easy time and speedy recovery for Sarah.
Beautiful wedding area and so laid back!
It is amazing to me to watch all the incredible things Sarah is doing and plans to do with her life! Truly an incredible woman inside and out! (Ok, Beckie…young woman – woman sounds so, er, grown up!)
Well, everyone’s experiences are different with any kind of surgery. I had all 4 of my wisdom teeth out under anesthesia and a total of 3 stitches. I remember doing warm salt water washes which kept the sockets clean and the warmth eased the pain (and back them we only had aspirin – no tylenol or ibuprofen) AND eating a great deal of pudding and jello and I drank warm tea! I had minimal swelling – guess there wasn’t a huge fight to get them out lol – so I started in on soft buttered toast on whatever teeth still worked within a day or two. And I slept and read as much as possible!
Guerrina,
Thanks for changing woman to young woman. I feel sooo much better. 🙂
Looks like everyone gave you the right tips for Sarah and her teeth. I had mine out and was out a week but mine had to be divided and took out in pieces. My son had 2 done at one time, he took a valium before he went and when I brought him home he took pain
meds the rest of the day and then no more. He was 16 at the time. Having worked for the dentist – as everyone else as said – the most important is NO STRAW and no little things like rice, strawberries. With all that Sarah has been through this will be a piece of cake for her. I ‘m so glad she had a great time on her trip and that last pix she actually has a lot of Megan’s features
Hit send too soon…… I know the swelling could be bad but don’t use a straw (I can’t remember for how long but @ least till you follow up w/ the doctor) it can cause dry sockets! Even 23 years later it was that warning I remember the most vividly! It was told to me 100 times & written multiple times on paperwork!
Frozen peas or carrots to use as ice packs (whatever’s on sale)…the only way to go! Stay ahead of the pain! Impacted wisdom teeth are definitely a bit more painful (just being honest)! By waiting until the pain returns, will make it that much harder to catch up (as you know)! If pain mesds make her nauseous see if they’ll give her a anti-emetic too! She may want to wait until Monday to go back to The Lion (is she still doing the HS gig & if so will she do it next year too)! My dad told me when I asked him that I went back a few days too soon. I was starting my student teaching assignment so it was my fault in the scheduling! I definitely frightened many students with my “face of many colors!” The swelling & discoloration did last a little over a month! Oh & watch food temperature…..nothing too hot or too cold! Oh & I think they may give her an antibiotic too (I think I had one since all four of mine were impacted)! And there’s always that whole she’s old enough to consent herself but will need a ride! My mom tried to stir up trouble as we were leaving by tossing me the keys & suggesting I drive home! They thought she was serious & pulled the doc out of the case after mine to tell my mom I couldn’t drive! It was the only thing funny about the whole thing but I’ll take it! Please let us know how she does!
Jodi,
Sarah is headed into work this morning but her boss knows she will only work until she gets tired which may take an hour or may take five hours. She’ll play it by ear. She is definitely feeling stronger this morning although definitely not back to her normal energy.
And as far as I know, she’ll be doing the tutoring job at the High School again next year. She’s enjoyed it this year and since she doesn’t get as many hours at the grocery store during the school year, the income came in handy.
I love the fact that your mom tossed you the car keys after your extraction. Nothing like a good sense of humor!
Soft foods that are high in protein. Also, keep in mind that (at least in my opinion) that oral surgery is like labor…different for EVERY single person and until you go through it, you don’t know how it is going to be for you. I had all 4 teeth pulled at once (can’t remember if they were impacted or not) and I went to my boyfriend’s house that night and back to school the next day.
Anonymous,
That’s a good point about oral surgery being different for anyone; I found that to be especially true as I was reading everyone’s stories here in the comments area.
I’m amazed you went to school the morning after your surgery. Wow!
As the wife of an oral surgeon, please do NOT use a straw. That is the number one cause of dry sockets! Ice packs with frozen peas are good and follow all instructions given by the doctor’s office. She should do fine. I had my 3 wisdom teeth removed at age 43.
I had my wisdom teeth out many, many moons ago, but I remember my Mom stocking up on jello and instant pudding for me and yes watch out for those dry sockets….good luck!!!
Milkshakes, yogurt, mashed potatoes. And lots of ice. Ice, ice, ice! You can get freezable ice packs that have a gel type substance in them that stay flexible when frozen. I have a couple at home that are wonderful. They wrap/fit around any shape! When I had mine out, my jaw was so swollen that I had to use a straw because that’s all the further I could open my mouth so I lived on the milkshakes, etc. When my kids had theirs out, they got along much better (theirs weren’t impacted though) and were able to eat soft foods that wouldn’t poke the sore spot. It just depends on how hard it is to get them out. Good luck to Sarah! Keep us posted.
I loved the wedding pictures. VERY creative and fun!
So glad that Sarah had fun and is looking into a chapter for her college. Is it an all female organization or are guys involved too? It sounds like something that so many could benefit from. 🙂
Thanks for the advice, LeeAnne!
Chi Alpha sounds like it would be a part of Greek Life due to the Greek words; some people at the retreat said that they have been asked whether it’s a fraternity or sorority, but it is neither. It’s short for the Greek term for “Christ’s Ambassadors.” In larger chapters, people are placed into small groups based on gender. All of the small groups come together for worship/fellowship meetings. I can’t wait to get it started at COA!
Becky, I am a frequent reader but infrequent commenter. I have experience on this one, though. So far we have had wisdom teeth removed on three children…the last one is 16 so we will see in a couple years if we go 4/4 on wisdom teeth removal! 🙂 The biggest recommendation is to follow the oral surgeon’s instructions, of course. We really like to use bags of frozen peas for ice packs (for wisdom teeth and other things). We put the individual bags in a quart-sized zip lock to insure against leakage. For teeth I’d get four-6 bags so that you can rotate them and always have frozen ones ready. One reason we like to use peas is that the bags are pliable rather than a solid block of ice. Be diligent with the ice per the surgeon’s instructions. It makes a difference! Also, they will give you a script for narcotics if you want them. If Sarah needs them, that is fine, but personally we discontinue as soon as we think it is tolerable to go to non-narcotics. You are well acquainted with meds (unfortunately) and know how narcotics can help control pain but also can make you feel drugged and also dry you out. In our experience we didn’t use the narcotics for more than a day or so (even with impacted teeth). Hope this helps and trust that Sarah heals quickly! Blessings on you!
DeLynn,
Always nice to hear from an infrequent commenter. 🙂
You are certainly the voice of wisdom with THREE kids who have needed this surgery. Wow!
I went to a store that sold baby items and bought a food grinder. I had surgery just before Thanksgiving and didn’t want to miss the dinner. It worked very well and I could “eat” whatever everyone else ate. It cost around $15.00 but was well worth it. Similar to this: http://www.target.com/p/munchkin-fresh-food-grinder/-/A-11148347#prodSlot=medium_1_1&term=munchkin+baby+food+grinder
For swelling and pain-ice ice ice
Patti,
If we had been coming up on Thanksgiving, we would have definitely gotten a food grinder. Great idea! 🙂
Glad Sarah had a great time. No experience in the dental area I am happy to say. Pray all goes well with little pain.
Dry socket. I had one when I had my wisdom teeth removed years ago. It was incredibly painful. Just be on the lookout. 🙂